───● The Genki Girl University Student Gets Info ●○●
Lately, I’ve been acting weird.
“Mizuho, do you have the handout from the last class?”
“Oh, yeah, I have it.”
“…You okay? You look kinda down…”
“N-Not at all! I’m bursting with energy!”
I forced the conversation to an end.
Ever since Koumi introduced us, I’ve been spending a lot of time at university with Masato and her. We’re even taking our current classes together.
In itself, that makes me happy. I’m even a little proud.
At university, just being in a group with a guy gets you a little bit of envy, and even more so when that guy is handsome.
But I know how Koumi feels about Masato.
Koumi knew that, and she still introduced me to him. That’s a kind of trust.
Of course, the fact that I had already met my fated person probably played a part, but it means she thought she could trust me.
And yet.
When I’m with this person… with Masato, I start acting weird.
Ever since that incident when Keito-san was bothering me, my heart has been all floaty.
Was my heart always this fickle?
I want to find my fated person. That feeling hasn’t changed.
Because he really did save me back then.
To think that someone like that might be at this university, I have to meet him and tell him how I feel.
But then, what is this feeling I have for Masato?
I would never think that just any guy would do. That shouldn’t be the case. And yet, for some reason, I’m drawn to Masato.
Even though he’s the person Koumi likes. Even though I absolutely shouldn’t fall for him.
The more I think about it, the more my chest hurts.
I couldn’t focus on the lecture at all.
My notebook remained blank. I didn’t know what to do. The fog in my heart wouldn’t clear. And just like that, only time passed.
“Mmmph! I’m beat! Man, we have a quiz next week~ I’m not confident at all.”
“It’s fine, it’s fine! It’ll work out somehow!”
“Mizuho, you always say that and then barely scrape by…”
“Barely scraping by is still an okay, my friend!”
The lecture ended, and we were on our way home.
When we’re walking like this, I can forget. My own complicated feelings. Koumi and Masato’s relationship. I can just enjoy the moment.
“Anyway, let’s go to the batting center like we promised! There’s one a few stops away by train!”
“Oh, yeah, sounds good.”
“Mizuho, you’re coming too, right?”
But then suddenly, something like this happens.
All of a sudden, my chest felt tight.
Koumi wants to go with Masato.
If I’m there, I’ll be in the way. Because Koumi likes Masato. I’m already taking up their alone time at university, if I take it up outside of school too… I’d be a terrible person.
Hang in there, me, I chanted in my head.
“Huh? Ah… Haha! I actually have something else on today… You two have fun!”
“Oh? You do?”
“Yup, yup! The super-popular Mizuho-chan is just so busy, you see… sniffle, sniffle.”
Not… bad.
I’m acting like my usual self. This is for the best.
I knew this from the start.
“Mizuho, you have plans?”
“…!”
Masato leaned in to look at me.
His eyes were pure, without any malice. His face was handsome, well-defined.
Stop.
Stop it.
I took a deep breath.
“N-No way~! This is such a dilemma. Does Masato-kun really want this Mizuho-chan to come that badly? But I can’t today! Sorry! Well, you two, see you tomorrow~!”
“Ah, wait, Mizuho!”
Before I knew it, I had started running.
Of course, I didn’t have any plans. But being with them any longer, my aching heart didn’t feel like it could take it.
On my way home, I got off the train once at my transfer station and went through the ticket gates.
It’s within my commuter pass zone, so it doesn’t cost extra.
I walked without a destination.
When I walk alone, I can calm my thoughts.
“Ah…”
As I was doing so, I came across a familiar drugstore.
This is where I met my fated person.
If I just wandered around, maybe I’d run into him again… no, probably not.
The time and day of the week are different from then.
Bumping into him would be a miracle.
But… right now, I really want to see my fated person.
Because if my feelings were firmly set on him, I wouldn’t have to feel guilty when I’m with the three of them.
I could surely put a stop to these feelings for Masato that are starting to grow.
“Maybe I’ll look at some makeup…”
I went into the store on a whim.
I’m free anyway.
Just then.
“Thank you for your continued patronage~”
“No! Thank you as well~!”
A man was walking from the cash register toward me.
I recognized his uniform.
I couldn’t see well last time because I didn’t have my contacts in, but.
—It’s the same uniform as my fated person.
My heart skipped a beat.
I looked at his face… but it wasn’t him. For one, his hair was way too flashy.
His hair wasn’t that bright, and he was quite a bit shorter than my fated person.
It was clearly a different person, but the same uniform meant there was a high chance they worked at the same place.
In fact, that’s almost certainly it.
I called out to him, almost unconsciously.
“Uh, um!”
