Come to think of it, I remember. This is the campus with the Faculty of Economics building. Choosing the shortcut to my apartment backfired.

"I see we run into each other on campus. You're always at the smoking area, so I thought you were the smoking area fairy."

"Umm..."

"Oh, have you forgotten my name? That's harsh. It's Sakurada, Sakurada. How could you forget such a rare, handsome guy?"

Wine bag laughed lightly, and only then did he finally notice my presence. The moment he realized, he had a look on his face as if a pigeon had been hit by a bean cannon.

"Wait, huh? What? Why is Eno-cchi with you?"

"He's my neighbor. In the apartment."

Rui-san introduces me like that.

"Oh, right. Eno-cchi lives alone, right?"

"...That's true, but..."

"Ah-ha. So you found Rui-san's address and moved in next door, huh? Do you know that stalking is a crime?"

"I didn't do anything like that."

"Idiot. Of course, it's a joke. It's just a vibe, a vibe. If you take it seriously, it'll make me look like I bombed."

Wine bag said that, came over to me, and patted my back. Then, turning to Rui-san, he continued with a smile.

"Rui-san, I'm sorry. This guy is really boring."

"No."

"This guy keeps making mistakes even during part-time work, and I'm always the one covering for him. The other day, he really messed up big time―"

Wine bag starts to boast about my work failures at the part-time job. How incompetent I am at work. How Wine bag has been covering for me.

The latter was a lie, but the former wasn't. I wasn't the type who could do my job well. I often made mistakes and was often exasperated by customers and colleagues.

That's why I didn't want Rui-san to know. I wanted to hide my miserable self only in front of this person.

Stop it. Please don't talk anymore.

I stood there, listening as Wine bag continued to talk about me while laughing. With each story, it felt like I was being chipped away.

I couldn't see Rui-san's face.

"Oh, by the way, there's an internship in the summer, right? Rui-san, you're in your third year, aren't you? Have you decided where you're going?"

Finally satisfied, Wine bag changed the subject there.

"No, not for now."

"Seriously? I'm a second-year student, but I'm going on an internship. The company name is―"

The company name that Wine bag mentioned afterward seemed to be the top company in that industry.

It wasn't that I was knowledgeable. It was because Wine bag himself spoke about it.

"Because I have a senior, I can get introductions. I know a lot of people."

After that, Wine bag continued to speak with great enthusiasm.

He tried various indirect and euphemistic ways to say it, but in the end, he always had just one thing to say. How exceptional he is.

In fact, Wine bag was excellent.

At his part-time job, he has earned the manager's trust, and his internship is at a top company in the industry. He put a lot of effort into drinking parties every day, but he hasn't failed any credits.

Probably, he will also handle job hunting smoothly.

Not just job hunting, but life as well.

The personality and abilities one is born with are suited for living in this world. There is potential to aim for the upper echelons of society.

At least much more than I.

Finally, with the change of topic, I was able to catch a glimpse of Rui-san's expression.

Rui-san's eyes were the same as what I had seen in the smoking area. They were inorganic and detached. On the surface, she was trying to maintain a facade, but I could tell.

Wine bag is unaware of that. He keeps talking without realizing it.

I suddenly thought.

Seeing Rui-san's cold, detached eyes in the smoking area, I felt it was unusual. It's an expression I don't usually see. But maybe it wasn't unusual after all.

Her eyes were originally this way.

"Um, is it alright if we start soon?"

Eventually, Rui-san spoke up as if losing patience.

"Oh, I'm sorry for rambling on. Oh, by the way, there's a party this weekend. Would you like to come? The senior I mentioned earlier will be there too, so I can introduce you. I think Rui-san will definitely hit it off with them."

"No, I'll pass."

When Rui-san declines the invitation, she looks at me.

"Yuito-kun. Shall we go home?"

Leaving Wine bag behind, Rui-san tries to start walking.

I followed her.

Then, it was that moment.

Rui-san was about to start walking when, suddenly, as if remembering something, she stopped in her tracks.

She looks back.

"Sakurada-san, was it?"

"Y-yes!"

"Since it seems like you're misunderstanding something, let me clarify it for you."

Rui-san, who turned around, was smiling. Soft like the night breeze, clear and cold like a crescent moon. With such an expression, she spoke to Wine bag.

"Yuito-kun is an interesting person. At least, much more than you."

"Eh."

"Well then, goodbye."

Leaving the bewildered-faced Wine bag behind, Rui-san finally turned on her heel and started walking away. Wine bag did not follow her.

As I pass through the gate, I leave the university grounds behind.

As I walked for a while, I tried to say something to change the atmosphere, but in the end, I couldn't.

The moment I spoke the words, I felt like I couldn't hold back anymore.

In front of Rui-san, I was used as a stepping stone for Wine bag. I was also protected by Rui-san. Everything was unbearable. Did Rui-san sense my feelings?

"It was funny, Yuito-kun's story about your failure."

After a long silence, words suddenly fell. It was Rui-san.

"Honestly, I didn't want you to know."

"But during your service, it was normal, right?"

"Rui-san always buys just one pack of cigarettes."

That's something that I can't possibly fail at.

"As for me, I feel relieved."

"Relieved?"

"I realized that Yuito-kun is out of place both at school and at your part-time job."

"I'm not doing it on purpose or anything."

"Is that so?"

"I try to fit in, you know. I greet people and respond when they talk to me. At first, it's manageable. But as time goes by, my true self starts to show, and at my part-time job, I can't even do my work properly. Before I know it, I'm isolated from the group."

It has always been like that.

Even when I was in elementary school, middle school, and now that I'm in high school. And even at my part-time job. At first, things were fine, but before I knew it, I became a pariah.

Even if I try to disguise myself, I will be found out eventually.

"Everyone in the world can skillfully match their colors to those around them. Like a chameleon. I try to do the same, but I can't. I'm the only one who has been a different color all along. But it's not a beautiful color or anything. It's probably a creepy color."

That's why I am seen through. Once seen through, I kept at a distance. I am not one of them. I am not of the same kind.

"Does Yuito-kun want to be the same color as everyone else?"

"I used to think that way. But now, it's gone. I probably wouldn't be able to handle it, and even if I could, it would just be exhausting."

"Hehe. You're honest."

"Do you think it's not okay...?"

"Well, what do you think?"

Just, Rui-san said.

"As for me, it's helpful that Yuito-kun has such an eerie color, as it allows me to spot you quickly within the group."

Chapter 20: Strange Chameleon