Volume 2 - CH 10

I successfully made it through the summer cold I suffered from, and was allowed to be reunited with Natsukawa, but I still had to catch up with everything I missed from the classes, so my suffering wasn’t done just yet. Math is seriously bad…

While my snow white soul was about to leave my body from exhaustion, noon arrived, and I felt a sharp impact at my behind. It seems like Ashida kicked the bottom of my chair. Don’t just go laughing like that, you wench. Instead, how about you lend me your notes to—Hey, why are you pulling on them!? Are you that against lending me your notes!?

As one of the baseball brats complained about us being loud, I realized that I had forgotten to buy food for lunch. Hence, I left behind Ashida who desperately clung to her notes, and stood up. Right when I stepped out of the classroom, the other girls in class, with their super miniature lunch boxes, had already formed groups, eating lunch. The biggest group out of these revolved around Natsukawa, filled by all the normies. I’m starting to see this as more of a cult.

I told Ashida ‘I’ll just get something random’, and headed to the school cafeteria. After fighting for and winning some sweet bread at the school store, I looked for a place to eat at. I’d rather not eat outside when it’s this warm after all.

“Ah, there he is!”

“Eh?”

As a result of that, I wanted to evacuate into the corner of the school cafeteria—only to encounter the Inatomi Appreciation Group (Provisional). Encounter basically referred to them spotting me. I didn’t even realize that we basically ended up sitting next to each other. Not like I mind though, I really enjoy the scent tickling my nose. But, you know, the gazes of everybody around us…

“Um…you pulled me here for a reason, right? If not, then I don’t exactly see us being this close…”

“Ehh, you think so?”

I was seated at the four-seat table, next to the wall, with Mita-senpai on the other side of me, not allowing me any possible escape. Sitting across from me was Inatomi-senpai, clearly enjoying herself. Despite us having barely met, and not even talked that much, she’s now sparkling this much, giving me a gracious gaze…

“How did you raise her impression of you like this? Did you use some pay-to-win item?”

“Not fair, Sajou.”

“I doubt you even understood what I was saying.”

Inatomi-senpai’s childhood friend, Mita-senpai, narrowed her eyes as she gave me a jealous gaze. Shinomiya-senpai threw in a complaint herself, but clearly seemed confused as to what Mita-senpai was even talking about. Even if you could buy that in real life, imagine how expensive that must be. I’ll get one no matter what.

“I heard from Rin-san. Is your fever better now?”

“Yeah, I’m feeling much better now.”

I took off almost two days in order to properly recover after all. Thanks to that, I could play all sorts of games, hehehe. However, seeing how happy that small Senpai of mine was, I couldn’t shake off this vague feeling that something was off. Seeing her red ribbon shake left and right is super duper cute, but what am I supposed to do here? Prostrate myself before her? These two other people next to me are giving off some crazy pressure. I do treasure my life, so could you not show me that scary smile?

“Anyway, there’s a reason I pulled you all the way over here. I wanted to talk about this a bit earlier, but you happened to collapse, so it couldn’t be helped.”

“Okay…?”

It seemed like Shinomiya-senpai got into a serious mode, because she gave off the air whenever she’s acting as the public morals committee president. This feels like I’m in a job interview right now…I don’t want the job anymore, can I just leave?

“Let me get straight to the point—Won’t you join the public morals committee?”

“Wha…?” I accidentally let out a dumbfounded voice.

Met with this unexpected request, I looked at the other two. Mita-senpai was just staring at Inatomi-senpai like always, whereas Inatomi-senpai just looked over in my direction with a smile. Excuse me, but they’re not interested at all. Can I just leave then?

“I do not require such a title.”

“My duties will end in the coming fall, but I have yet to find a male junior that would fit the public morals committee. There were many applicants who came over to check it out, but I always got the feeling they were just there to play around.”

“Yeah, I can see them having ulterior movies. They were probably there for the status only.” Mita-senpai commented.

…They both ignored my initial comment, huh. Won’t you at least throw in a retort? Also, Mita-senpai suddenly participating in the conversation isn’t fair at all, especially at that timing…Minimum-senpai, please say something and don’t just stare at me like that. Are they dead set on having me join?

It’s only been three months since I started attending this school, so it didn’t really set in yet, but there’s way too many events in the second term, such as the culture festival, followed by the sports festival, but the public morals committee is always busy even outside these events. TL;DR, being in the public morals committee is too much hard work.

