You Girls Are Way Too Obsessed With A Lone Wolf Like Me - Volume 2 Chapter 1: Hatori Erena Wants to Grow

Volume 2 Chapter 1: Hatori Erena Wants to Grow

The day after I had fully recovered from my illness. If you count the weekend, it had been a full four days since I last attended school.

“Hey, Himemiya! Long time no see!”

It was when I entered my classroom, Class 1-B. One of the popular kids hanging around near the lockers at the back of the room, Namiwaka Shuntarou, greeted me with a bright smile and said, “Yo!”

As usual, he was the kind of guy you’d describe as refreshing. Maybe because he had just finished morning practice, he had a sports towel draped over his neck, and from his rolled-up slacks that reached his ankles, a friendship bracelet peeked out. Whether he was doing it to cool off from the heat or as part of a fashion statement, I couldn’t say. But one thing was for sure — he looked stylish, and I couldn’t deny it.

Good-looking guys can pull off anything, but of course, only if you’re good-looking.

“Looks like your cold’s all better now.”

“Yeah.”

“How’d you catch a cold?”

“It was because of last week’s sudden downpour. I stayed in a cafe with air conditioning while still wet.”

“You were probably reading, huh?”

“Mind your own business.”

“Ha! I knew it!”

Namiwaka laughed loudly, flashing his white teeth. I almost thought about sending my resume to some idol agency just to get back at him.

Ever since the incident with the friendly gathering — that is, the trouble with the popular group from the next class — Namiwaka had been talking to me more. But, we were still only classmates. We didn’t hang out during breaks or anything.

I think the other classmates had started to view me more as a fellow student, rather than some mysterious person.

Good or bad.

What I mean by that is, there are those who like me, and those who don’t.

Some people see me as “someone who doesn’t read the room and says things bluntly,” others as “a guy who’ll snap at anyone,” and some as “the dangerous type who could do anything when they snap.”

Are there any people who actually like me?

Well, to be honest, I really don’t care about other people’s opinions. I don’t want to be popular or join the ranks of the “riajuu” kids. As long as I can live a quiet high school life alone, I don’t need anything else.

So, when Namiwaka’s group teased me, saying, “If you had taken one more day off, you would’ve had a five-day Golden Week! What a shame, Himemiya!” I couldn’t care less. I just squeezed out a fake smile, thinking, “Dumbass.”

Suddenly, I felt a sharp gaze piercing into me, and I met the eyes of the person it came from.

It was a girl sitting next to Namiwaka, the queen of the group, Endou Hina. She was still wearing that sweet-smelling perfume, and in the brutal summer heat, it made me think that if she walked through the mountains, beetles and stag beetles would swarm around her.

Endou, without a doubt, had been looking at me as an object of dislike ever since the friendly gathering incident. No matter the reason, she probably didn’t like the fact that I stood up to her.

That said, it wasn’t like she had done anything drastic — like putting pushpins in my shoes or calling local seniors to do a direct attack on me. The only difference now was that I had gone from being a non-existent presence to something worth glaring at. In fact, it could even be seen as a promotion.

I’m way too positive, aren’t I?

After giving me a quick once-over, Endou returned to her usual cheerful smile and immediately drew attention from the rest of the group.

“Hey, let’s hang out after school today~♪”

One of her followers, Watasumi, shouted, “Count me in!” and the rest of the popular kids immediately agreed, completing their after-school plans in an instant.

If Endou were the leader of a survival game, she’d probably be really good at it.

“Sorry! I’m going on a date with my boyfriend today, so I’ll pass!”

One of the girls said apologetically while clasping her hands. 

Her name was Urogase Yumeno. I had the impression that she was one of the higher-ranking girls, just below Endou. She had the presence of someone from the upper class, with a light blue cardigan tied around her waist. Her long nails, visible through her hands, were coated perfectly, making her look like a one-person electric parade.

“Eh~? Yumeno, again with your boyfriend?”

“Why not? You should get a boyfriend too, Hina.”

While still clasping her hands, Urogase smiled, and Endou puffed up her cheeks, “You said it~,” she teased. Urogase seemed to have the confidence to voice her own opinions.

The two of them bantered, and the surrounding popular kids laughed, creating the kind of vibrant, youthful scene you could only expect from high school.

I had enough of watching that dazzling world from the sidelines and quickly headed to my seat. Of course, I chose the front-row corner seat, my special seat that no one else had taken since the first seating arrangement change. It was my personal, unyielding spot.

Feeling the warmth of the morning sun gently hit me, I decided to take my time and enjoy a leisurely moment until homeroom began. I rummaged through my bag to find the book I had been reading.

“Ahh! I wish I could say ‘I’m passing because I’m going on a date with my boyfriend!’ toooooo!”

“…”

The girl who had been assigned the seat next to mine this month was making a racket.

Thud! Thud! Thud! She stomped her feet and collapsed onto her desk, rolling her head around.

She reminded me of my little sister throwing a tantrum because she couldn’t get the candy she wanted.

The girl causing this ruckus was Kurashiki Ruri. She was a typical example of a lively high school girl, and the word “energetic” suited her perfectly.

When Misaki, Hatori, and Kurashiki were together, they formed the moral trio of Class 1-B, the closest of friends. Right now, just like me, Misaki and Hatori were looking down at Kurashiki with pity.

Finally, with a roll, Kurashiki’s head turned in my direction, her neck stiffly fixed in place. The way her head moved was strangely horror-like.

“So, as I was saying, Himemiya, become my boyfriend.”

“”Eh?””

The one who was surprised wasn’t me, but Misaki and Hatori, who were with Kurashiki.

Why is it you two?

“Your reason is way too impure.”

“I appreciate your spot-on retort. If it were any other guy, I’d get a quick ‘yes,’ and then I’d be stuck with no idea how to respond.”

“You’re way too self-conscious, Ruri…”

“What!? Just because you’re  cuter than me, don’t get cocky, Kanarin!”

“I’m not cocky!”

Misaki, blushing and barking back, is ignored as Kurashiki’s rampage continues. She suddenly stands up, places her hand not on Hatori’s shoulder—but on her chest—and gives it a few pats.

