Young people always get acquainted quickly. After learning each other's names, under the leadership of the mixer organizers Iizuka Takeya and Takanashi Yuko, the atmosphere in the small private room quickly became lively.
Toritsuka Reita was sparing no effort to curry favor with the girls: "Eh? Yuko-chan can also play the harmonica? You're really multi-talented."
Takanashi Yuko was in a good mood and quite pleased, but she didn't forget to boost her companion from the side: "This is nothing~ Speaking of which, Eri is the excellent one. In home economics cooking class, she's always the only one who gets praised by the teacher, and there were several times when the teacher wasn't there that she taught the class instead."
Iizuka Takeya opened his mouth exaggeratedly: "That's really amazing! Sato-san aims to be a pastry chef, but I didn't expect her cooking to be so good too. I'd really like to see it if there's a chance—I wonder if there'll be such an opportunity in the future."
Sato Eri covered her mouth and laughed softly: "Just call me Eri, no need to be so formal. As for opportunities, there are always some. Next time you can come to my house and taste my cooking."
After saying this, her gaze drifted to Murakami Yuu, who was focused on dealing with the grilled meat, and her cheeks turned slightly red.
Even the way he eats looks so good...
"Speaking of which, Yuu's cooking skills are also quite good. If there's a chance, you two could discuss cooking together."
Noticing Sato Eri's gaze, Iizuka Takeya actively played matchmaker.
"Eh? Really? What kind of cuisine is Murakami-san good at?"
Seeing the topic had turned to himself, Murakami Yuu couldn't continue pretending to be invisible.
"Probably Chinese cuisine."
"Chinese cuisine is very good. I also know a little—I'm quite confident in fried rice and twice-cooked pork. I wonder if Murakami-san likes them?"
"Mm, I don't dislike them. But if we're talking about what I like, I still prefer slightly spicy dishes, like mapo tofu or boiled fish."
"Murakami-san really knows Chinese cuisine well."
Takanashi Yuko chimed in from the side.
"I remember Rui also likes spicy food, right?"
"So-so."
Tachibana Rui answered softly, still maintaining the poker face she'd had from the beginning.
"Really now, Rui, you should show a little more enthusiasm at times like this."
"Sorry, I need to go to the restroom."
She ignored the other's words, stood up, and walked out of the private room.
"Sorry, sorry, she's always like this. She gets quite shy around unfamiliar boys, and sometimes when she doesn't know how to face them, this kind of situation happens."
"Haha, it's fine, it's fine."
Iizuka Takeya laughed and diffused the awkwardness, raising his glass.
"Rather than that, let's all toast first."
...
Murakami Yuu also left the private room. On his way back after using the restroom, he saw Tachibana Rui sitting in a corner of the main hall.
After thinking about it, he still walked over.
"Why aren't you going back to the private room?"
Tachibana Rui looked up, studying Murakami Yuu with those emotionless eyes for a while before turning her gaze back to the window.
"I'm not quite used to the mixer atmosphere."
"I see..."
Murakami Yuu didn't intend to continue the conversation and turned to head back to the private room.
"Wait."
Tachibana Rui spoke up to stop him at that moment.
"Could we chat for a bit?"
Murakami Yuu turned around and came back, sitting across from her: "Sure."
It was then that he got a good look at the girl sitting across from him.
Blue short hair, fair skin, well-proportioned features—combined with that expressionless face, she looked like an artificial beautiful girl who had stepped out of a painting.
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She wore a loose t-shirt with a cat print, revealing prominent collarbones, and denim cropped pants below, giving off a very refreshing feeling.
"So, what do you want to talk about?"
Murakami Yuu opened the conversation.
"You don't really like the atmosphere in there either, do you?"
"Mm, that's true. How did you know?"
"Intuition."
"Could you be more specific?"
"Because you had absolutely no intention of talking with Yuko or Eri. You looked completely unmotivated. You're probably like me—just wanting to get out and casually relax, so you chose to join this mixer, right?"
"I suppose so." Murakami Yuu gave an ambiguous answer.
But actually, the main reason he lacked motivation was that he had quite high standards for the opposite sex. Ordinary girls held no attraction for him.
