Chapter 17 - An Unexpected Encounter
Thursday arrived and coincidentally met up with Kayo's two other friends on our way to the bar where we should suppose to meet. Those two were quite lively...
"So you're Shou-Kun Huh, are you really Kayo's childhood best friend?"
"Yeah, we've been together since kindergarten," I replied.
"Are you, really a boy? You don't seem to look like one." Said the other.
"Hey! Don't ask him questions like that."
"Why? I was curious."
"Well It's fine, I get that a lot since I appear quite young, and unlike other guys who have coarse skin and solidly strong bodies, Mine's quite the opposite since I don't usually do muscle training up until now..."
"I see... Oh, I almost forgot I'm Murano Jiro, and he's Ishida Kou, Nice to meet you, Shou."
"Likewise."
"Hey kayo, Do you think Shou can handle liquor?" Kou whispered to Kayo.
"Maybe? Hey, Shou-Kun can you handle liquor?"
"A little bit, but I don't think I'm going to drink too much... Just for safe keeping I guess."
"What?? Come on, Why don't you try on how many bottles you can handle."
"I-i'll keep that in mind..." Kou is quite pushy.
We arrived at the bar a few minutes before the girls arrived. After they arrived, We introduced each other.
"I'm Nishiyama Miwa, a college freshman, nice to meet you all!"
"Nakajima Akane, Miwa, and I are classmates since high school, also a college freshman, Nice to meet you."
"Asai Yuko, I'm here because I broke up with my ex and I wanted to take my mind off of him."
"Heh? Must be tough for you huh? What happened?" Kou commented.
"To put it simply, He doesn't reply to my messages and doesn't spend time with me that much."
"Ah, That's too bad. To think that Kayo know's a cutie like you."
"That's nice and all but my standards on guys are much higher than that."
"I'm just saying."
"Anyway, Where's the last person? Didn't you guys say you were going with four people?" Jiro asked.
"Ah, She said she'll be running late. I'm sure she'll arrive sooner or later." Akane replied.
As soon as she said that, a beautiful tanned lady walked through the door... If I were to compare her with Mishiki-oyabun, they're probably on par with each other. I thought to myself.
"Ah! There she is, Hana! Over here."
"Oh! Sorry, I'm late. I'm Fujioka Hana, nice to meet you all."
"It's fine, we were only starting to order anyway."
"Now that everyone is here let's all have a great time!" Jiro yelled.
The clinks of glasses being struck at one other, followed by laughter were overheard from our table.
"Oh, We almost forgot to mention, Hana, What were you doing earlier?" Akane asked.
"Nothing much, It was just my friend nagging me."
"That's rough."
"Isn't your friend in the same school as these two?"
"Who?"
"Kayo and Shou."
"Do you?" Hana checked to see if that was right.
"What school does your friend go to?"
"Tokyo university."
I hesitated for a brief moment. "By any chance is he a senior?"
"No, But considering you're a freshman you could say he is your upperclassman. He's at least a college junior like me since I'm also a college junior. Why? By any chance have you already met him before?"
Should I tell her about the things he's done?... Argh, fuck it. "Yes... but he didn't give me a good impression."
"What do you mean?"
"He tried to extort me on my first day just because I looked an easy target."
"Oh my, I'm so sorry about that."
I caught her glancing at me with a glare. Something's wrong here. "I-It's fine, I handle the issue with him peacefully."
"Ah, Is that so? But still, I still apologize on his behalf."
"It's really fine, you don't have to worry about it too much."
I was immediately interrupted by Kou's drunken singing with Miwa. I glanced at Kayo to see him passed out drunk. They all reek of alcohol, I thought to myself.
"Well, it looks like I have to bring kayo home." Since Jiro has to accompany Kou home and Akane to Miwa.
"Ah, you don't need to Shou-Kun, You guys looked like I interrupted your conversation earlier so I already ordered a taxi," Kayo replied in a drunken manner.
"Wha-"
Kayo then suddenly, grabbed my should across and whispered."Good luck Shou-Kun, I'll be rooting for you."
"You bastard- How can you still talk soberly while drinking multiple bottles?!" Don't tell me he's playing around with me.
"What's that? I think my taxi's here. Sorry guys I have to go byeee."
"Ah, We have to go too. We'll go with Kayo so don't worry about us, and just have fun you two."
"Those bastards..."
"No, This is perfect, I have a few questions to ask about you, but let's not talk here."
"What are you-"
"Wanna go to a hotel?"
"HUH?! Why can't we just go to your place instead or a cafe instead?"
"Ho? are you really suggesting a woman invite someone to her own place? Won't they get the wrong idea? Or is this your plan all along?"
"Wha-, You-, You're the one to talk!"
"Hehe, You look cute when you're all flustered, makes me wanna do something to you. But You're right about that but don't get the wrong idea I just want to talk to you, privately."
"... Fine."
We decided to go to a hotel instead. Not knowing what will happen, maybe I'm overthinking this but she's either going to bring up her friend or she's going to do something to me, either way, if she's actually working together with that upperclassman then I have no choice but to defend myself if she tried to do something funny.
"Don't be so nervous, Shou-Kun, It's not like I'm going to eat you up or anything...Yet... Just kidding."
An unpleasant feeling of coldness run down my spine... I hate this, I thought to myself.