I Was Cheated on by My Girlfriend but My Devilish Junior Now Yearns for Me V1 Chapter 4
Chapter 4
Wrapping Up the Year
The next day, I found myself strolling through a department store with Ayaka.
Its interior had already shed its Christmas cheer, now adorned with New Year’s decorations. Red and white banners hung everywhere, signaling the year’s end.
Thanks to the year-end and New Year’s sales, the store was even more bustling than usual.
“We probably shouldn’t have come today, huh?” I muttered, overwhelmed by the crowd.
“You’re the one who invited me,” I reminded her, already exhausted.
Ayaka sighed. “Because you’re the only one I can ask to carry my things.”
“I’m sure there are plenty of others you could’ve asked. Summoning me just to be your pack mule…”
“No way. I’d have to be considerate of them,” she said, already making a beeline for a cosmetics store.
I knew that even for someone as well-connected as her, the number of people she could be so carefree with was small.
I wonder what a normal guy would think about being summoned as a bag-carrier by Ayaka, a genuine popular girl in our department. At the very least, all I want right now is to go home.“See, I came here today to discover some new cosmetics. If it takes a while, I’d feel bad for the other person, right?”
“And why doesn’t that guilt apply to me?”
“Because we have a relationship built on trust, don’t we? Yeah, that sounds about right, doesn’t it?”
“Hell no, are you an idiot?!” I retorted, smacking her on the butt with the paper bag full of winter clothes she’d just bought. “Ow! Idiot, what was that for?!”
“Shut up! You deserved that for what you just said!”
“I was obviously kidding,” Ayaka said, rubbing the spot I’d hit.
“Besides, isn’t it more convenient to just buy cosmetics and stuff online these days? You can check reviews and everything.” If she just bought things online, I could have avoided lugging around a ton of shopping bags. Plus, it’s what most people do nowadays—check reviews before buying anything. I don’t really use them myself, but I know I’m in the minority.
But surprisingly, Ayaka shook her head.
“There are cosmetics review sites, you know, and I used to use them. But it turns out they were running gift promotions for high ratings.” She ran her fingers through her hair as she spoke. I was momentarily distracted by how silky and smooth it looked, but I managed to stay focused. “I bought a treatment with a super high rating, but it made my hair all stiff and crunchy. I thought something was off, so I checked the low-rated reviews, and they all said the same thing: ‘There are a lot of shills, so don’t be fooled.’”
I guess that’s the downside of relying on reviews. They can be useful, but it’s dangerous to trust them blindly.
“That’s rough.”
“Yeah. Well, it’s not just cosmetics. When I don’t want to have any regrets, I want to see and judge things with my own two eyes.”
After saying that so nonchalantly, Ayaka bent down to examine an eyeliner.
That firm conviction of hers… it must be one of her charms. I wonder how many people in her life know this side of her.“What a waste.”
“Eh, you think so? I think it’s a fair price, but maybe it’s a little expensive after all… What should I do?”
…Apparently, having a firm conviction and shopping were two different things.
“I think it’s fine,” I said noncommittally, readjusting my grip on the paper bags. The weight on my shoulder felt heavy.
“Should I carry them?” Ayaka suddenly asked, holding out her hand.
I hesitated for a moment before shaking my head. I didn’t like being her pack mule, but it was also embarrassing to imagine her carrying everything while I walked beside her. If I had to worry about appearances, it was wiser to just keep carrying the bags myself.
“Right?” she said with a knowing smile, as if she’d read my mind.
“It’s not ‘right’. You’re treating me to something for this.”
When I said so resentfully, Ayaka nodded obediently. “Okay, I’ll treat you to a meal.”
“Eh, seriously?”
“Of course. I am taking up your time and energy, after all.”
Well, that changed things completely. My weary thoughts did a complete one-eighty, and suddenly, shopping became fun.
That shift in my mood must have been obvious, because Ayaka let out a little chuckle. It couldn’t be helped; for a student living alone, the words “I’ll treat you to a meal” were more than enough to get me excited. If it were a younger student, it’d be a different story, but there was no reason to refuse an offer from someone my own age.
“I’m heading to the floor in the back, so you can pick a place from around here.” Ayaka stretched with a grunt, swinging her slender arms from side to side. With a click of her heels, she disappeared into the back of the store.