“R-Ruri…!?”

“Even Erena and Kanarin aren’t just bystanders here.”

“?” The two of them freeze again, and Kurashiki continues her speech.

“We’ve only got three weeks left before summer break, you know? At this rate, the summer will be over, and we’ll have only spent it hanging out together. That’s like so sad. This is an irreplaceable summer for high school girls!”

“I’m fine with that though,” Misaki mutters, but Kurashiki isn’t listening to her. “Stop hitting me already…!” Hatori pleads in desperation, but Kurashiki pays no heed to her pleas either.

“And most importantly…”

“Most importantly?”

“Most importantly?”

“At our family restaurant, people without a partner get prioritized for shifts! What am I gonna do? If I end up being the only one in a waitress uniform on the day of the fireworks festival! I want to wear a yukata and go on a date too!”

I don’t know what to tell you.

I try to avoid getting further involved by putting on my earphones, but Kurashiki’s hand slips between the earphones and my ears, swatting them out.

“I’m this cute! I’m charming! Himemiya! What should I do!? Give me a concise answer!”

“…Maybe just go to Suma Beach?”

Suma Beach. If you’re looking for a famous beach in Hyogo Prefecture, this would probably be one of the top choices.

Kurashiki is furious.

“Are you an idiot!? That’s a famous spot for pick-ups!”

“That’s exactly why I recommended it.”

“Pick-ups aren’t ‘fateful encounters,’ so forget it!”

Maybe this is why she can’t get a boyfriend.

A bell rings, signaling that time is up. Kurashiki, like a boxer whose time has run out, trudges back to her seat and slumps down, letting out a deep sigh.

“But… the beach huh… sounds nice. I wanna float in the water with my boyfriend… I wanna share shaved ice and yakisoba at the beach house… I want him to catch me under the fading sunset…”

For some reason, Hatori’s face turns bright red. And she starts stammering.

“M-mmm?”

Kurashiki doesn’t miss Hatori’s strange behavior. She stands up again, crouches down, and moves in to get a closer look at her.

“Erena… don’t tell me, you have a plan to go to a beach with a guy?”

“! N-no…”

“If it’s not the beach, I swear to god, if it’s a pool, I’ll never forgive you, okay?”

“…”

“~~~! You traitor~~~!”

“Haeh…!?”

Kurashiki goes mad. She jumps at Hatori from below, grabbing her chest with force, then starts to grope her.

“Ughhhh! And this is the quietest one of the bunch! She acts all like an honor student, but she’s actually a wild and seductive type girl! Trying to kill us with her pride and joy bust!”

“W-Wild-type…? Seductive…?”

“Stop it, Ruri! Let go of Erena!”

“No way! If that’s the case, I won’t let go of Kanarin either!”

The scene of a girl being groped, a girl groping another, and a third girl getting involved, all while being ignored by the male students, draws everyone’s attention. Their eyes are glued to the action.

“Even if it’s just one time, I want to be part of Misaki-chan’s triangle.”

“I get it too well, it’s painful. I want to drown in that triangle too……. I’d even give up 10 years of my life for it.”

“I don’t mind dying if I could join that.”

Misaki, noticing the gazes of the group of boys observing her with fascination, shouted, “You guys can’t look—!!” However, the sight of her flustered reaction only made everyone’s faces soften even more.

Another peaceful day.

“Himemiya-kun, could you help stop Ruri—!? W-why are you reading a book while listening to music!? Don’t just go into your own world!”

I don’t care. If it gets out that I’m the one going with Hatori to the pool, things will get even more complicated.

And when the warning bell rings, it goes without saying that Kurashiki, who continues her sexual harassment, got scolded by Amami-sensei.

※ ※ ※

After school. The empty classroom on the 4th floor of the Cultural Building. Another name for it: the Private Room. To them, it’s a secret base. Today, once again, I’m savoring the precious solitude, sitting on a pipe chair, listening to the online radio I’ve set up from my smartphone in a daze.

I casually glance up at the air conditioner mounted on the ceiling. Naturally, it’s not functioning, a state of wasted potential.

If it worked, there’s no doubt I could live more comfortably, but there’s nothing I can do about it. The best action I can take is to keep waving a fan to substitute for the air conditioner.

The fan I’m holding has the face of a young, beautiful woman I recognize printed on it, with the cringe-worthy words “Kimi Uta Fan Club SONG FOR YOU” written in it. It’s a relic from the graduates, wedged in between the gaps of the bookshelf.

“It’s so hot, I just wanna eat ice cream…”

“Yeah. Though it’ll probably melt right away…”

If I tilt my gaze just slightly, I can see Misaki and Hatori casually chatting at the two seats in front of me. I’m not going to comment. Essentially, it’s just like sitting at a shared table in a public space—like on a train or in a library, where someone’s sitting next to you.

Though, I do get approached quite frequently.

‘I’ll be spending the best summer with my best of friends! Summer is really the best!”

On my favorite Kansai local program, the host reads a message from a listener in a bright tone. The message sender is probably a hardcore, self-proclaimed ‘riajuu’ without a doubt.

Heh… I can’t help but laugh through my nose.

“Himemiya-kun. You totally mocked that just now, didn’t you?”

Misaki’s, as if saying, “I totally see-through whatever you’re thinking of right now,” peers at me with her large eyes.

“I wasn’t mocking it. I just thought it sounded like one of those YouTubers who calls everything ‘God-tier’ and slaps ‘legendary’ on every title, that’s all.”

“That’s what people call mocking, you know…”

Like using ‘once-in-a-lifetime wish’ too much? Or saying something too forcefully makes it lose its impact? I don’t get why people who are called ‘riajuu’ or ‘party people’ always want to share their lives with others as if they’re saying, ‘We’re the best♪‘ to the world.

On social media, they get ‘likes’ from followers, but those are definitely ‘I-don’t-care-likes.’ I can’t prove it because I don’t have any friends, though.

“People who try to show off how ‘great’ they are to others, aren’t they just trying to fulfill their own desire for self-recognition? If you’re truly satisfied with yourself, shouldn’t you be able to feel like you’re the best, regardless of what others think?”

