[LN] Kanojo ni Uwaki Sareteita Ore ga - Volume 1 - Chapter 6

 

Chapter 6 - Examination

The next day, Ayaka and I were killing time in the smoking area of the university for an empty class.

Since it is the second semester of the second year, there are a few free periods in the timetable. It is a privilege of university students to be able to make free time.

I was enjoying such blissful free time, but now I was concerned that Ayaka next to me was acting differently than usual.

Ayaka is leaning against the wall with her arms folded tightly, which creates a somewhat unapproachable atmosphere.

She was a little difficult to talk to because of her beauty. If I had not known Ayaka, I would have left the place quickly.

"Hey, aren't you in a bit of a bad mood today? Aren't you in a bit of a bad mood today?"

"Nah, it's normal."

"This is not normal, at least from my point of view. How's that for convincing? I've known you for many years, and I can tell you..."

"Ugh."

The joke, intended to lighten the mood, was never finished and morphed into an apology.

"I'm sure you'll be able to manage that vibe by the time you get to your next lecture. You're selling yourself as a character who can make friends with anyone."

"I'm not selling it on ......, but yes, I'll be careful. But yes, I'll be careful. Thanks."

Ayaka thanked him honestly and started fiddling with her phone.

I can tell from the movement of his fingers that he is playing some sort of mini-game, but he has no feeling in his fingers at all.

The game was soon over, and Ayaka asked the question again without thinking as she repeatedly retried.

"What happened?"

Ayaka throws her gaze at me, but quickly returns it.

This time Ayaka is not denying that something happened.

After all, something must have happened to put Ayaka in a bad mood.

I don't know if that was last night or if it was about something else.

A normal friend would stop asking questions at this point, but this is Ayaka.

I decided to ask a few more questions.

"Tell me."

"You have no delicacy, you know that?"

"I left that stuff in my mother's belly."

"Go back and start over from the fertilized egg."

Ayaka pishly says and walks out of the smoking area.

I had no choice but to push my cigarette, which was still more than half full, into the ashtray and followed Ayaka.

"Bad."

"I'm not mad. Either way, my lecture starts in twenty minutes.".

"You're not the kind of character to walk into a lecture hall and take a seat that far in advance."

"Except before a test, that's for sure."

Ayaka enters the school building without stopping her steps and presses the elevator button.

When we entered the elevator, Ayaka and I were the only humans in the space.

The elevators at the university are relatively spacious and fast going up and down.

But for some seconds you are trapped in a sealed space, and the elevator space has a slight flickering smell of the cigarette you just smoked.

"You've got to stop smoking."

Ayaka said in a strong tone, as if to say, "This is the right time.

"Why not? It's not up to me."

The words that came out of the bushes made my mouth twitch.

"It's not good for you."

"I have. Smoking together is a great way to have close conversations with seniors."

It is true that the cigarettes will cause extra expenses, so it would be better to stop if you are thinking about your wallet, which is not flattering to the wealthy.

I can understand that there are many disadvantages, considering the fact that it is harmful to the body.

But when I broke up with Rena Aisaka, it calmed me down, albeit a little, and as I said earlier, I can use it to keep up with my seniors.

There are also quite a few advantages.

The elevator doors open and we arrive at the fourth floor where the lecture hall is located.

As the two of us were somehow watching the elevator display going down to the first floor, Ayaka unexpectedly opened her mouth.

"Well, let's just say it doesn't look good on you."

"...... seriously?"

"You don't look good with a cigarette, Yuta Hasegawa."

"Don't say it twice!"

I would have refused if they said it was bad for me, but if they said it didn't suit me, that was a different story.

I am not interested in fashion to the extent of buying brand-name products, but I am still interested to the extent of an average college student.

The most damaging thing was being told that it didn't look good on me.

This sounds like I need to seriously consider quitting smoking.

"I think even Ms. Shinohara doesn't like cigarettes. There are a lot of girls who don't like cigarettes."

"No, I don't smoke at home. I don't think I've ever smoked in front of Shinohara."

"You make it sound like she's going to be home all the time."

I muttered in my mind to Ayaka, who sounded dumbfounded, "I've been here a long time lately.

"So why are you in a bad mood?"

When I asked again, Ayaka frowned, "Again? Ayaka frowned.

You're not so stubborn," he said. It's pretty rare for someone to pester me without fear that I won't like it."

"If you say so yourself, you're just being a jerk. It's just because I care about you. Besides, it's you and me."

We have known each other for four or five years now.

Although they are far from lovers, it is still a special relationship.

