The Story Of How I, A Gloomy Guy, Ended Up Surrounded By the Top-Tier Beautiful Girls In Class After A Seat Change - Chapter 187-188

Chapter 187: At Nozomi Himesaki’s Command

I arrived at the rooftop, and Nozomi Himesaki stood alone in the center, just like yesterday.

I wondered what kind of orders she would give me.

“Ugh, Ryota-senpai? Don’t they say in Japan that making a lady wait brings bad luck?” Nozomi Himesaki says.

“Wait? You called me here, so I came,” I say.

I argued back, and Nozomi Himesaki’s smile turned into a serious expression. She reached her hand toward my chin.

“Whoa! W-what are you doing?” I say.

Nozomi Himesaki tickled under my chin with her long fingers, like taming a cat.

“O-oh! S-stop it!” I say.

“I’ll say this: I like smart dogs. Someone like Ryota-senpai, whom Kuroki Rui trusts, can predict I’d be here, right? ♡” Nozomi Himesaki says.

“I’m not a psychic. Don’t say crazy stuff…” I say.

I sighed while feeling good from her tickling under my chin.

“So, you called me here, so you have some kind of order, right? Should I get on all fours and be a chair? Or is it morning licking time?” I say.

“I don’t give those kinds of orders! What do you think I am?” Nozomi Himesaki says.

“A junior who looks cute but is kind of annoying inside, who blackmails me ruthlessly with a stolen photo but doesn’t give pervy orders,” I say.

“C-cute…?” Nozomi Himesaki says.

“Don’t just pick out that part! You’re dodging the fact you blackmailed me!” I say.

“You’re such a dog who holds grudges over small things. Can’t we move past it already?” Nozomi Himesaki says.

Nozomi Himesaki gave a suspicious look and muttered a complaint.

That photo made me her dog, so it hasn’t even passed yet.

“Back to the orders, let’s have lunch together during the break. The rooftop is boring, so let’s do it in the courtyard,” Nozomi Himesaki says.

“Lunch? That’s the order?” I say.

“Yes. Is there a problem?” Nozomi Himesaki says.

“No, but if it’s about lunch, couldn’t you just message me on Lime during the break? Why call me out in the morning to give the order here?” I say.

“W-well… if I called you at lunch, and you had plans with someone else, I’d feel bad. So I wanted to give the order in the morning. But I thought you might refuse over a message, so I did it face-to-face,” Nozomi Himesaki says.

“Huh, is that so?” I say.

Nozomi Himesaki explained her reasons at length.

For an order, she sure shows a lot of consideration.

Her orders feel more like promises between friends than commands. Does this girl really plan to treat me like a dog?

“I don’t really get it, but eating lunch together is the order? That’s fine, but… do I need to grab your food from the cafeteria too?” I say.

“What do you think I am?! Actually, I prepared food for my dog, so you don’t need to bring anything, Ryota-senpai,” Nozomi Himesaki says.

“Really? Okay, I’ll head to the courtyard at lunch break,” I say.

“Yes, I’ll be waiting!” Nozomi Himesaki says.

This feels… oddly generous.

I felt uneasy about not getting harsh orders as expected, but I left the rooftop.

—

Chapter 188: Rui’s Sharp Sense of Smell

During lunch break, I made a promise (or rather, received an order) with Nozomi Himesaki, so I absentmindedly listened to classes until lunch.

Nozomi Himesaki, who didn’t give me any vulgar orders despite me becoming her dog, puzzled me.

I couldn’t figure out what Nozomi was thinking, and that uncertainty felt somewhat unsettling.

If her goal was to shake Rui Kuroki’s perfection, she could’ve just spread the photos, which would’ve been enough.

So, why did Nozomi deliberately negotiate with me? Wasn’t it because she wanted to gain control over a guy close to Rui, namely me?

Indeed, I became her dog… but the orders Nozomi gave me were like a dull knife, lacking any sharpness.

And eating lunch together… ugh. Does that girl think I’m her friend or something?

No… there’s still a possibility. Maybe Nozomi is lulling me into a false sense of security, planning to give me some outrageous, perverted order in the courtyard in front of everyone at noon.

Yes, that must be it.

Well played, Nozomi… making me let my guard down…

“Fufu… Ryota-kun? Why are you grinning like that?”

As I was cleaning up after fourth period, grinning to myself, Rui called out to me from beside me.

I couldn’t let Rui suspect anything about this.

“Uh, n-no, it’s just… um, light novels! Yeah, the new update of that boob-sucking story was pretty fun.”

“…Hmph. I see.”

Rui directed a cold glance at me and responded with a flat, emotionless acknowledgment.

“W-what’s that look, Rui? If you’ve got something to say, just say it.”

No way… she didn’t find out I became Nozomi’s dog, did she?

“Ryota-kun, listen.”

No, with Rui, it’s possible… because she’s Kuroki Rui.

“I’ve been wondering for a while, but…”

“…Y-yeah?”

“There’s some trash on your shoulder, Ryota-kun.”

“Huh?”

Trash? On my shoulder?

After pointing it out, Rui gently reached toward my shoulder.

What? I thought it was something else… just trash.

Her narrowed eyes made me think she saw through me again, but… she was just looking at the trash on my shoulder.

I got nervous for nothing. I overthought it. Even Rui wouldn’t figure this one out…

“—A bright red, pretty long hair. For such ‘trash’ to stick to you, that girl must’ve been awfully close, huh?”

“…!”

I completely lost my words.

This girl… seriously?

The shock was so intense my thoughts froze… No, don’t freeze! I have to deny it, or she’ll get even more suspicious!

Even Rui is probably just fishing for information at this point.

That’s right, she’s just probing me.

“Red hair? What are you talking about? I don’t know anyone like that.”

“…Is that so?”

“A-anyway, I’ve got stuff to do during lunch! Gotta go, sorry, Rui!”

Saying that, I bolted out of the classroom like I was escaping.

That was close… but based on past experience, doesn’t it feel like Rui’s onto something?

Still… becoming her junior’s dog is partly for Rui’s sake. I shouldn’t feel guilty.

I just need to confidently be her junior’s little dog.

“Fufu… I’m pretty cool, working in the shadows to protect Rui.”

“What’re you laughing about by yourself, Ryota-senpai?”

“Gah, H-Himesaki…”

As I was getting cocky on my way to the courtyard, Nozomi called out to me from behind.

“No way, Ryota-senpai… were you heading somewhere else? Were you laughing because you imagined me eating lunch alone?!”

“I-I was just heading there now! Geez, everyone’s always suspecting me. What did I even do?!”

“I don’t really get it, but… if you were actually planning to show up, that’s great. So, let’s go to the courtyard together?”

“Y-yeah, sure.”

Nozomi swung a large lunch bag with both hands and walked ahead with light steps.

She seems awfully cheerful, Nozomi.

Is she that excited to eat with her little dog (me)?

Well, I’m not expecting much anymore… but I guess I’ll go along with my master’s lunch.