Because Asou san and I parted ways earlier than expected, I ended up coming home before it got dark.
It was evening. On a weekday, this would be the time when I was in bed with Yuzu.
Every single day without getting tired of it. Well, she's the same way. I wonder if there's a reason she strangely doesn't show up on weekends.
Maybe her parents are strict. Maybe she has extracurricular activities or a cram school. Or maybe she has a boyfriend.
I never used to care about things like that. Maybe having sex every day has made my sex drive stronger.
"Hmm?"
I got a LINE message while looking at my phone.
"Thanks for earlier. I'm going to try to face him a little more properly."
It was from Asou san. We exchanged LINE contact info about shift schedules on my first day at work, but this was the first time I got a private message.
"I should probably reply."
Since I don't normally exchange messages with other people, it took me a long time to type a response.
"Thanks for the treat as well. Good luck."
That was what I sent. Maybe because my reply was late, it never showed as read after that.
I wondered if she was smoking with the guy she mentioned right now. While thinking that, I recalled my conversation with Asou san and thought a little.
I said what I said back then, but isn't she happy just because she can have sex with the person she likes? There are plenty of people in the world who can't be chosen by the person they want no matter how much they wish for it.
For that matter, there are people who want to do it but no one is interested in them. Thinking about it that way, Asou san is fortunate. And so am I. The fact that I'm worrying about my friend with benefits not coming sometimes might be a luxury problem.
"I'm bored."
Maybe because I went out with people unlike me yesterday and today, the usual passage of time felt even longer.
Then I just spent a while staring at the ceiling.
It became night.
---
"Welcome."
When I went to the nearest convenience store, the usual university student part time worker greeted me with a smile.
When I'm free, I usually stand there reading for a while, then buy a drink and some snacks and go home.
While flipping through a manga I didn't particularly want to read in the quiet store, I got another LINE message.
"Sorry, I got my shift for tomorrow off suddenly. It might be busy, but thanks in advance."
It was from Asou san again. This kind of message was also a first.
It must be about a guy. Whether it went well or she got rejected and is feeling down.
Either way, I have no reason to ask further.
"Understood. Take your time."
When I sent that plain reply, it showed as read immediately, but no reply came.
The only thing confirmed was that I'd be one person short at work tomorrow and my workload would increase. I should go home and rest soon.
Just as I thought that and put the magazine back on the shelf,
"Welcome."
Someone entered the store. I casually looked over.
"Ah."
We both made a sound. It was Yuzu.
"What are you doing?"
"Nothing. Just standing here reading. What about you? Did you come to buy something?"
"No. Don't pry."
She said that and headed toward the magazine section where I was.
"What?"
"Do you read manga?"
"No. If we stand apart and talk loudly, we'll bother the store."
"Oh, right."
I saw her, the girl I'm physically intimate with every day to the point of boredom, yet for some reason I felt a little nervous.
Maybe because it was a time we don't usually meet. Maybe because of her unfamiliar casual clothes. Maybe because I was dressed casually. Or maybe...
"Why do you look so uncomfortable? Are you meeting a girl?"
"There's no way. What about you? Are you going to see a guy?"
"Gross. A guy being jealous is seriously disgusting."
"I'm not jealous. So what do you want?"
Yuzu stood next to me. Unlike the restless me, she had her usual calm demeanor.
"Are you free after this?"
"Well, I'm free."
"Oh, okay. Then wait here. I'll go buy a drink."
She said that, quickly grabbed a bottle of tea, paid at the register, then came back to me and said in a small voice without looking me in the eye.
"I'm coming to your place today too."