The Story of How I, a Guy Who Couldn’t Care Less About School Castes, Somehow Ended Up Making All the Five-Star Gals Fall for Me - Chapter 06: Rank the Four Gals

Chapter 06: Rank the Four Gals

“Uh, wait a sec. I still don’t get Kizuki-kun at all.”

Hari pressed her fingers to her temple, clearly baffled by my words.

“…So you actually remember my name now?”

“Idiot, of course. I’m not gonna forget it anymore.”

At last, our eyes finally met.

“Geez, Hari, you’re so not honest. Having your weakness called out so cleanly—it just lit a fire under you, didn’t it? What’s the phrase… ‘blessing in disguy’? No, wait—injury something?”

Hinawa lunged in and wrapped her arms around Hari.

“The correct one’s ‘a blessing in disguise.’”

“Yeah, that! See, Ikoi, you’re such a know-it-all!”

The three of us stood there on the way home, chatting. But with Hari and Hinawa together, there was no way not to draw attention.

Every student passing by blatantly stole glances at us.

Hari shot them one cold look, and they scattered instantly like startled pigeons.

“Listen, Ikoi. Hari’s got that ridiculously high face-value score—she’s a natural-born, stunning beauty with laser-beam eyes. That’s why she always looks angry. She’s not doing it on purpose, so don’t freak out.”

In other words: she’s too pretty for her own good, so deal with it.

“Yeah, I know.”

“Whoa. A guy who isn’t scared of Hari? That’s rare. Well, duh—you wouldn’t be able to talk to her like that otherwise.”

Hinawa’s eyes went wide.
Her reaction was like spotting a dog doing the Bon Odori dance in the street.

“Don’t go thinking you’ve got me all figured out so easily.”

Hari’s big eyes stayed locked on mine, as if trying to measure me.

It was nostalgic—whenever she didn’t like my advice as a kid, she’d stare at me like this, testing if I really meant what I said.

“Suitengu-san, if you ever think I’m wrong, just correct me outright. I’d rather you tell me straight—I’ll understand better that way.”

I made the request sincerely.

The last thing I wanted was to keep saying things that made her cry.

“Kizuki… you really are strange.”

Hari’s stiff, guarded face suddenly softened.

“How so?”

“You made me cry, but then you apologized right away—and even promised to change yourself.”

“…? Isn’t it more important to make sure I don’t keep upsetting you?”

“…You don’t seem crafty enough to fake it. That honest reaction… yeah, I can believe it.”

She seemed convinced on her own.

“Anyway, how about we move this somewhere else? Miyu and Platina are waiting at the family restaurant nearby.”

Hinawa threw out the suggestion casually.

“Eh? I was planning on going home.”

“Ikoi, don’t tell me you’re the kind of guy who refuses a girl’s invitation. That’d be suuuper lame.”

And just like that, my protest was ignored.

“…You’re not just trying to drag me along so you can all use me as gossip fodder, are you?”

“Nope! What we need you for is way more important—Ikoi, you’re gonna rank our boyfriends and tell us who’s the best!”

Oh, right.

That ridiculous request from earlier—I’d completely forgotten about it.

☆☆☆☆☆

The three of us headed to a nearby family restaurant.

When I showed up at their table, both Miyu and Platina looked genuinely surprised. Judging by their expressions, they hadn’t really believed I’d come.

“Kizuki-kun, thanks for coming. So you and Hari-chan made up, huh?”

“Dragging him all the way here… as expected of Hinawa.”

Miyu greeted me with a warm smile, while Platina gave a small clap in approval.

Hari quickly slid into the seat next to Platina on the left side.

“C’mon, Judge, sit right here!”

Hinawa shoved me into the seat beside Miyu on the right, then scooted in herself.

Now I was boxed in—gals on my left, right, and straight across. No escape.

I was completely trapped in the middle of the Five-Star Gal barrier.

“Think of this as me apologizing for earlier. Thanks for letting me join you.”

“Welcome, welcome.”

Hinawa answered brightly on everyone’s behalf.

We ordered drinks for the whole table and a few dishes to share.

Once everyone returned with their glasses from the drink bar, the stage was set—time to get down to the real reason I’d been dragged here.

“So, how exactly am I supposed to judge this ‘boyfriend bragging contest’ of yours?”

All four of them went dead quiet.

Hari averted her eyes.

Hinawa gave a weak, awkward smile.

Miyu frowned slightly, looking troubled.

Platina turned her face away, like she couldn’t care less.

…What the heck?

Where’d all that bold energy from before go?

None of them looked like they actually wanted to gush about their boyfriends. In fact, it was the total opposite.

Even Hinawa—the one who dragged me into this—suddenly looked hesitant.

Well, well.

Since nobody was stepping up, I had no choice but to push things along myself.

“Alright then. Let’s start simple. Show me some pictures of your boyfriends—I’ll judge by looks first.”

They were acting so uncooperative it made me suspicious, but this was the easiest evaluation point to start with.

“Ah, my boyfriend doesn’t allow photos.” “Same here, mine too.” “Me too.” “Ditto.”

The four of them answered in perfect sync. The level of coordination was almost scary.

Seriously? In this smartphone-obsessed era, not a single photo? That was obviously a lie.

“Fine then. At least tell me their specs.”

I switched tactics.

Sure, there was a slim chance—like one in a million—that all four of them were in these ultra-discreet, photo-free relationships. Or maybe, since the Fives were basically treated like school idols, they were just being extra careful about keeping their private lives hidden.

Either way, without something concrete, I had nothing to judge.

After a long pause, the four finally opened their mouths.

“His height’s… average. Not too tall, not too short,” Hari answered vaguely.

“He’s funny to talk to!” Hinawa declared, way too broadly.

“Someone who isn’t scary,” Miyu said, leaving a ton of room for interpretation.

“The kind of guy who doesn’t ask boring questions like this,” Platina muttered, basically telling me not to pry.

All four answers were completely wishy-washy.

After a few more half-baked replies, I couldn’t help frowning and folding my arms.

“C’mon, give me more than that. I can’t picture these guys at all.”