My Mental Choices Are Completely Interfering with My School Romantic Comedy - Volume 2 Chapter 2.4:

Volume 2 Chapter 2.4:

The day after reporting that Yuragi and the substitute member had been decided, we received a summons from the student council. They wanted us to gather after school in the student council room for a preliminary meeting with the members of the opposing team.

And so, here I was, standing outside the student council room in the special classroom building, alongside Yukihira and Yuuouji.

“What the hell… is this some CEO’s office?”

That was the first thought that escaped my lips as I faced the door. The thick wooden structure radiated an unnatural level of polish, exuding an air of luxury that set it apart from any other classroom doors in the school.

“Seems like the student council has quite the generous budget. If they have money to spare on things like this, they should invest more in classroom facilities instead.”

Yukihira’s comment, for once, was surprisingly reasonable.

“Or, you know, just hand it over to me.”

And that was more like the Yukihira I knew.

“Hoooh…”

Meanwhile, Yuuouji was knocking curiously on the surface of the door.

“Amacchi, this door is super sturdy. I bet even if I went all out with a dropkick, it’d hold up just fine!”

“Yeah, your way of testing durability is completely wrong…”

Just then, an all-too-familiar voice called out from behind us.

“Ah! It’s Onii-chan and the others!”

I turned around. And sure enough…

“Knew it…”

Yuragi approached with a bright, cheerful expression.

“Hmm? Onii-chan, you’re making a face as if there’s something you don’t want in here, what’s up?”

It’s not that I look as if I don’t want something in here, I really do not want you to be here.

But with her arrival, that meant four out of the five members of the “Reject Five” team had gathered.

The only one missing was Yumejima Karasu-senpai, but looking around, there was no sign of them at all. Guess we’ll just go ahead.

I knocked on the door.

“Excuse me, it’s Amakusa from the second year.”

“Oh, come in.”

A voice, likely belonging to Shishimori-senpai, called back almost immediately.

“Pardon the intrusion… Whoa.”

The moment I stepped inside, a gasp of awe escaped me.

The floor was covered in a luxurious carpet, the furniture arranged in a refined, subdued color scheme. The interior design was so opulent, it felt completely disconnected from the rest of the school.

Standing at the front of the room, beside Shishimori-senpai, was the student council president, Kokubyakuin, who greeted us with a smile.

“Sorry for calling you all here on short notice~. The members from the official ranking have already arrived.”

In the center of the room sat an enormous round table, large enough to seat at least twenty people. Seated on the far side were three individuals.

The girl leaning back in her chair with a rather arrogant posture was someone I recognized. Reikadou Ayame. A second-year like me, and if I remembered correctly, ranked fifth in the girls’ rankings.

Next to her sat a boy with a warm, gentle smile. I had never seen him before, so he was probably the first-year substitute member.

And then, there was one more person—someone who seemed oddly withdrawn and nervous.

“Ah! Ouka-chan!”

The moment Yuuouji came into view, the girl’s face lit up with joy, and she hopped up from her seat, practically skipping toward us.

“Oh, Konagi-tan! Yo!”

“Ouka-chan, I was waiting for you! I was getting so nervous surrounded by strangers!”

Soft-spoken yet undeniably cheerful, this was Yawakaze Konagi. Yuuouji’s best friend and one of the top contenders in the girls’ ranking, holding a firm third place.

“Oh Amakusa-kun, you’re joining the competition too?”

Yawakaze turned to me. I had spent some time with her during one of my recent missions, and despite my horrible actions dictated by my absolute choices, she never once showed any resentment. She was probably one of the purest, most sincere people I had ever met.

“Yeah… not that I’m particularly thrilled about it.”

“I totally get that! I’m not really good with these kinds of things either. But I’m glad Ouka-chan won’t be the only familiar face.”

She pressed her palms together and gave a relieved smile. Just seeing her expression was enough to soothe the soul.

“Alrighty~! Now that all four of you are here, let’s get started. Please take a seat. Konagi-san, back to your place too, okay~?”

At Kokubyakuin’s urging, we sat down on the entrance-side of the table, facing off against the official ranking members.

“Now then, thank you all for taking time out of your busy schedules~. Today’s meeting is to get to know one another before the competition.”

Well, since this wasn’t an actual fight, it made sense to introduce ourselves beforehand rather than suddenly competing against complete strangers on the day of the event.

“By the way… where’s Yumejima-senpai?”

I scanned the room. Including myself, there were only nine people present.

The day after we reported that our stand-in was Yuragi, we received a summons from the student council. They wanted to have a face-to-face meeting with all the participants of the interschool competition, so we were instructed to come to the student council room after school.

And so, accompanied by Yukihira and Yuuouji, I arrived at the student council room in the special classroom wing.

“What kind of CEO’s office is this…?”

That was the first thing that slipped out of my mouth as I stood before the door. The heavy wooden door exuded an unnatural luster, radiating a luxurious aura that set it apart from the other classroom doors.

“The student council seems to be swimming in money. If they have funds to splurge on things like this, they should invest more in classroom equipment instead.”

A surprisingly reasonable comment from Yukihira.

“Or they could just hand it over to me.”

Ah, there’s the Yukihira I know.

“Ho-ho~”

Meanwhile, Yuuouji was curiously knocking on the door’s surface.

“Amaaacchi, this door is super sturdy! I bet even if I went full force with a dropkick, it’d hold up just fine!”

“Yeah, see, your method of testing durability is fundamentally flawed…”

“Oh! Onii-chan, there you are!”

And then—an all-too-familiar and unwelcome voice from behind.

“I knew it…”

I turned around to find Yuragi happily trotting toward us.

“Huh? Onii-chan, you look like you don’t wanna be here. What’s wrong?”

It’s not that I look reluctant. I am reluctant.

Well, in any case, that meant that four out of the five members of the “Reject Five” were now gathered.

The only one missing was our senior, Yumejima Karasu. I glanced around, but there was no sign of him. Giving up on waiting, I knocked on the door.

“Excuse me, this is Amakusa from Class 2-1.”

“Oh, come in.”

A voice—likely belonging to Shishimori-senpai—answered immediately.

“Pardon the intru—whoa.”

The moment I stepped inside, I couldn’t help but let out a gasp of awe.

A grand carpet stretched across the floor, and the furnishings were all in rich, subdued tones. The space before me was so opulent, so lavishly Western, that it felt utterly disconnected from the rest of the school building.

At the center of the room stood Kokubyakuin Kaichou, smiling gracefully beside Shishimori-senpai.

“Sorry for summoning you all so suddenly~. The top-ranking students have already arrived~.”

A massive, circular table—big enough to seat at least twenty people—dominated the middle of the room. Seated on the far side were three individuals.

One of them, a girl lounging with an air of confidence, was someone I recognized—Reikadou Ayame. She was in the same year as me and ranked fifth in the female ranking system.

Next to her, a smiling boy sat calmly. I had no memory of ever seeing him before. He was probably the first-year stand-in.

And then there was one more—a student who seemed oddly timid and hunched over.