So says the one who’s been through it all.

A ‘great’ that’s swayed by others’ opinions is, to me, the worst.

If you can enjoy yourself, even self-satisfaction is enough.

In other words, being alone is the ultimate strength in daily life. Remember that.

Misaki sighs, “Here he goes again, philosophizing about being alone…” with an exasperated look.

“I get it!!”

As if to say, “I completely agree!”, Hatori suddenly rushes toward me. With such momentum, she leans forward aggressively, and her ample chest, resting on the long desk, gets compressed to the point of flattening—It’s a big world!

I quickly shift my focus from her chest to her face so I don’t get fixated. A pure, unrefined smile spreads across her mature face.

“Because they say ‘legendary episode,’ I watch the video, but then I’m like… ‘Maybe not so great…?’ That happens a lot!”

So that’s what you relate to, huh?

As expected, the appearance of an adult, but the soul of a subculture girl. Her enthusiasm is as usual, utterly unsurprising.

It’s like she wants to say “YouTube cliché, I’ve got to get this out.”

“I often think I’m listening to the original song, but then I realize it’s a ‘cover’ version, and I’m so disappointed! And they make the title so long that you can’t even see the word ‘cover’—that’s cheating! But, when the person’s good at it, I end up getting absorbed in it!”

Hatori’s machine-gun-like speech is unstoppable. When she talks about fun or things she likes, she loses track of her surroundings. It’s the classic pattern, especially considering how she usually plays the mature, adult role. The contrast is huge, almost as big as her chest.

“Himemiya, is there anything else that disappoints you?”

“Me? Hmm… Well, it’s not so much ‘disappointment’ but there are plenty of things that annoy me.”

“Like what?”

“Like videos that are supposed to be new songs, but are just text-based videos introducing some artist…”

“Oh, What else?”

“Or ones where they say ‘FULL,’ but then it’s ‘FULLY’ and they just loop the first verse over and over. Or those background music videos that spam a ton of ads. And those YouTuber self-promo ads that go way overboard.”

“~~~!”

Her eyes sparkle and her hands grip me tight.

“I can tell you’re agreeing with me, but Hatori, stop there.”

“? …Ah.”

Hatori snaps back to reality and turns to Misaki, who’s sitting next to her.

Misaki’s smile is there, but it’s not her usual perfect smile. It’s the most awkward, stiff smile possible. She’s unable to join in on the common topic and is just giving a forced smile and nodding. Ironically, the ultra-friendly Misaki is the one stuck alone, while I— the supreme loner— am surrounded by a group.

Talk about a role reversal.

“S-Sorry, Karin…!”

“Don’t worry about it, Erena. As long as you’re happy, I’m happy too, right?”

“Ah, thanks…!”

“But, you know, I’m starting to feel a little lonely too. It’d be great if we could talk about something the three of us could get into?”

“Come to think of it, Hatori, what’s the plan for Saturday? The meeting time and place?”

“Is it that fun to leave me alone like this!?”

Misaki, who was pouting angrily, quickly calmed down, her irritation fading away. She sulkily rested her chin on the table and puckered her lips.

“I wish I could go to the pool too…”

“If you want to go so badly, then just come.”

“Eh?”

“Why are you so surprised?”

“I didn’t think you’d actually say I could come…!”

“I’m surprised too…”

And, of course, Hatori agrees with the obvious. Your appraisal of me hurts.

Misaki starts thinking and suddenly smiles, as if an idea just popped into her head. “Hmm?” she grins widely.

“Himemiya-kun is a boy too after all. He’s for sure want one more girls in a swimsuit to look at, right?”

“My burden— I mean, it’d help me if there’s more people to play with Yuzu, that’s all.”

“…I knew you were that kind of person…”

I’m not sure if I should be upset by that.

“Karin, can’t you come after all?”

“Hmm… Well, I have plans with some middle school friends that day. If I say yes to both, it’ll be a double-booking situation.”

“Ah, I see. So, it’s like picking one group over the other, and then the other side says, ‘Oh, they like the other group more than us.’”

“Could you not make it sound like I don’t want to hang out with my middle school friends…?”

“Isn’t that the case?”

“No, it’s not!”

I really thought it was just a superficial relationship.

“I’ll admit, this kind of situation is tough to judge.”

“I get that…” Hatori agrees, but since this isn’t exactly a fun topic, her tone is a bit down.

“I’ve had it happen where the places to hang out overlap and I end up bumping into them. It’s so awkward…”

“That does happen. That’s the worst, right? I try to go with the group that invited me first so there’s less chance of misunderstandings later on.”

“If your grandpa’s 13th memorial service overlapped, would you still prioritize the hangout you were invited to?”

“Depends on the situation… And can you not kill off my grandfather in this conversation!?”

I felt relieved, thinking there must be a pattern like, “Sorry, Grandpa in heaven, but we’ve got karaoke”

Misaki puffed out her cheeks and stuck out her tongue with a quick “Bleh!”

“Himemiya-kun likes being alone, so he doesn’t understand how we feel at all!”

“I admit I don’t understand the feelings. But I’ve had similar experiences too.”

“!” The two of them looked shocked, their expressions filled with surprise. They even sat deeper in their chairs, leaning forward intently.

“Hurry up and tell us about that!!” “Himemiya, hurry up!”

Just how much do they enjoy my troubles, I wonder?

Well, whatever.

“This happened when I was in the lower grades of elementary school. In my class, there were two kids, Takamine and Sasakishi, who were the typical class leaders.”

The two of them argued almost every day over who was more deserving of being the leader. Naturally, they couldn’t get along, and as a result, the class’s boys split into Takamine’s group and Sasakishi’s group. Tensions even started rising between the two factions.

Then, one day, an event took place that would shatter the balance.

“Takamine and Sasakishi decided to settle things by figuring out who could get me into their group.”

“You just casually said that, but even back then, Himemiya-kun preferred being alone huh…”

During recess, I would go alone to the library to read, or go to the playground and ride the unicycle or the stilts alone.

