18 Truth - Part 5 (1/2)
”Checkmate.”
”Ah dammit, not again…”
She flips the page of her book while yawning aloud. She's barely paid any attention to the board and yet I've been effortlessly put in checkmate every single game.
Just how big is the skill difference between us?
”Ah, it's already time. I suppose I should get in contact Jen now.”
She picks up her phone and begins typing something in rather speedily.
”Haaa, what the hell… No matter what I do I always end up in checkmate.”
Not ten seconds later, she puts her phone down after finishing her text and stretches her arms out.
”What's wrong Chase, giving up already?”
”No no, I'll be the one winning soon.”
”You don't have to try so hard to change my mind. I can already tell it's impossible for you to beat me at your current level.”
Why go on about me being a chicken then?!
Sigh. Dealing with this girl is so frustrating.
”By the way, did you tell Jennifer that I'm in here with you?”
”I did leave some details out if that's what you were wondering. I didn't tell her that you were here, nor did I tell her that this room actually belonged to the SF club. If I did that then she'd spend her time drilling me with questions rather than getting us food.”
Wow, absolutely no fear huh?
They must be close for her to deceive Jen so boldly. Most people wouldn't dream of undoing that kind of lie in her face.
”Shame there's no kitchen here though, I could have cooked us something instead of having Jennifer come all the way over.”
Well it's more like I'm terrified of having her see the two of us alone in here but…
”Hmm? I didn't know you cooked. I don't think Scarlet ever mentioned it before.”
”A-ah, t-tha… that so? It must not have come up.”
”Is that how it is?”
Great, not only do I look like a breast-loving pervert but now it probably seems like Scarlet and I don't talk about each other all that much.
”What's your best dish then?”
”Best dish? Hmm, that'd be pot roast I think. I make it at least once a week for my family so I happened to get in a lot of practice.”
”I'm surprised. You might actually make a good wife someday.”
”Dude.”
While she giggles to herself, a knocking sound suddenly comes up from behind me.
”Ah, that must be her.”
”Already?!”
Momoka stands from her seat and nonchalantly walks toward the door.
Ah crap, I'm nervous. What should I do?
I get the feeling that she might start something with me in this situation. And honestly, after Momoka's tongue lashing from earlier I don't know if I can handle that.
”Um…”
”Whatever you do, just don't say anything idiotic.”
I gulp and nod my head slowly.
You can say that again. That's one mistake I'll never make again. I really should have listened to Scarlet's warning last time.
Momoka opens the door and she's immediately embraced by none other than Jennifer.
”H-hey…”
”Ohmygosh Momo! Are you okay? I was so worried! Scar and I have been wondering where you've been all day and then all of a sudden I get a text from you asking to bring you a tray all the way up here. What's going on with you? And why did you want extra portions any…”
”…”
Our eyes meet.
Her face contorts from relief to something indescribable. It was almost entirely the same as the expression she had back then.
I can only wonder what must be going through her mind right now.
”Yo.”
”…”
Jennifer ignores my greeting and walks up to the table to set the tray down forcefully. The sound of it crashing onto the table echoes throughout the room.
Well, that went about as well as I'd expected.
Once she made sure that everything was in place, she drops into the same seat that Momoka was in mere moments ago and peers over at me.
Did getting involved with Scarlet cause some kind of chain reaction? Momoka is spending time with me in a locked room and now Jennifer is sitting here with us because of her.
Just what exactly is going on here?
After eyeing me for a little while, which caused me to look away nervously by the way, she finally clears her throat to speak.
”So? Why are you keeping Momo locked up in this room? What even is this room anyway? It's so full of nerd junk that I'm getting the creeps.”
”Huh? Me? I'm the victim here!”
”Huuuuh? You really expect me to believe that? That there's another reason for you and Momo to be in this room alone all this time?”
”Of course you should! What kind of person do you think I am?!”
”Tch…”
Well, at least she's in a good mood today.
”Momo, what's going on here?”
Momoka makes sure the door is locked and walks up to sit in one of the empty chairs next to Jennifer.
”Sorry, I can't explain why. But for now you should believe what he says. Chase isn't a bad guy, he's just a… Hmm…”
She takes a moment to think.
”A scared little kitty.”
”What, I'm not a chicken anymore?”
”I figured you should be applauded for not running off by now. Congratulations little kitty. Why don't you meow for me as thanks? Meow meow.”
”That's even more humiliating in it's own way, you know.”
Jennifer's eyes shift between the two of us, and after a while, she finds herself sighing.
”Well, if you say that's how it is then I guess I'll leave it alone…”
Just like that, Jennifer drops the subject.
This is completely different from how Scarlet handles her. It feels like Momoka is in complete control here. She's definitely more used to dealing with Jennifer than anyone I've ever seen. I wonder what's so different here compared to when everyone else tries to talk to her?
”Hmm, only one, huh? I should've thought about that.”
Momoka picks up the single fork from the tray and looks down.
”Chase are you fine with the burger? We can also divide the chicken but I don't want to force you into cannibalism if you can help it.”
”I'm a chicken again?!”
”Ah, sorry. I forgot since you still haven't meowed yet. Go on Chase, say meow. Meow for Aunt Momo. Meow!”
”Oh stuff it, there's no way I'm doing that. I'm fine with just the burger.”
”That so? Help yourself then.”
She's enjoying this way too much.
I sigh and reach over to grab the bun.
But before I could even reach for it, my hand is immediately slapped away by Jennifer.