My Daily Life as the Reliable Best Friend of a Dense Rom-Com Protagonist Childhood Friend Is Way Too Much Like a Nukige

Chapter 85: ‘Cultural Festival Arc ①: Preparations for Resolve’

For students, the cultural festival is such a major event that it’s practically synonymous with autumn. In rom-com manga, the school festival is almost always a turning point in the story. The relationship between the protagonist and heroine advances dramatically, and sometimes they even start dating right there. As a reader, you realize the story is approaching its end and feel a sense of loneliness.

However, for us who live modestly day by day, the cultural festival is nothing more than an extension of daily life — just a little spice of the extraordinary in school life. At most, it’s like the wasabi in sushi. …Wait, wasabi is actually pretty important. Maybe it’s more like the mustard in natto. By the way, I’m in the “no mustard in natto” faction.

“Then it’s decided — our class will run a café!”

Miko, standing at the teacher’s podium, summarized the suggestions from the class. The blackboard was filled with grand ideas like a maze or a haunted house, but they were all rejected because we didn’t have enough preparation time. The drama performance idea was also deemed too difficult. Life sure is tough. It’s a common story: you get all excited watching flashy school festivals in manga and anime, enter high school full of hope, and then get depressed by how modest the real thing is. I bet those flashy ones in fiction are modeled after university festivals.

After many compromises, our class settled on running a café. It ended up being pretty fitting. Making the most out of limited resources — that’s probably thanks to the class rep’s skill.

Said class rep clapped her hands on the podium and smiled as she led the discussion.

“Next is deciding roles. Should we start by choosing the person in charge?”

Person in charge, huh. That has nothing to do with me. These things usually go to popular students with good reputations like Miko or Shiina. That way everyone’s motivation stays high. I’ll just stay in the background.

While I was resting my cheek on my hand and holding back a yawn, one girl raised her hand high. It was Ati.

“Um! I have a wonderful idea!”

“Ati-chan? What is it?”

When Miko urged her on, Ati stood up and declared:

“How about we make Tomo the café master!”

I did a double take at Ati. What the hell are you saying?

Ignoring my stunned reaction, Ati proudly puffed out her chest.

“Everyone, did you know? Tomo is an incredibly skilled barista!”

The whole class turned to look at me at once. I flinched.

The girl sitting to my left, Okuyama-san, nodded in understanding.

“Oh yeah, Kamioka-kun works part-time at a café, right?”

『Heeh~!』

The class let out sounds of admiration. Ati nodded grandly, looking satisfied.

“That’s right! Tomo’s coffee is absolutely delicious. There are even regular customers who come to the shop just to see him!”

『Whoa!』

The class’s excitement was at its peak. I opened my mouth to say something but quickly gave up, realizing I’d just be pouring cold water on the mood.

In the midst of the commotion, Miko gave me a meaningful look.

“Tomokun. Can we count on you?”

“…Yeah. Sure.”

There was no way I could refuse in this atmosphere.

And so, it was decided that I would be the café master.

“Ati-san??”

“I’m veeeery sowwy…!”

After school, I pinched and stretched Ati’s soft cheeks. She apologized profusely.

“I just wanted everyone to know how wonderful my friend is!”

“…Sigh.”

I shrugged. This reminded me of how we first became close. On her first day as a transfer student, she bragged that she could speak English, which led to us running around dealing with the consequences. Back then she lied to overcome trauma, but this time she exaggerated to lift me up. That part is quite different.

I gently patted Ati’s head.

“It’s fine. I’m honestly happy you feel that way.”

“Tomo…! My best friend♡”

Ati hugged me tightly. Please stop — people will misunderstand if they see us. Actually, it might already be too late for that.

“Okayuu is really nice to Ati-chan.”

“Because I know she’s a 100% pure goodwill creature.”

Also, to be honest, it felt pretty good. For real. It’s not every day you get looked at with respect by your classmates. I think the desire for approval is the fourth fundamental human desire after the big three. People fundamentally want to be acknowledged by others.

Ati rubbed her head against my chest, then looked up at me.

“But I wasn’t lying. I really love the coffee you make, Tomo, and I go to the shop because you’re there.”

“When did you get so good with words? Whose influence is this?”

“Obviously yours.”

Shiina looked exasperated. They say you become like the company you keep. Overall, Ati’s changes seem to be positive for her.

“Tomokun. I finished the application form, so can you take it to the staff room? I have to stop by the student council room.”

Miko handed me a sheet of paper. As always, she works fast.

“So the student council’s event ended up being an escape game?”

“Yeah. We can’t do anything too big though.”

Knowing what triggered that idea makes it feel very… something. Vocabulary power.

“Tomo, let’s go. I’ll come with you.”

