...........................…
"I have to ask—why do I have to sit with you two?"
Shiro looked at the two people sandwiching him from both sides. Did they seriously not realize how weird it looked to have two nearly-naked men in their underwear trapping a fully clothed person like this?!
Originally, he had planned to find a seat in the last row to catch up on some sleep—after all, he really hadn't rested properly last night.
But the moment these two idiots spotted him, they dragged him over by force!
And they made him sit in the middle! Forget escaping, he couldn't even move!
The worst part?
He just wanted to sleep! Sleeping between two half-naked perverts, what kind of blind teacher wouldn't notice something this ridiculous?!
"Meh, small issue! Kamishiro, have you noticed something strange about the atmosphere in this classroom?"
Iori waved dismissively before pulling Shiro closer, whispering mysteriously.
Hearing this, Shiro finally noticed it too, something was definitely off. A huge amount of resentment was directed at their side.
He turned his head to look—
Every male student in the classroom was glaring at them with murderous intent.
This look… this look… it reminded Shiro of his high school days!
Back in high school, people had given him this exact same look!
It had been so long since he'd seen it—ah, how nostalgic~
"I think it's fine, actually. This gaze really takes me back to my high school days~"
Shiro had a blissful expression on his face, clearly relishing in nostalgia.
"The hell kind of high school life did you even have?!"
Iori, his face covered in black lines, looked at him in disbelief.
"Maybe we should just go ask them directly?"
Kohei suggested. At this rate, there was no way they could figure it out just by guessing.
"Why me? If you think it's a good idea, why don't you ask someone?"
Iori immediately turned it back on Kohei, seeing through his attempt to push the task onto him.
"No way!"
Kohei refused firmly, biting his fingernail anxiously. "Striking up a conversation with a stranger and then getting rejected, that's an incredibly painful experience!"
"...Oh, right. That is your whole character setting, huh."
Iori closed his eyes in pain. Seriously, what was up with the weird character settings of his friends?!
With no other choice, he stood up. "Nobody gets mad at someone they just met. Geez, you're hopeless. Watch and learn, I'll show you how it's done!"
With that, he walked over to the group of furious-looking guys. It was time to charm his way out of this!
"Hey, uh, sorry to bother you, but—"
"Don't fucking talk to me, loser!"
"You wanna die, dumbass?!"
Before Iori could even finish his sentence, two guys immediately cut him off—violently.
One of them even flipped him the middle finger. If an outsider saw this, they'd think Iori had done something horribly unforgivable to them.
Shiro looked at Iori, who was now sulking and covering his face.
This situation… it really did remind him of high school.
Seriously, what the hell had Iori done to deserve this level of hostility?!
Meanwhile, Kohei smirked smugly. "Told you this would happen."
"No way! It has to be because of how I phrased my question!"
Not willing to give up, Iori got up again—this time, he chose a different group and changed his approach.
One Minute Later…
Under the gaze of Shiro and Kohei, Iori once again covered his face and ran back in embarrassment.
Kohei patted Iori's shoulder in consolation. "Well, no big deal. From what I know, this is just how it is when talking to strangers for the first time!"
"Exactly! Everyone used to look at me the same way. To be honest, when I first entered university, I wasn't used to it at all~"
"…Just what kind of tragic lives have you two lived?"
Iori had run out of energy to retort. These two seemed like they had never experienced a normal life at all!
"But there's definitely something wrong here!"
Iori stated firmly. As the only one in the trio who had lived a normal life, he was sure that this was not normal!
"So, what's wrong?"
"I think it's fine."
"Even though I'd like to confirm it, however…"
Iori silently turned his head back, only to find a group of large men staring at him intensely, each holding something sharp!
"…I don't think there's anyone in there who can have a proper conversation."
"Is this a delinquent school from the Showa era?"
"Are we sure this isn't a maximum-security prison full of hardcore criminals?"
The three of them lowered their heads in unison, feeling like their lives were in danger.
"Hey, don't you think it's because you two aren't wearing any clothes?"
Shiro clapped his hands as he spoke. After all, the forums had previously exposed their… unique preferences!
Now that they were sitting here stark naked, of course, everyone would feel uncomfortable!
"But we were always like this before."
"Nothing has changed from usual."
The two clearly hadn't considered this possibility and looked at Shiro in confusion.