“Oh, Ouka-chan!”

The moment she spotted Yuuouji, her face lit up, and she hurried over.

“Oh, hey, Konagi-tan! Yaaahoo~!”

“Ouka-chan, I was waiting for you! I was getting so nervous with all these strangers around…”

Yawakaze Konagi—Yuuouji’s best friend and the girl ranked third in the female ranking system.

“Amakusa-kun, you’re in the competition too, huh?”

Konagi turned to me. During the recent mission, I had a fair bit of interaction with her. Even after witnessing my lowest moments thanks to my cursed choices, she remained one of the few who continued to smile at me without disgust.

“Yeah… not exactly thrilled about it, though.”

“Mmm, I totally get that. I’m not great at these things either. But I’m glad there’s someone else I know besides Ouka-chan.”

She pressed her palms together, smiling warmly—so sincerely that just watching her felt calming.

“Alright, alright! Now that you’re all here, let’s get started! Konagi-san, please return to your seat~.”

Following Kokubyakuin Kaichou’s prompting, we took seats opposite the top-ranked members.

“Now then, everyone, thank you for taking time out of your busy schedules~. Today’s gathering is meant to help us get to know one another before the competition~.”

Well, it’s not like we’ll be outright brawling. It makes sense to learn about our opponents beforehand rather than being thrown into a match with total strangers.

“By the way, where’s Yumejima-senpai?”

Counting myself, there were only nine people present.

“…That bastard couldn’t be caught.”

Shishimori-senpai scowled in irritation. Now that I think about it, I’ve heard his name and plenty of rumors, but I’ve never actually seen Yumejima-senpai in person.

“Tch, whatever. No point fussing over it. Let’s just start.”

Still looking annoyed, Shishimori-senpai sat down, while Kokubyakuin-kaichou, ever composed, did the same.

“Alright then, let’s begin with introductions~. We’ll start with the ‘Reject Five.’ Amakusa-san, please go first.”

…Me, huh? Well, considering the chaos that might unfold after this, it was probably for the best to get my turn over with quickly.

Scratching my head lightly, I stood up.

“Amakusa Kanade, Class 2-1. Not really great with these kinds of events, but… yeah, looking forward to it.”

I kept it brief and was about to sit back down when—

“Hold it, Amakusa.”

Shishimori-senpai, arms crossed, shot me a sharp look.

“Listen up. This meeting is about getting to know our opponents. Just giving your name and class tells us jack shit.”

“Uh…”

“You’re a guy, right? You’ve gotta have at least one badass one-on-one fight story. Just share that.”

…Yeah, no. I don’t have anything like that. Also, did he just say one-on-one fight story? This guy’s 100% an ex-delinquent.

As I struggled to process the sheer gap in our values, Kokubyakuin Kaichou offered a lifeline.

“Hmm, perhaps you could share your hobbies or special skills instead~.”

“Hobbies and skills, huh…”

I’ve dabbled in a lot of things, but it’s all been shallow and varied. I don’t really have any one defining hobby, and nothing immediately comes to mind as a special skill either…

“Amakusa-kun, you don’t need to hold back.”

“…Huh?”

Yukihira, seated beside me, suddenly interjected.

“You possess a rather distinguished skill, after all.”

“What are you talking about?”

“Your talent for kiki-chiruin.”

“…What the hell is that?”

“It’s exactly as it sounds—the ability to identify individuals solely by the appearance of their areolae.”

“What kind of insane skill is that?!”

“The only catch is that it applies exclusively to pigs.”

“That’s not a catch—that’s just outright useless!”

“Oh, don’t be so serious. It’s just a Butack joke.”

“Stop making it sound like a ‘Black joke’ ripoff!”

Just… why does she keep coming up with these?

“Alright then~. Amakusa-san’s special skill is pig areola identification, yes?”

“ABSOLUTELY NOT!”

That goes beyond perversion—it’s something else entirely.

“Let’s just say my hobby is reading. No special skills.”

Reading isn’t just some spur-of-the-moment excuse for me. I read all sorts of things—from general fiction to light novels, non-fiction, and even academic books. My bookshelf is packed with a diverse selection of books.

“That’s right! Onii-chan has always loved books ever since he was little!”

…And there goes another unnecessary interruption.

At the word “Onii-chan”, the members from the ranking side look at us with puzzled expressions.

“…What exactly are you saying, Hakoniwa-san?”

Ugh, this is getting annoying. Time to pretend I have nothing to do with this.

“Geez, Onii-chan, why are you talking like I’m some stranger?”

Because you are a stranger to me, that’s why.

“If you keep acting so mean, I’ll spill the secret that Onii-chan only collects lewd books about little sisters!”

“……Hey, is it cool if I punch you in the face?”

“If that’s the shape love takes, then sure!”

“I can’t even put my rage into words right now!”

“A brother who secretly adores his little sister but just can’t express it properly, so he ends up acting all distant… and that’s our dear Kanade. Honestly, what a hopeless guy.”

“Why the hell are you narrating this like it’s a freakin’ Chibi Maruko-chan episode?!”

Nope, I can’t let these guys keep doing whatever they want. This is spiraling out of control.

“P-President! I think I’ve said enough! Let’s move on already!”

“Ara, really~? Well then, next up—Yukihira-san, if you please.”

Without changing her usual deadpan expression, Yukihira quietly rises from her seat.

“Class 2-1, Yukihira Furano. My hobby is volunteer work. My favorite phrase is ‘All humans are siblings.’ The person I respect most is Mother Teresa. My charm points are my playful, stuffed-animal-loving nature and the fact that I’m quite the giggler.”

…I don’t know where she pulls this stuff from, but wow, that was some of the most suspiciously fake self-introductions I’ve ever heard. Well, I do know she’s got the giggling part right, but saying that with a completely straight face isn’t going to convince anyone.

“Oh, and my special skill is kinbaku—kikkou shibari, to be specific.” (T/N: Bondage. Ahem! More explanations at the bottom.)

“WAIT, WAIT, WAIT!”

I can’t not say something about that.

“Don’t misunderstand, Amakusa-kun. I don’t mean kinbaku in an erotic sense. I mean that I specialize in tying ropes around a turtle’s shell.”

“THAT’S EVEN WORSE!”

“It’s just a turtle joke.”

“WHAT EVEN IS THAT?!”

“Oh, and I made sure not to call it a turtle joke in English because last time I did, someone confused it with a turtleneck.”

“Who the hell’s got ears that rotten?!”

“And just so you know, I only select turtles that are confirmed masochists, so it doesn’t count as animal abuse.”

“THAT’S NOT THE ISSUE HERE!!”

Seriously, what the hell is wrong with her…? Look, even Shishimori-senpai is completely taken aback.

Seemingly satisfied after messing around, Yukihira takes her seat, and the President moves on to the next person.

“Alright, alright! I’m next! Class 2-1, Yuuouji Ouka! My favorite foods are curry and hamburg steak! My favorite TV shows are anime and tokusatsu! My least favorite kind of homework is book reports!”

