I Was Cheated on by My Girlfriend but My Devilish Junior Now Yearns for Me V1 Chapter 8

Chapter 8

The Phone Call

When we arrived at a café with a charmingly retro atmosphere, Shinohara chose a seat in the back. The dark brown wooden chair creaked lightly under her, and when I sat opposite her, mine protested with a slightly louder groan.

As Shinohara hung her coat on a nearby hanger, she seemed a little worn out. Seeing that, I blurted out something rather uncharacteristic for me.

“This one’s on me.”

“Eh? You don’t have to,” she refused, a startled look on her face.

For some reason, her instant refusal without a moment’s thought got under my skin.

“I’m treating you, whether you like it or not.”

“Why? Besides, wasn’t I supposed to treat you today?” Shinohara asked, now looking slightly put off.

If someone offered to treat me, I’d accept in a heartbeat, but apparently, she’s built different.“You let me treat you on Christmas Eve, so why not now?”

“What are you talking about? Don’t go rewriting your memories. I was the one who paid,” she retorted.

Her words brought it all back—I was hired to get back at Motosaka. It seems my brain had automatically altered the memory to protect my pride as an older guy. My sudden urge to treat her was probably an unconscious impulse to reclaim that very same, worthless dignity.

Well, whatever. Either way is fine.“You’ve been working hard. Suddenly joining the circle, becoming the manager… you must be tired. Think of it as a token of my appreciation.”

Hearing the words “appreciation,” Shinohara seemed to relent. 

“I-I see…”

 Apparently, if there was a proper reason, she was willing to be treated.

“In that case, I’ll gratefully accept. But seeing you enjoy basketball was kind of cute, senpai, and I had a really fulfilling time, you know?”

“I would’ve been happier if you’d said I was cool.”

“Ehh,” she pouted at my reply. “When a girl calls a guy cute, it’s proof he’s scored some pretty high points, you know.”

“Yeah, yeah.”

“What’s with that reaction!”Shinohara snatched the menu from me with both hands. I felt a pang of regret, having not considered the risk that our little tiff might provoke her into ordering something expensive.

But my fears were unfounded. When the waitress brought our food, both meals were comfortably wallet-friendly.

We were more than halfway through our meal, making small talk, when I finally had to ask.

“Sorry, did you hold back because you were worried about my wallet?”

“No, this was just what I was in the mood for.”

“I see.”

“Yep,” Shinohara nodded, twirling her fork and lifting the pasta to her lips.

This junior of mine, despite her usual cheeky attitude, could be surprisingly considerate. That’s probably why her usual sass never really bothered me; in fact, I even found it comforting. I’d only known her for about two months, but it seemed I’d grown quite fond of our dynamic.

“Ah, but today felt nostalgic. It reminded me of when I was in the basketball club.”

“Huh? You were in the basketball club?” I couldn’t help but sound taken aback.

Considering how she handled the ball earlier, she seemed pretty clumsy for someone who was in the club.“You just thought, ‘For someone who was in the club—’ didn’t you? I used to be pretty good back in the day, you know!” Shinohara’s face was a mask of indignation, as if to say she was deeply offended. “…Though, compared to Ayaka-senpai, I probably fade in comparison.”

“Ayaka? She was in a club?”

“Eh, you didn’t know?”

“It’s not that I didn’t know, but…”

In high school, Ayaka was in the go-home club. I’d even heard she was in the go-home club in middle school too, her reason being, “I don’t want to lose my personal time.” I never questioned it. Even now, hearing the truth from Shinohara, I was still half in doubt.

“Hmm. So Ayaka-senpai really hasn’t told you.”

Seeing the cold expression that flickered across Shinohara’s face for a brief moment, I had to ask.

“What do you mean, ‘really’?”

“It’s nothing~”

As if to dismiss the topic entirely, Shinohara waved it off and called over the waitress. A past of Ayaka’s that I didn’t know, but Shinohara did. I wanted to press her, but the waitress arrived at our table, so I held my tongue.

“May I take your order?”

“A matcha latte and cheesecake, please! Do you want anything, senpai?”

The subject had been completely, or rather, deliberately, changed. I wasn’t sure of her intention, but I could tell she didn’t want to talk about it here.

Well, I can just ask Ayaka herself about her past.I gave up and decided to join her for dessert. “I’ll have an iced café au lait.”

“Understood.”

With a quick bow, the waitress turned away. Her uniform was simple, but combined with the café’s atmosphere, it looked quite stylish. I could see why it was a popular part-time job for university girls.

