I Started a Lover-for-Hire Service, And For Some Reason, Only Beautiful Girls Are Requesting Me - Chapter 61: Aira and Ikki's Thoughts

“When you say we only have two more school festivals left, it kinda makes me feel sentimental. Don’t you think so too, Aira?”

“I’m the opposite—I get excited instead. That’s why I feel like we should enjoy it to the fullest!”

It was after homeroom, where they had discussed the upcoming school festival.

Most of the classmates had stayed in the classroom, chatting like this.

The festival was a major topic of interest, and since the class had a close-knit atmosphere, the conversation was lively.

“That’s such an Aira-like way of thinking. Yeah, I get it.”

“Well, yeah. I try to stay as positive as possible!”

Aira and Ikki had created a space just for the two of them. Or rather, it was Ikki who had intentionally set it up that way.

“But our school’s festival is pretty late, huh? Early December? It wouldn’t be bad to have it in June or July.”

“The whole school festival in the cold thing is a signature of this school, isn’t it? I kinda like that it’s different from other places.”

“…”

Ikki unconsciously reacted to the words “I like it,” coming from Aira’s mouth.

“I’m not great with the cold, though.”

“Well, yeah, it’s a bold choice. For third years, it’s right in the middle of exam season too.”

The high school they attended was one of the top academic schools in the prefecture, and it was also known for having strong sports teams in certain areas.

Compared to other schools, their curriculum moved at a much faster pace. By the second semester of their third year, they would have completed all their coursework and shifted entirely to studying for the university entrance exams.

Because of this clear academic structure, their school festival was scheduled for this time of year.

“Come to think of it, in just a year, it’ll be our turn to take the exams…”

“What are you gonna do, Ikki? With that dumb brain of yours, your options are pretty limited, huh?”

“Ugh, damn it… I can’t argue with that. But what about you, Aira?”

“Me? I’m planning to take multiple university entrance exams, starting with the standardized tests. I mean, this is the advanced academic course, right? How did your grades fall so much, Ikki?”

“…I played around too much…”

“Even if you’re playing or doing sports, you still gotta study!”

Aira gave Ikki’s muscular arm a light slap, as if to scold him. It was an unconscious and casual touch, but one that had a well-known effect of making guys’ hearts race.

“Ugh… Getting lectured by a gyaru really hits hard… But, well, I might be able to get a recommendation for soccer.”

“Oh! Well, then that’s still good!”

“Still, if you ask me, you’re the one who’s too studious, Aira, or maybe you’re just way too smart.”

Aira was the top student in their class.

From Ikki’s perspective, no matter how he looked at it, that was an undeniable fact.

“My family’s situation is a little unique. I have to at least do this much to put my parents at ease. I don’t want to make them worry unnecessarily.”

“…That’s seriously admirable. We’re still just high schoolers, you know?”

“Maybe it’s just my gyaru spirit kicking in.”

Jokingly, Aira made a “victory” hand sign by raising her thumb, index finger, and pinky, then threw in a playful wink for extra effect.

“Ugh…”

“Hm?”

“N-nothing!”

Ikki was completely captivated by her well-practiced, effortlessly cute expression.

Honestly, when someone you had feelings for did something like that, it was only natural to react this way.

“Well, I don’t think I’m all that admirable, really. I’m always causing trouble.”

“Wait, trouble for who…?”

“Hmm… I guess, most of all, for the person who gave me this.”

Aira pointed her index finger toward the edge of her desk.

There, as if it were proudly displayed, sat a large pill bug from GachaGacha no Hayashi, the capsule toy shop—something that Ryouma had picked out.

Taking advantage of the fact that their school had no strict regulations, Aira had brought the giant pill bug with her.

To her, it was precious. Something she didn’t want to part with.

“Thanks to this thing, everyone keeps making fun of me. It’s been so exhausting.”

Even as she complained, Aira’s tone was light, almost cheerful.

As if to say, I’m actually glad I brought it.

“People were saying stuff like, ‘No taste at all’ or ‘That’s gotta be a punishment game prize’. But honestly, what’s the truth?”

“I’ve told them over and over that it’s not a punishment game prize, but everyone just finds it hilarious… I mean, let’s be real—this thing does have zero taste. Out of all the capsule toys, he picked a pill bug.”

Her neatly shaped eyebrows knitted slightly as she poked at the hard shell of the giant pill bug with her nail-polished fingertip.

Still, the force she applied was so delicate that it wouldn’t leave a single mark—like the gentle touch one would use on a baby’s cheek.

“Well, yeah… I probably wouldn’t have chosen a pill bug either.”

“That’s totally normal. I mean, if I liked pill bugs, it’d make sense, but I don’t. As a gift for a girl, this is just way too weird.”

