Chapter 5 The villain blends in
It seems that when relationships change, even everyday scenes shift slightly.
“Oh, good morning, Akio-kun.”
On my way to school in the morning, I was walking leisurely along the commute path when I bumped into Himari.
“What a coincidence, running into you here.”
“Yeah, right.”
“Ufufu.”
A gentle breeze rustled her pink hair. The look in her eyes as she gazed at me was filled with affection.
Considering where Himari’s house is, there’s no way we’d naturally meet up in a place like this. She must have come to pick me up.
“You’re early today, aren’t you? Usually, you leave home much later, don’t you?”
“Even I wake up early sometimes.”
“Or is it that you just wanted to see me sooner?”
“…And if that were the case?”
Himari smiled and threw her arms around me. Though her momentum was strong, with Akio Gouda’s muscular build, it was easy to catch her.
Ever since Himari—and the others—became “my women,” they’ve started expressing their affection for me more openly.
I had intended to aim for a proper, righteous path different from the original story, but in the end, here I am with the heroine by my side. Yet, I no longer felt that was wrong.
“Ahh… Akio-kun♡”
I hugged her slender frame in return. Despite her delicate body, the sensation of her ample chest pressing against me was undeniably rich.
Was it the original author’s preference that the heroines have such large breasts? Not just Himari, but Haya and Erika, too, were quite endowed. I’d experienced just how impressive they were firsthand.
With figures like theirs, capable of enchanting any man, maintaining composure while they flaunted themselves was a Herculean task.
“…Shall we head to school?”
I pulled away from Himari. A pang of reluctance surged within me, but we couldn’t exactly keep embracing out in the open forever.
“Hey… couldn’t we stay like this just a little longer?”
I didn’t need to ask what she meant.
Her plump lips parted slightly, and she let out a wistful sigh. Just that alone felt erotic to me, but it wasn’t my fault. After all, she was the one tempting me.
“We’ve got school soon, you know?”
“There’s still plenty of time. We won’t be late.”
“Is that something an honors student like you should be saying?”
“Fufu. Maybe someone’s turned me into a bad girl.”
Seeing Himari laugh without a shred of remorse, I gave up on trying to convince her.
We’re acting crazy this early in the morning. Even so, I found myself looking for a discreet spot.
“Himari, come with me.”
“Okay♡”
I took her hand, and she gripped mine back happily, following me like a villain’s accomplice, fully aware it was wrong.
I’m a character from an erotic manga. And at the same time, I’m a person living in this reality.
…For now, let’s indulge in some manga-style antics. If that’s what the heroine wants, I have no choice.
◇ ◇ ◇
Ever since I had that dream about Akio Gouda, the restless heat in my lower body has subsided.
Was it because of that dream, or simply because I’ve been finding relief more often? Timing-wise, either could be true.
Well, I got some relief this morning too, so I should be able to get through the day in top condition.
“Hey, Haya. Good morning.”
“Ugh… G-good morning, Akio…”
I managed to make it to school just in time, avoiding being late. Sitting at my desk, I greeted Haya, and she turned bright red, mumbling a quiet response.
The blonde gal was acting like a shy maiden, as if a boy she liked had suddenly spoken to her. If I said that out loud, it might come off as mean.
That day, Haya, along with Himari, became one of “my women.”
She’d always been the type to get embarrassed easily, but after losing herself to pleasure, she started craving me to a degree that even surprised me—and Erika was shocked, too, so it must have been intense.
When Haya came to her senses again, she was writhing in embarrassment, as if she couldn’t believe what had happened.
Despite her newfound experience, she was still so innocent it was hard to believe. Himari, who had just lost her own inexperience, even teased her, saying, “So cute♡.”
“Are you okay after last night? Your body, I mean.”
“It’s not that I’m not okay… I mean, uh… Ugh, you idiot, Akio!”
The blushing blonde gal glared at me with teary eyes. Even her glare was adorable, and I was sure I was perfectly normal for finding it cute.
I ruffled her side ponytail without asking. Despite touching a girl’s hair without permission, she showed her delight on her face, and I ended up brushing her small chin.
“Hwahhh~♡”
When I tickled under her chin, Haya’s expression melted into a sloppy grin. I could almost see her wagging her tail like a dog.
Her cuteness made my lower body twitch. Come on, didn’t I just relieve myself earlier?
I thought I’d calmed down, but of course, a wild beast like me wouldn’t settle down so easily. I stopped teasing Haya and started preparing for class.
“Akio…”
Her longing voice sounded like a sad puppy whining, “Kuuun,” and I couldn’t ignore it.
“Later, okay?”
The smile Haya gave me when I said that was powerful enough to ignite a sense of duty to spoil her thoroughly later.
◇ ◇ ◇
“Let’s take a purikura to commemorate our first date.”
After school, having thoroughly enjoyed the adorable reactions of Himari and Haya, the three of us stopped by the nearest arcade.
It was Himari’s idea to detour to the arcade, and she was the one who suggested the purikura. Where did her serious honors student persona go?
Dragged along by the supposedly innocent her, Haya and I ended up at a photo booth.
“Wow~ So this is what it’s like inside.”
Haya stared at the screen with her mouth half-open, clearly a complete newbie.
With her blonde gal look, you’d think she’d be used to this kind of thing, but at our school, where delinquents are rare, she probably didn’t have many playmates. On the other hand, Himari, the honors student with lots of friends, seemed more experienced. So, we left everything up to her.
“Okay, Akio-kun, you’re in the middle. Haya-chan, get a little closer, closer!”
“R-right.”
“I-Is this good?”
This situation, where two delinquents were being led by an honors student… It felt even stranger if you knew the original story.
“Strike a nice pose when we shoot. You two look so stiff. Smile, smile!”
“What’s a ‘nice pose’?” I thought, but Haya and I, the delinquent duo, managed awkward smiles. Right now, I felt like our feelings were in sync.
A cheerful machine voice counted down brightly. Click! The shutter sounded, and it seemed we’d successfully taken the photo. I sighed in relief.
But it wasn’t over yet. Just as I let my guard down, the machine voice demanded another pose.
“Hey, Haya-chan, where do you think you’re going! Akio-kun, don’t relax. Next one!”
Apparently, purikura wasn’t just one photo and done. We were bombarded with pose requests, and both Haya and I started to panic.
“Come on, Haya-chan. Do a cute kitty-cat pose, nya-nya!”
“Nya, nya-nya? W-what do I do!?”
Himari struck a cute kitty pose, saying, “Nya-nya♡.” Haya mimicked her, doing something vaguely similar. …I kinda want to give her cat ears.
