Translated: Sei, MTL-sensei-tachi
Edited: Sei, Grammarly no Danna
Source: Syosetu

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Chapter 11, This Is Absolutely Ridiculous


　A refreshing breeze came in through the open window.
　The chirping of the cicadas reached my ears, reminding me that it was summer even though I was in my room.

　Today is the first day of summer vacation, which has finally begun.

　...... Though I don't have any specific plans.
　Like a normal day off, I either read manga or novels, study, or work out.
　That's all I do.

　And, when I was thinking.

　The smartphone on the desk trembled, announcing a receiving mail.
　I pick it up and check the notification screen.
　The sender was Ike.
　Looking at the contents,

『If you're free today, do you want to hang out?』

　It was written.
　…… I am grateful for it.
　I'm free as a matter of course, I thought, and replied right away.

"Of course, it's okay"

　I sent it and received another reply from Ike soon after.

『Then, after lunch at 14:00, we will meet in front of the Pachiko at the station.』

　Pachiko is a statue of a crackly-smelling dog at the nearest station to the downtown area frequented by high school students around here.
　It is a rather famous meeting spot in the local area.　

"Roger that"

　Reply to Ike.
　There is still time to meet.
　Since the weather is so nice, let's go for a run outside.

☆

　After a quick run, I took a shower and went back to my room.
　Then I looked at my smartphone and saw that I had received two new messages.

『Senpai, you're free today, right? Let's go on a date ♡』

　It was Touka who decided that I was free.
　I really appreciate the invitation, but unfortunately, I have a previous appointment.

"I had an appointment with Ike earlier. If it's still okay with you, I'll be in front of the Pachiko at 14:00."　

　Ike wouldn't say that he doesn't like going out with Touka either.
　With that in mind, I invited Touka to join.

　Then see the next message.

『I know I just said that we can't see each other much, but practice ends in the morning today, so I'd like you to hang out with me in the afternoon!』

　The sender was Kana.
　Thank you for inviting me.
　That's what I thought, and I told her the same thing I told to Touka,

"Ike was the first promise, but if you don't mind joining us, we'll be in front of Pachiko at 14:00."

　I sent a reply.

　Shortly thereafter, my phone vibrated and I received a mail.
　The message was from Touka.

『I wanted to be alone with you!』

　After the message, I received an upset and annoying character stamp design.

『...There's no point in being selfish, but it's okay!』

　After the message, I receive an annoyed character with a smug face stamp, saying "Okay!".

"Well then, a pleasure to be with you."

　I replied to Touka's message with a few words.


　Kana's message came back much later than Touka's.
　The time was past noon, and I figured that she must have been practicing tennis so far.

『Haruma too? I wanted to flirt with Yuuji-kun alone, you know?』

　Kana sends me another annoying stamp with a character crying. Is this a trend...?

　And right after that,

『... But I guess it can't be helped. I'll save the flirting for next time, just the two of us!』

　She replied.

"I'm not going to flirt with you even if we're alone. Well, best regards. "

　After I replied to Kana so,

"I have to tell Ike"

　That's what I thought, and I sent him a message, too.
　Ike sent me a reply right away.

『I'm not sure why Kana and Touka suddenly sent me abusive words, but that's how it happened... 』

　He said, in response to the sorrowful text, I felt very bad about it.


☆

　When I got to the meeting place, I immediately found Ike.

"Hey, are you alone?"

"You have a very beautiful face. Would you like to do something good with us?"

　...... Despite the fact that the meeting place is very popular, Ike Haruma-san, a fresh and handsome man, is being picked up in reverse by two flamboyant women who appear to be female college students.

"I'm sorry, I'm waiting for someone."

"Eh~, is it your girlfriend?"

"No, a friend."　

"Then why don't you bring him along too?"

　They seem to be moderately gutsy opponents.
　Even though Ike politely refused, the two women showed no signs of backing down.
　I approached Ike, who smiled affectionately and repeated his refusal, and I called out to him.

"Sorry to keep you waiting"

　At the sound of my voice, Ike turns around with a relieved expression on his face.

"Oh, Yuuji?"

　Contrary to Ike, who was relieved by my appearance, the two women looked at me with a look of fear on their faces.

"Ah, it's bad to get in the way your fun with your friends, after all."

"This is my address, so be sure to contact me?"

　The two women who had been so enthusiastically hitting on Ike earlier quickly gave him a piece of paper with their address on it and dashed off without even looking me in the face.

　After the girls' backs were out of sight, Ike said with a puzzled look on his face.

"I was saved, Yuuji. I'm not very good at that sort of thing."

　That's what he said after being reverse picked up by the older women.
　It was a word that would make Asakura swoon if he heard it.

"As expected from Ike.... I feel defeated."

　Even I, who had never even been approached by a stranger, let alone a reverse pick-up, was shocked.

"Heh, so Yuuji-kun want to be reversed picked up?"

　And it was Kana who approached me when I was depressed.
　When I turned around, Kana was there, she suddenly tightly entwined her arm with mine.

"Then, I guess I'll pick up Yuuji-kun, then? You are cool. Want to do something good with me?"

　Then Kana said, laughing mischievously.

"No, it's not like I'm interested in being picked up."

　When I say that,

"That's right, Hasaki-senpai. Or rather, that's my position, so please step aside."

　In no time at all, Touka appears.
　Forcing my arms apart from Kana's, she stepped in between us.

　I said to Kana, who looked annoyed, and Touka, who kept giving her a cold stare.

"Touka is here too, so I guess we're all gathered."

　At my words, Touka and Kana gave me dubious looks.

　What's going on?
　As I was thinking this, they both turned to me and asked.

"Eh, senpai? Is this thieving cat going to join in? I didn't hear that. I don't know what that means?? I was worried that senpai was being stalked by this person, you know?! Please explain to me what you mean."

"I-I'm not stalking him! I also never heard that Touka-chan would be here too! You're the one who just followed Haruma around when he decided to hang out with Yuuji-kun?! Touka-chan is the stalker!! Right, isn't that right? Yuuji-kun!?"

　The two of them are heated and I'm questioned.
　Then, after looking at them, I remember.

"Ah, I forgot to tell you. Sorry."

　Indeed, I had only reported to Ike that the number of participants would increase.
　I did something bad, I thought, and I apologized...

"Eh, that's all...!?"

"This is absolutely ridiculous ……"

　As the two looked at each other in despair, Ike called out to them.

"Well, it's fine, right, sometimes."

　Although Ike said so,

"Aniki shut up for a second"

"Whose side is Haruma on?"

　He was attacked by both of them.
　After cowering and placing a hand on my shoulder, Ike pulled back.
　...... Although it was the seed I sown, I didn't want him to back down if he could help it.

　Touka and Kana glared at each other.
　Then, Touka made a cat-like voice and leaned over me and said.

"Well, that's fine. Today's love love date is mainly about me and senpai, right? Don't worry about the other two, let's just flirt like usual, okay?"

　Touka asks, looking up at me.
　It's not like we were always flirting with each other, but she wanted to block Kana thoroughly.

"That's not fair! I also... want to flirt with Yuuji-kun!"

　Kana directs a disapproving gaze at me and Touka.
　I'm thinking about how to deal with the two people who argue with each other...


"Hey, Yuuji... What did you say about feeling defeated?"


　Ike asked with a puzzled look on his face.

　You're right, I can never show Asakura the situation I'm in now....
　With that thought in mind, I couldn't answer any of Ike's questions――.