“From that day on, it was like living in hell… They invited me to hang out every recess and after school, bribed me with frozen mandarins and yogurt during lunch, and kept piling food on my plate unnecessarily. Can you imagine? They even kept piling on those kamikami beans!”

“Kamikami beans… how nostalgic,” Hatori muttered.

Kamikami beans were one of the unpleasant meals for kids, made by stir-frying roasted soybeans and dried baby sardines with a sweet-spicy sauce. Obviously, roasted soybeans are fine only on Setsubun, during the bean-throwing ritual.

“Man, those were such tough days…”

I wish I could go back and use those kamikami beans to vent my frustrations.

But I shouldn’t wish for things I can’t have. I take a sip of my coffee to calm my mind.

I thought I had finished telling my story, but the two of them seem like they haven’t had enough. They’re not letting go of their posture, still waiting with expressions that say, ‘When’s the next part?’

After that, life just went back to normal, with nothing particularly interesting happening.

“Even after I kept refusing, those two kept being persistent. Finally, I lost my patience. In the middle of the classroom, I told them, ‘I don’t plan on getting along with either of you. So, please don’t bother me anymore.’”

“H-Himemiya-kun, that’s so like you…!”

“Himemiya, so you…!”

Of course it’s like me, I’m 100% pure Himemiya Haruichi, after all.

“What happened after that?”

“…”

“Himemiya-kun?”

“From then on, my classmates started talking to me more than ever…”

““…Eh?””

“To overthrow Takamine and Sasakishi’s fearsome reign, the boys began to lift me up as the new leader. And there are girls who agree with them too…”

In short, there were many people who felt distrust toward Takamine and Sasakishi.

It’s the completion of the Himemiya faction, which is anything but a joyous thing.

My apathetic, self-destructive reign collapsed almost immediately, but it really caused me stress until everything cooled down.

“Just thinking back on it now gives me the chills…”

“Hahahaha!”

“…Fufu!”

The two of them burst into laughter.

Noticing my dissatisfied gaze, the two wiped the tears from their eyes and apologized.

“Sorry, sorry. But you know, when you were in elementary school, Himemiya-kun, your personality hadn’t changed at all!”

“Yeah. You tried to avoid getting involved, but somehow ended up getting dragged into everything anyway. That hasn’t changed either.”

““…Pfft!””

The two of them burst into laughter again.

As I chugged my coffee in frustration, the door opened.

“Excuse me~!”

Entering our private room was our homeroom teacher, Amami-sensei. We affectionately call her Ama-chan-sensei. Today, like always, she’s holding her trademark yellow bucket to make up for her lack of height, looking like a grade schooler.

This isn’t a clubroom, so Amami-sensei isn’t exactly an advisor. But she almost plays that role, doesn’t she? There are some activities, and there’s some compensation for it.

The activities consist of helping with tasks that are out of Amami-sensei’s reach, like class issues and such.

The reward for the activities is the right to use this classroom, plus an improvement in my communication skills.

Although I could do without the last one.

As if it was the normal thing, she sat right next to me.

“Ama-chan-sensei, would you like something to drink?”

“Thank you, Misaki-san. In that case, I’d like a warm cocoa, please. Naru amade.”

Naru amade—I’m guessing she means a lot of sugar. Don’t say it like “naruhayamitai” (as quickly as possible).

To use this private room freely, if there’s any business to take care of, I want to finish it quickly. While waiting for Misaki to make the cocoa, Amami-sensei hums and I ask her.

“What brings you here today?”

Amami-sensei blinks her big, round eyes like marbles.

“Nothing in particular?”

If there’s nothing, don’t come.

“Ah! You just thought, ‘Don’t come if there’s nothing!’ You definitely thought it!”

I really need to get rid of the habit of letting negative emotions show on my face.

Misaki finishes pouring hot water from the electric kettle into the guest mug and hands the completed cocoa to Amami-sensei while soothing the teary-eyed little girl. It’s hard to tell which one of them is the adult here.

Amami-sensei blows on the cocoa, almost as if venting her frustration.

“Seriously! Himemiya-kun has no sense of delicacy! I thought, by spending time with people like Misaki-san and Hatori-san, you’d at least have developed some communication skills!”

“People don’t change that easily.”

“Don’t talk like you know, you 15 or 16-year-old punk!”

Look who’s talking, the one who looks like they’re 10 years old.

Alright, it seems like I managed to keep that one off my face.

“Teachers get tired too, you know! They make materials for staff meetings early in the morning and grade tests late at night! It’s fine if I sometimes get to relax and chat with my cute students, right?!”

She seems to have come to vent her frustrations. After taking a sip of cocoa, she sets her mug on the table with a look that makes her seem like an office lady holding a beer mug. Instant upgrade to adult mode.

“Why do I have to go on night patrol, only to get picked up by the police on a night patrol!?”

Instant downgrade to childish mode.

Being a teacher is already a tough job, but on top of that, carrying the burden of looking like a little girl… the struggles must be unimaginable.

That said, this is the first time I’m hearing this.

“You do patrols and stuff?”

“Not regularly, but yeah. Especially around this time of year, first-year students are starting to get used to high school life, so they stay out late or even secretly work part-time jobs to prepare for the summer vacation…”

Now that she mentions it, I think I heard about a second-year student getting caught working part-time without permission and having to write a reflection letter during last week’s meeting.

My school, Otozuka High School, allows part-time jobs if you go through the proper application process. However, the application needs parental approval, and you can’t have a certain level of academic failure. So, of course, some people break the rules.

“Misaki-san and Hatori-san, you guys haven’t been out past 10, or secretly worked part-time jobs, right?”

In response to Amami-sensei’s question, the two of them shook their heads. They weren’t playgirls, so they seemed to strictly follow the rules.

“Himemiya-kun, you’re not working part-time without permission, are you?”

“I’ll just say this, I can play around even after 10 PM on my own, you know?”

Not that I’m actually playing around at that time, though.

As we let the teacher’s solo harassment, or rather, the solo rich harassment, slide by, I thought it was just the right timing.

“Sensei. I was actually thinking of getting a part-time job soon, so would it be okay if I got a job application form?”

