[Warning 15+]
Part Three"―Seriously, Your Vibe Hasn't Changed a Bit Since the Old Days!"Chapter 108Well, Obviously
"Heh, so Kazukichi actually has real-life friends? Did you guys meet in high school or what?"
"Eh, well, I mean... ...Hey!?"
Before Hayato could even blink, the girl'd closed the gap between 'em, and without a shred of hesitation, she let out a "Hmm" while givin' him a look like she was appraisin' a piece of junk.
Hayato was straight-up terrible at dealin' with this kind of personal space invasion from people like this girl.
Hayato's face twitched as he tried to back away, but the girl didn't give a d*mn and stepped even closer into his bubble.
"So you're Kazukichi's friend, huh... ...Your face is alright, I guess. If you actually tried, you might not look totally out of place next to him? But your hair's kinda dorky—like you're just tryin' too hard to mimic someone else. It's a bit tacky, y'know?"
"Eh, right... ...Look, I'm just a countryside bumpkin, I'm not really used to this kinda thing."
"Pffft! 'Countryside bumpkin'? What even is that? That's hilarious! ...And?"
"And... ...what?"
"I'm talkin' about girls. You lookin' for a girlfriend? 'Cause Kazukichi's a total chick magnet, y'know? Or did you hear the rumors about me and him? Man, that's such a pain... ...So, what's your real motive here?"
"Airi!"
That was a totally rude question. Even Kazuki lost his cool for a sec and raised his voice to shut Airi down.
But Hayato didn't even grasp what this girl—Airi, apparently—was gettin' at.
Hayato never understood what people like Airi—gyarus—were talkin' about anyway. They always act like you're already in on the joke, and he hated that.
So, Hayato just tilted his head, scowled with a sour look, and told Airi exactly why he was there.
"My motive? ...All-you-can-eat yakiniku?"
"...Huh?"
"Hayato-kun..."
Upon hearin' that answer, the gyaru named Airi just stood there lookin' blank, her eyes poppin' wide open.
Seein' Airi's reaction, Hayato kept his brow furrowed and checked with Kazuki, wonderin' if he'd just said somethin' totally weird.
"Yo Kazuki, we were supposed to meet here at 12:20, right? At Mō Mō Ushimaru Tarō, or whatever it's called?"
"O-Oh, yeah, that's right... ...wait, Airi!?"
"...Pffft. Kyahahahahahahahahahaha!!"
As if she couldn't hold it in a second longer, Airi doubled over, clutchin' her stomach as she burst out laughin' like crazy.
Hayato's scowl deepened, once again feelin' like he just didn't get what made people like Airi tick at all.
But as if thinkin' Hayato's reaction was the weirdest thing ever, Airi turned back toward him with tears in her eyes from laughin' so hard.
"Wait, for real? This boy's actually Kazukichi's friend?! Even knowin' about 'that thing' and all?!"
"I don't know what 'that thing' is, I haven't heard a word about it, and Kazuki doesn't seem like he wants to talk about it anyway. Besides, just 'cause we're friends doesn't mean I'm that interested in Kazuki."
"Pffft! Man, that is gold! Kazukichi, he's totally layin' into you!"
"...Hayato-kun is just that kind of boy."
When Kazuki shrugged and let out a strained laugh, Airi watched him and smirked with a "Heh." It was definitely a smile, but it had a sharp edge to it that Hayato couldn't quite place.
Gettin' sized up like that didn't exactly sit well with Hayato. And as that annoyance leaked onto his face, Airi's sharp grin only got wider.
"Heh, y'know, that's the first time anyone's ever looked at me like that."
"...Well, obviously. If you act that shameless the first time you meet someone, you're gonna get a look like this."
"The first time, huh? Hmm... ...so you really don't know who I am?"
"At the very least, I've never heard Kazuki mention you."
Hearin' Hayato's blunt-as-heck words, Airi looked like she was havin' the time of her life.
"You're pretty interestin'! Let me get your digits!"
"Eh, nah, I'm good. I'll pass."
"Airi, look, Hayato-kun clearly isn't feelin' it!"
"Whoa, that's a first! I actually got rejected! That's hilarious! C'mon, don't be like that, Hayatocchi—ugh, seriously!?"
Right as Airi pulled out her smartphone, a catchy ringtone started blarin'.
The second she heard it, Airi made a total "stink face" and groaned, "Ugh, gross."
"Hello? Yeah, it's me. I've still got time—...wait, WHAT!? The schedule got moved up? That's your problem, not mine! I was just startin' to have a good time here!"
Airi started blastin' whoever was on the other end of the line with some serious heat. Her sudden change in attitude left Hayato standin' there lookin' like a deer in headlights. Catchin' Hayato off guard, Kazuki gave Hayato's sleeve a sharp tug.
"Eh, oh, hey, Kazuki?"
