We Hate Each Other, But It Started With a One-Night Stand - Chapter 7.1

Leaning back in the chair, I stared at the display without moving a hand.

I gazed meaninglessly at the cursor blinking at the forefront of the text, simply lost in thought.

Drowning in a sea of thoughts, I pondered the woman named Shinomiya. The circumstances of her life, as told by Shindo last night, clung stubbornly to my mind and wouldn’t leave. Gulping down cold water as if to wash it away might clear my head, but wasn’t that just synonymous with turning a blind eye to an inconvenient truth? Rather, the haze swirling in my head grew more vivid, impossible to brush away.

The roots of her twisted need for approval lay in her birth and upbringing.

The way of life she led, which Hatano detested, was caused by that environment.

So what? What was I supposed to do with that?

“—Who cares.”

I bluntly cut down my own question, which had a hint of valuing rationality. After a breath that was somewhere between a deep sigh and an exhale, I threw myself back against the chair again.

Why was I always thinking about this stuff? What was I trying to tell myself to do? Far from finding a rational answer, I didn’t even understand my own emotions. Getting lost in thought like this was like staring at an equation with no intention of solving it. The act was meaningless, and eventually, Hatano decided to abandon the train of thought.

Instead, I took out my smartphone and stared at it for a while.

After a moment’s hesitation, my finger traced to Shinomiya’s contact. Her contact info filled the screen, along with the small phone icon. Staring at it once more, I gritted my teeth and made the call.

A quiet ringing sound echoed softly in a room of the silent apartment. It rang a few times, then connected.

‘Yes? Senpai?’

Shinomiya’s voice, tinged with suspicion and ending in a question mark, greeted me.

Hatano, who had thought to call her on an emotional impulse, simultaneously remembered she was calling without having decided what to say to her, and for a moment, was at a loss for words.

“Ah, yeah. It’s me, Hatano.”

‘It’s not a rotary phone, you know. I can see the caller ID. Are you an idiot? The question I’m throwing at you is a greeting demanding you promptly answer what this grand business is, calling me out of the blue at this hour on a holiday.’

“Sorry, but I’d appreciate it if you didn’t use ZIP files in conversation.”

‘Please decompress it with warm, beautiful words.’

Snorting at Shinomiya’s audacious remark, I felt the urge to retort.

‘So, what is it really?’

However, I fell silent at Shinomiya’s continued words. When asked again about the purpose, I realized I didn’t have any particular business with her. I just thought that the means to clear the haze in my heart surely lay ahead, in conversation with her.

But there was no way I could say something like ‘I wanted to talk to Shinomiya.’ “Ah, well, that…” I strained my voice as if searching for words for several seconds, but a reply still didn’t come.

‘Eh, did you just call for no reason?’

“Ah, no. I do have something.”

‘Then please say it quickly. I don’t want to allocate my life’s resources to you, Senpai.’

They were harsh words, but considering the current situation of wasting her time meaninglessly, I couldn’t retort. Hatano agonized for a while, but since just talking wouldn’t clear the haze swirling in the depths of my chest and head, I resolved that here, I should steel myself and broach the core issue.

“…Well, I wanted to talk to you, Shinomiya.”

‘Ew, creepy!’

Hatano’s vein bulged as I reflexively ended the call. Staring at the call ended screen, I couldn’t help but laugh at the rising anger while gritting my teeth and throwing the smartphone onto the bed. “That damn woman!” I exclaimed involuntarily. “Why do I have to be troubled for your sake, you idiot!” I continued, fueled by anger, placing a hand on my forehead and taking repeated deep breaths.

Screw it, she can live however she wants, I thought, sitting back down in the chair.

Then, the smartphone, which had flown all the way near the pillow, announced an incoming call with a light electronic tone. “Hmph,” I grunted, turning to see the name ‘Shinomiya’ displayed in the distance. Hatano hesitated slightly, but since I was the one who called first, I couldn’t ignore it, so I stood up.

Reluctantly, I picked up the smartphone and answered the call.

“Yes, Hatano speaking.”

‘Since I’m the one calling, of course I know that. More importantly, what’s the idea, calling and then suddenly hanging up?’

My thumb reflexively moved to press the end call button, but I restrained it with steely resolve.

“…My bad.”

Thinking one of us had to be the adult, Hatano offered a commendable apology. Receiving such an apology, Shinomiya seemed thrown off, her words faltering as she grumbled discontentedly and let out a sigh. ‘It’s fine, I guess,’ Shinomiya granted leniently.

‘So, what did you want to talk about? I’m bored, so I’ll keep you company for a bit. However, if you don’t make me laugh once a minute, I’m hanging up.’

“Is this some kind of variety show?”

‘Pfft… hmm, t-two minutes of conversation. I’ll allow it.’

