The cafeteria.

After the second period lecture ended, I walked alone to the cafeteria. The others in my major left the lecture room in cheerful groups. As always, I was living a college life with few friends. I wasn’t particularly bothered by it. Unlike high school, where group activities were often mandatory, college gave me the freedom to feel that being alone was actually more relaxing.

It was exactly lunchtime. The cafeteria was packed with students. In this chaos, even finding an empty seat was a hassle.

No choice, then. I didn’t have any lectures scheduled for the third period. I decided to head to the library to kill time during the lunch break.

The library.

In that place with its unique scent, I decided to read a book for a while. Back in middle school, I was obsessed with self-help books, but after reading a few, I realized they all said pretty much the same thing. They started to feel pointless, so I gave up on them. I don’t read much fiction either. Finishing a novel takes a decent amount of time, and with so many things I want to do, it’s a significant commitment.

…Maybe I should leave the library.

I thought that for a moment, but then I figured the cafeteria was probably still crowded, so I reconsidered. Oh well. Might as well browse my phone.

What I was looking up was, as usual, articles on cleaning tips. We live in a great era now. With just a smartphone, you can easily search for handy cleaning tools or methods.

Oh, this looks good.

I immediately opened an online shopping site and bought it.

…And then, I felt a pang of regret.

It’s not that I regretted buying the cleaning tool. The thing is, I’d impulsively bought cleaning supplies before, and… Hayashi had gotten pretty mad at me when she accepted the delivery for me.

What are you going to use this for?

Didn’t you buy something similar before?

Of course, I’m not the type to stay quiet when someone says stuff like that.

I explained in great detail how this tool was different and how it was meant to be used. But, well… I’ve never once managed to convince Hayashi.

I don’t feel irritated that Hayashi scolds me over wasting my own money, even though it’s none of her business.

After all, she’s taking the risk of me disliking her just to scold me, all because she’s worried about my finances. One wrong step, and I could end up broke, yet she still cares enough to get mad for my sake. There’s no way I could complain about someone that kind. If I did, I’d be no different from her ex, whom I’ve mentally cursed out plenty of times.

But even with all that in mind, I can’t stop my impulse buying. What a weak-willed guy I am.

I could still cancel the order now. But I don’t even feel like doing that, so I guess I’m beyond saving.

“Well, it’s not a big deal if I get scolded.”

I even wield such an invincible logic. Man, I’m so hopeless it’s almost funny. No, not funny, but still.

In the end, while browsing cleaning supplies, the lunch break passed by.

I figured it was about time to head to the cafeteria and stood up.

The cafeteria. I ordered the katsu set meal and scanned the place for an empty spot. I headed straight for the least crowded area.

“It’s kinda dry and not that tasty…”

The cafeteria’s katsu set meal. When I first started college, I was grateful for it and ate it often. But ever since Hayashi started coming over to my place and cooking for me, I realized the food here isn’t actually that great.

Maybe I should ask Hayashi to make me a bento. But I’d feel bad adding to her burden like that, so I decided to just put up with the cafeteria food.

The cafeteria, now quieter since the third period had started, was filled with a sudden voice.

The automatic door slid open, and a group of four girls walked in.

“Oh, Yamamoto-kun.”

One of them called out to me.

I looked up to see who it was, and it was the person I least wanted to run into right now—Kasahara.

“…Kasahara, huh. You doing alright?”

“Yup. This is the first time we’ve talked at school, isn’t it?”

“…Yeah, I guess so.”

As I’d thought before, even though we’d been at the same university for half a year, I’d seen her around campus more than once or twice. The reason we hadn’t had a proper conversation until today was simply because it felt too awkward.

…If possible, I’d hoped to get through all four years of college without ever talking to her, but that wish was cut short halfway through.

“Akari-chan, who’s that?”

“Oh, my boyfriend.”

“Ex, you mean.”

Her teasing way of talking is one of her bad habits. Even now, she was clearly fishing for a snappy comeback from me.

“…Huh, when were you two together?”

“Back in high school.”

“Hmm. So, he’s single now?”

“…Well, I wonder about that?”

“…Uh, what?”

“Yamagiwa, nice to meet you.”

“Wait, why are you using a fake name, Yamamoto-kun?”

Why? Because it’s scary giving my real name to strangers in this day and age. In this internet era, you never know where your personal info might get misused. I’m a guy with high internet literacy, you know.

But my attempt at a fake name was exposed right at the edge of getting away with it.

“…Sorry, guys, can you go ahead without me?”

Kasahara suddenly said that and plopped down in the seat across from me.

“Got it. …See you later, then. You too, Yamamoto-kun.”

Kasahara’s friends left the cafeteria.

Kasahara, now sitting across from me, propped her chin on her hand and looked at me with a bright smile.

My stock’s not growing at all, huh?

I’m posting three chapters a day, so why?

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