“Sure.”

I stood up and left the classroom with Ati.

As we walked side by side down the hallway, Ati hummed cheerfully.

“Fufu. The cultural festival. I’m really looking forward to it♪”

“It’s your first school festival, after all.”

“That’s right. I never thought I’d be able to participate in a cultural festival. It’s very moving.”

A former shut-in growing this much is moving for me too. I might cry.

While I was feeling warm and fuzzy, Ati looked around curiously.

“There have been a lot more couples lately, haven’t there?”

“Yeah. It’s normal for couples to increase right before and after the cultural festival.”

“It’s the ‘School Festival Magic.’ A classic rom-com trope.”

Ati gets it. I smiled while watching couples flirting early in the hallways and classrooms, hoping their relationships would last.

“Tomo, aren’t you going to confess to Shii-chan?”

Ati stopped walking and turned to face me. I shrugged.

“I’m not desperate enough to rely on school festival magic. This kind of thing should be done by slowly deepening our bond…”

“Over the past six months, you and Shii-chan have become much closer. You were already close before, but both emotionally and physically, the distance has shrunk a lot.”

Ati looked straight into my eyes. Hmm. This feels pretty serious. I straightened my posture.

“…So I’ve always found it strange that you haven’t confessed yet.”

“Yeah. Well, that’s because…”

I scratched my head, searching for words. Ati went straight to the core.

“It looks to me like you’re scared, Tomo.”

“…Mmm.”

“You’ve become this close, so if you get rejected, you might not be able to recover. That’s what you’re thinking… am I wrong?”

I had no comeback. She hit the nail on the head. I really do feel like I’ve maxed out Shiina’s affection. What more can I do? If I fail now, I genuinely don’t think I could recover. As time passed, I had become more and more cowardly. Ati, who has a sharp eye for the essence of things, had seen right through me.

While I was mumbling, Ati took my hand and looked down.

“I don’t know love. It might not be something that can be expressed in one simple phrase. It’s natural to fear that if you confess and fail, you won’t be able to go back to how things were…”

She paused, then looked straight into my eyes again.

“But that doesn’t seem like you at all!”

“——”

I was stunned. It felt like my whole body had been struck by lightning.

…To think I’d get fired up by Ati of all people. I let out a breath and gently patted her head.

“Thanks, Ati.”

“Tomo?”

I grinned, showing my teeth. Then I made up my mind.

“I’m going to confess to Shiina at the cultural festival.”

“Tomo!”

Ati hugged me tightly.

“It will definitely go well for you, Tomo. You’re my proud best friend and the most wonderful man.”

Talking to her really boosts my self-esteem. I almost start thinking I’m actually an amazing guy.

But I’m just a regular high school student. I can’t use magic. I can’t create miracles. All I have is the honest, gritty weapon called accumulated time. With only that in hand, I will challenge the decisive battle.

I took a firm step forward and smiled to encourage myself.

“I need to prepare my resolve.”

“So even resolve needs a preparation period, huh?”

“That’s how it works.”

Chapter 86: ‘Cultural Festival Arc ②: Childhood Friend♀ and Cultural Festival Preparations’

Our class’s cultural festival event was decided to be a café, and thanks to Ati’s mysterious assist(?), I was appointed as the store master. How did it come to this? I get why the usual group supported it since they’re close with me, but it’s a mystery that no one else in class objected. I don’t think I have that much virtue.

Well, it started as a flow of events, but I was surprisingly enjoying this development.

The next day’s homeroom was dedicated to discussing the café’s menu and costumes. Miko continued to lead the discussion, with me acting as advisor.

“Tomokun, you’re good at making coffee, right? What kind of coffee should we serve?”

Miko asked while holding a piece of chalk. I put a hand on my chin and hummed.

“Obviously, we can’t do proper bean-to-cup coffee. It costs too much time and money. Since this is a cultural festival event, we need something anyone can prepare easily and that customers can order without hesitation.”

“Then what do we do~? Let’s see your skills, Kamioka.”

Shiina’s best friend, Kume Reina, grinned and teased. I held up my hand telling her to wait.

“Realistically, we’ll have to go with instant coffee. Even instant can taste good with some ingenuity. I’ll teach everyone how to brew it.”

“But since it’s a special occasion, we want something with a unique touch. Like differentiation from other classes?”

『Right?』

When Shiina added that, the other classmates followed suit. Amateurs sure say carefree things.

“Everyone, please don’t trouble Tomo too much.”

Ati jumped in to defend me. You really are always on my side. She’s also naturally standing next to me in the “understanding ally” position. Though I thought but didn’t say out loud that this whole situation started because of Ati’s single loud suggestion. I gently patted Ati’s head.