“Working part-time as Santa is more unusual, though,” I commented.

“Because Santa is cute. And it was perfectly seasonal,” Shinohara, who had been gazing at the waitress’s back just like me, replied in a charming voice.

Indeed. With Christmas just around the corner at the time, Shinohara had stood out so much that all eyes were on her. 

I couldn’t quite picture a university girl who’d willingly take on such an attention-grabbing Santa cosplay job becoming a quiet café waitress.

Though with Shinohara’s looks, she’d probably look good in anything.“By the way, you really like café au lait, don’t you? I always pictured you as a black coffee person, senpai, so I was surprised when I first found out.”

Was that supposed to be a compliment? I also held the image of adults drinking black coffee, so I didn’t mind the comparison. “I can’t, though. I still can’t drink that stuff. It’s just not good.”

“That’s what I mean. I thought you’d be the type to pretend to be mature and drink it anyway. You’re an adult, senpai, but you’re surprisingly childish.”

“Wh-who are you calling a child!”

Contrary to my expectations, I wasn’t being complimented at all. In fact, it was closer to an insult.

“Unfortunately, my wallet isn’t flush enough to pay for something just to look cool.”

Hearing that, Shinohara seemed convinced, nodding and saying, “If you don’t have money, then I guess that makes sense.”

What a rude thing to say. Speaking of which, Shinohara herself was dressed in a way that suggested her wallet had plenty of room. The beige trench coat on the hanger looked expensive, and the black turtleneck and thin necklace she wore underneath also seemed to have cost a pretty penny.

“Conversely, why do you have so much money?”

I knew it was a tactless question, but Shinohara answered without a hint of displeasure. “I work quite a few part-time jobs, you see. The Santa one was just a side gig.”

“I guess so. Maybe I should pick up more shifts too.”

Currently, I only work one or two shifts a week. For a humanities student who isn’t in a club, that’s practically nothing. When I was dating Aisaka Reina, I worked five shifts a week and managed to save up a decent amount. Now I was just living off those savings, and they were about to run out.

But my thought seemed to displease Shinohara. “If you’re not home as often, I’ll be bored.”

“Hey now, coming over to my place three or four times a week is what’s crazy. Let me work my part-time job.”

“I also do salon modeling, so you can rely on me financially. Shall I cover your food expenses?”

I wasn’t sure whether to react to the “salon modeling” part or the invitation to become a kept man, but the words that came out were a question about the former. The term “salon model” was completely foreign to an average university student like me.

“Can you make good money as a salon model?”

“I guess it depends on the person, but I make about forty thousand a month. It’s pretty good.”

“Wha—”

Did that mean, combined with her regular part-time job, she was earning several times more than me? Honestly, my head was spinning. Still, I couldn’t bring myself to let her pay for me. That would be a problem if people found out.

“No, it’s fine. There’s nothing more pathetic than having a younger girl pay for you.”

“Yes, that’s my senpai,” she replied with a satisfied smile.

My jaw dropped. “…You were testing me? You have a terrible personality!”

“I-I didn’t think you’d actually take me seriously!” Shinohara placed her fork on her plate and wiped her mouth with a napkin. “It can’t be helped. As a special treat, I’ll cook for you tonight. I’ll put my all into it.”

I scowled at her as she made a deliberately showy flexing gesture. Apparently, my expression was so amusing that she burst out laughing.

“So, what do you want to eat tonight?”

I instinctively crossed my arms. Shinohara’s cooking was on a pretty high level, so honestly, anything would be fine. But I knew that was undoubtedly the most difficult answer for the person cooking.

So, I told her the first thing that came to mind.

“Tiramisu.”

“Why a dessert?”

“Is that a problem?”

“N-no, not at all. Shall we go shopping then?”

With that, Shinohara stood up from her seat. 

“You can go on ahead.”

“Okay. Thank you for the meal, senpai,” she said, bowing her head before leaving the café first.

My mind already filled with thoughts of tiramisu, I went to pay the bill.

◇◆

After Shinohara left, I found myself washing dishes for two.

The sweetness of the tiramisu still lingered on my lips. It had been delicious. I prefer mine with a moderate bitterness to balance a stronger sweetness, and perhaps she’d figured that out from my order at the café, because the tiramisu Shinohara made was perfectly to my taste. Combined with the guilty pleasure of eating it in a warm, heated room, it would undoubtedly rank among the best things I’ve eaten recently.

