I Confessed My Sexual Preferences to My Online Game Best Friend, and the Person Who Showed Up at the Offline Meetup Was the Cute Girl from My Class - 4-5

Chapter 4: A Thrilling and Luxurious Time

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The morning classes were, to be honest, hell. Every time Ichinose-san turned in my direction, my own lowest, most disgraceful remark—“the buttons will go flying”—replayed in my head, and I reflexively looked away. Each time that happened, Kaito in the seat next to me would say, “Kazuma, are you bad with Ichinose-san or something? Or are you just shy? I get how you feel, man… But if you avert your eyes that unnaturally, it’s rude!” and start worrying in a completely off-the-mark way.

That’s not it, Kaito. I’m just scared of provoking her anger, that’s all…

In the end, neither during lunch break nor after school did I directly exchange words with Shinonome-san. As usual, she laughed cheerfully at the center of the class with Ichinose-san and her other friends, while I passed the time chatting about stupid things with Kaito. That was the “rule” we had decided on. But inside my pocket, my smartphone kept vibrating in short bursts every time there was a break between classes or we moved to another room.

【Rin: Kazuu. You were totally fast asleep in modern Japanese class earlier, weren’t you? From my seat I could see your sleeping face perfectly, you know?】

【Rin: When Kazu sleeps, your mouth opens a little. Maybe I’ll take a photo next time and upload it to the guild bulletin board (lol)】

Provocative messages came flooding without any restraint, sent from “Rin” on the opposite side of the classroom or to be precise, from my partner, “Haru.” Each time, I clenched my phone while trying hard not to let my face turn red.

And then, after school. I brushed off Kaito’s invitation of “Let’s stop by the arcade!” with a casual “I’ve got an online game event,” and went straight home. I tossed my bag aside and turned on my PC. I put on my headset and logged into the usual voice chat.

『—Yo, Kazu. You logged in early. Not even a minute late. Will spears start raining from the sky tomorrow?』

What echoed through my headphones was a clear, dignified, yet somehow mischievous girl’s voice, unfiltered by a voice changer. It was the real voice login of Rin Shinonome—“Haru”—that had started yesterday.

“…Shut up. After getting teased that much at school, I don’t really have a choice but to behave.”

『Ahaha! So you’re aware of it. Good work today, partner. …Oh, right, right. About “that thing” you were all jumpy about all day』

A suggestive laugh mixed into Shinonome-san’s voice.

“…That thing?”

『About Saki. …You can relax. For today at least, I didn’t say anything. But since you keep reflexively turning your face away whenever you see her, she was a bit down, wondering, “Does Sato-kun hate me?”』

“………Seriously? I did something awful.”

『It’s true, you know? Saki thinks of Kazu as a classmate who seems like a “nice person,” normally. …Ah, but if you keep acting suspiciously weird starting tomorrow too, I might accidentally say, “Actually, Sato-kun is looking forward to Saki’s buttons popping off,” you know?』

“Please, anything but that…! I’ll act normal—really normal—from tomorrow on!”

『Nihihi. You’re quick to understand, that helps. …But hey, Kazu』

All of a sudden, Shinonome-san’s tone softened just a little.

『…Watching you at school all day today got me thinking. …Having a secret that’s just between the two of us is kind of nice, isn’t it? In front of everyone you’re “Sato-kun,” but when it’s just the two of us like this, you go back to being “Kazu.” …It’s like, I feel you a lot closer than yesterday』

“………… …Don’t just casually say stuff like that.”

『Ahaha, are you embarrassed? It’s fine. We’re best friends, after all. …Alright, enough chatting. Today we’re taking down the new area’s boss on our first try. …You ready, Kazu?』

“…Yeah. I’m ready anytime. …Haru.”

『Yeah. Let’s go, partner!』

On the screen, our characters started running side by side. At school, she was the class angel, and I was an unremarkable guy. But beyond this display, there existed a one-of-a-kind bond that we had built over three years. Haru’s voice without the voice changer stirred my heart far more than the “Shinonome-san” voice she used at school ever did.

…She didn’t tell Ichinose-san. Thank goodness…

While I was being toyed with by a tentative sense of relief and a sweet, almost possessive desire from Shinonome-san because we were  “best friends,” a time that was far different from yesterday, both incredibly thrilling and incredibly luxurious, began its opening act once again tonight.

“…Hey, Haru! There’s a trap there!”

『Wah—hey, Kazu, help me! You’re my partner, aren’t you!?』

Tomorrow, when our eyes meet at school….

Imagining what kind of eye contact she might send me next, I could only give a wry smile at myself for even thinking about it.

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Chapter 5: A Sharp-Witted Girl

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Tuesday morning. By the time I finally logged out last night, it was already past 2:00 AM. Since Monday was a scheduled day off for all school clubs, Haru and I had gotten completely sucked into clearing a new area.

I’m so sleepy… but that was the most fun I’ve ever had…

As I entered the classroom stifling a yawn, Kaito, sitting in the next seat, greeted me with an exasperated look as expected. “Yo, you degenerate,” he said. Kaito must have already finished morning practice for the basketball team. I could catch the faint scent of his antiperspirant.

“Kazuma, you stayed up late again last night, didn’t you? Your face is pale as a ghost. Just because you have Mondays off doesn’t mean you should overdo the gaming. It’s bad for your health, you know?”

“…. Well, things just got a little heated yesterday.”

