Chapter 1: The One-Man Romcom Race (Lap 2) — Opening Arc
It happened after school, right around twilight.
Called out by my childhood friend, I stepped into her room without a shred of caution.
The moment I crossed the threshold, a soft, sweet scent tickled my nose.
"So, what did you want to—"
Click.
Just as I turned around, I heard the sound of the door locking.
Wait, does she usually go out of her way to lock the door?
As I tilted my head in confusion, my childhood friend offered a small smile.
A smile that looked far more...bewitching than usual.
"Actually... Mama and Papa aren't coming home until late tonight."
"So, what? You're lonely and want me to keep you company?"
"Yeah, there's that, but..."
My childhood friend hooked a finger onto the ribbon of her uniform.
With a soft swish, the ribbon came undone.
"U-Uh... Manaka?"
Unbuttoning her blouse, she took a step toward me.
One step, then another.
Instinctively, I backed away.
"You... have a girl you like, don't you?"
"W-What brought this on...?"
Thump. My heel caught the edge of the bed.
I couldn't retreat any further.
Despite that, she kept closing the distance.
"But... you've never actually dated a girl before, have you?"
"So... what if I haven't..."
Through the gaps in her uniform, I caught glimpses of pale cleavage and underwear.
While I was still reeling from the sight, she pushed me down.
She peered over me.
The tips of her beautiful gold hair tickled my cheeks.
My own reflection stared back at me from her blue eyes.
"If you don't have experience... you'll be in trouble when the time comes, right? If you can't lead a girl properly, she might end up hating you."
My childhood friend’s cheeks, illuminated by the sunset, were dyed a deep red as she smiled seductively.
Her soft, luscious lips drew closer.
"Hey... want to do it?"
"D-Do what...?!"
She answered my question plainly.
"Lewd practice."
◆
"Aww man. Thanks to Kanata-kun, I missed the train again."
The girl puffing out her cheeks and complaining to me—Takabane Kanata—was a blue-eyed, blonde-haired beauty.
Her name is Himemiya Manaka, and she's my childhood friend.
She has silky golden hair and mysterious blue eyes.
Perhaps because she’s one-quarter foreign, she possesses the lovely appearance of a porcelain doll, combining the best traits of both Japanese and Western beauty standards.
I honestly believe there isn’t a girl cuter than her in Japan... hell, maybe even the world.
It’s way too embarrassing, so I’d never say that out loud, though.
"We'll make the next train, so it's fine."
"But that means we’ll barely make it on time!"
Since Manaka and I are next-door neighbors, we always walk to school together. However, today I overslept, causing us to miss our usual train.
Still, if we catch the next one, we won't be late, so I don't see why I'm being blamed here.
"Kanata-kun, are you properly reflecting on your actions?"
"I am, I am."
"Then, give me a 'I'm sowwy kiss'."
Manaka tapped her index finger against her lips, grinning teasingly.
This is just how she is—always making fun of me.
Saying stuff like this even though we’re in high school... she definitely doesn't see me as a member of the opposite sex.
"Like hell I will."
"I guess so. You don't have the guts to kiss me, do you, Kanata-kun?"
Finding something amusing about this, Manaka giggled to herself.
You've never kissed anyone either, you know.
"Oh, speaking of kisses... did you read yesterday's Amakis?"
Seemingly satisfied with teasing me, Manaka changed the subject.
Being made fun of isn't exactly my idea of a good time, so I happily went along with the new topic.
"Nope. I'm a volume reader. Did something happen?"
Amakis is short for Amai Kiss (Sweet Kiss), a romance manga serialized in a weekly magazine. It's your standard harem love triangle story where a transfer student and a childhood friend fight over a dense protagonist.
Honestly, it’s not really my cup of tea... but Manaka follows the weekly serialization, so I read it just to keep up with her.
"Well, about that—"
Apparently, the childhood friend heroine that Manaka was rooting for got rejected by the protagonist.
...Hey, could you care a little more about spoilers?
Even if I was the one who asked.
"Isn't it weird that a childhood friend who shares mutual love loses to a transfer student who just popped out of nowhere!?"