Shiro silently turned his head away. "(;?＿?) Uh… well, times have changed."
"You bastard! Just what the hell did you post online this time?!"
Although they didn't know the exact details, it was obvious that this troublemaker was involved!
"Well, let's test it out first."
Shiro took a step back, and sure enough, as soon as he distanced himself from the two, the oppressive chill around him instantly vanished!
?!!
The two looked at Shiro in shock as he safely withdrew. Could it really be because of their clothes?!
Sensing the ever-growing sense of hostility in the air, the two frantically searched for something to wear!
However… how could there possibly be extra clothes lying around in the classroom?!
"Ah, in that case, there's nothing to be done. You two will just have to stay like this~(??ω??)"
Shiro looked at them with a mischievous grin. Idiots don't need clothes!
Ha~ Now that he was away from them, he could finally get some…
Wait! What are you two doing?!
Before Shiro could react, Iori and Kohei suddenly pounced on him, tearing off his clothes in an instant!!!
That's right, not taking them off, but outright tearing them apart!
With sinister expressions, the two sneered, "Yo, isn't this Kamishiro-kun? You weren't thinking of ditching us, were you?"
"We're a team that's about to make our grand debut!"
"(メ｀ロ′)/ You bastards! Who said I was part of your team?! What kind of debut involves being naked?! At least let my clothes die a whole corpse!"
Shiro looked tearfully at the tattered remains of his clothes on the ground.
(*?????)
Those clothes cost thousands of yen! And he had barely worn them a few times! He was definitely putting this debt on Kitahara's tab!
"Wait a second!"
Suddenly, Iori grabbed the now half-naked Shiro and carefully examined his back!
At first, Shiro didn't understand what was happening and was about to give Kitahara a piece of his mind when a wave of dread washed over him!
The group of large men in the classroom had started stabbing their desks frantically with their weapons!
You could even see their veins bulging from the sheer force!
Shiro swallowed hard. Why did it suddenly feel like his life was in danger…? His preferences should be normal, right?!
"Hey, Kamishiro!"
With a friendly—but terrifying—smile, Iori patted Shiro's shoulder. "Care to explain the scratch marks on your back?"
(′｀;)?
Scratch marks? What scratch marks? That idiot Kitahara was…
Scratch marks!!!
(.;゜;:益:;゜;.)
Shiro finally remembered what he had done, and cold sweat instantly poured from his forehead.
He tried to run, but at some point, his hands had been cuffed to the desk!
With pink handcuffs!
Kohei was standing behind him!
There was nowhere to run!
"Uh… uh, if I said I was upholding justice, would you believe me?"
"Oh? I see."
"So, you were upholding justice, and then some evil person scratched you all over."
"That's right, that's exactly what happened! You guys are really smart, ahahaha…"
Shiro forced out a laugh, fear gripping his heart.
Why did these two virgins know what scratch marks meant?! Just how much theoretical knowledge did they have?!
"Kohei, burn him!"
"OK, I'll get the fire!"
"Wait! Playing with fire will make you wet the bed!!!"
(*?????)
...........................…
(?????)
Shiro returned to his seat covered in fresh wounds. Now, there was absolutely no way he could sleep. He had been completely branded as a pervert.
Those two bastards had really gone all out on him! And why did they keep attacking his back so viciously?!
Even if they covered up the truth, it wouldn't change the fact that he had gone to help a lady in need!
"So, what do we do now?"
Iori asked as he sat back down. He wasn't sure if it was just his imagination, but the chill at his back seemed to have deepened…
"If you want to know, why not just ask Kotegawa?"
Kohei suggested. If it was Chisa, she would definitely know something, right?
"That's not going to work. If we show up looking like this, she's just going to look down on us again. Not to mention, we've got someone here who went on about wanting to marry her sister and then came back covered in scratch marks like a scumbag."
"Hey! That's—"
Shiro was at a loss for words. He had no idea how to refute that because… well, it was technically true.
He really did want to marry Nanaka-nee. A Yamato Nadeshiko-type wife was absolutely top-tier, okay? With her running the family tea shop, everything would be perfect!
Except… Nanaka-nee turned out to be way different from what he expected. Since when did she gain this ultimate little sister complex?!