After seeing her off, I excitedly pulled out my phone.
Search, tap.
A place in front of the station I’d been curious about for a while.
I made a reservation under the name Mino Ayaka.
◇◆
“I said I’d treat you to anything, so why… a cheap diner?” Ayaka asked, her tone dripping with disbelief.
The place we ended up was an ordinary diner, bustling and noisy with office workers and students. I personally liked it, but Ayaka seemed less than pleased.
“You know, I was planning on taking you somewhere a bit more stylish.”
“What’s wrong with this place? The oden looks delicious, doesn’t it?” I said, pressing the order button. A cheerful ping-pong sound rang out, but it was immediately swallowed by the diner’s noise.
“Geez, I was planning on winning you over by treating you to a proper meal, since you probably don’t eat well.”
“That’s a disturbing way to put it!”
“But it’s true you don’t eat proper meals, right?” With that, Ayaka snatched the menu from me as if giving up and began flipping through it. Her sullen expression gradually brightened, her eyes starting to sparkle.
When a waiter weaving through the crowd came to our table, Ayaka began rattling off orders at high speed.
I wish the Ayaka from thirty seconds ago could see this.A little later, when the waiter brought over a pot of oden, she let out a squeal of delight.
“Whoa, this is a huge portion!”
“This is it, the one I’ve been curious about! This much for 2,000 yen is a steal!”
When the shareable pot of oden was placed on our table with a thud, Ayaka immediately started portioning it onto small plates.
“Here, your share.”
“Thanks.”
I started with my favorite, the daikon radish. The savory oden broth burst in my mouth. Ayaka’s expression also softened completely, and she happily stuffed her cheeks with a mochi kinchaku.
I wonder when we started eating together so comfortably like this. In high school, even having lunch together required a certain resolve—the resolve to be alone in a space for just the two of us, to be teased by others, to be envied. Just to eat a meal, we needed all kinds of resolve, and we did it far less often than we do now.The reason we no longer need that resolve might be partly because our relationship has changed since high school. But more than that, the people around us have changed. After entering university, everyone became more tolerant, or to put it bluntly, more indifferent to those around them.We’re getting closer to being adults. This one casual meal makes me feel it so strongly.We’re already second-year university students. When I think about job hunting, our calm student life won’t even last another year. To me, that’s terrifying. The freedom that comes with the ‘student’ title… the fact that it’s disappearing so fast makes me unbelievably anxious.“What’s with the weird face?” Ayaka’s voice pulled me back to reality. A chikuwa had been added to my plate at some point. She put down the serving chopsticks and tilted her head. “Was the oden not good?”
Even though I was the one who recommended this place, her concern showed just how strange my expression must have been.
“No, it’s just… I was thinking, we’re becoming adults, huh?”
Ayaka laughed. “Hah? Well, we’re both over twenty, so yeah.”
“Yeah, that’s true.”
Once you’re over twenty, you’re legally an adult. It’s a matter of course. But even as I acknowledged that, I didn’t feel like an adult at all.
“Being a legal adult and actually being a grown-up are different things, aren’t they?”
Hearing that, Ayaka’s expression turned a little serious. “Well, maybe. There are plenty of people who are still childish even after getting older.”
“I used to think that the moment you turned twenty, your heart would become an adult’s too. But it doesn’t really change that much, does it?” My twentieth birthday had been filled with more anticipation than usual. By then, the idea that you instantly become an adult at twenty was gone, but my mindset was still different from my other birthdays.
The first few days after I turned twenty were fulfilling. The alcohol at izakayas tasted better, and my conversations with friends started to include topics like economics and politics.
But that was it.
Other than that, my normal university life continued. I was neither a child nor an adult—just a university student over twenty, hanging in limbo.
“I wanna go back to middle or high school. I want to live out my youth in a club again, without a care in the world.”
“…Yeah, if I could go back, I’d want to, too,” Ayaka said with a sorrowful expression.
The gears of time keep turning, completely against my will.
Will the day ever come when I can proudly say that I’m an adult?“…Hey, did something happen?” she asked, peering into my face, worried by my sudden complaint. The fact that nothing in particular had happened just made me feel guilty.
“No, sorry, it’s nothing. Seriously.”
