Chapter 7: BBQ (I Don't Fit In)

The weather was perfect—clear skies and sunshine. Around me, the air buzzed with the energy of fresh-faced youth and the mouthwatering aroma of meat sizzling over open flames.

And there I was—jobless, worn out, completely out of place.

I finally understood what it meant to feel dizzy from being blinded by brightness.

“Hey, Matsubashita! Long time no see—how’ve you been?”

The store manager greeted me warmly, but there was no hiding how out of place I looked.

Still, I didn’t want to waste her kindness, so I forced a friendly smile and answered politely.

“I’ve been well. Is Serina doing okay?”

“Oh, she’s great. She’s quick on her feet and super popular—not just with the customers but also the other part-timers. I think it’s thanks to your training in the beginning.”

“I don’t think I did much. She’s the kind of person who can do just about anything once she gets used to it.”

I glanced over and spotted her—tall and surrounded by people. I could just make out her head bobbing above the crowd.

It didn’t matter if they were guys or girls—everyone flocked to her like ants to sugar. And she was the sweetest kind. No wonder she wasn’t left alone.

“Hey, Manager! Is that the person Serina brought with her?”

The lazy drawl made me turn around. A strikingly pretty woman was staring at me.

“Yeah, this is Matsubashita. She used to work here.”

“Huh.”

She looked me up and down with zero subtlety. It was… Unpleasant.

After giving the manager a quick greeting, she slipped over to my side. Her perfume was a bit strong.

“So, are you after Serina too?”

“No, I’m not.”

“Got a boyfriend?”

“No…”

How rude.

She barged right into my personal space like she owned the place. I couldn’t exactly push her away, but I didn’t appreciate it.

“Then let’s go drinking and find you one! Single girls gotta stick together.”

“Uh…”

She didn’t seem to consider that I might not be looking for a relationship. Her assumption was giving me a headache.

When she grabbed my hand and started insisting we exchange contact info, I finally tried to push back.

“Um, I’m really not interested in dating right now.”

“That’s such a waste—you’ve got a cute face, too.”

A _waste_, really?

Is not having a partner that big of a crime?

She kept pestering me after that. I must’ve somehow caught her interest. It was exhausting.

The only saving grace of the whole event was how good the meat tasted.

◇◇◇

On the walk home, Serina and I walked side by side, our long shadows stretching ahead of us.

Plenty of people had invited her to the after-party, but she refused them all.

Naturally, I hadn’t been invited. The drawling woman had tried to pull me in till the very end, but I dodged with neutral small talk.

“Why’d you turn down the after-party?”

“I just didn’t feel like going.”

“You don’t like that kind of thing?”

“Well… There are people who approach you with the wrong intentions.”

“Fair.”

Must be rough, I thought. She's so beautiful—of course college parties are a nightmare. Dodging guys with ulterior motives probably gets old fast. I wondered if she was okay during the orientation season.

“I got so fed up that I told them I only like women. Then a bunch of women started showing up to the parties instead.”

“Bold move.”

“Well, at least it got the guys off my back. Still, dealing with women and all the other nonsense takes energy, so I usually skip those kinds of events. I only came today because it was during the day and a big group thing.”

I’d heard of people spiking drinks at parties. No wonder she didn’t feel safe.

Thinking about it, maybe when she drank with me at the bar despite not feeling well, it was because she hadn’t had alcohol in a while and got a little carried away.

When I chuckled to myself, Serina gave me a puzzled look.

“Nothing,”
I said, raising my hand.

“Want to drink at my place instead?”

“Sounds good.”

It was a casual offer, and she nodded just as casually.

The trust she showed me tickled me a little.

◇◇◇

“So, what were you talking about with Keidai?”

Serina sipped her beer as she asked.

It wasn’t cheap beer either—it was the good kind. I’d picked it up at the convenience store on a whim. Maybe splurging every once in a while isn’t such a bad idea.

“Who?”

“The one who stretches out her words.”

“Ohhh.”
I took a swig from my can, the one with an angry demon face on it. I hadn’t had much at the BBQ thanks to being cornered, so this one tasted amazing.

“So that’s her name.”

“She didn’t introduce herself? Seriously?”

Serina burst out laughing. I guess she and Keidai were familiar with each other.

“You friends or something?”

“No, she’s my nemesis.”

Well, that changed quickly.

“She keeps hitting on everyone I bring around. She’s a predator.”

“A predator…? Wait, she’s into women too?”

“Yup. Ever since I came out, I’ve been attracting people like her. Now everyone thinks I’m some kind of matchmaker or something.”

Serina crushed her beer can with a _crack_.

She was smiling, but the way her hand clenched the can was… Kind of terrifying.

“It’s not that big of a deal, is it?”

“It would be fine if she was serious, but she’s not. She plays with people. Every. Time.”

“A player, huh… So when she hit on me, that was part of her game too?”

“Most likely.”

Serina finished her beer in one go and crushed that can too.

Her eyes were sharp—intense—even though she’d only had two cans. But she’d probably had a few drinks during the BBQ too, so maybe it was adding up.

“What do you think of people like her, Saki?”

“Hmm… I mean, if both parties are okay with it, it’s not my business.”

“What!? You’re siding with her?!”

“No, I’m not!”

Ugh, drunk people. They’re so much work.

I chugged my beer and tried to explain.

“I’m saying it’s not our place to judge. That’s all.”

“But—she hit on you! Doesn’t that bother you?!”

Her wild, drifting gaze locked onto me with sudden intensity.

I froze a little under the pressure of her stare.

Her eyes were sharp, glinting like a predator's, and they didn’t let me go.

“… Who I spend time with and what I do is my own choice.”

“I don’t like it.”

She leaned in suddenly, and I flinched.

Then she looked down, thinking hard, before raising her head again.

“If you’re okay with Keidai, then you should be okay with me too. So let’s fool around.”

“What are you even talking about?”

This made zero sense.

From the very start, her logic was nonsense. Why would I be involved with Keidai? And what exactly did fooling around even mean?

But with her eyes out of focus and her words spiraling, I figured there was no point in arguing.

Time to deploy the bobblehead strategy: nod and agree. Arguing with a drunk person only makes things worse.

“I’m a better catch than Keidai, and I know it.”

“Mm-hm.”

“I’d treat my partner right. No insults, no making them cry.”

“Yep.”

“I’d make sure they enjoy our time together—day and night.”

“Wha—uh, sure.”

That last part threw me, but my hesitant agreement made her face light up like the sun.

Something was clearly spiraling out of control here.

Cold sweat trickled down my back.

“I love you. I don’t know when it started, but I love you, Saki.”

She threw her arms around me, pressing her face into my neck, rubbing against me like a big cat.

I had no idea what to do.

I stood frozen, and before long, I heard soft snores in my ear.

“Please forget all of this tomorrow.”

I sighed, probably harder than I had all day, whispering a wish I knew would never come true.