Once again, the voices of “Eh!” echoed in unison. And there was one more voice than usual.

To my surprise, the three of them leaned over the long desk and began whispering, just loud enough for me to hear.

“Did you both hear that? Himemiya-kun’s going to work part-time…”

“Yeah… I don’t think I misheard that… right?”

“Sensei is so happy! That Himemiya-kun is trying to become a member of society and work hard!”

Don’t make me sound like I’m antisocial.

As the whispering wrapped up, Misaki raised her hand.

“Himemiya-kun, what kind of part-time job are you planning to do, other than a customer service job?”

“Don’t just naturally exclude customer service from the options. I’m fine with customer service jobs, you know.”

“Ehh… but in customer service, you basically have to smile, right?”

With a suspicious, slightly dark look on her face, Misaki seemed to be imagining herself as a customer.

“Excuse me, could I get a hamburger set, please? And a smile too, please♪”

“…Heh.”

“Did you see that, Erena!? The clerk just laughed through his nose!?”

“Would you like to try a challenge with that?”

“So annoying~~!”

Thanks for comin~

Amami-sensei continued to smile and nod at our exchange. Is she an S?

“Well then. I shall take my leave now, everyone. If any of you find a naughty child or hear any information, please report it to me right away, okay?”

Misaki and Hatori nodded in understanding, but I didn’t. I have a personal policy of not doing unpaid work.

Whether it showed on my face or if my zero-yen smile just didn’t appeal to her, Misaki said with a full grin:

“Ama-chan-sensei has a lot of work, so let’s all ‘take the lead’ and cooperate, okay?”

Hatori, understanding Misaki’s intention, nodded in agreement.

“Yeah. We’ll keep working hard to make sure we can still ‘use the secret base.’”

“Right, Himemiya-kun?” “Let’s work hard too, Himemiya.”

“I refuse.”

“……” “……”

You’d be wrong to think I’d buckle under intimidation, you guys.

I’ll say it again. I don’t do unpaid work. And I certainly don’t want to increase my workload for no reason.

“If you take on too many tasks out of goodwill, you’ll only end up with more work because people take advantage of it.”

People like you, always trying to please everyone, will always lose, that’s just how it is. Society is survival of the fittest.

I declared with firm conviction.

“If you still want to reach out, go ahead. But don’t drag me into it. If it means becoming a pushover salaryman drowning in overtime and unable to enjoy my after-work life, I’d rather steel my heart and leave on time. I want to enjoy my after-hours.”

“From whose perspective are you speaking, Himemiya-kun…?”

I’m speaking from a lone wolf’s perspective, is there a problem with that?

Amami-sensei tilted her head back, “Hmm…”  humming thoughtfully.

After a moment, it seemed like she had an idea.

“Then how about this? If you can find someone working a part-time job without permission, I’ll let you use the classroom’s air conditioner throughout the summer.”

“I shall complete the task.”

“That was quick!” “You’re answering immediately…!”

I’ll repeat myself. I don’t do unpaid work.

“Then it’s a deal, let’s negotiate♪”

When Amami-sensei flashed a bright smile, I nodded firmly in agreement.

“Thank you for the cocoa,” she said, bowing before leaving the classroom.

I tapped the screen to resume the paused radio, then took out my student handbook from my chest pocket. In the memo section, I wrote: “Goal for this month: Find students working part-time without permission.”

Did they think the radio’s voice would drown out their conversation?

“Erena, if Himemiya-kun ever works at a restaurant or something, we have to go prank him, okay?”

“Yeah, I’m looking forward to seeing Himemiya work a part-time job.”

“……”

Since I couldn’t shut up the noisy idiots, I stuck earbuds into my ears and focused on the radio.

Even if I get the part-time job, I’ll never tell them, no matter what.

※　※　※

Today is the day I promised to go to the pool with Yuzu and Hatori.

It’s a perfect day for it, you know, a “pool day.” The sun is blazing high in the sky, and being past noon, it’s in its prime. Even as a guy, if I’m out under the sun in just my swim trunks, I start worrying about sunburn, melanin, and the like. The sunlight is so sharp it’s almost painful.

Right now, I’m waiting inside the changing room for the two of them to finish getting changed.

Since I’m worried about sending elementary school-aged Yuzu too far, we decided on a small leisure pool on Rokutsuka Island in my hometown for today. Looking around, the visitor count is so low it’s almost sad, and I can’t help but wonder how many more years this place will last.

But that’s what makes it perfect. It’s definitely going to be a relaxing day.

“Haru-niiii, sorry for the wait!”

Full of energy, Yuzu bursts out of the girls’ changing room in a frilly swimsuit. She’s ready to enjoy herself, complete with an inflatable ring around her body and snorkeling goggles perched on her head.

Does she actually feel the urge to show off the results of her efforts?

“Hey hey, Haru-nii! What do you think of Yuzu in a swimsuit? Sexy?”

She must think she’s striking a gravure pose, but holding the inflatable ring high above her head and swaying her hips just makes me think of the ending scene of a family seaside show.

“I think it suits you. Screams elementary schooler.”

“Ehehe♪ Eheheh! Thank you~~~♪”

I’m glad my little sister is just as silly as any other elementary schooler.

“Come on, come on! Ere-nee, hurry up!”

A few seconds late, Ere-nee (Hatori) slowly, or rather timidly, steps out of the changing room. The two of them didn’t become close because they spent time together naked in the changing room; no, they’d been close since the time they came to my house with Misaki. At this point, they’re practically sisters. After today, I’d almost want her to officially adopt Yuzu as her younger sister.

Finally, Hatori steps out in front of me.

“Haru-nii! You should compliment Ere-nee too!”

“W-Well, I’m fine, really…”

She must be embarrassed. Pulling on a thin hoodie, Hatori completely shut down her killer body, as if to block my gaze and everyone else’s. Her eyes constantly darted between checking her hoodie’s length, fidgeting with her legs that were shamelessly exposed, and continuing to play with her hair, all as if she was hyper-aware of both my gaze and the gazes of those around her.

