Dullard Buddy-kun: Heading Reluctantly to School Again Today - Episode 44

Today, just like every other day, the bright morning sun stings my eyes, contrary to my heart’s desires.

Yeah. I, Kento Mamiya, have already reached the second day of the school trip.

And then, last night was so eventful that I couldn’t sleep at all.

After that, Shibuya-san unexpectedly fell asleep right there in my bed.

And fortunately, I was in the empty bed next to Tanaka-kun… but with a woman next to me, I mean, in this school trip situation, being alone in the same room with a woman, there’s no way I could sleep in various senses.

Of course, I haven’t done anything to her. There’s no way I would.

Despite that.

For some reason, after she woke up in the morning, she was in a bad mood, and before I knew it, she had disappeared from my room like a cat…

Really, even now, I can’t help but think that last night’s events were so unexpected that they might have been a dream.

Really…

And speaking of disappearing.

Tanaka-kun… where on earth did he go?

I’m now reluctantly at the breakfast venue of yet another lavish-looking hotel, but I can’t find him, Tanaka-kun.

Last night, he didn’t come back to his room, and he didn’t answer the phone even once. I had a lot of things I wanted to ask him, but he’s still not here. It seems like he’s not among his friends either.

Where on earth did you go?

“I love you. Go out with me. Yamamoto!!!”

And then, while I was thinking about such things, suddenly a man’s loud voice came from somewhere in the middle of the breakfast venue.

When I focus on the direction of the voice, I see two men and women. And surrounding them are a large number of other people.

Ah, so that’s the kind of guy he is.

Yes. In the center, there was a man and Sayaka Yamamoto.

If you look closely, it’s that guy from the soccer club in the next class. I think he’s the one who often hangs out with Sakaki, and now he’s confessing to Yamamoto Saya.

Public confession during the school trip…

A handsome guy confesses to a beautiful girl. Is this what true youth is like? It’s a world I can’t even imagine as a loner.

And just like that, first thing in the morning.

I see. So, it’s like, if I can successfully confess here, I can create the best memory of the school trip with today’s free time date, right?

I have the impression that Mr. Yamamoto was quite close with that man as well.

The people around are really getting into the scene. Some are even filming it with their phones. I wonder if they plan to upload a successful confession video to social media later, like those short videos you sometimes see. Before I know it, I also catch sight of Shibuya Arisa quietly observing the scene.

I’m glad. It seems they safely returned to their room just like that.

Well, anyway. This confession scene is exactly the kind of situation where it wouldn’t be surprising if things just flowed and an OK was given.

Well, as expected, it’s an event that’s completely in a different world from mine, it’s just too dazzling…

Just thinking about it now, if this confession succeeds, I would have the whole day free…

If, by any chance, Tanaka-kun remains absent and Yamamoto-san withdraws, it will just be the two of us, me and her friend Sakura-san.

Sakura will definitely join another team.

So, it looks like I’ll be alone again…

Well, no problem…

I’m already used to it.

“I’m sorry.”

And as I think about various things and simulate them, now I hear Yamamoto-san’s voice saying that.

Huh? Did you get rejected?

That’s unusual. I’ve seen her get confessed to a few times before, but the outcome was always negative. Basically, she would give an answer like “Please give me some time to think,” and I don’t think I’ve ever seen her clearly reject someone on the spot…

Especially in such an exciting situation, even more so.

“Uh, okay. By the way, could you at least tell me the reason?”

A reason, huh…? I’ll just eavesdrop a bit.

“Yeah. There’s someone else I like. It’s not a lie to turn you down. I really like someone else right now. So, I’m sorry.”

Someone else you like…?

Well, I heard it wasn’t a lie, but it must be a lie.

It’s one of the templates for polite refusals to avoid hurting someone’s feelings.

Just, what the…

In that moment earlier, among all these people, I felt like I made eye contact with her, Yamamoto-san. Was it really just my imagination?

Yeah. I take back what I said. It was definitely just my imagination.

A bit, since last night, too many things have happened, and my thoughts are just feeling weird.

Why did I feel a slight tightening in my chest the moment our eyes met just now? At this rate, I’ll just end up being a misunderstood loner who is only in pain. Am I an idiot…?

Yeah. It was just a coincidence, and in reality, it only looked like our eyes met. From their perspective, I probably didn’t even register. Of course. I’m all alone with not a single friend…

Really, because I couldn’t sleep last night, I’m definitely going crazy. I’m probably seeing illusions, no, hallucinations.

For now, breakfast is fortunately in a reserved seat. Let’s sit down for a moment and slowly think about how to get through today. After all, today is essentially the main event of the school trip.

Even so.

Where on earth did Tanaka-kun go…?