“You sure? You’re being awfully sentimental all of a sudden.”
Perhaps it was just the unique atmosphere of the year’s end that had me thinking such things. But I had another idea of what might be causing it.
Shinohara.Even though there’s only a one-year age difference between us, I feel like we’re worlds apart. It’s not that she’s childish for her age, or that I’m old for mine. It feels like there’s something fundamentally different about our energy. Watching her makes me feel like I’ve grown jaded somewhere along the line. That vague feeling might have been building up inside me, suddenly putting me in this melancholic mood.
But I didn’t say any of that out loud. It wouldn’t change anything, and it would only trouble Ayaka. Since she was treating me, I’d be losing out if I didn’t enjoy it.
With that thought, I clinked my chopsticks together. “Alright, let’s eat!”
“There’s nothing left, you know.” Ayaka sighed in exasperation and pushed her own small plate towards me. On it sat the last piece of daikon radish. “I’ll give you half.”
“Seriously? Thanks.” I split the daikon and popped it into my mouth. It was a little cool, but still delicious.
Ayaka watched me chew for a moment, her chin resting in her hand, before she spoke.
“Take care of me when we’re adults, too, okay?”
Keep being my friend. Is it okay to interpret it like that?
When I nodded without hesitation, Ayaka smiled.
I really like that expression of hers.
◇◆
The next morning, I thought I heard the intercom ring.
When I opened the curtains, the sun was still shining brightly in the east. For me, a self-indulgent person on a long break with no plans, waking up in the morning is pure agony. I felt like I’d been woken by the intercom, but the thought of getting out of bed just to check was too much. I pretended I didn’t hear it and burrowed back into my futon.
Ding-ding-ding-dong.“So noisy!” I shot up out of bed.
If it was some kind of sales pitch, I didn’t have the courage to complain to their face, but I’d at least check the camera. But when I peeked at the screen, I saw a familiar face.
It was Shinohara.
I pressed the call button and said it plainly.“Go home.”
Then I cut off the call without waiting for her reply. She did say she’d come again, but she was too quick to make good on her word. I had imagined it would be a bit further down the line. Checking the time, it was a little past ten in the morning. While not an impolite hour by society’s standards, for me, it was a grave breach of manners.
My phone, which had been charging, started to vibrate. A glance confirmed it was Shinohara.
“Guess I have no choice…”
I dragged my feet to the entrance and unlocked the door. When it opened, Shinohara was standing there with a backpack on.
“Senpai, is there something you’re supposed to say to me?”
“…Why’re you here?”“That’s not it! It’s, ‘I’m sorry for making you wait’!”
“Ah…”
It sort of made sense, and sort of didn’t. When I glossed it over with a vague reply, Shinohara let out a sigh.
“Well, whatever. Here, Senpai, this is for you.” She held out a paper bag. Bewildered, I took it and found a famous, high-end confection inside.
“You may enter.”
“Charging in!”
I didn’t have it in me to stop the innocent-looking Shinohara. After confirming she was inside my studio apartment, I went into the changing room and threw off my pajamas to get dressed. I was in my underwear and had just grabbed my clothes that were drying.
“Sen~pai, where are…” The door opened, and Shinohara came in.
Our eyes met. A moment of silence passed.
“—S-Sor…”
Anyone would be surprised to find the owner of the house suddenly in their underwear.
I was just relieved I hadn’t taken off my underwear yet.“Oh, it’s fine.”
When I spoke briefly and started to get dressed, Shinohara’s voice rose in surprise. “Eh, that’s it!? Aren’t you more flustered or something? Your kouhai just saw you in your underwear!”
“Hmm.”
I could kind of see her point, but it’s not like I lost anything. If the roles were reversed, my reaction would’ve been different, so I think it’s good that I was the one being seen. The fact that I’d just woken up and my brain wasn’t working properly was also a big factor.
“I’m hungry.”
“Ah, ahh… I see. If you’re okay with something simple, shall I make it?”
To Shinohara, who made a welcome suggestion, I replied with gratitude. “You’d do that? That’d be a great help! I just restocked the fridge yesterday, so it should be pretty full!”
“Okay, I get it, but Senpai.” Shinohara slowly averted her gaze. “Please put on some pants!”…As expected, being half-asleep is dangerous in many ways.
