"I hope that curse gets lifted someday and you develop a decent personality, Satsuki-san..."
She grabbed my face.
Eh?! Ow! Ow, that hurts!! Is it normal for a high school girl to just grab another girl's face like this!?
"I bet she wants to see you too. She was really attached to you, wasn't she?"
"That was when we were kids. She's probably forgotten all about it by now."
Satsuki quickly let go of me and shrugged.
I'm shocked. Even though my face just got grabbed, the conversation is continuing without a hitch...
Wait, what? Do they think this is just a regular occurrence? I just got my face grabbed you know...!?
Even Ajisai-san didn't stop her! She's just looking at us with a face that says, "Wow, they sure get along!" No, we don't! Right now, this is a case of an assailant and a victim! Should I take this all the way to the Supreme Court!?
As I sat there with unresolved feelings, Kaho-chan poked my back and said, "Oh yeah, by the way..."
"Rena-chin, did something happen with Serara?" "...Huh!?"
That topic was, in fact, far more delicate for me right now than Mai's fiancée situation. I hastily covered my mouth, making sure my heart didn't leap out of it.
"N-no!? Nothing at all—I mean, I don't think so!?"
Crap! I dodged the question on reflex! No, wait, that's not what I meant to do…!
Kaho-chan, however, didn't seem too concerned.
"Hmm. She said she wanted to get in touch with you, though?" "O-oh, really? I wonder whyyy. So mysterious, so strange—" Ugh...
But if I actually talked about running away, I'd have to explain how I used to skip school... and how I used to be a total introvert...
It's not that I don't trust the members of Quintet. But it's not exactly an entertaining story, and it would probably just make them uncomfortable.
…Or at least, that's just an excuse. Maybe I simply want to protect the last, tiny fragment of my pride.
I ran away from Minato-san, the person whom Seira-san introduced me to. I'm a criminal... It's 400 percent my fault… Yes…
Could it be that Seira-san also tried to contact me on my phone…? I checked my phone. There were messages. Over 999 of them.
Scary!
Wait, are all of these from Seira-san!? Scary…
No, it's not just that. There were messages on my personal social media accounts too. Not just from Seira-san's main account, but probably from her sub-accounts as well… She's using every possible way to contact me…
This… When you actually experience it, it's seriously terrifying…
What do I do…? No, there's nothing I can do. It's the same thing. If I admit why I ran away, I'll have to explain everything that's connected to it, and that would just make this whole situation even messier.
But I don't have the confidence to dodge it properly either… Sorry, but I'm just going to ignore this one…
When my mental state recovers, I'll talk to you again…
Before I knew it, I had frozen with my phone in hand, and everyone's eyes were on me.
Ugh.
"Uh, well..."
With everyone's attention on me—
"For now, um, Mai! I hope things work out well! Yeah!" I spat out completely meaningless, empty words.
"Yeah, that's right. It might take some time to sort things out, but... trust me, both of you."
For now, we decided to leave the fiancée issue in Mai's hands. As expected of Mai. The sense of reassurance she gives is on another level. She's nothing like me.
And in reality, that was exactly the case.
Yes... That evening on my way home, I would come to realize—
That someone as insignificant as me—everything I had done had already been seen through long ago.
* * *
After that, I properly apologized to Mai for causing trouble by becoming a mess.
Mai, who felt responsible, was kind. (I'm trash.) I want to be there for Mai...
Well, even if I were to be driven by a sense of duty and shout, "Yes, yes, I'm the true fiancée of Mai!" I don't think anyone would take me seriously...
Maybe if it were Ajisai-san...
I'm no use to anyone. I trudged home slowly.
I got off at the nearest station, right in front of my house. And at the most vulnerable moment, I was suddenly...
I was pinned to the wall by someone. Eh!?!?
I was trapped between a mysterious figure and the concrete. "You're making me work hard, aren't you, senpa~i..."
With nowhere to run, the girl glaring at me from below was... "S-S-S-Seira-san!?"
"Hehe, what's this? You're looking at me like you've seen a ghost..."
In reality, a lock of her hair was hanging near her mouth, giving off a rather ghostly vibe. I trembled as I pressed my back firmly against the wall.
"I-I didn't expect to run into Seira-san here... it's such a coincidence..." "It's no coincidence! It's an ambush, an ambush!"
Her eyes, sharp with fury, locked onto me.
"You told me, didn't you!? That you wanted to trust Haruna! Such noble words! And yet... why are you running away!? What's going on!?"
"Ugh,I mean... there's a really complicated situation behind it..."
As I tried to crawl out of the kabe-don position, Seira-san's shoes blocked my way. Eek.
"Do you think I'm just going to let you go!? I want you to give back even just a little bit of the feeling I got from your words!!"
"Huh? R-Really? Was I cool? Hehehe..." "Don't act shy! You idiot! You fool!" "Uuuuuu I'm so sorry..."
It was just a joke to lighten the mood, but I ended up making things worse... I'm hopeless at conversation...
Seira-san removed her hands and feet, then changed her expression to a composed face.
"Well, it's fine."
"I see, that's a relief!"
"The 'fine' just now means 'let's put that aside for now,' okay!? Should we start over with Japanese lessons from preschool!?"
At this point, I was relieved I had the sense not to say, "Hehe, Seira-san, there's no Japanese class in preschool☆."
I shrank back with a little "eek."
"So, could you start over for me? O-nee-san Senpai?" "Start over...?
Seira-san smoothly moved to the right.
There, standing uncertainly, was a girl with black hair. Minato-san—Nashiji Minato-san.
"Eeek!"
This time, I was genuinely scared.
"What is this... What is going on...?"
Minato-san furrowed her brows in displeasure. I turned to Seira-san.
"Did I do something?" "I don't knooow~"
Seira-san raised both hands and shrugged. With a sigh, Minato-san looked me in the eyes.
"Amaori-san, wasn't there something you wanted to ask me?" "Well, um..."
I darted my eyes around endlessly.
"If you run away like that, of course I'm going to be curious." Minato-san calmly questioned me.
"Did something happen with my big sister?"
"Ah, um..."
That's right. Back then, I asked for Minato-san's big sister's name. And the moment her name was mentioned, I ran away.It was only natural for Minato-san to ask me that.
A tingling numbness spread through my fingertips. Letting out this discomfort would be easy.
I just have to confess. That your sister bullied me. I don't want to say it. Because that's a lie. That never happened.
I successfully reinvented myself in high school—I'm a popular, outgoing person now. If I say it out loud—if I admit to my miserable past—it feels like everything I am now will fall apart.
All the effort I've put in—all of it—feels like it will just disappear. There's no way I can say itー.
"Uuu..."
I dropped to my knees on the spot. "Hey...?"
"Onee-san Senpai...?"
And just like that, I broke down in tears. "Uuuuuuuu..."
And then—
Completely unable to hold a conversation with me, Seira-san and Minato
-san struggled for a while before eventually leaving. They simply said they'd come back another day to hear me out properly.
I was still far from being free. "...I'm home."
I opened the front door and sluggishly took off my shoes.
Was this... a punishment?
Someone like me, with no real ability, no real resolve, had just tried to act like an big sister—tried to play the part—and ended up getting involved in something far beyond my capabilities...
And in the end, I got blindsided from a completely unexpected direction—taking a blow so severe, I could barely stand. And there was nowhere to escape.
This place felt like the end of everything. "Big sis..."
My little sister was coming down the stairs.
I couldn't help but flinch. I hurriedly tried to compose my expression. "W-what?"
She had a strangely frightening look on her face. "What were you talking about?"
"Huh?"
"I heard voices. Seira and Minato. They were here, weren't they?" "Ah..."
I turned pale for real this time. There was no escape.
I averted my gaze. "Nothing, really..."
Even so, I still tried to run. Pathetically, inside this narrow cage.
"... "
My sister stood beside me.
"...… Oh, I see.
She lost interest in an instant and passed by.
My heartbeat echoed in my ears. For a while, I stood frozen in place.
I wondered why. Tears were about to fall again, and I had to squeeze my eyes shut to hold them back. Until yesterday, I had been so determined to save my sister from truancy.
It felt like a distant past.
I just wanted to save myself. That was all that remained. I wished that everyone who knew my past would disappear from this world.
But—on the next morning.