“I’ve always wanted to try something like this♡.”
“Mm.”
Before I knew it, Himari had wrapped her arm around my neck and kissed me while the camera snapped. As a villain, it felt wrong to let such an erotic expression from a beautiful girl like her be captured.
“Phew… Okay, now it’s your turn, Haya-chan.”
“Ehh!? W-wait… This is embarrassing…”
“Then I guess it’s my turn again, right?”
“N-no way! I won’t let you!”
“Mmph.”
This time, a bright-red Haya kissed me. Unlike Himari’s sultry approach, hers was forceful, with her eyes squeezed shut. It stung a little, but a real man wouldn’t let that show and would take it in stride.
Just from that one shot, Haya was already panting, her eyes glazed over, stoking my excitement.
“Haya-chan, now let’s do it together…”
“I-I know…”
Warmth closed in from both sides. Sensing what they were planning, I spread my arms wide.
“Ah, Akio-kun♡.”
“Akio’s hands… They’re so strong♡.”
I hugged both beautiful girls by the shoulders while they kissed my cheeks, and the camera captured my blissful expression.
“Fufu, what a great memory, right?”
When the shoot was over, we split the printed stickers among us.
“Yeah… I guess.”
Just looking at them made my face heat up from how lovey-dovey they were. I realized purikura turns honors student girls bold and delinquent girls shy.
◇ ◇ ◇
And so, I started to notice small changes in my daily life.
“Hey, Gouda.”
A shadow approached me. Not many people would dare talk to Akio Gouda, but this guy was one of the few.
It was Junpei Nosaka, one of my rare classmates, standing with his arms crossed, looming like a king.
It was lunchtime on a certain day. I was heading to the school store to buy bread when he called out to me in the hallway.
He was exuding an unusually serious vibe. Usually, there was a hint of fear when he dealt with me, but this time, he was unusually assertive.
“What do you want? I’m busy right now.”
I needed to get to the store quickly, or the bread would sell out. Skipping lunch and sitting through afternoon classes was something I wanted to avoid at all costs.
But Nosaka didn’t care about my situation. He jerked his chin up arrogantly.
“I have something important to discuss. Come with me.”
Without waiting for my response, Nosaka started walking. He acted as if his word was law, without a shred of doubt.
“….”
Junpei Nosaka. An utterly average guy with no standout traits. That’s how he was described in the original story, too.
The only thing he took pride in was his childhood friend, Himari. He treated her like a trophy he’d won, flaunting her to everyone as if she were his prize.
“I’ve been dragged around by Junpei-kun. He’d get mad if I even talked to other guys, so I started thinking maybe it was wrong for me to talk to guys who weren’t my childhood friend. …But of course, that’s ridiculous.”
That’s what Himari said.
He was always nitpicking her actions, yet he paraded Himari, the beautiful girl, around like a trophy to boast about. Looking back calmly, she sighed, realizing that’s what it had been.
“…Don’t get the wrong idea.”
Naturally, I felt nothing but disdain for a guy like that.
I’d been trying to be nice to Nosaka until now. I thought of him as a pitiful cuckold protagonist and turned a blind eye to his irritating behavior.
But now, I had no intention of supporting Nosaka anymore. If he ever hurt Himari again, I wouldn’t hold back.
“Tch, where are you dragging me to?”
I scratched my head in frustration. I harbored ill will, but I wouldn’t be the one to start a fight. For now, I decided to follow him as he wanted.
Nosaka walked ahead in silence. Despite looking like a timid guy, he sure had a big attitude.
“Gouda.”
At a deserted stairwell landing, Nosaka suddenly stopped and turned to glare at me.
“You… You didn’t tell Himari what I said back then, did you?”
“Back then? What are you talking about?”
I played dumb for now. Nosaka’s eyes narrowed in anger.
“Y-you know, about me and Himari… about the fact that we were physically intimate!”
Liar. I already confirmed Himari was a virgin. It was Nosaka who was lying, and that was proven beyond doubt.
“No, I didn’t say anything.”
I wasn’t lying. Himari was there and heard it directly. I didn’t tell her.
“Then why is Himari keeping her distance from me!?”
Nosaka roared. It seemed like his loudest yell, but I was already getting annoyed.
I’d expected this, and it was about Himari, of course. Unless it involved her, Nosaka wouldn’t be this hostile toward me.
“How should I know? Maybe she’s just in one of those moods.”
“As if! Himari always respected my feelings. There’s no way she’d say something like that to me! I can only think something’s wrong with her!”
What did Himari say to him? Well, if she said what she wanted, that was fine by me. I’d just support her.
“Right, there’s no way Himari would say something like that on her own… Gouda, I can only think you did something!”
I did do something, but I had no obligation to tell Nosaka that. …Though, to be fair, our relationship wasn’t something I could proudly call “girlfriend” either.
Besides, Nosaka was just Himari’s ex, and they only dated because they were childhood friends. For Himari, that relationship was over, and she had no lingering attachments.
So, I had nothing to say to Nosaka. Still, I wondered if talking it out might make him reconsider. Even now, I couldn’t bring myself to completely abandon Junpei Nosaka.
Also, the fact remained that I broke my promise not to “make a move.” Ultimately, it was between the two of them, but from Nosaka’s perspective, I was a betrayer.
I felt I should at least exchange some words of responsibility.
“Whatever she said, did you even listen to her properly? If you really liked her, you’d at least do that, right?”
“That doesn’t matter! ”
“…Huh?”
What did this guy just say?
“Of course it matters. You check the feelings of the person you like. No matter what you do, that comes first.”
“That’s not what we’re talking about! It’s unthinkable for a childhood friend to reject me! That’s not how Himari should treat me!”
Nosaka glared up at me. The friendly facade he’d maintained until now was now working against him in the worst way.
If this were the real Akio Gouda, he wouldn’t dare act like this. Did Nosaka think I was some pushover he could say whatever to because I’d been nice?
“Nosaka, shut up for a second.”
“Hic!”
I glared back, and just that was enough to make him choke.
“Listen up. Himari might be your childhood friend, but she’s not your property. If your reason for not respecting her is just your own ego, then that’s worth less than nothing.”
“M-my ego? I was thinking of Himari—”
“Then start by listening to her. Your idea of ‘protecting’ her is just overbearing.”
“Wha—!?”
Nosaka was speechless, his mouth opening and closing without a response.
“And another thing—Himari was sacrificed for your pride. Did you ever think about how people would look at her when you used her as a topic of gossip like that?”
“No, but… The atmosphere back then left me no choice…”
“Once you say something out loud, it’s bound to reach the person it’s about. So you have to take responsibility for your words.”
