I'm a Kept Man for the Three Most Beautiful Girls in School - Chapter 02: Recollection - Tsukasa Ono

Chapter 02: Recollection – Tsukasa Ono

The next day.

When I went to school, I was being gossiped about as usual. Mostly by the people who are more outgoing.

But during lunch break, something happened that made me forget all about their reactions.

“Ugh, Nakaoka, your intentions are so obvious.”

“It’s not like that. I just think, you know, it would be more fun if you girls came too.”

In the corner of the classroom, a group of boys and three girls were having a confrontation.

The boy called Nakaoka was a central figure in the class. He was good at both academics and sports, the ace of the soccer team, and popular with the girls.

He was organizing a get-together for the new class, but…

“We’re not mascots, you know. And besides, you’re only inviting certain people.”

“Well… that’s because…”

Karasuma-san, Ono-san, and Daigo-san (mostly Ono-san) were outright rejecting the invitation.

Nakaoka and the boys seemed troubled by the clear rejection from the class’s top group of girls.

The atmosphere in the class probably turned tense…

Ono-san was quite harshly criticizing Nakaoka. Even the handsome Nakaoka was at a loss. Karasuma-san turned away, and Daigo-san was even yawning.

As if to say, it had nothing to do with her.

I kind of understand how they feel.

As I was thinking about all this, Karasuma-san suddenly looked over at me. Her expression seemed to be asking, “What should we do?”

…Uh. Even though we talked a bit yesterday, being put on the spot like this is a bit much… But it felt like I couldn’t just leave things as they were.

I stood up from my seat and managed to squeeze out a voice loud enough for the classroom to hear, “Uh, excuse me.”

At that moment, the classroom fell silent. Everyone, boys and girls, was looking at me.

“Kyosaka? What do you want?”

The handsome guy glared at me with an annoyed look.

“Well, um, today I have the day off from my part-time job for the first time in a while… so, I was thinking I might be able to go to the get-together…”

My voice trailed off, getting smaller. I was trembling. 

Nakaoka sighed in exasperation.

Ono-san had a momentary look of “What is he talking about?” but quickly caught on and clapped her hands.

“Oh, right, Okeihan, you didn’t come to the get-together last year because of your job, did you?”

Okeihan?

Is that my nickname?

“Yeah, but this time I have the day off, so I can probably go.”

“That’s great! If everyone’s there, it’ll be more fun.”

With her wavy, milk tea brown hair and perfectly made-up, sparkling eyes, Ono-san smiled brightly like a shining sun.

“Okay, everyone who wants to go, raise your hand!”

With that one command, the classroom came alive.

Ignoring the usual social hierarchies, everyone started expressing their desire to join. It was like pyramid power but more like Ono-san power.

So, that’s how I ended up going to karaoke with the rest of the class. But, since I’m not used to these kinds of events, I was honestly a bit confused.

I think I saw Karasuma-san smiling, but maybe it was just my imagination.

※

I had planned to go to my part-time job, but with the atmosphere being what it was, I couldn’t bring myself to say anything. Plus, going to karaoke meant spending some money.

Sitting in the corner of the room, I listened to everyone sing, regretting breaking my promise to myself to save money for my sister’s college expenses.

With thirty-six students in the class, we split into groups of six. Since I hadn’t talked much with anyone and hadn’t been to karaoke in a long time, staying in the corner alone was easier for me.

This wasn’t even remotely a get-together.

The boys and girls paired off, chatting away like a scene from a dating show. Watching from the sidelines, I sipped my oolong tea.

It felt like a mixer, though I’ve never been to one. While I was thinking this, the door opened, and someone came in. 

It was Ono-san.

Holding a glass with water droplets on it, she grinned, showing her teeth. When she smiled, her canines peeked out, making her look very charming.

She wore a blouse unbuttoned to the second button, a skirt that barely complied with school rules, and a blazer tied around her waist. Her earrings sparkled, and a heart charm necklace decorated her modest chest, emphasizing her stylishness and beauty.

Despite her fashionable appearance, Ono-san had a friendly vibe. She pressed a glass of melon soda against my cheek and said, “Thanks.” 

Thanks…?

“Oh, about earlier. I just said that on impulse, haha.”

“Yeah, I know. I understand that you’re not the type to say things like that. But it lightened the mood, so really, thank you.”

Ono-san sat down next to me and said this cheerfully, smiling brightly.

It seemed she had come from the next room just to thank me.

I hadn’t talked to a girl in a while, so I was nervous, but she was a classmate. I should just be myself.

“My name is Kyosaka, not Okeihan.”

“I know that. Your first name is Kei, right? That’s why I call you Okeihan.”

“Oh, I see…”

“Chikage told me. She said Okeihan has a part-time job with Uber to help his sister. You were supposed to work today too, right?”

Just a day after yesterday, and Karasuma-san already told Ono-san. 

Well, it’s not something I was trying to hide, so it’s fine.

“Ono-san, it’s nothing for you to worry about. It’s just my family’s situation.”

“Waa, this might be the first time a guy has turned me down.”

With music playing in the background, we chatted sporadically.

“I’m not rejecting you.”

“But you did just try to distance yourself, didn’t you?”

“Um, sorry. I didn’t mean it like that…”

“I’m just joking. I’ll explain things to everyone, so you can leave whenever you need to, Okeihan.”

She whispered this in my ear, making it feel like she was creating a hard-to-leave atmosphere.

She’s close. Her chest is touching my shoulder.

Though her chest wasn’t very big, the soft, pudding-like sensation through her blouse was definitely real.

Feeling the softness of a girl, my heart pounded.

Was she doing this on purpose? Or did she just have a different sense of personal space? 

I couldn’t tell.

I’d heard that gyaru girls have a different level of physical closeness, and this might be an example.

“Thanks. I’ll take you up on that and leave in a little while.”

“Haee, really… I’ve been rejected twice.”

“Um, what do you mean?”

“Nothing, just talking to myself. Good luck with your job.”

“Yeah, thanks.”

With that, I left the karaoke room. I think Ono-san was smiling mischievously, but I couldn’t tell what kind of smile it was.

As a loner, I didn’t really understand girls’ emotions well.