"You're late." Rei, you idiot, that's the first thing you say to me when picking me up? Like, really? ...Haaaaaah…well, I am a bit late, so I guess it's reasonable...wait. Wait, wait, wait. No it’s not. How the hell is that reasonable?! I'm not late, you fucker! How dare you try to gaslight me?!
"I'm not late."
"That's right, you're not." Then why the hell are you trying to pick a fight with me?!
I can feel a vein popping up on my forehead as I get in his car. It's been a couple hours since dropping Sora off at the nursery school. After I saw her go in, I turned back to go home and slept until the time scheduled with Rei arrived. A-Ah, b-but that wasn't because I felt depressed and ended up crying myself to sleep, or anything, okay?! I was just a bit sleepy, that's all! A-And even if that did happen—that I'm not saying it did—what's wrong with crying oneself to sleep, huh?! It's healing! H-E-A-L-I-N-G! I'm definitely not trying to make excuses! Not at all!
"...What are you doing?" Hmph! That doesn't concern you, sir! What goes on in my mind is only my problem! …So can you please stop looking at me as if I'm some sort of weirdo?!
"You know what? I'll just forget about it. I've known you long enough to know that there are some things I should just ignore, even if they creep me out." Hey! How rude! I mean, he's not wrong, but that doesn't make him any the less rude!
"Instead of that, here, I got you a tea." Ignoring my indignant expression, Rei picks up a paper cup from the car's cup holder and hands it over to me. Ooh, now that's warm. What a nice feeling. Today has been a bit chilly just like yesterday, so it feels amazing to hold something as warm as some hot tea…wait, tea?
"...You know I don't like tea." You asshole, what type of bullying is this?! Like, I'm not trying to be ungrateful or anything like that, 'cause he did spend his money on this. Actually, if it was anyone other than him, I would've just taken it without making a comment, and then forced it down my throat in the name of politeness. But with Rei it's a different matter! He knows very well I don't like tea, so it feels like he's doing it on purpose! Nonononono, he's DEFINITELY messing with me on purpose!
"Yeah, I know you don't, which is why I got you a coffee instead." You…fucker. Then whyyyyyyyyy?! What's the need of arguing with me for no reason?! I'm already not in the right mind after what happened with Sora! Do you think I have the mental composure needed to deal with another kid?! And one that isn't mine, to boot?! Hell no! Get outta here, you oversized baby! …………But well…hmm…this thing does taste pretty well, s-so I might as well accept it. N-No, I'm not getting bribed with coffee, or anything like that, don't misunderstand! I'm just stating facts! F-A-C-T-S!
"It's pretty good. How much was it?" You can't say I'm being bribed if I pay for it, can you?! Bwahaha! Let's see…I should have some cash in my wallet…ah, yup, there it is! Okay, is this good enou—
"Nah, don't worry about it. It's my treat."
"..."
"...What? Why are you staring at me like that?"
"...Ah, no, it's just that I'm still waiting for the punchline."
"There's no punchline, how rude. I bought it on my own accord, so it's only common sense that I pay for it. Are you stupid?" I mean…he does have a point there. I didn't ask him to buy me coffee, so I technically hold no responsibility for paying for it. Like, it doesn't sound reasonable to pay for things that people bought without your permission, right? Even if they're for you. Still…even if I didn't ask him to, I will drink this coffee, so I think I should pay him for it. But…
"...Okay then…thanks." …Well, I'll accept his kind gesture this time. I'll be the one to treat him to something nice next time, in exchange.
"Don't mind it. How's the kiddo today?"
"Well…so so. She cried when she understood I was leaving her on her own at the nursery school. I managed to cheer her up, and she did seem okay, but…"
"You still feel a bit uneasy?"
"...Yeah." I haven't received a call from the nursery school ever since dropping Sora off, so definitely nothing noteworthy has happened, but that doesn't make the hellish hours that I can't see her any shorter. What if she's stuck not being able to talk with anyone? What if nobody wants to play with her? What if she's getting bullied? What if she's crying? I have no way of knowing, nor of doing anything about it. I feel…useless.
