Chapter 17 Sobakada Asada
“Alright, that’s all for today’s class. Students, remember to review the content of this lesson, complete the corresponding exercises, and preview the content for the next class. See you next time.”
As the bespectacled teacher’s unchanging closing remark, the last class of the morning came to an end. With the crisp sound of the class dismissal bell, Su Jun finished writing the last line of notes in his notebook, closed it, and looked at the classmates who were already scattering out of the classroom. He then reached into his bag.
“Kiyomizu-san!!!”
Hearing the energetic voice from beside him, Su Jun knew who it was without even turning his head. Sato Shinichi, his cheap boyfriend, had come to school to attend class as usual after taking a leave of absence yesterday.
“Mhm.”
He slightly turned his head to respond and at the same time took out the lunch box wrapped in the dark cloth from his bag.
“Do you want to eat lunch together? Or go to the usual place?”
“….Mm.”
Stared at by Sato Shinichi’s scorching gaze, Su Jun instinctively leaned back a little. After thinking it over, he agreed. After all, as his predecessor’s boyfriend, he was the most suitable person to utilize to learn about things in this world.
Last night, he had wanted to text him to talk about school matters, but found out that they hadn’t even exchanged text addresses. While they had only officially confirmed their relationship a few days ago, this way of interacting was a bit too naive…
Furthermore, Su Jun had taken back Sato Shinichi’s lunch box from yesterday to wash it, so he might as well take this opportunity to have lunch together and extract some useful information. Su Jun thought this, and then took out Sato Shinichi’s lunch box from his backpack, preparing to hand it to him.
“Ah, sorry about yesterday…”
“Yo, Shinichi, why aren’t you eating yet? Want to go to the convenience store together?”
Seeing the lunch box Su Jun took out of his bag, Sato Shinichi immediately apologized for leaving yesterday. However, before he could finish speaking, a somewhat flippant voice came from the side.
“Ah, it’s Sobakada-san! I’m just about to go eat.”
Upon seeing the person who arrived, Sato Shinichi replied.
Sobakada Asada, a first-year student in Class 1-B of the Regular Department at Shikoku High School. He was their classmate, with average grades but a very outgoing and lively personality, getting along well with most of the boys in the class.
Looking at the boy with the middle-parted bangs in front of him, Su Jun’s mind was instantly filled with the memories of his predecessor, Kazumi Shimizu. As for this rather sociable classmate, his predecessor’s feelings were merely those of a passerby. It was purely because they were classmates with more contact that he had a general impression.
“Oh, I forgot you’re someone who brings your own lunch. Then how about we go to the cafeteria and eat while chatting? And Nii and them too.”
Patting Sato Shinichi on the shoulder familiarly, Sobakada Asada saw the lunch box Sato Shinichi was holding and immediately changed his invitation to go eat at the cafeteria.
“Uh… Well, sorry, I already have plans to eat with someone else.”
Looking at his classmate, Sato Shinichi felt a bit awkward refusing him, but considering he had made plans with Su Jun in advance, he still refused with a stiff upper lip.
“Ya ha, who are you with? Call them over so it’s more lively! Is it Jieshuai or Ukyo? But, I heard they say your homemade bento is super delicious, come along! I’ll share my chicken cutlet with you.”
Hearing Sato Shinichi’s refusal, Sobakada Asada didn’t give up and instead continued to invite the person Sato Shinichi was going to eat with.
“Ah, it might not be very convenient…”
Facing such persistent questioning, Sato Shinichi felt a bit troubled. He had always been not very good at refusing others.
“What’s inconvenient about it? Could it be, you’re eating with a girl? Who is it, who is it? Is it that Shizuka-san from the next class? I saw you talking to her last time.”
As if sensing something unusual, Sobakada Asada leaned over and said slyly.
“No!!! I was just passing a message for Teacher Sakura to Hanakushi-san; there’s no relationship between us!!”
Hearing Sobakada Asada’s nonsensical talk, Sato Shinichi’s survival instinct immediately exploded, and he said rapidly at a speed hard for ordinary people to follow.
“Tsk, then with such a big reaction, who are you eating with?”
Sobakada Asada continued to press.
“Uh… it’s with Kiyomizu-san; we’ve already arranged to eat together.”
Glancing at Su Jun, who was sitting silently at his seat, Sato Shinichi still forced himself to say it.
“What?!!! You’re going to eat with that ice… ”
As Sato Shinichi turned his head, Sobakada Asada also saw Su Jun, whom he hadn’t noticed before, hidden behind Sato Shinichi, and quickly cut off his half-spoken words.
“Because there are some things I need to consult Kiyomizu-san about regarding my studies, we arranged to eat and discuss it.”
Genuinely scratching the back of his head somewhat awkwardly, Sato Shinichi explained. Although Sato Shinichi didn’t mind revealing their relationship in front of familiar people, it absolutely didn’t include this big-mouthed guy.
If he really told him, the entire grade would probably know their business by Monday. Although Shikoku High School officially didn’t allow campus romance, as long as it didn’t become widely known throughout the school and affect academic performance, teachers generally wouldn’t come to talk to people about it.
“Oh.”
Sobakada Asada nodded doubtfully, but still couldn’t help leaning his head towards Sato Shinichi and said.
“Bro, can you really communicate normally with her? She’s that ultimate ice queen who only says ‘Oh’ when answering questions in class and talking to people.”
“Uh… It’s alright, Kiyomizu-san isn’t as terrifying as you say.”
Sato Shinichi replied somewhat awkwardly. Is it really okay to slander his girlfriend like this in front of him?
“Sobakada, did you get your stuff? The cafeteria food is almost sold out!”
“Coming!”
At this moment, the shouts of Sobakada Asada’s companions came from the classroom doorway. He turned to respond and made an apologetic gesture to Sato Shinichi in front of him.
“Then I’ll go eat first. You guys chat slowly.”
He left Sato Shinichi, who stood in place with a strange expression, and Su Jun, who sat with a blank face.
(Ps: Update starts!)
