Chapter 19: Extra Chapter (Serina)

The type of person who gains weight when they get a girlfriend

“Have you gained weight?”

Right off the bat, that’s what she said, and without thinking, I slapped her on the shoulder.

Thud. Even though she chuckled and hunched her back, I couldn't help but chop her on the head.

“How rude.”

“Well, you have gained weight, haven't you?”

I wanted to invoke my right to remain silent, but she probably saw right through that.

I sighed in resignation and gave a reluctant nod.

“Congratulations.”

“What's that for?”

She clapped her hands with a grin, and I tilted my head in confusion.

“You got a girlfriend, didn't you? When you get one, you gain weight,”
she said, grinning.

“I didn’t know that. Is that so?”

“It is.”

The girl in front of me, laughing so brightly, was my childhood friend.

By the way, she was a pure-blooded guy-lover, not my type at all, so we have a purely platonic friendship. Having come back to my hometown, I decided to meet her at a café, and now this.

Childhood friends are scary. But maybe she just has a special talent for observation.

“So, who's the guy?”

“I met him at my part-time job.”

“Is he the same age as you?”

“He's about five years older, I think.”

“Ah, so he’s working then. He must have a lot of experience.”

“Not really. He was straight.”

My childhood friend’s eyes widened in surprise.

“Straight?! You were always shouting back in high school that you’d never touch a guy again after the horrible experience you had.”

“Yeah, that’s true.”

I laughed awkwardly, trying to cover up the situation.

I had believed that back then, and honestly, I think I even swore it off. But, well, I met her, and what could I do?

“She always teases me, saying I’m like a little kid.”

“Yeah, you’ve always liked playing pranks, haven’t you? You’ve got that youngest child vibe.”

“Something like that. But none of the people at college tease me like that. They just awkwardly smile and try to cover it up. I started to really dislike that.”

“Well, I guess they couldn't say anything after you were randomly signed up for the Miss College contest and won without even being present.”

“I think that’s discrimination.”

“They’re probably just too scared of your face.”

She smirked as she looked at my face.

I pouted and sipped my fruit juice.

“Isn’t it a bit harsh to keep talking about my face like that?”

“Oh, look who’s being picky now.”

“It’s not about being picky, it’s just not that.”

I scratched my head.

Honestly, I know I’ve been blessed with good looks, and I’ve benefited from it. But that doesn’t mean it’ll last forever.

“If I get all wrinkled and lose my looks, the people around me will probably drift away, right?”

“Yeah, that’s true.”

“Then, are they really my friends?”

“Probably not.”

“But she won’t leave me.”

“Oh? And why’s that?”

“Because she’s serious about me.”

My childhood friend tilted her head in confusion.

She probably didn’t get it, so I explained further.

“It’s natural that I’ll lose my looks as I get older. To her, that’s just a normal thing. Even when I get older, she’ll probably treat me the same way as always.”

“Well, that’s the same with me.”

“And with Mayuko, too.”

We both laughed a little and drank our juice.

It had been a while since we started chatting, and the juice tasted really good.

“So, how did you manage to get a straight guy interested in you? From what you’ve said, you don’t seem like the type to care much about looks.”

“Maybe not. In the end, I kind of used my body to reel him in.”

“Wow, that’s bold.”

“Before you even think about being in a relationship or not, you just go for it. With your body.”

“That sounds like some advanced-level advice.”

Thinking about what happened between me and her, I paused for a moment.

It would be a lie to say I didn’t plan things out a little. Love doesn’t just work on impulse. It’s not that sweet.

“I think I’m pretty calculating about all this. Is that okay?”

“What do you mean?”

“She seems so serious and pure. If she knew how much of a schemer I am, would she be turned off?”

“Eh, I think you’re fine. Love is like that, you know? It’s all about calculation, including the strategy. Now, what if she’s been calculating everything to get you? How would you feel about that?”

“I’d probably figure it out.”

“Are you really an advanced player?”

The sky outside the window had already turned a deep orange.

I remembered I had plans to meet her soon, so I checked the time. If I didn’t leave now, I might be late.

I was about to tell my childhood friend I needed to go when she was mixing her grapefruit juice with a clink.

“Well, don’t stress about it. After all, you love her, right?”

“Yeah. I love her so much.”

I smiled naturally, and a warm feeling spread through me. I wondered if this was what they called a “happy aura.”

A suspicious glance was aimed at me as I smiled, and my childhood friend muttered, “Explode.”

“… Did you break up?”

“Ugh, I hate happy couples!”

She slammed the table in frustration.

I sighed and sent a message to my girlfriend that I wouldn’t make it on time for our meeting.