Looking at the blushing Shinohara, I had the mistaken impression that she’s surprisingly innocent.
◇◆
“Normally, don’t you put them on from the bottom up? I’m pretty sure it’s from the bottom up.”
While having a slightly late breakfast at the round table, Shinohara brought up what had just happened.
“I don’t really remember. My head was all fuzzy.”
“It hasn’t even been an hour, Senpai. That’s more than just being forgetful,” she said, her tone implying, are you serious? She had hung her coat on a hanger and was now in a sweater.
“Maybe it’s just my constitution,” I brushed it off and took a sip of the remaining consommé soup. The exquisitely spicy seasoning seeped throughout my body; it was a comforting taste.
“This is delicious.”
It’s delicious, from the bottom of my heart. The reason it tasted so much better than restaurant consommé might be because I was aware it was a girl’s home cooking, but there was no doubt that Shinohara was simply a good cook.
“Senpai, what do you usually eat?”
“Convenience store bento, beef bowls.”
“Ugh, I knew it. That’s so bad for you.”
“I’m aware. Can’t be helped.” I certainly had plenty of time to cook for myself, but having time and having the motivation are two different things.
Isn’t the difference in energy I felt with Shinohara yesterday born from this very way of thinking?“…Maybe I’ll try cooking for myself.”
Now, while I’m a student, might be the only time I can start new things without hesitation.Shinohara stacked the empty dishes. “Oh, that’s a good idea. I can teach you.”
“Ooh, in that case, I want to do it today. Strike while the iron is hot.” I gulped down the rest of the soup. “Thanks for the meal! It was delicious.”
“Not at all! You really eat with such enjoyment, Senpai. It makes it worth cooking.”
“Because it’s delicious.” With that, I got up and headed to the kitchen. The recently cleaned sink was still shining, and for once, doing the dishes didn’t feel like a chore.
“Shall I wash them?”
“Why? I’m the one who ate. Go relax on the cushions, there’s plenty of manga over there.”
“I’ll only be able to read a few pages in the time it takes to wash dishes,” she said, but still headed towards the bookshelf. She seemed to find a few titles that interested her, and I could hear her occasionally mutter, “Ah, I want to read this.”
“Anyway, speaking of which, why did you come over? You’ve made yourself so at home that I forgot to ask.” After finishing the dishes, I posed the question to Shinohara. She snapped shut the manga she was about to open and laughed.
“You’re really asking that now?”
In the end, it was my question that cut into her reading time, so I gave a wry smile in my head.
“I wanted to show my face for a bit on my way back to my parents’ house. Today is the last time I’ll see you this year, after all.”
“Oh, is that so?” Students living alone usually go back home around this time. I didn’t know where Shinohara’s parents lived, but I guess that meant she’d be gone for a while.
“Aren’t you going back, Senpai? Tomorrow is already New Year’s Eve.”
“I’m fine with just going for New Year’s Day. My parents’ house is close, so I see them pretty often.”
“Oh, is that so? That’s kind of surprising.”
“What is?”
Shinohara didn’t answer, instead rummaging through the cupboards and fridge, taking out large pots and bowls. I wasn’t particularly interested in the answer either, so I just watched her.
“Eh, you have hollandaise sauce? You don’t cook, Senpai, so why do you have this?”
Even hearing the words ‘hollandaise sauce’, I had no idea what it was. Looking at the container she held out, I remembered buying it on a whim.
“Ah, that. I bought it a long time ago because I wanted to make something fancy. I haven’t opened it, though.”
“This is the commercial-use kind. Where did you buy it?”
“Online.”
“I knew it. It’s a waste not to use it, so let’s use it today. Senpai, could you crack four eggs for me?”
“Okay.”
I took four eggs out of the fridge and tried to crack them one-handed, but was mercilessly shot down.
“Why are you trying to do it one-handed? Please do it normally.”
“I only failed once. My winning streak starts now.”
“Yes, excuse me.” Shinohara snatched the eggs from my hand and cracked them rhythmically with both hands.
Putting butter in the microwave, adding hollandaise sauce to a pot—after a few minutes, a scene beyond my comprehension was unfolding in the kitchen. I followed her instructions and felt like I’d become some kind of assistant.