Ayaka did not dispute the statement and exhaled as if in contemplation.

"It's before the test. I'm just in a temper."

"Hey, are you in trouble this time?"

"Don't be silly, it's business as usual. I'm not with you."

"You're a man of a word or two, you are!"

When I told her that I was going to do it, Ayaka's cheeks relaxed for the first time.

"I could tell you, but I'd rather have a café au lait from that vending machine over there."

"Oh, so what?"

Ayaka does not answer.

They just send their eyes to the vending machine.

Reluctantly, I take out my wallet and buy a warm café au lait.

Ayaka hurriedly caught the café au lait as it fell with a clatter and was released.

"Don't throw me under the bus again."

"That's okay, I got it."

"Hmph. Thanks."

Ayaka sniffs, opens the can, and proceeds to slurp and drink.

A college girl slurping down a hot café au lait was something of an interesting picture.

"Too many people ask me to show them my notes when I don't even attend their regular classes. And they don't get anything in return."

Ayaka finally told the reason for her bad mood as she threw the café au lait, which she had downed in one gulp, into the trash.

"Money and all that."

As I said it, I knew Ayaka would not have such thoughts. Sure enough, she stabs me with a gaze like an arrow.

"I don't need it. I've been told several times before, but they all offer me 5,000 yen or so. If you convert it to an hourly wage, it's really nothing."

Ayaka's mouth never stops talking, as if she is ready to tell everything once she starts.

"I'm not sure how much I can ask for, but I'd like to know. If you're going to ask someone to do something for you, you should do it in exchange. That's why they don't take you seriously."

The words suggest that the people Ayaka is referring to are men.

Even if they tried to refuse, it would be difficult because they are ostensibly beautiful in all directions.

I don't really remember Ayaka playing all sides in high school, so this is a new heartache for her after college.

But one problem.

"I spend the same amount of time in class as you do, so why should I give my notes to someone who has nothing to gain from them?"

...... means I'm borrowing notes from Ayaka all over the place too.

It sounds good to say that I am weak in the morning, but I just had a self-defeating life and often did not attend lectures.

Each time, he would borrow notes from Ayaka, and even when he went to lectures, he would borrow Ayaka's notes because he could learn more from her notes.

I hardly remember doing the equivalent exchange that Ayaka mentioned.

I feel sorry all at once.

"......That's the thing. I knew it in my head, but when you actually said it like this, I was really sorry. I'm sorry. No, seriously, I'm sorry."

When I fearfully apologized, Ayaka's eyes fluttered.

"Nothing. You don't mind, do you?"

"Huh?"

Ayaka laughs, "Don't apologize all of a sudden.

"Why am I good?"

"I'm not getting anything out of it. It's not like I'm getting something out of it by giving it to you."

I coughed involuntarily as I tried to understand exactly what it meant.

"What do you mean?

"You mean I owe you a favor and I'm going to use you?"

Ayaka grins and goes into the lecture hall first.

The joke was so bad that I vowed never to buy him a drink again.

◇◆

At my university, it's relatively easy to get credits in the liberal arts, except for law school.

No lecture has a failure rate higher than 80%, and more than half of the students always get credit for their work.

My understanding is that as long as you attend, you can do the rest as long as you study properly.

And today's test is the last test of the term.

I was allowed to copy Ayaka's beautifully put together notes and stayed up all night to cover a wide range of topics.

Although the course does not allow students to bring their own notebooks, I am not too worried about losing credits thanks to the all-nighters.

The test starts in twenty minutes, but at this rate we won't have to cram until the last minute.

Clear off the desk and put only writing utensils on it.

Then I felt someone peeking at me and looked up.

"May I sit next to you?"

A student, probably the same age as me, talks to me.

"Here you go."

The stranger, a male student, bowed his head lightly and began to prepare for the test.

In high school, I never used honorifics if I judged the other person to be my age, even if I didn't know them.

This is one of the things that has changed since I entered college.

When I looked around because I had nothing left to do, I saw Ayaka sitting on the opposite side of the room, engaged in a problem-solving contest with her friends.

Since it is on the other side, I can't even make out their expressions.

So they have known each other long enough to be able to determine that it is Ayaka just by her gestures.

There are various types of lecture halls in universities, but the one I'm in right now is one of the larger ones.

Each of the 15 rows of long desks at the front and rear, and 20 rows on either side, can accommodate three students.

During tests, only two people can sit down to prevent cheating, but this does not prevent students from sitting down.

The zany lecture hall gradually quieted as the professor entered, and test papers were handed out.

