I Started a Lover-for-Hire Service, And For Some Reason, Only Beautiful Girls Are Requesting Me - Chapter 11: Aira’s Side - A Boring School and Senpai

Ding dong ding dong.

I had heard this annoying chime more than ten times today.

I was a second-year high school student. Just thinking about having to endure this for another whole year until graduation felt depressing.

It was honestly so boring. From morning until evening, every weekday. The only fun class was P.E. The only enjoyable moments were break time and lunch.

“Ten more minutes… huh.”

There was only a little time left until the homeroom meeting at the end of the day was over.

“Alright, as announced, I’ll be handing back the results of the national mock exam.”

Our homeroom teacher stacked up the results from the nationwide mock exam we had taken a few months ago on the desk.

It was still a long way before my turn. I just wanted this to be over.

“Amano Ikki.”

“Here!”

Starting from student number one, the results were handed out.

Wow, that guy’s scores had dropped.

Amano Ikki took his results with a blank expression, walked back to his seat, and collapsed onto his desk.

I didn’t mean to laugh at others’ misfortune, but I had to admit—this was a little amusing.

It wasn’t like I took pleasure in people’s misery, but observing them in moments like this was interesting.

“Ino Shouji.”

“Here!”

Next was student number two. The only thing full of energy was his voice.

…Him too, huh?

As if they had planned it, Shouji collapsed onto his desk just like Kazuki.

Then, student number three, Eto Saburou, did the exact same thing. It almost seemed like they had coordinated it.

Seriously, those three never changed.

Somehow, Kazuki, Shouji, and Saburou all had a kanji in their names that matched their student number. Since the seating arrangement followed attendance order, they were lined up in a row, all slumped over in defeat.

Judging by their reaction, these three were the top idiots of the class—the three-stooges of the popular crowd.

For some reason, people lumped me into that outgoing group too, but honestly, I wouldn’t mind leaving. It wasn’t all that fun anyway.

I wondered how my scores turned out.

With a mix of anxiety and anticipation… a few minutes later, my turn finally came.

“Jingu Aira.”

“Here!”

I walked up to the teacher’s desk… Damn, so tall.

Every time I stood in front of sensei, I thought the same thing.

I was 157 cm, the average height for a second-year high school girl. Nothing great, nothing terrible.

Still… I kind of wished I was taller.

“How… are you so smart? Considering your usual attitude in class, it doesn’t make sense.”

“I do self-study at home, just so you know.”

“Then could you please change that flashy attitude and your behavior in class? You won’t get a university recommendation like that.”

“I don’t really care.”

“Not caring isn’t the point. Use polite language.”

“Okay, got it.”

“You still aren’t using it properly, though…”

It wasn’t that I looked down on the teacher. It was just that using polite language felt embarrassing. Especially when my classmates might hear me… hear me change the way I spoke.

I knew I was disliked by a lot of teachers because I couldn’t use polite language and my attitude in class was bad, but honestly, I didn’t care.

I hated boring teachers too, and I kept up just fine with my studies at home.

Sigh. “If you’d just act like a model student, I would have been so proud of you.”

“A little bit of cheekiness makes one cuter, though?”

“I sincerely hope that kind of world will come to be. It’d be so much easier.”

“Then I’ll make that world happen.”

“Stop being stupid and sit down already.”

“Alright.”

I sat down with my report card in hand.

All things considered, my homeroom teacher was a good person. They paid attention to me and understood my individuality. Maybe they even realized that using polite language embarrassed me.

This high school didn’t have any rules. That’s why I dyed my hair blonde, did my nails, wore fake eyelashes, and wore light makeup. I also had piercings and tanned my skin. I had a tan, you know, a bronzed look.

Everyone should do a little of that too. There were no rules here, after all.

If I was called a “gal”, I guess I’d fit that category. I actually kind of admired that style, so I’ve been incorporating parts of it.

But, some annoying things were happening.

There were rumors going around that if someone asked me, I’d just open my legs for them. I didn’t want people to think that all girls like me were easy or just for playing around.

The person who started those rumors? I seriously wanted to knock them out and land three kicks to their vital spots.

I hadn’t done anything like that, and I wasn’t some easy girl. I mean, getting with someone in high school, that was way too soon. Sure, if it was with someone I really loved, it was fine, but it wasn’t something one did for fun.

As I was looking over the details of my report card, the other reports were passed around to everyone in the class. I was almost ready to go home. Yay!

“I’ll say it just so you know, the highest score in this class was Aira’s. Well done.”

The teacher didn’t have to say that. It made me stand out.

“Nice job, Aira!”

“As expected!”

“At first glance, you really look like you’d be super dumb… but you’re not.”

“Who was the last one to say that? Come on out.”

Being teased by my classmates was a bit of a daily routine. I kind of liked moments like these. It felt like something out of youth.

“Alright… Well, it’s a bit early, but I guess we can finish here.”

“Yesss!”

“Yayyy!”

“I love you, teacher!”

Honestly, I was happy to go home earlier than usual. My classmates were hyped up too.

I quickly started packing my stuff into my bag. I just wanted to leave school as soon as possible.