…Are you a grade schooler?

With the same boundless enthusiasm, Yuuouji raises her hand excitedly, prompting the President to speak up.

“Yuuouji-san, your father and I happen to be quite well-acquainted~.”

Yuuouji’s father… that would be Yuuouji Oushin, right? What kind of connection could there possibly be between an ordinary high school girl and the president of UOG?

“Huh? Kaichou-san, you know my dad?”

“Oh yes, he’s helped me out in many ways~.”

“Wow, that’s amazing, Kaichou-san! My dad’s kinda weird, so most people can’t even have a proper conversation with him.”

…Is that really okay for the president of UOG? Well, considering the rumors, he does sound like quite the eccentric. But for Yuuouji—of all people—to call him weird, he must be on a whole different level.

“Oh no, no, your father is a truly fascinating man. He’s told me quite a lot about you, too~.”

“Ah, you mean about how my dad and I still take baths together?”

“PFFT!!”

I couldn’t help but spit out my drink.

“What’s wrong, Amacchi?”

“W-What do you mean what’s wrong?! Are you serious?!”

“Ahaha, no way! Of course not. But you know, when I told him, ‘From now on, I’ll bathe on my own,’ he looked absolutely devastated. He even teared up and said, ‘A-At the very least… I’ll keep bragging to everyone that we still do!’”

“IS HE A CHILD?!”

Seriously, what the hell is going on in the Yuuouji household…? And also, how recent is this ‘a little while ago’? I’m too scared to ask.

“Well then, let’s save your father’s stories for another time. Yuuouji-san, thank you~.”

“Ye~s!”

With that, three out of the four “Reject Five” members present had finished introducing themselves. The only one left… was Yuragi.

Would she be okay…?

When called by the president, Yuragi stood up—but for some reason, she was staring right at me.

“Class 1-8, Hakoniwa Yuragi. I am Kanade Onii-chan’s little sister!”

…Oh boy.

“Uh… You’re missing some important context there, Hakoniwa-san. Maybe elaborate a little?”

At the very least, say something like, ‘I like pretending to be his sister’ or ‘I enjoy acting like his little sister.’

“Everyone, he’s just embarrassed and pretending not to know me, but I am his actual little sister.”

“DON’T JUST CASUALLY DROP THE WORD ‘ACTUAL’ IN THERE!”

“Okay then, I’m his half-sister.”

“WHAT DO YOU MEAN ‘OKAY THEN’?! WE’RE NOT EVEN REMOTELY RELATED!”

“We don’t share a father or mother, but I’m still his little sister.”

“THAT JUST MAKES YOU A COMPLETE STRANGER!”

“I am a little sister who just happens to be called a stranger.”

“YOU’RE JUST MAKING THINGS UP NOW!”

This girl is hopeless… just completely hopeless…

“Amakusa, what the hell is going on with this girl? You’re an only child, aren’t you?”

Shishimori-senpai throws a perfectly reasonable question my way.

“Actually, I’m not just Kanade Onii-chan’s little sister. I am the little sister of all humanity! That means I’m your little sister too, Souga-Onii-chan~.”

“Wha…t?”

For a split second, Shishimori-senpai’s face twitched.

“Hm? What’s wrong, Souga Onii-chan?”

“…Stop that.”

What’s going on…? Something about Shishimori-senpai’s reaction seems off.

“Oh? Ohh~?”

Just as I was starting to feel like something about this was unnatural, Yuragi turned her gaze toward me.

“Could it be, Kanade Onii-chan… you’re jealous that I’m calling another guy Onii-chan?”

“No… not even a little. If anything, I’d love for you to go call someone else that.”

“Don’t worry! My real Onii-chan is and always will be Kanade Onii-chan, so rest easy!”

“Can you listen to what I’m saying…?”

Also… what the hell is a real Onii-chan supposed to be…?

“Enough… just end the introductions on that side already.”

Shishimori-senpai, looking thoroughly exasperated, forcefully shut things down.

“Fufu, as expected of the ‘Reject Five’~.”

In contrast, Kokubyakuin-kaichou remained completely unfazed. She clapped her hands lightly and shifted her gaze toward the opposite side.

“Now then, let’s move on to the official ranking side~.”

Man, that introduction segment felt endless… and we’re only halfway through? Well, at least it’s the main group from here on out. There shouldn’t be any more weird developments.

“Alright, Yawakaze-san, if you would~.”

“Y-Yes!”

Called out first, Yawakaze stood up with a visibly tense expression.

“U-Um… I’m Konagi Yawakaze from Class 2-15… P-Please take care of me. Uhh, umm… a-and also…”

Whether it was due to nerves or being overwhelmed by the atmosphere, she hesitated and fumbled over her words.

Seeing this, Shishimori-senpai interjected.

“Yawakaze, I can see that you’re not good at this kind of thing. But a battle’s a battle. Since you’re participating as part of my team, I won’t allow you to act all weak-kneed. The enemy’s right in front of us. If you’re gonna introduce yourself, do it with impact.”

As always, Shishimori-senpai was in full-blown delinquent mode. But far from motivating Yawakaze, his words only made her shrink further into herself.

“Y-Y-Yes! Um… I-I’ll do my best not to lose! B-But, I don’t really see this as a battle or anything… I just think it’d be nice if we could all have fun… R-Right, Ouka-chan?”

Desperately seeking support, she turned to Yuuouji with pleading eyes.

Yuuouji grinned from ear to ear and shot her a thumbs-up.

“Nope!”

A total and utter rejection.

“Fufu, too naive… far too naive, Konagi-tan! Now that we’ve reached this point, we are enemies! Until the event, don’t even think about talking to me!”

“T-That’s so mean…!”

Clearly enjoying herself, Yuuouji crossed her arms dramatically and declared in a loud voice:

“Fuhaha! Just you wait, one of the Four Dark Lords, ‘Konagi the Grand Emperor’! I shall utterly and completely defeat you!”

…No, I don’t care how you phrase it, you’re the villain in this scenario.

“On the day of the event, like true sentai heroes, all five of us will gang up and crush the Grand Emperor Konagi!”

“EHHH?!”

“Why the hell are we suddenly a super sentai squad?”

“Because ‘Reject Five’ kinda sounds like one, don’t you think?”

Now that she mentioned it… ‘Eccentric Sentai: Reject Five!’

…Yeah, no one would ever watch this crap.

By the way, in my personal ranking, the best Sentai is Dekaranger. No arguments allowed. Also, the best Rider is Faiz (555). That one? Absolutely no arguments allowed.

“T-Then I’ll just call the other Four Dark Lords to come help me!”

Yawakaze, ever the serious one, played along with the setting perfectly.

“Fufufu… that won’t work. The ever-so-kind Konagi the Grand Emperor always shows mercy to humans and never finishes them off, so the other Dark Lords despise her!”

Konagi the Grand Emperor… turns out, she’s such a good person.

“And then, we will crush the isolated and forsaken Konagi the Grand Emperor… with our colossal robot!”

…Seriously, which one of you is supposed to be the villain here?