“Ufufu. Tomo, that tickles♡”

“Your hair is seriously so smooth.”

“I’ve been taking better care of it lately. I got advice from Shii-chan.”

“That explains why it feels so nice.”

“Kyaa♡”

『Hey, stop flirting so openly!』

Jeers flew from the audience. Such low public morals!

That was when an idea hit me.

“How about cinnamon?”

『Cinnamon?』

The class looked puzzled.

“There’s something called cinnamon coffee. We serve it at my part-time job too. It adds depth to the flavor. Even with instant coffee, it can taste pretty authentic.”

“Can we just use the cinnamon powder they sell at supermarkets?”

“Yeah, the powdered kind. That’ll work. Ceylon cinnamon has a mild aroma that most people like. For the real deal we’d use cinnamon sticks, but that’s too expensive.”

『Ooh~!』

When I explained, the class murmured in admiration. I felt like they were looking at me with respect?

Just like Amane said — this must be what “popular Narou-style” feels like.

“That said, cinnamon has a pretty distinctive scent, so some people might not like it. We’ll need to figure out how to handle that.”

“Why don’t we market it as ‘Authentic Coffee’? People who want regular coffee can just ask for it without cinnamon.”

“That sounds good. Let’s go with that!”

Shiina and Miko supported the idea. Thank goodness — I couldn’t run this discussion by myself.

“What about the food menu? We should have some light snacks.”

“For easy-to-eat stuff, pre-made sandwiches would be safest. We can tear lettuce and use canned ingredients.”

“Tomo. I like fruit sandwiches!”

“You mean for you to eat? Well, canned fruit should be hygienic enough.”

We adopted Ati’s suggestion, and the menu was set to two types: tuna sandwiches and fruit sandwiches.

Miko clapped her hands together.

“Last is the costumes. Since we don’t have much time, should we just use ready-made ones from Don Quijote?”

“We don’t have much choice. If we had more time we could’ve had more fun with it.”

As Miko and I were about to settle on a compromise, Shiina suddenly raised her hand.

“Hey, since we’re doing this, why don’t we customize them a bit?”

“Customize?”

“Yeah. Add original decorations to the ready-made ones. That should be doable time-wise.”

“Can we put our favorite character badges on them~?”

“I think that’s fine.”

Kume raised her hand and hyped things up. I can feel the extrovert energy.

Miko and I looked at each other.

“This might work. Shiina-chan, can you take the lead on the costumes?”

“Sure. Ati-chan, would you help too?”

“Me?”

Ati’s eyes went wide. Shiina smiled gently.

“Ati-chan’s mom is a fashion designer, right? You also have good taste in clothes and accessories, so I thought you could give us good advice.”

“No one’s ever said that to me before… Shii-chan… I like you♡”

Shiina and Ati gazed at each other. White flowers were blooming in the background.

Hey, yuri even here? Let me join too lol.

— And so, Shiina and Ati took charge of customizing the costumes. Later, I thoroughly taught everyone how to brew coffee and food hygiene rules, and everything was settled.

After that, it was a whirlwind of days. We only had one week until the festival, so we had to prepare everything at full speed. We worked during mornings, lunch breaks, and after school.

— And just like that, the day before the cultural festival arrived. After classes ended, the whole class worked together to turn the classroom into a café. Before we knew it, night had fallen. Only those who could stay continued the final touches.

“Mom said I can stay late. I’m so excited!”

Ati came trotting over with her phone in hand. How wholesome.

“Ati-chan! The costume is coming apart~! This is why cheap stuff is no good!”

“I’ll sew it. Leave it to me!”

“Ati-chii! Can you look at this too~?”

Before I knew it, Ati was at the center of the group. I felt deeply moved seeing how much she had grown.

While I was nodding from the back, Miko tapped my shoulder.

“Tomokun, sorry to ask, but could you go get some late-night snacks?”

“Sure. Everyone’s getting hungry. Convenience store okay?”

“Yeah. Here’s some money. Shiina-chan, can you go with him?”

“Me? Sure!”

And so, I naturally ended up going shopping with just Shiina. Naturally? Or was this arranged? I’m probably the only one sensing ulterior motives. Miko is pretty sharp, after all.

We left school and went to the nearby convenience store. We bought rice balls, sandwiches, and drinks. Since more than half the class was staying, we needed quite a lot. No way I could carry this alone.

“Fufu. This is fun, Okayuu.”

As we walked down the night road carrying bulging plastic bags, Shiina laughed.

“We had a cultural festival last year too, but this year is incomparably more fun.”

“Well, last year we only did boring academic presentations. First-years don’t have proper events, so of course it wasn’t fun.”

“That’s true, but that’s not what I mean. You look like you’re having fun too, Okayuu.”