“Alright… stand up! Class president!”

“Yes. Attention, bow!”

“Thank you very much!”

Finally, today’s classes were over. After school started, the classroom became full of chatter. It was so loud, it almost got annoying. I could understand where they were coming from, but I had things to do. So, I didn’t join the conversation.

I needed to hurry!

I slung my bag over my shoulder and headed straight for the door.

Twice a week. I wanted to spend my time on the “thing I looked forward to most.”

“Hey, Aira! Want to go to karaoke today?”

“Inviting Aira? You’ve got some good taste, Ikki!”

“Karaoke just isn’t the same without girls, right, Ikki?!”

“…”

They were getting all excited by themselves, that group of extroverts.

I wasn’t planning on going. Like I’d said many times, I wanted to use my after-school time for something I was looking forward to. After all, there were only two days a week for it.

“I have plans, so I’ll pass.”

“Plans? What are you talking about? You’re such a party pooper, Aira!”

“Just… something to clear my head.”

Ikki stepped aside, and then Shouji spoke up.

“Hey, hey, take care of yourself, okay?”

“It’s not like that.”

Even if it was meant as a joke, it kind of bothered me. Just because I was a little flashy, they shouldn’t think I was that kind of person… It actually kind of hurt.

“Well, I’m heading out. Have fun at karaoke.”

“Alright! See you tomorrow!”

“Yeah, later.”

I was thankful that Saburou was quick with the goodbyes. At least these three didn’t make me feel stuck with them for too long. Honestly, I didn’t mind them leaving quickly because I was so eager to get to where I was going.

I decided to hurry to my destination.

…Oh no, just thinking about seeing my senpai made me grin.

“Ugh, I got rejected by Aira again…”

After Aira left the classroom, Ikki slumped his shoulders and looked down, clearly dejected.

“Aira’s just on a whole other level, so it can’t be helped.”

“Yeah, exactly. Cheer up, man.”

Ikki was number 1 in the roll call, Shouji was number 2, and Saburou was number 3. The two extroverted guys, Shouji and Saburou, were trying to comfort Ikki.

“Why is Aira so cute…?”

“Hahaha, you’re way too into Aira!”

“Totally too pure, Ikki.”

“I-It can’t be helped… Her smile is just so cute… Ah, seriously, it’s bad.”

From the flow of the conversation, it was clear that Ikki had feelings for Aira. He was completely in love with her.

It wasn’t like he started liking Aira after getting to know her better; it was love at first sight.

“Rejecting an invitation to karaoke probably means she doesn’t like me that much, huh…”

“Yeah, thinking about it logically, that’s probably the case. If she liked you, she’d go with you to karaoke. Especially with Aira’s personality.”

“Hey, Shouji. Can’t you say something to cheer him up… This isn’t helping.”

Saburou slapped Shouji on the head, but he pulled back so it wasn’t too hard.

“Ugh… Please, just be kind to me right now…”

Ikki replied, his tone filled with pain. Being told the harsh truth when you’re already in a bad mood made it even harder. It was definitely leaving a bruise on his heart.

“But you know, Ikki, you kind of get it, right? Comforting you like this could end up hurting even more.”

“Yeah… You’re right…”

Saburou nodded in agreement with Shouji’s words.

“Well, I’ll just be honest now… Sigh, I wonder if Aira has a boyfriend.”

Letting out a deep sigh, Ikki slumped over his desk, just like when his nationwide mock exam results were handed back. He gave off an even more depressed aura than before.

“If it’s Aira, it wouldn’t be surprising if she had one. She’s popular around here, as you can see.”

“…I’ll say it, but I heard someone saw her getting hit on not too long ago.”

“Don’t tell me Aira’s that popular…”

Ikki lowered his head into his hands, as if he had just realized he had been rejected. His reaction was a bit over the top, but his emotions were clearly overflowing with frustration.

“I don’t mean to hurt you, Ikki, but Aira’s thing… Well, that’s a date.”

“Shouji… I agree.”

“Here it comes, Saburou’s agreement!”

“Saburou’s agreement” was an inside joke. It sounded good because it had a rhythmic, rhyming feel to it.

“What I’m trying to say is… she left the classroom looking super happy. With that kind of vibe, it must’ve been a date or something.”

Comparing the way Aira looked when she was invited to karaoke and the way she left the classroom just now, it was hard not to suspect, or rather, feel sure that she was meeting someone.

To put it simply, the difference was like night and day.

“I’m seriously crushed…”

“Alright, now that we know——?”

Saburou urged Ikki, who seemed about to cry.

“But… If Aira’s happy, then it’s okay…”

“Hahaha! Nice!!”

“Hey, hey, if you’re going to use that line, say it with more energy!”

This was a reference to a joke about a fan who had set a certain woman as their phone’s wallpaper during exam season.

“Today, me and Saburou are treating you to karaoke. It’s the ‘Lost Love Memorial Day’!”

“Thanks… I’ll sing until my throat’s sore… sniff.“

The extroverted group left the classroom, Ikki still with a gloomy expression on his face.

But maybe, it was for the best.

Aira’s “thing”—it wasn’t a date, but a certain guy was involved, so…