When I looked closely to see if the problem was transparent from the back, there seemed to be no symbol problem.

Because the string that seems to be the problem is divided into only two parts.

"Ugh. ......."

I agree wholeheartedly in my mind to the murmurings I hear from next door.

If there are only two, it is surely a question that must be discussed in considerable detail. Good-bye to the student who has memorized them shallowly and broadly.

The sound of a bell plays, and I grab my pen.

Let the testing begin.

◇◆

"It's done."

I managed to write the first question down. The second question, however, was on a subject that had been successfully erased from my brain, and my pen was at its limit after four lines.

Four lines for an argument that would have at least 20 lines.

[You are asked the question, "What did you do during this winter vacation? Please describe in detail what you enjoyed the most and what foods you enjoyed the most during the winter vacation.]

[My answer to that question is probably, 'I'm planning to go to a cafe today.]

It was so devastating that I am not even sure of the purpose of the problem.

It is unlikely that partial points can be expected.

Ayaka looked at me in a somber mood even though I had just been released from the test, and she sounded dismayed.

"You didn't solve that one? You marked some areas in your notebook where you might be asked to write an essay."

"Ha-ha-ha."

"......, it's okay you."

Ayaka looks slightly taken back and throws in a few words of concern.

He then seemed to think a little and clapped his hands.

"I'm having a party tomorrow to celebrate the completion of the test. You want to come too? You haven't been to a big party in a while, right?"

"...... drinking party? Uh, certainly not one with a large group of people since I've been going to The Circle."

As soon as Ayaka hears my response, she pulls out her phone and starts running her fingers over it.

"I've sent you an invitation to join. It's a relatively open circle, and I'm sure you'll have fun once you get a few drinks in you."

I hadn't said I was going or anything yet, but Ayaka was acting too fast.

But this time I was a little more on board, too, and decided to thank him honestly.

"Three years."

"Hm."

Ayaka replied shortly and stretched widely.

"Well, now we're free for a while, aren't we? Let's enjoy the long, long spring break."

"I know, I've got two months."

"I'm going on a trip with my circle, and I'm quite looking forward to it. We're going on a trip with our circle, and I'm pretty excited about it."

'You were in more than one circle, weren't you? Which circles?"

"It's an outdoor club."

"Oh, you're going to go climb a mountain?"

"No, I'm going to the hot springs and eating crab."

"I know you will!"

Many people may think of outdoor clubs when they hear the word "outdoor club," such as mountain climbing, but in reality this is often not the case.

The majority of the circles are large groups of people who meet for drinks or take ordinary sightseeing trips.

I'm sure it varies from college to college, but at least at my college, multiple outdoor clubs are like that across the board.

I remember being astonished when I was a freshman because some clubs have an entry sheet or other selection process to get into the club.

"Have you been going to the circle lately?"

No, not at all."

I'm actually in a basketball club too.

Circles are the quickest way to expand your circle of friends in college. Conversely, if you don't join a club, it is extremely difficult to expand your circle of friends.

"Why don't you get going? You liked that circle a lot."

"Well, I liked it."

Usually all they do is play games, and sometimes they practice seriously.

I certainly liked it because it was comfortable for me, and I was able to relieve stress in moderation.

I stopped going to such circles after I broke up with Rena Aisaka. In other words, I haven't been going for about two months now.

The reason was that Reina was dating some of my acquaintances.

He really did not want to be pursued by such people about the cause of the breakup immediately after the affair.

But my mental state now is different from back then.

It's about time I, too, got back to my normal routine.

"I think it's ....... I gotta go soon."

"I'd like to be able to do that. I'll take that as a distraction."

Ayaka raises the corner of her mouth.

"I'm going to go to dinner with my friends from school. I'm going out to dinner with my friends from the faculty."

"Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah."

Ayaka returned to the lecture room, waving her hands in the air.

My undergraduate friends are probably waiting for me there.

"......I guess I'll go with you."

I feel that if I miss the timing of the end of the test, it will take time to go back to the circle.

I said to my friend, 'I'm going to the circle for the first time in a long time!' I called my friend and said, "I'm going to the circle after a long time!

Nevertheless, I have never gone out to dinner with Ayaka's friends, although I am acquainted with them.

If we see each other, we can talk a little, so if I wanted to go, I could go anytime, but I don't have a chance.

Ayaka is probably not too keen on mixing me in with the group.

If Ayaka was so inclined, she would have received one of her invitations by now. She would have immediately invited me to a party or a drinking party of her circle.