"...Just come with me."
When Hayato shot Kazuki a look askin' if it was really cool to just bail on Airi, Kazuki just gave a wry smile, shrugged, and led Hayato away to a different spot.
Hayato didn't really have a say in the matter, though. When they arrived, Iori was waitin' for 'em, wavin' a hand with a totally strained smile plastered on his face.
"Iori, you're here? You could've at least jumped in and helped me out, man."
"No way, dude. I mean, that was Satō Airi, y'know?"
"Hah, not you too... ...Is she a friend of yours?"
When Hayato grumbled that out, Iori shook his head back and forth like crazy and shrugged.
―Satō Airi.
Even hearin' the name from Iori, it still didn't ring a bell. At the very least, Airi wasn't in any of their classes.
As Hayato tilted his head in total confusion, both Iori and Kazuki let out a massive, exasperated sigh.
"You seriously don't know? Satō Airi is a huge up-and-comin' model right now. Even Ema uses her for style inspo all the time."
"Wait, a model!?"
A weird-*ss sound escaped Hayato's throat. He stared wide-eyed in total shock. That was completely out of left field.
I mean, now that Iori mentioned it, it actually kinda made sense.
Someone like Himeko would probably know all the deets about Satō Airi.
But even so, Hayato still had some serious doubts.
Feelin' the suspicious glares from both Hayato and Iori, Kazuki flinched and took a long, deep breath. Then, like he was finally throwin' in the towel, Kazuki held his hands up.
"Airi's an acquaintance... ...or well, she's actually my ex-girlfriend."
""...What!?""
At Kazuki's totally out-of-nowhere confession, Hayato and Iori just stood there dazed, exchangin' looks in total disbelief.
Author's Notes:
Today's the big release day!
Even in the countryside—well, in Nara, actually—I checked the local bookstore and yup, it's officially on sale!
Honestly, yeah... ...I'm pretty much overwhelmed with everything right now. I really wanna see those specific scenes from Volume 2 get actual illustrations.
So for the sake of that! Please! Just! Buy it!
As for me! My secret got leaked to my parents the other day 'cause my pen name was written all over some docs from Sh*eisha! And today! Just now! The copy my Dad ordered off Raku〇 just showed up!! Ugh, just k*ll me already!!!
Meow!!!
TL: Reeze27
ED: Reeze27
PR: Reeze27
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"Heh, so Kazukichi actually has real-life friends? Did you guys meet in high school or what?"
"Eh, well, I mean... ...Hey!?"
Before Hayato could even blink, the girl'd closed the gap between 'em, and without a shred of hesitation, she let out a "Hmm" while givin' him a look like she was appraisin' a piece of junk.
Hayato was straight-up terrible at dealin' with this kind of personal space invasion from people like this girl.
Hayato's face twitched as he tried to back away, but the girl didn't give a d*mn and stepped even closer into his bubble.
"So you're Kazukichi's friend, huh... ...Your face is alright, I guess. If you actually tried, you might not look totally out of place next to him? But your hair's kinda dorky—like you're just tryin' too hard to mimic someone else. It's a bit tacky, y'know?"
"Eh, right... ...Look, I'm just a countryside bumpkin, I'm not really used to this kinda thing."
"Pffft! 'Countryside bumpkin'? What even is that? That's hilarious! ...And?"
"And... ...what?"
"I'm talkin' about girls. You lookin' for a girlfriend? 'Cause Kazukichi's a total chick magnet, y'know? Or did you hear the rumors about me and him? Man, that's such a pain... ...So, what's your real motive here?"
"Airi!"
That was a totally rude question. Even Kazuki lost his cool for a sec and raised his voice to shut Airi down.
But Hayato didn't even grasp what this girl—Airi, apparently—was gettin' at.
Hayato never understood what people like Airi—gyarus—were talkin' about anyway. They always act like you're already in on the joke, and he hated that.
So, Hayato just tilted his head, scowled with a sour look, and told Airi exactly why he was there.
"My motive? ...All-you-can-eat yakiniku?"
"...Huh?"
"Hayato-kun..."
Upon hearin' that answer, the gyaru named Airi just stood there lookin' blank, her eyes poppin' wide open.
Seein' Airi's reaction, Hayato kept his brow furrowed and checked with Kazuki, wonderin' if he'd just said somethin' totally weird.
"Yo Kazuki, we were supposed to meet here at 12:20, right? At Mō Mō Ushimaru Tarō, or whatever it's called?"
"O-Oh, yeah, that's right... ...wait, Airi!?"
"...Pffft. Kyahahahahahahahahahaha!!"
As if she couldn't hold it in a second longer, Airi doubled over, clutchin' her stomach as she burst out laughin' like crazy.
Hayato's scowl deepened, once again feelin' like he just didn't get what made people like Airi tick at all.
