A Popular Girl Confessed to Me, the Loner—Thinking It Was a Prank, I Tried to Scare Her Off... But She Was Actually Serious. - Chapter 20: Going to a Café with the Popular Girls

Sunday afternoon.

I stood in front of a café near the station, frozen in place.

The spot was called Flap Café, apparently a trendy place that Amano-san had found.

White exterior walls, huge glass windows, wooden tables, and potted plants—it screamed hangout for the popular crowd.

(Seriously, do I even belong here…?)

But technically, I had gotten permission for this outing.

Back on Friday after school, I asked Hiyori:

“Hey… I got invited to a café this Sunday. Is it okay if I go?”

Hiyori looked a little surprised at first, but then smiled.

“Yeah, totally! Everyone’s really nice—have fun!”

She even gave me a little push on the back.

“I’m happy you’re getting along with my friends, Manabe-kun.”

After that, there was no way I could say no. And to be honest, there wasn’t really a reason to.

***

“Oii, Manabecchi!”

Suzuki called out in her usual energetic voice, waving at me in front of the café. As always, she was full-on gal today.

Black short jacket, flowy skirt, boots—she looked like she stepped straight out of a fashion magazine.

Still not sure if she’s calling me by my first name or just sticking with Manabecchi, but… whatever.

Beside her stood Amano-san in a soft beige one-piece dress, and Saeki Mei in a casual black T-shirt and cardigan combo.

“…They seriously dressed up for this…”

I muttered without thinking. Suzuki immediately picked up on it.

“What do you mean~? You look good too, Manabecchi! You’ve got that clean-cut style—totally suits you!”

“You’re terrible at lying…”

“I’m being honest! I could totally take a pic and send it to Hiyori-chan right now!”

“Don’t you dare. I’ll die.”

With that back-and-forth, we headed into the café.

***

We sat at a window-side table meant for four.

It was bright and quiet inside, surprisingly comfortable.

Even though I was a bit overwhelmed by the trendy menu, we all ordered sweets sets and
drinks. Things like French toast—those photogenic kinds of desserts that practically attack your eyes.

“Do you play games, Manabe-kun?” Amano-san asked in her usual gentle tone.

“…A little. Mobile RPGs and… farming sim stuff.”

“Farming? That’s so unexpected!”

“I like quietly growing crops…”

“So peaceful~! You’re like a healing-type guy!”

Suzuki laughed as she said it.

“Hiyori-chan’s actually kind of bad at love, you know. I’m glad it’s you, Manabe-kun.”

Amano-san suddenly dropped that out of nowhere.

“…Bad at it?”

“Yeah. She tends to rush forward with her feelings. Back in middle school, she totally bombed a Valentine’s Day confession.”

“Wait, for real?”

That was a surprise. I didn’t think Hiyori had that kind of story in her past.

“But y’know~”

Suzuki spun her straw around in her drink and spoke with a teasing tone.

“If you were some sneaky, scummy Manabecchi who didn’t treat Hiyori right… imagine what we would’ve done to you… haha~”

She flashed me a big, cheerful smile.

“Terrifying!?”

“I’m joking~. But yeah, that’s kind of the group consensus. Just a heads-up.”

She was laughing, but her eyes weren’t. What was with this pressure?

Okay, can we not assume I’m going to screw up?

“…I’m not gonna do anything shady. I care about her.”

“Yeah, yeah, we know. That’s why we invited you.”

This time, Suzuki gave me a proper, genuine smile.

“…Manabe, your voice… calming.”

Out of nowhere, Mei spoke up.

“Huh?”

“Yeah, I get it. Just being near you makes me kinda sleepy.”

“…Is that a compliment?”

“It is. You’ve got a nice presence.”

“When Mei actually talks, she usually means it,” Amano-san added with a soft smile.

…What was this group?

Maybe I’d been seeing things all wrong. Thinking of them as the popular girls and me as just a background guy.

But they’d been treating me like a person from the start.

(Am I… not being left out? Am I actually being welcomed?)

Well, to be honest… I’ve probably known that for a while now.

***

By the time we left the café, the sun had already started to set.

I glanced at my phone and saw a message from Hiyori.

“Having fun? You’re not forcing yourself, right? I think everyone really likes you, Manabe-kun~”

I couldn’t help but smile.

Hiyori—always a little over-worried, but she trusted me enough to send me off.

(Your friends… they’re good people.)

I mentally replied as I slipped my phone back into my pocket.