Chapter 88 A Dangerous Fragrance
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
The following day, Fujita-san summoned me to a coffee chain located near the university.
”I’m so sorry. I honestly didn’t think Yuri would be eavesdropping,” she said.
”What’s done is done,” I replied.
”How can you be so detached, Hirokazu-kun?”
”Making a fuss isn’t going to change the past.”
”That’s exactly what makes you so different from other guys. It just makes me fall for you even more,” Fujita-san teased.
”Setting that aside, what did you want to discuss?” I asked.
According to Fujita-san, Takahashi-san has an older brother three years her senior and is a textbook case of a Brother Complex¹. Apparently, she is quite pampered and prone to loneliness; she chose a university outside her home prefecture specifically to overcome those traits. Since Fujita-san also came from out of town, they hit it off at the freshman orientation and have since progressed to visiting each other’s apartments and even staying the night.
”Yuri is aware of her brother complex and wants to become independent from him,” Fujita-san explained.
”I understand that, but I don’t see how that involves me.”
”I told you, didn’t I? Yuri fell for you, Hirokazu-kun,” she replied.
”Even if she did, there’s nothing I can do about it.”
”It would be fine if she could just compartmentalize like I do, but that might be difficult for her.”
”It’s not even a matter of whether she can compartmentalize or not,” I countered.
”We’re the same age, but she’s like a little sister to me, so I don’t want you to abandon her,” Mayu said.
”Now that I’ve met her, I won’t just ignore her,” I replied.
”That’s so like you. I’ll look after Yuri, so make sure you look after me too, okay? ♡”
”Look after you… how?” I asked.
”Gosh… I’m your woman, Hirokazu-kun, so you can call me Mayu,” she said.
”Give me a break,” I muttered.
”Is that the kind of person you are? You just throw a girl away after doing it once? (laughs)” Mayu teased.
”I haven’t thrown you away.”
”Well, you said you’d do your best, so spend some time with me once in a while ♡” she replied.
”If it’s just for a chat, sure.”
”Fine, then. But Yuri invited you to come over. What are you going to do? If you don’t go, she might be hurt,” Mayu noted.
”I can’t go if it’s just the two of us, so I was hoping you’d join us, Fujita-san.”
”Ah, there you go again. I’d just be in Yuri’s way, so I’m not going,” she said.
”Then I’ll bring Manami along.”
”Hmm… Well, if it’s just when we’re alone, if you call me Mayu, I might consider going,” she offered.
”You’re quite selfish. Mayu-chan, shall we go together then?” I asked.
”A girl gets selfish with the man she likes. I’ll forgive you with that for now,” she replied.
Since starting university, my social circle has widened, and I feel as though I am being increasingly swept along by the whims of others.
* * *
When I informed Manami that Takahashi-san wanted to host a dinner party as a gesture of thanks, Manami assumed the usual group would be gathering and sent me off with a smile.
I purchased a cake on the way, met up with Fujita-san, and proceeded to Takahashi-san’s apartment.
”It’s cold today, so I prepared a hot pot. Is that alright?” Takahashi-san asked.
What Takahashi-san had prepared was Kimchi-nabe².
”I love spicy food!” Mayu exclaimed.
Many girls seem to have a penchant for spicy things. While I generally enjoy spicy food, I find the inevitable outpouring of sweat quite unpleasant. Still, isn’t the color of this soup a bit too red?
Takahashi-san served a portion for me.
”Let’s eat.”
It was incredibly spicy, yet not inedible. My mouth began to tingle. When I attempted to refresh my palate with the avocado salad, I found the avocado was still rock-hard. It wasn’t ripe yet. However, since she had gone to the trouble of preparing it, I couldn’t bring myself to say anything.
”Yuri, the pot is too spicy. And you should have let the avocado sit a bit longer,” Fujita-san stated bluntly.
”Hirokazu-kun feels the same way, right?” Mayu asked.
”It’s fine as it is,” I replied.
”Oh no, look at you! Yuri, get a towel! Hirokazu-kun’s face is a mess from the sweat!” Mayu cried.
Takahashi-san hurried to fetch a towel.
”I’m getting hot too,” Mayu said.
Fujita-san promptly removed her sweater, revealing a camisole. It was quite awkward to know where to look.
”What are you acting all shy for?” Mayu teased.
”I think I’ll take mine off too!” Yuri said.
