Game Gyaru

Chapter 37: The In-Crowd

This was far from what Hakuta hoped for. Sure, it made complete sense that Iruka would've joined them. He himself was the one who said she should hang out with them more than him. It was just that it had still be the same day after he made her cry. So of course that would makes things rather awkward between them.

Unfortunately it was too late to back out now that he accepted the offer. Why did they even extend it to him if they knew she was with them? There was no way they had forgotten about what happened with him and her. After all, wasn't that why they didn't invite him in the first place?

Then again, despite not knowing the truth, he simply assumed this was why they didn't invite him with them. It wasn't that they were mad at him. They simply did it because they wanted to bring her along instead to cheer her up after what happened. Hakuta will never learn the truth.

"So anyway, let's not stick around here like trees." Said Yuusen, moving the group along. "We haven't even checked out all the new stuff. Plus I think we should stop somewhere to eat."

"Yeah, that sounds good to me." Hakuta tried to play things natural. Surely after what he said to Iruka, she wouldn't want anything to do with him. That said, she never seemed like the type of person to be angry. This didn't make his heart feel any better to be walking even within her vicinity, but they should get used to it considering they sit so close to each other.

And so they returned to wandering aimlessly around this store with no actual items they wanted to buy. Hakuta couldn't understand how anyone could find enjoyment in this. Whenever he shopped for things, which was video games, he knew exactly what he wanted. Funnily enough, despite being the one to come here with least reasons for shopping, he was the only one to actually buy something with the cologne.

"Hmm, I think I know just the place we should go." Said Rouko, raising up her hand as if needing permission to speak. Not that she wanted on anyone to call on her as she made her suggestion. "There's this popping cafe just down the road from here. I love trying out their new treats."

"Sounds good to me." Said Ninka, but she had another plan to take care of first before they got there. "Shiuka, on our way I need to talk to you. You don't mind if we hang back a little bit, do you?"

"I can handle girl talk with you anytime." She responded.

"Plus it's more convenient too since I actually wanted to talk to Hakuta here too. So you don't mind if we run up a little in front of everyone, right?"

"I guess not." He was reluctant on wanting to have a private conversation. Mostly because he was the one who needed to put in more effort in walking ahead of everyone else. Still he was pleased his friends were back to normal once again, though their normal wasn't something he was always a fan of.

They got into their arranged groups to move towards this cafe Rouko suggested. It wasn't lost on Hakuta how strange this appeared if anyone were to be aware they were actually together as one whole group. Not just as three pairs moving towards the same destination. "So, what did you want to talk about?"

"I think I'm kind of into Ninka, actually." He didn't even beat around the bush. While it certainly wasn't bad for him to be talking about actually wanting to date one of the girls. Hakuta had no clue why come to him of all people for advice. Not only did he have precisely zero experience when it came to girls, but it wasn't like he was known for caring either.

"And you're telling me this, why?" He responded, barely able to attach himself to the conversation at this point. There were a million better things he thought he could be doing instead. "I think you know me well enough that I can't come in and help here."