I wonder if that group would know a side of Ayaka that I don't know.

I don't know if there is such an aspect.

I just never heard of Ayaka before we met in high school.

I am interested, but that is something I would never know about unless I had a chance to find out.

When I asked him about it, he often brushed me off.

As I was thinking about this, the phone in my pocket trembled.

Line from Shinohara.

['Good job on the test! Where are you now?]

Bad timing.

Since I have decided to go to the circle for the first time in a long time, I have no choice but to decline if it is an invitation to play.

An incoming call from Shinohara appeared on the screen.

After a little hesitation, he answers the call.

[Senior, good luck with your test!]

"I'm sorry, but I can't see you today. Sorry I can't see you today."

[Why is that?]

"I'm going to the circle today for the first time in a long time. So I'll give you a break today."

[I just turned down your offer of lunch, so I'm free until the evening. I just turned down your offer of lunch, so I'm free until the evening.]

Does it mean that he turned down the invitation with the intention of having lunch with me?

Then I almost thought that might be a little bad, but I stopped.

[No, that's for your own reasons.]

['Yes, it's for my convenience. And my seniors are kind enough to go out with me in these situations.']

"What the hell is that?"

['Do you know? People can be really kind when others tell them they are kind.']

"I guess I'm not human, then. See you."

[Wait a minute, I'll buy you a drink!]

I was swayed by Shinohara's impatiently restraining seduction.

Again, students who live alone are not served food even if they go home and wait.

Do you cook for yourself, eat out, or buy a boxed lunch, etc.?

And since I don't cook, I'm left with only the more expensive option.

In other words, the ability to cut food costs is quite attractive.

Even if it is by means of having a younger girl buy you a drink.

"I'll be there. Meet me in front of the cafeteria on campus."

["Hmmm, that's easy."]

With that one word, the call is disconnected.

For a moment, I seriously considered letting go of my promise and leaving.

◇◆

"Senpai, this way!"

I looked around and saw Shinohara waving his hands wide.

Looking at the students passing by Shinohara, it is clear that she stands out from the crowd.

I let out a small gasp when I saw the group of men busily talking to each other as soon as they saw Shinohara.

They stand out simply because they have pretty faces, so please refrain from raising your voice in an unspecified crowd of people.

I wish I could put myself in the shoes of those who are about to join us.

"Oh!"

When I call out to Shinohara, the group of men leave, talking disappointedly, "I knew you'd be there first, didn't I?

As expected, they were discussing whether to invite Shinohara to lunch.

Does Shinohara not notice such a situation, or does he notice it and ignore it?

"Good job on the test!"

"So much tension."

"Why are you so low in tension? It's the end of the test, remember?"

I feel like complaining at least a word to Shinohara, who is driving normally without knowing our concern.

"I'm tired after the test."

Upon hearing my response, Shinohara's cheeks puffed out.

"Senior. A girl invites me to dinner and you look so annoyed, it's too extravagant."

Shinohara looked for my reaction with the words, "And it's me, after all. Shinohara looked for my reaction with the words, "And it's me.

The expression on her face as she teased me, as if to say, "I'm so happy to be with you," was very similar to that of Ayaka.

They don't seem to get along with each other, so they don't talk about it.

"If you're sleepy, no matter how many guys you are, you can't get excited right away."

"I guess that's just the way it is."

Shinohara, who still looks dissatisfied, walks a little ahead of me, her mouth agape.

As I have felt for some time, each expression on Shinohara's face tickles my male heart.

It is not clear whether he is aware of this or not, but I wonder if Motosaka was also caught in the act.

I was told at Christmas that even before I had a trial boyfriend named Motosaka, there was a constant stream of men confessing their love for me.

Numerous men were made to dance and then sunk. When I think of these sunken corpses, I sometimes feel compelled to take a step back from Shinohara.

However, this feeling never surfaces because Shinohara's aggressiveness does not allow it.

Shinohara seemed to be searching on his smartphone for a restaurant close to the university.

There are cafeterias and cafés in the university, but they are crowded with people instead of being inexpensive. Shinohara once told me that if you want to have a relaxing meal, it is better to go to a regular restaurant.

But there is one hurdle we want to cross before taking the meal.

"Shinohara, I'm not hungry yet."

Thanks to little sleep from studying for the test, I had plenty of time in the morning.

Thanks to this, I was able to eat more breakfast than usual, but it seems my stomach is not yet ready to accept lunch.

"What would you do, then? Should we just find the store first and walk around it?"

"I still wish they'd let me go to The Circle now!"

