The Story Of How I, A Gloomy Guy, Ended Up Surrounded By the Top-Tier Beautiful Girls In Class After A Seat Change - Chapter 146-147

Chapter 146: Sudden New Character and Sudden Lewdness

The inter-high track and field competition rotates its location every year, sometimes in Hokkaido, other times in Okinawa. This year, however, it was held in the Kanto region.

(Well, even if it were in Hokkaido or Okinawa, if Rui told me, “Come to the airport for punishment, ” I’d probably go without hesitation.)

That’s because I misunderstood that I could have some steamy SM play with Rui.

Leaving aside the fact that I’m a delusional otaku, the Kanto location made it easy for students from our prefectural Natsuhama Central High School to attend since it was just a quick ride on the highway.

When we arrived at the stadium parking lot, we got off the bus and followed our chaperone teacher in two lines, heading toward the stands of the competition venue.

“You’re here for Rui-senpai, aren’t you?”

“Sh-shut up. You like Kuroki-san yourself.”

“Well, yeah.”

The first-year boys with red neckties walking ahead of us were having a conversation straight out of the pages of youth.

Two handsome first-year boys, who looked like typical extroverts with cologne and heavily styled hair… Too bad, junior hotties. Rui and I already have a certain kind of relationship (involving punishment).

No matter how cool you guys are, the stage I’m standing on is entirely different from yours.

“Heh… I’ve won.”

“Ryota-kun, why are you acting like her boyfriend from behind?”

Kanade, walking beside me, looked up at me with a face full of exasperation.

“Well, you know? While most of the people here are just here for Rui, I’m the only one who gets to do all sorts of things with her—like that and this.”

“What’s that and this? Geez, you’re still the same delusional otaku. One day, you’ll pay for this… Actually, you already are, right now.”

“Shut up. I genuinely thought it was going to be SM play.”

Kanade loves to dig up my misunderstandings.

Seriously, what a sarcastic person…

“Hey, Ryota-kun!”

“Huh? What is it, Kanade? Did you find a good BL pairing or something?”

“Don’t call me a fujoshi so casually! It’s something else!”

Kanade pointed toward the front of the line, trying to tell me something.

What’s going on? I followed her gaze.

There, wearing our school uniform, was a girl with long, reddish hair.

Wow, that girl is seriously cute…

“That’s Nozomi Himesaki, isn’t it? She must be here to support Kuroki-san too.”

“H-Himesaki? That’s quite an impressive surname.”

“Don’t say rude things! She’s amazing, you know!”

The girl Kanade called Himesaki certainly had an appearance that stood out from the crowd.

She had a slender figure, a high nose bridge, and large eyes that gave her a look far removed from the average Japanese person. Her reddish hair was done up in a cute half-up style, making her look like a real princess, just like her surname suggested.

“She’s cute… but who is she?”

“She’s Himesaki-chan! Haven’t you heard of her?”

“Uh, sorry. I’m only interested in 2D girls.”

“That’s obviously a lie. Geez.”

Kanade continued, throwing in a quick retort.

“Himesaki-chan is a first-year who lived abroad until last year because of her parents’ job. She moved to Japan and joined our school as a returnee student! She’s top of her class and is rumored to be a visual rival to Kuroki-san. People say she’s a super stunning beauty!”

A stunning beauty or a monster… I couldn’t tell from that bizarre nickname. Kanade probably made it up on the spot.

Her refined and elegant appearance reminded me of Rui.

If someone told me she was an idol or a model, I’d believe it without a second thought.

“Wow, I didn’t know there was a girl like that in the first year. Kanade, you’re really informed.”

Walking behind us, Airi praised Kanade.

Don’t flatter her too much, or she’ll get carried away.

“Oh, I just can’t help noticing cute girls! Of course, Airi-tan is super cute too!”

“T-thank you… ahaha.”

Airi seemed taken aback. Kanade, you’re really starting to creep me out.

“Do you know her, Yuria?”

“I’ve heard about her from Rui, but this is my first time seeing her.”

“From Rui? Why?”

“She said Himesaki might be her rival in the autumn student council elections.”

“Rival? In the student council elections? Even though she’s a first-year?”

“Well, our school usually chooses the student council president from second-years, but technically, first-years who aren’t in any clubs can also run.”

A rival… for Rui… in the student council elections.

I remembered Rui asking me to be the vice president.

I still haven’t given her an answer…

With such a cute and popular junior as a candidate, could I really handle being vice president?

“What’s wrong, Ryota-kun? You look so gloomy.”

“Huh?”

As I was lost in thought, Kanade leaned closer to ask.

“N-nothing! I was just thinking how much I’d like to do naughty things with Rui.”

“Ryota!”

Three angry glares shot toward me.