As I stood in front of the sink with a dull expression, my sister appeared beside me.
"Good morning."
"Hmm... G-Good morning. You're up early today." As I nervously returned the greeting—
My sister stood there, wearing her middle school uniform.
"…Huh?"
I blinked repeatedly.
"Let me borrow that for a sec."
Snatching the hairdryer from my hand, she quickly adjusted her hairstyle on the spot. With efficient movements, she handed the hairdryer back to me and started to walk away.
I called out to her back. "W-Wait a sec!?"
"Hm?"
My sister glanced back over her shoulder, her eyes silently asking, "Do you need something?"
For a moment, I swallowed my words. "Uh, um… w-what's going on?"
In a tone that suggested she hadn't even considered any other possibility, she stated matter-of-factly—
"I'm going to school." She briskly walked away.
Left standing there, I held a comb in my right hand and a hairdryer in my left.
I let out a long, drawn-out groan. "Eeeeeehhhhhh...?"
What is this sudden turn of events?
"Hey, look! What do you think this is? Hehe... A message from my friend☆ (smug face)"
My big sister—Amaori Renako—was as giddy as ever today. So freaking annoying...
Ever since she entered high school, my big sister has seemed to be having the time of her life (?).
Whenever Haruna is just lazing around in her room, studying, or watching videos, her older sister barges in for no reason, boasting loudly about how fulfilling her high school life is.
Sigh. Good for you...
I responded absentmindedly, and like a fidget spinner that keeps spinning with just a little push, she continued rambling endlessly.
"And then, and then! There's this girl named Sena who sits right in front of me, and she's super cute! And she's so kind—so much so that she doesn't even seem like a normal human! She's a girl blessed with everything from heaven… Maybe she's not even human..."
My big sister pondered with a serious look on her face. I started to worry.
Is she saying things this nonsensical in class too?
I hope she isn't, but since my big sister is always this incoherent at home, there's no way she's managing to act normal outside…
"Well, the group I'm in now is made up of incredible people, like… President! Queen! Prime Minister! Emperor! That kind of vibe… It's literally sparkling! It's not a metaphor, it really feels like a corner of the class is glowing! They have such an overwhelming aura… If I follow these people, I won't be isolated for the year… Hehe…"
I see
Well, positioning yourself like that is important. It's good to secure your spot.
These people who put up with someone like my big sister… They must be really, really kind...
"Wait a second... If I get abandoned by them, I might go back to being alone... I need to flatter them more... Maybe I should laugh out loud at every little joke they make..."
"You're way too emotionally unstable."
She was talking lightly just a moment ago, but now she's sulking and holding her head.
She started practicing flattery in front of the mirror, saying, "Ahaha... so funny..."
Haruna looked at her big sister with a warm, uninterested gaze. She must be really exhausted every day...
When I entered middle school last year, it wasn't like this.
Part of it was because about half of the students came from the local elementary school.
On the other hand, my big sister chose a high school where she knew no one and took the entrance exam. She apparently aimed for a school with an academic level right at the edge of what she could handle.
I seriously wondered what she would've done if she had failed, but knowing my big sister, she probably hadn't thought that far ahead.
Her life is like walking on a tightrope—like a phone that's always running on just 1% battery. Even so, she's managing to function for now—just barely.
"Well, for now, things are going well, right?"
As I asked that, she froze in place. (In that brief pause, I could tell exactly what she was thinking—she was reflecting on her past experiences at school, trying to decide whether she could really say things were going well.) Then, she looked up at me.
She opened her mouth hesitantly. "Probably…"
"Then that's great! Your high school debut is a big success!" "F-For now… I guess…"
"Why do you sound so unsure…? Think back to how you were before starting high school."
"Ugh…"
My big sister held her head with both hands as if trying to endure a headache.
"I-I've become normal… Haven't I…?"
"Completely normal. You look like a proper human. Before long, even strangers will start asking you for directions."
"Proof that I'm a real person! But I don't want strangers to talk to me!"
She let out a scream, but immediately after, she let out a creepy chuckle. Maybe no one would actually ask her for directions. She was keeping it together when she was outside… right?
"That I… could actually live a normal school life like this… Hehehe." At that moment, my big sister laughed freely.
It wasn't the smile she wore to fit in with the popular kids—it was the one she was meant to have all along.
Getting carried away when praised was an unfortunate habit of the Amaori sisters. Even if it was just her older sister complimenting her, she couldn't help but feel good about it.
It seems that my little sister really headed to school. Should I follow her...? I was annoyed, but before I could even act on it, she quickly left the house.
She kept insisting she wasn't going, so what the heck...!?
Well, it's obviously a good thing that she went to school, but... I just don't feel at ease about it at all.
Maybe the little sister I knew is long gone, and somewhere along the way, she's been replaced by an alien. It's a terrifying and absurd thought, but I couldn't help but think that I just couldn't understand what my sister was thinking anymore.
Or is it that? Maybe human resentment isn't as dramatic as it seems, and one day, it just gets resolved...
Like the weather, or hormones...? But when I look back on myself...
The reason I stopped skipping school was because I saw an old friend's post on social media. My family probably thought, 'Wait, suddenly she's motivated in the morning?!' It might have seemed a little like a horror story.
Certainly... When I think about it that way, maybe Haruna's situation isn't so unnatural after all...
That day, I came home feeling restless and unable to concentrate. After a while, at the usual time when club activities ended and people were returning home, my little sister came back, saying, 'I'm home!'"
She seemed to have forgotten everything from yesterday, and of course, that felt really strange...
But if I went to school after skipping, and people started saying things like 'Wow, you're going to school!' or 'What happened?! Why did you go to school?!' I'd feel really bad, so... I had no choice but to just let it slide...
I never thought I'd be confronted with my own guilt through my little sister... I didn't realize I had made my family worry so much...
For now, my kind-hearted family was relieved that my little sister went to school. And that was undeniably a return to the peaceful, "normal days" we knew...
Happily ever after!—it must have been the easiest for everyone to accept that.
"Hey..."
My little sister, sitting on the living room sofa fiddling with her phone, responded without looking up, "Hmm?"
Um...
The air felt heavy.
But this was probably just something I was feeling on my own.
My sister doesn't think much of me. But if that's the case... no matter what I ask, no matter what I say, it might be pointless.
...No, I can't do it. It's impossible after all.
"Sorry, never mind." "Mmm..."
In the end, I don't know what started or ended inside my sister's mind.
I was still thrown off my pace, shoved back into the box of everyday life.
* * *
For now, as a form of closure, I thought I should inform to the Quintet about my sister going to school, so I did.
Everyone of course seemed happy. Or maybe not... Perhaps, because I looked like I wasn't really feeling it, they exaggerated their happiness to cheer me up, just pretending to be excited...
This is bad—nothing feels certain...! Once I start doubting one thing, I end up doubting everything! Could it be that I'm the only one alive in this world, and everything beyond what I can see is just a facade...? What if the world was created only five minutes ago!?
At this point, my only remaining support is Mai.
The other day at the dinner gathering, I thought that the advice Mai gave my sister might be the key to the answer...
"She said she'd go to school in two months, right? But it's only been about two weeks... Mai, do you know anything?"
I tried to find a chance to ask Mai, who was still caught up in her fiancé fever...
"Sorry, but I don't know either."
"Ugh, I see…"
Mai thought for a moment before speaking.
"Maybe Haruna-kun's priorities have changed in her mind." "Priorities?"
"Maybe she decided she couldn't afford to skip school anymore. …No, that's just speculation. But if there's one thing I can say, it's that you should keep watching over her for a while. Given time, she'll probably be able to talk about it."
Mai's gentle reassurance was undoubtedly the right thing to say. At the very least, I had no reason to deny it.
"…Yeah, you're right."
In the end, I gave up trying to figure it out. If even Mai didn't know, then there was no way I could.
As the cold days grew harsher, Ashigaya High School entered the period of midterm exams.
When things aren't going well, nothing seems to go right. The results of the exams seemed to reflect that feeling, as they turned out terribly.
After the final day of exams, my remaining energy was completely drained, and I slumped onto the desk.
"Sigh..."
"You seemed to be feeling off, Rena-chan." Ajisai-san laughs as she tugs at my hair.
"Well, I suppose..."
I wonder... Maybe I was just doing well by chance since April, and this is how I really am...