"No. How am I supposed to fill my empty time?"

As soon as he said this, Shinohara's face lit up.

I have a bad feeling about this.

"All I have to do is follow the circle!"

"You idiot, stop!"

The good thing about clubs is that, unlike club activities, they are less restrictive. Of course, the longer you are away from the club, the harder it is to go, but that is not a problem as long as you have established some relationships with others.

In other words, the members of the circle would not mind if I took Shinohara with me, but would rather rejoice.

But the basketball club I'm about to go to, "start," is a place I haven't shown up at all since I broke up with Rena Aisaka.

It is a little awkward to participate in an activity for the first time in a while when you are accompanied by a woman.

I, of course, would have to take care of my friends.

But my thoughts did not seem to reach Shinohara.

"I'm looking forward to seeing my seniors play basketball, I wonder how they will play."

"I told him, "Stop expecting me to play. I can't make a super play."

After I say it, I'm ready.

It would be less troublesome to let them watch the game honestly than to refuse.

I prayed in my heart that I would not cause any strange misunderstandings.

◇◆

"Sorry, I borrowed your training clothes."

Wrapped up in the unfamiliar smell, I call out to my friend next to me, who is tying the laces of his bash.

Dyeing his hair ash-gray, Mato Todo replied, "No, thanks.

Todo is a friend I met at another circle's new party.

He was a friend I made in my early years at the university, and it was under Todo's influence that I started smoking cigarettes.

He's a calm guy, easy to be around.

"It's been a long time since you came to the gym. Since she dumped you?"

"I didn't get dumped, in case you were wondering."

When I excused myself, Todo chuckled.

"What pride? I don't know, but that's how I feel."

You said, "I told you I was cheated on. That alone is lame, so just pretend I dumped you as a matter of fact."

I don't think getting dumped is lame in itself, but if a guy gets dumped for cheating on his wife, that's a different story.

It depends on the person, but at least my self-esteem is greatly damaged.

But Todo, while stretching his body

"It's lame to cheat on your wife," he said. It's a good thing I got to break up with a guy who cheats on me while I still can."

He said.

"Well, it would have been more miserable if I had just stayed with him."

"I know."

Todo smiled and picked up the ball.

Todo, with his well-defined face, is naturally popular.

But he seems to be single-minded about his girlfriend of two years and does not play with women.

The time I spent with Todo was pretty much my favorite time.

"You okay with the size of that bash?"

Todo threw a glance at the bash I was wearing.

The bash is loaned by the circle and is slightly larger.

But if you tighten the laces hard enough, it won't interfere with play.

"I'm fine. It's just kind of lame."

"Hey, hey, what are you talking about when you're behind on your Circle fee? You should be thankful that you can use it."

"'Oh, this bash is coming out of my circle fee?"

"Yes, it's blood money that was squeezed out of us. Spend it well."

"Yes, sir."

Todo laughed at my response and spun the ball around on his finger.

"By the way, who is that girl standing at the entrance? She's looking at me like crazy."

I followed Todo's gaze and saw Shinohara peering into the gymnasium.

The other circle members glanced at Shinohara and were clearly conspicuous.

When our eyes met, Shinohara jumped up and down and waved at us.

The other circle members all look surprised when they see me in the direction they are waving.

"Oh, shit, I brought him back."

"Is that your new girlfriend?"

"No, of course not."

"'Yeah, I don't think you're going to be making girlfriends anytime soon."

Todo narrowed his eyes as if to say he could see right through them.

I couldn't find the words to reply, so I clammed up.

It is not that I have no intention of having a girlfriend at all.

However, there is no denying that they are reluctant to be in love.

If they cheat on you again.

I don't want to have the feeling that all the time we have spent together seems like a waste.

In that sense, Todo's words are correct.

"How are things going with Ayaka?"

"No, he's not like that. He's different."

As I said this, Todo rolled the ball he was spinning to a corner of the gymnasium.

"Yu always says that, but I don't really understand that logic. How can you not fall in love with someone so beautiful when you get along so well with her?"

"You don't like it when your friends are cute, either."

"I have a girlfriend. Yuu is free right now."

Todo put his hand on my shoulder and returned his gaze to Shinohara.

"But you're really cute. You didn't have such a cute junior at your part-time job, did you? How did you meet her, at a blind date?"

I pondered the question for a bit before answering.

"I just bumped into Santa at ......."

"Yes?"

Leaving Todo in a daze, I ran toward the ex-Santa Claus.

For an all-nighter, my body was quite light.

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