I Was Reincarnated as a Creepy Fat Guy, Then Trained Myself Without Sleep. And Then, for Some Reason, the Heroines Start Approaching Me - Chapter 45: The Storm Arrives

After School

School ended, and I walked with the usual two (Manabu and Keisuke) towards the main gate.

“Today’s classes were so boring.”

“Coming from the second-ranked student, that’s quite an attitude.”

I teased Manabu, who yawned and lazily made a comment.

“I want to aim for the top, but up against Tatsuzaki-san, it seems impossible.”

“Having the first and second-ranked students so close is amazing. They’re acquaintances of mine.”

“But, Itsuki, you’re not doing well in studies at all.”

Manabu laughed and mocked me.

“Well, that’s true.”

“Huh? Itsuki?”

Manabu looked at me in surprise.

Walking in silence, someone called my name from behind.

“Kondo-san.”

“Hmm?”

I turned around to find Tatsuzaki poking my shoulder. Behind Tatsuzaki were Kanna and Mikami, walking side by side.

“We’re heading in the same direction to the station. Shall we go together?”

“Yeah, sure.”

And so, the six of us walked together.

The order was Keisuke, Manabu, me, Kanna, Mikami, and Tatsuzaki.

Glancing at Kanna, who walked right next to me, I sighed heavily.

Well, we’ve eaten together before (although it got ruined by Hayama), so walking together to the station shouldn’t be a problem.

I brought up a safe topic.

“Tatsuzaki.”

“Hmm?”

“This guy, is aiming for the first place. The mid-term exams are coming up, right?”

As I probed Tatsuzaki, she looked towards Manabu.

“Well, I mean… Tatsuzaki-san is strong, so I don’t think I can beat her.”

Manabu responded, ruffling the back of his head.

Tatsuzaki, in a testing tone, spoke.

“Hmm, so Hosokawa-kun is trying to surpass me.”

“…”

“Sounds interesting… Go ahead and try.”

Suddenly, Tatsuzaki put her hand to her mouth as if to provoke Manabu, giving him a fierce glare.

No, wait… This isn’t the flow I wanted…

Today is really not going well.

Quietly scolding myself, I looked at Manabu.

He suddenly bowed his head, his face turning red.

Damn it, that guy Manabu, provoked by Tatsuzaki and feeling down… He doesn’t know any girls other than Neneka. Well, Neneka herself is a collection of data.

If I say this, he might hit me.

“I’m sorry… I feel like I’ve unnecessarily fueled some competition,” I apologized with a sense of regret.

“No, it’s okay, Itsuki. Thanks for that,” reassured by my apology, Manabu added.

“Why the heck are you thanking me!?” I exclaimed, completely bewildered by the situation.

I was completely lost in what was happening.

Today is really messed up, so let’s calm down while doing strength training at the gym.

Thinking that, I walked while suddenly someone stood in front of the main gate.

“Who’s that girl? She’s totally my type.”

“She’s from the neighboring school, right? Maybe waiting for her boyfriend?”

“So cute…”

The girl, the object of jealousy from most girls and the target of lecherous gazes from most guys, rushed towards us.

“Itsuki-chi!!!!!!”

“!!!!!!!”

M-Marin!?

In the school vicinity where many boys and girls were walking, a beautiful blonde girl came running and hugged my arm.

“”””Kyaa!”””

Except for me, the five of them widened their eyes and took a few steps back. Especially Kanna’s face was impressive; she was stunned with her mouth open.

“Marin, what are you doing!?”

“I finished school early today, and since I had some time before going to the bath, I wanted to see Itsuki-chan’s face! Oh, and there’s Manabu too!”

So, Marin clung to my arm while rubbing her ample chest and greeted Manabu.

“Don’t tell me… Maririn!!?”

Manabu muttered her name in surprise, recalling her role at the maid café.

“Kanna, aren’t you a little close to Itsuk-chi?”

Without missing a beat, Marin directed hostility towards Kanna, glaring at her as a warning.