Shinomiya, who had burst out laughing involuntarily, her voice tinged with laughter, honestly granted two minutes of conversation. To this girl who was weak despite her provocations, Hatano began.

“…Lately, we’ve had various chances to talk, and I feel like I’m starting to understand you. But, the more I learn about you, the more I can’t help but be bothered by your life of currying favor with others. I know full well it’s selfish, but I called because I want to resolve this worry.”

Hatano carefully organized the words that needed to be conveyed in my head, translating them into speech as if weaving a poem. Hearing the words delivered like woven poetry, she replied, ‘…I see,’ without her usual flippant remarks. There was a hint of something being chewed over.

“I haven’t lived a life respectable enough to comment on others’ ways of living, and I can understand the feeling of wanting to be acknowledged by someone. But…”

‘…Do you think you’re my girlfriend just because we had sex once?’

It was Shinomiya’s words, carrying a sulking, slight sense of displeasure, but no intent to reject was visible. It was the curt way of speaking of someone who felt they had to act that way due to their position. I understood—when it came to serious talks like this, she might joke with her mouth, but in her heart, she was facing it head-on. That’s precisely why she hungered for recognition from others.

Hatano, imagining her face through the phone, revealed my inner thoughts.

“I don’t recall acting like a girlfriend, but I might be acting like a friend. Calling you suddenly, talking down to you—I feel bad about it. Sorry.”

Shinomiya was unusually at a loss for words. For several seconds, only the quiet, regular sound of breathing was faintly audible. Eventually, after chewing over something she had held back, she let out a sigh as if expelling it. The sound of ruffling hair and a somewhat liberated voice could be heard.

‘—Towel.’

Towel. Hatano furrowed my brow at such a contextless word, but her following unexpected words dispelled my doubts.

‘You still haven’t compensated me for it. If you’ll offset that by meeting me, I’ll come.’

Remembering the time I indulged in masturbation in the same room as her the other day, Hatano nearly choked, but was impressed she remembered something I had almost forgotten myself. Besides, Hatano, who hadn’t felt particularly displeased by it, had washed and reused it without issue, so I had no intention of demanding compensation.

I just understood it was a pretext.

Hatano, surprised by her unexpected offer, nodded.

“…Understood. In front of the station nearest the university.”

Passing through the ticket gate and exiting the station building. Bathed in the sunlight softening the chill of the late afternoon, nearing evening, Hatano exhaled a white breath in the late autumn and scanned my surroundings.

As expected for a holiday evening, the crowd was considerable, but after looking around for only a few seconds, Shinomiya’s figure was immediately found. Leaning against the station wall, she was gazing absently at her smartphone.

With a beauty that would make passersby involuntarily look back, it was no wonder she stood out. Hatano walked over to her, who was found so quickly. As I approached, she also noticed me.

“Shinomiya.”

Calling out as I approached, her deep black eyes peered into Hatano’s face. Her expression was neither cheerful nor displeased, just slightly listless. Without uttering a word, she stuffed her smartphone into her bag and detached her back from the station wall. Shinomiya, who had been gazing at Hatano’s face for a while, let out a deep, sorrowful sigh.

“What am I doing, I wonder. Seeing Senpai’s face on a holiday.”

“Well, I feel the same. Even I think I’m doing something weird.”

Hatano let out a small sigh while holding my forehead, but shook my head slightly.

“…Thanks for coming. I’m surprised you’re being cooperative.”

“It’s just for the towel compensation. Besides, I was just thinking of going out for a change of pace. This is just along the way.”

The truth of those words was uncertain, but if she said so, I’d leave it at that. Hatano also thought it would be difficult to end such a serious conversation over the phone alone. When Hatano smiled faintly, Shinomiya glanced at such an expression with a sullen face and muttered.

“So? You summon your kouhai just for a standing chat in front of the station?”

The usual sharp-tongued her returned immediately, and Hatano gave a wry smile.

“Well, I feel bad, but it’s better than going to a quiet space with me, right?”

“Ah, well, yes. I’d rather do the breaststroke in a sewer than go on a date with Senpai.”

That sounded like a sure way to get tetanus before any STDs.

“Still, I dislike not being pampered. Please try to gauge my mood.”

It seemed a standing chat in front of the station was worse than the breaststroke in a sewer, as she issued such an order. Of course, since I was the one who contacted her, if there was a request, I’d arrange a place.

“Okay, okay—I know a delicious crepe food truck nearby. There’s a terrace seating area we can use close by, so let’s go there.”

Fortunately, among the female students taking the same lecture, there was someone knowledgeable about such things. One of the few people Hatano, who wasn’t the type to actively join circles, could call close. Remembering what I had heard from that person before, I searched with my eyes in that direction.

“Crepe.”

Shinomiya muttered softly, her eyes showing slight interest, the corners of her mouth relaxing with delight.