As he was thinking about it, he stole a glance toward Chisa, wondering just what kind of charm—
Crack!
The moment he saw her, it was like he had been struck by lightning!
What the hell did he just witness?!
That naturally aloof Chisa… was smiling! And it was such a sweet, radiant smile!
Damn it, I think I finally understand why Nanaka-nee became such a siscon!
But… this is way too weird! What's going on?! Is the world about to end in the next second?!
"What's wrong, Kamishiro?"
Noticing that Shiro had frozen up, Iori and Kohei turned around as well. The instant they saw Chisa, they had the exact same thought as him—
The world was about to end!
"Did you guys… notice? Just now, in that instant, the chill in the air got even stronger."
Shiro shuddered, feeling like he was moments away from being buried alive.
And that guy holding a "Guide to Beating Someone Half to Death" book was way too terrifying!
"Kotegawa definitely knows something!"
Kohei said with a look of horror. Chisa acting so out of character was proof enough that something was seriously wrong.
Iori didn't hesitate. He stood up and marched straight over to Chisa. If he didn't figure out what was going on, he wouldn't be able to die in peace!
"Hey, Chisa, can I borrow you for a moment?"
Iori asked, already mentally prepared for her to ignore him like he was garbage.
However—
"Eh? What's up, Iori~?"
Not only did Chisa not give him her usual disdainful stare, but she even flashed him an incredibly sweet smile!
Kohei and Shiro stared blankly at the scene before them. If they hadn't just pinched each other to make sure they were awake, they would have thought they were dreaming!
Iori was stunned too. Feeling the ever-growing chill behind him, he stammered, "Uh… I… I just wanted to ask you something…"
"Right now? Sure! But if it's just a chat, we can always talk at home too~"
Screeeeech!
The sound of sharp objects scraping against desks rang out behind them!
The three of them paled in terror. This was getting way too creepy!
"Tell me, Chisa! What the hell is going on?!"
Unable to hold back anymore, Iori grabbed Chisa's shoulders and demanded an answer.
"I dunno~"
"Like hell you don't!"
Shiro, still in shock, quietly took out his phone. If they couldn't get an answer from Chisa, then there was only one thing to do—ask the all-knowing online forums!
And then…
He didn't even need to search.
Right at the top of the trending posts was exactly what he was looking for.
Shiro and Kohei stared at their phone screens, their expressions turning more and more bizarre.
The post contained a set of photos—pictures of Chisa at the awards ceremony. But for some reason, that bastard Kitahara was also in them.
And the headline read—
"'Dick Joke' Comedy Champion and Beauty Pageant Winner… Are They a Couple?!"
"..."
"What the hell happened while we were passed out?"
The trending post had completely blown up, and the comment section had turned into a discussion board for the Top Ten Torture Methods and A Hundred Ways to Bury a Corpse After Death!
Shiro even spotted a comment that included a ritual to summon Iori's soul for eternal torment!
After reading through everything, he and Kohei silently took a step away from Iori, their gazes filled with pity.
"Today might be the last day we see him alive."
"Thinking about it that way… it's kind of sad. We should bring him more oolong tea in the future… He loves that stuff!"
Tears welled up at the corners of their eyes. Though their time together hadn't been long, they would always remember Iori!!!
Meanwhile, Iori was still desperately clinging to Chisa, demanding answers.
Suddenly—
Thud!
A throwing knife embedded itself into the wall near him!
Iori turned pale, his face contorting into a demonic mask of horror!
Shiro plucked the note that was stabbed onto the wall.
"Break up with Kotegawa Chisa immediately! Or else you're dead, kid!"
"So… when exactly did this happen?"
Shiro looked at Iori with deadly seriousness. Even he didn't have a girlfriend yet! How the hell did that bastard Kitahara Iori manage to get one before him?!
"W-What do you mean 'when'?! We—"
"It started before the school festival~"
Before Iori could even finish his sentence, Chisa's sweet voice cut in.
"..."
"Then what about this note? Are you really going to break up with Chisa?"
"I don't really know what's going on, but for my own safety, I should probably—"
"Thank you, Iori! You're willing to risk your life for me!"
That sweet voice interrupted him yet again.
Now, every single person in the classroom was staring at them.
Well, mainly at Iori…
"WHAT?! What the hell are you scheming?!"