“You’re like a chef.”
Shinohara, preparing the meal so efficiently, looked somehow more mature than usual. People who excel in areas where you’re weak are always attractive in some way.
“I like cooking, you see. Ah, could you get the bacon over the—” She suddenly stopped moving.
“What’s wrong?”
“No, Senpai… You don’t even know what I’m making, do you?”
“It’s tamagoyaki, right?”
“There’s no way someone who takes this long can teach cooking… this is way too much effort for tamagoyaki.” With that, Shinohara groaned, “Hmm. I got carried away and forgot to actually teach you. Senpai, I’ll teach you another time, so you can go relax.”
“Eh, why?”
“I kind of want to show it to you after it’s all done and plated.” With that, she started humming.
She really does love cooking.
I decided to look forward to the finished dish and rolled onto the bed. My excitement was stronger than my guilt for making her cook alone. Besides, I felt like if I helped, I’d just ruin the taste.
After flipping through a manga for a while, a slightly smug-looking Shinohara brought over a large plate.
“Ta-da!”
A muffin was topped with a runny yolk, with ham sandwiched inside. Seeing the social-mediaworthy food, I couldn’t help but gape. “Whoa. I can’t believe something this delicious-looking was made in my house.”
“It’s Eggs Benedict. It’s stylish and delicious, one of my favorite recipes.”
Not just its appearance, but even its name was stylish.
“Want one? You just had breakfast, though.”
Thanks to my breakfast being less than a full meal, I still had an appetite. I picked one up and took a bite. The runny yolk coated my tongue. “Delicious! What is this, it’s amazing!”
“Mmm, it’s really delicious! It turned out great!” The Eggs Benedict was so well-made that even she was praising herself. She must cook a lot to be able to instantly come up with a recipe from an unfamiliar ingredient like hollandaise sauce.
“Well then, my shinkansen is about to leave, so I’ll be going now.”
“Oh, so you really just came to show your face.” I was a little surprised, as I had thought her earlier reason was just an excuse. Shinohara nodded as if it were a matter of course.
“Yes, just as I said. You’ve taken care of me for a while now, after all.”
“Your house isn’t close, is it? You really didn’t have to.” No matter how much she felt she owed me, it felt bad that she came all this way during the busy end-of-year season.
But Shinohara let out a big sigh. “You know, Senpai. Do I really seem like that much of a goody-two-shoes to you?”
“Uhh…”To put it bluntly, not at all. From the Motosaka incident, I had caught a glimpse of her attitude towards people she had little interest in.“I quit my club, broke up with Yuudou-senpai, and now I’m free. And the person I got close to in the midst of all that is you, Senpai. So, I have no choice but to show up unannounced, right?”
“So basically, you’re just killing time. You’ve got a bad personality, you know that?”
“Ehehe, saying it like that makes me sound like I have a bad personality, doesn’t it?” That’s practically what she was saying, yet her smile was so lovely. Shinohara’s free-spirited nature, unbound by convention, was refreshing to watch. Well, with a face as cute as hers, there were probably tons of guys who’d be happy just to be used as a way to kill time.
“It’s lonely eating alone, so let’s eat together sometimes. I’ll even do the housework.” She leaned forward and looked up at me.
“Just today is fine.”“I’ll come five times a week!”
“Are you even listening to me?!”
Shinohara covered her mouth, her shoulders shaking with amusement. She looks like she’s having fun.“Then, how about twice a week? I’ll be sure to contact you beforehand, so that’s okay, right?” What’s with that tone? It’s as if she’s convinced I’ll agree. But compared to her initial demand, twice a week with prior notice seemed more reasonable. I wasn’t particularly busy, and if she was going to do the housework… although losing some of my personal time was a bit of a pain, I couldn’t think of a reason to refuse. Besides, the time I spend with her is, how should I put it, fulfilling.
Having rashly come to that conclusion, I replied, “Well then, I guess.”
“Fufufu. Door-in-the-face, a great success!”
“What’s that?” I scowled at the sudden foreign phrase.
“It’s a negotiation technique. If you make an unreasonablerequest first, it becomes easier to get subsequent requests approved. They talk about it on TV and stuff.”
“Huh, I thought it sounded familiar. It’s surprisingly easy to fall for when it’s used in daily life.” Although, whether my current conversation with Shinohara could be called ‘daily life’ was highly questionable.
