Chapter 22: Skilled at Hurting People

Chapter 22: Skilled at Hurting People

“So Miura-kun and Yatsuno-kun are really such good friends.”

“What hobbies does Yatsuno-kun usually have? I’ve been learning ballet since I was little, and I’ve even won several major awards in Shoujitsu.”

“How are Yatsuno-kun’s grades so good? I heard you were admitted with full tuition exemption. My grades have been slipping recently. Could I ask you to tutor me when you have time? Of course, I wouldn’t let you do it for free. I can pay the standard private tutor rate.”

Yatsuno Gen felt the reason Miura Akihiko was missing a few brain cells was this.

If he absolutely insisted on going to mixers with girls, then he should not have brought Yatsuno Gen along.

Instead, he should have brought boys who were inferior to him in every aspect.

Meetings of this nature were often decided by first impressions.

After all, people were visual creatures.

Sometimes, bringing along someone who was completely inferior to you created a contrast. Combined with Miura Akihiko’s excellent family background and a little self-promotion, he could have secured at least half the field.

Forget a rose-colored youth.

Even a yellow-colored one would have been more than achievable.

Yet because he had brought Yatsuno Gen, things had turned out like this.

Most of the conversation revolved around Yatsuno Gen.

Even though he had already minimized his presence as much as possible, speaking little and rarely, never actively raising topics.

His responses were also extremely simple.

But there was no helping the fact that the two girls were practically ignoring Miura Akihiko.

Even though Miura Akihiko did his best to display his modest talents and excessively abundant wealth, it seemed to be completely useless.

At this point, what else could be done?

Yatsuno Gen could only continue eating and drinking, doing his best not to waste Miura Akihiko’s treat.

“By the way, Yatsuno-kun, are you and Kazama-san a couple?”

Suddenly, Saito, the short-haired girl across from him, asked curiously.

Yatsuno Gen, who was drinking a Negroni, raised his head.

Miura Akihiko laughed from the side.

“No way. Kazama-san is so pretty, how could she possibly be interested in Yatsuno?”

The two girls blinked and exchanged glances.

“But quite a few people seem to think so. Aren’t you two always together?”

“Quite a few people? Since when were you this popular?”

Miura Akihiko asked in surprise.

Yatsuno Gen shook his head.

“We’re in the flirting stage. We haven’t gotten together yet.”

“...Huh?”

Miura Akihiko stared with widened eyes.

Clearly, he had never expected Yatsuno Gen, who usually kept completely silent about romance, never mentioning a single word, to say something like that now.

Could someone really talk about flirting so openly?!

The light in the two girls’ eyes visibly dimmed.

After only a few more exchanges,

“Sorry, we need to head home. Thank you for the hospitality, Miura-kun and Yatsuno-kun.”

“Oh, should we walk you home?”

“No need. There’s still plenty left. You two eat it. Don’t waste it. Goodbye.”

Just like that, the two girls left Paper Airplane.

Miura Akihiko looked at Yatsuno Gen, who had already drunk quite a bit yet remained completely unchanged in expression.

“Yatsuno, I was the one paying. Why are they thanking you? What exactly did you host?”

Yatsuno Gen glanced at him.

“Just by sitting here, I was providing hospitality. Why shouldn’t they thank me?”

Hiss.

“That really is narcissistic. But what you said earlier about you and Kazama Sakura flirting... was that true?”

Miura Akihiko leaned closer and asked curiously.

“What difference does it make whether it’s true or not?”

“What kind of attitude is that... Kazama is the prettiest girl in our class. In the entire school, she’s probably only second to Asagiri, right? Actually, I don’t think she’s lacking in looks. The main thing is temperament. If you really get together with her, plenty of people will be jealous.”

Miura Akihiko seemed to remember something amusing.

“I remember a senior from the kendo club pursuing Kazama before. Maybe if he finds out, he’ll come after you with a sword.”

Yatsuno Gen lazily rolled his eyes.

“Are you drinking or not?”

“Why wouldn’t I? Even without women, I can drink with my bro.”

So the two ordered another pair of cocktails.

Leaning back in his chair, Miura Akihiko looked at the distant lights and smiled.

“Now that your grades are so good in your third year, you’re planning to continue to university, right?”

Yatsuno Gen did not know why he suddenly asked, but he nodded anyway.

“Unless something unexpected happens, probably.”

“I’m not planning to continue my studies. Studying is boring. But I really want to see what university beauties are like. Unlike you, living every day in a rose-colored life.”

“Is rose-colored really that important? It’s embarrassing hearing you say it all the time.”

“You just don’t get it. This is the only age where we can indulge our chuunibyou.” “Unlike my dad. Last time I caught him secretly watching anime alone in his study, and he still denied it. Then he turned around and lectured me seriously. He hardly even smiles. Being serious all the time is exhausting.”

Yatsuno Gen smiled at Miura Akihiko.

“I’m actually looking forward to the day you become serious.”

Miura Akihiko asked strangely,

“Why?”

“Because then you wouldn’t do pointless stupid things like today.”

Hearing Yatsuno Gen’s words, Miura Akihiko opened his eyes slightly.

Then he stretched lazily and said,

“Ah, there are too many meaningless things in life. It’s precisely because they’re meaningless that people can be happy. I always feel like you don’t really care about anything, but somehow you live more heavily than everyone else. Can’t you be more like me? Ignore what other people think, do your own stupid things however you want, and enjoy yourself?”