Shiina bumped my shoulder playfully. Well, last year we didn’t prepare together like this.

While I was searching for words, Shiina turned to me. She grinned, showing her teeth.

“I thought the Okayuu who stands at the front and leads everyone is really cool.”

“…Is that so?”

“Hm? Are you blushing?”

“I’m not blushing! If you can make me blush, you’re pretty impressive!”

“Stop with the fake Kansai dialect~?”

Shiina laughed cheerfully. I naturally smiled too.

The moon hung in the night sky. Under the streetlights, Shiina looked cuter than usual.

I stopped walking. Shiina stopped too and looked at me curiously.

“Okayuu?”

She tilted her head. I spoke casually.

“Hey. Wanna walk around the festival together?”

“The festival? Sure. Should we invite Ati-chan too? Miko-chan will probably be busy though.”

“No, not that. I want to walk around with just the two of us.”

A night breeze passed between us. Shiina, who had been looking puzzled, gradually turned bright red under the streetlight.

“…Eh!?”

What a silly voice. It completely cracked.

I pressed further.

“There’s something I want to tell you tomorrow.”

“Wait. Eh. Uh… yeah… okay.”

Shiina turned into a boiled octopus and nodded shyly. I wonder what face I was making. Only Shiina knows the answer, but she just moved her mouth wordlessly, unable to say anything.

— And so, our once-in-a-lifetime high school sophomore cultural festival was about to begin.

Chapter 87: ‘Cultural Festival Arc ③: The Cultural Festival and the Confession’

Our class’s event, named “Smatabucks Branch 2,” was unbelievably popular.

『Welcome♪ Please take a seat!』

The fragrant aroma of coffee drifted out from the wide-open classroom door, stopping everyone walking down the hallway in their tracks. Drawn in, they joined the line, and once they entered the classroom, they were greeted by top-tier beautiful girls in gorgeous outfits.

“Wow, what a wonderful outfit you’re wearing♪ — Oh, I’ve actually been to that shop before!”

The girl radiating refreshing extrovert energy was Shiina. Anyone who received her customer service would naturally smile. Popular with both boys and girls, she was our café’s star attraction. Thanks to her wide network of friends and club members, she was contributing the most to our sales. The cheap Don Quijote costume had been customized so well it didn’t look cheap at all. She really has great taste.

“W-welcome! Wow, are you two siblings? Fufu, you two look so close, it’s wonderful♪”

The blonde, blue-eyed beautiful girl who stood out even inside the store was Ati. With her earnest service and natural gentle aura, she provided supreme healing to customers of all ages and genders. Her experience from part-time work made her efficient, and she wore the frilly costume perfectly. Many customers let out happy screams like “She’s too cute, like a doll!” Her fanbase was only growing.

“Sorry for the wait! Here’s our café’s specialty ‘Authentic Coffee.’ Eh? A magic spell to make it delicious? Geez, we’re not that kind of shop♪”

Our class idol and student council president — Chayamachi Miko. Her flawless customer service even handled difficult customers with ease. Many people visited just because the famous student council president’s class was running it, and she was subtly promoting the place too. In a way, she was the biggest cheat character. Sorry to the other classes.

These three were at the center, driving the café’s popularity. The flow of customers showed no sign of stopping.

Of course, the coffee I produced also received great reviews. Though honestly, with those three here, even if the coffee tasted like vomit, customers would still come. That’s just how restaurants work. I’m not bitter about it or anything!

“Nn?”

“Ah.”

My eyes suddenly met Shiina’s. She instantly turned bright red and hid her face behind her tray in embarrassment, then quickly escaped to serve the next customer.

She’d been like this all day. Our eyes kept meeting, but the moment they did, she’d look away like she’d been shocked. It was like we were doing a comedy skit.

“Fufu. She’s clearly very conscious of you.”

“Conscious…? — Ah! Tomo, did you already confess?”

Miko and Ati came over and started teasing me. While brewing coffee, I shrugged.

“Not yet. But with her acting like that, I wonder what’ll happen when I do.”

“Don’t you think her feelings are pretty obvious? She wouldn’t act like that otherwise.”

“Tomo, you should just push forward with full force!”

“Yeah, yeah.”

While casually brushing them off, I thought about how I would confess. I had already told her last night to come behind the school building when it was time for a break. All that was left was to actually confess. I just had to steel my resolve.

A little while later, when the crowd finally calmed down, Kume said:

“Kamioka— you can take a break now. The signboard girls too!”

“Got it. I’ll step out for a bit.”

“Aight~”

When I looked around, Shiina had already slipped out of the classroom. I folded my apron and hurried after her down the hallway. My heart was racing. As the moment approached, all my planned lines flew out of my head. After all these years of waiting, there was no need for tricks. I would just tell her how I truly felt—!

