episode_0078

“First of all, calm down. What are you both doing right now?”

After calming down the tense atmosphere for a moment, Lager lit a cigarette and asked.

Now, Lager smoking a cigarette has become quite familiar.

…Did I teach him something unnecessary?

“First of all, Ale, let’s go on vacation with the three of us as you suggested.”

“Are you…?”

“Are you crazy? I’m not going out to some crazy sex party you’re thinking of. I don’t like it.”

He wondered if Lager seriously thought, ‘As the owner of a big thing, the first experience should be a threesome,’ but fortunately, it seemed he hadn’t fallen into that kind of depravity yet.

“Then why do we have to go out as three?”

As Dakota had caught on to the situation, he asked with a displeased expression, questioning Lager’s intentions.

“If it’s just you, me, and him going out, do you think you’ll just sit quietly? I’m trying to make a truce without a full-on confrontation, so cooperate.”

“What if I don’t want to?”

“If you come out like that on your own, well, I’ll do as I please.”

“Hmm.”

Not wanting to provoke Lager any further, Dakota surprisingly acquiesced without resistance.

“I’m enduring it because it’s you.”

Emphasizing it once again, Dakota subtly smiled.

…Annoying.

Lager, who had no idea of my inner turmoil, seemed a bit upset by my attitude earlier, as he pointed out while exhaling cigarette smoke into the air.

“By the way, were you serious? Did you really want to see Dakota and me do that in front of you?”

“I just…”

“If you want it, say it now. I’ll do it for you. Go ahead and try me?”

Avoiding Lager’s intense gaze, I looked at Dakota.

A pleased expression. A face that could make anyone feel awkward.

But knowing Lager was trying to address the situation fairly on both sides.

I decided to swallow my pride and go along with it.

“…I’m sorry. I went too far.”

“What are you two doing? You were getting along fine, originally.”

“We weren’t getting along fine.”

“We never got along fine.”

Almost simultaneously, Dakota and I rebutted Lager’s statement.

“So what? Do you want to try another round in front of me?”

“No.”

“That’s not what I meant…”

I was immediately cut off.

When did he become such a manly man? Lager Godin. It’s quite surprising to see my childhood friend of almost 20 years act this way.

Lager glanced at Dakota’s arms, which were tied up, and casually asked, “Are your arms completely healed?”

“They’re fine. I can move them freely.”

“I don’t need any more help from now on?”

“No. Unfortunately.”

Perhaps he wanted to send a message that there was no need to see each other in the future.

But Dakota heard it differently.

“Thank you for taking care of me until the end.”

“It wasn’t anything special.”

“Anyway.”

It seemed like that to me too.

Something’s off.

Something…

It feels strange, my mood.

After finishing tying his hair, Dakota smiled broadly and showed off his shoulders as if to say, “Look.”

He seemed subtly happy.

“I have to go to afternoon classes. I have to take Ale with me.”

“Oh, right.”

Dakota smiled mischievously at Lager’s words and looked at me.

“You called me incompetent, remember?”

“Dakota.”

“Did I go too far?”

“Just enough.”

Lager’s voice lowered again, and Dakota nodded as if that was sufficient before turning and walking away.

“See you in class later. Have a good day.”

Dakota waved and walked away with a spring in his step.

I confirmed that Dakota was getting further away.

Taking out a cigarette, I said to Lager.

“You’re late. Let’s go quickly.”

“I’ll walk you there.”

“I need to smoke before I go.”

“I can wait.”

…I don’t like it.

Why don’t I like it?

I don’t even understand my own feelings when Lager insists on going together. The situation was ambiguous. If we delayed any longer, Lager might be late.

After putting the cigarette back into my pocket, I deliberately walked quickly towards the dormitory.

“Then let’s go quickly. We don’t have much time.”

“Don’t you need to smoke?”

“I changed my mind. Just hurry up and follow me.”

“Uh, okay.”

Lager followed behind me in a sloppy manner.

But because Lager was taller than me and had fairly long legs, they caught up with me quickly.

At times like this, I really feel like I’ve become a woman.

“Hey, listen.”

As we walked across the campus, I suddenly spoke to Lager, who was walking closely beside me.

“Why?”

“…Did you really not do it?”

“Oh, not this again?”

I can’t help but feel anxious. How am I supposed to deal with the images of you two showering together in my head?

Lager raised their voice in frustration.

“I really feel unjust. I didn’t even take off my clothes to be honest with you! Do you know how uncomfortable it was for my clothes to get wet every time I helped you shower?”

Well, fine.

I’ll trust you.

…Even though it’s hard.

“But Lager.”

“What now?”

Maybe it’s because you’ve been acting up a lot today.

Just calling your name elicits a sullen response.

“…Never mind.”

So I just kept my mouth shut.

They say the best way to annoy someone is to stop talking in the middle of a conversation. Lager seems genuinely concerned about my attitude.

“What’s wrong with you?”

“Oh, nothing. I had something to say, but I forgot.”

“You forgot?”

“Yeah. I’ll let you know when I remember.”

“…Okay.”

I reluctantly considered this a small act of revenge.

As I walked briskly, we soon reached the dormitory.

Now that I’ve become a useless freeloader, expelled from the academy and unable to attend classes, I had to rot away in the dormitory.

Although a small apartment complex behind the academy provided a home for newlyweds, what was there to do except sit there and pass the time?

So I had to quickly buy various things to prepare.

The academy only provided a room.

“I’ll contact you during break time.”

Not just today, Lager always said that they would pick me up and drop me off at the dormitory.

Every time, I would always retort, “Mind your own business and take care of yourself.”

“Yeah. I’ll wait for you.”

Today, for some reason.

I didn’t want to say that.

After confirming that Lager had turned around, I also went into the dormitory. Instead of taking the elevator, I remembered the cigarette I hadn’t smoked earlier and headed to the smoking area in front of the dormitory.

Flick, flick.

I sat in the smoking area, lit a cigarette, and stared blankly at the sky.

Unfortunately, the weather was clear.

“Darn it.”

Watching the smoke dissipate, I listed futile thoughts.

During the brisk walk earlier.

The words I wanted to say to Lager but didn’t.

“Don’t you even ask me if I’m okay?”

It seemed too clumsy.

Even to myself, it seemed too reckless.

After fighting so fiercely and bitterly, asking such a question now would make me seem too weak.

…Like a woman.

So I didn’t say it.

However.

“Darn it. Darn it.”

I was clumsy.

I was pathetic and reckless.

I fought as if to kill each other, but in reality, I am someone who is weak and always wants comfort.

Like a woman…

…No, this isn’t right.

Anyway, after aggressively confronting him at the restaurant and humiliating him, I should feel victorious, right?

-Thank you for caring until the end.

Just because of those words.

For some reason, Dakota heard the question of whether I was okay or not, but I couldn’t hear it.

The thought of losing kept creeping into my mind.

It’s a strange feeling.

I just can’t understand it at all.

What does that jerk think he is?

Why is it so important to hear a word from that perverted jerk?

Even if I hit on Dakota 150 times a month, what does that have to do with me?

Why.

Just why.

Who are you to ask why.

“…Why do I feel so miserable?”

I flicked off the dying cigarette with my finger and tried to get up, but the unfamiliar discomfort between my legs made me involuntarily sigh softly.

What a ridiculous timing.

My period has started.