“I really… really don’t want to fight you, Ouka-chan…”

“Kufufu… Konagi the Grand Emperor, even if you make such a sorrowful face, your allies will not come to save you~.”

Just as Yuuouji was spewing some textbook minion-tier villain lines, full of flags waiting to be tripped—

“Hey, you. What exactly do you think you’re doing? Letting these people walk all over you like that?”

…And just like that, a comrade appears.

A girl, who had been lounging back in her seat, smoothly stood up.

“Class 2-10, Reikadou Ayame. My hobbies include art appreciation, and my special skill is piano performance.”

Sharp eyes, finely shaped and arched brows, an expression that carried an air of condescension—she gave off an overall intense impression. But there was no denying it: she was stunningly beautiful.

That said, her face and aura were completely secondary details. Because when it came to describing this girl named Reikadou Ayame, there was only one thing that demanded attention—

Her chest.

No matter how hard I tried not to look, no matter how much I forced myself to ignore it, my eyes kept getting drawn to that… utterly colossal phenomenon. We were talking beyond the realm of big. This was entering the domain of explosive.

“Yawakaze-san, you may sit down now. You’re done.”

“Ah… o-okay.”

She swept back her hair as she spoke to Yawakaze, and even in that brief motion, her chest bounced with a life of its own.

…But setting that aside, it didn’t seem like she helped Yawakaze out of camaraderie. If anything, she seemed annoyed.

“Seriously, how could such a meek little potato like you end up in third place?”

“Ahaha… s-sorry…”

Yawakaze offered an apologetic smile, but Reikadou’s gaze remained icy. Judging by the fact that she was ranked fifth, it was very clear she wasn’t thrilled about Yawakaze placing above her.

Honestly, it wasn’t surprising. Everything about her demeanor screamed high self-esteem.

That aside… seriously. Her chest was insane.

I mean, I’m not one of those guys who thinks bigger is always better when it comes to breasts or anything, but even I had to admit—this was on a whole different level. With that kind of visual impact, it wasn’t hard to see why she got votes despite her personality.

In fact, among the guys in my class, there was a whole meme going around:

“Absolute Perfection, the Untouchable No.1 (Kokubyakuin Kaichou).”

“The Clumsy Girl Moe Factor, the Adorable No.3 (Yawakaze).”

“And at No.5, Boobs.”

Yeah. That was literally it. Just Boobs.

That wasn’t all, though.

Reikadou had another voter demographic aside from Oppai Enthusiasts.

Her sharp personality had apparently devoted worshippers among the hardcore M crowd—guys who thrived on being verbally dominated.

And yet… seriously. Her chest is ridiculous.

“Amakusa-kun, I do believe you are staring at her ‘paiotsu’ far too blatantly.”

“PFFFT—!”

Yukihira’s sharp remark snapped me back to reality.

…Crap. I was completely unconscious of it, but was I really staring that hard?

“So… boys really do prefer bigger chests, huh?”

“Hm? Did you say something?”

Yukihira muttered something under her breath, but her voice was so faint that I couldn’t make it out.

“…It’s nothing.”

That’s when Reikadou’s sharp voice cut through the air.

“Hey. You. The scrawny-looking boy over there.”

“Huh? Scrawny? …You mean me?”

“Yes, you. To be precise, the boy with the tragically unfortunate-looking face.”

…Wow. This girl is seriously awful. I mean, sure, I won’t deny I have a face that screams “bad luck,” but still…

“I understand that, as a man, your gaze naturally gravitates toward my chest, so I shall overlook it. However, at the very least, have the decency to steal glances subtly. Being openly ogled like this is beyond distasteful.”

“…Was I really staring that obviously?”

“That’s exactly what I’m telling you.”

“Ahaha, Amacchi, you were looking way too boldly.”

“Onii-chan, you’re filthy… but somehow, that excites me.”

Immediate responses from my so-called allies. That last one, though—what the hell is wrong with you?

“…Yeah, uh, my bad.”

I gave a proper bow in apology. Even if it had been totally unconscious, if I’d been staring so blatantly that anyone could tell, that was straight-up sexual harassment.

Reikadou, after receiving my apology, let out a small scoff before shifting her gaze to Yukihira.

“And you. The flat-chested girl over there—drop your petty jealousy.”

“Hi… Hin… nyuu?”

In that instant, Yukihira froze completely.

…Shit. This is bad. Yukihira and the topic of small breasts do not mix. I still remember how she annihilated the MC when the school broadcast made fun of her for it.

“Reikadou-san… If I misheard you, then I deeply apologize. But did you just explicitly state, with no attempt at euphemism, that my ‘paiotsu’ are lacking in abundance?”

She was still expressionless—but oh, she was pissed. I could tell because her temple was twitching.

“Hah? You’re being so roundabout I can’t even tell what you’re saying. I said you’re flat-chested.”

“…You said it twice.”

She muttered it under her breath, in the exact same tone Amuro used when Bright slapped him.

“Fufun. And I’ll say it not just twice, but as many times as I please. Stop being jealous, flat-chest.”

Reikadou wore a wickedly amused smirk. She was one of those types—people who naturally put others down just to feel superior.

“Thrice… I now recognize you as an extermination target.”

…Oh, this is bad.

“Honestly, I can’t stand you lot. You’re the so-called ‘Reject Five.’ You should just accept your pathetic label and keep your heads down instead of trying to act like you’re on our lev—”

“Shut your mouth, you rotten paiotsu.”

“…What?”

“Oh? Did you not hear me? I called you a rotten paiotsu.”

“W-Wha—! What’s with that disgusting term?!”

“Disgusting? You dare say that while possessing such a vile pair of paiotsu?”

“W-What exactly is vile about my chest?!”

“The skin tone and the darkened areas, I’d say.”

“That’s… That’s my entire chest!”

“Oh my, so you’ve admitted your pairin are darkened.” (T/N: Nipples.)

“N-No! That’s not—J-Just shut up!”

Reikadou’s face was turning red by the second.

Ahh… yeah, she’s one of those. The type who loves dishing out sharp words but has zero tolerance for being roasted herself.

…Also, Yukihira. Pairin? Really? That word somehow sounds way more vulgar than just saying “areola.”

After a few seconds, Reikadou seemed to have calmed down a little and attempted a counterattack.

“H-Hmph! In the end, this is just the bitter jealousy of a flat chest.”

Yukihira must have expected such a weak comeback. With her usual expressionless face, she coolly fired back.

“That may very well be the case, oh grand and mighty Dekapaiotsu-sama. But if you’re truly that confident in your chest, why don’t you try ending every sentence with ‘paiotsu’?”

“Hah? What nonsense are you—”

“I am Reikadou Ayame de paiotsu. My chest is gloriously large, and I am proud of it, paiotsu.”

“W-Wait just a—”

“Oh my, that boy over there is staring at my paiotsu, paiotsu. Fufu, what should I do, paiotsu? Should I flash him just a little, paiotsu~?”

“Wh-What’s with that braindead dialogue?!”