"Well, it is a manga... Maybe the fact that they were 'mutual love' was just a flag meant to be overturned for a plot twist."
"Muu... I guess so, but still..."
Manaka pursed her lips in dissatisfaction.
Personally, that development was exactly what I expected, so I wasn't surprised.
"There's still plenty of chapters left. Maybe she'll turn it around?"
"...You're right! There's still hope!"
Manaka nodded, her confident smile returning.
Chatting about things like that, we arrived at school.
Manaka sits in the seat to my right.
Once we took our seats, our homeroom teacher arrived, and the morning assembly began.
But today, the atmosphere was different.
"Today, I'd like to introduce a transfer student to everyone."
The teacher dropped this news the moment he opened his mouth.
A transfer student in mid-April? That's rare...
The rest of the class seemed to think so too, as a quiet buzz filled the room.
Then, a girl with semi-long black hair walked into the classroom.
She had a demure, quiet atmosphere about her.
"I came from... My name is Amasawa Sayuri."
My eyes widened involuntarily.
And not because she was a beautiful girl.
"Take a seat by the window over there."
"Yes."
The transfer student walked slowly toward the window... to the seat immediately to my left, and sat down.
Then, she smiled at me.
"I'm surprised we're in the same class."
"...Yeah, no kidding. You surprised me. I'm looking forward to getting along with you."
"Mhm, likewise!"
"Eh?! Wait!! Kanata-kun, when did you two meet!?"
A shriek-like voice came from my right.
Manaka was staring at us, her mouth hanging wide open.
"Last Saturday..."
I had saved her when she was being harassed by a groper.
I thought about explaining it that way, but saying that out loud felt a little hesitant.
"I helped her out when she was lost."
"I thought we might be in the same school... but I never imagined we'd be in the same class!"
Amasawa-san clapped her hands together as she said, looking genuinely happy.
"Hmm... Fuuuun."
In stark contrast, Manaka looked decidedly grumpy.
◆
I—Himemiya Manaka—have a childhood friend.
He’s cool, tall, smart, kind, and a cute boy worth teasing.
His name is Takabane Kanata.
I love Kanata-kun.
I don't really remember when I started loving him.
But I've loved playing with Kanata-kun ever since we were little.
When we were in elementary school, he saved me when I was about to be bullied. I was so happy.
Before I knew it, just thinking about Kanata-kun made my heart race.
And then, in middle school...
Looking at his profile, realizing he had grown taller than me before I even noticed, I thought.
Ah, I really love Kanata-kun.
And Kanata-kun must love me even more than that.
So, I decided to wait for Kanata-kun to confess to me.
I waited, and waited, and kept on waiting.
Before I knew it, we were second-year high school students.
H-Huh? That’s weird...
Isn't it about time he confessed?
I mean, we’ll be college students the year after next, right?
There's no guarantee we'll go to the same university, so we basically only have a one-year grace period left.
H-Huuh...?
Maybe, just maybe... does he only see me as a mere childhood friend? As just a gal pal?
No way, right?
When I tease him saying "Kiss me," he doesn't get flustered at all... Is it because he doesn't feel anything for me?
J-Just kidding.
Even if that were true, the person closest to Kanata-kun is me!
There are no other girls around Kanata-kun, so if he’s going to fall in love, it has to be me.
Childhood friends getting rejected is something that only happens in fiction.
In reality, the childhood friend who knows everything about him and has always been by his side is overwhelmingly advantageous.
There's still over a year until graduation, right?
Unless a beautiful transfer student suddenly spawns out of nowhere, my victory is unshakable...
"I came from... My name is Amasawa Sayuri."
She spawned.
B-But, just because she’s here doesn't mean Kanata-kun will fall for a transfer student, right?
And there's no guarantee the transfer student will like Kanata-kun either...
"I'm surprised we're in the same class."
"...Yeah, no kidding. You surprised me. I'm looking forward to getting along with you."
Eh?
Wait, a "Boy Meets Girl" event happened without me knowing about it?!
A beautiful girl he met at the station turns out to be a transfer student, and on top of that, she sits right next to him?
Does that even happen?
This is completely the intro to a love comedy story.
It’s the Main Heroine’s entrance scene.
