The Top Idol Next Door Can't Help But Crave My Guilty Pleasure Meals-Chapter 5Volume 2 .1 - Geez, I cant take it anymore...♥

ROUND 5 – Geez, I can’t take it anymore…♥ 1

Ding-

The notification sound echoed for what seemed like the umpteenth time in the last hour.

“What is it this time?”

“An invitation to a bedrock bath after work tomorrow. I got a discount coupon.”

“What was the previous message about?”

“It was a critique of my meals over the past few days. In summary, she said, ‘With PFC balance in mind, let’s reduce fats and increase protein intake a bit more.’ ” (TN: P – Protein, F – Fat, C – Carbohydrates.)

When I looked at her smartphone, it was filled with detailed comments that would put a nutritionist to shame.

The level of detail was such that I would be willing to pay to attend a nutrition course if she ever taught one.

“Wait, but haven’t you been eating the meals Emoto-san prepared for you recently?”

“There were some schedule changes, and I had days when I couldn’t eat at home. There were also some sudden dinner parties.”

Since the beginning of June, the number of days Yuzuki wore her uniform had significantly decreased.

Several days had passed since the photo shoot at the Sasaki residence, but Yuzuki hadn’t attended school once.

I wonder if her attendance is okay.

“Emoto-san is a senior in high school, right? Is she planning on taking entrance exams?”

“Now that you mention it, I think she said she was going to try for national university entrance exams… She takes mock exams occasionally. She’s currently at a ‘B’ evaluation for her first-choice school, so she might challenge a department with a slightly higher deviation value. But it has to be within commuting distance from her home in Tokyo.”

It’s impressive enough to juggle idol activities, but to also take care of Yuzuki and study for university entrance exams is quite a display of her diligent.

From her perspective, the study sessions we are currently doing might seem lukewarm and could possibly be dismissed with a laugh.

The current time is nine o’clock at night. The location is the Sasaki family’s living room.

Updated from freewёbnoνel.com.

I managed to clear up the recent suspicions of a dubious party, but the fact that I ended up showing an embarrassing side of myself remains true.

As an apology or maybe to make amends, I’ve taken on the role of a temporary tutor for today.

If I start diligently learning now, I should be able to increase my ability to handle tasks on my own if I’m ever faced with them again.

It seems that Emoto-san’s care for Yuzuki is escalating with each passing day. She sends at least ten messages a day to keep tabs on Yuzuki, even on days they don’t work together.

Perhaps she doesn’t want to give me, a ‘notorious womanizer’, any opportunity to make a move.

I’m well aware that it’s not my place to meddle in the group’s internal affairs.

However, this level of concern and care seems to go beyond just “worrying” or “taking care.”

It’s management that’s more thorough than that of a manager.

“Isn’t Emoto-san’s contact a bit too much?”

“Oh, could it be that you’re jealous?”

Yuzuki’s lips curled into a sly grin.

My expression must have given me away. As I struggle to find a response, her teasing expression quickly fades.

“…Thank you for the concern, but I’m fine. I’m sure Ruru-san cares about me. In fact, I’m in perfect health.”

“Just make sure you don’t overdo it, okay?”

Ding-

The notification sound that I had grown tired of hearing over the past hour rang out in the room once again.

“…No way.”

“What’s wrong?”

“Ruru-san seems to be coming over now. She wants to make more meals for me. I’m sorry, but…”

“…Got it. I guess I’d better get out of here.”

It’s annoying to feel like Yuzuki is being taken away from me, but given that Emoto-san suspects me of being a playboy, it’s best to step back now to avoid complicating things further.

We’ve met our study goals for the day, so the original purpose has been fulfilled.

If I were to be honest about my feelings, “frustrated” would sum it up perfectly.

If this were like a month ago, when it was just between me and Yuzuki, I could be more aggressive without worrying about appearances.

As it is now, no one is in trouble. So for me to say anything would indeed be out of place.

If asked whether I feel lonely, of course I do. But telling Yuzuki that would only cause her trouble.

As I gathered my notes and textbooks, Yuzuki narrowed her eyes.

“Don’t worry, I won’t suddenly disappear again. Suzufumi, be a good boy and wait for me.”

Suddenly, I feel a hand gently stroking my head. It seems my feelings had already been seen through.

Right now, it’s hard to tell who’s supposed to be taking care of whom.

“Hmph, are you just teasing me in your idol mode and trying to charm me into becoming a fan? I’m not that easy to sway, okay?”

“No, this is me speaking to Suzufumi as Sasaki Yuzuki.”

“…I know.”

I was easy to sway. Sorry for talking big.

“…We made a promise, didn’t we? That if you seemed like you were drifting away, Yuzuki, I’d hold you back, no matter how many times it takes.”

I recall the promise we made the day before the fan meeting at my home.

“That’s right. Suzufumi, you’d come to see me no matter where I am, wouldn’t you?”

As long as the concept of an ‘idol you can visit’ exists, nodding might be synonymous with accepting Yuzuki’s idol moves.

Still, I nodded without hesitation.

☆ ☆ ☆

A few days later, during lunch break, Yuzuki summoned me via message, asking me to join her for a distraction.

I found myself at a certain place within the school.

I knock on the door twice, and a voice comes from inside.

『What’s your order?』

『A triple cheeseburger with fries on the side.』

『Entry permitted.』

After completing a password authentication that felt like something we’d done before, I opened the glass-paneled lattice door.

“Hii!”

Yuzuki raises her hand lightly, and I respond with the same gesture.

I take off my indoor shoes and sit down on the front side of the tatami mat, with Yuzuki sitting in seiza across the chabudai (low-table) on the far side.

“It’s amazing that you found such a hidden spot. I didn’t even know our school had a traditional etiquette room, and I’m a second-year student.”

This is the traditional etiquette room of Orikita High School.

A traditional etiquette room is, as the name implies, a space for learning traditional Japanese etiquette, akin to a tea ceremony room.

Unlike other classrooms, this one is a Japanese-style room with tatami mats on the floor.

The traditional etiquette room is located on the first floor at the very back of the club building, separate from the teaching block.

The room just before it used to be the Rakugo Research Club’s room, which had been disbanded years ago and now seemed to serve as a storeroom.

Cardboard boxes filled with items that didn’t fit in the room were haphazardly piled up in the hallway, leaving just enough space for one person to pass through.

I had visited the club building a few times, but I never imagined that beyond the cardboard barricade lay a hidden room. It’s like something out of a mystery novel.

The reason for meeting in such a high-risk location such as the school was simple.

There was no other place or time where I could talk with Yuzuki.