“I’m very happy.”

“Not happy enough.”

“Then what counts as happy enough?”

“Hmm. For example, when you suddenly confessed to Asagiri Rin out of nowhere back in your first year. That made me pretty happy.”

“Get lost.”

“Hahahahaha.”

“Hello, your drinks have arrived.”

A waitress brought over two drinks.

She handed one to Miura Akihiko.

But when she handed the other to Yatsuno Gen, her hand suddenly shook.

Clatter.

The drink spilled directly across the table.

Quite a bit of the liquid splashed onto Yatsuno Gen’s black T-shirt, instantly staining it with white marks.

The waitress immediately began apologizing frantically.

“I’m so sorry! I’m really sorry!”

Miura Akihiko froze.

“What’s going on?”

“Well...”

Yatsuno Gen waved his hand indifferently.

“It’s fine. I’ll just go clean it up in the restroom.”

The waitress continued bowing repeatedly.

“I’m truly sorry. I can compensate you for your losses...”

“No need.”

Yatsuno Gen headed toward the restroom.

He simply rinsed his black T-shirt with water.

However, ordinary water was obviously insufficient to remove the stains.

Instead, it was the waitress’s earlier actions that concerned him.

An accident?

Looking at himself in the mirror, his face and expression remained unchanged.

It was as though he had long since become accustomed to not showing many expressions or revealing his emotions casually.

Yet both Kazama Sakura and Miura Akihiko had said before that although he appeared indifferent to everything, that attitude somehow made people instinctively feel that he carried a certain heaviness.

He had never intentionally tried to be that way.

Thinking about it carefully, the reason was probably that life in this world never felt entirely real to him.

As a result, he subconsciously hid many emotions and made himself more like a low-profile background character.

It was just that his appearance was far too outstanding, ensuring he remained within many people’s sight.

He laughed self-mockingly.

Since when had he started worrying about things like this?

Turning around, he left the restroom.

As he stepped out of the restroom’s bright lights, the outside world became dim once more.

The leisurely music in the restaurant bar and the mixed fragrance of sandalwood tried to stimulate Yatsuno Gen’s senses.

But neither could compare to what he saw the moment he turned into the corridor.

A black dress.

No jacket.

Her beautiful, upright shoulders were exposed.

Her smooth and abundant long hair draped lazily over her shoulders.

The center-parted hairstyle suited her cold and breathtaking face perfectly.

She stood beside the wall, simply watching him.

In her hand was a black T-shirt.

Yatsuno Gen stopped walking and looked at the girl who had somehow appeared there.

She spoke first.

“This is my establishment. I’m sorry our staff caused you trouble. Your bill is waived, and your clothing will also be compensated.”

As she spoke, she tossed the black T-shirt toward Yatsuno Gen.

The motion was as casual as throwing away a piece of insignificant trash.

Yet Yatsuno Gen noticed the logo immediately.

A smile curved at his lips as he met her expressionless gaze.

“When your establishment compensates guests, do you usually use Balenciaga?”

“You actually recognized it. That’s rare.”

She replied coldly.

Yatsuno Gen nodded.

“I can deal with this stain myself when I get home... You’ve been drinking?”

While speaking, he had caught a distinct scent of alcohol.

Yatsuno Gen’s senses were far sharper than those of ordinary people, allowing him to clearly identify the smell as coming from the girl before him.

The corridor was dimly lit, with little light falling on her face.

But Yatsuno Gen could clearly see a faint blush spreading across her cheeks.

Like the flush of someone after drinking.

Asagiri Rin frowned.

“How you deal with stains has nothing to do with me. Whether I’ve been drinking has nothing to do with you either.”

Yatsuno Gen smiled and shook his head as he walked closer.

Her gaze appeared fixed on his face, but she could hear every one of his approaching footsteps perfectly clearly.

Until...

Thump.

A sound so faint it was almost imperceptible.

She found herself pressed back against the wall.

Forced to raise her head and look at the handsome boy who had approached so close that the distance between them had become dangerous.

Those familiar, beautiful eyes that seemed unchanged no matter how many years passed were looking directly at her.

There was unfathomable depth within them.

And also a teasing amusement that irritated her.

“Take it back. You never owed me anything, and I don’t owe you anything either.”

As he spoke, he placed the T-shirt into her hands.

Then he turned and walked toward the far end of the corridor.

“Yatsuno Gen.”

She called the boy’s name from behind him.

Yatsuno Gen stopped and turned around.

His smile remained flawless, as though none of it concerned him.

“Need something else?”

She walked forward.

Until she stood directly in front of Yatsuno Gen.

Then she extended a hand.

And grabbed his collar.

Yatsuno Gen frowned.

Rip!

The collar tore apart immediately.

A conspicuous tear appeared, exposing part of his chest beneath his collarbone, where clearly defined muscle lines could be seen.

When Yatsuno Gen looked at her,

She raised her chin provocatively.

Her eyes were as sharp as modern firearms.

“The stain can be washed away. What about this? Are you going to mend it too?”

Then she shoved the shirt back into Yatsuno Gen’s hands.

“If you think my actions are meant to please you or cling to you, and that makes you feel proud, satisfying your vanity, then you’re going to be deeply disappointed. Sorry, but I’m the kind of person who’s only good at hurting others.”