Chapter 84: Inviting Sakura on a Date
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Since Rin had already invited Ayanokoji, it wouldn't be appropriate to invite Hirata as well.
Now, Rin didn't have to worry anymore because Kushida had already proposed the idea of inviting Hirata.
As a good guy, Hirata naturally didn't refuse everyone's invitation. With his usual gentle expression, he readily joined Rin and the group.
The students who had not yet left the class looked at Rin and his group with envy as they walked out. While others were still struggling to make friends, these three boys were already heading to lunch with so many girls.
So envious!
Yamauchi's face was full of envy and jealousy as he turned around to speak urgently to Ike behind him.
"Ike, we need to hurry up and become friends with Matsuoka. Next time, we can use our friendship with him to join the girls' invitations!"
"Yeah!" Ike lowered his head seriously.
As these two schemed about Rin, they tried to keep their conversation low, but Sakura Airi, who sat quietly nearby, overheard them.
With her head down, Sakura secretly observed Ike and Yamauchi. After seeing them leave the classroom together, she quickly took out her phone and sent a Line message to Rin.
[Matsuoka-san, Yamauchi-san and Ike-san were just talking about wanting to become friends with you to use your connection to join the girls' invitations.]
[You should be cautious.]
Rin, who was walking toward the student cafeteria with the girls, saw the Line message from Sakura and smiled faintly.
"Even Sakura can see through their plans. They really are shameless."
[Thanks, Sakura. If you hadn't told me, I'd probably still be in the dark.]
[I'll be sure to watch out for them in the future.]
Sakura saw Rin's response, and despite keeping her head down, she couldn't hide her shy, happy smile.
[You're welcome, Matsuoka-san. I'm just glad I could help.]
[Well, Sakura, since you've helped me out, how about I treat you to a drink this weekend? I found a really nice shop I think you'd like.]
After reading Rin's reply, Sakura's eyes widened slightly. She pursed her lips and smiled softly, her eyebrows arching in quiet joy.
Now, even though she was dressed like a simple, unnoticed girl, the joy and shyness Sakura felt couldn't be concealed.
Thump, thump!
With one hand pressed over her chest, Sakura felt shy and nervous, but she mustered her courage and quickly typed "OK" into the chat box.
After sending the message, her body softened, and she slumped onto her desk, her full chest pressed against the smooth surface.
"I can't believe it… I actually accepted Rin's invitation! Should I dress up to meet him this weekend, or should I stick with my usual look?"
After the initial wave of nervousness passed, Sakura found herself in a bit of a dilemma.
But soon, she made her decision. Since she had agreed to go to the drink shop with a boy she didn't dislike, she figured she should put some effort into dressing up.
Now, Sakura began to have the thought of wanting Rin to see her at her best.
As the saying goes, women dress up to please themselves, but often, they dress up to impress the man they care about.
Sakura, who had always been extremely shy, had originally planned to keep a low profile, maintaining her simple, unnoticed appearance in class until graduation. She didn't want to stand out.
But now, her thoughts were starting to change.
Sakura wanted to dress up and show the boy her beautiful side!
"Hmm…"
The pressure on her chest made Sakura feel suffocated, making it difficult for her to breathe. She immediately straightened her back and stopped lying down, trying to ease the discomfort.
With a shy blush spreading across her cheeks, Sakura stared at her phone screen, anxiously awaiting Rin Matsuoka's response.
The reply came quickly.
[Then it's a deal. Sakura, you can choose the time.]
Rin, knowing how shy Sakura Airi could be, left the decision of when they would meet up to her.
[Okay, how about 10:30 in the morning?]
[That works. Where should we meet?]
[Just walk straight from the front entrance of our dorm building. There's a pavilion about 300 meters ahead. How about we meet there, Matsuoka-san?]
[No objections from me. It's a plan.]
[Great!]
Sakura's heart fluttered as she realized she had successfully made plans with Rin Matsuoka. With a happy bounce, she stood up and decided to head to the convenience store to buy some bread.
In junior high school, Sakura had always preferred buying bread for lunch to avoid the bustling crowd at the school cafeteria. She could quietly eat her meal wherever she pleased.
Now, with her bread in hand, she was free to sit wherever there was no one around.
While Rin and Sakura confirmed their plans, Ayanokoji approached them.
"Thanks a lot, Matsuoka-san. I didn't expect you to invite me to lunch. If you hadn't, I would've eaten alone."
Rin turned toward Ayanokoji, who spoke with sincerity. But his expression, that usual blank, almost unreadable face, didn't match his words.
It felt a little off.
Why are there so many strange people around me?
"Didn't I already invite you?"
"I thought you were just being polite. After all, you've always seemed pretty cunning."
"…"
Rin glanced at Ayanokoji and casually replied, "Ayanokoji-san, do you have some sort of misunderstanding about me? I'm an honest guy."
"…"
Now it was Ayanokoji's turn to go silent. Could someone who had once blackmailed a senior really call himself 'honest'?
Does this guy even understand what the word "honest" means?
Soon after, Hirata joined them, his face showing that usual kind smile. "Matsuoka-san, Ayanokoji-san, I didn't expect to have lunch with you both. I'm really glad."
"Yeah, me too," Rin thought. With Hirata and Ayanokoji present, the girls' attention wasn't entirely on him anymore.
Rin felt a wave of relief wash over him.
Hirata was the second most handsome boy in Class D, and as for Ayanokouji, he was probably the third. If Ayanokoji didn't have such a blank, expressionless face, he might have caught more of the girls' attention.
But that distant, unreadable face of his made him seem unapproachable. It left the girls feeling like he was difficult to talk to, keeping them at arm's length.