Yuu was led by Haruno back to the entrance of the ga center.
Though surprised that this seemingly aloof, cold, and perhaps slightly introverted handso guy agreed to play with them, the five students warmly welcod Yuu’s presence and introduced themselves to him.
The half-blonde guy with a wild look, who seed like soone who’d headbang to music, was nad Yamada Daisuke. Surprisingly, he was as simple and straightforward as his na suggested.
The other three JDs (Japanese shorthand for female university students), to save words, were simply referred to as Short-Haired Girl, Long-Haired Girl, and Ponytail Girl.
Among them, Ponytail Girl was particularly interested in Yuu—whether due to his good looks or his shooting skills. Like Hachishakusama spotting a lone boy at night, her eyes sparkled as she eagerly stuck close to him, being the friendliest toward him of the group.
(Hachishakusama: Also known as the Eight-Foot Woman, a Japanese urban legend. n enchanted by her die within days, and she has a particular fondness for young boys.)
As for the last one, the original center of the small group, the refined and elegant handso guy, Haruno’s prospective fiancé, Yuuki Kouichirou...
Maybe it was just his imagination, but Yuu kept feeling that since their eting began, this guy paid more attention to him than to Haruno.
Even when Haruno spoke to him, Kouichirou occasionally glanced at Yuu; when their eyes t by chance, he didn’t hurriedly look away but instead gave a friendly smile, nodding at him gently and amicably.
...Good grief, that was downright creepy, sending chills down his spine.
Though these university students were all easygoing and didn’t act superior despite the age difference, Yuu couldn’t help but want to escape and head ho imdiately.
Ponytail Girl was one thing—oblivious to Haruno’s intrigued gaze, her death star was probably already twinkling in the sky.
Especially Kouichirou’s stare, which sohow gave Yuu the eerie feeling that the one being considered for engagent wasn’t Haruno but himself...
Was this developnt a bit off?
Maintaining his cold, flat expression, Yuu subtly shifted to Haruno’s left, blocking Kouichirou’s sneaky glances.
Haruno tilted her head curiously, silently asking with her eyes what was wrong with him.
Yuu pursed his lips slightly, conveying an uncomfortable, constipated feeling through his gaze.
Haruno raised an eyebrow, smiling in confusion, then turned her attention back.
Since she didn’t understand what Yuu was trying to express, she pretended not to notice—probably sothing like that.
Yuu sighed silently, following the six students into the ga center with an odd sense of unease.
◆━⊰✧⊱━◆
The ga center on a holiday was like a world where machines and humans coexisted harmoniously, with electronic sounds and human chatter blending into a constant hum.
Perhaps because of the event, the normally fun atmosphere of gaming carried a faint whiff of competition, a drive to outdo one another.
"What should we play first? The team competition ga machine is still free—how about we start there?"
"Agreed! Last ti I lost to Kouichirou by accident. This ti, I’ll get my revenge!"
"Don’t act like you know, Daisuke. An accident? You were just bad."
"Hey, what’s that supposed to an!"
"Hmm, it’s a good idea, but there are seven of us, right? That machine only supports four players."
Hearing their discussion, Yuu tossed the bag of ga tokens Kouichirou had given him, thought for a mont, and decided to tackle his sister’s request first.
So, as they said, "Oh, right..." and fell silent at Haruno’s comnt, Yuu spoke in a flat tone: "There’s a ga I want to play first. Can I go solo?"
Everyone looked at him, as if watching a coworker suddenly stand up in the middle of a eting and leave without caring about the mood.
"Oh, right, Tenkuji-kun wants to join the ga center event, doesn’t he?" Haruno clapped her hands, smiling. "How about we split into two groups? One plays the four-player ga, and the other watches Tenkuji-kun break a record?"
She paused, then deliberately added: "Or how about everyone plays solo first, then we regroup for gas we can play together? I don’t mind either way~"
Hearing her words, the others looked at her, so amused:
"Haruno-chan, if we do that, this group outing loses its point~"
"With so many of us, moving together does take a lot of ti, and standing around watching soone play is pretty boring..."
"Then let’s split up? One group of four, one of three... Who’s with who?"
"Of course, I’m with my ’coach’~ That leaves us one short."
"Oh, then I’ll..."
In the middle of the discussion, Kouichirou suddenly said: "Then I’ll join Haruno-san and them."
"..."
The atmosphere fell silent for a mont, as if everyone realized sothing. The glances darting between the two beca loaded with aning.
Kouichirou’s expression didn’t change, showing no intent to explain, his smile still friendly.
Haruno looked at him oddly but rembered she was supposed to have received instructions from her parents to build a good relationship with him.
Though feeling unenthusiastic, she still nodded with feigned excitent to welco him.
As for Yuu...
(Damn, damn, damn, I really have no intention of stealing your prospective fiancé. Can you stop staring at ?!)
The hairs on the back of his neck stood up, screaming internally with a throbbing headache.
His indifferent eyes looked elsewhere, feeling the hot gaze from over there. The corner of Yuu’s eye twitched, his fist clenching as if wanting to punch soone.
His expert-level acting skill worked hard to control his muscles, maintaining a cold expression to keep his character from collapsing instantly.
(Why? I deliberately kept my distance from Haruno-san, yet this guy keeps staring at ?)
(Even though he says ’Haruno-san,’ he’s smiling at so aningfully. Is he declaring war? Is he afraid I’ll steal Haruno-san?)
(If so, can’t you be a bit fiercer, a bit more cunning? Don’t smile so brightly!)
(That’s not how you use a peace policy, is it?)
(And Haruno-san over there, I gave you a chance. Can’t you be more aggressive and stick to him?)
(Why do you look so unenthusiastic? Hurry up and realize the situation. Your prospective fiancé is eyeing your rent-a-boyfriend!!)
(Why did it turn out like this...)
"...Haaa."
Sighing inwardly in resignation, Yuu maintained his indifferent-to-everything expression, carrying the ga tokens and heading toward the shooting ga machine.
He needed to vent a bit, and shooting zombie heads was a good choice.
Behind him, Haruno and Kouichirou exchanged a glance, then followed.
"W-Wait for ! I want to join Tenkuji-chan too!"
Ponytail Girl, who was extrely enthusiastic about him, saw the situation and, as if resolved, chased after them.
Daisuke, Long-Haired Girl, and Short-Haired Girl, left behind, could only exchange awkward glances, at a loss for words.
"...This ga can be played with three people too, right?"
"...Tch."
"Ugh, so boring."
"Hey, what’s that supposed to an!"
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