Chapter 64: Paper Airplane

Chapter 64: Paper Airplane

When the four of them gathered around the table again, Kazama Sakura did not tattle about how she had just seen Asagiri Rin searching for hot pot dipping sauce. That softened Asagiri Rin’s attitude slightly, making her seem less sharp.

Once they began eating properly, there was naturally less talking.

Yatsuno Gen’s ears finally had some peace.

However, that did not mean all the open and hidden attacks had stopped.

For example, Kazama Sakura did not eat much herself. Most of the time, she was putting food into Yatsuno Gen’s bowl, making Yatsuno Gen almost hallucinate that he had encountered his long-lost biological mother.

That said, it did not mean he had any fixation on his biological parents. In fact, he even felt that being reincarnated into this world without parents was simply a blessing.

Because it meant he had lost many moral shackles. Even if his so-called biological parents came knocking one day, he could say without the slightest shame, “I don’t know you.”

After seeing Kazama Sakura so openly display how close she was with Yatsuno Gen, Asagiri Rin adopted another tactic.

“Could I trouble Kazama-san to pick up a piece for me too?”

Or, before Kazama Sakura could place the cooked food into Yatsuno Gen’s bowl, she would proactively extend her own bowl and smile.

“How did Kazama-san know I liked this? Thank you.”

“...You’re welcome. I’m now discovering that Asagiri-san is actually really cute.”

“Is that so? I think everyone feels that way. They simply don’t dare say it.”

What a huge ego!

Kazama Sakura was practically grinding her teeth inside, but there was nothing she could do.

Depressed and irritated, she felt she ought to be a little more extreme, so she asked Hinata Kokomi for beer.

“You know how to drink?”

Asagiri Rin glanced at her lightly.

Kazama Sakura smiled and said, “I only drink a little when A-Gen is here.”

“I see.”

However, Hinata Kokomi, who came over, directly refused.

“You’re all high school students, right? High school students can’t drink alcohol. I’ll switch it for fizzy drinks.”

The plan was shattered again.

It seemed no greater storm could be stirred up at this dinner table. At least, there was no way to decide a winner right now.

At least Yatsuno Gen ate very peacefully, while also feeling slightly disappointed.

Was this all the intensity they had?

Give him a little more.

Was this fair to the audience?

Regardless, the meal was finished safely. No table was overturned, no hair was pulled, no fighting broke out, and there was no furious, red-faced assault aimed at each other’s parents or reproductive organs.

Everything was so ordinary.

After they finished eating, Kazama Sakura took the initiative to pay.

But Asagiri Rin said calmly, “I’ve already settled the bill.”

“Eh? How could I trouble Asagiri-san like that? I’m really sorry. How much was it? I’ll transfer it to you.”

Asagiri Rin glanced at the other girl’s expression. At least put on an embarrassed expression. You can barely hold back your smile.

“It doesn’t matter. Since I agreed to let you join the club, treat it as our club’s first group meal. As the club president, naturally, I should pay. Besides, this little amount of money is nothing.”

Kazama Sakura nodded.

“Then in the future, when I invite Asagiri-san out to eat, you can’t refuse either.”

Why invite me to eat?

Do you want to turn me into a dish?

Heh.

“No problem.”

They all stood and left their seats together. The customers whose pots had already been emptied of food and were purely boiling water finally prepared to leave in disappointment. After all, in a place like this, seeing three outstanding women with such different styles was far too rare.

Once they walked outside,

Kazama Sakura smiled and said, “Then take care, Asagiri-san. See you tomorrow.”

Morita Kaoru had already driven the car over and was waiting for Asagiri Rin to get in.

But Asagiri Rin said, “Get in. I’ll give you a ride.”

Kazama Sakura froze for a moment.

“Wouldn’t that be inappropriate? After all, we don’t seem to be going the same way...”

For ordinary people and great families like this, it was not a matter of not going the same way. They were simply not in the same world at all. Merely looking at it for too long would sting one’s eyes and worldview.

Asagiri Rin took the initiative to open the car door.

“Earlier, you liked saying things to me like afraid or don’t dare. Now, do you not even have the courage to get into this car?”

Kazama Sakura lowered her hand and pinched her palm.

She revealed a flawless, gentle smile.

“Not at all. I only thought Asagiri-san disliked trouble. Since that’s the case, I’ll get in.”

She got into the car after Asagiri Rin and sat directly in the middle.

Of course, there was still one seat left in the back.

Yatsuno Gen looked puzzled.

No, according to the plot, shouldn’t he be sitting in the middle, embracing left and right, no, playing both sides smoothly?

That was the treatment a male lead deserved.

Why had he now become the person closing the car door?

“How about... I sit in the passenger seat?”

The two girls in the back seat looked at Yatsuno Gen at the same time, displaying twin-like tacit understanding as they spoke almost in unison.

“Get in!”

“Got it.”

In a war between women, was there really any place for men?

Inside the car, Kazama Sakura did not act too awkward. In any case, the situation was what it was. One could not escape one’s birth. Blindly covering it up would only fill the foundation of one’s character with inferiority.

