Tokyo Sick Girlfriend

Chapter 32 Invitation

Ten o'clock in the morning.

In the classroom, the teacher was lecturing on the stage, while Mio Takahashi sat near the air conditioner.

A gentle breeze kept ruffling her bangs, making her look much more energetic than usual. Compared to before, Nagata Nanase didn't poke her much this class.

"Life is only empty and boring to those who find it dull and tasteless."

Hearing the teacher say this, she silently wrote it down in her notebook, hoping it would help her earn over a million points...

The class ended quickly, and a wave of fatigue washed over her. Takahashi Mio couldn't help but yawn.

However, he had only yawned halfway through when he heard the girl beside him say:
"Let me see if there are any problems with your notes."

Mio Takahashi paused for a moment, turned her head, and looked at Nanase Nagata with a puzzled expression, but still pushed the notebook in front of her.

"I'm going to work this afternoon, it's a last-minute shift change, so I'll take this opportunity to check everything."

Seemingly noticing her confusion, Nanase Nagata offered an explanation.

"oh oh."

Mio Takahashi nodded, a hint of sympathy in her eyes as she looked at the other person.

She had been working as a waitress in a restaurant two weeks ago, and knew that it was perfectly normal for colleagues to switch shifts if something came up unexpectedly.

Running around serving dishes every day, and occasionally washing dishes, it's tiring, but it's worth it for the money.

But what she fears most is running into classmates who come to eat at the restaurant.

Unlike her friends who started working in high school to earn pocket money and living expenses, she was influenced by her father's patriarchal views that "women should not show their faces in public casually."

When she was in high school, her family would give her some pocket money. Although it wasn't much, it was enough to help her save it and go out to eat with friends.

But things changed when I got to college. The money my family gave me wasn't enough, and with the addition of online loans, I had to work to make ends meet.

Mio Takahashi didn't know what the other person was thinking when they looked at her, but because of her pride, she always felt that the other person looked down on her.

She especially hated this feeling, so after experiencing it once, she quit her job the following week and went to work at a restaurant a few kilometers away from the school.

Even so, Mio Takahashi still felt a little worried.

After all, there are only so many places to work near the school, and you never know when you might run into someone again...

Fortunately, I was really lucky and ran into Shiratori Seiya...

If it weren't for him, my life would probably be in utter darkness right now.
"There shouldn't be any major problems. Just write down these key points this afternoon, and I'll check them at the library the day after tomorrow..."

As Nagata Nanase spoke, she realized she wasn't getting a response. She turned to look at the other person and saw that Takahashi Mio was clearly distracted, so she tapped the table.

'Da da.'

"oh oh."

Upon hearing the crisp sound, Mio Takahashi sat up straight immediately.

"..."

Nagata Nanase looked at her hesitantly, then pursed her lips with some concern and asked:

"Are you... alright?"

"Oh? No problem, I'll memorize it this afternoon."

"That's not what I meant..."

Nanase Nagata shook her head and asked, "I mean, I remember your major exams are in two months, right? Do you have the energy to focus your time on those courses?"

"Oh...it should be fine, as long as you pass over there."

"?"

Nanase Nagata raised an eyebrow, her eyes revealing her confusion.

Noticing that the other person clearly had something to say, Takahashi Mio blinked her peach blossom eyes and asked, "What's wrong?"

"Takahashi, you're in the literature department, right?"

Even though she already knew this, Nanase Nagata couldn't help but confirm it.

"Yes……"

"So, why did you choose so many theoretical courses for performing arts?"

Nanase Nagata had wanted to ask this for a long time.

If Mio Takahashi is interested in acting-related subjects that focus on character psychology, then it's understandable that she would choose to take a few courses.

However, she also chose three acting major courses, which were outside her own field.

The credit limit for switching majors is six credits, and she used them all. Even stranger, she said she only needed to pass her major courses, but required A grades for courses unrelated to her major…

Nanase Nagata initially thought that Mio Takahashi was an extremely hardworking person, but after spending a few days with her, she realized that she was completely wrong.

Poor study habits, often daydreaming and dozing off in class...

It's fair to say they're simply not cut out for studying.

It's so contradictory; it's just making trouble for myself.

"Uh."

Taken aback by the direct question, Takahashi Mio hesitated for a moment before replying:

"I'm quite interested, especially in acting. Maybe I'll pursue that path in the future..."

She still didn't have the confidence to say directly that she wanted to be an actress, after all, Nanase Nagata was a performance major, and it would be a bit presumptuous to say it to her face.

However, Nanase Nagata understood the meaning behind her words and asked directly:

"You want to be an actor?"

Since the other party had already said this much, Mio Takahashi readily agreed, saying:

"Well, that's the plan."

"..."

Hearing her say that, Nagata Nanase pursed her lips and squinted at the other person.

This was the first time Takahashi Mio had seen her with such a serious expression, and feeling a little uncomfortable under her gaze, she asked directly:

"what happened?"

"……nothing."

Nanase Nagata turned away and left. Although she didn't say anything, Mio Takahashi could tell something from her eyes.

She probably felt that she was overestimating herself.

He silently watched the other person disappear through the classroom door.

"What am I even saying...?"

Mio Takahashi leaned back in her chair and sighed.

She regretted saying those things to Nanase Nagata earlier.

Unlike herself, Nanase Nagata is a performing arts major and a top student. In comparison, she herself is completely ignorant and yet she dared to say such arrogant things.

Even she herself felt ashamed.

However, even setting aside some of the shame, I couldn't help feeling a little angry.

Even if you're not a performing arts major, does that mean you have no talent at all?

There's no need to look down on yourself so much, is there?

As she thought this, her hands unconsciously clenched.

What if?
What if I really do have an incredible talent for acting, just like Shiratori Seiya said, and it just hasn't been discovered yet?
These are all things that can't be said for sure...

Besides, I've been putting in a lot of effort lately. I've been taking careful notes, and I've even bought a few books on facial expression training. I've been practicing in front of the mirror every night.

Mio Takahashi unconsciously thought of Seiya Shiratori, and suddenly remembered that he had said yesterday that he was going to celebrate Hojo Shione's sister's birthday.

I wonder how it is...

It's infuriating! He already has a girlfriend, but he still goes out on dates with other women.

But to be honest, there's nothing to be angry about, right?
Mio Takahashi briefly recalled how Seiya Shiratori had behaved when she was with her, and a thought suddenly popped into her mind.

It seems he doesn't really like me...

'Buzzing.'

As she was thinking, her phone on the table suddenly lit up.

Mio Takahashi glanced at it and realized it looked like a text message.

Is it some kind of spam ad?

She kept her eyelids drooping until the phone screen was almost off before straightening up and grabbing the phone.

Takahashi Mio froze as she tapped on the text message, her brows furrowing involuntarily.

"I'll be waiting for you at 10:30, at the entrance of Building 2, Faculty of Letters. If you want to know anything about Seiya Shiratori, come alone."

……
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(End of this chapter)