Just when I thought she finally made eye contact, she quickly averted her gaze and started fidgeting even more. She’s so restless.

There are always those types, aren’t there? The ones who overthink everything and get embarrassed at the slightest thing.

Like the high school girls wearing short skirts, looking over their shoulders with a victim’s face when climbing stairs…

I’m not looking, though.

“Geez! You won’t get a compliment from Haru-nii unless you take off your hoodie! You’ve gotta be more confident! Ere-nee’s oppai are amazing, you know!”

“Y-Yuzu-chan…!”

A group of elementary school boys passing by overheard Yuzu’s power word and reacted excessively with, “Oppai!?”. Seeing this, Hatori’s movements became even more jittery, making me want to ask if she was heading to the bathroom.

“Yuzu, stop making Hatori feel awkward.”

“Hi-Himemiya…!”

“Even if it’s embarrassing, I think it can’t be helped.”

“Huh?”

“I’ve always found it strange how people think it’s embarrassing to be in underwear, but not in a swimsuit.”

“A..”

“A?”

“After being told that, I’ll never ever take off my hoodie!”

Honestly, I think it’s better than flaunting those amazing oppai.

“Ugh, you’re so frustrating!” Yuzu pouted and stomped her feet in frustration.

“Ere-nee! It’s summer, you know? Let’s be more daring!”

“Daring…?”

“That’s right! You bought this swimsuit for today, didn’t you!? You came here to bewitch Haru-nii, right!?”

“Yuzu-chan!? That’s a private matter, so──! Wait!? No, no, no! It’s just that I didn’t have a new swimsuit! I wasn’t thinking about bewitching anyone, okay!?”

I really don’t care, honestly. Whatever.

The older girl of the two is in full-on panic mode now, desperately trying to explain herself, but at this point, her words are just spilling out of her before her brain can even process them.

But then, suddenly, she went quiet and murmured…

“…I’ll take it off…! I’ll be daring…!”

Hatori, you know. In the world, they call that “yakeke kuso” (meaning nonsense or nonsense behavior).

I had already noticed this tendency before, when we were at the clothing store. She really has a strong desire to change.

Slowly,  Hatori grasped the zipper on her chest, and Yuzu’s excited chant of “OPPAI! OPPAI! OPPAI!” echoed in the room.

At this point, Hatori didn’t even seem to hear the sexual harassment chant. She was still shy, curling her body inward, but she decided that hesitation meant losing and, with a deep breath, she pulled the zipper down all at once.

The owner of such a splendid chest traces a large curve, gradually revealing more and more of her bare skin. Just as a glimpse of her cute, petite belly button comes into view, the zipper is swiftly pulled all the way down in an instant.

“I… I took it off…”

I’d like to say, “Not my problem,” but…

Wow… There’s no denying it—she’s the owner of a glamorous body.

Hatori is wearing a plain, two-piece bikini. Because it’s a simple swimsuit with no frills, her well-developed chest and toned waist are showcased to their fullest.

The pièce de résistance is the shoulder straps of the top. The straps on both shoulders are taut, stretched tight, telling the story of just how voluminous Hatori’s chest is. The way the straps support her chest is incredible.

The judges in my mind unanimously raise their signs.

“Sexy” “Sexy” “Sexy” “Sexy” “Sexy

Unanimous decision—sexy.

Yuzu claps and cheers, “You took it off perfectly!”

“Haru-nii! Make sure to compliment her properly! Tell her that her boobs are big and amazing!”

“That just makes me a sexually harassing old man.”

“Yuzu-chan! Don’t say anything more about my boob—I mean, my chest! ~~~~! You two, put your things down and let’s play in the pool quickly!”

Hatori grabs our hands tightly and tries to escape toward the locker room. She seems like she wants to run at full speed, but it’s common sense not to run on the poolside.

Whether she’s walking quickly or not, it goes without saying that Hatori’s chest bounces largely and softly with every step.

As expected of a family-friendly leisure pool, it’s small-scale but equipped with the essentials: a waterslide, a lazy river, and a wave pool. While it might lack excitement for middle schoolers and older, it’s more than enough to satisfy kids around Yuzu’s age.

Yuzu and Hatori are having the time of their lives. In the athletic zone, they’re splashing each other, laughing and squealing with delight.

Yuzu drags Hatori under a giant bucket. Water continuously pours into the bucket, and the two of them, standing below, hug each other in anticipation of the moment it tips over.

After a while, a massive amount of water cascades down onto their heads.

“Hyaaaaaa~!” “It’s so cold…!”

Hatori, her long hair tousled, shields her eyes from the sun and starts looking around.

It seems she was searching for me. When our eyes meet, she realizes she’s been watched the whole time and shyly lowers her gaze slightly. But almost immediately, as if eager to share her joy, she looks up again, flashes a small smile, and waves at me.

“Himemiya come here and play too”, or so her eyes show.

What I want to tell Hatori is this:

I can’t stop myself.

The reason is, I’m in a completely different zone—the lazy river, just floating along.

It’s like the Suzuka 10-Hour Endurance Race. How many laps have I completed? Wearing the float Yuzu lent me, I drift aimlessly, listening to the summery background music playing throughout the facility.

After waving at Hatori, I look up at the sky. The cloudless blue sky stretches endlessly, so beautiful it makes me want to devour a bowl of rice just looking at it.

I’ll come back here again during summer break. Alone.

As a guy, I do appreciate the privilege of seeing Hatori in a swimsuit. But joining in on the playful splashing? No, thank you. Just seeing you in that swimsuit is enough of a treat.

So, I’ll just keep gazing at the blue sky for a while.

Every time I feel the heat, I pour water over my dry skin, repeating the monotonous task. Some local middle schoolers probably notice me.

“That guy’s crazy…,” one says. “Yeah… he’s been floating alone this whole time,” another adds. “Floating solo? That’s next-level…”

Next-level? I wouldn’t say so.

I ignore the chatter. Paying attention would be defeat. Just like athletes tuning out the crowd’s jeers, as someone who embraces solitude, I can’t let “lol alone” comments get to me. In that sense, being alone is its own kind of athleticism.

“Oof…!”