What goes up will eventually come back down. Right now, I'm in a period of random fluctuation...
"Do you feel like blowing off some steam?" "Hmm... maybe..."
lift my face. While I would love to tangle my fingers in Ajisai-san's long, beautiful hair—though, of course, that's impossible—I instead tug at her sleeve lightly.
"Do you want to go somewhere, Ajisai-san?" "Hmm~..."
Ajisai-san smiles awkwardly. Ah, this is the "I can't" smile!
"Sorry... I have to help out at home today. During the test period, I had to switch shifts and everything."
"Ah, I see. No, it's totally fine."
"Let's hang out next time, okay? Next time." "Yeah."
With a relaxed smile, I waved goodbye to Ajisai-san. Ajisai-san walked gracefully, and her back was cute too.
Well, I guess it can't be helped. I slowly started preparing to head home.
No, no. I've only been turned down by one person. I can't give up that easily.
After all, I have other friends too!
If I can't generate my own energy, I'll have to get it from someone else. I guess I'll gather some courage and invite someone!
No, I know. I knew it.
Of course, on a day like this, no one's around to catch.
"Mai is working. Satsuki is working part-time. Kaho-chan has other plans... I'm the only one in the world with nothing to do..."
With my backpack feeling heavier than usual, I trudged down the hallway. I've always been someone who's fine being alone. I mean, I can do most things by myself. But shopping and going to the salon—those are high hurdles for me, so I tend to avoid them!
So, when school finished early because of the test, I should've been excited to go home and play games. That's the usual me.
But instead, I feel lonely... A hollow wind blows. Why...?
Laughter from somewhere completely unrelated to me makes my chest feel even tighter.
Ah, I'm all alone in the world... No one loves me... "Ah."
At that moment, I caught sight of a familiar figure from behind. I usually just wait for someone to talk to me, but today, I want to take the first step...! I want to exchange words with someone and prove that I exist...!
Come on... Gather your courage...! "Youko-chan. Heading home now?"
The moment I spoke, trying my best to sound calm...
Youko-chan whipped around with such force, as if she were being chased by someone. It startled me a little.
"W-What?"
Like a traffic light changing colors, Youko-chan's serious expression instantly switched to a smile.
"Oh… Renako-kun, are you heading home now!?" "Y-Yeah, I am."
Youko-chan simply repeated my question back to me.
She—Terusawa Youko-chan—is a bright and energetic girl who always speaks clearly, with a touch of calculated cuteness.
But today… she seems a little off.
"Huh? Umm, wasn't this the right mode…? No, it should be fine… Uh, anyway! The test was tough, right!? Especially the math—it was quite a challenge!"
"Y-Yeah. It was hard."
What should I do? Is it okay to point it out…? Like, "You seem a bit flustered."
Youko-chan is usually pretty laid-back, so this is unusual for her.
But saying, 'You seem kinda off, lol,' to someone acting strangely might come off as teasing.
That's right. As someone who frequently glitches out myself, I tend to appreciate it when people just let it slide. This is something I've learned from my past experiences. In other words, it's data.
"Ahaha, sorry, sorry. I got a bit flustered there. I was thinking about something else."
Oh no, this isn't in the data… What should I do…?
"U-Um, is something wrong? Did you not do well on the test?" "Mm… that might be part of it, yeah…"
Youko-chan gives a wry smile.
She touched me first, but now it seems like she doesn't want to be touched! Why?!
Ugh, I don't get the subtleties of being a girl... I wish conversations would always give me three choices to pick from...
I gave up. New topic! Let's switch gears! "Hey, what's that?"
Youko-chan was holding something that looked like a memo paper. This will be an easy way to start a conversation!
Then, Youko-chan stiffened her expression. (!?)
"Ah, um, this... well, I recently got a pet! I have to buy things like food and other stuff! This is the list for it!"
"Pet! Food! List!"
Topics. Topics keep coming one after another. A gold rush of topics has begun.
"What kind of pet did you get?" "...Huh!?"
Huh!? Was that wrong!?
No, no, the flow was fine, right!? It's a normal question, right!? I'm the one slowly panicking. This is crazy, the data isn't working...!
Youko-chan was looking around with her eyes, clearly flustered.
"What kind of, what kind of pet... um, it's white, big... and a bit of a brat, I guess!"
"Let's hang out next time! For sure, definitely! No matter what!" "Huh!? O-okay."
I nodded, overwhelmed by her energy.
Then, as if she had finally completed her task, Youko-chan walked away.
Something felt… off. Youko-chan's attitude was different from usual, and I was completely overwhelmed. I stood there, dumbfounded. Maybe… human relationships aren't something you can analyze with data after all.
Well, taking care of a pet does mean being responsible for a life. I was starting to understand why Youko-chan had been acting strangely. It must be tough when you're not used to it.
I'd like to have a cat, a dog, or maybe even a koala someday, but that's probably impossible…I mean, I wouldn't be able to sleep in anymore, right…?
I'm not cut out for that kind of responsibility. Life is scary. "I'm home."
I arrived home.
Then, on the living room table, I found something unusual—a letter addressed to me (?).
"What's this?"
I muttered to myself, but there was no one around to answer. The only mail I usually get is postcards from the hair salon…
I glanced around furtively before secretly checking the letter. Stuff like this always makes my heart race.
I couldn't help but let out a sound. "Geh!"
It was an invitation to a class reunion. And not just any—my middle school reunion.
Goosebumps ran down my skin. "There's no way I'm going to this!
I mean, what were they thinking? They're probably sending this to everyone, but mailing it to someone like me, who barely attended school—that's just completely inconsiderate! Seriously!
Damn it. The world is mocking me…
I felt like my eyes were growing darker and murkier by the second.
"I mean, it hasn't even been a year since we graduated, so what's the point…? If those people who love class reunions want to hang out so badly, they should just do it on their own instead of dragging the rest of us into it… They always leave introverts out anyway, right? Then just go ahead and do it without making a big deal… Having them act all considerate is the most annoying thing… Honestly, it's just a nuisance… I'm having fun in high school now, so I'd really rather not be reminded of bad memories… And this so-called organizer? I barely even know them… They're probably one of those nice, outgoing types… The kind of person people naturally gather around, the kind who actually believes that if they invite someone out, people will show up… Someone totally different from me… I'm just someone no one will ever love… destined to live alone and die alone…"
As I spilled out words like factory waste, I suddenly realized something. "Huh!? What did I just say!?"
I placed my hand on my chest and listened to my heartbeat. Oh no. My soul just reverted back to my middle school days! "No, no! This isn't it! It must be some kind of mistake!"
I grabbed the invitation and rushed into my room. With a feeling as if explaining myself to God, I kneeled on the spot and clasped my hands together.
"No, no! I'm honored to be invited! It's amazing that you let me choose whether to go or not! Such consideration! Truly, the people from the reunion committee are incredible! They even care about someone like me, a nobody! So cool!"
I tried to cleanse my own darkness, unleashing a shower of words at full force.
"And also! A fear of reunions!? No, no, there's no way I have that! Ehehe! I'm not the same as I was in middle school! I'm not a gloomy person anymore! I'm a sunny person! Not just any sunny person, but a top-tier sunny person, who gets up and moves forward with the strength of my heart every time! I'm a true sunny person! I even have two girlfriends, can you believe it!? So amazing! My life is perfect, smooth sailing! It's like something to be admired! That's me! I'm in the first-year class A, and I'm part of the quintet!"
I grab the full-length mirror with both hands and smile at the top-tier sunny person in the reflection.
"Hey! Amaori Renako-chan, right!? You totally nailed your high school debut, didn't you!? Ehehe ♡ Actually, that's totally true ♡ It's amazing! I mean, you've got the kind of face that everyone would love, right? You're probably super popular in class, huh!? Eh ♡ Well... yeah, something like that ♡"
It's meaningless!
The wind blowing in my heart grows stronger. It feels like my consciousness is about to be blown away.
need to layer on more, more superficiality.
I quickly toss aside my uniform and change into the autumn clothes I recently bought with my sister (even though it's practically winter now).
That's right, at times like this, I should change my mood and go out into the city!
Because, you know, J-pop lyrics always say stuff like that!
Hehehe, I'll even put on some makeup. To change my mood, I should start with my appearance!