That’s when Yukihira suddenly turned toward me, cutting off the flow of the conversation entirely.

“Oh, right, Amakusa-kun. I just came up with a groundbreaking idea.”

“H-Hey! Don’t just start talking to someone unrelated!”

“You know how in manga and anime, they censor inappropriate words with beeps or those little black bars? I’ve always thought that was a bit too mechanical. Kind of boring, don’t you think?”

“Uh… I guess?”

“So, I figured, why not replace all the outlawed words with ‘paiotsu’? Wouldn’t that add some entertainment value?”

“Yeah, see, there’s a fundamental flaw in your premise. The word ‘paiotsu’ itself is already borderline inappropriate.”

“Y-Yukihira-san! You’re in the middle of an argument with me—”

“Well, let’s give it a try, just to see how it works.”

“H-Hey! Stop ignoring me!”

“Tarou pressed his throbbing paiotsu against Hanako’s paiotsu, dampened with moisture—”

“That’s a HARD OUT, NO QUESTION!”

“Oh? Then let’s try a different approach.”

“If you keep this up, I’m seriously going to get mad!”

“‘There’s no way my paiotsu could be this paiotsu.’”

“That’s literally just a title parody!”

“‘My paiotsu and your paiotsu are simply too paiotsu.’”

“That’s more than half the sentence being paiotsu!”

“Oh? Well then, let’s try the next one—”

“P-Please, just pay attention to me already!”

Reikadou’s desperate cry echoed throughout the room.

“Oh my, if it isn’t Rotten Paiotsu-san.”

“S-Shut up!”

…Which is it?

“Ugh… uuu… mocking me like this…”

Cornered and frustrated, Reikadou let out an exasperated shriek.

“Y-You… Pechapai!” (T/N: Pettanko Oppai, Pecchanko for cute effect, so Pechapai. It means flat chested,)

“—!”

Oh… Yukihira took damage from that one.

It wasn’t just teasing this time—it was an emotional outburst, raw and desperate. That probably made the impact even worse.

“Pechapai, pechapai, pechapai!”

“…How should I torment you next I wonder?”

…Crap. If this keeps going, it’s gonna spiral into absolute chaos. I should really put a stop to this before it gets any worse—

【Choose: ① “Alright, alright, enough with the pointless fight.” ※ Say it while pinching your own nipple. ② “Pai-pai, enough with the pointless fight.”】

…How utterly foolish. Even though this is happening inside my own head, it’s still so unbelievably foolish.

Seriously, are you stupid?

“Guh!”

Maybe my brain didn’t like being insulted, because a sharp headache struck.

Damn it… Looks like I have no choice but to say it.

“Pai-pai, enough with the pointless fight.”

“Excuse me, but could you not make light of a serious discussion about paiotsu?”

“That’s right! Outsiders should keep quiet!”

They scolded me.

“Ah… y-yeah… My bad.”

I retreated, utterly defeated.

And thus, with no one left to intervene, the battle of the breasts raged on. The outcome?

“Ugh… Wh-What’s with that girl…?”

Reikadou slumped her shoulders, staring at the floor with teary eyes.

Well, she was the one who started the fight, so it’s kinda self-inflicted, but… Yukihira’s counterattack might have been a bit excessive.

“Fufu, how heartwarming~.”

…That? Heartwarming?

Yeah, no. This person is definitely a little off in the head.

Kokubyakuin-kaichou—who had been silent up until now—suddenly shifted her gaze toward one of the boys in the room.

“Alright then, Yoshihara-san, if you would~.”

The boy gave a short “Yes” and smoothly stood up.

“First-year, Class 11, Yoshihara Toya. My hobbies? Girls. My favorite thing? Girls. My purpose in life? Girls.”

…Oh god. Another weirdo just showed up.

The first-year who called himself Yoshihara approached us with a gentle, beaming smile.

Then, standing directly in front of Yukihira, he gazed intently into her eyes.

“Yukihira Furano-san, excuse me for a moment.”

Before anyone could react, he took her hand—

—and lightly kissed the back of it.

“…How exactly should I interpret this?”

A brief pause. Then, Yukihira asked in her usual deadpan tone.

“Oh, just a greeting. A greeting. With such a breathtakingly beautiful girl before me, how could I not offer at least one kiss?”

…Wow. That line was so corny, I think it just escaped Earth’s orbit.

Is there any girl out there who would actually be happy to hear something so obviously rehearsed?

“Hmph. You seem to understand things quite well.”

…There is!?

“Yukihira… You’re way too easy.”

With a completely straight face, Yukihira replied,

“Amakusa-kun, you’re misunderstanding something. I simply suffer from extremely dry skin, and his saliva helped moisturize it. That’s all.”

“THAT’S A MASSIVE STRETCH!”

She was absolutely happy about it.

Well, after getting called flat-chested a dozen times today, she probably took the compliment way harder than she normally would.

“Regardless, I’m not the kind of woman who’d be swayed by the words of some young upstart.”

…Young upstart?

He’s literally only one year younger than you.

“Come on now, no need to force yourself and put on a front, Furano-san.”

“A front? I wonder what exactly you mean by that.”

“You see, it’s been this way since forever, but… for some reason, when I lay eyes on a girl, I can pretty much figure her out instantly.”

“Would you mind being a little more specific?”

“Oh, come on now, don’t play dumb. You pretend to be a weirdo, but deep down, you’re actually pretty innocent, aren’t you? Even that little ‘oh no, I’m kind of happy’ moment earlier—wasn’t that just an act to hide your true feelings? In reality, you were so embarrassed from the kiss that you wanted to curl up and disappear, but you desperately held yourself together, didn’t you? Ahh, that gap in personality is simply marvelous!”

…Yukihira? Innocent? Faking her eccentricity?

What the hell is this guy talking about?

There’s no way that’s… huh? Wait a sec.

“A gap…? That kinda… sounds familiar…”

Somewhere deep in my brain, a memory stirred—

It felt like something buried in my subconscious had just been jabbed awake.

What is this…?

I feel like I’m right on the verge of connecting Yukihira and gap to some key memory…

“That’s it! The rooftop! Yukihira, back then on the rooftop, you—”

“──!?

The instant those words left my mouth, Yukihira’s eyes widened in shock.

“H-Hey, what’s wrong, Yuki—OW!?”

A massive impact struck my head.

…Wait.

Was that… a fist?

Did she seriously just punch me in the head?

“Apologies. I happened to see a tarantula, a viper, and a pufferfish all sitting on your head at the same time. Naturally, I had to crush them with all my might.”

“WHAT KIND OF SITUATION IS THAT!?”

Actually, wouldn’t it be way worse if all three of those things got smashed ON my head!?

“…Yoshihara-kun, do you see any benefit in continuing this conversation?”

Turning away from me, Yukihira fixed Yoshihara with an intense stare.

“Haha, I see your point. Let’s stop here, Furano-san. After all, making a lady uncomfortable isn’t really my thing.”

Still wearing that easygoing smile, Yoshihara shifted his gaze away from her.