"Don't be so loud~ You're disturbing the people around us~"
"Screw the people around us! That's the least of my problems right now!"
Iori was freaking out. This wasn't about disrupting the classroom anymore, this was about whether he could even leave the classroom alive!
Shiro and Kohei silently took a step back. Now that they fully understood the situation, there was absolutely no way they were going to stay with that idiot Kitahara any longer!
"Well, uh… Kohei and I have urgent matters to attend to, so we'll be going now. Wishing you all the best, Kitahara!"
!!!
If Iori still didn't realize that everyone was out to get him, then he might as well go jump in a river and drown himself!
"Wait! You two—!"
Iori immediately threw his arms around both of their necks, putting his full body weight onto them!
Faced with his shameless tactic, Shiro and Kohei exchanged a glance.
In the next second—
They both pulled in opposite directions, stretching Iori's body as if they were quartering him!
"Don't just talk to us so casually! People might think we actually know you!"
"Yeah, let go, you comedy-faced pervert!"
"We're more than just acquaintances, damn it! We're a group that could make a professional debut together!"
Iori's face twisted with determination. No matter how much pain he felt from being torn apart, he refused to let go of these two bastards!
"There's no way I'm letting you two just walk away that easily!"
Iori shouted, "Speaking of which—Kamishiro, what exactly have you been doing in your room every night with Hamaoka Azusa from the Oumi girls' college? And Kohei, I heard that Aina-chan from the girls' college is actually dating you!"
Screeeeech!
The sound of sharp objects scraping against desks rang out once more!
This time, Shiro and Kohei saw it clearly; those beasts, completely consumed by jealousy, had eyes filled with murderous intent!
"You bastard, do you even realize what you've done?!"
With savage expressions, they both wrapped their arms tightly around Iori's neck! This guy was pure evil!
"Now we're in this together!"
"Yeah, you're absolutely right!"
"I swear, I actually want to stab my own teammate right now!"
The three of them were once again lumped together as a team.
Now… there was only one person who could save them!
All three of them instinctively turned toward Chisa—
But… she was gone.
All that was left was a note that read:
"Went to get lunch."
That bastard had run away!!
...........................…
"…So why are you following me, kid?"
Shiro, shirtless, with a lollipop in his mouth and a troubled expression, looked at the short figure before him.
Judging by the height and face, this kid couldn't be older than a middle schooler.
He had just barely escaped from those wild beasts, and now he was getting tangled up with a middle schooler?!
Just a while ago, the trio had used every ounce of their strength to escape from the clutches of those enraged beasts.
Since he had to go home and send his newly written manuscript to his beautiful editor, Shiro had declined the invitation to lunch with those two idiots.
After all, in his opinion, their decision was suicidal. The campus was crawling with wild beasts, and who knew how many threatening letters they had received by now? How could those two still have the guts to waltz into the cafeteria like nothing was wrong?!
Shiro, unable to comprehend their recklessness, decisively distanced himself from them. He even skipped the afternoon classes, planning to head home and tease his beautiful editor.
However... halfway there, a small figure holding a camera blocked his way and requested to take a picture of his back...
From experience, Shiro guessed that this shorty was probably a girl. But with that short haircut and the way she referred to herself in a masculine manner, he couldn't be sure.
After all, this was an anime-style world! Even if someone like Hideyoshi appeared, he wouldn't be surprised!
Hearing Shiro's question, the shorty expressionlessly shook the camera in her hand. "Taking a photo."
"…"
Shiro squinted at her in exasperation.
Sure, walking around shirtless on the street wasn't exactly normal, but… was it really worth taking a picture of?!
"…Are you some kind of sneaky maid?"
The shorty tilted her head in confusion, showing that she didn't understand what he was talking about.
"…Is this for a school project?"
She shook her head again.
"…You're just a pervert?"
For the first time, the shorty showed a hint of surprise. Why was this guy so narcissistic?
Looking at her mostly expressionless face, Shiro immediately realized—he had encountered a rare species!
A kuudere!
A trait that Kamishiro Shiro absolutely loved!
But… no matter how much he liked the archetype, there was no way he could make a move on her! Not to mention the gender uncertainty, this kid was definitely a middle schooler!
He would get arrested and served pork cutlet bowls in jail!
