[LN] Kanojo ni Uwaki Sareteita Ore ga - Volume 2 - Chapter 4 - Part 1

 

Chapter 4 - The Second Coming

After I left Natsuki, I was enjoying the party as much as I could bend it.

It's called "getting used to the scene.

When the number of people paired up reached four, including Natsuki, the organizer's voice echoed through the hall.

"We will now take a short break. Restrooms and other facilities can be found at the end of the corridor, to the right of the exit at the end of the hallway..."

"Hmm, it was getting exciting."

We only talked about uninteresting small talk, but I think this girl was the most excited I've ever had a chance to talk to her.

It was possible that I was mistaken, but my fears seemed unfounded and the girl took a decorated package out of her bag.

"Here you go."

"What?"

Surprised, the girl laughed funny.

The earrings on his ears sway.

"I'm just saying, it was fun. If you're surprised, is this your first time with my chocolate?"

"Oh, my first time, my first time. Some people seemed to be having fun until we parted, but I was like, 'Well, not as it is."

"I see. Yeah, I think I know how you feel."

I pass the package in my palm and the girl stretches out with a giggle.

"You don't talk about anything in-depth at all, do you? It's fun, but I guess it's just fun and not enough to go beyond that."

"What, on the other hand, do other guys talk to you about stepping in?"

"I'm going to do it, okay? I'm going to talk about my love life. You're the first person at this party that I've ended up just making small talk."

I find this surprising because I thought it was normal to talk about bland things to people you meet for the first time.

However, I was convinced that at such parties, such topics are discussed on purpose in order to deepen the rapport in a short period of time.

However, I don't feel I could do the same thing.

"I'm probably the same type of person as you. I don't like to talk too much with people I don't know. That's why I felt comfortable talking to you."

"Oh, yeah. Thanks."

I get embarrassed and restless.

I couldn't remember the last time I received a straight compliment from a girl I had just met.

The girl seemed to be waiting for something to continue, but when she saw that I wasn't about to say anything, she relaxed her mouth.

"I'll see you later. I hope to see you somewhere."

"Oh, oh. See you."

The girl smiles at the end and returns to the hustle and bustle of the hall.

I almost did a little leap of joy inside.

The break time has started, and everyone is enjoying themselves in a venue that has lost its cohesiveness.

When I make sure the girl is out of sight, I stretch out like the girl I just saw.

The chocolate fits in his hand, and his presence feels like an affirmation that he is in this venue.

Lightweight, but certainly there.

As I was about to look at the packaging again, a voice called out to me from behind.

"I got it, chocolate."

Ayaka looked at the packaging with amusement.

The paper bag was somewhat depleted, and we can assume that he gave chocolates to all the people in the pair.

"The girl who just gave it to me for the first time. I'm so happy."

I was just thinking, "Hmmm, but from the way you just said that, it should have been a lot happier. But from the way you looked at me earlier, I thought something more exciting was going to happen."

When I twisted my head because I had no idea what she was talking about, Ayaka gave me a dumbfounded look.

"You're an idiot. You were about to ask for my contact information."

"Yeah, why?"

"I don't know why, but I could tell from the outside that she was waiting for those words. I don't know why, because I wasn't listening to your conversation the whole time, but I could see from the outside that she was waiting for those words."

Was that the reason for the slight pause when we parted?

I was beginning to think I had missed something, but it was over and I had no choice.

He does his best to look good, saying, "It's okay because these things only happen once in a lifetime."

Ayaka laughed as if she could see through it.

"How many minutes is a break?"

"She said enough is enough. Hey, can we go out in the hallway for a minute? There's a lot of people here."

While suggesting this, Ayaka's feet are already heading for the exit.

It is like Ayaka that she doesn't even want to listen to the reply.

I had no choice but to follow him. The corridor was divided into two, and the one without a toilet was almost empty.

Leaning against the wall, I couldn't help but feel absentminded.

"You're tired, too."

"No, I don't know. Maybe I'm just sleepy."

"I've been thinking since high school that you're surprisingly good at talking to people you don't know. You're surprisingly good at talking to new people, I've thought that since high school."

"I'm not saying you're good, I'm saying you're ...... normal. I'm not that good, I'm just normal. Compared to you, I'm just below average."

Ayaka's expression clouded as she said this.

"I'm not very good at it."

"Why? You're always getting excited."

I have the impression that the place where Ayaka is always full of laughter.

That has not changed in any way since high school, except for a period of time.

I am sure it would be easier for those around her if someone like Ayaka, who enlivens the place, would join the group for the first time.

But Ayaka shook her head.

I may be having a good time, but I can't talk about it as freely as I do with you. I can't talk as openly as I do when I talk to you. If I am looking for a girlfriend, it would be easier to show my true self from the beginning. In that sense, I envy you for being able to build a relationship by talking without revealing your true self from the beginning.

"I try to be as upbeat as possible when I meet new people. I don't show my true colors like I do when I'm talking to you."

"I'm not sure if that's true. Well, the grass is always greener on the other side."

"Yes."

I nodded at Ayaka's words.

