137. Kato Megumi Is Always Running the Show (Part Three)

Megumi Kato nodded understandingly, her delicate brows drawing together slightly. After a moment’s hesitation, she said, “This would be too much trouble for you, Jiang Yu. Why don’t I just go home by myself? You don’t have to trouble yourself with seeing me—”

“No!” Jiang Yu refused outright, not even waiting for her to finish.

“Um… well… I mean… I—I promised you, didn’t I, Kato? I have to personally see you all the way to your doorstep today!”

Confronted by Megumi Kato’s placid expression and questioning gaze, Jiang Yu stammered for quite some time before finally bringing up Kato Kyoko’s instructions.

Afterward, he instinctively wiped at the nonexistent cold sweat on his forehead and waited nervously for Megumi Kato’s response.

Though he himself had no idea what exactly he was so nervous about.

Watching Jiang Yu’s anxious appearance, Megumi Kato felt, for some inexplicable reason, a strange sensation she had never experienced before. It was as though a mischievous child had secretly taken out more candy than allowed for the day, hurried into a corner to unwrap it, and tossed it into her mouth. As a faint sweetness spread through her nervousness, flowing slowly from the tip of her tongue to every part of her body, she experienced the secret delight of getting away with something.

What… is… happening… to me?

The once perfectly clear blackness of Megumi Kato’s eyes gradually became tinged with confusion. Her lips parted unconsciously, and in an almost dreamlike whisper, she questioned herself in a voice so faint it could barely be heard.

Seeing that Megumi Kato had suddenly fallen into a daze for some unknown reason, Jiang Yu was puzzled, but he patiently waited beside her without urging her on.

Thus, when Megumi Kato finally came to herself—though a few ripples still lingered in her heart, her expression had more or less returned to its usual calm—she nodded, indicating her agreement. Yet, with Jiang Yu’s concerns in mind, she suggested, “Then I’ll go with you to the train station.”

Utaha Kasumigaoka, who appeared to be tidying her belongings, had in fact been secretly observing the conversation between the two of them all along. At those words, the black-stockinged… ahem, the long-haired girl’s gaze sharpened. A few murmured words slipped quietly from her lips, though no one heard what she said.

After Jiang Yu and Megumi Kato settled on their plan, he carefully considered the route several times. Finding nothing amiss, he finally relaxed. Turning to Utaha Kasumigaoka, who had finished gathering her things, he smiled and said, “Then let’s head to the train station first. Come on, upperclassman.”

Utaha Kasumigaoka gave a slight nod and raised her slender hand, gesturing for Jiang Yu to go ahead.

Jiang Yu had no objection and took the lead. Utaha Kasumigaoka and Megumi Kato followed behind him. The two girls walked almost side by side, though the computer bag Utaha carried created a subtle gap between them, as if demonstrating that their relationship was not particularly close.

That was hardly surprising. After all, they had known each other for only about two weeks. Even setting aside their senior-junior relationship, expecting Megumi Kato—with her faint presence—and the aloof Utaha Kasumigaoka to suddenly become close friends would have been unrealistic.

Before they realized it, the two girls had fallen some distance behind Jiang Yu, who was striding ahead. Utaha tightened the strap of her computer bag as a cool night breeze swept toward them. At that perfectly timed moment, a soft, low voice scattered into the wind.

“I suppose we really can’t become friends after all?”

The words came from the long-haired girl who had never cared much about the concept of friendship, yet, after joining a certain club half willingly and half unwillingly, had suddenly discovered that having friends might not be such a bad thing.

“Huh?”

The reply came from the bob-haired girl, who had no idea what her senior from the same school was trying to do. Nevertheless, she had slowed her pace to match the other girl’s, only to hear such a baffling remark and be left utterly perplexed.

Utaha Kasumigaoka shook her head, indicating that she did not wish to say anything more. Her gaze settled on the black-haired boy ahead, who had noticed that the two girls had not kept up and had stopped to wait for them. She pressed her lips together slightly, then quickened her pace.

Megumi Kato watched this scene thoughtfully, a trace of surprise passing across her face.

Jiang Yu, walking at the front, had naturally heard none of their brief exchange. He merely waved to the two girls behind him, signaling them to catch up.

Then, in front of the train station, Jiang Yu waved goodbye to Utaha Kasumigaoka. Utaha left him with a final, “I’ll send you the manuscript through LINE later,” before turning gracefully and entering the station.

Under the mingled glow of the slightly dim moonlight and the bright station lamps, the girl’s long black hair twirled lightly, leaving behind a faint trace of shampoo in the air.

The beautiful sight left Jiang Yu staring blankly for quite some time before he recovered. Turning around, he offered Megumi Kato, who had been waiting nearby, an apologetic smile. Steadying himself, he said, “Then let’s go, Kato.”

Megumi Kato nodded lightly, her expressionless face unchanged. Yet, as she turned to leave the station, she glanced—whether intentionally or otherwise—in the direction Utaha Kasumigaoka had gone. Her eyes were deep and complicated.

After that, the two of them walked along the street, one behind the other. Naturally, since Jiang Yu did not know the way, Megumi Kato walked in front.

Throughout that silent stretch of road, it was not that Jiang Yu did not want to start a conversation. He simply had no idea what to say.

It was rather embarrassing to admit, but ever since high school in his previous life, no matter how hard he searched his memories, he could not recall a single occasion when he had escorted a girl home alone.

Thinking about it, he could not help feeling a little weighed down inside…

Before long, Megumi Kato suddenly stopped at a fork in the road. Jiang Yu, who had been brooding to himself, nearly walked into her. He braked hurriedly and only then realized that he had stopped as well.

Megumi Kato turned around and looked at him. With a slight bow, she said in her usual calm tone, “My home is nearby. Thank you for walking me home, Jiang Yu.”

Jiang Yu hurriedly waved his hands, indicating that there was no need for such formality. “I didn’t do anything remarkable. You don’t have to thank me like that, Kato.”

The girl stubbornly shook her head. Seeing this, Jiang Yu could only awkwardly change the subject.

“Oh, right. As for studying programming, can we start tomorrow?”

Megumi Kato was taken aback. Then she gave him the faintest of smiles and nodded to show that she understood.

Seeing this, Jiang Yu continued, “Then I’ll bring you some introductory books on programming when we come to school tomorrow?”

Megumi Kato took out her phone and glanced at the time before replying, “Then I’ll be counting on you. It’s getting late, so you should head home soon too, Jiang Yu.”

“Mm… all right, then. See you tomorrow, Kato.”

“See you tomorrow.”