The two silently stared at each other. One was lost in thought, the other just wanted to eat lunch.
(゜-゜)
The shorty sighed as if dealing with an idiot. "Nishimiya Yuzuru. My name."
(T/N: Ayoo, this shit is a mash up?! Didn't see that one coming.)
Nishimiya Yuzuru?
That name sounded oddly familiar… Shiro felt like he had heard it somewhere before, but he couldn't recall. Could she be the protagonist of some anime?
He observed her carefully—a small build, alone, carrying a camera, and most importantly… a kuudere!
She had to be a main character from somewhere!
But… that had nothing to do with him. Things were fine as they were. If he got involved in something supernatural, it would be a disaster!
"Name."
"Huh?"
Shiro snapped back to reality at her voice, looking at her in confusion.
"Your name."
Nishimiya tilted her head slightly. Exchanging names was common courtesy, wasn't it?
"Oh, right. Kamishiro Shiro."
Shiro finally responded, stating his name… and then fell back into silence.
"…"
"So… do you still want to take the photo?"
In the end, it was Nishimiya who broke the silence again, shaking her camera.
"…"
Shiro's mouth twitched. She really wouldn't give up on this, huh?! He was so handsome, yet she only wanted a picture of his back?!
"Can I ask why you want a picture of my back?"
"Scratches!"
"…"
Shiro covered his face with one hand. He knew it! The only notable thing about his back was that!
"It… was just an accident."
"I know! That's exactly why I want a domestic abuse photo! I'll show it to my sister later!"
Looking at the shorty's eyes gleaming with excitement, Shiro was at a loss for words. Her sister sure was 'lucky' to have a sibling like this…
"Can I refuse? Also, shouldn't you be in school right now? Aren't you a middle schooler?"
Shiro eyed her suspiciously. Was this kuudere also some kind of legal loophole?
"Oh, I skipped class."
"…"
Shiro felt like he should be socially awkward at times, but for some reason, he had no idea how to respond to this kid.
Why was she so confident about skipping class?!
Even he had only gotten this bold in high school! Were middle schoolers already this insane nowadays?!
"Because I won a trip to Izu."
Nishimiya seemed to see through his thoughts and preemptively explained her reason for skipping class.
"Oh, I see. So, you came to Izu for a reason, huh? Ahaha…"
Shiro let out an awkward laugh before suddenly shaking Nishimiya's shoulders furiously.
"So this isn't just skipping class, this is truancy! You don't even live around here, do you?!"
(?_?)ヾ
Nishimiya didn't respond, only hugging her precious camera tightly. Inside were the important photos she had taken!
"…"
Seeing Nishimiya's indifferent expression, tinged with slight confusion, Shiro clutched his face in frustration.
At this moment, he realized that maybe kuuderes weren't all that great after all.
If he had never met her, it wouldn't have been his problem. But now that he had, there was no way he could just let a middle schooler wander around unfamiliar places alone—especially one who seemed suspiciously like a main character…
"What a pain…"
-----------
On the Beach
Shiro's face twitched as he watched Nishimiya furiously taking pictures of a dead seagull.
Suddenly, his sandwich didn't seem so appetizing anymore…
To curb Nishimiya's obsession with photography, Shiro had deliberately brought her to see the ocean. But it seemed like that had backfired!
She wasn't some artistic girl… she was a complete weirdo!
A weirdo whose camera was filled with pictures of corpses!
According to her, Shiro was the first living thing she had ever photographed…
Shiro: Gee, thanks a lot!
"Aren't you scared?"
He handed her a sandwich, struggling to understand why a middle schooler would take such photos. Even he didn't have such bizarre interests.
"Scared? Why would I be scared?"
Nishimiya looked at him in confusion. Why would she be afraid of things that didn't move?
"Well…"
Shiro didn't know what to say. The two of them simply sat on the beach, watching the waves in silence. Though they weren't talking, the atmosphere felt oddly peaceful.
"What do you think of the ocean?"
Shiro asked, enjoying the salty sea breeze on this hot summer day.
"It's beautiful."
stared blankly at the water. She liked it here, there was none of the noise from the city or school.
If possible, living here wouldn't be a bad idea.
Shiro quietly observed her. Her eyes were filled with longing… and a desire to escape from something.
He didn't say anything, just kept her company.