...Then, what about me?
If the transfer student is the Main Heroine, then the childhood friend—me—is the... Sub-heroine?
In other words, a Losing Heroine?!
N-No way.
Something so manga-like wouldn't happen in reality...
"I'm sorry, Takabane-kun. Actually, I don't have all my textbooks yet... Could you let me look at yours during class? Just for a few days."
"Ah, sure. If it's just that, no problem."
That conversation drifted over from beside me.
Let her look... at his textbook?
The next thing I knew, Kanata-kun had shifted his desk to the left.
He pushed his desk right up against Amasawa-san's.
A gap opened up between him and my desk.
I heard the sound of my daily life crumbling away.
◇ ◇ ◇ ◇
The morning after the transfer student arrived.
"G-Good morning... Kanata-kun."
"Morning, Manaka. ...It's rare for you to oversleep."
"Y-Yeah... I g-guess so..."
I involuntarily averted my gaze.
I just blamed Kanata-kun for being late yesterday, so this is a bit awkward.
"Did you stay up late?"
"Y-Yeah... I was just thinking about some stuff. Ahaha..."
Maybe Kanata-kun likes the transfer student?
Maybe he doesn't see me as a girl?
I couldn't sleep at all because I kept thinking about things like that.
"Is something bothering you?"
"N-No... It's not a big deal."
Like I could tell you that, Kanata-kun!!
You dense idiot!!
"Well, if you ever want to talk, just tell me. I'm here to listen."
But my feelings didn't reach him, and Kanata-kun started walking.
I walked after him, chasing his back.
...I have to know.
I need to settle this in black and white!!
"...Hey, Kanata-kun."
While waiting for the train at the station, I tugged on Kanata-kun's sleeve.
I-I'm so nervous...
"What's up?"
"Ka-Kanata-kun, do you..."
"Yeah?"
"Do you have someone you like?"
I steeled my resolve and asked him.
Kanata-kun’s eyes widened in surprise.
"That's... sudden..."
"It's fine, isn't it! J-Just answer me..."
My heart is pounding.
If possible, I want him to say "No."
Of course, if he says "Yes" and the person is me, that would be the best outcome.
But if that person is the transfer student, it’s the worst possible outcome.
"I do."
It was "I do."
It's down to the best or the worst option.
Ugh...
"We're talking about a girl here, right!?"
"Is it a problem if there is one?"
I confirmed it just in case.
Kanata-kun answered, looking a little displeased.
"...It's not a problem, but..."
It's fine if it's me!
But if it's anyone other than me, it's not okay!!
"What kind of girl is she? What do you like about her?"
Eeei!
Screw it, I'm desperate!!
"...I guess it's that being with her is fun."
Kanata-kun said that shyly, then boarded the train that had just arrived.
A girl he thinks is fun to be with...
That's me, right?
It's me, right?!
It has to be me!!!
◆
—Do you have someone you like?
Manaka had asked me that out of the blue.
Though bewildered, I decided to answer honestly.
"Is her face... the cute type? Or the beautiful type?"
"...Beautiful, I guess."
I glanced at Manaka’s appearance once before answering.
"I-I see... The beautiful type..."
Manaka began to ponder this with a serious expression.
Don't think about it so hard... You're making me nervous.
"...What about her hair? Eye color?"
Blonde hair, blue eyes.
There was no way I could say that honestly.
"Black hair, black eyes."
I decided to lie.
Most Japanese people have black hair and dark eyes. It wouldn't cause trouble for any specific individual.
As we were talking, we arrived at our station.
I stepped off the train, but Manaka, who should have been right beside me, wasn't there.
When I turned around, I saw her standing inside the train, completely stunned.
"Manaka. ...Hey, Manaka!"
"Wh-What?!"
"Don't 'What' me... We're getting off."
I hurriedly grabbed Manaka's arm.
The moment I pulled her out onto the platform, the doors slid shut.
"I-I'm sorry..."
"It's fine, but... are you feeling okay?"
"Y-Yeah..."
Manaka hung her head and nodded.
◆
"Ugh... Kanata-kun, you idiot... you heartless jerk..."