Even so… what did happen on that rooftop?

Back when I made Yukihira laugh during that mission, I feel like… something else happened too.

But no matter how hard I try, I just can’t remember…

“Ouka Yuuouji-san.”

Yoshihara’s voice yanked me out of my thoughts.

“Yes, yes~!”

Before I knew it, he was standing right next to Yuuouji.

And without missing a beat, he took the hand opposite to the one she raised energetically—

—and lightly kissed the back of it.

“Ohhh! A kiss! A kiss!”

Yuuouji clapped her hands like an excited child.

“Ahh, how wonderful. The contrast between your overflowing, pure-hearted innocence and your already mature and developed body… This imbalance, this contradiction—it creates a charm so utterly irresistible!”

…This guy.

How the hell can he spit out these kinds of embarrassing lines so effortlessly?

Is this what they call a natural-born womanizer?

“By the way, Yuuouji-san, have you ever dated a guy before?”

“Nope!”

“I figured as much. Judging from what I see, your mind hasn’t quite reached the stage where you can experience romantic feelings yet… but—”

Yoshihara paused briefly before continuing.

“There is, however, the slightest trace of blossoming femininity within you. Tell me, has anything happened recently?”

“Happened? Like what?”

“Let’s see… for example, have you had a moment with a guy that made your heart skip a beat? Or something that embarrassed you?”

For a moment, Yuuouji’s gaze wandered through the air. Then, with a sudden clap of her hands—

“Oh! Now that you mention it, the other day, someone saw my pant—mgh!”

Mid-sentence, she choked on her words.

“No, no, nope! Forget I said anything!”

Uncharacteristically flustered, she waved her hands around in a frenzy.

Then, just for the briefest moment, she glanced at me—

Only to immediately look away, her face tinged with a faint shade of red.

…What the hell?

Did she almost blurt out that I saw her underwear the other day but got too embarrassed halfway through?

But just now, she was talking about bath stuff without a care in the world…

I seriously can’t figure out Yuuouji’s standards for embarrassment.

Yoshihara, meanwhile, watched her with an amused smile.

“Oh ho… looks like that little bud is growing faster than I thought. I gotta say, Amakusa-senpai, you’ve got that innocent virgin look about you, but turns out you’ve got some moves after all.”

“What the hell is an innocent virgin look!?”

“Onii-chan, even if you’re a virgin, I still love you!”

“THIS ISN’T THE TIME FOR YOU TO JUMP IN!”

…Seriously, what is it with the girls in my squad?

The second they see an opening, they always jump right into the conversation.

“Hmm?”

The phone in my pocket vibrated.

Oh, right. Just now, Yuragi totally blurted out that she likes me.

Alright, even if she was the easiest possible target, there’s no doubt I’ve gotten closer to clearing the mission. If nothing else, picking Yuragi as my helper was definitely the right call.

Meanwhile, Yoshihara took another step forward—toward Yuragi this time.

…Why the hell does this guy go out of his way to flirt with every girl when he’s supposed to be introducing himself?

“Hakoniwa Yuragi-san.”

“What is it, Momoya-oniichan?”

Yuragi… So she’s sticking to the little sister act, even with classmates?

Her commitment is unshakable.

Yoshihara took Yuragi’s hand and placed a kiss on the back of it.

It was disgustingly smooth and flirtatious—but damn it, he somehow made it look effortlessly cool, which only made it more irritating.

“N-No, Onii-chan! We’re siblings… we can’t…!”

Why is she blushing?

Is she really that deep into her little sister persona?

Is she stupid?

Is she gonna die?

“That’s where you’re mistaken, Yuragi. Before true love, blood ties mean nothing.”

—And he went along with it!

“I-If Onii-chan says so… then, I guess it’s okay.”

“WHAT exactly is okay!? Why is this moving so damn fast!? What kind of eroge is this!?”

The absurdly rapid escalation left me utterly drained.

I mean, I like a good story with some buildup, you know?

…Wait, why the hell am I even thinking about this?

“Oh, and just so you know, I was born in the last third of March, so technically, you’re the older one here.”

“Oh! Then you’re a younger Onii-chan!”

“You’re just doing whatever the hell you want now!”

“Ahh, I see! If we think of this as a certain kind of roleplay… then, it’s actually kinda nice.”

…I give up. I cannot keep up with the conversation between these degenerates.

As I sat there, exhausted, Yuragi cheerfully snuggled up to me.

“Hmm? Kanade-oniichan, why do you look kinda grumpy? Could it be… you’re jealous because I flirted with another Onii-chan—”

“We’re not doing this!”

Yoshihara watched our back-and-forth with an ever-present grin.

“Yuragi-san, your true nature is… hmm, actually, this would take a while, so let’s just leave it at that. Three completely different types of girls—yes, I’d say that was quite a satisfying experience.”

Having completely wrapped things up on his own, Yoshihara sauntered back to his seat, thoroughly pleased with himself.

The moment he sat down, Kokubyakuin-kaichou took the opportunity to speak up.

“Now then, allow me to add a little supplementary information~.”

“Based on my research, the number of female students currently dating Yoshihara-san has already exceeded ten.”

…Wait, seriously?

It hasn’t even been two months since school started, and he’s already over ten…?

“What’s most notable, however, is that not a single one of them has expressed dissatisfaction or jealousy toward the others. It’s truly a miraculous level of aftercare. At this rate, he’s expected to be a top contender for the next ranking period.”

“My policy is simple—any girl who has intertwined… ahem, interacted with me shall be happy. I will love them all equally, no matter how many there are.”

…Wow. He said that with such a refreshingly pure smile.

But the actual content of his words is garbage.

Seriously, this guy is hitting on every girl he meets at this point.

Wait… does that mean he pulled the same stunt with the official ranking members who got here earlier?

Sensing my thoughts from the direction of my gaze, Yoshihara shifted his attention toward Yawakaze.

“Ah, of course, I made sure to introduce myself to these lovely ladies as well. Konagi-san’s reaction was adorable.”

“Huh? I—I, u-uhh…”

Suddenly thrown into the conversation, Yawakaze seemed to recall something—her face turned crimson as she looked down.

“As for Reikadou-san, well… she fell for me completely.”

“Wha—!? W-What are you talking about!? I—I did not fall for you!”

Reikadou instantly slammed her hands on the desk and shot to her feet.

Looks like she finally recovered from Yukihira’s verbal assault.

“I’ve flirted with many girls in my time, but I’ve never seen someone fall so easily before.”

“I DID NOT FALL FOR YOU!!”

“Haha, I was just joking. You’re so cute.”

“Wha—?! C-Cute, you say?! How dare you tease your senpai…!”

“I never joke when complimenting a woman. You really are cute.”

“U… Auu…”

…Reikadou-san is this close to falling.

“By the way, Kokubyakuin-kaichou had her guard up. She wouldn’t let me kiss her.”

“Fufu~. Even if it’s just on the hand, I’ve decided that my lips are reserved only for the man I truly love~.”