(Damn it… I tried to make an excuse about Rui, and it backfired! This is all Rui’s fault!)

Setting aside the naughty things, I really need to think about the vice president position.

“…Huh?”

“What is it, Yuria? Why are you staring at me?”

“…No, it’s nothing.”

Yuria looked like she wanted to say something but brushed it off.

She’s probably mad because I was ogling the red-haired beauty.

Wait… hold on.

Whether or not I’m fit to be vice president, if that red-haired beauty joins the student council, I could get closer to her as the vice president…

“…That wouldn’t be so bad. Though it’s not very realistic.”

“Ryota-kun, what’s with your face? You’ve been going back and forth between sulking and smirking. You’re way too expressive today.”

Kanade looked at me with endless exasperation.

—

Chapter 147: Your Determination at the Inter-High

I learned about the presence of a stunning junior girl, Nozomi Himesaki, a returnee student. Ever since, improper thoughts kept flitting through my mind, but at last, we managed to enter the stadium.

The seats we chose were in the corner on the main stand’s first floor.

Being shaded, it was a grateful spot for introverts like me (and Tanaka).

From right to left, the seating order was Tanaka, me, Airi, and Yuria. We sat watching the athletes running on the track from the stands.

I haven’t been to many stadiums, but as expected of a large one in the Kanto area, it’s massive.

“Today, Kuroki-san is competing in the 100 meters and the 4×100-meter relay. The 200 meters will be the day after tomorrow.”

The school probably chose the day when Rui would participate the most.

At this point, it felt less like supporting the track team and more like cheering specifically for Rui Kuroki.

“But doesn’t the relay depend on more than just Rui’s skills? How does that work?”

“Well, our Natsuhama Central High is a public school, but we’ve got special recommendation slots for track and baseball, so they’re strong, right?”

“What?! They have recommendations?! That’s so unfair—I wanted one too!”

“Getting a recommendation is way harder than just studying, trust me.”

“Hmmph~.”

Airi pouted a bit.

If there were such a thing as a “big-breast recommendation,” Airi would’ve easily ranked among the top in the prefecture, receiving her acceptance letter in an instant.

In that case, the title of Big-Breast Special Scholar Airi Umiyama would have been born.

“Oh, isn’t it about time for the 100-meter finals?”

The 100 meters is held on the straight track in front of the main stand. The female finalists, who had fought their way to this stage, completed their warm-ups and began lining up at the starting positions.

“There she is—Rui-chan!”

Rui Kuroki, wearing her Natsuhama Central uniform.

Today, Rui looked just as she does in the sweaty selfies she sends me after practice.

Her long black hair tied back into a ponytail, and a glimpse of her belly button peeking out.

It was my first time seeing Rui’s exposed belly button in her uniform. Oh, what a sight…

“Oh, we need to take pictures of the finish too. Of course, Rui-chan crossing first!”

We were seated near the corner of the stands by the finish line, so we should have a clear view of Rui’s goal.

“Take a look, Ryota-kun. Those girls standing there—they’ve poured their youth, their very lives, into this brief, 100-meter path of glory and climbed to the national level.”

“Why are you so fired up, Tanaka? You’re just an introvert.”

“Go, Rui-chan!”

Tanaka, spouting lines like some motivational speaker, and Airi, gazing at the track as if in prayer.

(100 meters is over in a flash. Even so, Rui wanted me to see this scene. She lured me here, making me expect some lewd SM play…)

Knowing Rui, she probably wants me to see her winning easily and smiling during the victory interview.

As expected of a perfect beauty… Sigh.

“On your marks…”

All the runners, including Rui, placed their feet firmly on the starting blocks, lowering their stances.

I’m no expert, but this must be what they call a crouch start.

“Set…”

At the command, the athletes flinched slightly. The moment the pistol sounded, they all took off at once.

Rui, too, dashed forward with a force that seemed impossible for her slender body.

She cut through the invisible wind with powerful strides that ignited the entire stadium.

Her elegant form propelled her forward, every muscle in her body visibly engaged.

Her expression was one of pure determination.

It wasn’t her usual cool demeanor, her gentle look during peaceful moments, or her icy gaze when angry.

Clenching her teeth, furrowing her brow, and widening her eyes, she surged forward, step by step.

Her face was filled with the drive to win, the resolve to achieve perfection, embodying her utmost effort.

(R-Rui wasn’t showing me… an easy victory…)

What Rui wanted to show me was her giving everything she had, striving for perfection, and the true face of Rui Kuroki, a girl pushing herself to the limit.

This race was only 100 meters—or rather, it felt like a whole world in itself. The competition was fierce, as expected of those who had risen to the national level.

The summer sun was scorching and blindingly bright.

But none of that mattered; our eyes were glued to the race.

And the first to cross the finish line was…