Come on, let's get hyped! I don't have a specific plan, but anyway, let's just go out!
This house is haunted! By the evil spirit of my middle school self, Renako, who can't rest in peace!
I finished getting ready. A completely transformed beautiful girl stood there! There... there... well, let's just say she was there...
I put in my familiar earphones, and hey, music—start!
I played my favorite dance number and went off to the sparkling world, going my way☆
And so, I ended up at a nearby supermarket. Well... there wasn't anywhere else to go...
I jumped to the new cup noodle shelf and muttered in my mind, "Hey, the usual ones are cheaper," and as I did that, I started feeling like, what am I even doing?
You know, introverts, when they're alone, their mood lifts or they start doing weird things. I totally get it... Well, I'm an extrovert, though...
No, this is it. I've reached my limit. I'm going home.
I'll go home, take off my makeup, and play some games... that feels like a healthier option... it'll probably help me recover mentally...
Why do they try to go out with no reason, these "sunny" people...?
There are always those who say their hobby is window shopping, but what's fun about looking at things you don't even want to buy? It's like a poor boy who dreams of playing the trumpet, huh? Heh.
Wait, no! I'm ranting again!!
Since I heard Nashiji Komachi's name the other day, it's clear that my mental state has been slipping back to my middle school days.
I hate this... it's starting to affect my daily life...
What is this? Is this how I'm going to be from now on? Am I doomed to never escape from being "Amaori Renako"?
Should I change my name...?
Then, a mysterious figure in my head suggested, "How about Oozuka Renako?"
And not only that, but another person from the opposing side appeared and said, "I think 'Sena Renako' would suit you too."
This... there are more characters in my head now...
But it's fine, it's better than being alone. I nodded with a smile at their suggestions, "Yeah, that sounds good too." Hehe... Hehe, I wasn't alone...
"...Renako-kun, what are you doing?" That voice was surprisingly clear.
What am I doing? Well, fufu... I don't even know myself. Humans are such mysterious creatures, right? But maybe that's why they're so endearing...☆
No, that's not it. This isn't a hallucination. "Ah, Youko-chan!?"
It was Youko-chan, whom I had just parted ways with at school. Yes! A person! This means I'm not alone anymore!
Then, Youko-chan made a face like "Oops!" Wait... what...?
"Ugh, I wasn't planning to talk to you...! But you were making such an interesting face, so I couldn't help myself!"
"What!? I didn't do that!"
I protested, but Youko-chan repeated, like a detective forcing a confession, "No, you did..." Well, I didn't, though.
"Here, proof in the form of a photo." "Uwah!"
I raised my hands to cover my face as the phone was thrust in front of me. If I don't see it, it's like it didn't happen! The world is shaped by my perception, after all!
Youko-chan, as usual, was smiling brightly. "Sorry, sorry, I just got carried away and had fun." "Ugh, you're so mean..."
But it's okay, being teased by someone feels much better than being stabbed by my past… This pain, it calms me… I can be myself…
I see, so this is what it's all about.
Suddenly, I arrived at the truth of the world. People make acquaintances and friends so they won't be alone.
For example, if I were the type who didn't need anything but the Quintet, I just want to be with my lover, that's enough. Love love ♡, Youko-chan wouldn't have called out to me even if we crossed paths here.
I would have been cursed by my own words, turning into a zombie.
Youko-chan is from a neighboring class, but she's my friend. A friend... at least, I think she's my friend! Yes, because she's my friend, she spoke to me!
Now that I think about it, maybe it's better to have more friends...? Maybe I'll make a million friends.
Youko-chan, who had probably just finished shopping, was carrying large shopping bags in both hands.
"Youko-chan, do you live around here?" "Well, not exactly..."
"Oh, is that pet food?"
It's the one from the memo she had earlier.
"Y-Yeah! That's the kind of thing! Well, yeah! Wait, is there a problem!?" For some reason, I was intimidated... Why...!?
When I flinched, Youko-chan quickly realized and cleared her throat.
"Well, yeah. But it can't be helped. Once you've agreed to something, no matter how annoying it is, you have to follow through for the money..."
"Y-Yeah."
Huh? It was as if there was a shadow in the sparkling girl's eyes...
I guess taking care of pets is tough. I could never do it. Youko-chan is amazing.
I extended my hand.
"But it seems tough. Want me to carry one?"
"Huh? No, no, it's fine. You were all dressed up, probably on your way to have fun, right? I'm okay, though. Thanks for worrying."
Youko-chan smiled her usual cute smile and shook her head. Ah, it's bright... warm... I want to be on that side too...
"No, I was just wandering outside by myself..." (Just the truth) "Ehh, but that would be bad..."
"I'd really appreciate it if you'd let me carry that..." "It's fine, it's fine☆"
Ah...
"I see."
I stared at the ground.
It seems like it's hopeless. I'm going to end up alone again.... "I can't even be of use to others... someone like me." "Renako-kun???"
"Carrying bags—one of the most basic tasks humanity gained after walking on two legs—if I can't even do that properly, there's no way I can drive out the darkness in my heart. Sorry for being so presumptuous."
"What—what is this!? What's wrong with you!?"
As I turned around and started walking away, a voice called out from behind me.
"Alright, alright! I'll let you help! That's what you want, right!?"
Surely, my sincere feelings must have reached her. I'm so happy… I can still be with people. Ah, the light…
"Youko-chan. Thanks for letting me carry it. I'm really happy. Seriously, I appreciate it."
I bowed in a 5-7-5-7-7 rhythm.
Then, Youko-chan, walking beside me, pouted and muttered, "Well, earning some points just in case is important, after all..."
I had no idea what she meant, but maybe it was something like merit. I see, Youko-chan is living with an eye on reincarnation. What a grand life plan.
As I was thinking that—
Youko-chan stared at me intently and murmured—.
"Renako-kun, you're really different, aren't you?" "...Is that so?"
Youko-chan nodded vigorously.
"I've transferred schools a lot, and I've had quite a few friends, but out of all of them, you're definitely one of the most... unique."
"You're so blunt about it."
I accept Youko-chan's words, somewhat absentmindedly. "Well, I guess that's true then."
"Ah, you're admitting it." "Huh?"
"I mean, I know I'm the one who said it, but... isn't it scary to be different?"
"Ahh."
I let out a small sound.
If it were the old me, I probably would have denied it with everything I had.
But the current me is someone who chose to not be normal. I mean, trying to claim I'm "normal" when I have two girlfriends is pretty much impossible...
"Maybe it's because the people around me are good people." I murmured.
"The people around me accept me even if I'm different. So, I guess that makes me feel like it's okay, too."
"You mean people like Oozuka-san and Sena-san?" "Pff!"
I instinctively turned my face away. Why those two, of all people!? No way... You don't know about it, do you, Youko-chan?
"And also Koto-san and Koyanagi-san."
"Ah, ahh, yeah! That's right! Everyone in Quintet!" I somehow forced a smile.
"Hee~h. I see. They must be really nice." "Seriously. Their level of humanity is just too high." They're friends far too good for someone like me.
"So, that means you really love everyone in Quintet?" "Y-yeah..."
Youko-chan was asking in such an embarrassing way. Well, I mean, yeah.
I mean, if you're around that level of humanity every day, anyone would end up liking them. They're a blessing. Even "Quintet's Hungry Wolf," Koto Satsuki-san, is actually kind when it's just one-on-one.
In the next moment, I felt like Youko-chan's eyes sparkled.
"Ohh, I see~. Rena-ko-kun, you really love everyone in Quintet, huh~? Not just your kano-pi, but all of them. Every single one of them."
"Uh, well… No, but she's not my kano-pi, okay? Kaho-chan isn't." "By the way—"
Youko-chan inched closer to me.
Ah, this vibe… It's the same as when Youko-chan talks about love stories!
"So, who do you like the most?" "Th-The most?"
"Yeah. Just between us. It's fine as long as it stays between us, okay? Just between us."
"The most…"
Choosing who I like the most in Quintet…
In a way, it's the ultimate question. There are probably a few standard answers.
"I love everyone ♡"
"I can't choose just one!"
But, even if I say something like that, I feel like Youko-chan would cheerfully dismiss it with, "Enough with that." Hmm... but still, still...
"Because Oozuka-san was the first person to become my friend, I like her the most..."
