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

Chapter 98: A Misunderstood Rom-Com Turns Into Flirty Love

“Hey, what’s going on? Are you two in some kind of weird relationship?”

“N-no! It’s not like that!”

I was being questioned by Kuroki about the way I called Airi by her first name.

(Well, at this point, I have no choice. I’ll just have to explain everything.)

“M-Miyama really wanted me to call her Airi, so we made a little deal, and I ended up calling her by her first name.”

Of course, I can’t tell them what that “little deal” was about. I’d definitely get punched if I did.

It’s a bit of a strained explanation, but it’s not exactly a lie.

“Hmm. Is that true, Airi? Did Ryota-kun say it right?”

“Yup! Just like Ryota said!”

Why does she have to double-check? It feels like she doesn’t trust me much.

“Well, that makes sense. Airi has a boyfriend, so I didn’t really think you two were involved in anything shady.”

“I thought you guys might be in some weird relationship at first, too… but since Airi has a boyfriend, then there’s no problem. So Ryota, why don’t you call us by our first names too?”

“Wha—!”

“I agree! Great idea, Yuria.”

“Right?”

Yuria really knows how to go with the flow…

Honestly, I was often close to slipping up and calling Yuria by her first name anyway, so this might actually be easier for me.

“Ryota, got it? Call me Yuria, and call Rui, Rui.”

“O-okay… Got it, Yuria and Rui.”

Calling Yuria by her first name feels normal since I’m used to it, but calling Kuroki “Rui”… it feels a bit awkward.

As I was feeling embarrassed, Airi tugged at the sleeve of my summer uniform.

“Ryota.”

“W-what is it, Airi?”

“Hmph… never mind.”

For some reason, Airi kept pouting all the way to school.

I called her by her first name, so why is she upset? I really don’t understand girls.

Anyway, I walked to school with the three of them, sneaking glances at Airi’s chest, which had appeared in my dreams.

☆☆

With the finals two weeks away, the atmosphere in the classroom had suddenly turned serious.

Even though I came to school with three beautiful girls, nobody paid any attention, as everyone was focused on their flashcards or review sheets.

It feels like just a moment ago we were all busy with the cultural festival, but everyone can switch gears so quickly.

I followed the trend and, instead of opening a light novel, I opened my textbook.

“Hey, Ryota, Ryota.”

“Hm? What is it, Yuria?”

“…I want to talk to you alone for a bit. I’ll be on the rooftop, so come up when you can.”

Yuria whispered this before leaving the classroom.

(Alone…? Is she going to lecture me about the name thing like Kuroki did?)

Even though I was already exhausted from being dragged around by these beautiful girls all morning, I had no choice but to head up to the rooftop when Yuria called for me.

—

Chapter 99: Yuria is a Tsundere Understanding Person

On a midsummer morning, the rooftop was exposed to the scorching sunlight. Normally, Tanaka would be alone on the rooftop tower until morning class started, but today, he was nowhere to be seen.

“It’s so hot! Ah, finally, you’re here, Ryota.”

“S-sorry to keep you waiting, Yuria.”

When I arrived on the rooftop, Yuria was standing there alone, leaning against the wire fence with her hands on her hips. Her long brown hair, overlapping with the sunlight, looked brighter than usual.

Being alone with a gal on the rooftop should be an exciting event, but this time, the situation was different.

“So, what’s the talk about? Is it about this morning?”

Yes, it was about the issue of calling Airi by her first name. While Kuroki had questioned me on the spot, Yuria hadn’t asked much about it.

“Well, yeah, that’s what it’s about… But first, Ryota, are you sure there’s nothing weird going on between you and Airi?”

“O-of course not! A nerdy introvert like me dating a busty beauty like her is too much of a fantasy!”

“Well, that’s a bit too self-deprecating, don’t you think?”

Yuria was trying to cover for me, but that’s only because we’re fellow otaku.

“Besides being a nerd, Airi has a boyfriend, right? So, there’s no way anything would happen between us.”

“…..”

“Y-Yuria?”

Yuria was frowning with a strangely serious expression.

“That’s the thing… I’ve felt something off for a while now. Airi is so pure and innocent—does she really have a boyfriend?”

“…!”

As I thought, she’s starting to get suspicious. After spending a year together and getting to know Airi, it’s hard to believe she’d be the type to have a boyfriend from another school.

“Until now, I didn’t want to ruin our relationship by asking if she really had a boyfriend, but lately, Airi has been acting closer to you, Ryota. It makes me even more curious if she actually has one.”

In other words, she had been somewhat curious about Airi’s boyfriend before, but recently, because Airi and I have gotten closer, that sense of something being off has only grown stronger.

In reality, Airi doesn’t have a boyfriend. She’s good at being affectionate with everyone, so it wouldn’t be strange if people saw it that way.

“So, Ryota, what do you think? Or do you—”

I swallowed hard.

“Do you know something?”

Yuria narrowed her eyes and questioned me.

Sweat, whether from the heat or from nervousness, trickled down my cheek and fell onto the scorching concrete.

Th-this is bad. I’ve managed to keep this secret for the past month, so I’ve let my guard down… I never thought I’d be the one getting suspected. I didn’t expect to find myself in this situation, so I desperately thought of an answer.

“H-how would I know? Airi may seem pure and innocent with us, but she might act differently in front of her boyfriend.”

“In front of her boyfriend?”

“Yeah, so it might be too hasty to conclude that she can’t have a boyfriend just based on how she acts with us.”

I tried to emphasize that I didn’t know anything about Airi’s personal life while also reinforcing the idea that she does have a boyfriend. I thought I handled it pretty well. I hope this makes Yuria reconsider her doubts…

“Well… Yeah, I guess you’re right. I mean, I’ve never had a boyfriend, so I don’t really know if someone’s personality changes in front of them. But, yeah, maybe Airi is just trying hard for her boyfriend.”

“Yuria…”

“Now that I think about it, I don’t think Airi is the type to lie skillfully. Maybe I was overthinking.”

It seems I managed to get through this. Although, I’ll probably need to talk to Airi later about the suspicion around her having a boyfriend.

“But if that’s the case, then maybe I…”

“Hm?”

“If I got a boyfriend, would I be able to become a different person too?”

“Do you want to become someone different, Yuria?”

“I’m not sure, but as for now…”

Yuria stared at me intensely, then gently poked my nose with her index finger, adorned with light blue nail polish.

“Whether I’m a gal or an otaku, I have a nerdy guy named Ryota who accepts both sides of me, so I don’t really need a boyfriend.”

Yuria said this with a bright smile, showing her white teeth.

I… I’m the reason she doesn’t need a boyfriend? Isn’t it the other way around? If a girl only has a nerdy guy like me as a friend, wouldn’t she want to hang out with cooler guys?

“Besides, if I had a boyfriend, you’d feel bad about staring at my thighs, right? That would be too sad, so until you get bored of looking at my thighs, I won’t get a boyfriend.”

“H-hey, I don’t think I’d ever get bored of them. Are you okay with that?”

“‘Never get bored’… Geez, you’re such a pervert, Ryota!”

“Don’t say it with a smile! At least say it while looking more disgusted.”

And throw in a bit more of an insult while you’re at it.

“Well, that’s really…”

“Hm?”

“…Never mind. Let’s head back to the classroom.”

“Yeah, let’s do that.”

Since morning homeroom time was approaching, Yuria and I hurried back to the classroom.

The smile Yuria had when she called me a “pervert” was incredibly cute. It felt different from the usual joy I get from being insulted.

“Hey, Yuria, can you keep insulting me with that smile from now on?”

“Huh? Gross. That’s really weird.”