Chapter 19

Chapter 19

After Rinka finished paying at the register, we left the apparel shop.

“I just need to take care of something real quick, so wait here, okay?”

“Okay, got it.”

Saying that, Rinka handed me the shopping bag and disappeared into the crowd.

After everything that had happened, I somehow ended up on another date with Rinka. But… it was fun.

Just as that thought crossed my mind—

“Huh? Isn’t that Miyahara?”

I heard a familiar voice and turned around. There stood Tachibana and Misaki, both dressed casually—clearly on a date.

Damn it, why are these two here…?

“What’s with that bag? You planning on giving Princess a present or something?”

Grinning, Tachibana pointed at the shopping bag from a women’s apparel shop in my hand.

Yeah, I guess it did look a little weird for me to be carrying this…

“Eh, Kazuya-kun, so you do things like this now, huh~?”

Misaki chimed in, smiling as if she was enjoying the situation.

“No, it’s not like that…”

I tried to explain, but Tachibana wasn’t listening. He kept pushing.

“I never imagined you shopping at a place like this. If word gets around at school, it’s gonna be hilarious.”

“Hey, Shouta-kun, don’t you think that’s a bit much~?”

Misaki giggled behind her hand, but it was obvious she was enjoying Tachibana making fun of me.

“Wait, don’t tell me… you were out shopping with Princess~? That’d be even crazier. I bet the whole school would be talking about it.”

Misaki’s teasing voice added even more pressure.

“No, that’s not it!”

I desperately denied it, but the two of them only seemed to find my reaction even more amusing.

Not being able to say anything back was frustrating… Maybe I should just run away…

Just as that thought crossed my mind—

“Kazuya-kun~! Sorry to keep you waiting!”

A clear voice rang out from behind me. It was Rinka. I turned around to see her running toward us.

Caught off guard by her sudden appearance, both Tachibana and Misaki widened their eyes in shock.

“We’re in a hurry. Let’s go.”

Without hesitation, Rinka stepped beside me and naturally took my hand. Then, as if it were the most natural thing in the world, she gave a polite nod to Tachibana and Misaki before quickly leading me away.

“Huh…? Hey! W-wait!”

Before I could even process what was happening, my legs moved as she pulled me along. I think Tachibana was shouting something behind me, but I barely heard it.

Tachibana Shouta’s Perspective

“…Damn it.”

As soon as I sat down at the restaurant table, I clicked my tongue without thinking. A nearby customer glanced at me in surprise. I realized my mistake, but I just couldn’t shake my irritation.

“Why the hell was Kazuya on a date with Princess…?”

Twirling her straw absentmindedly, Misaki muttered under her breath. Her voice was quiet, but the unease in it was clear. She was still struggling to process what she had just seen.

“If you think about it, it doesn’t make sense, right? That Kazuya, of all people, was holding hands with Princess…”

Misaki looked up at me, her eyes filled with shock and confusion.

“…Yeah, I guess so.”

I gave a vague response and took a sip of coffee. But I couldn’t ignore the restless feeling in my chest.

“I mean, we’re talking about Kazuya. That introverted, boring, always unsure-of-himself Kazuya… walking with Shirasaki Rinka-san like that? It doesn’t make any sense.”

Misaki kept spinning her straw in her cup, her irritation starting to show.

“I was thinking the same thing. There’s no way Miyahara, of all people, could pull something like that off.”

I agreed with her while swallowing down my own frustration. A storm of emotions churned inside me.

“I’ve never seen Shirasaki-san take a guy’s hand like that before.”

Misaki’s voice dropped, as if even she couldn’t believe what she had just said.

“Exactly. And for her to be acting so familiar with some quiet nobody like him… It’s just unreal.”

I never thought Princess would be the type to pull a guy along by the hand like that.

And yet, her partner was Miyahara, of all people.

This whole situation was seriously making my head spin.

“Seriously, why Kazuya? There are so many other guys more suited for her…”

Misaki spoke bluntly, not even trying to hide her irritation. Deep down, I couldn’t help but agree.

Yeah… Why the hell was it that guy, of all people…?

Silence filled the air. Neither of us could find any more words to say. The heavy atmosphere settled over the table, suffocating us both.

“Why Kazuya…? Why…?”

Unable to find an answer, I took another bitter sip of my coffee.