Chapter 16: — "Tanaka Jiro: The Nerd Fucker You’ll Never Forget!"

The cafeteria was loud as always, trays clattering, people shouting across tables, that one kid in the corner laughing like a dying hyena. I sat across from Rin and Kaito, picking at my food more than eating it. We weren’t exactly here for fun; Kaito was quietly updating us about… well, things we probably shouldn’t even be talking about in a cafeteria full of students.

That’s when I noticed him.

Jiro. Wandering around like a lost puppy with a tray of food, eyes darting everywhere, looking for a spot. Poor guy. He looked like the kind of kid who always ended up sitting alone.

But then, his eyes locked on Rin.

Oh no.

He froze, tray wobbling in his hands like he’d just spotted the goddess of his dreams. Which, judging by the way his ears turned bright red, wasn’t even an exaggeration.

For a second, I thought he’d chicken out. Like always. He’d try to catch her attention, maybe wave awkwardly, and then shuffle off to some corner table like usual.

But not today.

He actually started walking toward us. Step by shaky step. I wanted to say something, but honestly? Watching this trainwreck in real time was kind of entertaining.

He stopped at our table, stuttering so badly it almost hurt to listen.
“Uh-um, h-hi, Rin. I-I mean, hi all of you. C-can I maybe… s-sit here?”

I glanced at Rin. She blinked at him, clearly caught off guard. Kaito didn’t even blink, he just gave Jiro the coldest “no” face I’d ever seen. Rin and Kaito said it out loud together, too.
“No.”

The word hit Jiro like a truck. His shoulders slumped, and for a second, I thought he’d retreat. But then his lips tightened, and he blurted out, “I promise I won’t tell anyone what you’re talking about! I just… I’ll stay quiet! Please. I know you’re talking about the AI takeover anyway.”

The three of us froze.

I stared at him, my stomach flipping. Rin straightened in her seat, eyes wide. “...How the hell do you know about that?”

Jiro adjusted his glasses nervously, clutching his tray like it was a life raft. “The news. It was everywhere after that drone thing the other night. I-it’s obvious you guys know more. I’m not stupid.”

Great. Just what we needed.

Kaito leaned forward, his voice low and razor-sharp. “Listen. You can sit.” His eyes narrowed into a glare that could’ve frozen lava. “But you don’t repeat one single word you hear at this table. Not to your friends. Not to your teachers. Not even in your sleep. Got it?”

Jiro gulped so loudly I almost heard it over the cafeteria noise. He nodded frantically. “Y-yeah. Got it. Totally. My lips are sealed.”

I swear Kaito’s glare lingered on him a second longer, just to drive the threat home. Honestly, if looks could kill, Jiro would’ve been ash on the floor.

Still… the idiot looked like his dream had just come true. He sat down right next to Rin, carefully, nervously, like she might explode if he got too close, and his whole face turned red. He kept his eyes glued to his tray, probably terrified she’d notice how much he was sweating.

He tried, though. After a long, awkward silence, he piped up in the dorkiest attempt at small talk I’d ever heard.
“So… uh… anyone get the math homework done?”

All three of us turned to look at him.

“What homework?” I asked flatly.

“You know… the math homework?” he stammered. “I mean, Kaito, you were suspended so technically you’re excused, I guess…”

That’s when Kaito slammed his palm on the table so hard my spoon rattled in my bowl.
“Don’t. Bring. That. Up.”

Jiro nearly jumped out of his seat. His face went from red to white in a split second. “S-sorry! Sorry, I didn’t mean- I just-sorry!”

Meanwhile Rin had her face buried in her hands, groaning. “Shit, shit, shit, SHIT!”

I blinked at her. “...You forgot the homework, didn’t you?”

She didn’t answer. Just kept repeating her curse mantra like it might magically solve her problems.

But then she suddenly lifted her head from her hands, eyes snapping open like she’d just had a genius idea. She turned to Jiro.
“Wait. Did you actually do the homework?”

Jiro froze like a deer in headlights, then gave the tiniest nod. “Uh… y-yeah. Of course. I always do it.”

Rin leaned forward, hands clasped together like she was praying to some god of nerds. “Then please, please let me copy it. If I don’t, I’m dead. My teacher’s gonna roast me alive with an F.”

Jiro’s whole body tensed. I could see the conflict on his face instantly, like he’d just been asked to sell his soul. On one hand, the guy looked like he had some moral code carved into his brain: thou shalt not give homework answers to freeloaders. On the other hand… Rin. Rin, sitting there, begging him with those sharp green eyes and way-too-serious tone.

I could practically hear his internal meltdown: If I say no, she’ll hate me forever. If I say yes, maybe she’ll—

Jiro finally exhaled sharply and nodded, his face red as a tomato. “O-okay. Fine.”

Rin’s whole demeanor shifted. She actually smiled. “You’re a lifesaver.”

Boom. Jiro turned so red I thought he was gonna pass out face-first into his food tray.

And guess who was the only one who noticed? Me. Yep. Me.

I narrowed my eyes at him. So… the nerd’s got a thing for Rin, huh? Figures. The way he stares at her in class, the stuttering… damn, he’s not even trying to hide it anymore.

Jiro scrambled through his bag like a man on a mission, finally pulling out his neat little notebook... seriously, it was immaculate, like he polished it every night or something. He pushed it toward Rin with trembling hands, like he was handing her an engagement ring.