A gyaru and a giant pill bug.
A sight that didn’t exist in reality, yet if it were the title of a literary work, it would undoubtedly catch the eye.

“W-well, then… couldn’t you just leave it at home or something?”

“I could, but… there’s a real reason why that person picked this for me. It has their feelings in it, you know? That’s why I want to keep it close.”

“Wait, you’re saying… there’s actually a reason for choosing that? Sorry, Aira, but I can’t see it as anything but a prank…”

“Right?! I thought the same thing at first and got seriously pissed off. But… they actually had a real reason. The kind of reason you wouldn’t understand unless they told you.”

As if feeling guilty about her reaction back then, Aira twisted a strand of her blonde hair around her finger, looking slightly embarrassed.

Even those who knew about her family situation, and those who didn’t, would never have guessed the true reason behind choosing that pill bug.

Even Aira herself had only realized it after Ryoma had explained it to her.

“I won’t say exactly what, but… things turned out just like they said. It made me realize just how much they really thought about me. Thanks to them, I’m having the best time of my life right now.”

Smiling from ear to ear, Aira gazed at the oversized, utterly unremarkable pill bug.

She was remembering. Those unforgettable words.

“Aira, you said it yourself, didn’t you? That you feel lonely. That you’re always alone at home. So I picked the most noticeable thing from that capsule machine. It’s still a gift, so maybe when you look at it, you’ll remember today and feel a little better.”

“And, you know, whether you keep it at home or bring it to school—your character makes it totally fine either way. If you do, your parents or friends will probably ask, ‘What’s that?’ Then you’ll have more conversations, more chances to talk. Maybe it’ll help ease the loneliness, even just a little.”

“For people to bring it up in a lighthearted way and for conversations to flow naturally, it needed to have some humor and impact. Since we got close, I wanted to do something—anything—to make things better for you. That’s why I chose this.”

(Too damn mature… that bastard…)

Cursing under her breath, Aira scowled.

Not out of anger—but because it was embarrassing to be seen through so completely.

“Anyway! My story doesn’t matter. Let’s change the subject.”

Aira was smart, quick on her feet.

And more than that—she understood Ikki’s feelings.

That’s why she deliberately hinted at another guy’s presence, to divert the conversation.

But in the end, it was a pointless move.

“U-uh, then… I’ll bring up a topic. A-Aira, do you have any plans to go around the school festival with someone?”

Ikki’s feelings were stronger than ever. Even though he was fully aware of the situation, even though he knew he might be misreading the atmosphere, he still couldn’t hold back from making a move.

Ikki had a personality similar to his older sister, Kanon—he simply couldn’t give up.

“Hmm, well, I don’t have any plans right now, but we got those school festival invitation tickets today, right? So, I was thinking of giving mine to someone and going around with them.”

“A-about that… Aira, if you have time, even just a little, I’d like to go around with you too.”

At that moment, Ikki fixed Aira with a determined gaze. The excitement around them was rising as people chatted about the upcoming festival, making it easier for their tense atmosphere to blend into the background.

“…I-Ikki, you’re really wasting an opportunity, you know? You’ve got so many invitations, yet you’re choosing to invite me.”

“…”

Aira felt a bit awkward, but she didn’t try to change the subject. Instead, she faced Ikki’s feelings head-on, without making light of them.

“I’ve been making it painfully obvious that I’m not interested in this kind of thing… Are you a masochist or something? You knew I was going to turn you down, right?”

“I’m not. And Aira, you already understand how I feel, don’t you? …That’s why.”

“Then why don’t you just confess or something…?”

Aira’s cheeks grew redder and redder. She had received confessions from strangers before, but never from someone this close to her.

Because she wasn’t used to situations like this, Aira had been deliberately acting in a way that would make Ikki hesitate to invite her to the festival.

“It’s too bad… but I already know you have someone you like, Aira. You’re not just hinting at it—you’re saying all this because of that person, aren’t you?”

“W-what!? What are you talking about!? I-I-I don’t like anyone or anything like that!”

“That reaction makes it obvious. That’s why I can’t push any further.”

“D-don’t mess with me, you idiot… It’s not like I like them or anything…”

For the first time, Aira had been completely outmaneuvered by Ikki. She placed her hands over her burning cheeks, trying to hide how red they had become.

“…Even so, it’s fine. If you have some free time, I’d like to go around with you.”

“…F-fine, whatever. I get it…”

“Thanks, Aira.”

“You don’t have to thank me… B-but if you tell anyone about this… I’ll kill you.”

“I won’t. I’d rather die than have you hate me.”

With that, Ikki left Aira’s side.

“Haaah… What was that? Seriously, what was that…?”

Being invited by Ikki. Having her supposed feelings for someone declared out loud.

That day, Aira was planning to meet the person she had been hinting at. But before that, she needed some time to sort out her emotions.