“Shiina, I like you!!”

I stopped in my tracks. I heard what sounded like a confession coming from behind the school building.

I quietly peeked around the corner. There was Shiina… and Kimio.

“I finally realized how I feel. I’ve always liked you, Shiina!”

Kimio was confessing with a bright red face. Man, his timing is terrible. This dense protagonist suddenly gets serious at the worst possible moment.

I couldn’t see Shiina’s expression from here. Kimio kept throwing embarrassing lines at her with a flushed face. It was painful to listen to.

Now what? If I jumped out and dropkicked Kimio, I could probably muddy the waters. But that’s not my style. I don’t like the guy, but he still mustered up the courage to confess.

Besides, Shiina had always liked Kimio. She had dreamed of being with him for so long. If I ruined that, it would truly be irreversible.

Damn. What should I do—

“…I’m sorry!”

“!?”

Shiina’s voice made me look up. When I peeked again, she was bowing deeply. Kimio stood frozen with a stunned expression.

She turned him down? Shiina rejected Kimio’s confession?

“…Can you at least tell me why?”

Kimio’s voice was shaking. Shiina spoke as if squeezing the words out.

“I… already have someone I like.”

“——”

My heart, which had cooled down during Kimio’s confession, burned again.

This is… no way.

“I… I see. Be happy… then.”

Kimio stumbled away. It was probably his first time being rejected.

I stepped out and walked toward Shiina.

“Was that okay? I thought you liked him all this time.”

When I placed my hand on her shoulder, she turned around with a tearful smile. No tears were falling, but she looked like she might cry any second.

“I thought so too. But when Kimio confessed… the only face that came to my mind was yours, Okayuu.”

“——”

I trembled with joy. My long-held feelings had finally been answered. And Shiina had broken free from Kimio’s spell. Both things made me incredibly happy.

This was the winning run. I looked straight into Shiina’s eyes.

“Shiina. I think you already know, but I like you.”

“Yeah… I know.”

Shiina clasped her hands behind her back and smiled shyly.

I scratched my cheek awkwardly.

“So… that means you’ll go out with me, right?”

“Why are you so stiff about it?”

“Well, this is my first time confessing to someone.”

“You act so used to dealing with girls, though. That’s surprising.”

“Because I’ve only ever had eyes for you.”

This was my first confession in my entire life. Telling the girl I’ve loved for years how I feel — of course I couldn’t stay calm.

Shiina smiled bashfully.

“…Okay. Let’s date.”

“Yeah. Looking forward to it.”

“…Yeah.”

Shiina quietly closed her eyes. So cute. That “kiss me” face is too much. I placed my hands on her shoulders, closed my eyes, and slowly brought my face closer until our lips met.

It was the happiest and best kiss of my life.

“Shall we head back?”

“Yeah.”

We naturally held hands and started walking.

— When the two of us returned to the classroom, we were greeted by the cheers of our classmates.

“Tomo! Shii-chan! Congratulations!”

『Congratulations!』

Shiina and I stared with wide eyes.

Miko stepped forward from the excited crowd with a half-smile.

“A student from another class said they saw two people holding hands and walking together.”

“It’s already the talk of the whole school! You two really went for it!”

Kume Reina slapped our backs repeatedly. It hurt.

“Uuu… Uuu… Tomo, Shii-chan! I’m so happy for you!”

Ati was crying tears of joy. Shiina and I looked at each other and naturally smiled.

I realized that the rom-com trope where no one in class finds out about your secret relationship is realistically impossible. Especially in this information age.

“Ah…… Aah……”

Kimio, whose brain had been destroyed, had turned to ash in the corner of the classroom.

— And so, Shiina and I officially started dating with the entire class’s approval.

Chapter 88: ‘Cultural Festival Arc ④: Childhood Friend♀ and Cultural Festival Date’

After the lunch rush ended, we finally ran out of instant coffee powder. The sandwiches were also completely sold out. Our café finished with a perfect ending — total sell-out.

“Tomokun. No, Master. Everyone, please say a few words♪”

Urged by Miko, I stepped forward. I scratched my head and said:

“Everyone, good work.”

“Nice one, Master!”

“That was so fun~!”

When I bowed, loud applause erupted. When I looked up, everyone was smiling.

“It was a huge success because Tomokun, our experienced barista, led the way.”

“It’s because everyone worked hard. I didn’t do much except at the very beginning.”

“Tomo, don’t be so modest. You were the best master ever!”

Ati was hyping me up, but honestly, I don’t think I contributed all that much. Our class is just insanely capable.

Feeling embarrassed, I cleared my throat.