He wasn't the type to solve problems with words, nor was he some kind of kind-hearted protagonist.
The reason he was keeping her company was probably similar to how, when you find a stray cat curled up on the street, you might spend a little time playing with it and maybe buy it a meal—just because you happen to have the time.
He wasn't sure how much time had passed, but the beach was gradually becoming crowded. The once peaceful atmosphere had vanished.
Seeing Nishimiya return to her usual indifferent expression, Shiro stood up.
It was about time to take this lost kitten home. If she had run this far alone, her family was probably worried.
"Let's go."
His voice, gentle like a spring breeze, pulled Nishimiya back to reality.
She silently got up. It was time to leave. She hadn't planned on staying in Izu for long anyway.
Maybe she had only come here to run away from something.
Suddenly, she felt a sweet taste on her lips.
A new lollipop had been pressed against them.
"Have something sweet, girl."
...........................…
"Azusa-san, please introduce us to some of your friends…"
The moment Shiro stepped into the GB club, he heard the voices of two fools.
Turning his head, he saw Iori and Kohei kneeling in front of Azusa, half-naked, looking like ancient Japanese servants.
"..."
Shiro sighed. He didn't know the details, but he could blindly guess it had something to do with that threat letter.
Oh well. When they decided to go to the cafeteria for lunch, he had already mentally prepared himself to lose these two friends.
But to his surprise, they actually made it back alive… though they seemed to have brought trouble with them.
Just as Azusa was deep in thought, she spotted Shiro at the entrance and waved him over.
Without hesitation, Shiro walked toward Azusa. Now that he thought about it, he hadn't seen Azusa-neesan in a while.
It had been a full day and night, he missed her quite a bit. Surely, Azusa-neesan felt the same! She was definitely going to give him a big, warm hug!
Bang!
(′?`)
"A-Azusa-neesan… that's… my neck…"
Turns out, Shiro wasn't entirely wrong, Azusa did give him a hug. Except… it was a chokehold hug after smacking him on the head.
At least… his head was currently resting against a very soft place. (′?`) Worth it!!!
"Naa~ Look what I found~ A college boy who stayed out all night~ Now, my dear little Shiro, can you tell me where you were last night instead of coming home?"
Azusa's fingers gently ran through Shiro's hair as she smiled at him with a "kind" expression.
She had waited in his room all night yesterday~ They were supposed to drink and admire her collection together~
??!!!
The moment Shiro saw that "kind" look in her eyes, his memory instantly rebooted—he suddenly recalled that he had promised to drink and check out Azusa's collection with her…
(.;゜;:益:;゜;.)
"Well… uh… actually, I found an injured cat last night, ahaha…"
"I'd like to report that this bastard came back this morning with scratches all over his back!"
"Not to mention we found half a red candle in his pocket!"
You traitors!!!
Shiro looked at them in horror. These two bastards had the most sinister grins, their butts wiggling like loyal dogs!
"Ara~ What kind of kitty left all those scratches on Shiro's back~? And what kind of kitty made Shiro use such a special candle~?"
(;?＿?)
"Uhh… a drunk milf cat?"
Snap!
Shiro's vision went white, and he collapsed into Azusa's arms—cause of death: excessive honesty!
Well done!
Iori and Kohei, who had witnessed everything, felt an immense sense of satisfaction. When they saw the scratches on Shiro's back this morning, they had been absolutely devastated!
Even though Iori had heard rumors that Shiro wasn't a virgin anymore, seeing it with his own eyes was more painful than death!!!
"Tsk, tsk~ Next time, remember to tell me in advance, okay~? Your big sis waited for you all night in your bed, you know~?"
!!!
Hearing Azusa's words, Iori and Kohei's killing intent reignited!
What kind of life was this scumbag living behind their backs?!
Kohei was even chanting a curse under his breath! If Shiro were still conscious, he would've recognized it as the infamous incantation from an internet forum—one that summoned spirits to torment someone's soul…
"So, if I understand correctly, you guys were threatened and need a group date to save your lives?"
Azusa gave them a strange look. She knew the gender ratio in Izu University's engineering department was 151:3, but was it really that bad?
Burying people behind the school?! What kind of delinquent university were they attending?
"That's right! Please help us!"
"Saving a life is a virtue!"