“Humph. Must be nice being in the ‘go-home club’ with nothing to worry about. I was up at five again this morning. …Oh, hey. Here she comes. Our ‘Light’ has arrived.”

Kaito’s voice jumped an octave. The classroom door opened, and Shinonome-san and Ichinose-san walked in. Shinonome-san, draped in a dignified aura, and Ichinose-san, clinging to her arm. They were the ace and the point guard of the girls’ basketball team. The sight of the school’s “Top Two” walking together raised the temperature of the classroom by several degrees again today. Shinonome-san looked so well-put-together that I could hardly believe she had been gaming with me until 2:00 AM. 

Is she a short sleeper?

“Rin-rin! Let’s do our best at practice today!”

“Yes, yes. You’re so energetic, Saki, even though you just finished morning practice.”

The two of them chatted as they headed toward their seats at the back of the classroom. Naturally, that meant passing right by our desks. I tried my best to act “normal.” Even when I felt like I might make eye contact with Ichinose-san, I didn’t avert my gaze unnaturally like I did yesterday. I kept it to a light nod, strictly acting as “just a classmate.”

Alright… That was normal. Right now, I am a background character I can be proud of…!

Just as I was mentally patting myself on the back. As she passed by, my eyes met Shinonome-san’s for a split second.

……

As soon as she caught sight of my “sleep-deprived face with dark circles,” she lowered her eyebrows slightly and smiled with a look of mock exasperation. It was, without a doubt, the smile of my partner Haru—the culprit who kept me up until 2:00 AM last night. Furthermore. Shinonome-san, positioned where Ichinose-san couldn’t see, secretly showed me the back of her phone. There was a small dragon sticker on it, the motif of the equipment I used in our online game.

——!?

That wasn’t there yesterday. It was a “secret marking” meant only for me. While I sat there frozen, my heart racing, Shinonome-san took her seat as if nothing had happened.

“…? Kazuma, what’s wrong? You look like a deer in headlights.”

“…Ah, no. It’s nothing. I just spaced out for a second.”

While I was giving Kaito a vague excuse, I suddenly felt someone watching me. Saki Ichinose-san was suddenly standing right in front of my desk, peering at me curiously.

“………… Hey, hey, Kazucchi-kun.”

“…Y-yes. Ichinose-san, is something up?”

She had an innocent smile. But deep in her eyes, there was a spark of pure, unadulterated curiosity.

“You know, Rin-rin has been in a really good mood since yesterday.”

“…Oh, really?”

“Yeah! I think it started after school yesterday? She’s been looking at her phone and giggling, or humming to herself. …Even when I ask her ‘Did something good happen?’, she just says it’s a ‘secret’ and won’t tell me.”

Ichinose-san spoke exactly what was on her mind, without a shred of prying intent.

“I feel like that ‘secret’ smile Rin-rin has is the same one she had when she made eye contact with you yesterday morning, Kazucchi-kun. …Hey, Kazucchi-kun. Did something interesting happen between you and Rin-rin? Maybe you both watched the same TV show or something?!”

My heart let out a loud thump. Ichinose-san didn’t suspect a thing. She probably wouldn’t even dream that something was going on between Shinonome-san and me. But that was exactly why her “innocent sharpness” was the most terrifying thing of all.

“No… There’s no way someone like me would have anything going on with Shinonome-san. …Right, Kaito?”

“You bet, Saki! Kazuma is the kind of guy who spent his whole day off yesterday holed up playing games. There isn’t a chance in hell he’d have any connection with a sparkling girl like Rin!”

At Kaito’s full-power backup (otherwise known as a slight), Ichinose-san tilted her head. “Hmm, I guess so.”

“But, I feel like this is my first time seeing that sticker on Rin-rin’s phone. The dragon one. …The keychain on your pencil case is a dragon too, Kazucchi-kun. Are they matching?”

“…………!!”

Wow. Does this girl notice every single thing? 

I hurriedly hid my pencil case inside my desk.

“Ah, no, this is… just a common design, or like, a trend…”

“Hehe, I see! I wonder if Rin-rin is following the trend too? Well, see you later, Kazucchi-kun!”

Ichinose-san laughed satisfyingly and returned to her seat. In the distance, I could see Shinonome-san sitting at her desk, her face bright red as she hid her phone with both hands.

Lunch break. After Kaito disappeared to the cafeteria with his club mates, my phone vibrated.

【Rin: Kazu, we’re in trouble! (lol) Saki is so air-headed, but sometimes she’s scary sharp…】 【Rin: Should I take the sticker off? …Do you think she’ll notice anyway?】

I typed a reply under my desk.

『Kazu: Don’t take it off. That would be even more suspicious. …And stop making those kinds of appeals. My heart can’t take it.』

『Rin: Nihihi. Okay, I’ll leave it on then. …After all, this secret with Kazuma is my own special seat. …Well then, I’m off to give it my all at club practice. Kazu, you’re going straight home without stopping anywhere, right?』

『Kazu: Yeah. I’ll be waiting for you, logged in and ready, partner.』

After school. Kaito headed to practice, and Shinonome-san and Ichinose-san headed toward the gym together. I slung my bag over my shoulder and walked out the school gate alone.

Right now, in that gym, the Rin Shinonome everyone admired was working up a sweat in practice. But in a few hours, she would be on the other side of the voice chat, letting me hear her “partner” voice meant only for me. While I was on edge due to Ichinose-san’s sharpness… I hurried home again today to protect that “special seat” I shared with her.

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