In a World of Reversed Chastity, I’m Rumored to Be an Easy Bitch (♂) Among Lustful Girls - 43

Chapter 43: Time for Me to Roll My Sleeves up and Be the Practice Dummy (Interpret as You Will)

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After school, I met up with Hinayo and we headed to the movie theater inside the shopping mall.

Since it was a weekday evening, there weren’t too many people around.

“Nishimeya-san, which movie were you trying to see the other day?”

“Um, uh… Actually, the movie is already finished showing…”

“I’m sorry… It’s my fault…”

“Pl-please don’t apologize so much! It’s okay, that movie will be on a streaming service soon anyway!”

“Then hey, let’s watch it together when that happens. I’ve gotta make it up to you properly.”

“Hauu…”

Apparently she hadn’t expected me to say that, because a small, happy smile spread across her face. Good. She’d been looking kind of dejected for a while now, so if that cheered her up even a little, then I was happy too.

“Anyway, let’s decide what to watch today. Nishimeya-san, do you have anything in mind?”

“Let’s see… I’ve been kind of curious about The Promise of Seven Days Left – The Hope You Gave Me since it’s trending right now.”

“Oh, I think I’ve seen that title before.”

“The movie is based on a novel that won the Bookstore Grand Prize. It’s been pretty popular, and I bought it and read it right away… I couldn’t stop crying.”

“Wow, sounds like it’s going to be a good one.”

“So today… Is it okay if we see that one?”

“Of course. I’ll go buy the tickets then.”

“Ah, um…”

“It’s fine, really. Today’s my treat for standing you up last time. Just let me take care of the wallet stuff.”

“Hau…”

I tapped through the touchscreen at the ticket machine and bought two tickets. It wasn’t too crowded, but since Hinayo didn’t seem great with crowds, I picked seats in the back where we wouldn’t stand out.

You know, if someone around you is bouncing their leg or kicking your seat, it can really ruin the whole movie experience. So choosing the right spot matters.

When I glanced at my smartwatch on my left wrist, there was still time before the screening started. Maybe we could hang out and chat at the food court for a bit. I should ask Hinayo about it.

“Th-that sounds nice. I’ve always wanted to try that at least once!”

As soon as I brought it up, she gave a slightly overeager yes.

Aren’t you a little too excited about that? Does she like food courts that much? Well, they are fun with all the different food options after all.

“You’ve always wanted to try it… What, just hanging out at a food court after school?”

“Y-yes! Because, well… Someone like me—a gloomy, ugly girl—never gets to do stuff like that…”

“Come on, Nishimeya-san, you’re not ugly. And as for the introverted part… Well, that just means you’ve got room to grow.”

“Hau…”

We each bought donuts and sat at a random seat in the food court. Since it was after school, there were quite a few other students hanging out just like us.

“Th-thank you very much. You even got me a donut…”

“It’s fine, really. It’s not like they’re expensive or anything.”

“Then… I’ll dig in.”

Hinayo took a bite of her old-fashioned donut. Her mouth was so small. It made her look kind of like a little animal. How adorable.

“It’s delicious. I normally only eat the donuts my parents brought home.”

“Oh yeah, your parents both work, right? I think you said they get home kind of late too?”

“Yes, that’s right. So the donuts we have at home never feel like they’re fresh like this.”

“Yeah, fresh ones are always the best.”

Hinayo nodded with a little bob of her head. She looked like she was really savoring the flavor, her expression full of quiet happiness.

Yeah yeah, food tastes best when it’s freshly made. Like fried chicken, for example.

“By the way, Nishimeya-san, are you close with Haruto?”

“Fwah!? Yo-You mean Fujisaki-kun…?”

“Yeah, him. I’ve been thinking about it. You two seemed pretty close during the basketball game too.”

“N-no, not at all. We’re just normal classmates.”

“Really? I don’t know… Whenever Haruto talks about you, he seems kinda happy. It made me wonder if something was going on.”

Since we were enjoying this little after-school food court hangout—the ultimate student privilege—I figured it was the perfect time to shift gears into some typical student talk: romance gossip. Honestly, I thought Haruto and Nishimeya-san were a good match. Their vibes seemed to click.

“No, no, not at all. Fujisaki-kun just… Well, he’s kind of supporting me, I guess…”

“Supporting?”

Right then, Hinayo made a face like she’d just messed up big time. So she wasn’t supposed to say that?

“N-no, it’s nothing!”

“Come on, it’s definitely not nothing. If Haruto is ‘supporting’ you, that means you’re into someone else, doesn’t it?”

“Hauuuu…”

Hinayo turned bright red and completely clammed up.

Honestly, this kind of flustered blushing is the whole appeal of romantic talk.

“Huh. So that’s how it is. Nishimeya-san, you’re full of surprises, huh?”

“H-Hirakawa-kun, you’re such a tease…”

“So? Who is it?”

“I-I’m not telling you…!”

“Aw, come on. Just this once?”

“N-n-no way!”

“Really?”

“Really.”

She wouldn’t spill another word after that. Even though she’d told Haruto, she wouldn’t tell me.

Wait… Does she think I’ve got a loose mouth? I mean, sure, compared to Haruto I might be a little more… Casual, but I’m not that loose-lipped! Okay, maybe I’m a bit easy… Though I’m not sure if ‘easy’ even means the same thing in this world.

“It’s almost time for the movie. Let’s head in.”

“R-right…!”

“It’s been a while since I went to the movies, so I’m looking forward to it.”

“R-really? I actually go alone pretty often… So this is my first time going with someone else.”

“I bet you’ll start going with people more often from now on.”

“W-why do you think that?”

“Because you’ll be going on dates with someone you like, right?”

“N-no, n-no way! I’m not the kind of person who goes on dates…”

“You’ve gotta stop being so timid, Nishimeya-san. …Oh! How about this? Why don’t you use me as a practice dummy?”

“Practice dummy…?”

“Yeah, yeah. You wouldn’t get nervous around me, right? Just think of it as practice before you go on a date for real.”

“Hau…”

It was a brilliant idea if I could say so myself.  For a girl like Hinayo, who had no experience with guys, I was the perfect practice partner. We already knew each other to some degree, and with someone like me, she wouldn’t get nervous. It was the perfect setup for her to learn how to handle a date before facing whoever her actual crush was.

Yeah yeah, I can already picture it. Hinayo, all confident and mature, while I stand off in the distance thinking, “Look at her… My Hinayo is all grown up now…” Alright, time for me to roll my sleeves up and do my part for Hinayo.

…Little did I know, I was about to literally take my clothes off. Not that I had the faintest clue at the time.

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