“And, then I ran into you. As Kaede’s younger brother, I can put my trust in you, and when you helped us with our problems, you were more reliable than any other junior in your year.”

“But, you’ll retire in the second term, right?”

“That’s correct. That’s why I want you as quickly as possible. The public morals committee needs you.”

Urk, what a passionate confession…! Was I ever this wanted by anybody before!? I can feel the love deep inside my chest, making me want to say ‘If you’re that adamant on it…’, and accept their request…Perhaps…

“Ehehe! Looking forward to working with you, Sajou-ku—”

“Waheah!?”

“Kya…!”

I was about to lose against my conflicted feelings, when Inatomi-senpai suddenly pushed her body forward, grabbing my hand. In shock, I let out a shriek, and pulled back my hand. Right after that, Inatomi-senpai showed a wry smile, giving me a saddened gaze.

“Sajou…You bastard.”

“Hey…”

“Eek, awawa!?”

“Fueh!? Sajou-kun…!?”

In a second’s time, the two Senpais started glaring at me. In a panic, I grabbed Inatomi-senpai’s hand again. I wrapped it inside my two hands, which had me feel her soft skin, and my sweat started pouring out of every pore.

“Ah, no, this is…!”

“S-Sajou-kun…y-you’re being so forceful…”

“Sajouuuuu…”

“Grrrrr…”

I heard Shinomiya-senpai’s loathful voice, together with Mita-senpai letting out a groan that sounded like a curse. The atmosphere started to grow tense. Eh? Can I even do this when I’m a member of the public morals committee?

“U-Um, I’m still feeling a bit dizzy, so—”

I would have never imagined to end up in a deadlock caused by two female Senpais like this.

*

“Your mouth’s open.”

“…It’s a Badger game.”

“Where did that come from!?”

I felt a bit of pain around my neck, together with a lingering soft sensation at the back of my head. Especially the second one didn’t vanish even after I made it to the classroom. Mita-senpai…I definitely won’t forget about this. That softness is completely overwriting any pain.

As I was reminiscing about the incident from a few minutes ago, Natsukawa passed by in front of me. Since I was still spacing out a bit, I must have said something weird. When Natsukawa gave me a bewildered expression, I was about to fall for her. Oh right, I already did.

“W-What do you mean by that?!” Natsukawa seemed quite angry.

Oh yeah, I definitely ran my mouth there. Even so, maybe because I just got over my cold, she seemed quite considerate despite that. I didn’t see that big of a problem, because it was just a cold, but since I collapsed in front of her eyes, I guess I don’t have much right to argue here. Also, when we’re cleaning the classroom, please don’t say ‘I’ll hold that for you’ towards a boy like me. Yamazaki was grinning at me after all.

“Y-You know…I was just saying how much of a beauty1 you are?”

“W-What are you on about…” Natsukawa put one hand on her hip, avoiding her gaze.

Ahh, I can’t get enough of this ‘Can’t be helped’ gesture she’s showing me. Now that I get a good look at her summer uniform, I can see her long white arms reaching out from her sleeves. My heart won’t stop beating…Am I sick? Is this a summer cold…?

“You…”

Right when I was agonizing to myself, Natsukawa gave an annoyed comment, and approached me.

“W-What…?”

“Your hair…Why is half of your head so ruffled up?”

“Oh…”

That must have happened when Mita-senpai had me in a headlock…Mita-senpai……Soft sensation……Ah, I can’t hold back a grin. I shouldn’t show this to Natsukawa, so I need to hide it—

“Sit still for a second.”

“Eh…?”

As I was trying to fix my own hair, Natsukawa grabbed my head with both of her hands. She rubbed it here and there, presumably trying to fix my curls that stood off. After a bit of time passed, she freed me with a ‘There we go’.

“Here, we’re done.”

“Ah…Yeah, um…”

“What?”

Eh, why is she acting like this was something totally normal? Does she not think of that as special? We’re boy and girl, right? Aren’t we at the age where this kind of skinship would have our hearts racing? Or, can I just ask for this every day? Yeah no, that can’t be the case right, Natsukawa. You’re not the type of person to easily sell herself like that, are you. I wouldn’t want you to have your guard down like that.

“So, is 50.000 yen enough?”

“I don’t need that!”

I got that for free…? Ah, did she just do it subconsciously? This is why girls are so troublesome! This must be Ashida’s negative influence! Alright, I’m never washing my hair ever again, just cleaning it with wax!

1 Badger game is written with the kanji for beauty