Takahashi-san shed her outer shirt, leaving her in a long T-shirt. I could see her sky-blue bra clearly through the fabric… I thought I had grown accustomed to such things with Manami and the others, but when it’s a university classmate, the context is entirely different.
Determined to ignore the view, I continued eating the kimchi-nabe, but the sweat continued to gush out.
”Hirokazu-kun, this is terrible!” Mayu exclaimed.
Fujita-san moved to my side and began wiping the sweat from my neck with her own handkerchief.
”Mayu-chan, wait a second,” I said, calling her by her name without thinking.
Takahashi-san also sat by my side, attempting to wipe the sweat from my forehead with a towel.
”Yuri-chan, thank you,” I added.
It was the first time I’d addressed Takahashi-san by her name. I hope I managed to play it off successfully…
”Hirokazu-kun, why do I get a ‘wait a second’ while Yuri gets a ‘thank you’?” Mayu pouted.
”There’s no deep meaning behind it.”
”Mayu, if you keep being so persistent, people will end up hating you,” Yuri warned.
”You won’t hate me, will you?” Mayu asked me.
”I might,” I replied.
”See, Yuri? Hirokazu-kun is a cold person,” Mayu joked.
”Hirokazu-kun is kind and reliable!” Yuri insisted.
It is somewhat troubling to be looked at with such sparkling eyes.
”That’s why I’m so jealous of Manami-san,” Yuri confessed.
”I know, right?” Mayu agreed.
”I just want to stay friends with Hirokazu-kun as I am now,” Yuri added.
I felt a profound sense of relief at those words.
”If Yuri is fine with that, then I have nothing more to say,” Mayu noted.
I wish she wouldn’t say things that sounded so much like instigation.
”What about you, Mayu? What do you want?” Yuri asked.
”I wonder. I suppose I’ll just be honest with my feelings,” Mayu replied.
That ‘being honest’ part is exactly what scares me…
”Yuri, don’t you ever feel like you want to kiss the person you like, or even have sex? I do,” Mayu said.
Good grief, she just dropped a total bombshell.
”I… I’ve felt like I wanted to kiss my brother before, but I never really considered sex…” Yuri admitted.
”What about with Hirokazu-kun?” Mayu pressed.
Do you really have to ask that?
”No, no! He’s married. It’s not an affair!” Yuri cried.
”But what if he wasn’t married?” Mayu pushed.
In this situation, ‘what ifs’ shouldn’t even be part of the conversation.
”Hirokazu-kun is married, so there’s no need to contemplate that,” Yuri stated firmly.
Takahashi-san is a sensible person after all.
As I finished the kimchi-nabe while listening to their banter, I felt comforted by the cake I’d brought before finally heading home.
Fujita-san stayed the night at Takahashi-san’s apartment. I have no idea what they discussed together, but they showed no unusual behavior when the new week began.
—
Summary:
Hirokazu meets with Fujita Mayu, who explains Takahashi Yuri’s ‘brother complex’ and her feelings for him. Despite Hirokazu’s marriage, Mayu orchestrates a dinner party at Yuri’s apartment featuring incredibly spicy kimchi-nabe. The heat leads to a fanservice-laden scene where the girls remove layers of clothing, and they eventually discuss the boundaries of their relationship with Hirokazu. Yuri chooses to remain just friends, much to the protagonist’s relief.
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Character Insight:
This chapter serves to solidify the dynamics within Hirokazu’s university social circle. Mayu continues to play the role of the provocateur, using her past intimacy to push boundaries, while Yuri is portrayed as a more vulnerable figure struggling with her feelings and her desire for independence. Hirokazu’s commitment to his marriage is tested by their blatant advances, but his relief at Yuri’s ‘just friends’ declaration shows his desire for social stability.
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Behind the Scene:
The transition from a coffee shop to a private apartment setting escalates the intimacy level of the narrative. The ‘kimchi-nabe’ serves as a classic light novel catalyst for ‘forced’ semi-nudity, allowing for fanservice while maintaining a veneer of situational logic.
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T/L:
Notes:
• Fujita – A female university student who was part of the same bus hike group as Hirokazu. A beautiful girl who recently broke up with her boyfriend. She claims to have the largest breasts Hirokazu has ever seen. She seeks emotional release and ‘punishment’ from Hirokazu to cope with her guilt. Brown long haired.
• Yuri – A friend who accidentally gets drunk and becomes sick. She is self-conscious about her appearance and develops feelings for Inamori after he cares for her.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
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