Rin didn’t even notice. She just flipped it open and started copying like her life depended on it.

I leaned my elbow on the table. “Hey, if you’re giving Rin the answers, you might as well hand them to me too.”

Jiro looked up at me with a sharp frown, his whole face shifting from 'hopeless romantic' to 'annoyed tutor.' “I… I don’t usually just hand out answers to everyone.”

I raised an eyebrow. Really, dude? You’re fine giving them to Rin but not me? Wow. Subtle.

Rin, still scribbling like crazy, spoke up without even looking at him. “Come on, Jiro. You already gave them to me. Why not Yuzuki too?”

That snapped him right out of his little selfish bubble. His eyes widened, and he immediately switched gears, coughing awkwardly. “R-right, yeah. I was, uh… I was gonna give them to her anyway. After you.”

Uh-huh. Sure you were.

I bit back a laugh. Yep. One hundred percent confirmed. He’s a Rin-simp.

Kaito, meanwhile, hadn’t said a word the whole time, just sipping his coffee like none of this mattered. But the second Jiro turned toward him, voice small and hopeful—
“D-do you want the answers too, Kaito?”

Kaito lowered his cup and stared. Not just stared, he burned a hole straight through Jiro’s soul with that cold glare. “You just said I was excused because of suspension.”

Silence.

Jiro’s face burned pink again as he gave this awkward little laugh and scratched the back of his neck. “R-right, heh. Totally forgot. My bad.”

Damn. This guy’s on fire today. And not in a good way.

Eventually Rin finished, slamming her pen down in victory. She slid the notebook back across the table. Jiro took a deep breath like he’d just survived a war, then slid it my way.

“Here. Your turn.”

I snatched it up with a grin, but inside my head I was screaming. SIMP ALERT. SIMP ALERT. I repeat: we have a live simp on the field, doing homework charity for his crush. Over.

Jiro leaned forward, fiddling with his chopsticks. “So… uh, about this whole AI situation,” he started, voice cracking. “You guys… ever think maybe I could, you know, tag along sometime?”

The three of us just stared at him. No words, no blinking. Just the look. That silent, heavy, “You already know the answer, idiot” stare.

Jiro gulped but forced a laugh. “I mean, just once. Doesn’t have to be a big mission or anything—”

Kaito’s hand came down on the table with a slam. Half the cafeteria jumped. Jiro nearly swallowed his tongue.

Kaito’s glare could’ve frozen lava. “A nerd who knows nothing about weapons, combat, or tech… you’d be dead weight. You’d drag us down.” His voice was low, controlled, but sharp enough to cut steel. “Stick to homework. That’s all you’re good at.”

Jiro’s face burned bright red, but instead of shutting up, he actually leaned in. “B-but why is Yuzuki allowed, then? She was quiet all the time, never did anything before, and now she’s suddenly part of the group? How is that fair?”

My fork froze halfway to my mouth. "Excuse me?"

He opened his mouth again, words tumbling out too fast. “And besides, everyone can see she’s... she’s crushing on—”

SLAM!

Kaito’s palm hit the table again, louder this time. “Shut. Up.” His voice was like ice. Jiro flinched so hard I thought he was going to slide under the table.

Kaito didn’t let up. “Yuzuki might not have started strong, but she’s learning. Fast. She doesn’t just talk, she shows up. She adapts. She fits. Unlike you.”

The words hit harder than I expected. My chest tightened, part pride, part embarrassment, and part oh my god Kaito just defended me.

Jiro’s jaw opened like he wanted to argue, but nothing came out. He snapped his notebook shut and stared down at the table instead, cheeks scarlet. For once, the cafeteria nerd had finally shut up.

Inside, though, I was fuming.
Crushing on—? Was he seriously about to spit that out loud? In front of Kaito? In front of everyone?

I bit down on my lip so hard it almost bled.
Fucking idiot. Fucking simp. Fucking walking disaster. I swear if he ever even hints at it again, I’ll bury him alive with his own math homework.

The bell shrieked overhead, cutting through the cafeteria noise like a blade. Trays clattered, chairs screeched, and the whole place turned into a stampede toward the halls.

Jiro clutched his notebook like it was a lifeline, still pink in the face. “S-So, uh… would it be okay if I, you know, sat with you guys again? At lunch?”

Kaito was already on his feet, slinging his bag over one shoulder. He didn’t even look at Jiro when he muttered, “If you’re gonna hang around us, don’t get in the way.”

I blinked. Wait. That was… practically a yes. In Kaito-language, at least.
Great. Now the nerd’s tagging along. Guess our table just got even weirder.

Jiro’s eyes lit up like he’d just been handed a golden ticket. “R-Really? Thanks, Kaito! You don’t know how much this means to me—I, uh, don’t really have friends, and—”

“Stop explaining.” Kaito’s voice was flat, sharp. He finally cut his gaze toward Jiro, one eyebrow twitching like the rambling was physically painful. “And stop apologizing while you’re at it.”

Jiro swallowed hard and nodded like a soldier taking orders. “Right. Got it. Thanks again!” He scurried off toward class, practically glowing.

Rin leaned back in her chair, raising a brow. “Was that really necessary? Letting him stick around?”

Kaito shrugged, heading toward the exit without slowing down. “Doesn’t matter. Come on, class is starting.”

I sighed, grabbing my bag and trailing after them. Somehow, I just knew this was going to bite us in the ass later.