“Guh…”
Nosaka gritted his teeth, his eyes burning with hostility.
He didn’t have the words to argue back, yet he still seemed to think he wasn’t in the wrong. His eyes screamed, “You’re the one at fault here!”
Talking to someone without the brains to understand was pointless… Just as I was about to give up, it happened.
“There you are, Akio-kun. I was looking for you.”
A pink head popped up from the stairs below.
Smiling brightly was the honors student and renowned pure-hearted beauty—and the main heroine of the original story, as well as the childhood friend at the center of this mess, Himari Shiratori.
“H-Himari? W-why are you here…?”
Nosaka was clearly flustered by her sudden appearance. He seemed to realize he’d said things he didn’t want her to hear.
Ignoring Nosaka’s panic, Himari climbed the stairs with light steps. With a cheerful expression, she gave a small hop and landed in front of me.
“Thank you, Akio-kun…”
Her voice was so soft only I could hear it. It seemed she’d overheard the conversation just now.
“Let’s go, Akio-kun. If we don’t hurry, lunch break will be over.”
Himari tugged at my arm cutely. Nosaka tried to stop us.
“Hey, Himari! What are you doing!? And ‘Akio-kun’… What if he gets the wrong idea!”
“Ow!”
Nosaka grabbed Himari’s wrist with force, yanking her away from me. Her face twisted in pain from how hard he gripped.
The moment I saw that, my head boiled over with rage. Before I knew it, I’d twisted Nosaka’s arm and slammed him against the wall.
“Ugh—!? It hurts, it hurts, it hurts—! W-what are you—!”
“That’s my line. Don’t lay a hand on my woman.”
“…Huh?”
Crap. I just blurted out “my woman” in the heat of the moment.
Was it okay to say that in front of her ex and childhood friend? I glanced at Himari to check, and she was nodding vigorously, her face glowing like a heroine rescued by her prince. Though, I might be a bit too vicious to call myself a prince.
Nosaka, still processing what I said, needed a reality check.
“You and Himari are just childhood friends. You used to date, but you’re broken up now, right?”
“H-how do you… No one was supposed to know that!”
Nosaka was dumbfounded. It seemed he hadn’t told anyone they’d split.
“I told him. About breaking up with you. And about how you hurt me. Akio-kun endured the embarrassment to comfort me. No one else—no, not even you, Junpei-kun—did that for me. That’s why I fell for him… and confessed.”
“…What?”
Nosaka’s face twisted in shock. He was easy to read.
“It’s fine to make a move on a free woman, right? She’s not yours anymore.”
“Gouda… Y-you… No way…”
“Exactly what you’re thinking. Himari’s my woman now. We’ve confirmed our feelings. Got a problem with that?”
I witnessed the moment a person’s face morphed into that of a demon.
“Gouda!! You defiled my Himari! I’ll kill you! I’ll absolutely kill you!!”
Nosaka unleashed his fury. It was intense enough to make me think he might actually kill someone.
Even in dreams, Akio Gouda never used such violent language. For a supposed worst villain, wasn’t he actually pretty calm?
Nosaka struggled, but pinned against the wall, he couldn’t move.
“Damn it! Let go! Let me go!! Ugh—!”
He was making too much noise, so I pressed him harder against the wall to silence him. Even in this deserted spot, his yelling might cause a scene.
I never expected this to end peacefully, though. If I was going to tell him about my relationship with Himari, I had to make it clear.
“Listen, Nosaka. I didn’t steal Himari from you. We talked it out, and we’re in a relationship we both agreed on. It’s your fault you couldn’t hold onto such a great girl. So don’t ever call her ‘yours’ again.”
“G… Grrrrr…”
Nosaka let out an inarticulate groan. Maybe I’d pushed too hard. I eased up a little.
“Coward… Coward, coward, coward! You promised you wouldn’t touch her as long as I was around… You liar!!”
“Coward? Liar? Which one of us is it?”
Himari’s voice was ice cold. It wasn’t the tone of a close childhood friend.
“It seems Junpei-kun was bragging to his friends about our relationship? About how our first time was the best? About how, with your ‘skills,’ you made me act lewd?”
Her voice wasn’t loud, but with each word, her presence grew more intimidating.
Nosaka’s face paled, but he still shot sharp words at me.
“Gouda! You bastard, you snitched!”
“What are you talking about? I was there too.”
“…Huh?”
His mind must have gone blank. Nosaka was so transparent it was almost pitiful, his expression screaming how bad this situation was without needing words.
“I heard you talking so proudly from around the corner of the hallway. Everyone was jealous, and you looked so happy, didn’t you? Was our first time that great for you?”
“N-no… That was… a misunderstanding…”
“…Even though you couldn’t get it up. I’m almost impressed you could spin so many lies. No, I’m beyond disappointed.”
Those final words from his beloved childhood friend shattered Nosaka. His face was etched with despair.
For the record, I hadn’t said a thing. I only suspected his “equipment” wasn’t functional, but since it involved a man’s pride, I didn’t voice mere speculation.
Himari must have figured it out somehow. How she knew wasn’t my business.
And clearly, that fact dealt a crushing blow to Nosaka. …A fatal one, at that.
“….”
Nosaka was completely speechless. He even went limp, no longer resisting.
Even when I let go, he didn’t fight back. In fact, he pressed his face against the wall on his own. No reaction. I hoped he wasn’t just a corpse now.
“Akio-kun, if we dawdle here, we won’t have time to eat. Let’s go.”
“Are you sure? Is that okay?”
“It’s fine. I have no interest in someone obsessed with a nonexistent sense of pride. And I have no desire to associate with someone who only hurts me.”
Nosaka didn’t respond. No, I could hear a faint sniffling. Was he crying?
“Unlike someone like that, Akio-kun is kind to me and protects me. And this… It’s so strong, hard, and impressive, too♡.”
“H-hey!?”
Where are you touching!? Doing this at school… This pink-haired vixen is too much!
Despite our banter, Nosaka showed no reaction. His face, still pressed against the wall, was probably contorted like something out of a manga.
Any more would be overkill. If he wasn’t going to bother us, we could leave him be. I wasn’t interested anyway.
“Let’s go, Himari. Looks like Nosaka’s done with us.”
“Okay♡.”
I descended the stairs with Himari. I couldn’t sense any life from the Nosaka we left behind.
“We really don’t have much time. Hurry, Akio-kun.”
“I said I get it, so stop pulling me.”
I worried Himari might be hurt by Nosaka’s words, but she showed no signs of it, so I sighed in relief.