"Oh!"
Youko-chan let out an excited voice. However,
"Because Ajisai-san is always kind to me, I like her the most..."
"Satsuki-san teaches me, and being with her feels comfortable, so I like her the most..."
"Ah..."
"Kaho-chan, even though she's not my kano-pi, is the person I can talk to most naturally, so I like her the most..."
After hearing all of this, Youko-chan shook her head. "Enough with that."
I knew it!
But it's only natural to think that each person has something about them that's the best, right!? Isn't that just how relationships work for everyone?
Huh...? Wait, isn't it kind of awful that I'm talking about my girlfriends, Mai and Ajisai-san, on the same level as my friends, Satsuki-san and Kaho-chan...?
No, but... a lover and a friend are just different labels, and that doesn't change how important they are… It's not like I think a lover is just an upgraded version of a friend or anything… But unlike friends, you can't have a bunch of lovers at once—it's a relationship with a lot of commitment...
Maybe the fact that I can't pick just one means I'm just indecisive after all...
Just as I was about to start feeling down, the attack continued.
"Like, saying 'I love everyone the most' kinda makes it sound like it doesn't matter who it is, doesn't it?"
"Is that... how it seems...?"
I truly mean it when I say that each and every one of them is important to me...
"I mean, I dunno. But could it be that as long as someone's nice to you, you'd fall for just about anyone?
That felt like an awful thing to say!
"No, come on! I seriously treasure those four!" "Reaaally~?"
Youko-chan leans in, peering into my face.
Too close, too close. Her cute little eyes are way too close. Then, she grins mischievously.
"Then… does that mean I'd be okay too?" "…Huh!?"
I instinctively pull back. "That's, um!"
"Eeh~, you're really gonna make me say it~?"
Youko-chan flashes a meaningful smile, just like Kaho-chan does.
"I also want to be Renako-kun's number one ♪" She's just teasing me, right!? Right!?
I hook the shopping bags onto my elbow, using both hands to shield my face. But Youko-chan circles around and peeks into my face again. I turn my face away again... but she circles around once more! For some reason, we end up spinning in place.
No, this can't be serious, right? It can't be, right? I've already used up all my luck just by being liked by Mai and Ajisai-san!
But I've heard something before. It's the rule that people who are popular get even more popular!
In fact, there's an experiment using guppies, a type of fish.
In guppy society, attractiveness is determined clearly by the size and beauty of their dorsal fins. In the natural world, things like personality or compatibility hold no value; it's an overwhelmingly appearance-based society.
Imagine there's a somewhat unimpressive guppy, Rena-ppi.
Rena-ppi has weak dorsal and caudal fins. Its body is small, and its ability to find food is lacking. Naturally, it isn't popular.
However, when Rena-ppi is left alone with a female or put into a situation where she's forced to be 'popular' for some experiment, it's surprising how she ends up just as popular when thrown into a group of attractive guppies!
Things that are supported by many people tend to gather even more support. This is known in psychology as the "bandwagon effect."
Terrifying. The fact that the lacking Amaori Renako was simply thrown into the 'popularity spiral' because of her environment... This is just like the Emperor's New Clothes...!
I haven't done anything, yet I've continued to be adored endlessly. I started to mistake myself for someone who was loved without having to make any effort. And after everyone around me has gone, I'd arrogantly think, 'But I'm always loved unconditionally~ ☆' and leave behind words like, 'If I'm not popular, then society is wrong!' as I turn to dust in the Tokyo desert...
I hate that...
"Huh, why's your face turning pale?" "Sorry, I was imagining a dark future..."
"Renako-kun, do you imagine a dark future whenever someone shows you affection?"
Being asked directly, I give a case-by-case answer.
No, wait. The thing is, Youko-chan doesn't even know that I'm popular.
I'm just a high school girl sitting at the back of the Quintet. According to the meteorological office, the probability of a popularity spiral occurring is zero percent!
cheerfully made a finger heart.
"Just kidding, kidding! I'm so happy, Youko-chan! Thank you so much☆" "Is your mood like a trampoline or something?"
After sinking down, she saw me shoot up high, and Youko-chan tilted her head. Sorry, that was definitely my fault just now.
Youko-chan placed her hands on her hips, then let out a sigh.
"Your guard is tough, huh, Renako-kun? I thought I was at least a little cute, but now I'm losing confidence..."
"Eh, eh?"
"I'm not getting any attention at all, it's so lonely... it's sad... I feel down..."
As Youko-chan keeps glancing at me while saying that, my heart starts pounding. No, I'm definitely trying to pay attention... as a friend!
What should I say? How should I follow up? But if I get too deep into this, it feels like there might be a trap waiting for me!
While I'm fumbling around, Youko-chan stops walking.
"Ah, we're here, we're here. Thanks for carrying the bags for me!" "Y-yes... you're welcome..."
Just as I said that, I realized.
This tower mansion is... The place where I dropped off Lucie-chan before.
"Is something wrong?"
"Ah, no. I was just thinking, you live in such a big building! It's so large, it looks like it could transform into a robot!"
"Hmm? Yeah."
I was ignored. I had just said something strange, that's all. Well, it's the usual thing.
"Well, it's not my place, but rather a place where an acquaintance lives." "I-I see."
Could that acquaintance be... well, that's probably a rather simplistic thought. After all, this is such a huge building. It seems like around 2 million people might live here.
"...Renako-sama?"
Right. There must be about 2 million people in the world who know someone with such a voice...
Huh?
When I turned around, there stood a silver-haired beautiful girl. A girl with such delicate, glass-like beauty may be one of a kind in the world.
The beautiful girl lightly pushed off the ground and started running toward me. Then, with that same momentum, she threw herself into my arms.
"Renako-sama–!" "Guh!"
Seeing that, Youko-chan stared in astonishment, her mouth slightly open. "…Huh? No way, a fifth person??"
Before I could grasp what those words meant, Lucie-chan tackled me and subjected me to relentless petting for a while.
"Fufu, Renako-sama. Welcome."
"Ah, um. Excuse me for intruding..."
And so, for some reason, I found myself invited to Lucie-chan's home. Why...?
Still sitting at the dining table, I glanced around restlessly.
Lucie-chan's room, located on the upper floors of the tower apartment, had very few belongings. It was a room with little sense of lived-in comfort.
Lucie-chan is sitting next to me, smiling brightly. She's so cute.
She looked like a cousin visiting her aunt, so affectionate... cute, but still!
"...I never would have guessed that Renako-kun and Lucie-san knew each other."
Youko-chan moved the contents of the shopping bag she had placed on the kitchen counter into the fridge. She seemed very accustomed to it.
"Y-Yeah. We just happened to meet by chance." "She's saved my life multiple times."
"That's about the game, right!? The one we played together!" Ahh, Youko-chan lets out a sound of understanding.
"And then, all of a sudden, you told me to go buy another game, right...?" "Thanks, Youko."
"No, no~. It's part of the job~."
Youko-chan waves her hand playfully.
I timidly ask.
"Um, what kind of relationship do you two have?" "Youko is someone who does anything for Lucie." "What!?"
You mean, they're... a couple!?
Youko-chan quickly peeks out from the side of the refrigerator.
"Please don't say it in a way that could be misunderstood! I don't do everything! It's more like a master and maid relationship!"
"My friend is a JK maid...?"
"Ah, geez. What I mean is, um, I'm helping out with Lucie's daily needs, as asked by her mom."
"I-I see."
Indeed, Lucie-chan doesn't seem to have much life skills. "So, you mean that taking care of the pet is...?"
"…That's roughly how it is."
"I see, a white, large Persian cat. She doesn't seem too spoiled… but... hmm, maybe she is...? The fact that you bought a game console and begged me to play with it, well, I was definitely happy about it, but it might indeed fall into the category of being spoiled."
"She didn't even have curtains or a refrigerator until I started helping out..."
"It's no longer dazzling. The curtains are amazing." "That's true"
Now that you mention it, curtains are amazing. Without them, sunlight would pour in freely, and I'd end up waking up at dawn every day—what a hassle. I couldn't help but feel grateful for the curtains again.
"Even in autumn, you can still get sunburned, you know. If I don't take proper care, my salary will drop, so i make sure to do it right."