The time was now 8 PM. Thanks to Shinohara heading home early, my evening was progressing more smoothly than usual. At this rate, I’d have a good amount of free time before bed.

I didn’t mind spending time with her, but I also cherished being alone. With tests over, all I wanted to do after finishing the dishes was lie down and watch videosto my heart’s content. The bliss of watching one interesting video after another, falling down a rabbit hole of recommendations, was my humble paradise.

But that humble wish was interrupted by the green glow of my smartphone screen.

The name displayed was Ayaka.

“So, what do you think the customer said?”“…Hey, can we talk about this another time? I just remembered something urgent.”

“Ehh, you’re just going to surf the net, right? You can do that anytime.”“You can call anytime too, can’t you?”

A loud sigh came through the speaker.

“Jeez, you’re the only one who’d be so dismissive when I call.”“Thanks for the compliment,” I replied, scrubbing at the stains on the pressure cooker. If anything, I was more focused on the pot than on my call with Ayaka. The pressure cooker my parents had given me had hardly been used until Shinohara started coming over, and now it was seeing a lot more action. The pressure cooker must be happy.

“Hey, are you still not done with the dishes? I can’t hear you sometimes over the sound of the water.”“Just a little more.”

“Really? By the way, aren’t the dishes taking longer than usual?”Her sharp observation made my hand pause. Of course it was taking longer—I was washing dishes for two, plus all the utensils from making dessert—but I hesitated to tell Ayaka that.

“…I let them pile up during examweek. You wouldn’t understand this struggle, living alone.”“Don’t underestimate me. I can handle all the housework even during test week. I even have enough time to go help you with yours.”It was a generous offer, but I wanted to avoid having her and Shinohara cross paths as much as possible. I’d rather do the housework myself than feel stressed out in my own home.

“Don’t need it.”

“Really? I was actually going to go over,” Ayaka said, her voice sounding bored.

Most guys would rejoice if Ayaka offered to come over, but she doesn’t really get along with those kinds of guys in the true sense of the word. Therefore, it was inevitable that I, who truly gets along with Ayaka, would refuse.

If we were really that close, I should know more about Ayaka.The thought crossed my mind unexpectedly. We’d known each other since our first year of high school, all the way to the winter of our second year of university. We’d spent a lot of quality time together. And yet, Shinohara, a mere acquaintance of hers, knew they were in the same basketball club in middle school.

There were plenty of opportunities for her to tell me. With so much I didn’t know, it felt less like something she simply hadn’t told me and more like something she had actively hidden.

Of course, I wouldn’t doubt our friendship over something like that. I hadn’t told her everything about Reina either, so I knew how difficult it is to share everything, no matter how close you are.

Still, I couldn’t deny a slight feeling of loneliness. It was arrogant of me, feeling lonely because she kept a secret when I had so many of my own. If this were any other friend, I probably would have let it go.

But this was Ayaka.

Because I believed in our friendship, I decided to take the plunge.

“By the way, Ayaka.”

“Hm?”“You played basketball in middle school, didn’t you?”

I turned off the faucet. The unnecessary noise vanished, and silence filled my small apartment.

The reply didn’t come right away. Over the phone, it was impossible to know what that silence meant.

“…Who told you?”Her tone was one I’d never heard from her before. It wasn’t laced with anger, nor was it suspicious.

…Fear, perhaps?The sound of water droplets dripping from the faucet echoed strangely in my ears.

“…Was it wrong for me to ask?”

I stood over my smartphone, looking down at the screen. It showed her icon, a picture probably taken with her circle members. The Ayaka in the photo was beaming, but the voice I was hearing felt worlds away from that smile.

“…Wrong, no. It’s not wrong, but.”It was a rare, hesitant reply from her. Was she flustered? Just from the sound of her breathing, I could guess her emotions to some extent. Just as she understood me, I could also gauge her feelings. Even if I didn’t know about her past, the years we’d spent together were real.

Still, it felt a little lonely not knowing. That thought had spurred my question, but I shook my head.

Because we’re close, she doesn’t want me to know.The fact that she’s kept it hidden for so long must mean that. Otherwise, it’s unlikely I wouldn’t have heard about her middle school days in nearly five years.

“Well, if you don’t want to talk about it—”

—you don’t have to.The usual me would have definitely said that. Prying into someone’s life when they don’t want you to is just a nuisance. There are countless people in the world who dig up others’ secrets to satisfy their own desire for approval, wanting to feel special for being the one someone confided in.