Led by her arm, we reached the empty classroom Akio Gouda used as a hangout.
“Ugh, you’re late! I’m starving here!”
Haya was waiting for us there. She’d skipped lunch and was pouting, her blonde side ponytails swishing cutely in frustration.
“Sorry, Haya-chan. Akio-kun got held up by some weird guy.”
“Hmm. Anyone dumb enough to mess with Akio doesn’t know what’s good for them.”
“…It was Junpei-kun.”
“Oh… Tough luck.”
Even though he was Himari’s childhood friend and ex, she seemed embarrassed by his stupidity, hiding her face shyly.
“You shouldn’t worry about that, Himari. Besides, it’s because you were so clear with him that he backed off. If you hadn’t shown up, my words would’ve been useless.”
If Himari hadn’t come, it wouldn’t have been a discussion. My words alone would’ve been pointless.
“Ehh, what happened? I wanna know!”
“It’s not a pleasant story, okay? For now, let’s eat lunch. You must be hungry, right?”
“Agreed!”
Haya raised her hand excitedly. Himari watched her with an amused smile. You two are like close sisters.
They both pulled out their lunchboxes. That reminded me—I’d forgotten to buy bread.
“I was on my way to the store when Nosaka stopped me. I totally forgot with Himari showing up.”
As I rushed to go, Haya stopped me.
“I-it’s fine… Look, I made enough for you too…”
She pulled out another, larger lunchbox, clearly sized for my appetite.
“I don’t know if it’ll suit your taste…”
She showed me a shy smile. She made this… for me?
I took the lunchbox from Haya. It was meat-heavy but colorful with vegetables, clearly designed for both taste and nutrition at a glance.
“Whoa, looks delicious. Did you make this, Haya?”
“W-well, yeah.”
Despite her appearance, it might be rude to assume otherwise, but Haya seemed to be a skilled cook.
My stomach growled at the sight. Haya and Himari gave me warm looks, but I couldn’t care less right now.
“Itadakimasu.”
I clasped my hands and dug into Haya’s homemade lunch. Popping a bite-sized hamburger steak into my mouth, the meat juices burst out even though it was cold.
“So good…”
It was my first time eating a girl’s homemade lunch. The novelty added to the experience, but Haya’s cooking skills were genuinely amazing.
This was on a whole other level compared to anything I could make. Even convenience store lunches paled in comparison.
As the meat juices spread in my mouth, I shoveled in some white rice. The combination of hamburger and rice created a taste of pure happiness.
“Akio, you don’t have to eat so fast.”
“It’s too good to stop.”
“I-I see… Ehehe, I’m glad you like it.”
Haya smiled warmly. Her cuteness made me eat even more.
“Muu… Next time, I’ll make something for you, Akio-kun.”
“Sure. I’m looking forward to it.”
Himari seemed jealous of the praise Haya was getting and showed some competitiveness. As an honors student, she was probably a great cook too. I couldn’t wait.
I devoured Haya’s homemade lunch greedily. She and Himari watched me with fond smiles.
“Phew~ That hit the spot. Thanks for the meal.”
Haya’s lunch was hearty enough to satisfy a high school boy like me. Even now, after finishing, I felt blissful.
“Huh? Nosaka said stuff like that? He’s done for.”
Haya didn’t hide her contempt as she said this.
It was her reaction after hearing from Himari about how Nosaka had confronted me, her face scrunching up in disgust.
“He’s always acted nice in front of people but badmouthed others behind their backs. I didn’t mind since there was no real harm… but this time, he went too far.”
“And yet that guy had the nerve to confront Akio head-on. Well, Akio’s been nice lately… Maybe he got cocky.”
Both Himari and Haya sighed simultaneously. I sipped my post-meal tea elegantly. By the way, the tea was prepared by Haya, too.
“But Himari, didn’t you tell your classmates you broke up with Nosaka? Everyone believes his side because they don’t know. Wouldn’t it be better to tell them?”
“It’s not a big deal, so I didn’t feel the need to announce it to the whole class. I only told my close friends. But if it’s causing trouble for Akio-kun, maybe it would be better to let everyone know.”
Himari clenched her fist decisively.
“But you can’t just say you’re ‘my woman.’ Our relationship isn’t that wholesome.”
Himari was my woman. But that didn’t mean “girlfriend.”
I had multiple women I was involved with—not just Himari, but Haya and Erika, too. I couldn’t categorize any one of them as my girlfriend.
“Oh, I don’t mind. I’d rather people believe the truth than spread lies. That I’m Akio-kun’s woman.”
There was no hesitation in Himari. Even if people saw her as my fling, her eyes showed she was resolved.
“…Do what you want. No matter what happens, I’ll protect you.”
“Akio-kun…”
Himari pressed closer, close enough for me to feel her warmth and softness.
“Me too… If something happens, will you protect me?”
“Of course. You’re my woman, Haya.”
“~~♡”
Haya clung to me, too. Sandwiched between two beautiful girls, I felt like the filling in a happiness sandwich.
Both Himari and Haya gazed at me with heated eyes. My appetite was satisfied, but now my libido was kicking in.
“We don’t have much time left.”
Lunch break was almost over. There wasn’t enough time for fooling around.
“Then let’s make it quick♡.”
Himari said this with a feverish look.
And her hand grabbed my belt. For an honors student, her movements were surprisingly smooth.
“~~…♡♡♡”
It seemed I was just as aroused after eating. Between the honors student and the gal, I was quickly relieved.
◇ ◇ ◇
We barely made it to afternoon classes on time.
“Is Nosaka not here? Hey, anyone—does anyone know why?”
But Nosaka was nowhere to be seen. Even when the teacher asked, no one could answer.
And even after school, he never returned.
◆ ◆ ◆
Akio Gouda is a dangerous person… My first impression of him was right.
“Ugh… This is awful… There’s no way something like this should happen…”
Only after suffering such a massive blow did I finally realize it.
I realized far too late. By the time I understood Akio’s true nature after he stole Himari and her uncharacteristic words tore at my heart, everything was already over.
Yes, everything… Himari was my everything. She’s the girl I’ve loved since forever!
“There’s no way Himari would say something like that to me… No way… It’s impossible…”
Tears wouldn’t stop flowing. Sorrow consumed my entire being.
Even after Akio and Himari left, I stood frozen at the stairwell landing. Pressing my face against the wall, I slammed my forehead against it repeatedly, trying to deny reality.
But I couldn’t wake from this nightmare… The dull, throbbing pain reminded me this was real.
