The Story Of How I, A Gloomy Guy, Ended Up Surrounded By the Top-Tier Beautiful Girls In Class After A Seat Change

Chapter 140: Kuroki Rui’s Presence and Graduation

The public Natsuhama Central High School I attend doesn’t have the wealth of private schools. While our academic performance ranks among the top, the facilities have always been less than impressive.

However, ever since Rui Kuroki enrolled, all the worn-out equipment around campus was replaced, the decrepit gym was renovated, and even the sports field was transformed with fresh turf.

The reason behind this sudden improvement is simple: Kuroki Rui, an extraordinarily beautiful girl with immense popularity, joined our school, attracting donations from all around.

The school’s organized support for the track team’s Inter-High School competitions is one such example.

Before Kuroki came, students would travel on a nearly scrapped, un-air-conditioned bus borrowed from a local bus company for team support events. Since she joined, though, we’ve been able to use a brand-new, comfortable bus for these trips.

(Seriously, Kuroki Rui, you’re something else…)

This world revolves around star power and money. For us ordinary folks, only two people make that clear: one being Ohtani ●●, and the other, Kuroki Rui.

“Ryota-kun? Hurry and get on the bus.”

“Uh, oh, right.”

While I was gazing at the bus, overwhelmed by Kuroki Rui’s influence, Kanade Tanaka called to me from where she was boarding.

Inside the air-conditioned bus, there were two rows of double seats. Our group of four split up toward the back.

Yuria and Airi sat in front, while Tanaka and I took the seats behind them.

“Airi brought some snacks to eat on the bus. Yuria, want to eat with me?”

“Eh, I just had breakfast, so I’m not really in the mood for sweets… Ryota, do you have any gum?”

Yuria leaned over the seat in front of me, looking down as she asked.

“Gum? Uh, sorry. I don’t have any.”

“Oh? Well then, I’ll take some of Airi’s snacks after all.”

I do have something “rubber,” though… but if I mentioned that, Yuria would probably get mad.

When Rui had said, “This is your punishment,” I figured that July 30 would mark my “graduation,” so I brought it along… but it turned out to be just a regular event.

“Ah… what a letdown.”

“Ryota-kuuun, what’s disappointing?”

Tanaka, sitting beside me, turned toward me, chewing on a dried squid strip.

If things had gone as I’d hoped, I would’ve been alone in a classroom with Rui, engaging in some risqué S&M play. But instead, here I was, stuck with my nerdy, shy friend Tanaka sitting next to me, munching on something smelly.

“Damn it! This squid-stinking girl…”

“Hey, what’s with the attitude? You should be glad we’re sitting together. It hasn’t happened since middle school, you know?”

Tanaka, looking a bit embarrassed, shoved more dried squid into her mouth, munching away.

“Listen, Tanaka. As I said before, I came here expecting something exciting today. I thought this was my big chance, a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to graduate from being a… you know. But now, to be dragged along for an event like this… It’s a major letdown!”

“Honestly, Ryota-kun, you’re the same as always. But do you know why Kuroki-san deceived you like this in the first place?”

“Huh? Well, why?”

“Simply put, Ryota-kun, you probably wouldn’t have come to an event like this otherwise, right? She must’ve thought you’d only come if it was something scandalous.”

Only if it was scandalous… Just how much of a twisted image does Kuroki have of me? If she’d just told me honestly, I would’ve come.

“Though it’s just a guess, maybe Kuroki-san was embarrassed to ask you outright to come support her at her competition.”

“Huh? Why would she be?”

“Jeez, do you really not get it? That’s exactly why you’re such a clueless, dense, nerdy virgin!”

“Excuse me!? Calling me that right now? You know what, fine! Let’s just, you know, graduate with each other already!”

“Huh?! W-With me…? No way, absolutely not! B-But, maybe, if Ryota-kun begged on his knees for it, I might consider it.”

“Like I’d ever beg you!”

“Hey, you two. Quiet down. The bus is leaving, so keep it down.”

“S-Sorry.”

Reprimanded by Yuria, Tanaka and I shrank back and apologized.

“Sigh. Anyway, Tanaka, switch seats with me. Airi said she’d share her snacks with you.”

“Really?! Awesome!”

Tanaka, who’d been sitting on the aisle side, switched seats with Yuria. Now, Yuria was beside me.

Y-Yuria…

“So, Ryota… How about you explain what you were saying earlier, about Rui and that whole scandalous-play thing?”

Yuria asked with a scowl.

S-She’s really mad at me?!

—

Chapter 141: Dirty Talk With a Gal on the Bus

“Um, Yuria? You’re not…angry or anything, are you?”

“Huh? I’m not angry at all.”

No, no…she’s clearly mad!

“It’s just…I’m curious. What kind of conversation were you having with Rui that led to something like…talking about SM play?”

Ah, I see. That makes sense. Rui always keeps up her wholesome character in front of Airi and Yuria.

(But the real Rui is quite something. She sends me pictures of her belly button almost every day and tries to win me over with racy selfies…yeah, she’s got some quirks.)

As I imagine this, my mental version of Kuroki Rui (the lewd one) appears in my head, mercilessly whipping me.

Urgh… Since it’s not happening in real life, I’ll just have to endure it as a fantasy. Is this the weakness of being a virgin?

“Hey, Ryota. You’re thinking of something ridiculous again, aren’t you?”

“Huh? W-what? That’s not true!”

“No, it is. You always have this gross grin on your face when you’re thinking about pervy stuff.”

Crap…was I showing it on my face without realizing it? Yuria’s expression is growing harsher by the second.

Anyway, I need to move on from this and protect Rui’s reputation. It’s not fair to her.

“L-let me just say, the misunderstanding about the SM play thing happened because Rui didn’t tell me what we were doing, and she just told me to come to school on Wednesday morning. I just…jumped to conclusions.”

“Yeah, but a normal person wouldn’t think ‘SM play’ just from that.”

Her response was so logical I couldn’t even argue back. She’s absolutely right, but still…

“Hey, Ryota, is there something you’re hiding about Rui that we don’t know?”

“Urgh…”

I’ve managed to keep any secrets or embarrassing stories hidden up until now, but this might be my greatest crisis yet.

If this keeps up, they’ll find out that Rui is a slightly mean-spirited, perfect superhuman who has a strange desire to win me over by showing off her belly button!

W-what do I do…?

“—Heh, Ichinose-san, you’re still so naive.”

While I’m frantically thinking up excuses, I hear Tanaka’s voice from the seat in front of us.

T-Tanaka?

“As someone who’s close to Ryota-kun, I can see through everything he’s thinking.”

“Huh? What’s that supposed to mean? Then tell me, Tanaka.”

Wait, does Tanaka know about Rui’s belly-button-showing antics and her strange desire to dominate me?

“Hehe…let me explain it simply.”

If she does, I’m in trouble!

“Stop it! Tana—”

Before I could stop her, Tanaka activated her ridiculously long explanation mode, a.k.a. “Tanapedia.”

“Ryota-kun is basically the kind of introverted virgin who assumes he can hook up with any pretty girl who invites him somewhere!”