Even though it was a favor from an acquaintance, she's getting paid. It feels like a really proper employment contract.
"But, Youko, you don't play games with me." "That's outside the contract~"
"Hmph"
Pouting, Lucie-chan then looked at me with an upward gaze. "So, let's play a game together, Renako-sama."
Her eyelashes fluttered upwards, sparkling beautifully. Wow, it's a beautiful girl's request... Who could turn down an invitation from such a stunning girl?
"No, Renako-kun will be leaving soon."
She was standing right next to me. Youko-chan crossed her arms and shook her head, her attitude stricter than usual.
Lucie-chan dropped her eyebrows in a very sad expression.
"Is that so...? Renako-sama..."
Her face looked like someone had just stolen the strawberry from her favorite shortcake.
"Uh, well, if it's just a little..."
"You're super busy today, right!? Renako-kun!" Is she telling me to leave!?
Well, I'm not the kind of shameless woman who would overstay my welcome at someone else's house if I'm not being welcomed... so, I'll be leaving now...
Come to think of it, Youko-chan had been rejecting me during the shopping trip too. Maybe she just wasn't in the mood to talk to anyone. If that's the case, I've done something rude.
"Is that so..... "
Lucie-chan makes a face as if she dropped the three-tiered ice cream she just bought without even taking a bite. Ugh, my heart hurts !
"Well.. "
I looked at Youko-chan, wondering if just a little would be okay... and she calmly made an "X" with her fingers.
"Please don't spoil her. I understand that she's very attractive, and I also know that Renako-kun is weak to beautiful women "
"Isn't that a bit of an insult?"
"This person gets carried away as soon as you give them food. They'll even follow you all the way home."
"Really!?"
Lucie-chan, who had been lazily lying on the table, straightened her back and sat up, her hair flowing gently.
"You don't have to worry about what Youko says. The 'master' is Lucie!" "The employer is not Lucie-san."
"That's not it..."
With the expression of someone who only got the minimum guarantee after using up all their limited stones for a gacha pull, Lucie-chan looks down sadly.
"I request a change in the contract... Lucie wants to play games with Youko too. I want to play. Let's play!"
Lucie-chan swings her arms and throws a tantrum. Ugh, she's just too cute... It's because her face is so pretty... Wait, this is exactly what Youko-chan pointed out!
"By the way, with shopping, cleaning, and laundry to do, plus taking care of you... where would there be time to play games?"
Lucie-chan places a finger on her chin, just like a child imitating an adult's deductive thinking.
"Is food necessary?"
"It is necessary for humans! You're so picky, you don't like this or that!" "Lucie can be fine with just three meals of Pocky. I'll get full."
"Do you really want to fire me that badly!? Huh!?"
Youko-chan, still smiling, raised her voice—but it was clear that she was completely at Lucie-chan's mercy.
"What are you laughing at, Renako-kun?" "Huh?"
With a half-lidded stare, she cornered me, and I quickly waved both hands.
"Ah, no, I just thought, 'So Youko-chan can be like this too.' " "…Like what, exactly?"
Youko-chan asks with a puzzled expression.
"I wonder what it is. It's just that usually, you're always keeping to your own pace, like you seem to have it all together. Not in a bad way! It's just a little... refreshing."
"Ugh..."
For some reason, Youko-chan looks shocked and turns away. Then, she turns back with a smile, as if playing peek-a-boo
"Th-that's not true~! I'm always Terusawa Youko, 24/7~!" "I know that, but!"
"Let me just take a deep breath for now!" "Y-Yeah. Go ahead."
Youko-chan's deep breath form was graceful and beautiful.
Youko-chan gives a thumbs-up. Right after that, a surprised sound, "Ah!" was heard.
Lucie-chan, who had been walking quickly (probably to secretly grab a game console to play with me), tripped over nothing and fell with a thud. In the process, she knocked over the laundry basket, spilling everything.
A lot of cloth flew through the air. "Phew..."
Lucie-chan stands up, still wearing shirt, underwear, and who knows what else, as if nothing happened.
"It's safe."
Thanks to the cloth acting as a cushion, it seems Lucie-chan wasn't injured.
Furthermore, the handheld game console she held up in both hands was also unharmed—however.
"Lucie-san!"
"Ugh..."
Youko-chan sprouts devil horns and looms over Lucie-chan.
"I told you so many times not to walk while playing games, didn't I!? No matter how many times I said it, you wouldn't listen, we made a promise, didn't we!?And now, look at the laundry I just folded—it's a total mess!"
Lucie-chan tightly closes her eyes and covers her ears with both hands.
"Ah, you! The moment things get inconvenient, you pull this stunt! Who do you think would be in trouble if you get hurt, huh? It'd be you, Lucie- san, wouldn't it!? You wouldn't be able to work anymore, you know!"
"I'll be careful next time."
"You ignored me again and again and again, so that's it. Just like we agreed, I'm confiscating your game console."
"No..."
"Come on, let go! Hey! No, games are forbidden!"
Lucie-san desperately shakes her head, clutching the game console to her chest. Youko-chan tries to pry it from her hands. She suddenly realizes and turns to look at me.
"J-just kidding!"
"I think that's impossible!"
"Eh? What do you mean by 'impossible'? I don't quite get it. Even Napoleon said it. He said to respond to people who say something is impossible with, 'But I can do it, because you and I are different.'"
"That's Moomin!"
Actually, it was Little Mi. A near miss. But it doesn't matter! "Why are you trying so hard to take it away!?"
"Because! Renako-kun likes those kinds of people who seem bright and outgoing, but also have a bit of a dark side, right!?"
"It's not that I like it! I do like it, though..."
Ugh, I can't completely deny it. But everyone likes those kinds of girls who are bright and popular in class, yet have a dark side that only you know about!
"Forget about whether I like it or not! Why are you trying to act like my type!?"
"I'm doing it to get closer to Renako-kun!" "Why!? Do you like me!?!?"
"No, that's not it!"
As we were arguing like that, out of the corner of my eye, I saw Lucie- chan preparing a drink for me.
I have a bad feeling about this! "Ah, Lucie-chan—"
Lucie-chan's hands trembled slightly as she tried to pour the 1-liter carton of milk into a glass.
The milk slipped from Lucie-chan's hand. "Ah."
With the sound of 'Splash!' everything around us turned completely white. I was covered in milk... and so was Youko-chan.
Whether it was a blessing from God or protection from angels, not a drop of milk splashed on Lucie-chan. Lucie-chan looked at me, with milk dripping from my bangs, and gave a small smile.
"Hehehe. Renako-sama, you've had quite a feast."
And then.
Ah, this is bad.
"〇×Δ〇□×〇Δ□"
Youko-chan exploded like a volcano.
* * * * * *
She almost lost it.
"Y-you... You've gotta be kidding meeee! What the hell is this?! Why do you do everything I tell you not to dooo...?! If this wasn't work, I'd hit you—I'd definitely hit you! I would have hit you already! I definitely would have hit you!"
No, she had already lost it.
The shampoo bottle in Terusawa Youko's grip was crushed, with about half of its contents spilled out.
"Y-Youko-chan…?"
A trembling voice, like a Chihuahua's, came from nearby, snapping her back to reality.
Youko raises the corners of her mouth into a smile. It had become almost like a conditioned reflex.
"J-just kidding!" "That's even scarier!"
Looks like it was no good.
This is the apartment's bathroom.
Drenched in milk from head to toe and transformed into milk-covered humans, Youko and Renako decided to take a shower. The two of them squeezed into the moderately small unit bath of the apartment, pressing close to each other. Since all their clothes were in the laundry, naturally, both of them were completely naked.
(Her chest is really big...)
Naturally, my eyes are drawn to that.
If the person she was dating were a guy, it'd be easy to assume she used her looks to seduce him. But all of Renako's partners are women.
I wonder. Do most women in the world actually like big breasts? At least, Youko has never heard of it. (As for Youko's own preferences, she probably likes them. They seem like they'd feel nice to touch. Though she's never looked at Renako that way.)
Anyway.
"Let's take a deep breath for now! Okay, deep breath!" "Y-yes."
Youko has a routine she values for shifting her mood. It's deep breathing. She tends to get hot-headed quickly, so it's really useful for that reason too.
