NOVEL NEXT Episode 27 - The Party and the Invitation
Chapter 27: The Party and the Invitation
Night had settled deep outside the window.
The distant lights of buildings and mountains twinkled like buoys floating on a dark sea, with passing beams of light cutting through the darkness like a lighthouse in a storm.
The novelist turned his gaze away from the outside world.
“Does Miyagi-san often attend social gatherings?”
Miyagi Aki was a fashionably dressed, beautiful young woman whose natural demeanor made her easily likable. She likely enjoyed considerable popularity at university.
“Well, ‘gatherings’ sounds too formal… They’re usually just karaoke parties, izakaya meetups, or get-togethers at family restaurants. I get invitations almost every week, you know.” She puffed out her chest proudly. “Unlike a certain friendless shut-in.”
“Do you usually go?”
“Not necessarily. It depends on various factors – whether I have free time, if I find the participants or theme interesting, or if the person inviting me is a close friend.”
Her tone remained casual.
“…Must be nice to choose so freely.”
It seemed Miyagi-san wasn’t merely popular, but rather someone who stood at the pinnacle of social relationships—a riajuu powerhouse.
After all, being socially capable meant more than just receiving everyone’s favor; it also meant shouldering more responsibilities than ordinary people.
Such people had to expend energy maintaining relationships and found it difficult to refuse invitations easily. Those who had the confidence that “even if I don’t attend gatherings, I won’t be disliked or ostracized” were even rarer—
“Besides, sometimes you get invitations that are clearly ill-intentioned. If you actually fell for those, you’d definitely be treated like an idiot!”
“…Is that so?”
He set his organized books aside.
“Then, if someone were to invite an unsociable person who never participates in group activities to a gathering, would such an invitation more likely be well-intentioned or ill-intentioned?”
The answer was obvious.
Sitting quietly alone in a corner would be the best outcome he could hope for; he might even end up being ridiculed.
“I see. So that’s what Landlord-san is worried about… Well, you have a point.”
Miyagi Aki crossed her arms and nodded.
“So, are you not planning to go?”
“…No, it’s fine.”
Before giving up, he considered his terrible attendance record due to fevers and late-night writing sessions. He had no choice but to grit his teeth and persevere.
“If I prepare myself mentally, it shouldn’t be too embarrassing. Probably.”
“Wow, Landlord-san looks so pitiful… Are you really okay?”
Her pupils reflected sympathy.
“No, that’s… In any case, I won’t let something like this trouble me.”
The novelist smiled.
“Even if I leave early, nobody would say anything, right? They might not even notice.”
Well then, let’s end this night talk here—
Just as he thought this.
“Hmm, before Landlord-san goes to the party, I have a small request.”
Miyagi-san’s cheeks flushed with embarrassment, her hands fidgeting constantly. Her gaze darted to the side, unable to meet his directly.
“E-even if you do that kind of thing with other girls… make sure to use protection, okay? I’d be troubled if something happened to Landlord-san’s health.”
“…”
The novelist silently stood up from the tatami, deciding to wash up and rest early.
He pressed the button on the wall. The pendant light’s bright glow extinguished, leaving only the desk lamp’s dim halo shrouding the room like a thin veil.
“…Idiot, did you really think such foolish words would shake me?”
Lies.
It was all lies.
“Fufu~”
The girl’s soft laughter followed from behind.
*
And so, the unchanged second day arrived—
“Haah…”
Watching the energetic students on the sports field, he rested his chin on his hand, absently staring at the leaves flourishing atop the evergreen shrubs near the flower bed.
The teacher at the podium lectured listlessly about dry academic content. Most students below were either whispering among themselves or playing with their phones.
Though it was a familiar scene, the novelist noticed a subtle change in his classmates’ atmosphere… How to put it—more restless? As if they were anticipating something.
The only one maintaining her usual composure was Ogiwara Yayoi, sitting in the middle of the classroom, earnestly taking notes.
A girl unaffected by any atmosphere, unmoved by unexpected events. Maintaining such a state must be tiring, yet somehow, seeing her back helped calm him.
…
After the end-of-class bell rang.
Just as he was about to leave the classroom.
“Ah… Um, please wait! Liang-kun!”
The person calling out approached with a bright smile.
Curious gazes from other classmates shifted simultaneously toward them. This couldn’t be helped, as this guy was the leading figure and central character of Class 2-1.
The ace of several sports clubs and a candidate for the next soccer club captain. An enthusiastic and cheerful person, almost naive. Plus, being handsome, he was quite popular with the girls.
“Ahaha, I thought Liang-kun might still be sleeping. I finally found a chance this time!”
Though it seemed like he was joking, there was no malice in his tone.
The novelist stared at the fluffy-haired head that had approached him, cautiously opening his mouth.
“May I ask what this is about, Niwa-kun?”
The boy named Niwa Takahito showed a somewhat embarrassed expression.
“This might be sudden… Liang-kun, would you like to attend my birthday party?”
…
Normally.
I mean, generally speaking,
Would anyone refer to their birthday party as a “party” in such a formal way?
The novelist’s gaze discreetly swept around the classroom.
Most were curious looks, but they didn’t contain surprise or similar emotions. In other words, he was probably the last one in class to be invited.
He thought for a few seconds and decided to speak honestly.
“Will Ogiwara-san be attending?”
“…Eh?”
Niwa Takahito’s expression froze for a moment.
The whispering in the classroom suddenly increased like buzzing mosquitoes.
…Except for Ogiwara Yayoi.
After hearing her name, the girl seemed to instinctively pause her movements, but didn’t turn around.
What could she be thinking?
“Um… Sh-she should be? She already accepted my invitation…”
Niwa-kun scratched his cheek. He seemed somewhat at a loss.
“Then I’ll come too. Is it being held at your home? I’ll be in your care then, if that’s alright?”
The novelist ignored the noise and chaos in the classroom, showing a friendly smile to Niwa-kun.
TL Notes:
“Riajuu” (リア充) : Japanese internet slang term referring to someone with a fulfilling real life