31 Estranged - Part 2 (2/2)
”Great, I really am an idiot after all.”
Thinking that to myself, I continue walking despondently until I finally arrive at the entrance of Sunchester High's main building. Once I'm safely under shelter, I point my umbrella at the ground then carefully close it so that the water still clinging to its surface doesn't drip onto my shoes. I'm surprised that the rain still isn't letting up, though. We would've been in a bad position if we hadn't paid attention to the weather reports last night on TV.
Haa, oh well. Thankfully we usually have gym class indoors so there shouldn't be a problem.
I casually step inside of the building with my umbrella still in hand.
But still, what am I supposed to do about this? Confirm Scarlet's feelings? And now I have Momo's guilt to worry about? Geez, dude. Am I a school counselor now? That's way too much responsibility for me. I just wanna nap through class like I usually do…
But even under normal circumstances, thanks to today's schedule that kind of idealistic scenario probably won't happen in the first three periods.
”Chaaaase! Man, it feels like it's been forever since I've seen you.”
”Almost like it's been three months desu.”
And these two guys are exactly why.
Right on queue, huh? I haven't even touched my locker yet and Nick and Sig have already found me and started with their usual chatting.
”Uh, hey guys. What's up?”
I open my locker and begin looking scrambling through the messy assortment of books for my first period materials.
”Don't 'what's up' us, why'd you keep your part-time job a secret from us? That's the whole reason we ended up following you all day to begin with!”
Well, at least Nick's honest. I can't find it in me to get angry at him for some reason despite that being a complete breach of privacy.
”Uhh, let's just say it's not something I like advertising. Especially since, y'know…”
”Ahh, I get ya. Don't wanna publicize it, huh? You always struck me as a down-low kinda guy. Still though, Smooters huh? Can't say I'm surprised.”
At those words, Sig nods his head in agreement.
”Seriously, Chase-dono and Smooters are almost like a match made in heaven.”
Huh? Huh?
What are these two going off about now? Am I missing something?
”Uhh… I'm not quite sure I follow.”
”Oh don't be so surprised, man! We've spent enough time with you to understand your tastes.”
”My… tastes?”
The two of them grin.
”Come on dude, let up. You're always catching glances at the other students' tits while we're-”
”Wha-!!”
I rush up to cover Nick's mouth.
”W-what the hell are you saying so openly first thing in the morning!?”
”Mmfmfmfm..”
”However Chase-dono, he certainly isn't mistaken. I have definitely seen you gazing longingly at the oppai of even some of our classmates, especially Momo-chan and Scar-san's friend. Jen-chan, right?”
Ughhh, it's not on purpose guys! It's just puberty! Puberty! I'm trying my best, okay?!
”W-whatever! Let's just drop this, okay? Besides, Nick is always staring at our homeroom teacher's butt when she writes on the-”
The skin of my fingers ring out in pain as they're suddenly crushed between Nick's teeth.
”OWW!!”
I reflexively pull them back.
”Hmph. Truly unfortunate how you're comparing your childish fixation on breasts to my exquisite and refined appreciation of a grown woman's ass. You're a big fat mess today, Chase. Very uncool. This is why the 'Fated Ones' can only go forward under a strong leader like myself. Sad!”
Uh, you're a little too proud of being a pervert, aren't you? And why did that sound like a Donald Trump tweet?
”I dunno Nick-kun. Both of those are okay but calling such a basic taste 'refined' is…”
”Oh shut up, you're just a foot-loving degenerate.”
”Tch, fucking riajuu. You only like our homeroom teacher because she wears glasses anyway. How is that even a real fetish man? Like 'oh my god, seeing aids! That's so hot!' Literally get over yourself.”
”What was that, you foot-loving asshole?!”
”You wanna go, kusoyarou?!”
”Pffthaha.”
Ah crap, I forgot how funny these two can be.
Geez, these are my friends, huh?
Seriously, they're so honest that it almost hurts to watch. I definitely get why it makes everyone else at school feel so uncomfortable.
But that's only because we're so used to hiding all the dark parts of ourselves all the time.
The way they can honestly blurt out whatever's on their mind just feels so refreshing to me. Rachael was definitely right when she called them perverse, but it isn't a bad thing at all. I'm actually impressed that she managed to keep up with them at all.
”Hey, Chase? I know this guy's foot-fetish was funny, but you didn't have to laugh at him to his face like that.”
”I'm pretty sure he was laughing at your shitty megane fetish, man.”
I close my locker with a smile.
”Sorry, you guys just reminded me of a funny joke from work. I'm just about done here so let's head to class.”
The two of them share a quizzical look with one another then shrug before following behind me.
Still, these late night shifts are really getting to me. I feel like I could pass out at any moment. I'm just barely paying attention to the conversation we're having. School is pretty much the only place where I can catch up on sleep and my grades may just end up suffering it.
Geez, I'm just glad Chloe seems to be doing okay in that department. Once I get my high school diploma I should be fine, but I can only hope that she ends up making some serious money with those brains of hers. She doesn't deserve to continue living like this.
”Hey Chase-dono, look. It's Scar-san.”
Badump.
”…”
Scarlet?
”Ah, you're right. She's right there with that Jennifer chick. Hey Chase, should we go ahead without you?”
What should I do?
What should I do?
This is the first time I've seen her since that talk with Rachael.
”Chase, that girl is in love with you.”
If what she said was on the money, then how do I go about talking to her like normal?
Especially after that scene we made at Smooters yesterday.
This is rough…
”Chase-donoooo?”
Ah, crap. They're getting closer.
I'm getting nervous.
I guess the least I could do is say hello, right?
Okay, that sounds good. We'll go with that.
As the two of them finally draw near to us, I raise my hand and shoot her a smile.
”Morning, Scarlet.”
”…”
It almost felt surreal to greet her like that after everything that happened yesterday.
Normally a greeting like that wouldn't mean much, but today's greeting has so much more weight behind it than usual.
My entire body is completely stiff.
It's an overwhelming tension that could only be dispelled by her response.
But…
Despite my expectations,
Despite my hope for sparking something,
A reply, a conversation, anything…
She just keeps on walking right past me.
As if …
She never saw me to begin with.
”…”
A cold shock runs through my body.
And with it, the harsh reality of the situation finally settles in.
I guess… it really is over, huh?
”Chase..?”
”Chase-kun?”
Our game of pretend-dating really is at its end. And it doesn't seem like I'll even figure out what really happened to begin with.
She's in love with me? How on earth am I supposed to believe that after she gives me the cold shoulder like this? I mean, it doesn't seem like she'll even look in my direction anymore, let alone give me her time of the day.
”Haha.”
Oh well, there's only one thing left to do.
With a smile on my face, I turn back to face my friends.
They both seem visibly perplexed by what had occurred.
But all I can do now is keep the façade going until the very end.
”Sorry guys, I got dumped.”