Dating sim loading: My girlfriend is a cunning young lady
Chapter 52 - 46. In life, who is whose amusement?

Chapter 52: 46. In life, who is whose amusement?

"Gentle, manly, considerate, loyal, kind, smart, athletically gifted."

Dubian Che scribbled down these notes that resembled labels in his notebook.

After finishing, he first went to a gym where he had gotten a swimming card. Due to the rainy weather, there were fewer people here than usual.

Dubian swam ten laps in the fifty-meter pool, used the gym’s shower, and then headed to Shinjuku to buy books at Kiiroku Bookstore.

There were other bookstores around, but that one had a more comprehensive and varied collection; they might even have the niche book "How to Charm a Rich Young Lady" that he was looking for.

There were no free seats in the train car, so Dubian leaned near the inner door and read a small Spanish vocabulary book he had organized.

When the train passed Shinjuku Imperial Garden station, a little girl in a Goda High School uniform, holding a bulky musical instrument, got on, and Dubian glanced over.

It was Hanaoka Asako with her cello.

Dubian thought, wasn’t this the perfect moment to show "gentleness" and "consideration"? So, he reached out to help her with it, nearly failing to secure it firmly.

"Sorry," he quickly said.

Instead, a blushing Hanaoka Asako quickly waved her hand, "No, it’s my fault."

"It’s quite heavy," Dubian said, placing the instrument at his feet to avoid any bumps.

"No, no, the instrument isn’t heavy; it’s mainly the case. But it provides great protection for the cello."

"What did you say?" Hanaoka’s voice was so soft, Dubian couldn’t hear her clearly.

Hanaoka placed her hands in front of her chest and took a deep breath. This action startled Dubian, making him think she was about to shout on the train.

But Hanaoka repeated herself in the same low volume.

Still unable to hear clearly, Dubian said, "Uh-huh, I see."

’I’m really gentle; maybe I don’t need to spend money on a book about how to become gentle,’ Dubian thought as he continued reading his vocabulary book.

Hanaoka, already petite, was looking down due to shyness and didn’t realize the conversation had ended.

She hesitated, then introduced herself in a low voice, "I—I’m Hanaoka Asako from class 2-1. Thank you for your help."

After a brief pause, feeling the need as a senior to lead the conversation, she mustered up the courage to continue:

"I was at the piano shop for lessons, and I’m heading home now. There’s an exam coming up soon, so where are you headed this late, Dubian?"

"Ah? Oh, I see."

Hanaoka’s mind went into a frenzy.

’What should I do! Why is Mr. Dubian so dismissive to his senior! What should I do?’

As the train announced the next stop, "Next stop, Shinjuku 3-chome, Shinjuku 3-chome."

Dubian put away his vocabulary book, and while walking out of the car, he said "gently," "See you tomorrow, Hanaoka."

"Eh?" Hanaoka’s petite body shuddered like a little rabbit.

’See you tomorrow? Why?! And no time and place were set... What do I do... Got entangled by a frivolous younger student...’

The train bound for Nakano Station carried a confused Hanaoka away, unknown to Dubian.

The next day was the last day before the midterms, and the school had arranged for students to study independently. Those who wanted to relax their minds could sleep, and those who wanted cram sessions could seek out teachers.

In short, each student could spend the last stretch in their own way.

During the lunch break, Dubian and his two friends looked down at the courtyard from the balcony.

"Why isn’t it a sailor uniform?" Dubian asked, sucking on a straw in his strawberry milk.

"If you like sailor uniforms so much, why don’t you go to Bright High School?" Saito Keisuke said as he unwrapped a rice ball.

Kunii Shuichi, who was chewing vigorously on a fried noodle sandwich, added, "Exactly, choosing a school should first consider if the uniform looks cool! I came for the western-style uniform at Goda."

"With sailor uniforms, from where we are now, we might see the girls’ chests."

"..." Saito Keisuke’s eyes widened, "Is that okay?!"

"Sailor uniform necklines are relatively loose, right? Think about bending down."

"Dammit—!!!" Kunii Shuichi roared, "Dubian, why didn’t you say so earlier! Why didn’t you say so earlier!"

"That’s right! I’ve had enough of Goda’s school uniforms! Who wants to wear a bow tie around the neck all year round? Isn’t it hot?!!"

Wearing a bow tie is a girl’s thing, what exactly are you trying to do?

Dubian Che’s gaze shifted toward a female student in the courtyard. No matter how you looked at her, whether she was bending over or sitting, the bow tie perfectly protected her collarbone.

A uniform that doesn’t even show the collarbone really has no reason to exist!

Saito Keisuke suddenly said again, "But conservatism has its advantages. We can’t see other people’s girlfriends, and others can’t see ours."

"Do we even have girlfriends?" asked Dubian Che.

The trio fell into a brief silence.

Dubian Che changed the subject, "How about you, Kunii? With that girl from the Wind Instrument Club."

"Yeah, any progress?" Saito Keisuke also asked.

"Ah," Kunii Shuichi sighed.

"Failed again?"

"No," Kunii Shuichi said as he ate his bread, "I haven’t even spoken to her yet. But Hanaoka Asako is a senior, it must be difficult, right? I think I should start with girls in my own grade."

"Ah, that would indeed be easier," Saito Keisuke nodded in agreement.

"Start with? What exactly do you think love is?" Dubian Che asked.

Kunii Shuichi answered, "Of course, I’d like to only like one person, but I have to consider the practical situation."

"What practical situation? I think Hanaoka Asako is pretty cute," Dubian Che thought back to Hanaoka Asako on the train last night.

"That’s right! It’s because she’s cute!"

"What’s wrong with being cute?" asked Saito Keisuke.

"Think about it, I like her because she’s cute, right? But there are so many cute girls in the world, it’s hard for me to control myself not to like them!"

"...you can go die," Saito Keisuke said irritably.

"Dubian, you understand me, right? It’s like how you’re indecisive between Kiyono and Jiutiao!"

"Don’t drag me into this," Dubian Che couldn’t stand it any longer, "I, a ’faithful warrior,’ am not like you, a ’fickle partner.’"

"’Faithful warrior’? When did you change your job?!"

"Last night."

Just as the other two were about to complain, Dubian Che’s phone rang.

"Hello."

"Bring me something to eat."

"Can’t you just..."

"Beep...beep..."

Dubian Che put down the phone, and the other two who had leaned in to eavesdrop immediately questioned him, "Dubian, what exactly is going on between you, Kiyono Lin, and Jiutiao Meijie?"

"What’s going on? Kiyono Lin wants me to like her, and I’m pursuing Jiutiao Meijie. Jiutiao Meijie wants to make Kiyono Lin mad through me."

Dubian Che wasn’t lying, but he also didn’t tell the whole truth.

"May all the fortunate ones explode!"

"May every ’Dubian’ not survive!"

"Hey, apologize to all the Dubians in the world! They’re not necessarily fortunate, maybe they’re just like you! Okay, I need to go get the miss her food," Dubian Che said, appearing smug on the surface, but in reality, he had cursed Jiutiao Meijie from head to toe a hundred times.

Watching the other two lose their appetite for lunch and look murderous, Dubian Che laughed.

’Being able to find joy in the harsh realities of life, always maintaining an optimistic and proactive attitude, is also one of the guarantees of my great future,’ Dubian Che thought.

’Wait, that boring woman Kiyono Lin, could she also be using me for fun?’

The expressions on the faces of the trio suddenly synchronized again.