Chapter 108: In My Boyfriend [side Yukari Tomonaga]
Kagetora: "Herasshuu!!"
Kagetora-san♡ I came again today♪
Sho: "Welcome! ...!!"
The staff stiffens up when he sees Mishima. Next to me, Mishima looks a bit scared,
Mishima: "...Do we have to be here...?"
"Nope."
My stomach's already in the mood for My Boyfriend! Nothing else will do!
Another staff member brings the menu, but there's no need to look at it.
I've already decided!
Mishima glances nervously between me, the menu, and the staff.
Maybe it's because he's... Kousuke-kun's best friend.
It should be fine, right? He's just doing his job?
Did I do something awful?
*Because you betrayed his best friend. And you did something similar too, by the way.
But still, I can't decide... What am I hesitating about?
There's only one choice this time of year, right?
Mishima keeps muttering things like, "Calories... Fat..." making the food sound unappetizing.
Ding dong! I press the button at my side to call the staff.
"Two Shin-kun Sets, please!"
Mishima: "...But I'll get fat..."
"Don't sweat the small stuff."
Maybe I should have said it more boldly?
Mishima: "...But I have to stay beautiful... I..."
Mishima looks like she's about to cry.
She's a terrible person, a traitor, her personality's a mess, but I guess she's got her own problems... since she's borrowing money... Maybe I'll listen to her? Until the curry comes?
"...I'll listen, okay?"
*Until the curry comes.
Mishima: "...You'll listen?! ...No, you wouldn't understand how I feel...!"
"...Well, of course I don't. But I'll listen, okay?"
*Because I'm borrowing money.
Mishima Satsuki went on and on about her class caste trauma and pride in her looks.
And then she started mumbling about having a complex because the Kousuke-kun she dumped is doing fine at Hokusho.
I just stare at the kitchen exit, waiting for the food to come out.
Mishima: "...And then..."
Mishima is totally absorbed in her own story.
...It's here!!
Sho: "Two Shin-kun Sets. ...Was that all for your order?"
The Shin-kun Set comes with original curry, original hamburger steak, bread or rice, salad, soup, and a dessert!
It's a super value set, usually 2,780 yen... but now only 1,480 yen!!
A special menu to celebrate Kagetora-san's long-awaited first son! Thank you for being born!
Mishima: "...There's no way I can eat all this!"
"Just clear your mind... It's fine to eat until you're full, once in a while."
Mishima: "...It's been a long time since I ate with anyone besides family..."
Mishima starts eating, almost in tears.
If you're eating something delicious, you should eat it with a smile.
Well, whatever.
We start eating in silence.
Mishima: "Geez! I can't eat anymore!"
Mishima rubs her stomach.
It's not like her stomach's even showing! She finished the curry, but left more than half the hamburger, untouched bread and soup.
Should I eat it for you? When I ask, Mishima nods.
I quietly eat the rest. But Mishima keeps talking to me.
Do you always come here? Are you going home alone? She only asks awkward questions.
Mishima: "...Can I call you Yukari...?"
"Huh? I'd rather you didn't."
Satsuki: "...But you can call me Satsuki... okay?"
I sigh and say,
"Then I'll call you Satsuki, but call me Tomonaga-san, okay?"
Satsuki: "...I still don't like you."
I clean up Satsuki's leftovers, and finally, it's time to pay.
I pull out my wallet, acting like I didn't know...! Go for it, Yukari!
Satsuki: "I don't want to owe you... I'll pay...!"
Huh? Really?
Before I know it, I say,
"Let's come again, okay?"
*Since she's treating.
Satsuki: "...We're coming again...?"
Thump!
For some reason, Satsuki blushes and shyly pays for My Boyfriend.
I'm about to head home, but does Satsuki know the way to the station?
"Do you know which way to go home?"
Satsuki: "...I don't know."
You can basically see the tracks from the way home, so it's obvious, right?
We walk together without saying much.
"This is my house."
Satsuki: "This is...?"
It's just an ordinary house though.
Okay, to the station...
Kaori: "Yukari! Did you eat something again before coming home... Huh? A friend? You brought a friend home? Mama!! Yukari brought a friend home!!"
"Kaori? Satsuki's about to go home... Don't bother her."
Satsuki: "I want to stop by Yukari's house! ...Since I treated you earlier, it's fine, right?"
That's a weak spot for me...
Then have some tea before you go, okay? And then go home?
For some reason, my family rolls out the red carpet for Satsuki.
Especially my little sister Kaori,
Kaori: "...Huh? Satsuki-san, did you enter the beauty contest too?"
Satsuki: "Yeah, but I lost to your sister..."
Kaori: "I can't believe my sister has such a beautiful friend... I totally thought she was a loner at school! A beautiful girl who totally looks top-clique as a friend!"
She's actually someone who got kicked out of the top clique, you know?
*Yukari also got kicked out of the top clique.
Mama and Kaori both take a real liking to Satsuki and chat away happily.
Satsuki stops acting all stuck-up and puts on her friendly beautiful-girl persona...
Things get lively at my house,
Kaori: "Satsuki-san, please come again!"
Mama: "Next time, stay for dinner, okay?"
It's a huge welcome.
I walk Satsuki to the station.
It's just one stop down the line, right? Good job, bye-bye!
And then,
Satsuki: "...Yukari, I have to apologize to you..."
So we're back to the conversation from the beginning.
I have no intention of forgiving her, but I do want her to apologize...
When I just stay silent, unable to say anything,
Satsuki: "...You'll forgive me?! ...Me...?!"
I think it over a little...
This person... wasn't she in my remedial class subjects?
"Satsuki, what subjects are you good at again?"
Satsuki: "Japanese and social studies, right?"
"...I'll forgive you... because we're friends. How about we help each other with the subjects we're good at?"
Satsuki: "...Friends... No! I-it's not like I'm doing this for you or anything! We're just cooperating temporarily so we can move up a grade, that's all!"
Yeah, exactly. There's nothing more to it!
Our interests just happen to line up!
...But ever since that day, Satsuki's been oddly attached to me... It's a hassle...
I only wanted to go to the boyfriend café because I was hungry...
Why is that?