The two of them knelt down again. The only person they could think of who could set up a group date was Azusa!
As for other social connections… they spent all their time drinking with beasts. Where would they even meet people?!
"Hmm… let me think…"
Azusa pondered. Most of her friends wouldn't be a good match for this kind of event, they might even traumatize Iori and Kohei.
"Why not ask Shiro? He added quite a few girls during the school festival."
Azusa pinched Shiro's cheek as she spoke. There was a ready-made scumbag right here—why weren't they using him?
"..."
Iori and Kohei fell silent.
They knew full well that if they asked Shiro, he could probably make this happen. But… if they really asked him, then this group date would become his one-man show!
This scumbag wouldn't follow any rules about "only choosing one" during a group date! Worse still, all the girls might end up focusing solely on him!
"Please, Azusa-san! Our lives depend on this!"
"…So why would you rather risk your lives than ask Shiro?"
Azusa sighed helplessly. "Well, I guess I understand. Shiro is a bit of a predator. If I remember correctly, he's close to a hundred-woman conquest, right? Seriously…"
SWOOSH!
Before Azusa could finish, she suddenly felt her arms lighten.
Somehow, Iori and Kohei had snatched Shiro away and slammed him into the ground!
Then, they leaned in toward Azusa.
"Hundred-woman conquest?"
"Yep, hundred-woman conquest!"
"…Are we thinking of the same thing?"
"Well, unless I'm mistaken!"
"…sex?"
"Mhm, sex!"
The moment Azusa confirmed it, the two of them beamed with joy.
"Ohh, I see, I see."
"So Kamishiro's life has been unexpectedly eventful, huh~"
BANG!
In the next instant, two bottles of life water (alcohol) were shoved into Shiro's mouth, and they kept pouring more in!
"Uhh… what are you guys doing?"
"Ah, just now, Kamishiro appeared in my dream and told me he was thirsty!"
"At times like this, constant hydration is a must!"
With that, the two ignored the bewildered Azusa and continued pouring alcohol into the already unconscious scumbag!
Iori even grabbed a 4-liter bottle of undiluted shochu and plugged it directly into Shiro's mouth!
Shiro, who normally had perpetually squinted eyes, had them wide open now—but for some reason, only the whites of his eyes remained…
"Well, their friendship is really something."
"Such energetic juniors."
Tokita and Kotobuki chuckled as they watched the trio's antics. After all, drinking together was the ultimate way to bond!
Iori and Kohei must be very close friends with Shiro!
(′?`)
"Help… me…"
Σ_(???」∠)
...........................…
"Aauu(?????)… Why do I feel so dizzy… My stomach feels awful too… Hic (ˉ?ˉ;)… Auurrgg, am I sick (?????)?"
Shiro lay sprawled on the sofa, looking completely lifeless. When he woke up just now, he was utterly dumbfounded and felt unbearably uncomfortable. Not only was his head spinning, but his stomach had also bloated up noticeably!
In the end, unable to bear it any longer, he rushed to the bathroom with Azusa's support and threw up!
After vomiting, Shiro felt like he had lost a chunk of his memory. He didn't even remember how he ended up in GB—his last memory was supposed to be enjoying the sea breeze on the beach with Nishimiya.
The others, seeing Shiro's miserable state, tacitly chose not to bring up what had just happened. To be honest, the fact that he even woke up after drinking that much was already impressive.
Azusa's annoyance had also disappeared. Perfect timing, she had just found a new movie for her collection. They could watch it tonight!
"Hey, Shiro, it's no big deal. Let's focus on helping Iori and Kohei first."
Azusa patted Shiro's stomach as she spoke. She had to admit, a dazed Shiro was unexpectedly amusing.
Shiro, noticing the way everyone avoided eye contact with him, silently turned his head away. The situation was crystal clear now, this was obviously a group crime!!!
"So, why don't you just ask Chisa?"
After comforting Shiro, Azusa turned to the two guys and suggested. After all, it was more interesting when people of the same age group went on mixers together.
"Uh… well, that's because…"
Kohei's face stiffened, unsure how to explain it to Azusa. Meanwhile, Iori dropped to his knees in front of Chisa.
"Chisa, please!!"
"Go die twenty thousand times, you bastard!"
The previously sweet and smiling Chisa now looked at Iori as if he were a cockroach!