“Uh, yeah. You all did great. Alright, dismissed! Go enjoy the rest of the cultural festival.”

“Fufu. You too, Tomokun?”

“Me?”

“Your brand-new girlfriend is waiting for you.”

Prompted by Ati, I looked up and saw Shiina fidgeting. She kept glancing at me. At some point, the entire class was watching us with warm, knowing eyes.

I walked over to Shiina.

“Then… shall we go on a date?”

“…Yeah.”

The moment Shiina smiled and nodded, cheers erupted. Hey, who whistled!?

“Let’s go.”

“Ah. Y-yeah!”

I took Shiina’s hand and left the classroom. I never imagined our class could be this lively before the festival. I’m probably going to get teased a lot for a while.

“Hey, where are we going?”

Shiina looked up at me. I put a hand on my chin and thought.

“You’re hungry, right? We haven’t eaten anything.”

“Yeah. Let’s get something to eat.”

This floor had a lot of food stalls. Delicious smells filled the air. We stopped in front of a particularly spicy aroma.

Shiina’s eyes sparkled.

“Waa, it’s Buldak Pokkumnyeon. Looks delicious♡”

“What? Bullbokki Doppyunmyeon?”

“What kind of ears do you have?”

“When I hear unfamiliar words, they automatically get converted into dirty jokes.”

“That’s just you.”

Shiina’s sharp retort made me laugh. I thought dating would make things all lovey-dovey and embarrassing, but once we got used to it, we were still our usual selves. This is fine.

“Welcome! Hey there, hot new couple! Come eat!”

The stall worker aggressively called out to us. Well, you need that kind of pushiness to attract customers.

“Then we’ll take two of the whatever-pokkum thing.”

“It’s pretty spicy, you okay with that?”

“Yeah, I can handle it.”

“Me too. I love spicy food!”

We said that with full confidence, but—

『IT’S SO SPICYYYY!?!?』

The spicy scent and color of the noodles that came out were far beyond normal cultural festival level. Shiina and I screamed at the same time.

“Our shop’s specialty is extreme spiciness!”

“There’s a limit to that!”

“My tongue is burning…!”

“Earlier a cute blonde girl came and finished it with a cool face though?”

Ati-san! My respect for you only grows.

“Okayuu. Once you get used to it, it’s surprisingly good. It’s spicy but delicious!”

“I’m barely hanging on. I’m probably going to see hell later though.”

After somehow finishing the ridiculously spicy dish, we bought sweet juice to soothe our mouths and headed to the gym. An upperclassman girl had given us a flyer saying there was a band performance.

“We’re ‘ET Motts’! Please enjoy the show!”

An upperclassman I didn’t know strummed a guitar and played cover songs from a band I didn’t know. But they were pretty good. My body naturally started moving to the rhythm.

“Waa, the sound is so powerful. It vibrates in my stomach!”

Shiina seemed to be enjoying it too. She was pumping her fist with real energy. I copied her and raised my fist as well.

After the upperclassmen band played two songs, a group of girls in colorful costumes took the stage. According to the MC, they were a friend idol unit from the second year.

“Please listen to this!”

『Dear Erotic Manga Artist ~Don’t Take Off Her Gym Uniform or I’ll Kill You~』

This wasn’t live band music, but the girls performed a perfectly synchronized formation dance and song to the track.

“In erotic manga, taking off the gym uniform—♪ If you take it off I’ll kill you~♪”

“Cutting the shirt to show nipples is absolutely NG♪”

“Anyone who pokes a hole in bloomers—♪”

『Will be paraded through the streets and burned at the stake~♪』

“Showa-era idol songs really let the old male lyricists go wild with their pervy tastes.”

“It really was a more lenient era, huh.”

We chatted and fully enjoyed the idol live performance——.

…………

……

After that, we went to see Amane and the others from the Second Literary Club. They were selling a copy booklet compiling short stories written by their club members.

『“Victoria, the Chef of the Harem, and a Steak-Sweet Love ~Forcing the Super Handsome Yet Woman-Hating Vegan Prince to Eat ‘Meat’ Without Question!~”』

“Once again, the title is ridiculously long.”

“I tried writing for a female audience this time. Harem story + sweet romance with a handsome woman-hating prince + gourmet food. Girls like this kind of thing, right?”

“Aren’t you one of those girls?”

By the way, Amane’s new work was later posted on Shousetsuka ni Narou and took the daily first place. As expected.

After that, we ran into Ati by chance. When she saw us, she put both hands to her mouth and—

“Hyuu, hyuu— hyuu—!”

“Don’t do that weird whistling.”

She teased us like a pro. Shiina messed up Ati’s silky blonde hair, and Ati happily hugged and playfully clung to Shiina. I watched the whole thing with a calm Buddha-like smile.

