20 Chapter 020: Friends of Friends

Sato-San was sitting in a cafe waiting for his friends to arrive. They were going to be bringing some of their friends also so he was trying to decide what persona to use. While trying to decide he got a text on his phone, it was from Kawasaki-San.

[We're almost there! Just hold on a little longer!]

'Haaah, I guess I'll just use my real persona. It'll make things a lot easier since I invited her and I don't want her to suddenly change her opinion of me…And I'm sure their friends already know about it. I wonder if Shiratori-San's almost here too…I didn't invite anyone else so I hope it doesn't make me seem to much like a loner…'

He sat there for a little while longer and heard someone come into the cafe, it was Kawasaki-San with 2 other people.

"Hey!"

Kawasaki-San was waving towards Sato-San as he ran over and took the seat in front of him.

"I see that you're alone, did you not invite anyone else?"

He gave a sort of smug expression as he said this.

"No, I invited Shiratori-San. She should be here soon."

He broke out into a grin as he patted Sato-San on the shoulder.

"I believe in you."

He held up a thumbs up and put it away when his other friends arrived.

"Oh I should probably introduce you to each other. Higura-San, Katashi-San. Higura-San, Izumi-Chan, and of course the reverse also holds true."

The one who was named Katashi-San gave a small hello which wasn't the most expressive it could have been. The other one, who was Izumi-Chan walked over to him and said hello in a polite voice. They talked for awhile while waiting for the others to arrive and after about 10 minutes Shirai-Kun arrived with 2 people.

'I guess Kawasaki-San and I are the only ones who brought girls.'

They walked over and took 3 seats for them to sit on.

"Sato-San, Kawasaki-San. Let me introduce you to my friends who are also in the student council. This is Nakamura-San and Kawaguchi-San. Nakamura-San is actually the same age as you so you might know each other."

"I'm sorry but I've never met him in my life."

Nakamura-San looked away after Sato-San had said that which made it feel like he did something he wasn't supposed to do.

'Maybe we've met before? I don't remember him at all though…'

"Um Sato-San…Nakamura-San is actually a girl…"

"…Huh? Really?"

He looked at her and didn't see anything that was very ladylike.

"I'm sorry for the mistake, I'll remember from now on."

"It's okay, I've gotten used to people thinking I'm a guy at first so don't take it too hard."

"I'll make sure not to."

Shirai-Kun cut in after a short silence to ask a question.

"S-So Higura-San did you invite anyone?"

"Hm? Oh, yeah I invited Shiratori-San."

"Oh really now?"

"Don't get the wrong idea."

"It may take some time but I'm sure my suspicions will come true at some point."

Kawasaki-San and Shirai-Kun gave each other a thumbs up to each other after Sato-San was beginning to give a slight blush.

'They are definitely planning something…'

"Anyway~ Do you know when Shiratori-San will get here?"

"No, I guess I should probably ask her."

As he was starting to take out his phone Shiratori-San had entered the cafe. She walked over and took the last seat that was next to Sato-San. He began to introduce her to the others and she said a few things about herself.

"Well, I guess we should get going. A day is only so long."

"Yeah, let's go."

They left the cafe and began to look around some of the shops in the area. They talked and grew closer as the day went. After shopping for awhile they went to watch a movie, it had released recently and most of them were interested in seeing it. The movie was called Tamako Love Story and people were giving it good ratings so they thought it may be a good movie. After about an hour and a half the movie finished and they left the theater.

"Did you guys think it was good?"

"Yeah, I'd say it was good."

Sato-San had given his answer and everyone just nodded along instead of actually answering with words. Kawasaki-San walked ahead of everyone and held his hand out which made everyone stop walking.

"Before we split up, why don't we go for ice cream?"

Everyone just kind of looked at him until Shirai-Kun stepped in.

"Sure, I don't see that as a bad idea. Let's go!"

Shirai-Kun gave a subtle wink to Kawasaki-San who did the same back. Sato-San looked at the both of them with a questioned face.

'Why does it feel like they're planning something?'

They walked to the nearest ice cream stand and Sato-San was the first to walk over to the ordering window.

"Eh?! What are you doing here?"

Fukuhara-San turned around with a face of surprise and saw Sato-San.

'This is bad! She doesn't know of my false persona! …I'm at a loss of what to do…I guess next time I see her I'll have to make an excuse…Haaaa, I hope this doesn't become a huge problem…'

"W-What would you like to order?"

