Chapter 52 - INTERLUDE 7: GIRLS TALK (1/2)

The sun was shining with a gentle light. The period of exams was coming soon. Most schools were on holiday. This period was extremely stressful for 3rd-year middle school and high school students.

A tall girl was walking outside on the street. Her long black hair was flowing freely, her large black hat and her beautiful black dress gave her the look of a young lady from a noble family who was walking toward a cemetery.

The way she walked showed power and confidence in herself.

*Cling* *cling*

The light sound of the bell when she opened the door filled the cafe she was entering. On the door, the words Yao-cafe could be seen.

When she entered, she took a look around and was satisfied when she remarked that outside of a single barmaid and a blonde girl, the cafe was empty.

Why would the owner of a cafe be happy that there's no costumer? Simply because she reserved the whole cafe.

She walked steadily and calmly and silently took the seat that was facing the other girl.

The girl in question had beautiful long hair that was well-groomed. She was wearing a hotpants and a red tee-shirt. She added another layer with a black pullover with a red skull painted on the back.

She frowned a little in displeasure when she saw this pull. She knew that it didn't belong to the girl in front of her, but to the young man she fell in love with. Those were his old clothes from a year ago that he had completely outgrown.

While Yaoyorozu Momo watched her old rival silently, the barmaid, without being asked, came and gave her a coffee before walking out and leaving the zone. Now, the only one present was her and the blonde girl, Toga Himiko.

Momo took a sip of her coffee. She liked sweet or tea more, but she wanted to become more mature.

”Hello! hello! Momo-chan!! Why did you want to meet me?”

Himiko began the discussion. Momo frowned. She hated it when this girl talked to her so casually. Momo-chan? Even Kuroha never added a -chan to her name when calling her. Still, she smiled elegantly and said,

”Good day to you too miss Toga. Also, could you stop adding a chan to my name”

Himiko, hearing Momo answer simply pouted before saying with a grieving voice

”But Momo-chan, I thought we were closer than this.”

Momo nearly crushed her cup, but she held herself in. She drew a large breath, and then slowly released it. She kept comforting herself in her mind.

(Let it go, let it go. I am a young lady. I must stay calm at any moment.)

She didn't have time to calm herself before she heard,

”Momo-chan, could you hurry up? I have a date with Kuroha today.”

Those words made Momo close to the breaking point. She had to give her all to not simply scream and flip the table. Finally, she said with a serious expression.

”Please, stop playing around. It's about Kuroha.”

The moment she said this, the atmosphere of Himiko completely changed. There was still a smile present, but if before it looked like a little fake smile to anger her, this one was so perfect and beautiful that it was disgusting.

This wasn't the kind of smile that anyone could create. It was a fixed smile. The smile of a doll.

Momo didn't seem surprised by this even though she shivered a little. She nodded before continuing,

”Your mask is as creepy as always.”

”Who said that this isn't wasn't a genuine smile of appreciation?”

”Don't make me laugh. If I wanted to see such a creepy smile in my spare time, I would simply watch horror movies.”

Himiko simply shrugged and stayed silent. Momo didn't it let it phase her. She knew that Himiko was a very whimsical girl. It was impossible to know what she thought. She asked with a little curiosity

”Aren't you tired wearing so many masks?”

Himiko answered with a somewhat emotionless tone,

”If you want to say something and have people listen, you have to wear a mask. In our world, honesty isn't a virtue, it's a weakness, therefore, it's a sin.”

Momo sighed and didn't ask more. She knew that Himiko was right. Ordinary people look at the rich and envy them. They don't know how stressful it can. [Trust no one, never give your back to anyone.]

Finally, she decided to speak about her main motives. She wanted advice. But her pride couldn't let her speak about it so directly, so decided to begin with simpler questions,

”If I asked you to give up on Kuroha would you?”

Himiko's sole answer was to look at her. She didn't speak, didn't smile nor did she even blink. Momo, seeing this wasn't particularly disappointed. If it was so easy, they wouldn't be here.

”You know, I have always been jealous of you.”

Himiko didn't answer. She simply looked at Momo with a calm smile.

”You are closer to him than I could ever be. No. More than that. You're without a doubt the closest one to him.”

Himiko smile this time became a little more genuine. She cared for a few things in this world and Kuroha was the most important.

The more Momo spoke, the more agitated she became.

”I am jealous. So jealous. Why isn't it me? Why doesn't he live me? Even though we went on many dates since our first one, I can feel it, in his eyes I'm nothing more than a very good friend he cares about. Tell me please. Why? ”

Momo was really depressed as she said and she sagged a little in her seat.

She still remembered the white-haired boy she met so many years ago. That day, he became her knight in shining armor. She loved him. She became obsessed with him.