“It’s that liar’s fault… He let me lower my guard and took Himari in that moment… How cowardly…”
Just thinking of that vicious face made my blood boil.
Akio did promise. He said he wouldn’t touch Himari as long as I was around… I believed him because he showed a hint of kindness.
“I felt sorry for him since he was isolated in class, so I was nice to him…”
He repaid my kindness with betrayal. Trampling on goodwill isn’t something a human should do.
Everyone in class feared Akio. I was the only one brave enough to speak up without being scared.
That’s why I joined his study group when he invited me. I even hyped up karaoke sessions despite his terrible singing.
And he trampled all over that kindness. Is this how delinquents operate? No, this is the work of a con artist.
“Con artist… Was I tricked…?”
That’s when it hit me. Right, Himari must be the one being deceived.
Himari is kind and considerate. She always put me first and acted for my sake.
Maybe she approached that dangerous guy, Akio, to protect me from harm. In trying to control him, she was tricked and violated. That would explain everything.
“Yes… That makes sense… It fits why Himari changed like that!”
The harsh words Himari threw at me. She’d never say something like that normally.
But what if Akio forced her to? If that’s the case, maybe it’s excusable even if she said it.
After saying such awful things, she must have been crying inside. Himari must be worried sick about me.
“She’s worrying about me again…”
And I couldn’t forgive myself for not realizing it until now.
Himari is hurting. She’s probably blaming herself. That’s the kind of girl my childhood friend is.
“…But she went about it all wrong.”
Even if it was for my sake, sacrificing herself like that is wrong. Her beautiful body was ruined for nothing.
Himari’s been tainted. She said I couldn’t get it up, but now I’m not even sure I can look at her the same way.
“…No, now it’s my turn to look after Himari.”
The image of Himari clinging to Akio flashed through my mind. Anger surged, and at the same time, I felt a stir below.
Himari’s probably not a virgin anymore. Akio took her purity… She’s been reduced to a pitiful slut.
She did all that to protect me. So from now on, she has no choice but to serve me. That’s the only path left for her.
My groin burned with desire. Accepting her, even tainted, was my responsibility and my duty.
“…So, what do I do?”
Akio defiled my precious Himari. Humiliating him isn’t enough. It can’t be!
“…In the first place, it’s his fault for being at this school.”
Someone like him doesn’t belong here. Akio’s very existence is a mistake!
As long as Akio Gouda is at this school, the girls will always be in danger. So, I have to eliminate that danger.
Just teaching him a lesson won’t cut it. Isolating him might just make him act more aggressively. That won’t solve anything.
If I’m going to do this, it has to be thorough. I need to make sure Akio can’t come to school anymore… Expelling him would be the best outcome.
“…Right. I’ll get Akio expelled.”
Even the teachers dislike him. No, letting him enroll in the first place was a mistake. This is the school’s fault.
Because of the adults’ poor judgment, I suffered. I’ll take matters into my own hands and deliver justice since the teachers didn’t do their jobs.
“…This is an act of justice.”
My hatred for Akio grew. I couldn’t suppress this rage. That’s how strong my feelings for Himari were.
He made me this angry. His crime deserves death.
It’ll be too late for regrets when he’s in hell! I’ll make sure even his rotten brain understands what happens when you anger me—I’ll beat it into him!
“U-um… Nosaka-kun, right? W-what are you doing here?”
A girl’s voice made me turn. It was Rino Kuroba, a classmate, looking at me with concern.
“You weren’t in afternoon classes. Are you okay? Your eyes look scary, and your face is pale. You look really sick… Were you at the infirmary?”
“…Afternoon classes?”
“Yes. It’s already after school…”
I’d been so absorbed in plotting against Akio that I didn’t even hear the bell. I knew skipping class was bad, but dealing with Akio took priority.
“Hey, Kuroba-san.”
“Y-yes?”
Kuroba was Himari’s friend from middle school.
Which meant I, as her childhood friend, had talked to Kuroba often too. She’d be a trustworthy ally.
“….”
“U-um… What is it?”
She squirmed, embarrassed by my stare.
I’d been so focused on Himari that I never paid much attention to Kuroba. Looking closely, she wore glasses and had a plain vibe, but her features were actually quite pretty.
And though she was petite, her chest was surprisingly large. On second thought, she might rival Himari in that department.
“What an unnoticed beauty, huh. Despite her attractive figure, her demeanor, which shows no hint of interest in guys, really makes her likable.”
I started with a smile. I thought I heard a sticky “squelch” sound from my mouth, but it was probably just my imagination.
◆ ◆ ◆
There’s a sports festival in June.
The original story began in July, just before summer vacation. Since there was no depiction of the sports festival, I could only guess what it would be like.
“Is there a bread-eating race at the sports festival?”
“Huh, what’s that? Sounds super fun! I can eat a lot, you know.”
Haya’s eyes sparkled with excitement. It’s not a eating contest, though?
Well, even though the original was an erotic manga, school events are probably handled normally. It’s not something to approach with too much tension.
And so, during homeroom, we held a discussion about who would be on the sports festival executive committee.
“Um, about the sports festival executive committee… Is there anyone who wants to do it?”
The class president, standing at the podium, called out. Everyone avoided eye contact, clearly not wanting to volunteer.
They must think it’s a thankless job. No one showed any sign of raising their hand. The classroom fell into a heavy silence.
The class president looked around helplessly. No one would meet her gaze, and she seemed at a loss.
So, I decided to give her an enthusiastic stare. I tried to convey with my eyes, “I’m fine with it.” But the class president quickly looked away from me. Why!?
“Uh, we can also accept nominations.”
Her words sent a wave of tension through the classroom.
“You do it.”
“No, you do it.”
“How about that person?”
A small shoving match began.
No one wanted to do it, but they also wanted to wrap up the discussion quickly. Their reluctance was obvious.
“Would I be okay?”
I raised my hand and asked the class president. She looked shocked, probably not expecting me to volunteer.
A murmur spread through the room. Surprise rippled through the classroom, but there didn’t seem to be any strong objections.
“Uh, y-yeah. That should be fine.”
The class president squeezed out the words. Though she was clearly still afraid of me, she also looked relieved that the committee member was decided.
“Um, since the sports festival executive committee needs one boy and one girl, we need someone from the girls too.”
“But the partner is Gouda-kun…” That kind of atmosphere was palpable. Well, that’s fine by me.
“Can I do the sports festival executive committee?”
“Probably. If I can do it, you can too, Haya.”
To be honest, the only girls who might work with me were Haya or Himari. If the discussion wasn’t going to end without someone stepping up, one of them would have to do it.
“Yes.”
