Even Today, the Genius High School Programmer Cashes In on Day Trades, Completely Flustered by Beautiful Girls' Growing Affection. - Chapter 4: You’re Not Getting a Girlfriend?

You’re Not Getting a Girlfriend?

“…So hot…”

Ten days had passed since the new semester began.

Right now I was walking from the station toward school after getting off the train.

Even though it was already September, the lingering summer heat refused to relent.

This kind of temperature first thing in the morning—what on earth was happening to the planet?

Maybe the school canteen would start selling shaved ice soon… I was idly wondering about that when—

“Yo, Kousuke.”

A voice called from behind.

There was only one person in the world who ever addressed me like that.

“Morning, Shingo.”

Makise Shingo—my rotten old acquaintance from middle school, still stuck in the same class as me even now.

Normally I had no friends and no desire for any.

Shingo, though, was the one bizarre exception: the persistent guy who kept hanging around no matter how much I tried to keep my distance.

I stood 175 centimeters tall.

He was a little taller than me, with a lean, stylish build and light brown hair—an undeniable handsome guy.

Outgoing, sociable; he probably really did have a hundred friends scattered across the school.

And his information network? It rivaled the CIA.

From student gossip and love rumors to the name of the canteen lady’s grandson—his coverage was absurdly wide-ranging.

On top of that he could read the room, knew how to be considerate toward girls.

Naturally, he was popular.

The guy was made of nothing but popular traits.

“Hey, hey, Kousuke. You seriously not planning to get a girlfriend?”

“Again with that?”

Yes—ever since the new term started, Shingo had been bringing up this exact topic at every opportunity.

The reason? Apparently he’d gotten himself a girlfriend over summer break.

Tall, handsome, and now taken.

That combination alone put him at the absolute peak of the school caste.

“Having a girlfriend is the best, man. She’s cute, super soft and fluffy, and just… squishy.”

“Cotton candy?”

“Like, the second I hold her hand—her fingers are so small and soft, I swear I can feel her heartbeat through them!”

“‘The second you hold her hand,’ huh…”

The moment those words left his mouth, a memory flashed unbidden into my head.

The instant I’d grabbed her hand and started running.

Inside the police box, both of us still breathing hard.

The way her pulse wouldn’t calm down.

The small, yielding warmth of her palm.

Those large, moist sienna eyes looking up at me.

And then…

“Kousuke?”

“Huh?”

Shingo’s voice yanked me back to reality.

“What’s up? You totally zoned out.”

“Nah, just thinking about something.”

“Right… Anyway, all three members of our school’s ‘Top Three Beauties’ are second-years this year. Though some people include Okazaki-senpai and call it the ‘Four Heavenly Beauties.’”

“Your intel network really is pointlessly impressive.”

“Aww, you’re making me blush.”

“That wasn’t a compliment.”

We kept walking, trading this meaningless chatter.

“But you’re probably the only person in the entire school who doesn’t know who the Top Three Beauties even are.”

“Is that so? I’m just not interested.”

“Sure, sure. But think about it—all three of the Top Three are second-years. That means the girls in our grade are on another level entirely. Don’t you wanna spend your youth with a cute girlfriend too, Kousuke?”

“I already told you—no interest. You know that better than anyone.”

“Yeah, yeah, I know…”

Even so, I understood exactly why Shingo kept pushing the topic.

Because he was one of the very few people who knew about my past.

I appreciated that he remembered, but when he got this persistent about it, it became genuinely annoying.

“Well, whenever you feel like it, just say the word. I can hook you up with pretty much any info on the girls at our school.”

“You’re seriously insane. But that day’s never coming.”

Being that guy’s girlfriend must take serious effort…

Musing on that thought, the two of us passed through the school gate together.