Terusawa Youko is a detective, an executive, and the heir to the private investigation agency 'Pikaris.' In terms of status, she might be similar to Oozuka Mai, the heir to Queen Rose, except for the fact that Youko is poor. Pikaris has a lot of debt. It's the debt her father accumulated from
his business failure. Because of that, she ended up working like this right after entering middle school.
She doesn't do this because she enjoys it, but fortunately, she seems to have a talent for it. Youko has handled countless jobs so far: finding lost cats, infidelity investigations, background checks, finding lost cats, resignation assistance, finding lost cats, finding lost cats...
From legal tasks to borderline illegal activities—it might be more accurate to call her a jack-of-all-trades. In this day and age, there's no room to be picky about work.
She's not like her father, who worked based on his whims. Pride is nothing but a hindrance. Thanks to that, she's finally reached the halfway point in paying off the debt.
Just a little more.
If she can successfully complete the job she's taken on from Queen Rose, Youko will finally be free.
Once she's paid off all the debt, she'll cut ties with her father without hesitation. That's Youko's current dream and the moment she's been waiting for most in her life
To make that happen, she absolutely must succeed in Operation 'Elvira's Advice.'
In other words, the naked woman in front of her.
"U-um… Actually, isn't it a bit too much for two people to be in here at the same time…?"
This woman, who's already dating four people, is now blushing while touching another woman's skin. This is all part of the plan to punish Amaori Renako.
(Seriously, isn't that way too lacking in self-restraint? Self-restraint...!) This is bad. I'm about to lose my temper again.
Youko quietly took a deep breath.
Even with that many beautiful girls around her, does this woman still plan to expand her reach? She's too much of a playgirl. Is she trying to surpass Don Giovanni, who had relationships with 2,000 women across various countries?
No, it's fine. That's just how it is.
After all, Youko's goal is to make Renako and Mai break up. The quickest way to do that is to catch evidence of Renako cheating.
Whether a woman who's already dating four people can be considered cheating for getting involved with a fifth person is a bit of an ethical gray area, though…
What's even more puzzling is…
"Actually, I'll wait outside… You can go in first, Youko-chan…"
Even when Youko tries to make a move, Renako smoothly pulls away. (Does that mean I'm not attractive!?)
This is unforgivable. Even if it doesn't seem like it, I've done honey trap- like things before. I have some confidence in my looks. Sure, the quintet from Class 1-A is a group of stunningly beautiful girls, but I'm not bad myself!
I don't take pride in my work, but as a high school girl, I have a decent amount of pride. Otherwise, all the daily beauty exercises and skincare I never skip would be completely pointless. It's such a hassle, though!
I got sidetracked. Once I get fired up, the flames spread rapidly, one after another. This is one part of my personality I think I need to fix.
"Come on, come on, it's fine, it's fine. Let's just shampoo for now. Your hair's completely soaked anyway."
Even if it's a bit forceful, I grab Renako's arm to stop her and say with a smile
"Ugh... Do I really not have the right to say no…?" "Nope~☆"
I say decisively with a smile.
(After all, this is a golden opportunity.)
Lucie Lefebvre is the kind of person who constantly throws tantrums, to the point that Youko has already given up pretending to be nice around her. She's seriously the worst, always causing problems one after another. It's like she took whatever fragments of common sense she had, shattered them into dust, threw them in a blender, and scattered them over the Grand Canyon—she's just that much of a reckless baby knight. But for once… I have to admit, that was a nice assist.
The voice recorder has already been set up.
(If I can make Renako-kun cheat here, then the mission is complete. I'll finally be free, pay off my debt, and graduate from being Lucie-san's caretaker.)
There had been many twists and turns.
To fulfill Oozuka René's request, I first thoroughly investigated everything about Amaori Renako. I scrutinized her actions and personal life in detail, and even uncovered the hidden secrets of her middle
school days. Given how much I've done this before, background investigations are second nature to me.
Now, I'm confident that I know more about Amaori Renako than anyone else in the world.
(The other day, I used one of those and tried shaking up Amaori Renako, and it was amusing how easily I could make her waver. When people share secrets, their sense of distance tends to shrink easily.)
After that, Koto Satsuki joined as an ally. However, it was a trap.
Satsuki did not approve of direct action. Even though it was supposed to be an easy job—just make the target make a move, get proof of the cheating, and use it as blackmail—she tried to proceed cautiously.
Meanwhile, René called Lucie over from France. By making Mai and Lucie get married, they are trying to make Renako break up (indirectly). For now, Satsuki also seems to have gone along with René's proposal.
This is bad.
I was the one who took on this request. At this rate, my success fee will be deducted. Taking care of Lucie, which was forced onto me, isn't bad financially, but... the stress on my end is way too much!
(As for Koto-san, I can deal with that later. I don't know if it's because she's weak from being in love or something, but... because she doesn't want me to make a move on her or whatever? It must be some trivial reason like that. I don't care, okay?)
I don't want to be dragged into this messy four-timing drama. Mine is just a job.
That's why.
''Hey, Renako-kun, it's shampoo time! Don't open your eyes, okay?'' This is all just work too.
She roughly lathers up Renako's hair.
Unlike the rough handling I usually give Lucie, this time, I take the utmost care…
(Look, I'll make your face melt with relaxation…)
Intertwining all ten fingers, as if polishing each strand of hair to perfection.
In the past, I lied about my age and qualifications to work part-time as a salon assistant. That experience is coming in handy now. (Back then, it was part of an investigation into a hairstylist's infidelity.)
Renako lets out a "Uuuuu...". It feels good. ''We're just getting started! ☆''
She rinses out the shampoo, then applies the treatment in the same way.
While I was picking up the body soap, a 'no' came flying at me. ''N-No, it's fine! I'll do that part myself!''
''It's okay,You don't need to hesitate''
''No, it's not like that! Umm! Uh! The thing is, I'm super ticklish with other people's hands! It's impossible!''
At her panicked voice, I couldn't help but smirk. No, no, it's not like that. This is work, work.
But, in my mind, the quintet members come to mind. They're at the top of the school social hierarchy, overflowing with charm as girls. As a fellow high school girl, I'm always made to feel a sense of defeat by them.
Even if I provoked Takada Himiko, their loyalty didn't waver at all. They act as if 'real friendship' exists in this world.
If there's any truth in what I told Renako, it's that I was a loner who couldn't make many friends.
No, I don't need friends. Because even if I made friends, it wouldn't bring me any profit. If I have to be forced into trivial daily conversations, I'd rather be looking at the flyers for a supermarket sale. That's much more useful.
This is not a bitter excuse or anything.
In reality, after starting to work at a private investigation agency and realizing the ugliness of humans to the point of hating it, I really don't care about class relationships or anything like that. I mean, trying to gain popularity is just about repeating a set pattern, anyone can do that!
While I'm working hard, carrying debt, and mentally exhausting myself, I get angry at those people who are just playing at being friends. It's completely just venting my frustration. I know that, even myself.
Even though I watch videos and thoroughly research good-reputed affordable cosmetics before buying them, those guys are probably just buying high-brand cosmetics without much thought. In the first place, the quality is different. It's obvious that their visuals are bound to be enhanced. It's frustrating!
I've started to feel like I want to kill everyone who has no sense of judgment in this world. It's an emotion that comes regularly. Right now, I decided to take that feeling and direct it towards the woman in front of
me—the beautiful women, the so-called beauties, who's already dating four people, and throw it at her.
"I can't help it, Renako-kun, you know. Well then, how about things like this?"
I slathered body soap on my body, and then I hugged Renako's back. "Eek!? Uh, um, ahhh, um, Youko-chan!?"
''What is it~?''
''Isn't this a bit beyond the scope of friendship!?''
''But, you get ticklish when washed with hands, right?''
''I did say that, but i didn't say anything else was fine, right!?''
While pressing my chest against her back, slippery, I whispered near her ear.
"But, doesn't this feel good?" "――!"
Renako's movements freeze. Her ear, seen from behind, was bright red.
Cheating and lying are also things humans do. Eh, someone who seems like they're doing things properly would do something like this!? I've long since lost the naïve sensitivity that would make me surprised by such things.
It's common that appearance and substance are completely different. The most representative person of this is probably Amaori Renako.
With this face, who could believe she has the guts to 4-time? And all of them, being from the same group of friends. It's not a sane act.