A cute voice accompanied a small hand raising.
It wasn’t Haya. She had frozen halfway, hand raised, clearly not expecting someone to beat her to it.
“Huh.”
I was surprised too. It wasn’t Himari either.
“Uh, Kuroba-san, are you sure?”
The implication seemed to be, “But your partner is Gouda-kun…” Yet, that girl showed no hesitation or doubt.
“Yes. Someone has to do it.”
The class president sighed in relief, patting her chest. She wrote the names of the sports festival executive committee members on the blackboard and looked satisfied, as if her job was done.
On the blackboard were the names Akio Gouda and Rino Kuroba.
◇ ◇ ◇
Rino Kuroba. I know that name.
Not just because she’s a classmate… but of course, because she’s a character from the original story.
She has fluffy green hair. Not just beautiful black hair, but genuinely green hair. Naturally, it’s her natural color.
Her small face makes her black-rimmed glasses look oversized. They might seem a bit nerdy, but even just from the manga, her face was that of a beauty.
Her petite frame contrasts with her disproportionately large chest armor. It seems the original author had a thing for all the heroines being busty. I won’t comment on that anymore.
Now, the issue is her role.
In the original story, Kuroba was Himari’s friend from middle school. At the same time, she was also a heroine harboring feelings for Junpei Nosaka.
Himari was attacked by Akio Gouda and, over the long summer vacation, was conditioned and broken. By the time Nosaka realized she’d been stolen, it was too late… and he fell into despair.
Noticing this, Kuroba comforted Nosaka. Realizing her kindness and feelings, Nosaka recovered.
This part of the story made me think, “This girl’s pretty calculating, huh.” Even though her best friend had her body and mind altered by a delinquent, her first action was to console the guy she liked. Well, Nosaka’s despair was pretty intense, so maybe she was more concerned about that than anything else.
Of course, Kuroba also fell victim to Akio Gouda’s clutches. The despair Nosaka felt when he realized her feelings had completely shifted was on par with when he lost his childhood friend. The artwork really stood out there.
“Gouda-kun, the sports festival executive committee meeting is right after school today, so please take care of it.”
“Sure. Same to you.”
A pairing of the man who steals and the woman who gets stolen. Knowing the original story, it felt oddly surreal to be working on a school event with this duo.
That said, things probably wouldn’t unfold like the original. For one, I have no intention of letting that happen, and with three women already, I don’t have time for my lower body to act up.
If Kuroba notices Himari’s affection is directed at me, she might go console Nosaka. If that happens, she’d probably label me as the complete villain. She’d stop approaching me, but since that was the case from the start, it didn’t bother me at all.
“Oh, in a way, this is pretty close to the original flow, isn’t it?”
If I don’t do anything to Kuroba, she might end up with Nosaka. That’d be less hassle for me than earning their resentment. I could just brush off any gossip.
“The executive committee meeting is in the conference room. Shall we go, Gouda-kun?”
“Yeah. Let’s get this over with.”
After school, I left the classroom with Kuroba.
I just need to do the sports festival executive committee work normally. Normally. If I do that, even if it shifts the timeline from the original, we might return to a peaceful route.
Just before leaving the classroom, I glanced at an empty desk.
…Nosaka was absent again today.
◇ ◇ ◇
What kind of work does the sports festival executive committee do?
“Of course, there’s preparing and cleaning up equipment, deciding on events, creating slogans, summarizing minutes, and so on. On the day itself, depending on your role, it can get busy too.”
To my casual murmur, Kuroba responded dutifully.
“Is that so? Thanks for explaining.”
“No problem. We’re fellow executive committee members, after all.”
Rino Kuroba. She gave off an impression of being quiet and a bit nervous.
Actually, back when I first transmigrated, I think she was scared of me. Her reaction was similar to the other classmates, and she worried about Himari getting close to me.
But now, I didn’t sense any fear of me from her. It felt natural, ordinary. She treated me not as a delinquent student, but as just another classmate.
…But this girl liked Nosaka in the original story, didn’t she?
“Here’s the conference room. I don’t come here often, so I’m a bit nervous.”
“Yeah. Well, our job is to make the sports festival exciting. Let’s not overthink it.”
Before the conference room door, Kuroba spoke in a small voice.
“…Gouda-kun, you actually participate in school events, huh.”
“Well, I’m a student too.”
“Oh, sorry. I didn’t mean it like that…”
Kuroba shook her head in a panic. Her green hair fluttered softly.
“I get it. I know how people see me.”
“No…”
“That reputation is something I’ve built up myself. From now on, I want to work hard on various things so people can start to see me differently.”
Kuroba blinked rapidly behind her glasses. Her small face made her eyes look especially large.
“Even someone like me wants to experience youth. Even if it’s a bit late.”
“Youth?”
“Yeah. The sports festival feels like the epitome of youth, right? And I’m pretty good at sports, true to my appearance.”
“I don’t think athletic ability matters for the executive committee.”
“You don’t have to point that out.”
Kuroba let out a small laugh. It was both animal-like and had a touch of elegance.
“…Himari-chan was right. You’re not a scary person, Gouda-kun.”
Kuroba’s lips moved slightly. It seemed like she said something, but I couldn’t catch it.
“Hm, did you say something?”
“No. Let’s head into the conference room quickly.”
Right. We had a meeting, and chatting out here wasn’t the plan. We opened the conference room door.
“Hic!?”
The executive committee members from other classes who were already there were startled the moment they saw us—or rather, me. It stung a bit to be feared just for showing up.
“Isn’t that the famous Gouda?”
“He’s the last person you’d expect to be on the executive committee… What’s he doing here?”
“W-what if he’s planning to ruin the sports festival…”
Yeah, maybe lower your voices a bit. And choose your words more carefully.
I’d be lying if I said their words and attitudes didn’t affect me.
But, as I told Kuroba, this reputation is inevitable. To change it, I have no choice but to show through actions that I’m serious and different.
“To help make the sports festival exciting, I volunteered for the executive committee! Please, everyone, I look forward to working with you!”
I declared loudly and bowed. Amid the confused atmosphere, I heard responses like “O-oh” and “Y-yeah, same here.”
“…Gouda-kun, let’s take a seat.”
Prompted by Kuroba, I sat in an empty chair. She might have been annoyed by the sudden attention when I greeted her next to her. My bad.
I was prepared for my presence to make things awkward, but contrary to my worries, the meeting proceeded smoothly.
After assigning roles, they asked for event suggestions. I proposed the bread-eating race. It got a lot of “That sounds fun” votes and was adopted as an event.
Then, we split into roles to handle the details. Surprisingly, we made a lot of progress in the first meeting.