Though she was blatantly full of curiosity, she bit her lip as if to hide it, tightened her expression, and began to fidget. Having thought she was a species that only consumed genitals and alcohol, this was unexpected, but faced with an age-appropriate cute reaction, I couldn’t bring myself to mock her.

“My treat.”

“Of course.”

She was, after all, a woman who wasn’t cute.

Being a popular shop in the city center on a holiday, the terrace seating was nearly full.

Just as the two of us, holding the crepes we had chosen from the popular menu, were looking for seats, a bench seat with a scenic view under the trees became vacant. When Hatano prompted with a glance, Shinomiya sat down there.

Her eyes were glued to the crepe.

Sitting on the well-maintained bench with almost no dead leaves, Hatano noticed Shinomiya’s gaze that seemed to want to say something. Looking at her, she seemed to be waiting for Hatano’s permission without taking a bite of her crepe. Wryly smiling at her unexpectedly dutiful nature, I urged, “Let’s eat.”

In unison, we said “Itadakimasu” and took a bite of the crepe. Instantly, I was surprised by a softness that made me feel as if I was chewing cotton candy. So surprised, I almost spilled it from my mouth. It wasn’t a strong, grainy sweetness like coarse sugar, but the smooth, juicy sweetness of fruit and whipped cream wrapped in high-quality batter. I see, Hatano understood. No wonder it was popular.

I wasn’t particularly fond of sweets, but this was something I could get hooked on. Thinking such thoughts and looking at Shinomiya, she was engrossed in her crepe, with whipped cream at the corner of her mouth. The way she ate happily with sparkling eyes was like a squirrel nibbling an acorn. Deciding not to disturb her, Hatano resolved to wait before broaching the main topic.

Suddenly, I noticed Shinomiya’s round eyes stealing glances at the crepe Hatano was eating.

What Hatano had purchased was the signature item, truly the classic choice.

In contrast, hers was a masterpiece abundantly using citrus fruits, which seemed to be her favorite. From that fact and her actions, the unspoken intention of ‘give me a bite’ was conveyed. Laughing helplessly, Hatano offered the side of my crepe I hadn’t bitten.

“Here, just one bite.”

She swallowed her crepe, conflict showing in her eyes.

However, “I-I don’t need it,” she said in a strained voice, averting her gaze and looking at her own crepe she was about to finish. “It’s… fine.”

Praising the rationality that kicked in at the last moment, Hatano said “Alright then,” and was about to bring the remaining crepe to my mouth when, just before, Shinomiya’s hand grabbed Hatano’s arm. Looking, she was stopping me with a very frustrated expression while averting her gaze.

Since I was the one who summoned her, I felt somewhat obligated. If she had just asked honestly, I would have given it, but what kind of pride was she clinging to? Feeling exasperated yet amused, Hatano silently offered the crepe to her.

Shinomiya, looking alternately at the offered crepe and Hatano, opened her mouth as if cautiously. Without minding the part Hatano had eaten, she pressed her mouth against it and took a bite.

Instantly, her eyes widened in surprise, and she chewed with her mouth full, excitement shining in her eyes. When it came to her favorites, her emotional expressions were rich and honest. Watching this unfamiliar side of her with a smile, she then made a slightly dissatisfied expression before staring at her own nearly finished crepe and offering it to Hatano’s mouth.

“…Equivalent exchange.”

She offered it reluctantly. If she could enjoy it that much, the shop would probably be happier if Shinomiya ate it, but her eyes seemed to hold an expectation for Hatano to eat it. Catching a glimpse of an emotion akin to wanting to share a favorite thing, Hatano took a bite of the citrus crepe. A faint citrus flavor, mingling with the late autumn breeze, offered a deep, rich taste. I see, if I had to choose, I preferred this one more.

“I might like this one more.”

When I said so honestly, for some reason, she looked proud as she took a bite of her remaining crepe.

A few minutes later, we had both finished our crepes. Folding the wrappers, we gazed at the terrace seating, which was becoming less crowded. The food truck had also begun closing up.

Shinomiya, looking at such a scene, spun words as if carried by the wind.

“Food trucks are kind of nice, aren’t they?”

Though perplexed by such a vague opening, I could somewhat understand what she meant. Still, I was surprised such a topic, almost like between friends, came from her.

“That’s rare. You having that kind of sensibility.”

“It’s just that I never had a chance to show it while living a normal life. I was originally this kind of person—”

Shinomiya puckered her lips to show displeasure and continued nostalgically.

“A little while ago, I saw a foreign film like that on a video streaming site. About a top chef getting kicked out of a hotel and running a food truck with his son, with whom he had an awkward relationship.”

“…’Chef: Starting a Three-Star Food Truck’.”

“Yes, that one!”