So she directly stated the place where she was temporarily staying.

Asagiri Rin nodded and said to Morita Kaoru in front, “Send her first.”

Only then did Kazama Sakura react belatedly.

“Send me first? Why don’t you send A-Gen first?”

If they sent me first, wouldn’t there be a stretch of road where Asagiri Rin and Yatsuno Gen are alone together?

Absolutely not!

Sitting on the innermost side, Asagiri Rin rested her fragrant cheek in one hand and smiled.

“Ladies first, of course. Besides, where this car goes is up to me.”

Damn it!

She had miscalculated.

Morita Kaoru seemed to understand the young lady’s intention as well, so she drove toward the road leading to Kazama Sakura’s aunt’s home at a speed that could only be described as fast, and even faster. She displayed every traffic-jam technique she normally never used.

Someone who did not know better would have thought she was not sending Kazama Sakura home, but rushing her to the emergency department.

The night scenery flew past the car windows. Looking at the increasingly familiar streets,

Kazama Sakura could not help turning her head. Even her smile had stiffened.

“I think you’re getting a little impatient.”

Asagiri Rin was in a very good mood now, playing with the ends of her hair.

“Is that so? Perhaps you don’t know me well enough yet. I like to rush first, then slow down.”

Rush when sending me, go slow when sending him, right?

Kazama Sakura took a deep breath. After thinking for a moment, she said, “But after eating together today, I still feel Asagiri-san isn’t as scary as others say. You’re even a little cute. Right, A-Gen?”

This involved him too?

Yatsuno Gen, whose soul had nearly left his body, was dragged back again. He thought for a moment.

“I’ve never thought there was anything scary about her.”

Asagiri Rin did not particularly care about those evaluations.

“There’s no difference between scary and cute. It all depends on how I want those people to feel.”

“So was that also why you rejected A-Gen in your first year of high school?”

She said this very softly. Kazama Sakura had nearly leaned to the girl’s ear, making Asagiri Rin freeze.

Rejected?

Oh.

She had heard the rumors before, about that day in their first year of high school. The day she felt she had severed ties with the past had instead given rise to inexplicable gossip and rumors.

But she now realized something.

Had this boy never properly explained it?

Was being rejected by her something to be proud of?

No, he definitely would not think that way.

Then why had he not explained?

Her heart became a little disordered, like plastic bags blown all over the streets by the wind.

Asagiri Rin turned her head aside.

“That wasn’t a confession. There was no rejection.”

“...I see.”

Kazama Sakura seemed to think of something. She leaned back against the seat and stopped speaking.

Asagiri Rin looked at the boy through the reflection in the car window.

He was merely looking out the window.

“All right. Thank you, Asagiri-san. See you tomorrow.”

“Mm.”

Kazama Sakura got out of the car.

Next was sending Yatsuno Gen home.

Morita Kaoru, who seemed to have truly awakened to something, now drove like a beginner who had only just gotten her license.

Every move showed respect for traffic rules and fear toward the road.

Smooth and steady all the way.

If the speed limit was forty, she would never drive at forty-one.

But Yatsuno Gen did not seem to care about any of this. He maintained his posture and did not say much.

Until Asagiri Rin finally spoke.

“Why didn’t you explain what happened in our first year? That wasn’t a confession.”

Yatsuno Gen smiled at the car window.

“Why explain that?”

“If you like Kazama Sakura, then you should properly explain such a misunderstanding, shouldn’t you?”

“Are you openly trying to confirm my relationship with her?”

“...I can’t be bothered talking to you.”

Asagiri Rin seemed to laugh in anger. She gave a light scoff and turned her head away, using her thick long hair to cover her cheek and hide all expression.

Yatsuno Gen stopped looking at the night view outside the window. He leaned lazily against the backrest and looked ahead.

“Rather, are you fine with sending me home like this?”

“...What problem could I possibly have?”

The moment she said that, even Asagiri Rin herself felt guilty.

He was too clever. Even though she had never mentioned the reason behind her decision, nor the reason she had seemed so awful, and had even taken the position of the villain herself, his words seemed to show that he understood it all.

Was that also why he had never asked her?

“Is that so? That’s good.”

He seemed considerate one moment, then completely indifferent the next. It made Asagiri Rin very displeased.

After hesitating for a moment, she looked at Yatsuno Gen.

“Are you in a hurry to go home?”

“Your driver isn’t driving in a hurry either.”

“...I’m asking whether you want to go for a drink.”

“Paper Airplane?”

Yatsuno Gen asked.

Asagiri Rin looked ahead.

“Morita, go to Paper Airplane.”

“...Understood, Miss.”

Morita hesitated slightly. After all, such an itinerary would certainly draw Madam’s attention. However, she did not really want to advise this girl at this moment.

Because she faintly looked forward to seeing what the things she herself had never experienced would be like.

This time, she slammed down on the accelerator.

What rose along the way was not only dust, but also those regrets and youth that had been buried and forgotten, evaporating together with alcohol and tears across the streets.