Ch. 22 - Resurfacing resentment.

"Look at them, such young love..."

*munch*

I told to Chinatsu. While holding my phone and casually biting on my pizza slice.

"Who are you looking at senpai?"

She ask me, she looked from the same direction im looking at and she saw Haruna and Ryota cuddling and pinching each other while walking with some stuff they bought.

"They're so lovely at the moment senpai~!"

Chinatsu told me loudy.

"... And im about to ruin they're moment..."

I said before I press "Sent to all" the message I typed in my phone.

After a few moments and after replying to his previous message. He looks at my direction and Chinatsu wave at them, Haruna waved back.

I waved back as well as they started to walk towards us.

They sat down with us and we greeted them warmly.

And the girls started chatting.

Chinatsu : "So where have you two been?"

Haruna : "Oh, we just bought stuff at the fashion store."

She grabs the things they bought, lift them up and show it to us.

"Oh, some knitting materials, nice~"

Chinatsu raised a thumbs up.

"How about you and Akagi?"

Haruna asked.

"We went to an arcade played some games and won several toys, but I ended up giving away the toys I won to little kids."

"That's cute."

Chinatsu and Haruna are the only ones talking, while Ryota and I are just silent. Im just listening to whatever they're talking about, I looked at Ryota and his head is just bending low but his eyes are focused on Haruna. His ears are red, something good probably happened.

I push the plate of chicken nuggets and potato wedges to him, offering him to eat some.

"Have some."

I simply told him.

"A..ah, okay...thanks!"

He seems out of his usual character, he's somewhat flattered and is still unable to regain his usually cool composure. Both Ryota and I continued to remain silent, occasionally eating some of the food. Just as I though that this is going to be boring. Kazuo and Fuyuko finally arrive.

"Hello, everybody!"

He loudly said. Waving his hand at us, Fuyuko

He looks happy and more lively compared to Ryota.

However his arrival lighten ups my mood, considering I finally have someone to talk to, but Ryota seems to be back on his track and we kinda have a good talk. We talk for the meantime about sci-fi lore, I know it sounds nerdy and kinda boring to anyone who doesn't know anything about sci-fi, especially the girls. But we we're doing it intentionally to prevent the girls from listening to our conversation, we smiled and wink at each other. Dark and twisted humour is building up in our heads, and we plan on telling it to each other now, and the girls are too sensitive for that. So we wait for them to be indulge in their own conversations drowning our voices of they're own.

We eat some pizza for a bit, then I look at the girls and they seem to be talking for a while now, that gives me the GO signal.

"Psst..hey~"

I said in a whispering voice.

Kazuo and Ryota both looked at me.

"I told a diabetic girl to have sweerdreams~ She died the next day."

Both Kazuo and Ryota cracked and laugh about my joke.

"I found this joke online, there was a guy and his girlfriend dump him. Do you know what happens next?"

Kazuo said.

I get a feeling that the next part is going to be unexpected and ridiculous. So I just ask "Why?" and lay back down.

"So he stole her wheelchair and guess who came crawling back- hehehe.."

I knew it, Kazuo barely finish his joke before bursting into laughter. Now its Ryota's turn.

"There was man with a pistol who walk inside the bar...and...*giggles*...he said..Who the h*ll f*cked my wife...*chuckles*..."

Ryota can barely hold his laughter, this is getting more stupidly funny.

"...everyone in the bar was silent...hehehe..untill that one guy at the back said, Mate you ain't got enough bullets!"

We all started laughing. I try to cover my mouth cause I know between the three of us I laugh the loudest. I remembered a joke that I also found online, so I clear my throat and hold in my laughter. And say it...

"...Alot of things have change since I got my girlfriend pregnant."

I chuckled a little bit.

"What?" Kazuo said smiling.

"Like what?" Ryota said gigglingly.

"...My name, my address, my phone number..."

We all busrt out laughing.

"Wait a minute, I though you haven't been in a relationship before?"

I heard a curious and familiar voice asking me that question from behind me. I look to my side and it was Chinatsu. Haruna and Fuyuko also has their attention fixed to me. I think they overheard me.

"No, it was a joke that I read online."

I said in an agitated voice, I dont want them to get the wrong idea. Everyone was silent and the girls look at me with confusion on their faces.

"Oh I see."

Haruna said in a calming voice, I think she actually though I was serious.

Chinatsu let out a sigh of relief and giggled.

Im glad they ask otherwise they would've believe I actually have a girlfriend whom I got pregnant.

However, Fuyuko is silent and just stares at me. I look back to Kazuo and Ryota who are still giggling to avert eye contact with Fuyuko. We just ate all the food after that and we now head to the Game store.

We arrived at the game store, there was many people inside but it wasn't too crowded. Makes me wonder of the games were after are actually interesting at all.

As we enter, alot of games and movie disc that we almost never heard off that are available on all cross-platform were all on full display. We were kinda surprised and amuse, its been so long since we've been in store's like this. Our group then slowly disperse going into different aisles that seems to interest us. However I manage not to drift too far away from the group, we just browse through the seemingly endless selection of games, none of us somewhat remember what we're we supposed to buy in the first place and we just check each one as they all seem to be new and we wanna have a different experience.

After I check a few, I regroup with some of them, I manage to find and tag along Haruna and Ryota.

"Hey, find anything interesting?"

I ask them.

"There's so much to pick from."

Haruna replied.

"Im still deciding which to pick."

Ryota replied.

I just nodded and start browsing in the same aisle as them. I try to find one with an interesting plot and gameplay. However, these games with good character design and open world setting is intriguing. All these game covers are so artistic and eye catching, makes it much harder for me to choose from. I decided to pick one each with good plot and an open world gameplay and just try them at home.

I look at Haruna and Ryota and they're still browsing, however Haruna seems to already found what to get. This store is big, there's probably alot more and different genres, I fear I might miss very interesting ones, so I told them I'd be wondering and browse at the other side. As I turned around and walk I heard them confirming they've heard what I just said.

So I excitedly went ahead, grinning at the idea of finding something fun and enjoyable to do on my spare time. I especially looked for non-violent yet fun multiplayer or online games. I've reach the rear part of the store and there's less people and noise here, it feels nice so I took the opportunity to look thoroughly at each of the games in display here, its so peaceful I could take my time.

....

A few minutes fast and I've read the descriptions of several games, yet only 2 actually got me interested. I grab another one and see if its any interesting.

While reading the description at the back of the game cover, I felt someone walk behind me, I turn around and it was Fuyuko. I glance around to see if Kazuo is nearby but it was only her, she also browse in the same aisle as me. We aren't exactly on good terms since the last time we met, and the fact that we haven't talk yet in this occasion, makes me feel weary and uncomfortable around her, especially that we're alone together. I still have a little bit of grudge for her, and I can tell she feels the same. She just keep on browsing near me, she hasn't done anything yet. But my attention is still fixed to her and I couldn't concentrate on what im doing. Getting flashbacks of our last argument makes my head boil in anger. I try to calm down so I

started to walk away.

"Do you have a minute?"

As I was about to walk away, I stopped upon hearing her voice. I can tell another confrontation about my past is about to begin. I slowly turn my head towards her in reluctance, feeling frustrated that I allowed my guard down and allow her to corner me like this. My pride burns fiercely, and I wouldn't back down without having my voice heard about the commotion that is about to erupt.