“I think it went well because Gouda-kun was so proactive. Everyone felt more comfortable sharing ideas since you raised your hand first.”
After the meeting, Kuroba praised me.
“Really? It wasn’t about me. Everyone was just really passionate. They love festivals, and the atmosphere was all about making the sports festival great.”
I was impressed by how dedicated high school students could be these days. Well, since this is a manga world, they probably get hyped for events.
…Part of me secretly wondered if the sports festival in an erotic manga would just be a parade of naughty events. But that’s just a tiny thought, so it’s fine.
“Welcome back, Akio-kun, Rino-chan.”
When we returned to the classroom, Himari was waiting.
Since it was after school, no other students were around. I hoped she hadn’t been bored waiting.
“I was studying, so I wasn’t bored.”
As if reading my mind, Himari said that. Indeed, textbooks and notes were spread out on her desk.
“Rino-chan, how was the executive committee?”
“Everyone was enthusiastic, and it was fun. This year’s sports festival might be exciting. Look forward to it, Himari-chan.”
Himari and Kuroba chatted happily.
I thought I might have gotten a bit closer to Kuroba, but as expected, her interaction with her best friend was different. It seemed she dropped the polite speech with close friends. I’d assumed that was her default, so it felt fresh.
“And… my impression of Gouda-kun might have changed a little…”
“Did something happen with Akio-kun? Tell me, Rino-chan.”
“Um—”
Kuroba whispered something to Himari. I couldn’t hear it well, but Himari’s expression gradually brightened into a smile.
Huh, what are they talking about? I was pretty curious, but it seemed like a secret between girls, so they didn’t let me in.
“I see, I see~ Akio-kun is so cute, huh.”
“Hey! What are you talking about? Cute? What’s that mean?”
“It’s nothing. You don’t need to worry about it, Akio-kun.”
“But I do worry!”
Himari and Kuroba both said, “Come on,” and giggled. Though their types were different, these two really were best friends.
“Well then, Akio-kun, shall we head home?”
“Is it okay if we don’t walk with Kuroba?”
When I glanced at Kuroba, she was already waving goodbye, as if planning to see us off.
“I have club activities. You two, take care on your way home.”
“And that’s that. Let’s hurry back. Haya-chan is waiting too.”
Himari pulled my arm. As we started walking, she hugged it, and I felt a blissful sensation.
Before leaving the classroom, I turned back to wave at Kuroba.
“See you, Kuroba. Thanks for today. Be careful on your way home.”
“Yes, goodbye. Let’s work hard together as executive committee members until the sports festival is over.”
Himari and I left the classroom, waved off by Kuroba.
“…Is that the true nature of Gouda-kun that Nosaka-kun was talking about?”
Kuroba’s murmur, left in the classroom, never reached me.
◇ ◇ ◇
I thought Haya would be waiting somewhere else. When we didn’t meet up after leaving school, I felt a bit disappointed, thinking she might have gone home first.
“Welcome back~! How’s this? It’s pretty clean now, right?”
She was waiting, but the place was my house. The moment I got home, Haya’s smug face greeted me.
Wondering what she was so proud of, it turned out she’d been cleaning my room. A single guy’s messy room was now at least presentable.
“You’ve been cleaning all this time?”
“Yup~ Studying with Himari was boring. So I figured I’d do something useful for you, even if just a little.”
The blonde gal wiped her forehead, as if she’d worked up a good sweat. Just like with the lunch, she seemed surprisingly skilled at housework.
“Thanks, Haya. You really helped me out.”
“Ehehe~”
I patted her head. Even though my touch was rough, she didn’t mind and looked happy instead.
“So? How’d you get the spare key?”
“Owowowow—! It hurts, it hurts—!”
I grabbed her head and squeezed. Her unladylike scream echoed.
I never gave Haya a spare key. If she made one without permission, I’d have to give her a stern lecture.
“Huh? Erika-san gave it to me?”
Himari showed me her own spare key, saying, “See.” You have one too?
When did this happen…? I’d have to scold Erika next time. No, knowing her, she might have already smoothed things over with the landlord. If I didn’t notice, it’s my loss.
“Does it bother you that we have spare keys…?”
Himari’s shoulders drooped sadly. Seeing such a pitiful expression, the fact that they made keys without asking seemed trivial. As the main character, being watched is part of the deal—privacy doesn’t matter!
“Nah, it doesn’t bother me. You’re my women, after all. Feel free to come over anytime. Like, when you want to be held.”
“Akio-kun…♡”
Himari let out a dreamy sigh. I grinned villainously.
“W-wait… What’s that!? All I got was pain!?”
Haya protested, but I ignored her.
“Ugh! Akio, you’re awful.”
“More importantly, Haya-chan, did you do the shopping?”
“‘More importantly’… You’re pretty awful too, Himari. Yes, yes, I put the ingredients in the fridge.”
“Fufu. This time, I’ll show off my cooking skills.”
It seemed Haya had done the shopping too. Himari decided to make dinner using the ingredients from the fridge.
In the meantime, I’d quietly chat with Haya.
“I never thought you’d become a sports festival executive committee member, Akio. Serious Akio is hilarious.”
“Weird?”
“Nope. Super cool♡.”
Haya grinned widely. Her compliments were hard to read… but since she’s cute, I’ll let it slide.
“I managed to get the bread-eating race into today’s executive committee meeting.”
“Seriously? Awesome, I’m definitely entering that.”
Haya rolled up her sleeves in a show of determination. Does she get that it’s not an eating contest?
As we enjoyed meaningless banter, the delicious smell of curry began to waft in.
“I’m getting hungry.”
“The smell of curry really whets your appetite, huh.”
Originally, Himari planned to make nikujaga, but I said, “I’d rather have curry than nikujaga,” so she changed plans. Haya had bought curry roux “just in case.”
“Akio, don’t you want to shower before eating?”
“Later’s fine. …Or are you in the mood?”
“N-n-n-n-no way!? I just thought you might be sweaty… That’s all!”
The blonde gal turned bright red in an instant. She probably really was just saying it offhand.
But since she opened the door, maybe I should tease her a bit. It’s her fault for blurting things out without thinking.
“Really? I was thinking of showering with you.”
“With me!?”
“It’s not that surprising.”
I wrapped an arm around her shoulder. Even I thought I was being a bit sleazy, but I placed a hand on her chest.
“I already know everything about you.”
“~~!?”
Haya’s eyes spun. Saying “everything” might be an exaggeration, but we’ve been intimate, so she doesn’t need to be this embarrassed.