Is their hobby to pour gasoline on themselves and smoke a cigarette?
(Despite that… she reacts as if she has no experience. Eh... she uses such methods? Despite living a hedonistic lifestyle every day...)
Alternatively, if I change my way of thinking, it might be proof that I have the charm of a beautiful girl, to the extent that even a woman living a hedonistic lifestyle becomes stiff.
Fufufu. Well, if I put it bluntly, I'm an outsider of the group. Because I'm an outsider, I guess I was desperately holding back and not making a move.
I couldn't help but smirk.
And then, unavoidably, I start to get excited. I can almost see the image of Koto Satsuki biting a white handkerchief.
I wrap both arms around Renako's neck. I press my body tightly against hers.
"Terusawa Youko-san!?'' "Yes~♡"
"No, not 'yes'!? But this! It's like, come on! Hey!?"
I can see Renako's white nape.
The flesh of a woman indulging in 4-timing. The source of all evil. The cause of my struggles to this extent.
If I cannot kill her here now... "Bite."
"Eek!?"
Youko bared her teeth to Renako's neck. I see, this kind of taste.
I adjust it and shape the teeth. "Aah, aah, aah, aah!"
Renako, unable to twist her body, just froze and screamed.
I quickly release my mouth, and the tooth shape is complete, like a model.
(Wow... like, isn't this good?)
This is what I call the living embodiment of infidelity.
Somehow, it feels a little too raw, and even Youko starts feeling embarrassed.
Because it's embarrassing, that makes it even more exciting. ''Wait!? Um! I was just thinking of getting out now!''
''Not yet~'' Chomp. ''Hnn!''
This time, the opposite side of the neck. Alright, a nice clean mark.
It feels like I've claimed her as mine. Are you watching, Koto Satsuki?
Your beloved Amaori Renako—I've bitten her. Yay~ ''A-Ah, please… forgive me…''
Ignoring that. ''Aah~''
Opening my mouth, this time for her upper arm.
A clearly marked crescent moon. I want to make sure it never fades. ''Kyuu…''
(This person's voice is so cute…)
As she lowered her gaze, biting her lips to endure, I caught a glimpse of Renako's profile.
Even though I'm the one making the moves, for some reason, my heart is racing.
As expected of the succubus who corrupted four people. I didn't think I was letting my guard down, but when I interact with her like this, she just seems like a normal person, and I almost forget what she really is.
(Well, I'm just going to finish this all at once~☆)
I don't have that kind of experience, but it'll probably be fine. Things will work out somehow.
''Hyaa…!''
Licking the bite mark with her tongue, Youko wraps her arms around from the front.
''Ah, w-wait…!''
Renako's hand is gently placed on my wrist. She turns back over her shoulder.
"M-Maybe we should get out now…? Okay…?" A trembling voice. Moist eyes.
"Youko-chan…"
That face, as if she were begging, sent an involuntary shiver through Youko.
Once again, the anger deep in my heart—my sadistic impulse—is provoked.
"Something like that..." (Of course, that's a no—)
Renako shuddered at the cheerful smile.
With a face that said, "I can't take this anymore," she slipped through Youko's arms.
"Ah! Hey!"
She tries to leave the unit bath just like that. "It's over already!"
Somehow, she grabs her waist and locks her in a tight hold. "H-Hey! Don't run away!"
"What is this already!? This is going beyond the bounds of friendship, right!? What are you planning to do with me!?"
"It's just skinship! I just want to get closer to you, Renako-kun!"
"If that's the case, let's just talk about games and manga more! This kind of thing is just not okay! It's way too lewd!"
"Even though you love this kind of thing! You love girls, don't you!? Don't you!?"
"That's not true! I don't like them at all! Not even a little!! I've denied it over and over and over and over and over and over again!! I have!!"
Renako's shout echoes through the room. Then—BANG!—the bathroom door swung open.
Damn it. Did Lucie come to check on us? How far is she going to keep interfering!?
Still clinging to Renako's waist, Youko tried to string together some random excuse to shoo Lucie away.
"Huh?"
Swaying gently in front of her were the tips of long black hair. She lifted her face. A woman stood there with her arms crossed. "Could you two cut it out with the exaggerations already?" Renako cried out, "Ueh!?"
Youko's business partner. Koto Satsuki stood there, wearing an annoyed expression.
"Oops..."
* * * * * * Why...?
I was sitting in seiza on a chair. Beside me was Youko-chan.
Across from me was Lucie-chan.
And the one sitting diagonally across from me was... "Um... this is a misunderstanding...?"
"Hmm."
Satsuki-san, looking completely uninterested, lowered her gaze to her phone. I was wearing a slightly oversized T-shirt I had borrowed from Lucie-chan.
For some reason, taking this whole situation into account, I felt like I had been backed into a corner.
Youko-chan's prank had gone too far, and... More importantly, why is Satsuki-san even here in Lucie-chan's house...? Is this person just... everywhere?
"Not that I really care, but..."
Satsuki-san, raising her finger, pointed at my neck.
"That. Wouldn't it be better to make sure other people don't misunderstand?"
"That's not it!"
I instinctively covered the bite mark with my hand and shouted. "It's Youko-chan's fault!? This kind of prank!"
"A prank."
"Yes, it was! Youko-chan was washing my body, and just when I thought that, she suddenly—she bit me! No, that's not it!?"
That was close!
I almost fell for a trap question!
"We were just taking a shower together! There was nothing indecent about it!"
"Oh really. The act of deliberately showering together in a cramped unit bath is totally not indecent, huh?"
"Yes, that's right, absolutely... No, that's not it!?!?"
This person… had laid out layers upon layers of traps!? Such a… strategist…!
"To begin with, Lucie-chan spilled the milk everywhere, and then…" "I have no excuse."
For some reason, Lucie-chan bowed her head in an old-fashioned tone.
"But… the voices coming from the bathroom sounded so cheerful and fun… Lucie ended up feeling a little jealous."
Lucie-chan placed a hand on her cheek and, for some reason, muttered with a slightly embarrassed look.
"Youko-chan looked like she was having fun, though!"
I shamelessly shifted the blame onto the girl sitting next to me. I'm not shifting the blame! She's the root cause of everything!
In modern-day Japan, even girls flipping each other's skirts or touching in the changing room is normally not okay, right? That kind of moral awareness has been spreading, and yet… Your sense of ethics is completely broken, Youko-chan… You're terrifying…
The person in question, Youko-chan, is pouting with a dissatisfied expression.
"Eh? It's just some 'skinship' between friends, right?" "And then, do you bite people?"
I look at my two arms. Ueh. They're really marked clearly... "Koto-san, you really can't read the atmosphere."
Satsuki-san's temple twitches.
"If you wanted to be included, you should've just said so honestly." Lucie-chan raised her hand firmly and said,
"I wanted to be included!"
Youko-chan ignored that and glanced at Satsuki-san with half-open eyes.
"It's like that, right? Koto-san, whenever Renako-kun and I are talking, you always interrupt us. What is it? Do you want attention?"
"The point is, don't do that in someone's line of sight. If the table in a restaurant is dirty, you'd want to complain about it."
"Koto-san, you really aren't honest, huh? With that attitude, you won't be able to get a lover, you know?"
Hey, what are you saying to Satsuki-san!?
If you say something like that, you'll get a low kick!? Youko-chan! While I'm feeling nervous on my own, Satsuki-san acts nonchalantly. "I see."
She only answered
Huh...? Satsuki-san, aren't you going to do a low kick? I wonder what happened. I wonder if she sprained her leg. I end up worrying about her, actually. When it comes to Satsuki-san's three major traits—black hair, beauty, and low kick—...
Maybe low kicks and grabbing someone's face aren't something she does with just anyone. Lately, Satsuki-san has become such a violent heroine that I might have misunderstood, and maybe that was a sign of affection...? If that's the case, Satsuki-san, your way of expressing love is way too violent...!
"Ahh… It was so close this time... just a little more..." Youko-chan sighs deeply.
What was just a little more... Was it that I was going to be eaten up...?
The conversation was interrupted for a moment because Satsuki didn't respond. So, during that moment, I hesitantly try opening my mouth.
"I mean, why is Satsuki-san here?"
The one who answered was Lucie-chan.
"Satsuki came to hang out because she's Lucie's meilleure amie (best friend)."