Should I apologize to the athlete? Suddenly, my float flips over.

I plunge headfirst into the water, and a rush of chlorinated water shoots up my nose. My temples throb as if my brain is screaming in protest.

There’s only one person who would do this.

“Yuzu… You—… Huh?”

When I surface, I’m surprised to see not Yuzu, but Hatori, looking apologetic and forcing a smile, floating alongside me.

“Um… Yuzu and I played rock-paper-scissors, and the loser was supposed to flip Himemiya… And I lost…”

“You lost, huh…”

“Gotcha—!”

Just as a familiar idiotic voice reaches my ears,

“Idiot!” “Kyah!”

Yuzu, who had jumped in late, head-dived into my back. A fierce impact struck my back, and this time I head-dived forward.

My face, having lost balance, was slammed into the water’s surface once again.

But this time, the water’s surface was soft. Not only that, it was warm, and even felt pleasant. I thought I could stay like this forever, even if I couldn’t breathe.

And no wonder. My face was pressed against Hatori’s ample and soft chest, separated only by a thin layer of fabric.

I have to admit, this is one thing that can’t be beaten by mere visual pleasure.

If all car airbags were Hatori’s chest, many lives might be saved, but there’s no doubt that people would intentionally crash into walls.

This isn’t the time to be thinking about that…!

Realizing I couldn’t keep feeling at peace, I abruptly raised my face, grabbing Hatori’s delicate shoulders. I had no choice; touching her shoulders was the only way to regain my balance. In other words, there was no escape from this happiness.

I succeeded in lifting my face from her chest. Before I could breathe, before I could release her shoulders, our eyes met.

“H-Himemiya…!”

As expected, her face flushed with embarrassment.

“H-Hatori, I’m sorry──,” “D-Don’t say it…!”

“Huh…?”

“Since I also played a prank on you, we’re even, right…? Or rather, I’d appreciate it if we could call it even…”

“O-Oh…”

You… It’s like buying a cheap snack with a hundred-dollar bill and saying you don’t need change.

Is that really okay? The atmosphere wasn’t one where I could ask such a question. Hatori was already exuding an air of melancholy, as if begging me to never bring this up again.

“Ahahahaha! Haru-nii and Ere-nee! Let’s ride the waterslide!”

This brat…

※　※　※

“Haru-nii~~! Watch me do the individual medley!”

“Sure, sure.”

Before evening. After playing around with all the facilities, Yuzu suddenly remembered the swimming pool and started swimming to show off her skills. I wondered why I was so tired, even though I had only been floating in the lazy river.

To soothe my fatigue, I soaked in the warm water jacuzzi near the swimming pool, watching Yuzu’s swimming as if it were someone else’s business. It really was someone else’s business now.

The jacuzzi, which released air bubbles from the floor, provided such healing that if I completely relaxed my body, I felt like I might dissolve into bubbles along with it.

Since there were no other customers around, I relaxed as if I were in a hot spring bath. Then I heard a voice:

“Can I sit next to you?”

Looking up, I saw Hatori in a mid-waist posture, her chest accentuated by her pose.

“Sure.”

As if checking the water temperature, Hatori slowly entered the water, starting from her toes. Once she was submerged up to her shoulders, the distance between us was so close that our shoulders were almost touching—it felt like we were in a mixed bath together.

“This feels like a mixed bath…”

“I was trying not to say it out loud.”

“Ah! S-Sorry…”

“……”

“……”

“The temperature is low, but it feels nice.”

“Yeah, it does.”

“……”

“……”

“You really helped me today. Thanks to Hatori, the burden of being dragged around by Yuzu was significantly reduced.”

“I’m happy I could be of help.”

“Yeah.”

“……”

“……”

Yeah. As always, we’re terrible at keeping a conversation going.

Well, I guess it’s better than it was in the beginning. Thinking that doesn’t cost anything.

“H-Himemiya!”

“Huh?”

Hatori, who had been facing forward, suddenly turned her body toward me with great momentum.

And, as if continuing with that momentum, she said,

“U-Uhm…! D-Do I look weird in this swimsuit…?””

“Huh?”

What’s she talking about?

“This is my first time wearing a string-type swimsuit… And it’s been since elementary school since I last went to the pool with friends, so I’m not confident…”

She seemed genuinely serious, nervously fidgeting with her hands clasped in front of her chest.

Had she been worried about it all day?

“I think you look great.”

“R-Really…?”

“Yeah. You’ve got a great figure, so I even think you should be proud of it.”

“Himemiya, you’re so straightforward with compliments…”

“I’m just stating the facts.”

“T-Thank you… If you think it’s a fact, I’m… genuinely happy.”

Maybe because she’s not used to being complimented, Hatori’s lips sank below the water’s surface.

“Hatori, you’ve got a strong desire to transform, huh?”

“Desire to transform?”

“Like, wanting to become a certain way. Wanting to look more mature, show a new side of yourself, or become more bold.”

“I think my desire to change is stronger than most people’s. I’m not the type to speak up first, and I’m pretty introverted, even I can tell. I wish I could express what I want to say more clearly.”

Hatori gave a wry smile, saying, “It’s not easy to change the way I want to.”

After a brief pause, Hatori continued.

“I’m passive, so I’ve never invited anyone to play with me. I always wait to be invited, and then I get down if I’m not. So…”

“So?”

“So, I’m really glad I was able to say we should go to the pool myself.”

It was clear she was speaking from the heart. I could tell because Hatori’s expression had completely changed from her wry smile, and she was now directing an unreserved smile at me.

Hatori says she hasn’t made much progress, but I think she’s definitely taking steps forward, one by one. The fact that she’s expressing her desire to change to me proves it.

“Hey, Himemiya…”

“Hm?”

“Next time, I’ll invite you, so let’s all play together, okay?”

“No.”

“Eh…?”

When did you think I’d go, “Oh, sure…” and give in?

“I don’t make promises to play without knowing when or what we’ll do. If I think there’s something in it for me at the time, I’ll play. If not, I won’t.”

Hatori seems stunned. She falls silent.

But then,

“Fufu…!”

“Why are you laughing?”

