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

Chapter 92: Just the Two of Us (Airi & Me) ♡

As the campfire died down, the culture festival of our second year in high school came to an end.

The lively atmosphere of the festival had also calmed down, and the school returned to a state of exhaustion and tranquility.

After finishing the homeroom session back in our class, everyone left, too tired to even clean up the stage props until tomorrow.

“I have a meeting with the event committee, so I’m heading out.”

“I have a track team meeting, so I’ll go ahead too.”

Yuria, a member of the event committee, and Kuroki, who had a track team meeting, left the classroom first.

Even on a day like this, the track team had a meeting before their upcoming competition… I really don’t like sports clubs.

(Well, I guess I’ll head home too… or maybe not?)

Just as I picked up my bag and stood up, Airi, who was sitting in front of me, turned around.

“Ryota, Ryota, let’s go home together!”

“Eh? Oh, sure, I don’t mind.”

Since Kuroki and Yuria were both gone, I ended up going home with Airi.

☆☆

As Airi and I left the school building, the moon was already visible in the night sky.

It’s already past 7 PM… It’s been a while since I went home this late.

“The culture festival was fun, wasn’t it?”

“In your case, it was more ‘delicious’ than ‘fun’, right?”

“What are you saying! It’s like you’re implying I just ate the whole time!”

That’s exactly what I think happened, though…

“But the food at the culture festival was really good and cheap. I wish we had a culture festival every day.”

“That would be a nightmare for the people making the food.”

“I want to do a food-related activity next year!”

I think she just wants to eat… but it’s better than the play we did this year.

“Ah, but I still want to do another play!”

“I’m never doing a play again.”

“No way! Let’s do it! It was so much fun!”

“If we do another play, it will probably be another gender-swapped one like this time, and I’ll end up being the princess again.”

Those popular kids always want to do stuff like that. This year, I managed to pull off the role of the princess, but if they make me the lead again next year, it’ll definitely be the same situation.

So, there’s no way I’m doing a play.

“But I wanted to be the princess next time.”

“Really? Then if you say you want to be the princess without the gender swap, I’ll agree.”

“Really!?”

If we skip Kuroki’s gender-swapped idea, I won’t have to be the heroine, and Airi can be the princess. It’s a win-win.

That way, I can just laze around behind the scenes… It’s easier than doing a food-related activity.

“Then Airi will be the princess, and Ryota will be the prince!”

“Sure, leave it to… wait, the prince? Me!?”

“Yes! If Ryota plays the prince, I’ll convince everyone!”

“Wait, why does it have to be like that!”

“If Ryota isn’t the lead, I won’t do it! I don’t want any other guy to do it!”

“W-What is that…”

I don’t really get it, but it seems Airi really wants me on stage. Maybe she feels comfortable with someone she’s used to talking to, but think about my feelings, Airi.

“Besides, we might not be in the same class next year… But I’ll consider it.”

“Really? Yay!”

“I said I’ll consider it.”

Now I have another pending request, along with Kuroki’s vice-president thing… Sigh.

“Ryota and I… together… hehe.”

It was hard to see in the dark, but Airi’s cheeks seemed red.

“Oh, by the way, Ryota. Tomorrow after school…”

“Hm?”

“Can I come to your house?”

“Huh… my house? Why all of a sudden?”

“Is it a no?”

It’s not that it’s a no… Does Airi want to come to my house? And this time… alone?

“If you’re okay with my place…”

“Yay, then let’s go home together tomorrow after school.”

What a thing to happen. Airi wants to come to my house…

(Considering she almost touched my chest before the play today, is she… interested in me?)

With hopeful thoughts, I welcomed Airi to my house the next day after school…

“Ah, this one, this one, and this one, I don’t understand any of them!”

“…”

“Ryota, teach me quickly!”

“…”

It was a study session after all…

—

Chapter 93: Study Sessions are Flirting Time

Because Miyama said she wanted to come over, I mistakenly thought she might be inviting me for a chance encounter. On the way home yesterday, I bought two boxes of necessities for that purpose and eagerly awaited the next day.

And then the next day.

As soon as Miyama entered my room, she moved the low table from the corner to the center, spread out some materials from her bag, and sat on the cushion on the floor.

“Okay, let’s get started… study session!”

“Yeah, I’m all set… wait, study session?”

“Yeah! There are only two weeks left until the test, right? If I fail again, I’ll be banned from working part-time, so we promised to have a study session!”

So, it was just a study session. What I had been looking forward to was a practical health and physical education lesson, but it was just a study session…

“The air conditioner in Ryota’s room is so cool. The one at my place is really old, and the electricity bill is crazy high, and sometimes it just stops working.”

