A Special Encounter With An Imperial Princess As I Get Reincarnated To Isekai

Jealousy

Satoru hobbled toward the familiar, reassuring wooden cottage.

As he approached, the rich aroma of beef wafted out, enveloping him in a sense of warmth and anticipation.

The scent alone was enough to remind him of the comfort and security that awaited him inside.

He opened the door, and there stood Janne, gazing at him with a slightly melancholic expression.

She stood at the entrance, watching him intently, her eyes filled with a mix of curiosity and something deeper.

"Explain yourself, why are you back so late?" Janne asked, her voice carrying a hint of reproach.

"Did you forget about me just because you made friends with Yuki?"

Janne paused, her eyes narrowing as she scrutinized Satoru.

His clothes were damp with sweat, evidence of a vigorous workout, likely with Yuki.

Her frown deepened as she noticed his trembling legs, a sign of exhaustion.

She remained silent, waiting for an explanation that would satisfy her, an explanation that could soothe her irritation.

Satoru gathered his thoughts, trying to find the right words to appease her, though he couldn't quite understand why she was so upset.

After all, he had only come home a bit late.

"Well... I was training with Yuki in the park," he began, his voice tentative. "We ran about ten laps together."

"Oh, and I joined Yuki's kendo club. I didn't even know she was the president, haha..." He added with a nervous chuckle, hoping to lighten the mood.

Janne's eyes remained fixed on him, her frown not easing in the slightest.

"Oh? Your relationship with her has developed that quickly? Good enough for her to train with you? From what I know, for someone of her caliber, running ten laps in the park wouldn't provide any significant improvement," Janne remarked, her tone edged with skepticism.

"I think she was just accompanying you for your sake. But why, I wonder? Hm?"

"Well, she said I'm a rare friend to her," Satoru explained, hoping his answer would suffice. "You see, her appearance, status, and identity cause everyone who approaches her to either show excessive respect or have ulterior motives. My straightforward nature fits her idea of a friend, so I might be the only real friend she has right now."

He continued, "So, seeing me as a member of her club with such poor stamina, strength, and other skills, she decided to help me train. And I accepted."

Satoru hoped his thorough explanation would satisfy Janne. He believed he had shared everything.

Janne listened, her anger subsiding significantly.

Despite this, she still felt a pang of irritation at Yuki's closeness to Satoru.

She couldn't shake the feeling that normal friends wouldn't go to such lengths.

However, she also recognized that Yuki's situation was somewhat similar to her own.

Because of certain reasons, Janne couldn't interact with people normally, while Yuki couldn't engage with others transparently.

Every interaction Yuki had was tainted with scheming, unnecessary respect, or other ulterior motives.

At this critical juncture, Satoru's presence must have meant a lot to Yuki, who had been lonely for so long in Astralsya.