Chapter 1

Do not have any illusions about your childhood friend.

Kazuhiko Saiki was constantly telling himself that.

Kazuhiko was a second-year high school student. He was of average build and height, and his face was neither particularly good nor bad.

His grades were upper-middle. This wasn’t because he was coasting; he tried hard but still couldn’t reach the top ranks. His athletic ability was also middling. It wasn’t remarkably good or bad, so he was neither praised for being excellent nor shunned for being poor.

Of course, his hair was black, undyed, and he didn’t wear his uniform sloppily. No piercings either.

He didn’t have many friends, but he wasn’t friendless.

He was a remarkably ordinary boy, for better or for worse. One could argue that being a perfect picture of normalcy in this day and age might actually be extraordinary, but the word “ordinary” still suited him best.

However, although he was ordinary and unremarkable in every way, there was actually one extraordinary point about him.

“Oh, here she comes. It’s Takane-san.”

“Whoa, she’s as beautiful as ever!”

Following the gazes of the captivated boys, a single female student entered the classroom.

Her mere presence made it feel as though flowers had suddenly burst into full bloom.

Not just the boys, but the girls, too, were mesmerized.

Reika Takane.

Her long black hair, reaching her waist, was glossy, and her posture was excellent, as if a rod were inserted down her back.

Her almond-shaped eyes were sensually alluring, and just being looked at by her would send a shiver down one’s spine. Even as a second-year high school student, she could already be described as a beautiful and intelligent woman.

Not only that, she possessed a voluptuous figure with a bust size inappropriate for her age, yet her waist was slim, and her butt was big enough to lift up the skirt of her uniform.

She had outstanding looks and proportions, combined with being ranked first in the year for academics, having good athletic ability, and being accomplished in both the arts and sports. Kazuhiko always wondered just how many gifts Heaven had bestowed upon her—not just two, but how many?

Even her posture while sitting on her chair was perfect.

She was surrounded by beautiful girls who were just as stunning as she was.

Unless one was at their level, one could certainly not get close to Reika, who was truly an unobtainable flower.

Even the top tier of the popular kids’ social hierarchy in the class would find it difficult.

She and her friends had a different vibe than them.

Therefore, even though she was highly respected as an unobtainable flower, she was not affiliated with the popular kids’ top-tier group. Perhaps you could say she was of the ultra rank, occupying a separate, unranked position in the caste.

The boys in the top tier of the popular group were constantly scheming ways to get closer to them, and the girls felt envious. However, it seemed that something had happened previously, because although they were envious, they didn’t try to interfere now, seemingly holding a certain awe. 

Meanwhile, the boys were constantly racking up a record of spectacular failures.

Kazuhiko kept his gaze vague, watching these girls from the unranked caste with his peripheral vision, careful not to let them realize he was looking.

—Takane-san. She used to always be glued to my side.

His one extraordinary point was that he was Reika’s childhood friend.

Unfortunately, there was no secret, hidden relationship between them.

And this was not just a childhood friendship where they happened to be at the same kindergarten or elementary school; this was a “line-crossing” childhood friendship where they played together and had even taken baths together. At one point, they’d even accidentally shared a kiss.

However, ever since she entered middle school, her beauty blossomed remarkably. Kazuhiko, intimidated by this, gradually distanced himself, and now they were so estranged that they didn’t speak or even make eye contact.

Yet, perhaps due to a fateful connection, they had never been in separate classes from middle school until the present, in high school.

But despite that, the distance between them had never closed.

—Well, this is the natural distance between us.

Thinking this, Kazuhiko let out a sigh.

For example, what if she actually has feelings for Kazuhiko and wants to go back to the way things were?

For example, what if she actually has feelings for Kazuhiko and wants their relationship to be even more than before—to be boyfriend and girlfriend?

That could never happen.

It was true that they used to play together happily, and Reika was fond of him.

But the past is the past, and the present is the present.

Her, who had become an unobtainable flower, and him, who wasn’t at the very bottom of the caste but was vaguely drifting in some unremarkable spot. 

In fact, he was probably more of a mob than the caste’s lowest rank.

The two were not a match, and any connection between them was a thing of the past.

He thought about how wonderful it would be if an unobtainable flower like her would become his girlfriend, but such a delusion was only a source of sadness when entertained.

If one were to ask if this meant Kazuhiko liked Reika, honestly, he no longer knew if he did.

It would be a point of pride if he could make her his girlfriend, but he didn’t feel a sense of burning, deep-seated love.

He admired her, but he didn’t think it was love.

That said, if asked if there was a time when he liked her, that, too, was questionable.

The days spent playing with her were fun, but if asked if that was romantic affection, he had to tilt his head. He wasn’t old enough to harbor romantic feelings back then, and if he had, he certainly wouldn’t have been able to share a bath with her.

So, while he thought about how great it would be if she were his girlfriend, he had no intention of trying to create a connection, like tracing a thin thread, by saying, “Hey, we were childhood friends!” In fact, that would be nothing short of a terrible move.

He was sure it would only make her feel creeped out.

It was just right to merely look at the unobtainable flower that she was, vaguely, with his peripheral vision, without letting her notice.

This was a habit he had unknowingly developed as he found himself tracking her with his eyes.

This is how he would likely continue to live his uneventful days.

As a healthy high school boy, he was interested in having a girlfriend, so he hoped to fall for someone and make her his girlfriend someday. 

It would be even better if that girl was a woman like Reika.

Such was the thought of Kazuhiko Saiki during his usual morning routine.

Shinigami-san: I forgot add note like I do. Anyway, hope you guys comment a lot and enjoy resisting the lewdness. Seriously why is not the whole thing on 18 syousetu. I would like to add that that there are episodes, full-on scenes stuff on 18 syosetu for future chapters. I’m looking forward to it, hehehee