27 Bonds - Part 7 (1/2)
This was the last thing I expected to see when she disappeared to call him back for us.
After all, after learning that he was visiting Smooters every day, I could only imagine him ogling waitresses like some kind of disgusting pervert. That was kind of the impression these two had given me of him after we'd followed him around all day.
Which is why my surprise when I saw him walking out of the kitchen with a chef's apron wrapped around his waist was completely visible to anyone who bothered to take a look at my face.
Chase Masters approaches the three of us and carefully scanning all of our faces.
But instead of acting surprised himself, all he can do is offer up his usual indifferent sigh.
”Haaa… Why on earth are you two eating here with Scarlet…?”
”Save it Chase! We're the ones asking the questions here!”
Before anyone else could say a word, Nicholas grabs Chase by his shoulders and begins shaking him violently.
It's so violent that it looks like his neck could snap at any moment.
”Why are you working at a Smooters?! Is this why you're always ditching club early?! What is your relationship with this Rachael girl?! Why are you so damn lucky, you normie asshole?!”
”Agh, aah, auuh…”
”Unhand him at once, Nick-kun! You are making him feel unwell!”
”Ahh.”
He lets go a bit hesitantly.
”Sorry dude, that's my bad. You're on shift now, right? We shouldn't be bothering you too much.”
At Nicholas' observation, Rachael smiles.
”Well, I can handle it for the time being. But my shift starts up in twenty minutes so you guys will have to wrap up your little chat before then.”
She walks behind Chase and undoes his apron. In a way, it almost looks like a mother undoing her baby's bib. I can't help but wonder about the kind of working relationship these two have.
”Okay, I'll be back in fifteen minutes!”
Leaving us with just those words, she heads through the door that Chase had just come out from.
All that's left is the three of us hanging around in awkward silence.
Really what should I make of all of this?
”I guess I should have just been honest from the beginning, huh?”
Chase sighs once more and then sits down at the table.
”The truth is, I've been working part-time as one of the cooks here to help out with the finances at home. Rachael over there was the one who taught me the ropes since she'd worked in that position before, so she's kind of like my senior.”
”Ahh, your senpai huh?”
Sigmund nods as if he totally gets it, and continues speaking.
”Still, you could have just told us that from the beginning. Why did you keep all quiet about it?”
”Well…”
His voice trails off.
As if there's some deep reason he'd rather keep to himself.
No, I'm almost certain that there is at this point.
There's still so many things that none of us know about him. He has to be making some kind of effort to hide these things from us.
”Nah, don't worry about it. I'm sure you had your reasons.”
Nicholas pats his back.
”If you don't wanna tell us then it's fine, but you need to trust us some more, dude.”
”Certainly. Especially about your hobby for dressing up like a g- OW!”
Nicholas yanks Sigmund's ear similarly to what I did earlier.
”Ow, ow, ow!”
”Okay, we're gonna head out now. Sorry for uh, following you around and all that. We were just worried about our bro, you know? Can't really help it much. It's like that one popular saying. We're best friends as friends should be.”
”That's Barney. You're quoting Barney right now.”
”Whatever man, talk to you tomorrow. And don't forget to beat that game I recommended.”
Nick turns back and walks off while dragging Sig by his ear.
”Ow, dude! God! And you call Scarlet-san violent? Wait, why are we leaving? I didn't even get to order my chicken strips!! Ugh! We'll talk later Chase! TNT!”
The arguing slowly fades into the back of the restaurant until they finally leave through the front door.
Nicholas, you did that so the two of us could talk alone, didn't you?
Geez, I thought you were scared of girls taking your friends away from you. What the hell, you're gonna make me tear up, idiot.
”Whew…”
Chase slumps back in his chair as the tension finally leaves his body.
”Just what the hell is wrong with today? First that thing with Momo and now this…”
”Momo, huh?”
”Ah-”
I'd honestly said it on reflex, but seeing him freeze up like that just makes me feel even more uncomfortable than I've been all day.
Sigmund already told me that he was the one who put them up to it, but if he reacts like that then it's almost like he has something to feel guilty about.
”Say, Chase… Why did you skip class with her today?”
”… So you already know about that, huh?”
I don't answer. I just look back at him in anticipation of his answer.
”…”
He looks down as if he's thinking hard for a response.
Thinking.
Thinking.
Thinking.
What could he possibly be thinking about, though?
Is there even a reason to think if the answer is going to be the honest truth?
”Hey, answer already. What's with you?”
”No, it's just…”
He pauses once more.
”… Why were you avoiding me last week?”