Miyama said, fanning herself with her hand while resting her ample chest on the low table.

Even just looking at her, Miyama is too erotic… I thought I could show off my (sexual) knowledge, which was top-notch in the health and physical education tests alongside Kuroki, but it’s just a study session…

Two weeks until the final exams. At my high school, the top public school in the prefecture, it’s customary for everyone to switch to study mode after the cultural festival.

“It’s good to have a study session, but how many subjects did you fail last time, Miyama?”

“Almost all of them!”

“Ah, then you’re doomed.”

“Geez, don’t give up! Airi hasn’t given up yet!”

Miyama huffed, shaking her chest (since I was expecting “that,” my eyes were even more drawn to her chest than usual).

“I’ll definitely avoid failing! I have to balance both studying and working part-time!”

If she had already given up, the situation would be worse, but there’s still hope.

“Please, Ryota! I have to start working part-time again next week, so I want to get as much done today as possible!”

“Got it, got it. I promised, so I won’t say I won’t help you now.”

“Really!? Thank you, Ryota!”

Miyama smiled brightly, showing her white teeth, and started studying enthusiastically.

If she’s this motivated, I wish she’d study like this all the time, but she’s busy with part-time jobs and other things…

She mentioned living with just her mother, so it’s probably tough not just with the part-time job but with housework too. I shouldn’t be too harsh and should teach her gently.

“Ryota, I don’t understand this part.”

“Hmm? Where?”

“This whole page.”

“…”

Yeah, maybe I should be strict after all.

☆☆

We quickly reviewed the test areas for math, modern Japanese, and classical literature, occasionally mixing in some tests.

“…Alright, that’s correct too. You can do it if you try, Miyama.”

“Hehe, Airi has a good memory because I’m a cramming pro.”

Is being a cramming pro something to be proud of…?

“So did you cram for the high school entrance exam too?”

“I passed by cramming for a week straight!”

Cramming for a week straight? That’s not cramming anymore.

“Wait, so you passed our high school with just a week of proper study?”

“Yep! I mentioned before, but my family can’t afford private schools, and since the nearby public school was full of delinquents, it was either that or our top-ranked school. I hate delinquents, and I wanted to find a new self, so I chose our school.”

You say “chose,” but it sounds like you were chosen. I had to attend prep school all year and barely made it. Maybe Miyama is a genius who could really shine if she studied properly…

“Getting into high school was fine, but I’ve struggled since. My test scores have been terrible.”

“But you quickly improved once I started teaching you. That’s amazing!”

“Really? Then, as a reward, can you pat my head?”

“Huh? Pat?”

Miyama took my hand and placed it on her head.

She wants me to pat her head?

(In light novels, there’s often a “head-patting situation,” but I’ve heard that real girls don’t like having their heads patted…)

“Hurry, pat me~”

“O-Okay.”

Miyama is good at being spoiled and seems to like this…

I patted Miyama’s head. Her hair was silky, and the more I patted, the more a sweet scent wafted… This scent alone is enough to make me feel full.

“Mmm… It’s really about who pats your head.”

“What does that mean? Are you dissatisfied with me?”

“Hmm, I wonder.”

Miyama’s response was unusually evasive. Is she really dissatisfied?

“Boys’ hands are big. Airi doesn’t have any other male friends, so I don’t know about other boys, but Ryota’s hands are big and reassuring.”

Miyama closed her eyes and enjoyed my patting.

“Speaking of boys, hasn’t the ‘fake boyfriend’ thing with Ichinose and Kuroki been exposed yet?”

“Huh? Not yet, I think.”

“But at the campfire, they were saying ‘I want a boyfriend,’ so it’s only a matter of time before it’s exposed. Wouldn’t it be better to say you broke up before it gets found out?”

“But then I wouldn’t have an excuse for when I’m busy with work…”

She really wants to keep her part-time job a secret. With the bond those three have, I’m sure Ichinose and Kuroki would understand Miyama working because of her family situation…

No, I’m sure Miyama understands that too. But precisely because they’d understand, she doesn’t want them to worry or treat her differently.

For a straightforward and kind girl like Miyama, it’s a secret worth lying to protect.

“…But you know,”

“Hmm?”

“If I really got a boyfriend… would I feel less guilty…?”

“A real boyfriend?”

“…N-Never mind! Let’s get back to studying, Ryota!”

Miyama grabbed her mechanical pencil with enough force to send it flying and returned to studying.

Of course, Miyama has someone she likes… I’m so jealous.

“Miyama, I’m rooting for you. I hope you get a boyfriend.”

“……Mmm.”

“What? Why are you glaring at me?”