"...It might not mean much, because what I say is, at last, nothing more than words, but…she'll be fine. You don't have to worry about her. She already has friends there, right?" I nod at his words. From the friends Sora made yesterday, I've personally only met Lily, but she did appear to get along very well with Sora, and didn't seem to be a bad girl, even if she was a bit energetic. …That does calm me down a bit, I'm not gonna lie. After all, in the odd situation that some problem did come up, I'm sure both of them could get out of the pinch together.
"And she's your kid, so I'm sure she'll be fine. Like mother, like daughter, after all." Haha…he's talking as if I'm some kind of outstanding or special person in any way. Even if my life is a bit abnormal, in the end, I'm nothing more than a normal girl. I wonder what I have done in the past that makes him have that kind of impression of me; I can’t recall anything off the top of my head. He’s probably just trying to be kind with me. Yeah, that must be it.
"...Yeah, thanks." So let’s just accept his generosity; that's the least I can do.
"Don't mention it."
∆ ∆ ∆
“So this is it…” Those words unconsciously leave my mouth as I stand on the university's main entrance. Though classes haven't started yet, the sheer amount of people walking through the entrance is overwhelming. Not only that, but seeing what lies on the other side makes me hesitate for a moment. At the other side of the entrance, there is a huge flat area that is filled to the brim with countless stalls of different colors and sizes. This is…the legendary member scouting of the university's clubs. How scary. The members on the stalls are continuously moving around, stopping people in their tracks with their business smiles. Urgh, to be honest, I'd prefer to be run over by a car before having to talk with one of those guys. ...Well, no, not really, 'cause I can't die and leave Sora behind on her own, but well, you get my point.
"What? Scared already?" Okay, okay, yeah, you can laugh at me, you sociable fuck, but It's not only my social skills that are the problem here. I'm also feeling incredibly uncomfortable with how clubs seem to be conducted at this university. Like, why the hell are the "Abortion Advocates Club' and the 'Pregnancy Awareness Club' right next to each other?! S-Surely they won't go to war with one another using this place as their battlefield, right?! Crap, and those two aren't even the only ones! The same can be said about the several religious clubs that seem to exist. All of them are shouting the glory of their respective Gods while glaring at each other! Like, isn't this waaaaa~y too political?!
Like, where are the anime club, or the videogame club, or the volleyball club?! Where are the normal clubs?! Where are the clubs that are about having fun, and not about doing random propaganda?! Do they not exist here?!
"...Should we go around them?"
"Definitely."
I nod at Rei's words and start walking ahead. While there were a hell ton of stalls, not all of them were open right now. Most of them were not, as a matter of fact, 'cause well, it isn't the first day of classes yet. I'm sure when that day comes this place will turn into hell on Earth. Anyway, the point is that if we move around the inactive stalls, we should able to—
"Are you two freshmen?" …Fuck. Why does this always happen to me?! Nonono, before that, where did this idiot with glasses even come from?! I made sure to check that nobody was around as we made our way through the stalls, so how the hell is he here right now?! I didn't even sense him approaching!
…Well, of course I didn't, it's not like I have magic powers or anything like that…but still! I should've at least heard his footsteps or something! If I could've just heard those, we might've been able to walk the other way and evade him! But nooooooo, there's no way that would ever happen!
Is this what they call plot armor?! Wait, nononononono, isn't plot armor supposed to help the protagonist?! Why is it setting me up like this, then?! Unless…he is the true protagonist?! ...Hah. Nah, as if this guy I'll never see again could ever be the protagonist. He's just some random extra.
"Hahaha, no need to be so on guard." Nonono, Mr. Extra. I think it is very needed. VERY. NEEDED. We have no idea what kind of shady organization you belong to, after all. You could belong to the Necrophilia Lovers Club, for all I know. Your business smile is not going to trick me that easily.
"My name is George, what's yours?"
"You don't need our names. Get to the point, whatever that is." Nice one, Rei!
