Once Kuroba Akira was freed from the skirt-head covering, the air around him felt so much fresher.
But at least this time, he managed to catch Class Rep's scent… Uh, what did it even smell like?
He'd been so focused on their conversation that he hadn't really taken the chance to savor the "base note."
Probably floral… right? Let's just say it was floral!
If it had been fishy, that would've been a letdown. So in his memory, Class Rep would stay as the unique, flowery fragrance of a girl.
More of a pity, though, was that he didn't get to see under the skirt in the end.
Because Anri Hitomi didn't just yank up her skirt to release him—instead, she carefully pressed down the fabric between his head and her skirt with her hand, blocking his line of sight to her panties.
Class Rep's defense was still watertight as ever…
He'd already seen what kind of panties she wore, but he'd never gotten to see her wearing them. Truly, a shame.
But Akira wasn't the only one thinking about scents—Anri Hitomi had caught a whiff from him that made her a bit uncomfortable.
She'd actually noticed it for a while now, but lately, the smell was getting harder and harder to ignore.
Some people… are just getting more and more brazen.
It was time to give a warning.
"Oh right, Akira, when you get home, make sure you tidy up your bed, okay?"
"Hm? My bed?"
"Like your sheets and stuff—try to change them every so often. Otherwise it's easy for bacteria to grow."
"Oh, uh…"
Akira felt a bit confused—why was Class Rep suddenly bringing up hygiene?
Did he have some kind of odor on him?
He sniffed himself… didn't seem like much of a smell. Or maybe he just couldn't tell?
Seeing what he was doing, Anri Hitomi smiled and reassured him.
"Don't worry, Akira, other people probably won't notice—my sense of smell is just a bit sharper… And really, it's only obvious when we meet in the mornings. Right now, it's hardly there."
Anri was always the first person Akira saw at school. Lately, she'd be waiting for him at the school gate every morning, and they'd walk and chat from there to the classroom.
By now, the dating rumors were treated as fact—neither of them cared what other students thought anymore.
"What kind of smell is it? Is it a bad smell?"
"Well… It's not exactly a stink. More like… the kind of scent you hate."
"A scent I hate?"
Akira tried to think of smells he couldn't stand… Fishy smells?
But why would he have a fishy scent? He hadn't eaten seafood lately. It couldn't be his little brother's...
That wouldn't make sense… He thought back carefully, pretty sure he hadn't done any late-night "electrical discharges" in bed lately.
Sharing a room with Shiginomiya meant he couldn't just do whatever he wanted like when he lived alone.
Shion had even said if he ever felt the urge, he could just ask her to step out for a bit… but there's no way he'd ever actually say that!
Like, uh, I wanna go rub one out, so could you leave for a minute, Shion?—just imagining it was instant social suicide.
So, lately, Akira had been taking care of that stuff in the bathroom.
Japanese toilets were always in a private stall, so it wouldn't bother anyone else washing up or showering—pretty convenient for handling "private business."
No matter how he thought about it, Akira couldn't figure out where any fishy scent might have come from, so he just gave up, scratching his cheek with admiration.
"You can even smell that, Class Rep? You're like a dog… Uh, I didn't mean that as an insult. Just, you've got a crazy good nose."
She'd done it before, too—like when she'd picked out Shion's body wash scent.
Being called a dog didn't bother Class Rep; she kept smiling.
"That's right… Hehe, I guess I'm like a dog—and a naughty one at that! Woof woof!"
She put on a fake-cute act and barked twice.
So cute… Class Rep acting all cutesy was dangerously adorable.
That's the power of a pretty girl—anything she does is cute.
"I think if you were a dog, you'd definitely be Hachiko—the loyal one."
"But I'm not just loyal. I'll guard my food too! Hiss… woof!"
"There's nothing wrong with that. If you like something, it's only natural to want to keep it to yourself. That's not just a dog thing—it's human nature too."
"Really? If you think so, Akira, then I won't change a thing."
"Haha, no need. I think it's cute."
"Mmm… You said it."
Suddenly, Anri Hitomi hugged Akira from the front—a tight, sudden hug that startled him.
"Class Rep? Is this another reward?"
She buried her face in his chest, rubbing against him as she spoke.
"This isn't a reward. It's a covering mark."
"Huh?"
"Don't worry about it, Akira. It has nothing to do with you."
"…"
How does it have nothing to do with me when you're literally hugging me…
If they were a couple, cuddling in the Literature Club after sunset would be pretty romantic… But Akira just felt like a theme park mascot getting squished by an overenthusiastic kid.
It even reminded him of getting hugged by a drunk Tashiro Benika a while back… Only, back then, there was also a facewash involved. This time it was, uh, on the "milk belly?"
Well, whatever—at least it was soft. He'd count it as a bonus.
After a while, Class Rep let him go, then gave an order.
"Akira, turn around. I need the back too."
Akira obediently turned, and Anri Hitomi wrapped her arms around his waist from behind—just like the scene at the front of the Titanic, only with their positions swapped.
"Uh… what even is this…?"
"Just a dog marking her territory."
"Don't dogs usually mark with urine…?"
"You want me to pee on you, Akira? Is that your thing? If you're really into that, I could…"
"No! Sorry, my bad, I'll keep my mouth shut—do whatever you like."
Akira definitely didn't want to be seen as a pervert by Class Rep, so he clammed up and let her hug him.
After a while, Class Rep finally let go, patted his back, and smiled.
"All right… Take this chance to head home now, Akira. Remember, go straight home—don't wander around."
Otherwise the scent will fade… Anri Hitomi added silently in her heart.
"Yeah, yeah, I'm not a kid anymore… But Class Rep, you should head home too—be careful on your way."
"Mhm. See you tomorrow, Akira."
...
Back at Kobayashi House, the first to greet Akira was Shiginomiya, who welcomed him home—and then, coldly,
"Akira… Go take a shower first, please."
"…Uh."
Why did even Shiginomiya have that you stink face? Akira was bewildered, and decided to wash extra thoroughly tonight.
And change the sheets too, just in case.
Class Rep's words stuck in his mind—he couldn't help but care when a girl said he smelled bad.
For a teenage boy, if a girl told him, You stink!, it'd probably scar him for life.
"Got it. I'll change the sheets while I'm at it."
But Shiginomiya froze, then quickly asked,
"Eh? Akira, you're changing the sheets? Why?"
"Just felt like it was time."
"Um… Is it because there's a smell?"
No way… did he find out? Shiginomiya started to panic inside.
And the more she thought about it, the worse it got—she could barely keep her cool.
If he really figured it out, he'd think she was a freak!
And he'd find out how she felt… Akira would pull away… They'd never be together again…
All because of her own dark little possessiveness… It would ruin everything!
Right then, Shiginomiya felt like the sky was collapsing—like a condemned prisoner awaiting execution, her heart drowning in despair.
Until Akira shrugged and explained,
"Maybe. I couldn't smell anything myself, but Class Rep told me to change my sheets today—said there was some kind of smell on me… Since she mentioned it, I figured I should pay more attention to hygiene."
"…"
Shiginomiya's tensed-up body slowly relaxed, like a spring finally released. She let out a silent breath.
Whew… Thank goodness, Akira didn't find out…
But it's all her fault I got so scared…
Class Rep… that woman called Hitomi!
She's noticed me!