The Tachibana Rui before him met his aesthetic standards, which was why he had just patiently sat down in front of her and chosen to talk patiently. Very realistic—this was a face-based society, and good-looking people got preferential treatment everywhere. He admitted he wasn't immune to this either.
"You look like you're in a bad mood."
Murakami Yuu said.
"Is it that obvious?"
"Mm, it's written all over your face—a look of 'I'm very annoyed, don't mess with me.'"
"Your ability to read people isn't bad. I thought your only merit was being good-looking."
"That sentence applies to you as well."
"Hey, let me ask you—how old are you this year?"
"About seventeen, I guess. Why ask such a thing?"
"Nothing, I just wanted to confirm whether Murakami-san is the same age as me. If my next question makes you feel uncomfortable, you don't have to answer."
"That depends on whether it's a privacy-related question. Go ahead and ask."
"Has anyone ever kept you at arm's length, refusing to open their heart to you, using the reason 'you haven't grown up yet, you're a child who wouldn't understand'?"
Murakami Yuu's eyes narrowed slightly as he thought seriously for a while.
"Maybe a little before I was about ten, but after that, especially after I started living alone at fourteen or fifteen, this kind of thing has never happened."
"Living alone?"
Tachibana Rui caught the key point in his statement.
"Yes, my parents died in an accident during that time. After living with relatives for a while, I requested to live alone, and they respected my decision. It's been like that until today."
"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have asked that question."
Tachibana Rui felt somewhat guilty, her voice carrying gentleness.
"It's fine. I told you to continue asking, and besides, Takeya and Reita both know about this—it's not really private, so don't worry about it."
Murakami Yuu waved his hand dismissively.
"Also, weren't we talking about your problem? Why did the topic shift to me? Could I ask why you're asking me such questions?"
"Because I was looked down upon."
"Does this 'looked down upon' mean being despised?"
"Mm, stubbornly standing on her own side, not making any moves, worrying alone there. Even though she's clearly in pain, clearly frustrated, I've already reached out my hand to her, but she still won't talk to me. The reason she gave me was 'this is the adult world, you're still a child who wouldn't understand.'"
Tachibana Rui rested her chin on her hand, looking out the window with dim eyes and a flat tone, as if talking about something trivial and unimportant.
"That really is a sad thing. Since that's the case, you don't need to bother with her anymore, right? No matter who this person with such a difficult personality is, just let her fend for herself."
"Bang!"
The sound of Tachibana Rui slapping her palm against the table—not loud, but enough to show the person's level of agitation.
"Did I say something wrong?"
Murakami Yuu had maintained a lightly amused gaze while looking at Tachibana Rui from the start of the conversation, showing no sign of backing down.
"It's not like that..."
Tachibana Rui pressed her lips together several times, wanting to open her mouth to refute, but never found the right words to counter with.
"Maybe my words were a bit harsh, but that's the reality. Some people won't open their hearts to those who haven't experienced the same things. In layman's terms, it's the so-called 'those who have experienced something will look down on those who haven't.'
This superior attitude dooms them to be trapped alone in their own world, consuming themselves, forever caught in the whirlpool of being unable to communicate with others. It's precisely this stubborn attitude that keeps people from getting close, isn't it?"
Tachibana Rui's hand on the table gradually clenched into a fist.
It was time to go back.
Thinking this, Murakami Yuu stood up.
"Sorry, I got a bit verbose. I don't know why it turned into this annoying lecturing mode. Forget about it. Everyone's still waiting. If we're gone too long, they'll worry. Come back once you've adjusted your mindset."
After saying this, he walked toward the private room.
"Wait..."
Tachibana Rui's head was buried very low, her voice barely audible.
Murakami Yuu acted as if he hadn't heard and didn't stop walking.
"Please wait!"
Tachibana Rui stood up and quickly took two steps, grabbing the corner of Murakami Yuu's clothes from behind.
"What is it?"
Murakami Yuu turned his head. Tachibana Rui kept her head down, her hand gripping his clothes without letting go.
"I just need to empathize, right..."
"Hm?"
"I just need to experience it to have the right to talk to her, right..."
"What are you trying to say?"
"I just need to become an adult..."
Tachibana Rui slowly raised her head. The surface of her eyes seemed to have ripples flowing across them, and her cheeks were also tinged with a rosy glow, looking unusually enchanting.
"If possible, please help me..."
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