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[-Continuation(:Ryota's Residence)-]
[-After An Hour-]
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[Hachiman's POV-]
–beep!(:mobile notification)
As our conversation continued, the peaceful silence was disrupted by a sudden beep from my cell phone.
I wondered who it might be while I straightened my legs and reached into my pocket to retrieve it, unlocking my crossed legs in the process.
Flicking open the screen, I saw a lone text waiting in my inbox.
The sender was Ms. Hiratsuka.
Uhm, why is she messaging me? My mind raced to come up with a plausible reason.
Ah, that's right - the Service Club. I remembered there was something like that during the summer.
Well, I will deal with it later, when I get home. I closed the message screen and was about to dive back to our ongoing conversation.
"So about the launc–!"
–beep!
However, before I could continue, another beep cut me off, but I decided to ignore it again.
"*ahem…" I started clearing my throat. "About the–!"
–beep!
–beep!
–beep!
–beep!
But the beeps persisted, not even allowing me to start.
What the…!? I thought, growing more and more irritated with each passing beep.
Unable to ignore it any longer, I grabbed my phone to check, only for it to start ringing for a ridiculously long time.
–beep!
–beep!
"Who IS IT? You sure you don't have a girlfriend?" Royta teased me from beside me with a hint of horror in his tone, as if he feared the slightest possibility of what he said being true.
Just what you would expect from a business-minded bastard.
However, it seems I have underestimated Ms. Hiratsuka.
–....
In the meantime, my phone suddenly fell silent, indicating that she had perhaps given up.
And when I finally unlocked the screen in that short lull, a flood of texts had stormed my inbox.
Was she like this to her boyfriend or whatever?
Dreading that another flood would storm my inbox, I looked at the texts with great trepidation.
I opened the text at the very top of the folder – in other words, the most recent one - and slowly gripping my heart, I read through all of them.
..
Holy shit! I almost pissed off my pants!
I think I caught a glimpse of one reason why Ms. Hiratsuka couldn't get married.
Creepy. Just plain creepy.
As I scrolled through the messages, they were all pretty much the same. Essentially, they said - Participate in a Volunteering Activity over the vacation period.
I believe it may be necessary for me to remind her of the definition of the word 'volunteer.'
"Hey, Hachiman, you are STILL single, r-right?" Ryota asked without any reservations in regards to the sensitive subject. However, there is a slight tremble in the end, clearly indicating his fear.
"N-nOOo, need to ask like that!" I responded, also unknowingly, envisioning the horrors someone would have to endure from a girlfriend like Ms. Hiratsuka.
…*gulp, truly terrifying.
"So you are right?" Ryota questioned me further, raising an eyebrow, seemingly unconvinced by my previous reply.
But his words hit me in the wrong spot.
"...I-i am, idiot! So YOU are! Did you forget?" I said with frustration.
Little did I know my words would have such an impact on him.
"Yeah, I am single too…" Ryota's tone was laced with sadness as he dramatically fell to his knees and buried his face in his hands.
His face was a mix of despair and self-pity.
"What? Did you just remember it or what?" I asked, bewildered by the exaggerated display of drama.
"..." - "..." We exchanged a perplexed look, unsure if Ryota was once again pulling one of his pranks on me.
But this time, there was no hint of mischief in his eyes, only pure despair.
Can't be right?
I mean, who forgets their own relationship status?
No. No. How can I limit someone like 'Ryota' to the category of 'common' folks?
If it's him, it might not be impossible.
Hehheheee~ That's quite intriguing, my dear friend. Time for the payback for your previous 'heartly pat.'
A mischievous idea crossed my mind as I saw him sitting there on the floor before me.
"No, I don't think you are single." I confidently declared this to the man, who was now on all fours on the floor, wearing a gloomy expression.
The moment my words reached him, I watched as he slowly lifted his head to look at me from his position.
"....!" A glimmer of hope sparkled in his eyes, as if my words were a lifeline that he desperately clung onto in his imaginary eternal darkness.
....what is this guy doing again?
"R-really? You mean it?" He asked, repositioning himself into a cross-legged position and wiping imaginary tears from his eyes with his fists.
Of course not, dumbass. Saying the word 'not' doesn't magically change someone's relationship status from single to in a relationship.
"....yeah, it's true." I paused and let the tension build for a few seconds before I repeated my words. "You are not single, at least not anymore."
The change in Ryota's expression was immediate. His previously confused and disbelieving expression turned back to serious and attentive, almost screaming at me, 'Go on. Explain how?'
"..."
After just a five-second pause, which felt like an eternity for Ryota, I decided to finally drop the bomb without any sugar coating.
"Not single. Someone your age is called 'Unmarried.'"
I clarified with a devilish smirk.
The look on Ryota's face was priceless - a mixture of shock.
How was it? That short lived happiness?
If you had behaved nicely with me as you did in the beginning of our meeting, maybe I would have pitied you, but you have clicked the wrong spot, my friend.
Anyway, let's just give her a reply -
=====
I am busy with some work right now and will be free in a few hours. I will contact you later. Good day, Ms. Hiratsuka.
=====
Hopefully, she'll leave me alone now.
Relief washed over me as I hit the silent button, grateful for a temporary reprieve from her persistent attempts at communication.
Glancing at my wristwatch, I noted the time - [11 : 30]
I switched off my phone.
…
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[To be continued….]
★─────⇌•★•⇋─────★
AN: Sorry short chapter. Couldn't cut it properly. Hope you understand. I will upload next chapter immediately.
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