“I suppose that’s fair, but still… Kokubyakuin-kaichou, could you ease up a little? Your heart is locked up so tight that I can’t read anything from you.”

“A maiden’s heart is a complicated thing~.”

Kokubyakuin-kaichou and Yoshihara exchanged bright smiles…

No, wait—why does this feel so unsettling?

“Now then, let’s have Shishimori-san introduce himself~.”

Kaichou clapped her hands lightly, and just as everyone’s attention turned to Shishimori-senpai—

“Kanade-san!”

“Huh?”

The door slammed open, and Chocolat came bounding into the room.

“Y-You… What are you doing here? I told you to wait in the classroom.”

“I’m hungry!”

…And?

As if to emphasize her point, her stomach let out a monstrous growl—guuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu.

“I’m hungry!”

…Yeah, and?

“…You already had an extra-large bento, not to mention all the snacks people gave you today.”

“They’ve long since been digested and absorbed into my body. My digestive system operates on a different level compared to others.”

Why the hell is she proud of that…?

With this already chaotic bunch gathered here, adding Chocolat into the mix is just asking for disaster.

I need to kick her out immediately—

“Th… This is…!”

A loud clatter rang out.

I turned my head in alarm—only to find Yoshihara standing up so abruptly that he knocked over his chair.

For some reason, his whole body was trembling.

“What the hell’s wrong with you?”

Yoshihara completely ignored Shishimori-senpai’s question.

Instead, he bolted straight toward Chocolat and grasped both of her hands firmly.

“Please, marry me!”

“…Hweh?”

…Wait, what?

“What’s your name?”

“Chocolat, but…?”

“Chocolat-san… This is the first time. In all my experiences with women, my very soul has never been shaken like this before. You are… perfect!”

“Huh? I’m… perfect?”

…What the hell is this guy saying?

“It was love at first sight. No, I won’t even ask for marriage. Let’s start with making children first.”

“THAT’S NOT HOW THE ORDER WORKS!”

What is this insane turn of events?!

But judging by Yoshihara’s tone—so drastically different from before—he doesn’t seem to be joking.

“Ahh, my apologies. I got too excited and lost control for a moment. How about we step out for a bit? Maybe head over to the gym storage room? I’d love to have a private conversation with you.”

Yoshihara naturally slid his arm around Chocolat’s shoulder.

“H-Hold it right there!”

I reflexively grabbed Yoshihara’s arm.

“Huh? Why is Amakusa-senpai interfering? I’m just having a conversation with Chocolat-san.”

Well… yeah, technically, that’s true, but—

“A-Anyway! No means no!”

That… wasn’t even remotely a logical argument.

“I don’t really understand, but… if Kanade-san says no, then I won’t go.”

The moment Chocolat said that, Yoshihara took a single step back.

“Chocolat-san, what exactly is your relationship with this Amakusa-senpai?”

“Relationship? Well… I exist to take care of Kanade-san!”

She looked up at me with a radiant smile.

“…I see. It seems he trusts you quite a lot.”

Well, “trust” isn’t exactly the right word—“clingy” is more like it.

Just then, Shishimori-senpai’s sharp voice cut through the air.

“Oi, you lot—enough already. I didn’t gather you here for some dumb love drama.”

“Ah, my apologies. Then, Chocolat-san, let’s continue this conversation later.”

With that, Yoshihara smoothly returned to his seat. His usual cheerful smile was back, but… somehow, it felt creepier than before.

…Well, I’ll deal with Yoshihara later.

For now, I need to figure out how to handle Chocolat.

“Chocolat, you’re just going to make things more complicated, so get—”

“Since she’s already here, why don’t we have Chocolat-san join in on the discussion? Just take a seat anywhere~.”

Before I could finish, Kaichou chimed in with an unnecessary comment.

“Thank you very much!”

“Hey, wait—”

Before I could stop her, Chocolat had already plopped down into a seat.

“Tch… well, there’s only two introductions left. As long as you behave—WAIT, WHY THE HELL ARE YOU SITTING ON MY LAP?!”

As if it were the most natural thing in the world, Chocolat had perched herself right on my lap.

“I was told I could sit anywhere.”

“THAT DOESN’T INCLUDE HERE!”

“Kanade-san, your reactions are hard to understand.”

“SHUT UP!”

I grabbed her by the scruff of the neck and forcibly lifted her off.

“Uuu… such misfortune…”

Looking dejected, Chocolat settled down beside me instead.

…The only misfortune here is your train of thought.

Kaichou, who had been watching the scene unfold with an amused smile, shifted her gaze toward Shishimori-senpai.

“All right~! Now then, Shishimori-san, let’s hear your introduction once more~.”

Shishimori-senpai let out a sigh, looking thoroughly exasperated as he stood up.

“Tch… You lot sure took your damn time… but whatever. I guess it’s a bit late for formalities. I’m Shishimori Souga, Class 3-5. Student Council Vice President. Special skill: all sports. Like I said earlier, even if this is just an event, a competition is still a competition. I’ll crush you with everything I’ve got, so be ready.”

“All sports,” huh… He said that like it was nothing, but the scary part is—he’s not exaggerating.

During last year’s sports festival, he went toe-to-toe with every club’s ace-level players across multiple events.

His academic performance is also consistently top-tier…

He’s basically the male version of Yuuouji—a ridiculously high-spec monster.

“Okaaay! I have a question for Souga-oniichan!”

Suddenly, Yuragi raised her hand.

“I’m not your damn oniichan.”

Shishimori-senpai shot her a look of utter distaste, but Yuragi remained completely unfazed.

“Aha, that! Earlier too, when I called you ‘oniichan,’ you looked super disgusted, didn’t you?”

Yeah… I noticed that as well.

I mean, anyone would feel uncomfortable if a stranger suddenly called them “big brother,”

but even with that in mind, Shishimori-senpai’s reaction seemed way too extreme.

“Actually~, Shishimori-san has five younger sisters—one in every grade from sixth grade to first-year high school, all born in consecutive years~.”

Kaichou casually provided the explanation from the side.

…One brother, five sisters? That’s some lineup.

“Kokubyakuin, quit running your damn mouth.”

Even as he shot her a sharp glare, Kaichou remained completely unfazed.

“And~ those sisters adore Shishimori-san! Every single day, they shower him with endless affection. But… their idea of ‘affection’ is a bit too intense, so Shishimori-san really struggles to deal with them.”

“WHY DO YOU KNOW THAT?!”

“Because it’s interesting~.”

“…That didn’t answer my question at all.”

But seriously, what kind of ridiculous harem setup is this, where all his little sisters adore him? He’s already the most powerful riajuu in school as it is. Explosion… no, at least evaporate or something. (T/N: Riajuu -> Normie.)

“Those girls, I swear… After a bath, they cling to me with nothing but a towel, beg me to go lingerie shopping with them, sneak into my room at night and crawl into my futon… There’s not a single moment of peace in my own house.”

…What is this? A tragic tale disguised as an absurdly smug brag? No, I get it. I can tell he has absolutely no intention of boasting, and he’s genuinely fed up with it… but for some reason, I can’t help but feel an irrational surge of anger welling up.