"Ha-Hahaha…b-but…" Mr. Extra's business smile started to crack at Rei's words. A vein started to bulge on his forehead, and his face started turning red in—I guess—embarrassment. …Or is it in anger? Is Mr. Extra mad that he's being so openly disrespected? I mean, Rei is being pretty rude, isn't he? And unlike always, I don't think it's accidental this time. He looks pretty damn annoyed at Mr. Extra.
Hmm? You're saying that I should intervene and calm Rei down for the sake of peace? Hah, as if. You think I'm not annoyed too? I hate talking to strangers; there's no way in hell I'll support this guy who's only job seems to be to interrupt innocent passersby like myself. It's not my problem if Rei makes him cry with his words. If that happens, the only one at fault will be this guy for being such a weak-minded idiot.
…Tch, is it just me, or am I more irritable than usual?
"...W-W-Well, that's fine. I-I was wondering if you two might be looking for a club to join?"
"We're not." Rei refuses curtly. Though, well, even if it was a curt response, it is true that we're not looking for a club to join. Rei is soon going to start his successor training to inherit his father's company so he won't have a lot of time to spare. As for me, well, I think it's pretty obvious why I can't be in a club.
Sora's in the nursery school from 8 am to 2 pm—a total of six hours each day. So when planning my class schedule, I made sure that for every day of the week, all of my classes were in that time frame. It was hard, and I did have to leave out some classes I really wanted to take because they didn't fit in that range, but it's okay. I can take them later, no biggie; school isn't my priority, anyway. While I'll technically be a full-time student, I don't really want to consider myself that. No, I prefer to consider myself only a part-time student, so that I can be a full-time loving, doting, and caring mommy.
...
...
...
…Damn, that was pretty cringe, wasn't it? Like, crawl into a hole and die levels of cringe. Wawawawawawawa, why do I always say things that sound sooooo bad?! I mean, I know I'm only saying them in my head, but still!
A-A-Anyway, the point is that I have no time to waste around after school every day! And even if I had, I wouldn't waste it by being part of a club, I'd much rather just spend it with my little girl!
"H-H-Ha-Hahaha…I-Is that so?" Oh, well, Mr. Extra seems to have turned even redder in the time I was lost in thought. What was he saying...meh, I don't remember anymore, and I don't care. All that matters is that he still doesn't seem to be backing down even if Rei has already told him we're not interested. "W-Well, in any case, please do allow me to extend to you an invitation to the—"
"Drop it. We have no intention of joining any club, and nothing you can say will change that. So how about you stop wasting our time?" Oh, Rei's sooo clearly looking down on Mr. Extra that it kind of makes me feel bad for the poor idiot. Just kidding; fuck you, Mr. Extra! …Okay, no, but I do wish he'd just let us go, you know? There are still a lot of places to visit, after all. And I'm not even part of the conversation, so why the hell do I even have to be stuck here? Maybe I should just leave Rei behind and walk away.
...
...
...
…Wait…that's...actually pretty doable? Yeah, you know what? Let's do just that. It'll be my thanks to Rei for trying to gaslight me earlier into thinking I was late. And soooo, with that said, I'll see you in the cafeteria, dude!
I flash Rei a friendly smile and wave my hand in an exaggerated manner by folding my fingers in succession. He tilts his head to the side for a moment in confusion, before giving me an expression that I can only interpret as him saying 'Don't you dare!' Ha! Naive, naive, naive! I'm sorry, but I do dare! And so, ciao ciao!
Nobody tries to stop me as I walk away. Rei is too busy verbally harassing the crap out of Mr. Extra, and the poor guy is too busy trying to protect his sense of pride without backing down. …Wow, had I known it was going to be this easy, I would've left ages ago. Oh well, no use crying over spilt milk, I guess. Instead of worrying about that, let's find something to eat, 'kay? Yup, that sounds like a great idea, 'cause I'm starving.
...
...
...
…………………Wait, where's the cafeteria?
Comments (0)
See all