There are no textbooks in the world.

I have sometimes wished they would break it down into units like schoolwork, but the only books that teach such things are essay books that are hard for students to get their hands on.

Still, we can learn from watching Ayaka.

Ayaka's worldly skills are not innate; they are conscious.

That is something you would know if you knew Ayaka in high school.

If it is a natural like Shinohara's, all you can say is "wow" when you see it.

But when I see Ayaka consciously changed, I feel I can absorb something from her.

If I am as good at talking to new people as Ayaka says, it is only as a result of learning from Ayaka.

"If so, you're still awesome."

"I'm not quite grasping the flow of the ...... story, though. Well, thanks."

Ayaka raised her eyebrows in a figure of eight and laughed a small laugh.

That look that you only show to those who are close to you. 

─ ─ Yes, you can show them that.

I didn't say it out loud, but in my heart.

Ayaka gazed idly out the window for a while, but eventually put her back against the wall and opened her mouth.

"It's early, but let's go back. Ten minutes is surprisingly early."

"Yeah. I can't even hear the moderator when I'm here."

"I'm going to the bathroom. Also, hold the bag of chocolates. Don't drop it."

After handing over the paper bag, Ayaka walked in the direction of the restroom.

◇◆

Upon entering the venue, one is greeted by the sound of students talking.

Is the dim lighting also intended to have a psychological effect?

It has been over an hour since the Valentine's Day party began, and there is still another hour or so to go.

I was told that the project to make pairs and get chocolates is the last one, so I intend to participate at least until then.

Moving to a place with brighter lighting, we found ourselves at a counter where we received our drinks.

I recall the organizers saying in their opening remarks that the edge of the admission ticket was a drink service ticket.

Tear off the admission ticket and hand the service ticket to the staff.

"Would you like to order from the menu?"

"Umm, screwdriver."

I ordered one of the few cocktails I could remember the name of.

The Screwdriver, as I recall, is a vodka-based cocktail with orange juice.

If it were based on dry gin, it would be renamed Orange Blossom, but I honestly haven't figured out the difference in taste yet.

Receiving a screwdriver, he drinks a little to prevent spilling.

It is also called "lady killer" because of its high alcohol content, despite the fact that it is very smooth and easy to drink.

I looked around, pondering how many college girls knew about it, and saw a few who had already slurped down their drinks.

In the midst of all this, he sees Motosaka.

Glass in my hand, he seems to be in the middle of hitting on a girl.

The girl said, "Let's exchange lines!" Motosaka's smiling invitation, "Let's exchange lines!" seemed to fill her with joy, and she took out her smartphone.

Maybe it's okay to be that lighthearted with someone you've never met before.

Unless he acts like he's at a Christmas party, Motosaka is a much more personable character than I am.

The proof of this is the number of chocolates he has received, which is definitely more than I have.

Seems like the Valentine's Day party system is more cruel than I thought.

All of the man's belongings are put in a coin locker so that he can see at a glance how much chocolate he has received.

People who are still talking to someone at break time usually have more than one piece of chocolate.

I have heard the theory that women instinctively gravitate toward the most popular men, and I feel like shaking my head when I see this scene.

As I was thinking about this, Natsuki came into view.

The chocolate he had brought seemed to have been given to someone else, and he had nothing in his hand.

Natsuki was in a comfortable position, talking to a girl with a somewhat familiar back figure.

"Now that the time has come, we will resume the party."

The lights turn colorful once and then go dark.

The next time the lights came on again, Natsuki and the other girl were gone.

A moment later, someone lightly tapped me on the back from behind.

"...?"

"...... don't be that surprised."

Ayaka giggles as she takes the paper bag of chocolates from my hand.

"Oh, oh ...... no, my bad."

"What's with your weird reaction? Are you afraid of the dark?"

"No, it's nothing. I mean, if I was afraid of the dark, I would have rejected it by now."

"Ha-ha-ha, indeed. But you..."

As Ayaka was about to say something, everyone around her began to move at once.

It appears that the pair-making numbers have been posted up front again.

"Let's go."

Saying this, I move away from Ayaka and go to the front to check the number tag.

The number of the opponent is number 2.

"Number two..."

...... movement to find this pair, will it be improved by next time?

I have no intention of joining this party next time, but this is too inefficient.

There may be budgetary conflicts, unless the cost of participation jumps as a result of increased efficiency.

Well, it's a party of students only, so maybe this is just fine.

"Person #2 - ......"

I was getting fed up with the long search time, which was the longest of the day, when I started to feel a bit tired of it.

"I'm number two."

I heard a familiar voice.

At that moment, the back figure that was just next to Natsuki flashed back into my mind.

─ ─ The truth is, I knew the moment I saw it.

I just couldn't believe the figure that suddenly came into view.

We had been together long enough to recognize each other from the back.

"Hey, Yuta. You're here."

I know the look of slight hesitation on his face when he calls out to me, as much as I dislike it.

It was my second encounter with Rei Aisaka since our breakup.

Previous Chapter | ToC | Next Chapter

Share :