But as if thinkin' Hayato's reaction was the weirdest thing ever, Airi turned back toward him with tears in her eyes from laughin' so hard.
"Wait, for real? This boy's actually Kazukichi's friend?! Even knowin' about 'that thing' and all?!"
"I don't know what 'that thing' is, I haven't heard a word about it, and Kazuki doesn't seem like he wants to talk about it anyway. Besides, just 'cause we're friends doesn't mean I'm that interested in Kazuki."
"Pffft! Man, that is gold! Kazukichi, he's totally layin' into you!"
"...Hayato-kun is just that kind of boy."
When Kazuki shrugged and let out a strained laugh, Airi watched him and smirked with a "Heh." It was definitely a smile, but it had a sharp edge to it that Hayato couldn't quite place.
Gettin' sized up like that didn't exactly sit well with Hayato. And as that annoyance leaked onto his face, Airi's sharp grin only got wider.
"Heh, y'know, that's the first time anyone's ever looked at me like that."
"...Well, obviously. If you act that shameless the first time you meet someone, you're gonna get a look like this."
"The first time, huh? Hmm... ...so you really don't know who I am?"
"At the very least, I've never heard Kazuki mention you."
Hearin' Hayato's blunt-as-heck words, Airi looked like she was havin' the time of her life.
"You're pretty interestin'! Let me get your digits!"
"Eh, nah, I'm good. I'll pass."
"Airi, look, Hayato-kun clearly isn't feelin' it!"
"Whoa, that's a first! I actually got rejected! That's hilarious! C'mon, don't be like that, Hayatocchi—ugh, seriously!?"
Right as Airi pulled out her smartphone, a catchy ringtone started blarin'.
The second she heard it, Airi made a total "stink face" and groaned, "Ugh, gross."
"Hello? Yeah, it's me. I've still got time—...wait, WHAT!? The schedule got moved up? That's your problem, not mine! I was just startin' to have a good time here!"
Airi started blastin' whoever was on the other end of the line with some serious heat. Her sudden change in attitude left Hayato standin' there lookin' like a deer in headlights. Catchin' Hayato off guard, Kazuki gave Hayato's sleeve a sharp tug.
"Eh, oh, hey, Kazuki?"
"...Just come with me."
When Hayato shot Kazuki a look askin' if it was really cool to just bail on Airi, Kazuki just gave a wry smile, shrugged, and led Hayato away to a different spot.
Hayato didn't really have a say in the matter, though. When they arrived, Iori was waitin' for 'em, wavin' a hand with a totally strained smile plastered on his face.
"Iori, you're here? You could've at least jumped in and helped me out, man."
"No way, dude. I mean, that was Satō Airi, y'know?"
"Hah, not you too... ...Is she a friend of yours?"
When Hayato grumbled that out, Iori shook his head back and forth like crazy and shrugged.
―Satō Airi.
Even hearin' the name from Iori, it still didn't ring a bell. At the very least, Airi wasn't in any of their classes.
As Hayato tilted his head in total confusion, both Iori and Kazuki let out a massive, exasperated sigh.
"You seriously don't know? Satō Airi is a huge up-and-comin' model right now. Even Ema uses her for style inspo all the time."
"Wait, a model!?"
A weird-*ss sound escaped Hayato's throat. He stared wide-eyed in total shock. That was completely out of left field.
I mean, now that Iori mentioned it, it actually kinda made sense.
Someone like Himeko would probably know all the deets about Satō Airi.
But even so, Hayato still had some serious doubts.
Feelin' the suspicious glares from both Hayato and Iori, Kazuki flinched and took a long, deep breath. Then, like he was finally throwin' in the towel, Kazuki held his hands up.
"Airi's an acquaintance... ...or well, she's actually my ex-girlfriend."
""...What!?""
At Kazuki's totally out-of-nowhere confession, Hayato and Iori just stood there dazed, exchangin' looks in total disbelief.
Author's Notes:
Today's the big release day!
Even in the countryside—well, in Nara, actually—I checked the local bookstore and yup, it's officially on sale!
Honestly, yeah... ...I'm pretty much overwhelmed with everything right now. I really wanna see those specific scenes from Volume 2 get actual illustrations.
So for the sake of that! Please! Just! Buy it!
As for me! My secret got leaked to my parents the other day 'cause my pen name was written all over some docs from Sh*eisha! And today! Just now! The copy my Dad ordered off Raku〇 just showed up!! Ugh, just k*ll me already!!!
Meow!!!
TL: Reeze27
ED: Reeze27
PR: Reeze27
If you like our work, please consider supporting us on Ko-fi. 🙏
Support Us: https://ko-fi.com/ninjacross
Donations are very much appreciated.
Your donations really support us to finish this novel from here until the end, so please consider to support us.
Follow Our Official WhatsApp Channel: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaRa6nHCsU9OAB0U370F
Read in other languages: