I Thought It Was a World Where Chastity Norms Were Reversed, But It Turns Out I Was Just Surrounded by the Overly Intense Girls in My Class - Chapter 10: The Blonde Gal Closing In on Me Is Definitely Because Chastity Values Are Reversed

Chapter 10: The Blonde Gal Closing In on Me Is Definitely Because Chastity Values Are Reversed

Class starting also means the notebook scraps are about to come flying.

It’s an unavoidable event.

“Sigh…”

First period ethics class.

Three scraps had arrived on my desk in a handmade letter pack. The sender was, of course, my neighbor Yukimi-san.

The moment the bell rang and Kagurazaka-san returned to her seat, Yukimi-san immediately handed them over.

The timing was so perfect I couldn’t help looking at her.

“Please read them carefully, okay?”

She said it with a bright, angelic smile that was somehow devilishly terrifying. I seriously considered bolting to the nurse’s office.

So, with no time to even open my textbook, I fearfully unfolded the first scrap.

There was a wall of text.

『I have many things I want to say, but first, one thing.

When exactly did you get close with Kagurazaka-san?

As far as I know, the two of you hadn’t exchanged a single word in class until yesterday. You weren’t even aware of each other’s existence.

And yet…

Why are you so friendly now?
Why are you so close?
What’s with the “Babacchi”?
You’re close enough to use nicknames?
What happened after school yesterday?
What were you doing while I was waiting alone in the shogi club room?

Nothing happened. Nothing at all, Tatsuya-san.
Please answer my questions immediately. I await your reply.』

The first scrap ended there.

“……”

Please don’t make me read this during ethics class.

My heart could stop from fear.

And I have no idea why Kagurazaka-san is acting so close either. I’d love for someone to explain it to me.

All I did was suggest we play a game of shogi. Nothing more, nothing less.

Of course I wanted to correct her right away, but unfortunately there were still two scraps left. I’d reply after reading everything.

With that thought, I fearfully opened the second one.

There was just one line. A devastating line.

『You didn’t… play a game with her, did you?』

“Hah—”

The words made me jerk my head up.

As if on cue, Yukimi-san was staring straight at me, her eyes filled with murderous intent.

“—?!”

I shuddered. A chill ran down my spine, and I wanted to sprint to the nurse’s office right then.

But it wasn’t over.

There was one more scrap.

I put my hands together like I was praying and peeked inside.

It was basically a challenge letter.

『To Tatsuya-san,

I write this challenge letter to confirm something very important with you.

I will be waiting in the shogi club room today at 16:00 after school.

I believe a clever person like you will definitely come.

If you do not come… I’m sorry.

I’m not very confident I can control my emotions.

I look forward to seeing you, so please come to the club room without worry.

And finally, just to confirm,

You will play a game with me, right?』

That was the end.

The last line was written with such pressure it was pitch black, like she’d colored it in.

If I read this at midnight it would be pure horror.

“……”

Look, the paper is shaking on the desk. A poltergeist.

No, my hand is shaking.

Either way, there was no way I could ignore this.

What the hell do I do.

If this weren’t class I’d be clutching my head.

She says she’s ready for a game, but it’s definitely not shogi she means in this reversed-chastity world.

It’s obviously going to turn into something terrible. I’m already in a terrible situation.

Well… I guess I have to go.

In the end, I have no choice.

If I want to start the shogi club, I have to take the club room back anyway.

※

And finally, after school arrived.

“I’ll leave the club room unlocked.”

Right before cleaning started, Yukimi-san quietly said that and headed to the AV room.

After watching her go, I finished cleaning half-heartedly and headed to the club room.

“Babacchi!”

On the way I ran into Kagurazaka-san, who had apparently just finished cleaning too.

The moment she saw me she waved happily and ran over.

“We’re going home together!”

Then she boldly grabbed my arm.

A sweet scent tickled my nose, and a soft sensation pressed against my arm.

The softness almost made me lose my composure, but I barely managed to stay calm and answered coolly.

“Sorry, I’ve got something to do.”

“What what? Club stuff?”

“Something like that.”

Honestly there was no guarantee it would be wholesome enough to call club activity, but since we were going to play a game in the shogi club, the words alone made it sound like club.

“What club are you in, Babacchi?”

“Shogi club. Well, I’m the only member and it’s not official yet.”

I gave a wry smile, and Kagurazaka-san murmured with obvious interest.

“Heh, then I kinda wanna see the club room. I seriously know nothing about shogi, but I’m super interested in the shogi club.”

“For real?! You’re totally welcome! Please come try it out!”

Yukimi-san’s smiling face flashed through my mind for a second, but I couldn’t let this chance slip away.

Luckily, Yukimi-san had said 16:00. If I went now I’d have about an hour’s buffer.

So if I played it right, the chance of the two running into each other was low. Probably. Hopefully.

“Let’s go!”

Kagurazaka-san grinned happily and hugged my arm tighter.

“Then let’s head there right now.”

I had a lot I wanted to say, but she was squeezing so hard I couldn’t get a word out.

I walked to the club room with her like that.

“Wait, seriously just the two of us?”

“There’s only one member—me.”

The club room I was visiting again after a day looked almost exactly the same.

Only the desks were a little neater, and the area around the shogi board was polished spotless.

Traces of Yukimi-san’s cleaning were here and there.

“Heh, so this is the shogi club room. Seems pretty comfy.”

Kagurazaka-san looked around the room with clear curiosity.

“It’s calmer than I expected. Hey, doesn’t it smell kinda nice?”

“Nice smell?”

Now that she mentioned it, there was a faint sweet scent.

Like flowers—no, closer to the scent of Yukimi-san’s hair.

“…Must be my imagination.”

Once I noticed, I couldn’t help feeling her presence strongly.

But right now the important thing was recruiting Kagurazaka-san.

She turned down a game yesterday, but she really was interested in shogi.

First I wanted her to feel how fun it is with a casual game.

“Take a seat for now.”

I pulled two cushions from the closet and placed them on opposite sides of the board.

I sat seiza-style, opened the piece box, and scooped the pieces into my palm.

“Do you know the rules of shogi, Kagurazaka-san?”

“Nope. Just that you win by taking the king.”

“That’s plenty.”

It’s better to enjoy the atmosphere first than memorize every little rule.

Smiling, I started placing the pieces.

King, gold general, silver general, knight, lance, bishop, rook—spreading them left and right.

Each time the wooden pieces hit the board they made a satisfying click, click.

“……”

Kagurazaka-san sat seiza-style too and stared intently at my fingertips.

Her gaze held a kind of heat, showing she was serious about facing shogi.

If it’s her—if it’s Kagurazaka-san—she might step into the world of shogi.

The thought made my chest throb a little.

When I finished setting up the pieces, I quietly stopped my hands and smiled.

Then I looked at her, our eyes met, and I made the proposal.

“So, to start things off—want to play a game?”