The Invitation to a Mixer
To think that Hayashi would make such an outrageous demand of me, telling me to talk to guys from our department. Seriously. I’ve hardly ever felt lonely about not having friends in my life so far, and yet here she is, acting like I need them now.
Well, I kind of get where she’s coming from.
Hiding her from her ex, or that recent trip back to her family’s place—I’ve done enough this past month to make her feel indebted to me.
She probably wants to repay that debt, even just a little.
In the flow of our conversation, it became common knowledge that I don’t have friends, and she must’ve thought, “Well, let’s fix that.” Honestly, it’s such a motherly Hayashi-like idea.
So, what am I supposed to do with this motherly Hayashi brainstorm?
…Honestly.
If I’m being honest…
…Absolutely not.
Talk to guys from my department? Those guys? The ones who are so noisy during lectures? I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve wished they’d just study quietly for once. Why do I have to become friends with them now?
Sure, there are some quieter ones, but… they’re either fiddling with their phones under the desk or blatantly messing around on them right on top. And then there’s the type who just play games.
…Hold on a second. Are there any decent guys in our department?
Well, it’s been a while since I left home and started university life. They’re probably just starting to enjoy the college vibe. But going wild right after summer break? Come on, students, that’s not it.
“Damn, what do I do?”
On my way to university, I was grinding my teeth.
If this keeps up… my cleaning supplies are gonna get sold off. Sure, to Hayashi, they’re probably just junk.
But.
But…!
Those things are like my own children to me.
The thought of my precious babies being sold off—it’s like someone stealing my partner. It’d destroy my brain. Absolutely not!
But then, what am I supposed to do?
Hayashi said it herself. Just talk to some guys.
But here’s what I’m thinking.
If I just say I talked to them… wouldn’t that be enough?
I hate lying.
In my entire life, the lies I’ve told could probably be counted on one hand, excluding games like Doubt.
For someone like me to seriously consider lying shows just how dire this situation is.
…Well, Hayashi’s right.
It’s a simple request.
Hayashi didn’t specify what I had to talk about with the guys. She didn’t say I had to come back with friends, either.
She just said to talk to them.
Yeah, it’s not exactly a tough demand.
…But right now, I don’t particularly want friends. That’s the truth.
I was just badmouthing the guys in our department in my head, but that’s not the only reason I don’t want friends.
I just… I like being alone more than being with people.
Watching TV by myself, reading books by myself, cleaning. Cleaning.
That time spent alone—it’s what I love.
I don’t want to change that lifestyle now. That’s why I don’t want friends.
…No choice, then.
When I get home today, I’ll tell Hayashi.
I don’t want friends right now. So I didn’t fulfill your request, your wish, today.
If you’re going to sell my cleaning supplies, go ahead. But… just let me take one last picture.
I’ll beg for that, even if I have to grovel.
I finally reached the university, and even though lectures were about to start, my mood was painted entirely blue.
Crossing past a few research buildings, I entered the building where my first lecture was held and headed to the classroom.
That’s when it happened.
A miracle occurred.
“Ah, uh… Yamagiwa-kun?”
The moment I stepped into the classroom, a guy called out to someone named Yamagiwa. I recognized his face. He was one of those noisy guys from the lecture hall I’d been mentally cursing earlier.
I couldn’t help but feel a bit sorry for this Yamagiwa guy, suddenly being called out by someone like him.
But then I noticed something odd.
That guy wasn’t moving from in front of me.
I took off the earphones I’d been wearing.
…Yamagiwa? Never heard that name before.
“You talking to me?”
I said it just to be sure, thinking there’s no way he meant me.
“Yeah, yeah!”
“I’m Yamamoto.”
“Oh, my bad. Yamamoto-kun.”
His tone was light, not carrying a hint of apology.
But it hit me soon enough. This brown-haired guy from my department… he’d just talked to me.
Which means… I just completed Hayashi’s mission, didn’t I?
“Thanks.”
“Huh, for what?”
“Because of you, I managed to protect something more precious than life itself.”
“Whoa, that’s awesome!”
I smiled and nodded.
Yeah, yeah. Pretty awesome, right?
“So, hey, Yamamoto-kun, can you do me a little favor?”
“Sure thing. We help each other out when we’re in a pinch, right?”
“Whoa, Yamamoto-kun, you’re so nice! Alright, tonight then, yeah?”
“Leave it to me.”
“It’s a mixer, by the way.”
“Got it.”
A brief silence.
“Wait, what!?”
I let out a shout.
“Guys, Yamamoto-kun’s in!”
“For real!?”
“Yamamoto-senpai, you’re the man!”
Hold on, hold on, hold on.
Right now… the thing I want even less than friends is a girlfriend, okay?
And me, going to a mixer?
No way, that’s trouble!
…Oh, wait.
I’m just there to fill a spot, right?
…Well, in that case…
Guess I can’t really say no, can I?
Realizing the situation had spiraled into something I couldn’t back out of, I let out a big sigh.
Before the lecture started, I sent Hayashi a message.
“Talked to a guy already.”
“That was fast. How much do you not want your cleaning supplies thrown out?”
“And now I’ve got plans for tonight.”
“Going somewhere?”
“A mixer.”
After sending that message, I started wondering if it was okay to tell Hayashi I’m going to a mixer.
I didn’t get a reply from her.
I reread it thinking the protagonist wasn’t this tactless, but yeah, he really was this tactless.
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