2 Desire - Part 2 (2/2)

He looks down at his notebook blankly, seeming to ponder what I said for a moment.

”I see. Well sucks for you dude, you're stuck with us for the next four years.”

He leans in closer with a grin.

”And just for the record, I'll be jealous if you get a girlfriend too, dumbass.”

”Well you'll just have to work hard to get on Momoka's good side then.”

He pulls back and nods his head as if to acknowledge my affirmation.

”Indeed, I promised myself that I would make senpai notice me soon. And when that day comes, we shall celebrate like it's the last day of summer.”

”Yeah dude, sure.”

I give up on understanding him and instead decide to take a glance over at Scarlet. She's focusing intently as she writes things down in her notebook.

She's an earnest student, huh?

Come to think of it, I don't really know much about her do I? She's mostly known for standing in Jennifer's shadow all the time. How good are her grades? What are her hobbies? Does she have any siblings?

Ahh geez, I just can't help but be interested in her, can I? As basic as she is, she's still super cute.

”By the way, if you don't mind me asking…”

I turn back to face Sig, who seems unusually chatty today.

”Hmm? What's up?”

”What were the two of you talking about in the hallway?”

”Ah, that. Scarlet kind of wanted me to…”

I quickly stop myself. Oh, shit… I forgot. I'm supposed to be eating with those three at lunch today.

How am I going to explain that?!

”U-uhh, that is… She, uh…”

Sig notices my stammering and immediately shoots a suspicious glance my way.

Ahh, dammit. This is bad. Should I just tell him the truth? I guess I don't have much of a choice here, do I? I'm already acting suspicious.

I sigh aloud and dig deep within myself to find the words.

”She… wanted me to preten-”

”Masters!”

”Ah! Yes!”

I reflexively stand up as the teacher calls my name.

”Mind repeating what I just said to the class? Or maybe you were too busy chatting to pay attention?”

”Uhm… You were discussing the Founding Fathers of America, weren't you?”

He turns away to look at the blackboard behind him and sighs, then turns back toward me.

”Masters, you're in Algebra 1 right now.”

”…”

Snickers begin sounding from all corners of the room as I very clearly embarrass myself. The look of disappointment on our teacher's face is almost stiflingly cold.

”Y-yes, it was a joke. Sorry.”

I sit down and bury my face into my arms, pretending to be embarrassed.

I take a peek at Scarlet in the corner of my eye who has her palm covering her face as well. I imagine this means I'm going to look like an even bigger dork to her friends, huh?

I turn back to Sig, who also seems to be suffering from second hand embarrassment. He's already completely dropped the subject in favor of paying attention.

Haaaa, I'm glad that got him off my tail for now.

But the question is­—what am I gonna do about lunch?