“Marin…”

Kanna said, staring back at Marin with intensity.

“Hey, who is she…?”

Mikami asked in a hushed tone, poking Kanna’s side.

“Shota’s sister.”

“Eh!? What!?”

At her reply, Manabu, Mikami, and Tatsuzaki exclaimed in surprise. Keisuke, almost expressionless, observed Marin’s audacious behavior as if studying her.

“Afternoon, I am Marin Hayama~! So, I’m borrowing Itsuki-chi for a bit, hope you don’t mind.”

“Hey… Marin.”

“I got a coupon for a really delicious dessert shop today. Let’s go together.”

Still savoring the exquisite feel of Marin’s marshmallow-like touch on my arm, I was being pulled along. As I looked back, Kanna seemed saddened.

I was at a loss on how to handle the situation. Then, Keisuke called out to me.

“Itsuki-kun!”

Drawn in by his vivid voice, Marin stopped and turned around, her uniform-clad figure facing us.

“Itsuki-kun, you usually go to the gym right after school, right…?”

Though awkwardly spoken, he seemed to be conveying something strongly.

“Yeah, I’m going to the gym today.”

“S-So… you don’t have time to… hang out with a girl, right?”

“Y-Yeah. Sorry, Marin. I have to go to the gym.”

Keisuke’s voice, though small, seemed to reach everyone present.

“Huh? What’s that!?”

Seemingly displeased with Keisuke’s attitude, who was clearly trying to separate me and Marin, she narrowed her eyes and glared at him.

She might be a year younger, but she was Hayama’s sister. Even if you were a university student, there would be few people who could converse with her on an equal footing.

Keisuke, visibly trembling, looked flustered.

Although his symptoms were improving, being confronted with hostility could still be a considerable pressure for him.

So, to restore order in this situation, I tried to speak up, but Keisuke, while still afraid, stared at Marin with his vivid blue eyes hidden behind his long bangs.

“What Shizukawa-kun says is true.”

Startled by Kanna’s confident voice, I turned to see her walking towards us, taking my arm back from Marin and holding it with her own.

“Itsuki needs to exercise with me at the gym. So, could you not interfere? It might bother Itsuki.”

Her voice carried weight. What was mysterious was that there was no malice or contempt in it, only an atmosphere reminiscent of a calm adult woman.

Caught in this enigmatic aura, Marin, with her mouth half-open, just watched as Kanna and I walked away.

******

On Keisuke’s side,

With the two gone, Marin, who had been holding her mouth open, once again glared at Keisuke.

He cowered behind Manabu, seemingly frightened.

Then, just as the Hayama’s group approached from behind,

Marin, who had been gloomy until then, suddenly brightened up and approached them.

“Ah! Bro!”

“Marin!? Why are you here!?”

“Just had some free time, so I came to play!”

“You…”

Seeing Shota looking exasperated, a gorilla-like boy with an evil grin spoke up.

“Marin-chan! We’re going to karaoke, want to come?”

“Yeah! But I have a part-time job, so I can’t stay for long.”

“That’s fine! Totally fine!”

With lascivious eyes, the gorilla said, and then the baseball team’s Masato patted his back with force.

The gyaru girls accompanying them welcomed her warmly.

Marin was absorbed into the tehir group and walked away.

Left behind were Manabu, Keisuke, Mikami, and Tatsuzaki.

The storm had passed, and the exhausted four exchanged looks with each other, smiling wryly.

Among them, Mikamii, who could be suspected of being a fujoshi, narrowed her eyes with interest and spoke up.

“Hey, I want to talk with the four of you. Saying goodbye like this feels a bit… unsatisfying.”

Her words were met with a bright nodi.

After school, being invited by girls for the first time felt strange.

It wasn’t uncomfortable, but it wasn’t exactly pleasant either.

It wasn’t that I was nervous just because they were girls.

The two of us, feeling a strange mood, nodded as we watched them.