“Anyway… thanks to those girls sticking to me like glue since they were kids, I can’t handle girls who come at me with affection.”

I’d heard before that Shishimori-senpai never accepted any confessions from girls, but so that was the reason behind it.

“Amazing, Souga-oniichan! Having six little sisters in real life… You’re basically the King of Big Brothers!”

Yuragi casually included herself in the sibling count.

“Hakoniwa, you… Were you even listening? I told you to quit it because you’re reminding me of them.”

“Oh, sorry. Did I overlap with one of the five?”

“That’s not the problem here!”

Even as Shishimori-senpai raised his voice, Yuragi remained completely unfazed, pressing a finger to her lips in thought.

“Hmm… In that case, maybe I should switch it up a little.”

Switch it up…? Wait, she’s not planning to do that, is she?

A nameless anxiety crept into my chest.

And in the next instant—

“Oy, aniki, aren’t you kinda misunderstanding something here?”

Yuragi’s eyes suddenly sharpened with an intense glint.

…Yep. Anxiety confirmed.

“…What the hell is with you?”

Shishimori-senpai furrowed his brows at the sudden shift in Yuragi’s tone.

“What the hell? Seriously? You get confessed to by girls every single day at school, and at home, five sisters (excluding me, of course) practically worship the ground you walk on, and that pisses you off? Are you stupid? Do you even realize how many guys would kill to be in your position?”

Yeah… Yuragi doesn’t stick to just one little sister archetype. Even a year ago, she cycled through various little sister personas to harass me.

And this time, she’s doing the tsundere little sister who can’t openly express her feelings for her brother persona.

“Oy, Hakoniwa. I don’t have time to play along with your nonsense.”

“Heh. You think just acting a little rough is gonna make every girl fall for you, aniki? You’re dead wrong. And seriously, that wannabe delinquent act of yours? So outdated and lame. Knock it off already.”

Yuragi stayed fully committed to the bit.

“You little… You’re really pushing it now.”

With a loud bang, Shishimori-senpai slammed his fist on the table, visibly irritated.

“W-What the hell…? Why are you making that scary face…? Don’t come near me!”

…No, I mean, he hasn’t moved a single step. He’s still on the other side of the round table. But here we go—she’s gone full delusional mode.

“Wha—Hey, quit it, you bastard aniki! Just because you lost the argument, you’re gonna use brute force?! That’s the lowest of the low! H-Hey, don’t touch me—──────I love you.”

“Your dere switch is busted!!”

What the hell happened in the microscopic gap between ‘don’t touch me’ and ‘I love you’…?

Shishimori-senpai stood frozen in place, utterly speechless. This, ladies and gentlemen, is what we call severe secondhand embarrassment.

“Yuragi, just stop. No one can keep up with your antics anymore.”

“Ehh? I don’t think that’s true~”

In an instant, Yuragi reverted back to her standard self (which, mind you, is still far from normal), flashing me a bright smile.

“Oh, Kanade-oniichan, are you jealous because I was paying attention to another big brother—”

“I don’t have the energy for this!”

“Amakusa… Why the hell did you pick her to be your partner?”

Shishimori-senpai pressed a hand against his forehead, utterly exhausted.

“…I’d really like to know that myself.”

Seeing him so emotionally drained, I couldn’t help but feel a strange sense of kinship.

And as we both sat there in mutual suffering, a certain someone stood up, beaming with an unsettling smile.

“Ahh~ You two seem to be having so much fun~! Well then, if I may be so bold, allow me to introduce myself~! I’m Kokubyakuin Seira from Class 3-3. I also serve as the Student Council President~!”

Her voice, as always, was soft and gentle, but it carried a strange, captivating quality that made it impossible not to listen. I suppose this was the charisma of a leader standing at the top of an eighteen-hundred-strong student body.

“As for my hobbies… Hmm~ I suppose I’d say… people-watching~?”

Tilting her head slightly, she glanced at me. Then, with a knowing smile, she shifted her gaze toward Chocolat.

…She knows something. She definitely knows something.

“Well then~ Since we’ve all introduced ourselves, unless anyone has something else to say, I suppose we can wrap things up here~”

Just as the president leisurely attempted to conclude the meeting—

[Choose:

① Turn to all the girls and declare, “Alright, I’ll make every single one of you admit that you love me!”

② Be loved by every girl present (with memory retention).]

…What the hell is this? And that “(with memory retention)” on option two… That’s never appeared before.

That means… the effect would be permanent, wouldn’t it?

…Worst-case scenario.

Before, the system erased memories after a choice was made, so I could get away with picking ridiculous options. But without that safety net, I can’t just carelessly manipulate people’s actions.

I guess this is another change caused by clearing missions, but the frequency and nature of these changes are all over the place. If I keep clearing missions, will it become more predictable?

For now, I have no choice but to pick option one, but… saying something like that will definitely make clearing future missions way harder…

“Hmm~ Amakusa-san, you seem like you have something to say~”

The president smiled at me, her expression unreadable. Was she testing me?

“N-no, it’s nothing—Guh!”

Damn it… Fine, I’ll say it!

“President… Actually, I do have something to say.”

“Fufu~ Go right ahead~”

Suppressing the pain hammering inside my skull, I glanced around at the gathered girls.

“Alright, you all listen up… I’ll make every single one of you admit that you love me!”

“………………………………………………………………………………”

A suffocating silence descended upon the room.

Of course it did. That was way too sudden. Given the flow of conversation, who wouldn’t be taken aback by a declaration like that?

The one who finally broke the silence was, as expected, Chocolat.

“Ohh, six girls at once—As expected of Kanade-san!”

“I-it’s not like that…!”

I tried to explain, but—

“H-he said ‘love’… Hauu~” Yawakaze blushed and clutched her cheeks.

“Y-you’re the worst scumbag!” Reikadou spat out something straight out of a knightly drama.

“A brother who doesn’t focus his love solely on me? Also acceptable!” Yuragi, for some reason, looked pleased.

“Ohh! Bold move, Amacchi! …Hm?” Yuuouji cheered, only to tilt her head in confusion.

“……” Yukihira remained silent, expression unreadable.

“Ara ara~” The president beamed.

“A-all of you, please, listen—”

Just as I tried to regain control, Chocolat pounded her chest proudly and declared:

“It’s okay! Kanade-san has plenty of books in his room about one guy being loved by lots of girls! We just have to do the same thing!”

…Kill me now.

T/N: 

Kikkou Shibari (亀甲縛り), also known as Kinbaku (緊縛), is a traditional Japanese rope bondage technique. The term “kikkou” (亀甲) means “tortoiseshell,” and “shibari” (縛り) means “binding.” The name comes from the intricate rope pattern that resembles the hexagonal pattern of a turtle’s shell.

Historically, shibari originated from hojōjutsu (捕縄術), a method used by samurai and law enforcement to restrain prisoners. Over time, it evolved into kinbaku, which is used in artistic, aesthetic, and erotic contexts today.