“…? Yes?”
Oh, crap. I called out to him on impulse, but now I just look like a total weirdo.
“Ah, um, well,”
“…?”
Wh-What should I ask?
Right! I can ask if they have any university students working part-time!
“Um, uh, at your place of work, are there any university students working part-time…?”
“University students?… Uh, yeah, there are.”
There are!
But then again, it’s probably rare for a place not to have university students working part-time…?
I need a little more information…
I can’t waste this chance I’ve stumbled upon!
“Um, do you, do you know their names…?”
“Hmm, that’s work-related, so I can’t really tell you. Sorry.”
“O-Of course! I’m sorry!”
Of course not, you idiot, me!
This just makes me look like a total stalker!
“Oh, well, here, you can have this. If you’re curious, why don’t you come by and see for yourself?”
“Eh…? Thank you.”
He was a cute-looking guy with silver hair and a handsome face. He handed me a business card.
They have business cards…?
“Well then. We’ll be waiting for you, My Lady.”
“…?”
With a little wave, the young man (?) left.
He wasn’t really my type, but I think he was pretty handsome.
Or maybe cute is a better word?
The fact that I didn’t feel my heart flutter even when he said that to me was a relief, proof that I wasn’t just falling for any guy.
I looked at the business card. It depicted a glittering glass and a night cityscape.
The important thing is that I found out the name of the place. That’s a big step forward.
Let’s see, what is it…
“Boy’s Bar ‘Festa’… Wait, a boy’s bar?!”
I-It’s true that the guy just now, and my fated person, were both handsome, but!
This was completely unexpected. The name on the card was “Yuuta.”
“W-Whaaat…!?”
Once I knew where the place was, I had planned to go right away.
But if it’s a boy’s bar, that changes things.
And more importantly, my fated person was a “boy” at a bar…!
“Wh-What should I do…”
The new information spun around and around in my head. I couldn’t get my thoughts straight. I stood there, unable to move, for several minutes.
In the end, I came home.
I flopped onto my bed and fiddled with my phone.
I looked up the bar, and apparently, you can get in as long as you’re over 18, so it seems I can go.
But… it’s probably expensive, and of course, I’ve never been to a boy’s bar before.
And also.
“Was he only nice to me because he’s a ‘boy’…”
A question reared its head.
Was it just an extension of his customer service…?
But…
“Are you okay? You lost a contact, right? I’ll help you look.”
“Excuse me! We’re looking for a contact lens here!”
“Okay. Be careful on your way.”
If I close my eyes, I can remember it like it was yesterday.
That smile, those kind words, that consideration.
I can’t believe it was all fake.
Besides, I wasn’t even a customer.
Would he go that far for someone outside of his work?
When I think about it like that, then it must have been his genuine kindness—
Ping.
A notification.
A social media notification on my phone.
Lying on my back, I looked at the message, careful not to mark it as read.
Koumi: Mizuho, you didn’t have to do that for me.
But, thank you.
So Koumi did realize.
But it’s fine. As long as Koumi had fun, then that’s…
I thought, and just then.
Another notification, right after.
Koumi: Video Sent 52s
Koumi: <Image Sent>
Look, look. I took this of Masato from behind. Isn’t he so cool?
And get this, Masato took a picture of me, isn’t that insane?♪
Suddenly, my chest tightened. I clutched the fabric over my heart.
Why?
Why is this so painful? Why does it hurt so much?
That’s great. He’s basically your boyfriend at this point.
I want to say that, in my usual tone!
So why.
Why does it hurt this much…?
My eyes fell on something I’d placed on my desk earlier.
I reached out and picked it up.
The business card.
The boy’s bar’s business card I got on my way home.
Lying on my back on the bed, I held my right hand up and stared at it for a while.
…I sighed, then dropped my raised hand to cover my face with my arm.
“…I have… no choice but to go.”
To get a grip on these feelings.
So I won’t hurt my best friend, or myself.I made my decision.
Header: In the Case of Igarashi Koumi and Tonosaki Mizuho
< University Group (3)
Koumi(21:12): Masato, you have class from second period tomorrow, right?
Masato(21:21): Yup!
Koumi(21:48): Mizuho’s and my first period class got canceled, so let’s head over from the station together!”
Masato(22:31): Okay!
Koumi(22:45): Alright, let’s meet in front of the station at 10:30, then! You too, Mizuho!
Masato(23:02): OK!
(Sticker of a bear)
Mizuho(1:16): Roger that.
(Sticker of a cat)
Mizuho(9:30): Sorry, I overslept!!
Go on ahead without me~ I’d be thrilled if you could save me a seat!! (9:31)
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