Volume 1, Intermission: Iroha’s feelings

Volume 1, Intermission: Iroha’s feelings

I hate quietness. And even more than that, silence. Taking a shower and enjoying the noise of the water covering my head is very calming to me.

I was standing in front of the full-body mirror, looking at the reflection of my naked body. Objectively speaking, I have pretty good symmetry, a healthy bust and butt… It’s all plenty good enough to attract the opposite sex. I’m quite the beauty, aren’t I?

My face also looks outstanding, with bright, large eyes, paired with puffy, voluptuous lips. Comparable to a high-performance doll from overseas. My point is, you could only find around ten people who could match my beauty.

…Just kidding~ I just wanted to brag a bit.

But, this is how I, a cute girl like this, and a handsome man like Onii-chan were born. You can probably guess that our parents aren’t exactly your run-of-the-mill people, either. That’s why I think that they used to be in the showbiz. But something bad happened, which is why they banned my brother and I from the industry—or so I think.

As you might’ve already realized, I’m super good at reading the atmosphere. Even when I was only a small child, I could always read the mood of our parents, and through reading the mood in class, I became an honor student. It’s only when I’m together with Senpai that I don’t have to focus on that at all, and I can just be as annoying as I want—

That’s why I sometimes behave like a spoiled child. Sorry, Senpai. But it’s also your fault.

When I was just barely in grade school, I was always secretly watching anime on my smartphone since I wasn’t allowed to watch TV. I acted out several made-up roles in my own performances for fun. In fact, I had so much fun that before I’d realized it, I had become really good at acting, which made me really happy.

Maybe I should start aiming to be a professional, I thought, and when I read the atmosphere and realized that my mother would hate it if I went into showbiz, he gallantly appeared in front of me and reached out with his hand towards me.

“Don’t read the mood.”

“Don’t waste your talent in your precious lifetime because of other people. That’s idiotic.”

With those words, he showed me a brand new world.

—And ever since then, Senpai has always been my beloved.

The first person I never had to be wary around. The first person around whom I could let myself go. Maybe I’m always a bother because of my annoying actions, but that’s his punishment for making me fall head-over-heels for him and not realizing it.

Ahh, just thinking about it makes me angry.

‘Tomorrow, should we go shopping together?’

Even though I totally expected him to invite me on a date.

‘Let’s also invite the others’—he said! What’s up with that?!!!

—Well, that’s just like Senpai, though.

—And, even though it was a completely platonic invitation, my heart wouldn’t stop pounding… Really, I’m such an idiot. I even took a shower in the morning, because I couldn’t keep myself from getting my hopes up! Better safe than sorry.

After all, both Onii-chan, who probably has better things to do than go out shopping, and Sumire-chan-sensei, who surely wouldn’t bother watching over her students on a weekend, will decline Senpai’s offer, I’m sure.

But, that person is different. That rival, who suddenly made her entrance as his fake girlfriend.

Unlike me, she’s in the same year as him.

Unlike me, she’s in the same classroom as him.

Unlike me, she’s not just a friend’s little sister, but she has an even closer relationship.

Every single thing is more profitable for her…! She’ll definitely come tomorrow. I just know that Mashiro-senpai likes Senpai! And the most frustrating thing is that she’s so unreasonably cute!

I polish my body after the bath, style my hair, put on some fragrance, but I still don’t have the confidence that I can beat her. I cannot lose or let my guard down. Though we’re both residents of the fifth floor, this is this, and that is that.

Me vs. Senpai… ah, that’s on hold right now.

Today, it’s Me vs. Mashiro-senpai!

“Uuuuuuuuuu— I won’t lose———!”