A perceptive person can tell the difference between those who pry for their own ego and those who genuinely care. Ayaka was in that perceptive category. In high school, boys were always trying to get her advice. She was keenly aware of the ulterior motive—to get closer to her—and always gave non-committal answers.

Watching her play on her phone with a bored expression back then, I had a thought.

Superficial words won’t work on her. With Ayaka, I’ll just be myself.Backing down here wasn’t being true to myself. If I’d decided to always be honest with her, then asking directly was the best choice.

“—If I don’t want to tell you, what?”“Well, even if you don’t want to tell me, I want you to.”

“…Are you an idiot?”After that, she fell silent. But the silence wasn’t heavy; if anything, it felt close to our usual atmosphere. Taking that as a sign of acceptance, I laid out my words carefully.

“I’ve only heard that you played basketball. What was it like?” I purposefully refrained from mentioning Shinohara, just in case. Especially since the two of them weren’t on the best of terms.

“I don’t want to talk about it now, but I’ll tell you when the time comes.”“Hey, isn’t that just a way of not talking about it?”

“I’ll tell you.”Her instant, firm reply made me shut my mouth.

Ayaka exhaled slowly. “I will tell you, so just wait.”“…Alright.”

Her strong tone seemed to signal the end of the matter. But by asking once, I had broken the unspoken rule about her middle school days. Of course, I wouldn’t ask recklessly again, but I believed her when she said she’d tell me when the time was right. So, the best choice was to wait. It’s not like I was in a hurry. I was satisfied just knowing she’d promised to tell me something she had never revealed before.

We’re not dating, just friends. And that’s why I was happy. If she had answered with “Why do I have to tell you?” it would have shattered our ambiguous relationship right there. Being promised something felt like her way of saying we were at least closer than normal friends.

My smartphone screen flickered, signaling a low battery. Ayaka didn’t seem to be in the mood for small talk either; I could hear the faint sounds of her working on something.

“Why did you suddenly feel like asking?” she asked, along with a sound like she was putting something away.

“Because I was curious, obviously.”

“…I see. Good. I was wondering what I’d do if you said something cringey like ‘for your sake’ or whatever.”“I wouldn’t say that. I know you hate those kinds of lines, and I decided I’ll only ever speak my mind to you from now on.”

There are probably plenty of girls who like those kinds of cheesy words, but Ayaka wasn’t one of them. Consideration is necessary, but if it’s not genuine, it’s meaningless to her. Funnily enough, she herself often uses false consideration and thoughtless words. A small part of me wanted to pout and say she shouldn’t expect from others what she doesn’t do herself, but the feeling of understanding was stronger. Perhaps because she puts on a false front so often, she wants those closest to her to be their true selves.

“I like that about you, you know.”“…Yeah.” Her straightforward words made me flinch. Noticing my reaction, she quickly corrected herself. “As a person, I mean. I’m sure you knew that, though.”“I know, so don’t say it. It’s actually kind of annoying. Besides, isn’t it because you say things like that that guys confess to you?” Even if you know better, you can’t help but be a little conscious of those words coming from a friend of the opposite sex. I wonder if the guys who’ve liked Ayaka in the past were won over by this kind of frankness.

“I only say it to you.”“Huh?”

“I’m not so wicked as to say things like this to just anyone.”…True, I couldn’t imagine Ayaka, who rejects nearly every confession, going out of her way to lead someone on.

“Then, why me?”

“…Who knows. Just felt like it, maybe.” Ayaka cleared her throat. Maybe, just maybe, she got embarrassed. “Well then, looking forward to the drinking party tomorrow.”“Ah, right. I don’t know anyone there besides you. I’ll be fine once I’ve had a few drinks, but stick with me until then.” I was still an outsider, and the thought of joining a table of strangers sober was a bit daunting.

But Ayaka just said, “You won’t need to.”“You know people there. The girls from the Christmas group date are all in my circle. The one who exchanged contacts with you is coming tomorrow.”“Seriously? We only ate together once, I wonder if she’ll even remember me...”“She remembers, she remembers. She was happy when she heard you were coming, you know.”We’ve barely texted or seen each other since then, but hearing that still made me happy.

“Well, look forward to it. I’m sure it’ll be a meaningful time.”“Yeah, I’m looking forward to it. See you tomorrow.”

“Good night!”In her usual cheerful voice, Ayaka hung up the phone.

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