Non-Human Girls Are Fighting Over Me ~ Do I Get to Refuse? “Nope!” “No Way!” “Not a Chance!” “Absolutely Not!” - Chapter 6: Don’t Mess with the Film Club

Chapter 6: Don’t Mess with the Film Club

This is—Haraikawa High School, a corner of the old school building.

The film club’s room, bathed in the slanting light of the afternoon.

Calling it the “film club” is generous, though. The only active members are the third-year president, Mio Shirayuki, and me, Kazuto Ienari, a second-year. The rest are ghost members who just signed up and never show.

“Excuse me.”

I knocked and entered the clubroom, where Mio-san was already waiting.

Seated by the window, she looked like she’d stepped out of a painting—pure and serene.

Glossy blue hair cascaded over her shoulders, her nose was elegantly straight, and her obsidian eyes were cool and distant.

Perfect proportions, yet her demeanor was so composed—unapproachable.

(…Watching a movie alone with her? It’s a luxury, but my heart might not survive.)

“You’re here, Kazuto.”

Mio-san lightly held up a DVD case.

“Let’s watch this today. …We don’t have much time.”

The case’s cover featured—that quirky claymation character.

Wallace & Gromit: A Grand Day Out.

“It’s under thirty minutes, but packed with thrills. One of the series’ best, in my opinion. The others aren’t bad, but this is my favorite.”

“Wow…”

Honestly, I’d expected her to pick horror or action.

But Mio-san’s choices always veer into the unexpected.

Sometimes she even brings kids’ movies. Apparently, she’s “not a fan of gore.” She’s changed the lineup on her own authority more than once.

(Well, as long as I’m watching with senpai, anything’s fun…)

The screening began.

The jerky movements of stop-motion, paired with snappy pacing. The eerie penguin pulled me right in.

—Thirty minutes later.

“…That was seriously awesome.”

I let my honest thoughts slip out.

“Right? I knew it.”

Normally reserved, Mio-san became talkative now. She rattled off the film’s charms, gesturing animatedly.

—Watching her profile, a thought hit me.

(Why’s someone like her in a dead-end club like this? Practically just the two of us, with all those ghost members. It’s such a mystery.)

“By the way, Kazuto… that mark.”

Mio-san’s voice dropped suddenly.

Her fingers reached toward my forehead. A cool touch brushed my skin.

“…”

I caught my breath.

A girl this close to me? A first in my life.

“Hm… let me take a closer look.”

Her face was near. Her eyes peered into mine.

A faint whiff of shampoo.

And then—her chest, just barely grazing me. No, not quite touching… but, well, it’s touching.

My heartbeat thundered in my ears, my breathing ragged from the noise of my pulse.

“It’s not a big deal, but if it hurts, you might want to see a doctor.”

Her soft voice was followed by a faint smile. Unlike her usual cool aura, it carried the ease of an older sister.

But that smile clouded for a moment.

She’d spotted the talisman hanging from my bag.

“…Where’d you get that talisman?”

“Huh? Oh, this? A friend gave it to me.”

“Oh? A friend? Didn’t know you had such a thoughtful guy friend.”

“No, it’s from a girl in my class.”

“…A girl?”

Her voice dropped an octave.

“We met at the movie theater recently. She’s super into films, and we hit it off.”

“…Hmph. So there’s another girl besides me.”

Her tone was oddly loaded, sending a chill down my spine.

Why? It almost sounded like… jealousy. No way, don’t be stupid, Kazuto. You cannot misread this.

As if to change the subject, senpai rummaged through her bag.

She pulled out a small keychain. A silver plate engraved with a strange emblem.

“…Oh, right. Your birthday was yesterday, wasn’t it?”

“Huh? How did you—”

“I remembered. Here, take this. Keep it safe, got it?”

Her voice was gentle, but I sensed a steely resolve beneath it.

“Y-Yes…!”

I hurriedly accepted it and attached it to my pass case.

“That’s good.”

She smiled, satisfied.

“Well, I’ll head out then… See you.”

I left the clubroom.

—But.

“This is trouble.”

Alone in the clubroom, Mio Shirayuki muttered to the empty space.

“I’m late to the game. I don’t know who or what you are… but messing with my guy?”

Her voice wasn’t the kind senpai’s from moments ago.

It was cold, a woman’s voice laced with defiance.

“…Well, the other one’s clearly non-human. The keychain’s a deterrent, but let’s see how they play.”

Her lips curled, and for a fleeting moment, an eerie light flashed in her black eyes.