With classes over for the day, I decide to head into the hallway.
On a normal day I'd be walking over to the Sci-fi/Fantasy club, also known as the "Fated Ones' Lair" with Nick and Sig, but that doesn't seem like a good idea today.
They've probably taken my betrayal to heart, especially after how it ended. It's possible that I may not ever be welcomed as a part of their group anymore.
I mean when you think about it, Nick was right about Jennifer all along. I mean, what on earth did I think was going to happened when I associated with those girls?
I sigh while staring up at the ceiling.
"Guess I'll go home."
"You've gone from leaving the club room early to completely skipping out on us, huh Chase?"
"Woah!"
I quickly spin to face the voice that had suddenly snuck up on me.
"Sig? And Nick?"
"It's game day man. We're supposed to play DnD, remember? Chris is probably setting up as we speak."
"Of course I'd like to go, but I mean…"
I betrayed you guys, didn't I?
"Well, about that. Nick has something he wants to tell you."
I look over to face Nick.
He looks as expected, as if he's trying to muster up any semblance of strength he can just to stay calm.
"... I'm gonna be real for a sec dude."
Uh oh.
"Going out with that tho- uh, Scarlet… Was a low blow after everything we agreed on."
"After she said you two were dating, I got really upset. You betrayed the 'Fated Ones' like it was nothing to you. Like, like some girl could replace us as if we're just nothing. That sucked. It felt like I couldn't trust anyone anymore."
"And then hearing that other girl butter you up like that…"
Nick clenches his fist and looks down in anger.
"Goddammit you fucking normie trash!!"
He lunges towards me with murderous rage in his eyes, but thankfully Sig makes sure to hold him back.
"Nick! You promised you'd do this properly."
"I know! I know, but that shit pissed me off, man!"
It'd be an understatement to say that I flinched. I suppose I should thank Sig for calming him down again.
"Haaa… Sorry about that. As I was saying."
"When that other girl started calling us those rude things, I started feeling even worse. Like, what the fuck does she even know about us, right? Why would you just label us and make fun of us as if our personalities are some kind of hilarious birth defect?"
"And dragging Scarlet into it too was just the worst. She might be a girl but I actually kind of felt sorry for her."
You did?!
"But then... when you defended her even while knowing the risks of going against the popular kids, I was like damn dude. This guy is cool as shit. Even if he does have a girlfriend, I'd totally hang out with him."
"Plus, you also defended us even if you aren't really into our interests yet."
"Nick…"
"So I forgive you dude. Guys with girlfriends might be bad, but people who make fun of other people without understanding them are way worse."
"What the heck, is that supposed to be a compliment?"
"S-shut up dude, take it or leave it okay?"
Yeah, I get what you're trying to say. You're just relieved that I didn't betray you guys, right?
Geez Nick. You really aren't an honest guy, are you?
"Well if there's one thing I've learned while hanging out with you guys, it's that people make fun of hobbies and interests they can't understand to cope with feeling excluded. The stigma against people like you guys is probably just a result of that."
Yeah, the truth is I could kind of understand why people make fun of geeks all the time. But after spending time with them, I also understand that a lot of love and passion goes into their hobbies. It's downright disrespectful to simply dismiss them as something geeky and make fun of them so brazenly. Those feelings are genuine and don't deserve the disrespect they get.
"Wow, I couldn't have put it better myself. I'm glad you see it that way."
"Besides, I'd never stop hanging out with you guys just because I got a girlfriend. You can't lose sight of what's important over something fleeting like romance."
"Dude, I could hug you right now."
"No, please don't."
Nick grins and then turns toward Sig.
"Hey, don't you have something to say too?"
"A-ah right. Hey Chase, did Momoka say anything about me while you were hanging out with your girlfriend?"
"…"
"No, nothing."
"Ah, that's a shame. I thought I made a good first impression last week. I guess I'll have to try harder tomorrow."
Okay, I'm totally going to have to have a chat with him about that later.
"And for the record, Scarlet's not my girlfriend anymore. She and I are done as of today."
The two of them stop to look at one another for a moment, then turn back to face me.
"Ah, is that so? That's a shame. I thought the way you defended her was kinda romantic. A beautiful hatsukoi..."
"Yeah, I feel awful for getting jealous now."
"Seriously? After all of that, you guys?"
"What? We're just showing some compassion to our good friend, that's all."
"Honto, we are sad that it had to come to this."
As we continue our conversation, the tapping of footsteps rapidly begin approaching us from behind. All three of us find ourselves looking over, and we find a familiar person screeching to a halt a few feet away from us.
"Haa... haa... haa…"
"S-Scarlet?"
What's she doing here?
After she finally catches her breath, she looks me in the eyes.
"Chase!!"
"A-ah, yes?"
She pauses for a while to get a good look at me, then takes another deep breath.
"Thanks for everything you did today. I was kinda angry about it at first, but now that I've thought it over for a bit, I think what you did was best for both of us."
"Today made me realize that just like Jen, I have a few shortcomings of my own that I need to work on, so I'm grateful for everything that happened."
I feel my face going red, but I try my hardest to play it cool.
And so, a half-assed grin slowly begins to spread across my face.
"U-uh, sure dude. Whatever. Pfffft! No biggie."
"Man… You are so uncool."
I don't want to hear that from you, Sig!
"Ahaha, anyway I just wanted to let you know that! I'll see you tomorrow, okay?"
"O-okay, goodbye."
"Bye bye..."
"BoyfrIend!"
And with those final words, she runs off back where she came from.
"…"
Oh my god, that bitch really said it.
"Uh, guys…? S-she didn't mean it… It was a joke! Haha! What a good joke, right?"
"Come on Sig, the two of us can't keep our dear friend Chris waiting."
"Certainly brother, us single guys need to stick together you know? We can't have too many guys with girlfriends hanging around. We'll get infected."
"Guys no, wait! You're misunderstanding!"
"Tch. A guy like you who has a girlfriend should just die!"
"What happened to being regretful and considerate guuuuys?!"
"Drop dead, riajuu trash!"
And I was so close to making up with them too…
How did it end up like this again?!
"Goddammit Scarlet, you're so basic!!"