With just that single action, Iori proved that asking Chisa was not an option!
"That's the situation!"
"For some reason, Chisa's been in a bad mood lately…"
Kamidai Shiro was stunned by their series of actions. A mixer?
What mixer?
Why didn't he know about this? So… were they looking down on him, the great King of the Seas?! Why wasn't he invited to the mixer?!
"Hold on, I'm joining the mixer too!"
Shiro shouted, suddenly feeling much more awake!
"Eh? Then, Shiro, do you have someone to introduce to them?"
Azusa, who had just thought of a potential candidate, gave up her spot when she saw Shiro's enthusiasm.
"(′｀;)? Why would I introduce anyone? I just want to join the mixer!"
Shiro looked at Azusa in confusion. Introduce? Why would he introduce someone?!
Who were these two? The top-ranked guys on the school forums! He already avoided them like the plague around girls, why the hell would he help them?!
BAM!
Just as Shiro finished speaking, he felt a sharp pain in his kidney!
Like two demons, Iori and Kohei pounced on him and started beating the hell out of him!
"You bastard! You just want to attend a mixer?!"
"And you're not even planning to set it up?!"
Hearing Shiro's words, Iori and Kohei suddenly realized—they had been way too kind to this scumbag!
Not only was this guy hoarding his resources, but he was also planning to crash their mixer for free!!!
"You damn bastards! I was trying to elevate your mixer! Otherwise, who the hell would show up to a nerd convention?!"
"Oh, and I suppose you planned to take all the girls for yourself, huh, you hundred-woman-slaying scumbag?!"
"You damn pervert! Living such a sinful life in private, why the hell do you still want to join a mixer?!"
"…"
Azusa watched the three of them brawling with deadpan eyes.
These three idiots… their bond was surprisingly strong, huh?
"Well, if Iori agrees to do me a favor, I'll introduce someone for you guys~"
!!!
Iori, who was just about to shove a finger up Shiro's nose, immediately dropped to his knees before Azusa. His shaking hips made him look exactly like a Husky.
"Really?! I'll do anything!!"
Hearing that, Azusa's face showed an amused expression. Leaning against the sofa, she exuded the elegance of a wisteria queen.
"In that case… Iori, you have to pretend to be Chisa's boyfriend until she's satisfied~"
CRACK!
Iori froze as if struck by lightning. He turned his head back and sighed in relief when he saw that Kohei and Shiro were still busy wrestling.
At the same time… he realized he might have spoken way too soon!
What kind of demonic condition was this?!
"Um… Azusa-san, can I ask why?"
Azusa leaned against the sofa and gave Iori a playful look.
"Hm~ Who knows~"
Maybe she just thought they made an unexpectedly cute pair.
And she was also looking forward to seeing Nanaka's reaction when she found out about this~
"So, Iori, do you agree?"
After thinking for a moment, Iori casually nodded. It wasn't like things could get any worse anyway.
"Alright! It's decided! I'll go find someone suitable for you guys right now!"
Seeing Iori nod, Azusa's eyes sparkled as she ran off excitedly!
Except…
"Eh?"
"Suitable?"
"Wait—!!!"
Hearing her words, the three of them were horrified and reached out to stop her!
"What's wrong?"
"Why so nervous?"
The two upperclassmen watching the scene were confused. As the official spectators, they didn't quite understand what was happening.
Shouldn't they be happy?
Watching Azusa disappear into the distance, the trio's expressions twisted with fear.
"Because when she says 'suitable'—!!!"
After spending so much time with her, they knew how unreliable Azusa was.
When she said "suitable"…
Their minds involuntarily conjured up a scene.
Iori imagined Shiro wearing a collar, crawling at the feet of a dominatrix.
Kohei imagined the captain of the rugby club, dressed in a suit, holding Iori in his arms.
Shiro imagined Kohei hugging a life-sized plushie, looking absolutely overjoyed.
…
"You bastard! What kind of insane fantasy is that?! I'm an S! S, I tell you! I'm the one on top!"
"You idiot! That guy's not even a woman!!!"
"You scumbag! Your fantasy isn't even about a living being! Also, why the hell are you just assuming you're going to the mixer now?!"
The two seniors watching them brawl again were utterly confused.
So… how exactly were these three able to see into each other's fantasies?!