I—Himemiya Manaka—was soaking the pillow with tears in the infirmary bed.
The person Kanata-kun likes.
It has to be Amasawa-san.
I mean, she has black hair, black eyes, and she’s the beautiful type.
They looked like they were having fun yesterday and today...
"Even though I liked him first..."
The transfer student stole Kanata-kun's first love!!
Thieving cat! Vixen!
Gunununu...
B-But, it’s not decided if the transfer student likes Kanata-kun back yet...
"B-But, Kanata-kun is... cool..."
And he's kind to girls.
She’ll definitely fall for him in no time.
No, maybe she already likes him.
That has to be it!
Just because she didn't have a textbook, pushing their desks together to share?!
I wouldn't do that with anyone but Kanata-kun!!
She must like him.
Which means it’s mutual love.
It’s only a matter of time before they cross the finish line.
In other words, I am...
"No, no, no... I don't want to be a Losing Heroine..."
Kanata-kun is my childhood friend.
I met him first.
I loved him first!!
"If it's come to this, there's only one thing left to do..."
I’ll steal Kanata-kun away from that transfer student!!
◆
I—Takabane Kanata—have a girl I like.
It is... well, no point hiding it now... my childhood friend, Manaka.
I don't remember when I started liking her.
But I think I’ve liked her from the very beginning.
Manaka has always been beautiful, cute, and someone I admired.
And recently, she’s become even more beautiful.
Like, her chest has gotten bigger before I even noticed...
And yet, her sense of distance hasn't changed since we were kids.
She teases me, toys with me, and seems to have fun doing it.
She gets carried away just because I always let her have her way...
No, since I'm in love with her, I absolutely can't act tough around her.
Surely, Manaka trusts me.
I can't betray that trust.
That same Manaka seemed to be under the weather today.
She spent the whole day sleeping in the infirmary.
Or so I thought, but...
◆
"Hey... Kanata-kun. Come over to my room after school today. I have a little... business with you."
After school, Manaka made that proposal.
I wondered if she was feeling alright, but her complexion didn't look bad.
"I don't mind, but are you feeling better?"
"Yup, I'm all good now!"
Manaka answered my question with a beaming smile.
Well, if she says so.
I walked home the same as always and went straight to Manaka's room.
Is it really okay for a guy and a girl to be alone together so casually?
That anxiety crossed my mind for a split second.
Though, hanging out in each other's rooms is something we do all the time, so it's a bit late for that.
"So, what did you want to..."
Click.
She locked the door.
And before I knew it, Manaka had pushed me down onto the bed.
"Hey... want to do it?"
Manaka whispered in a sweet voice.
Desperately fighting the sensation that my brain was melting, I asked her:
"D-Do what...?!"
"Lewd practice."
With those words, I understood everything.
This was just her usual prank.
There's no way she seriously wants to do anything "lewd" when we haven't even kissed.
"L-Look... Y-You don't want to do it, do you? ...Eek!"
I grabbed Manaka by the shoulders.
Then, slowly, I lifted her body up.
"Stop joking around. ...You're going a little too far."
I warned Manaka, who looked bewildered.
If I were a rougher guy, or the type who stayed true to his instincts, this wouldn't have ended as a joke.
No, she probably does this because she knows I'm not like that.
I'm happy she trusts me, but the fact that she doesn't see me as a man is complicated.
"I-It's not a joke, okay!?"
"Uh-huh."
"W-What's with that reaction!?"
Manaka glared at me with a flushed face.
It seems she’s backed herself into a corner and can’t back down now.
"Then let me ask you. What exactly did you intend to do for 'lewd practice'?"
"Th-That is..."
Manaka averted her eyes.
She poked her index fingers together, mumbling incoherently.
"H-Hugs and stuff...?"
"That's not lewd or anything."
"Haaah..."
Manaka let out a huge sigh and shrugged her shoulders in exasperation.
Before I knew it, her composure had returned.
"Honestly, this is why virgins are..."
"You're a virgin yourself!"
"Shut up! Look, okay? The mood is what's important! You don't just start with 'Ready, set, go!' It’s supposed to happen naturally as the atmosphere gets better little by little."