"I'll take a regular vanilla on a cone."

"I-Is that all?"

"Yes."

"O-Okay your order will be ready soon."

Sato-San walked to the next window as Shiratori-San began to order.

"I'll take a small strawberry ice cream in a cup please."

"Okay, It'll be ready after Sato-Senpai's."

"Sato-Senpai? You knew his name?"

"U-Um yeah! We know each other…"

She began to turn a little red after mentioning that they knew each other.

'Crap…This complicated things…'

The others were looking at him as if they wanted to know who she was. Sato-San gave in and put his hand on his forehead.

"Her name is Fukuhara Yoko, I fell down the stairs once at school and she brought me to the nurse's office. I've run into her a few times now but I wouldn't necessarily say we're close…Huh?"

He saw that Kawasaki-San and Shirai-Kun were talking together while trying to keep quiet.

"I thought that Shiratori-San would have been the sole love candidate, who'd think of this development?!"

"That's right! I thought Shiratori-San was the only girl he knew other than his sister…This may complicate things."

"That's true, who do we go for now?"

Sato-San walked over to them and they instantly stopped talking. They slowly looked towards him as they began making faces of acceptance.

"What exactly are you accepting?"

"You're probably going to punch us aren't you…We tried to set you up…"

"Hey…" He leaned in on the both of them as he whispered in their ears. "What's the idea with trying to get me to hook up with Shiratori-San? And now what seems like Fukuhara-San?"

"Shit he knew our plan…Run?"

Kawasaki-San nodded as fast as he could.

"Run."

Kawasaki-San and Shirai-Kun ran away as fast as they could but Kawasaki-San quickly lost breath due to his weakness and was caught by Sato-San.

"I'm just going to say this now before you do anything, don't hurt me too bad, we're friends right? …Right?!"

Sato-San dropped Kawasaki-San and crouched down to his height.

"I'm not going to hurt you, just don't try to hook me up with someone again."

"…Fine, we were just trying to take advantage of the fact that you finally had a female friend."

"Why do you think that means I have to date her?"

"Just kinda thought it would happen eventually so we thought to just make it happen faster."

"…Wow…I'll just say this, I don't think it'll happen. I'm not looking for love right now so you can drop the idea of me dating someone."

"Fine. Huh?"

Kawasaki-San leaned to the side as his eyes grew in size. Sato-San turned around to see Shirai-Kun sprinting towards him only a few feet away from him. Shirai-Kun jumped in the air and kicked Sato-San in the chest.

"I came for you buddy! Get on my back!"

"Im saved!"

Kawasaki-San quickly got onto Shirai-Kun's back as he ran away yet again while Sato-San was completely winded.

"T-The hell?"

He watched as they slowly disappeared from sight and just began to laugh while letting them escape.

"I guess I'll let them have their fun, let's see what you do next! I'm looking forward to it!"

He turned around to see that the others had caught up to him and they all left while they didn't know where Kawasaki-San or Shirai-Kun went. They just assumed that they'd show up at some point.

"How long have you known Fukuhara-San?"

Sato-San and Shiratori-San were the only ones left together after everyone else had left for home. They were walking down the street that was lit up with the streetlights that were on each edge.

"Hm? Oh, not that long. In fact I've really only known her for as long as I've known you, a little shorter of time though."

"Okay, so she's not like a childhood friend or anything?"

"No, I don't have any female childhood…Friends…"

'Wait, why does it feel like I do? I know I don't…Must just be my mind playing games with me.'

"You paused a little there."

"No! No I definitely don't have any girls as a childhood friend! And why would it matter anyways?"

Shiratori-San began to turn red after realizing what it was that she was asking.

"…Y-You're right! I-It definitely doesn't matter!"

Sato-San gave a small laugh as he walked her to her house. While Shiratori-San was walking to her door she stopped and turned to look back at Sato-San.

"Do you want to come inside?"

"Eh? Really?"

"…Ahhh, nevermind! Forget I said anything!"

She ran inside of her house and slammed the door as she walked in.

"I didn't hear what I just thought I heard right? It had to be my imagination…"

He walked back to his house while thinking the entire time if what he heard was just him mishearing things.

"Ah…Didn't I just do something that a boyfriend would do…"

He decided to forget what he did and headed straight for his house ignoring everything he wanted to think about on the way.