Yeah, yuri really is wonderful.

After we had seen everything we were interested in, Shiina and I wanted a breather and headed up to the rooftop. There was a sign saying “Rooftop Access Prohibited!” so no one was there. Well… whatever. Let’s not worry about the details.

“It was so much fun. Every class was really into it.”

“Real-life cultural festivals aren’t bad at all.”

Shiina and I chatted quietly while enjoying the breeze. But we were now a couple. We naturally started touching each other, and before we knew it, we were kissing.

“Nn♡ Okayuu♡ I like you♡ I like you so much♡”

“Aren’t you being a bit too eager?”

“Because I can’t hold back anymore♡”

Shiina looked at me with moist eyes. Her beautiful lips curved into a smile.

“…Is it okay?”

“For real?”

Having sex at school is nothing new at this point, but this is the rooftop. Shiina, you’re way too bold. I love it.

I hugged Shiina tightly.

“Let’s make an unforgettable memory.”

“…Yeah.”

Shiina wrapped her arms around my back and hugged me back tightly——.

Chapter 89: ‘Cultural Festival Arc ⑤: Sex with My Girlfriend for Real’ (End) ♡

“Nchu♡ Nnu♡ Nnn♡ I like you♡ I love you♡”

“Chu, jyuru. Shiina, Shiina…”

We tangled our tongues messily, exchanging saliva as if confirming each other’s feelings. Kissing always feels good, but kissing the girl who feels the same way sends a numbing pleasure through my brain. I felt like I could keep doing it forever.

“Nn. Fufu, it’s poking me. You’re so hard♡”

“Can’t be helped. I’m kissing the girl I like.”

“It’s rare to see you be this honest, Okayuu.”

Shiina traced my cock over my pants with her finger. A jolt of electricity shot up my spine. I let out a choked groan. My cock was twitching wildly inside my underwear, slick with precum — hot yet somehow cool.

“I’ll take it out for you.”

Shiina crouched down, unhooked my pants, and pulled the zipper down. She slowly stroked the freed cock and looked up at me with moist eyes.

“Hey… I already want it inside. My panties are soaked.”

“Yeah. I want to put it in too.”

I reached into the inner pocket of my blazer. The condom should be here—— or so I thought.

“Shit. I’m out of condoms. For real?”

I panicked. Forgetting condoms in this perfect situation? This was beyond a simple mistake.

“Sorry. Let’s do it next time—”

“…It’s okay?”

Shiina looked at me with wet, glistening eyes. What did that “it’s okay” mean? When I tilted my head, she turned her bright red face away with a huff.

“I’m saying… you don’t have to use one.”

“Eh? No, that’s definitely not okay.”

I had firmly decided never to have sex without a condom. If anything happened, I wouldn’t know how to take responsibility.

Shiina took my hand and guided it to her chest. My heart was pounding. I felt both excitement and a strong sense of immorality.

“It’s our first time having sex as lovers. I want to connect with nothing in between… Is that bad?”

“——”

I swallowed hard. Of course I wanted that too if it was allowed. Shiina was saying it was okay even though she understood the risks. It wouldn’t be right for me to hesitate now.

“Shiina!”

“Kyaa!”

I gently pushed Shiina down onto the rooftop. I spread out her blazer like a sheet and laid her on top of it.

“I’ll take responsibility. I’ll cherish you for the rest of my life.”

“Fufu. I’ll cherish you too, Okayuu.”

Shiina wrapped her arms around my back and whispered into my ear.

“We’re partners in crime now.”

A shiver of immorality ran down my spine. We were still students. If she got pregnant, it would be a huge problem. Yet I couldn’t resist the urge. So this is what sex with someone you love feels like.

I opened Shiina’s blazer and unbuttoned her blouse, pushing up her cute light-blue bra to expose her breasts.

“It’s a little cold, huh.”

“Well, it’s almost December.”

My cock was burning hot, my head felt like it was boiling. Rational thought was about to snap in front of my half-naked girlfriend. I pressed my rock-hard cock against Shiina’s pussy. It was incredibly hot there too.

“I’m putting it in.”

“Yeah♡ Do it♡”

Shiina spread her slit with her fingers, showing me her entrance. I pushed the tip against it and sank inside with my weight.

—Zun! Nupupupu!

“Ooh!? Whoa, it’s swallowing me.”

“Nnnnn♡♡♡ It’s so hot♡ My belly feels like it’s burning…♡”

We were raw and connected on the school rooftop. My cock was buried deep inside Shiina’s pussy. Her slippery, scorching hot folds clung to me tightly. It felt unbelievably good. I couldn’t tell if it was because it was raw or because it was with my girlfriend.