Shelving the fact that she has zero experience herself, Manaka started pompously lecturing me on how to have "sex."
I don't think she's wrong. Except for the part where it sounds like a total excuse.
"But you were the one who suggested practicing..."
"That's why I'm proposing that I be your practice partner. So you don't embarrass yourself, Kanata-kun."
"...None of your business. I don't need that kind of help."
She's not actually going to let me do it anyway.
She's just teasing me for fun.
"Could it be... you're scared?"
"What?"
"Even though it's a precious chance to learn. But I guess it can't be helped. You're such a shy, bashful boy, Kanata-kun. You're too scared to even touch a girl, aren't you?"
Th-This girl... even though she shrieked just because I grabbed her shoulders earlier.
That actually pissed me off.
I'll make her understand.
"If you're going to say that much, then let's do it."
Practice? Don't give me that crap.
I'll get her in the mood.
What we're about to do isn't practice.
It's the real thing!
◇ ◇ ◇ ◇
"First... should we start with a hug?"
A hug. Embracing Manaka's body.
Just thinking about it makes me nervous, but I can't let her realize that.
"R-Right."
"Okay, here I go."
"W-Wait!"
Manaka called for a timeout.
Getting cold feet now?
While I felt disappointed, I was also a little relieved.
"S-Starting so suddenly is weird! First, we have to hold hands!"
Thinking that was a fair point, I held my palm out to Manaka.
Manaka extended her pale hand in return.
Fingertips brushed against fingertips.
Facing each other, we clasped hands.
Holding Manaka's hand for the first time in ages, it felt softer and warmer than I remembered.
"...It's been a long time since we held hands."
"True. Since we were in second grade, maybe? ...You were the one who got embarrassed about it, Kanata-kun."
"You were the one who hated it first. ...Said you didn't want people to think we were a couple."
I remember being hurt by that as a child.
Though, I also shared the embarrassment of classmates teasing us with "Kanata and Manaka are dating!", so I understood where she was coming from.
"D-Did I say that?"
"Yeah. ...So, what do we do next?"
"Think about it yourself for a bit."
"I thought you were going to teach me?"
"Ugh..."
At my retort, Manaka lowered her eyes in embarrassment.
After her gaze swam around for a moment, she looked up at me.
"Hold my shoulder."
"...Like this?"
"Ngh..."
I released Manaka's hand and, touching her upper arm, slowly moved my hand up.
Finally, I placed my hand on her slender shoulder.
"W-Well... it's not bad."
Manaka answered while fidgeting.
Then, shifting her legs, she closed the distance between us.
I moved my legs as well, closing the gap.
"...Stay still."
"Manaka?"
Manaka leaned in, resting her head against my chest.
Then she grabbed my clothes with both hands.
"Pat my head."
"Like this?"
"...Yeah."
As told, I placed my hand on Manaka's head and stroked her hair.
Her golden hair was as smooth as silk, and a faint sweet scent wafted up every time I combed through it with my fingers.
It was a sensation that made me want to keep petting her forever.
"Fufu..."
Suddenly, Manaka let out a small giggle.
When I looked down, she was grinning while pressing her ear to my chest.
"Kanata-kun, your heart is pounding."
"...Guh."
"Ah, it skipped a beat again. You're nervous."
I tried to deny it, but with her ear pressed against my chest, she’d know immediately that it was a lie.
Feeling frustrated, I nodded.
"It's my first time doing something like this. Of course I'm a little nervous."
"Hmm, is that so? You're actually admitting it honestly."
"You're nervous too, aren't you, Manaka?"
"Not really? I'm not nervous at all."
"Don't lie."
"It's not a lie. ...Want to check?"
Manaka said that, lifted her upper body slightly, and pointed to her own chest.
A soft swell, peeking out from white underwear.
I instinctively looked away.
"Don't you want to touch? M-My... b-boobs..."
Manaka said it, her face turning bright red.
"...A hug comes first, right?"
I said that, placing one hand on her head and the other on her shoulder, then increased the pressure.
Manaka didn't resist and was naturally pulled closer.
She lifted her face and rested her chin on my shoulder.
Manaka's soft chest pressed against my own.