“Right, right? I’m glad I listened in class.” Satisfied with my reaction, Shinohara stood up. I also stood up to see her to the door, but she stopped me with her hand. “Ah, you don’t have to see me out. I’m the one who showed up unannounced.”
“I see. Well then, see you next year.”
“Yes! Have a great New Year!” She gave a little salute and grinned.
“Yeah. Thanks for everything this year.”
At my reply, Shinohara bowed her head and headed for the door. The door opened, a gust of wind blew in, and then it was silent again.
Shinohara’s house and mine had different nearest stations. The fact that she was going home by shinkansen meant she had gone out of her way to come see me.
This year, my girlfriend of about a year cheated on me, so I couldn’t say I was blessed by any stretch of the imagination. But still, I felt like I was able to wrap it up on a not-so-bad note.
◇◆
I was bedridden, unable to move.
Today was the day of the mixer my friend invited me to. I was just called to fill the numbers and agreed casually, but now that the day is here, I really don’t want to go. Unable to get myself to move, I was seriously considering bailing at the last minute.
But thinking about it from my friend’s perspective, it would be a huge problem if the numbers didn’t match. I don’t care what some guys I don’t even know think of me, but I don’t want to cause trouble for my friend.
“Ngh… I guess I’ll go…”
I reluctantly dragged my heavy body to the mirror. A few days have passed since the new year began. It’s a morning just like any other, but the words ‘New Year’ are still stuck in my head, and it feels like everyone is a little excited. The TV shows still had a hyped-up lineup.
When I glanced at my phone, I saw a few new messages. I had it on silent, so it didn’t make a sound, but this happens sometimes.
(Message) Happy New Year! I’m super excited for that movie coming out soon, what about you, Mayu-chan?
Considering the sender, it’s not a message worth replying to right now. I make it a rule to reply to these kinds of annoying messages all at once when I feel like it. For my mental health, that’s what works best.
After washing my face, my sluggishness eased up a bit. I took out some makeup primer from my vanity drawer. As I dotted the dime-sized amount on my skin, the feeling of not wanting to go out started to fade. If I can just get through today, I won’t have any plans for a while. I decided to think positively and dotted foundation on top of the primer.
When did I start to think of makeup as a part of my appearance? In high school, it was fine whether you wore makeup or not. Girls who wore it were a little more grown-up, and those who didn’t were just normal. I wonder how much easier it would have been if that perception had continued. When I got to university, everyone around me was wearing makeup, so I followed their lead and started doing it every day.
My mood when I put on makeup differs from day to day, but today I’m feeling particularly sensitive.
“Ugh, this is such a pain,” I said out loud to vent.
But I still don’t slack on my makeup. I’m cute even without it, but there’s no doubt that makeup makes me even cuter. My pride as a woman won’t allow me to show a sloppy makeup job in front of a guy.
Finally, I applied a light pink lipstick and started to get dressed. My mood isn’t lifted at all, but I still took my time deciding what to wear. It feels less like picking out clothes for a date and more like picking them out for battle.
I was running late, so I rushed out of the house and walked quickly to the station. I realized on the way that I was just wearing sneakers. I started to think that since I went to the trouble of dressing up, I should have worn heels, but I shook my head. If I didn’t even think about that, it just means today’s mixer isn’t that important. If it were a date with someone I liked, I probably would have spent ages agonizing over the slightest difference in heel height.
“Someone I like, huh.”
The last time I could clearly say “I like this person!” was a long, long time ago, in elementary school. And even that only remains as a memory; I can’t remember it accurately. But recently, there’s someone close to me who makes me feel differently than other guys.
“I wonder if Senpai is free today.”
If the mixer is boring, I’ll just leave in the middle.I opened the app and sent a message to Senpai.(Me) Happy New Year! I want to come over today, so could you leave the key in the mailbox for me?What an audacious message. If someone else showed it to me, I’d be put off. Then, an instant reply came: ‘Happy New Year. Roger that.
’There are no emojis, just a blunt reply. And yet, why does it convey such a definite warmth?I thought about it for a few seconds, then sent him a cute sticker I bought recently. My heavy footsteps felt just a little bit lighter.
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