“Himemiya, you’re really amazing. You’re so true to yourself.”

“I just don’t want to force myself to go along with others.”

“Even the way you say that honestly is amazing.”

“……Flattery won’t get you anywhere.”

Hatori chuckles again.

Her smile alone is so captivating that I wouldn’t mind if she kept it up.

Turning my gaze forward, I see Yuzu waving enthusiastically.

“Haru-nii and Ere-nee, come play with me!”

※　※　※

By the time we finished changing and left the facility, the scorching sun had mellowed somewhat.

Yuzu has also calmed down—or rather, she was fast asleep from exhaustion.

Feeling like I had an extra burden, I carried Yuzu on my back and escorted Hatori to the station near the leisure pool.

At the ticket gate, as we were parting ways, Hatori gently stroked Yuzu’s head, still sleeping soundly.

“Today was so much fun. Could you tell Yuzu-chan thanks for inviting me?”

“Sure. See you later.”

Hatori passed through the gate and headed toward the stairs, growing smaller in the distance.

Then, for some reason, about halfway up the stairs, Hatori turned back toward us.

“I’ll plan something fun for Himemiya too! Let’s play together during summer vacation, okay?”

“Y-Yeah…”

It was unusual for Hatori to shout so loudly across the distance, trying to bridge the gap. I was so surprised I replied without thinking.

Adding, “See you at school,” Hatori began walking up the stairs with light steps.

With Hatori out of sight, all that remained was the weight on my back.

“Well… let’s head home.”

Adjusting Yuzu’s position on my back once more, I started descending the stairs we had climbed earlier, one step at a time.

Walking along the elevated train tracks toward home, I noticed a group of small children walking toward us. It seemed like a group of kindergarteners out for a walk.

Since it was Saturday, the group was small, but they were lively for their age.

One boy broke away from the group and started sprinting.

“Don’t run, Kaito!”

The nursery teacher was full of energy too. She chased after the boy, who was running solo, and scolded him with all her might.

“Kaito! You always dash off on your own!”

“Shut up, hag!”

“Huh!? I’m only 15, you know!”

Even nursery teachers are human, just like me. They must feel frustrated by the kids sometimes. Still, 15 is young.

Or maybe it’s just my imagination that I’ve heard or seen this before.

It wasn’t my imagination.

The nails, perfectly coated one by one, looked all too familiar. It was like a one-person electrical parade.

One of the Endou Group, Uragase Yumeno, was leading the children.

As we waited for the traffic light, Uragase and the kids caught up with us.

She didn’t seem to notice me, or maybe she was ignoring me because I was recognized as an enemy of the Endou family.

Well, either way, it doesn’t matter. Don’t mess with the popular kids.

“Kaito, what do you do when crossing the road?”

“You do it! Hahahaha!”

The boy was quite the brat. But his laughter quickly stopped.

Uragase pulled a handgun from her apron pocket and pointed it at the boy’s forehead.

“Kaito… if you act up again, I’ll shoot you between the eyes…”

The power of a water gun is immense. The boy surrendered, raising his hands in a different sense.

Is she some terrorist or what?

.

Despite the different context, Uragase patted the boy’s head in approval and smiled with satisfaction.

“Good job! Everyone, make sure to raise your hands too!”

“Yay!”

When the light turned green, the children lined up behind Uragase and started walking.

But then…

“Hyaaah…!”

Suddenly, Uragase’s skirt flipped up. It wasn’t a natural occurrence—Kaito, the boy, had launched a surprise attack from behind.

Pattern blue. Lace-trimmed underwear.

“You little brat—!” Uragase spun around, ready to shoot Kaito.

And then,

“!? H-Himemiya!?”

“……Hey.”

Busted.

“W-What are you doing here!?”

“It’s my hometown.”

“I thought no one would see me since it’s Rokkokotsu…” Uragase casually dissed the area, then realized another important detail.

She clutched her skirt and glared at me pitifully.

“D-Did you see…?”

I wanted to be honest, but this was one of those moments where I had to sympathize with Uragase.

But kids are ruthless. The children surrounded her, chanting, “Blue underwear! Blue underwear! Blue underwear!”

All I could do was offer a witty remark.

“Looks like the kids love you.”

“Ugh—! I’ll kill you—!”

She unleashed a barrage of water gun shots, at least considerate enough not to hit Yuzu on my back. But aiming precisely at my forehead and the kids’ hearts? That’s cold.

Finally, the water ran out, and the attack stopped, but Uragase’s frustration didn’t fade.

“Got it…? Don’t tell anyone at school about this, okay?”

“This? The part-time job? Or the underwear?”

“Both!”

Subjects are important.

I had several questions, but one stood out.

“Wait, did you not officially apply for this job?”

“……Huh? It’s none of your business.”

“It is.”

My private room’s air conditioner is at stake here.

Suspicious. Way too suspicious.

As I kept giving her a skeptical look, Uragase started fidgeting. Eventually, she snapped, “Mind your own business!”

“I’m thinking of quitting this job, so leave me alone…!”

Her shocking confession prompted the kids to chorus, “Aww!” I almost wanted to join in.

“The nursery teachers keep scolding me about my hair color and nails…! I started because the pay was high, but without transportation covered, it’s a wash…! The kids keep flipping my skirt…! Rokkokotsu is so boring…!”

“Don’t badmouth Rokkokotsu.”

The boredom is part of its charm.

“If I quit, it’s fine, right? Without evidence, there’s no problem!”

Even I couldn’t bring myself to say, “Don’t quit. I need you to keep working for the air conditioner.”

She pressed closer, her sharp eyes even more intense, trying to intimidate me.

“Let me say it again, alright? If you spread this around, I’ll never forgive you!”

It was practically a threat. Uragase finished her warning, then led the children across the street, calling, “Let’s go, everyone!”

Her insistence on secrecy felt oddly suspicious.

Even if her unauthorized job was exposed, the worst she’d face is writing a reflection paper. Why was she so stubborn about it?

I can’t understand modern high school girls. Heck, I can’t understand young people in general these days.

When you’re confused, it’s best to ask someone else.