I hesitated for just a moment.
"Kanata-kun..."
Manaka's whispering voice tickled my ear.
Following my instincts, I embraced Manaka tightly.
"Nhn!"
Manaka let out a voice.
But she showed no sign of resisting.
I hugged her strongly with both arms.
Then Manaka hugged my body back.
"Manaka..."
Manaka's body was soft, warm, and smelled good.
Just holding each other made me feel happy.
If we could become one just like this, how wonderful would that feel...?
My reason was slowly melting away, and lust was welling up from within my chest.
"Ka-Kanata-kun!"
"Manaka!!"
We called each other's names.
That acted as the trigger, and I pushed Manaka down onto the bed.
Right in front of my eyes lay my childhood friend—my first love—in a defenseless state.
Her cheeks were faintly flushed, and she looked up at me with melting eyes.
Glancing slightly downward, I saw the large, attractive swells.
The glimpses of pure white underwear and the bewitching cleavage seemed to be inviting me.
"C-Check for yourself..."
Manaka moved her plump lips while looking up at me with moist eyes.
There's no way I can hold back against this.
"I-I'm going to touch..."
I reached out for Manaka's chest.
Fearfully, I pressed lightly on her breast with my fingers.
Squish. A soft resistance pushed back against my fingers.
"Hey, t-the way you're touching is... nh..."
I covered Manaka's breast with one hand.
It was large enough to spill out of my grasp.
And from deep within that chest, I could hear the sound of her heart beating violently. Thump-thump.
"Well, look at that. Your heart is pounding too, Manaka."
When I teased her to cover up my own feelings, Manaka looked away embarrassedly.
"I-It can't be helped! It's... it's my first time, after all."
First time.
Hearing those words, I felt my heart soar.
Manaka's first time... right now... I'm going to...
I swallowed hard.
"Y-You're sure, right?!"
Suppressing my racing heart, I asked Manaka.
She nodded shyly, just a little.
"...It's okay."
Invited by those words, I reached for the buttons of Manaka's clothes...
And hurriedly slammed on the brakes.
"...Manaka."
"What?"
"Do you have a condom?"
Of course, I didn't have one. I hadn't planned on doing anything like this.
But since Manaka was the one who invited me, surely she had prepared one.
I asked just to be sure.
"..."
Manaka hesitated for a while...
"...I don't."
She muttered quietly.
Then she looked away awkwardly.
Th-This girl... even though she invited me herself.
She's the one who would have the hardest time if something happened...
Regaining a bit of my composure, I sat up.
"Let's stop here for today."
"R-Right."
Naturally, we can't continue without protection.
Manaka seemed to realize that too; she sat up and distanced herself from me as if escaping.
Then, turning her face away uncomfortably...
"W-Well, I'd say that was about twenty points...?"
"Even though you said 'It's okay'?"
"Th-That didn't mean it was okay to have sex."
"Then what did it mean?"
That was definitely where the flow was going.
When I glared at her, Manaka shrugged her shoulders with a 'good grief' attitude.
"There are other forms of skinship we need to do, right?"
"Like what?"
"That would be... kissing, maybe?"
"K-Kissing, huh..."
Certainly, it's weird to have sex without kissing.
But kissing is high level, or rather...
No, sex is definitely higher difficulty, but still.
"W-Well, we still need practice. ...So that's it for today."
"...For today? We're doing this tomorrow too?"
"That... I don't know. But whenever there's a chance from now on, we'll do it. So be prepared."
We're going to continue this...
Naturally, as we keep doing this, we'll eventually reach that point.
Even if we don't, today we engaged in skinship just like lovers.
Even though we aren't lovers or anything.
We're supposed to be just childhood friends, just friends.
Is this really okay?
I started feeling anxious now that it was over.
"Is there some kind of problem?"
"...No, not at all. Fine, I'll do it."
Swept along by the flow, I nodded.
I couldn't win against my desire.
More than anything, I couldn't back down while staying at "twenty points."
"W-Well then... I'm going home for today."
"W-Wait!"
Manaka tugged on my sleeve.
In the dim semi-darkness, Manaka looked up at me shyly.
"Hug me one last time."
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