BHSAF 140: Sleepover 15

"Um... Good evening, Takkun."

　Yui wondered what to do, but she felt she had to say something, so she greeted him first.

"Oh, okay. Good evening, Yui. And Yu."

"Ahh... I never thought I'd meet you in a place like this, Takuya."

　I glanced at Mina, but Yui shook her head slightly while meeting Takuya's gaze. It seemed she wanted us to act like it was our first meeting.

(Well, that's true...)

　When asked how they met, it was hard to answer. Since neither Takuya nor Yui knew, they decided it would be best to hide it.

"And the girl next to you?"

"Hmm? Ah, she's the manager of our soccer club. Asakura Mina, a first year."

　Takuya answers Yu's question, to which Yui responds.

"I see, nice to meet you."

"Ah, yes. Nice to meet you."

　Mina, aware that she was doing something wrong, answered with some caution.

""""""""

　Each of the four of them, each with their own reasons, didn't say a word and several seconds passed in silence.

"So, Takuya and...um, Asakura-san, why are you here?"

　Yu was the first to speak.

"Ah, well, well.....th-that's right. I was on my way home from club activities. I was hungry and thirsty after practice, so I thought I'd buy something."

　It's true. We were playing a red vs white soccer game on the school's soccer field. It's true that I was hungry and thirsty.

　However, that was only in the morning. The coach had plans for the afternoon, so practice ended in the morning.

　So what have the two of them been up to since then?

　Mina watches the events unfold, feeling the remnants of Takuya's love between her legs.

"You know, it's getting dark earlier recently, right? And it's the same way on the way home, so I'm worried about you and am sending you off."

　Mina, who knows the truth, and Yu, who encouraged her, immediately realize it's a lie. And of course, Yui, whose job is acting, also realizes it.

　but.

"That's right, Takkun is so kind."

　Yui said it as if she believed Takuya's painful lie. The only one who felt relieved by this was the insensitive Takuya, while both Yu and Mina were left feeling confused.

"R-really? So, what about you?"

"We're shopping for Yui-chan's house."

　While Takuya is telling a halting lie, he immediately responds with a lie he had thought of.

　However, it's not a completely made-up story. When the two were in junior high school, Yui's mother was at work and couldn't go shopping, so Yui would go shopping for her instead. However, the groceries for three people were too heavy for Yui, so she asked Yu to help her.

　Recently, the grown-up Airi has been taking on the role, so Yu no longer has any roles, but Takuya doesn't know this.

"Really?"

"Takkun, you know that Yu and I have known each other for a long time, right?"

"Ah, yeah. That's right..."

　Perhaps Yui's words reminded him of this fact, and Takuya seemed to understand for the time being.

　No, to be precise, I "wanted" to be convinced.

　Things have been getting a little strained between him and Yui lately. That's why he's made a move on Mina, but that doesn't mean he doesn't care about Yui anymore. He still likes her.

　He didn't want to believe that things were going well between Yui and Yu without his knowledge, so he decided to believe Yui's convenient words.

　A lie that sounds nicer than a truth that hurts you.

"Well then, Yui. I want to see you off before it gets any darker, so I'll be off now."

　Takuya didn't want Yui to find out the truth, so he brought it up, and since Yui didn't try to stop him, he was able to leave the place with Mina.

"That was good, Yui."

"picture?"

　As he sees the two of them leaving, Yu asks Yui a question.

"But Takuya, with another girl."

"Yu-kun"

　Yui interrupted him mid-sentence.

"I only like Yu-kun. So I wouldn't be jealous or angry if I saw Takkun walking around with another girl. The only reason I'm still dating Takkun is because Yu-kun asked me to."

"...Thanks for that. I love you too, Yui."

　To those around them, the two of them made love in whispers so that no one could hear, and they simply looked like a happy couple.

　―――

"Was it okay, Takuya-senpai?"

"yeah?"

"No, I'm talking about Yui-senpai."

　A few minutes after parting ways with Yu and the others.

"See, I told you at the beginning. I'm just a convenient existence, and that a physical relationship is fine... I'm happy that you acted like I forced myself to come along, right?"

"But Yui seemed to believe me, so it looks like everything will be fine."

"…………"

　That can't be true, Mina thought.

　Yui's outfit.

　No matter how you look at it, that's an outfit she's dressed in to meet someone she likes. She wouldn't dress like that to meet someone she's not interested in. If she dressed like that and they misunderstood her, it would be a hassle later.

　Also, the distance between Yu and Yui when they first bump into each other.

　Once we started talking, we gradually distanced ourselves, pretending to be natural, and we ended up staying close but at first it was almost like we were right beside each other. If either of us wanted to, we could hold hands... no, we could even link arms.

　However, if it were only those two, there could have been other possibilities.

　For example, before meeting Yui, she was seeing friends of the same sex, or working as an actress. For example, when they were joking around, she would hit the person who made a joke, or she would try to do so.

　However, what is crucial is that she didn't say anything to Takuya or Mina. It was Yu who started the conversation, and Yui just nodded and replied.

　It's normal to be concerned if your boyfriend is with a girl you don't know. I understand that if it was on campus where there are lots of boys and girls together, you wouldn't be concerned, but this is outside.

　Her boyfriend is walking home alone with another girl without her knowledge. Even if Yui isn't the controlling type, if the person she really loves is doing something like that, she'll feel jealous and want to gently put a stop to it, as is the nature of a girl's heart.

　But he never tried to bring it up himself. He never said, "Who's that cute girl?" or "Don't cheat on me."

　In addition to the first two, that fact.

(Takuya-senpai said it was just a little awkward. It seems more serious than that...)

　It's not that I don't think it would be better to tell him.

　but.

(Rather than making up here...)

　She couldn't imagine that the slow-witted Takuya would realize this on his own. In other words, if things continued like this... she'd have Takuya all to herself.

　To be honest, it's not hard to understand why Yui has lost interest in Takuya. Her poor judgment and self-centered way of thinking are evident from their exchange at the supermarket.

　But still.

(I fell in love with him so... it can't be helped)

　Mina thought that maybe she liked what people generally call "bad boys," but she couldn't control the burning passion that was driving her young body and mind, and she had no intention of doing so.