“You two are getting all lovey-dovey while I’m cooking?”
Himari turned to us with a smile. For some reason, a chill ran down my spine. Holding a knife while smiling like that is scary…
“It’s not like we’re showing off. Right, Haya?”
“Y-yeah… Not at all…”
“We’ll shower together after we eat.”
“~~!?!”
I brushed her blonde side ponytail aside and whispered in her ear. Maybe because she’d let her guard down once, Haya let out a silent scream.
“Isn’t Erika-san coming today?”
With Haya frozen and red-faced, Himari changed the subject.
“Erika doesn’t come every day. In fact, it’s rare for her to show up here. I don’t even know when she’ll drop by.”
“Is that so? That’s surprising.”
“Really that surprising?”
To me, it was more surprising that they thought otherwise.
She’s a college student. Her schedule is different from ours.
Besides, unlike these two, Erika doesn’t come here out of affection alone. Ours is clearly a friends-with-benefits relationship. We’re both just satisfying our desires. That’s what she said herself.
Even if I wanted to see her, she wouldn’t necessarily come. That frustrating distance might be what works for us.
“Ta-da! Dinner’s ready.”
The curry Himari made was incredibly delicious. And the table, with the three of us gathered around it… how should I put it? It was just really nice.
“Thanks for the meal. So, shall we shower together?”
“Yeah. Himari made dinner, and Haya did the shopping and cleaning, so as thanks, I’ll wash every inch of you.”
“How lovely♡.”
“E-every inch… Oh no no no…”
After eating and cleaning up, the three of us showered together, and afterward, we felt incredibly refreshed.
◇ ◇ ◇
As the sports festival approached, the executive committee work grew busier.
Everyone was so dedicated that it motivated me too. The gradually building excitement wasn’t half bad.
Neither my past self nor Akio Gouda ever valued this kind of youth. But as an adult, I realized I regretted not throwing myself fully into the youth I once dismissed.
“The infamous Akio Gouda taking the sports festival seriously… How about that? Feeling regretful?”
I asked myself deep down. I felt my heart skip a beat. Only I, who inherited this body, could understand what that meant.
Now, as for my role on the executive committee:
“Hup…”
“Let me carry that. If there’s anything heavy, just let me know anytime. I’m confident in my strength.”
“Thanks, Gouda-kun. You’re a reliable underclassman.”
Helping seniors with carrying stuff.
“Whoa, this is pretty heavy. Hey, someone help me out!”
“Leave it to me. Should I take this side?”
“Oh, thanks, Gouda!”
Helping classmates with their loads.
“Wah… I can’t find the headbands…”
“They’re in the equipment room. Here you go.”
“G-Gouda-senpai!? Wow, you brought all the headbands… Did you carry this huge box by yourself? Th-thank you so much!”
Fetching stuff for underclassmen who were looking for it.
My job is basically just carrying things, huh. But with these muscles, I can’t just let them sit idle. This body isn’t just for relief.
Everyone has their role. As the errand boy, I’m useful only when I’m being utilized.
And it’s not just the executive committee with roles.
“Gouda-kun, you’re fast. You’re our anchor for the relay.”
“Got it. Leave it to me.”
Practice for the class events began.
There was no half-hearted attitude here. Everyone aimed to win. The passion in practice rivaled even school rom-coms.
“You’re serious, Akio-kun. I’m the anchor too, so let’s take first place together.”
Himari and I were entered in the relay. While my cheat-level body is one thing, Himari is top of the class in both academics and athletics, so she’s genuinely excellent. She’s the epitome of well-rounded.
“Look, Akio, look~! How’s this jump? I’ve got the bread-eating race in the bag, right?”
Haya hopped up and down in front of me, opening and closing her mouth as if mimicking grabbing bread. She seemed to have a good image of it.
“….”
It’s great that she’s so dedicated, but her thin gym clothes made her ample chest bounce with each jump. And for a moment, I caught a glimpse of her shapely navel.
What incredible carelessness. The guys around noticed and started leaning forward. At this rate, practice would grind to a halt.
“Haya.”
“What?”
“Come over here for a sec.”
“W-wait… Akio… This is school, you know…?”
Not sure what she was expecting, but Haya followed me, her cheeks flushing red.
I took her to a spot away from the guys and gave her a lecture. Think about how guys see you.
“….”
Since it wasn’t what she’d hoped for, Haya’s eyes went dead after my scolding.
She was clearly disappointed. This was bad—if I left it like this, it might affect practice. I needed to cheer her up.
“Well, I’ll make sure to relieve you later.”
“Ugh, you… You’re impossible, Akio~♡.”
She bounced back quickly, the easy girl. These honest reactions of hers were cute, though.
With practice for the events we’d participate in as part of the sports festival executive committee, the days passed in a flurry, and I started to feel like I was gradually blending into the group’s atmosphere.
And so, the day of the sports festival approached. Before I knew it, Nosaka, who had been absent, started coming to school again.
“….”
Just because he was back after a while, I didn’t exchange words with Nosaka. After what happened, I figured initiating conversation would only make things awkward, so I decided not to stir things up.
“Gouda-kun, can I talk to you for a moment?”
“Sure. What’s up, Kuroba?”
Being on the same sports festival executive committee meant I talked to Kuroba more often.
Most of our conversations were about work, but we’d gotten close enough to chat casually now and then. She didn’t seem particularly scared of me, so she wasn’t forcing herself.
…But what worried me was that every time Kuroba and I talked, Nosaka would smirk and stare at us. His face suggested he was plotting something nefarious.
“You don’t need to worry too much. Even if he’s thinking something weird, he’s not the type to act on it.”
When I consulted Himari about Nosaka, she gave me those words. As his childhood friend, her insight carried a strange conviction.
“More than that, I’m more concerned about you getting along so well with Rino-chan.”
“We’re on the same committee, so we talk sometimes.”
“That’s not what I’m worried about. What I mean is, are you planning to make a move on Rino-chan too?”
“…Do I really seem like the type to hit on anyone without restraint?”
Saying it myself, I had to admit that, judging by my appearance alone, I probably looked like the kind of guy who’d hit on any girl indiscriminately. Yeah, I’ve got the face of someone who’d steal another man’s woman.
But Himari shook her head.
“Nope. But if I warn you ahead of time, you’ll be more aware, right?”
“Come on…”
“You might look like the type to assault girls, but surprisingly, it’s the opposite. I need to make you aware of that.”
Himari smiled bashfully, as if remembering the first time she confessed her feelings to me. I couldn’t tell if she was possessive or not.
And so, amidst all this, the day of the sports festival arrived.
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