“We’re doing something bad, aren’t we♡ Sorry, Mom. Sorry, Dad♡”

Despite her words, Shiina’s face was melted in pleasure. She looked completely lost in ecstasy. I wonder what pathetic face I was making. If there was a mirror, I’d probably want to smash it.

“Sorry! I can’t hold back anymore!”

“Aaaaaah!?♡♡♡”

I had no technique — just raw, desperate pistoning. I held Shiina’s legs up and thrust into her soft, ridged flesh. Lewd, wet sounds echoed across the rooftop.

“Ah♡♡ Auunnn♡♡ Okayuu, I love you♡♡ I love you so much♡”

“I love you too, Shiina! I love you so much!”

This was real, heartfelt sex where we bared our souls. I had done it countless times before, but nothing had ever excited or felt this good. It felt too good. I buried my face in my soft childhood friend’s breasts, thrust wildly, and came in no time.

—Byurururu!! Byugu! Dobyu byugu!!

“Uaaah…! Shit, it’s all getting sucked out…!”

Drool dripped from my mouth as my whole body shook. An unbelievable amount of semen pumped out of my throbbing cock. Unlike sex with a condom, her hot, wet pussy sucked on me during ejaculation. It was milking out my cum!

“Nnuu♡♡ Aha♡ My belly feels so warm♡ I can feel your cum shooting inside♡”

“I really creampied you… Today’s not a dangerous day, right?”

“I don’t know. It feels good, so it’s fine♡”

“Well… we’ll deal with it when it happens.”

Both Shiina and I had gone stupid. Having sex without a condom really turns people into monkeys. I need to be careful.

“Fufu, Okayuu♡ …Ei♡”

Because I was exhausted right after ejaculating, Shiina easily pushed me down. She straddled my still-hard raw cock, rubbed her pussy against it, then slowly lowered her hips.

—Nubububu!!

“Uoh!? I just came, so I’m super sensitive!”

“It’s still rock hard. You can go again, right♡”

Shiina licked her lips while sitting cowgirl-style with my cock buried inside her.

“Since you already came inside once, it doesn’t matter how many more times you do it, right♡”

“Ugh!?”

I groaned. Shiina grabbed my arms and ground her hips hard. Her pussy made loud, wet sounds. The mixture of her love juices and my semen was churning inside her. A thick, sour smell filled the air.

“What a lewd smell♡ It’s making me so horny♡”

Shiina slammed her hips down vigorously. Watching my girlfriend ride me with an ecstatic, trance-like expression pushed my lust past its limit.

—Zucho zucho!! Gucho gucho!!

“Auuuunnn!!♡♡ Okayuu, it feels so good♡ I can’t hold back something that feels this amazing♡”

While slamming her hips, Shiina stole my lips. We exchanged sweet saliva while our lower bodies exchanged even lewder fluids. Raw sex felt incredible. My brain had completely shut down. All I could think about was cumming.

“Ah! Ah! Ah!♡♡ I’m cumming♡♡ I’m cumming from creampie sex!♡♡”

“I’m cumming too! Take it all!”

“Yeah! Yeah♡♡ Okayuu’s cum♡ Fill my pussy♡♡”

We reached orgasm at the same time. We held each other tightly as our limbs and hips convulsed wildly.

“Nnnnnnuuuu!?♡♡♡ Aaaaaah~~~~~~!!♡♡♡”

Shiina let out a high-pitched cry. At the same time, her pussy writhed and squeezed, begging for more cum. I gave her everything, pumping thick loads deep into her womb.

“Haa… That felt way too good. We really did something bad.”

“Fufu. It’d be trouble if I got pregnant… But if it’s your baby, Okayuu, I’ll give birth someday. Sooner or later♡”

Shiina gave me a quick kiss. At moments like this, girls really are the ones with stronger resolve, I thought hazily.

After cleaning up, Shiina put her panties back on. We checked each other’s uniforms to make sure nothing looked messy. By then the sun had completely set, and a bright bonfire was lit on the school grounds.

“It’s the after-party. …Shall we go♡”

“Yeah.”

We walked arm-in-arm through the empty school building and stepped out onto the grounds. Boys and girls were paired up doing folk dances around the bonfire. Last year I would have sneered at the sight, but now I genuinely thought it looked fun.

I held my hand out to Shiina.

“Care to dance with me?”

“…Yes♡”

Shiina smiled shyly and took my hand. We clumsily joined the folk dance.

“Ah♡”

“Hm?”

Shiina suddenly stopped moving.

“What’s wrong?”

She held down the hem of her skirt with a bright red face and answered.

“Um… Okayuu’s stuff… it’s starting to leak out.”

“——”

“What should we do…?”