You Girls Are Way Too Obsessed With A Lone Wolf Like Me - Volume 3 Chapter 2: Even During Summer Break, Misaki Karin Tries to Get Closer

Volume 3 Chapter 2: Even During Summer Break, Misaki Karin Tries to Get Closer

A lone wolf begins early in the morning.

Much earlier than one might expect.

“Tererereeeen! Tetetetettetette…”

The battle encounter BGM from an RPG echoes throughout my room.

It’s not an alarm.

It’s her calling me.

“…Again?”

On top of the bed, my brain—completely knocked out like under Rarihōma—snaps wide awake in an instant. I dive straight into battle mode, reaching for my smartphone to face the monster. Then—tap—right on the screen. (T/N: A Dragon Quest spell.)

I tap the screen.

BATTLE START: Shirahoshi Arisu appears!

『Good morning~♪』

“Morning. And goodbye.”

『Ehh!? Waaait,』

Fight ▼ Run Defend Item

Fighting isn’t always the only option. Sometimes, running is the best strategy.

In my case, if the monster defeats me, it’s a forever Game Over. There’s no one to drag my coffin to the church and revive me. This is a solo-adventure ultra-hardcore no-help playthrough. Don’t underestimate it.

Let’s go with the “Escape Like Hell” option—every time.

As I stretch under the blazing midsummer sun… BATTLE BGM, ROUND TWO.

I need a Toherosu or Gold Spray. Seriously.

“What do you want now?”

『It’s your morning call~!』

“I’ve said this before, but I never signed up for such a room service.”

『Even if you didn’t, if it’s for Himemiya-san, I don’t mind at all! No problem at all~!』

It’s a huge problem, actually.

『The weather in Kamitobe City today is clear skies all day—no umbrella needed! But starting around noon it’ll turn into mōshonabe-level heat, so make sure to hydrate properly to avoid heatstroke, okay?』

From early in the morning, Shirahoshi’s full of energy. Just like a cheerful weathercaster, she begins delivering various bits of info with crisp, upbeat tones.

『In the morning news, the summer break pet special was so adorable! Uu-chan the otter made their debut at the park~♪』

You didn’t have any more pressing news than that? Well… it was kinda heartwarming.

Now I can’t tell if it’s Japan that’s too peaceful, or if Shirahoshi’s head is stuck in permanent peaceful mode.

『And guess what! Himemiya-san’s Pisces is ranked #1 in the horoscope today! Congratulations~♪ And the lucky color is white! That’s the “shiro” in Shirahoshi Arisu~! At this point, calling me your lucky item wouldn’t be wrong at all~♪』

T/N: The kanji on her name can be written as Shiro Hoshi if separated. Shiro means white, hoshi means star. She’s a literal white star. But when combined, it’s written as Shirahoshi.

Not last place?

I don’t believe in horoscopes anymore. Starting today, I’m an atheist.

And it’s not just weather and news she delivers.

『Today’s Thursday, so I’ve got my part-time shift from 9 to 3. Once I’m done, I’ll come over to visit, okay~♪』

Alarm, weather, news, horoscope, daily schedule, and more… Shirahoshi provides a wide range of information services.

Could it be? No way…

Alongside those Kimi Uta-chan speaker systems, have they now started selling an Arisu-ojou-sama Speaker?

Seriously—who asked for this?

Stop sending me free samples without my consent…

“Hey, Shirahoshi, seriously, stop with these calls alre—『Alright then! Let’s do our best today too~♪ Bye~!』”

Arisu-ojou-sama Speaker: forcibly powered off.

“…”

The room falls silent.

Outside, the jinjin of cicadas in full chorus. From the next room, my little sister Yuzu is loudly singing the Radio Exercises theme at full blast.

My new morning… hasn’t arrived. Only despair shows up instead of hope.

I have no choice but to reflect. Never give out your LINE ID, schedule, or birthday so easily.

This isn’t a game—I can’t just hit reset. Reality is a harsh and unforgiving place.

※ ※ ※

“She’s so earnest and cute though, don’t you think?”

“Try putting yourself in the victim’s shoes. You wouldn’t be saying that.”

“Well, maybe that’s how it feels to you, Himemiya-kun…”

In the corner seat of Café WELL, Misaki—my customer—lifts the freshly poured water in both hands and smiles brightly as she says, “Itadakima~su!” to me, the pourer.

She gulps it down in two, three sips. Just looking at her, you could tell how unforgiving the heat outside must’ve been.

Misaki’s outfit today is a breezy, thin-shirt one-piece dress perfect for the scorching heat.

Its loose silhouette and the sunlight reflecting off her pale skin make it look like the outfit was made just for her.

Next to her, Hatori chimes in:

“Himemiya likes being alone, but I think he has this magnetism that pulls people in. He’s kind of a troublemaker in an active way, so instead of ‘troublemaker,’ maybe… like, a ‘trouble-receiver’? Or an ‘order taker’? No wait—‘receiver’ fits best, I think.”

I don’t care what you call it.

Hatori’s outfit is a combo focused around the hot pants she bought some time ago. 

With legs that kill on sight, her whole aura screams: “This summer’s all about boldness!”

Good luck with that.

It all started when Misaki asked, “Himemiya-kun, are you enjoying your summer break?”

And now I’m stuck in a conversation about how my summer vacation is being wrecked by a typhoon.

A typhoon named Shiratorīn.

Due to Shiratorīn’s approach, heavy rain and strong winds rage across the Himemiya region, and my stress levels are reaching historic highs.

Honestly, even I don’t know what I’m talking about anymore.

But never mind Shirahoshi for now.

“Oi.”

“What is it?”

“Hm?”

“What the hell are you two doing here at the café like it’s normal?”

As I, the café worker, shoot them a suspicious glare, Misaki and Hatori just exchange a glance and smile sweetly.

“We did say it, remember? That we’d come bother you whenever you’re working. Right, Erena~?”

“Yup. I said I wanted to see Himemiya in action at work. Right, Karin?”

““Right~♪”” they say in unison, giggling. I want them both banned immediately.

Where the hell did they get info on me working at WELL anyway? Even with my face betraying my emotions easily, there’s no way they could’ve found my part-time job.

If my life’s being broadcasted that clearly, you might as well strap me to the top of Kobe Port Tower and use me as a scrolling LED sign.

Was it Amami-sensei? Even if she looks like an elementary schooler, she’s still a teacher!

Leaking personal info like that is a thousand deaths’ worth of offense.

When my shift ends, I swear I’m storming the staff room to make her cry.

While I’m plotting her punishment, someone else walks in—Koino-san, who notices the girls.

“Welcome~♪ Karin-chan, Erena-chan!”

“Ah! It’s Kimika-san!”

“Hello~”

“See? Isn’t Haruichi-kun working hard?”

“Yes~♪ Thanks for telling us about it!”

I feel like a loyal dog that just got bit by its own owner.

“Koino-san…”

“I was the one who told Karin-chan, y’know~ That Haruichi-kun works here.”

She sticks her tongue out playfully. A clear sign it was 100% intentional.

Even if a mature onee-san gives you a tongue-peek, what’s unforgivable stays unforgivable.

All that does is add a “but it’s kind of cute” to my irritation.

Classic social-monster Misaki.

Before I knew it, she’s already made friends with Koino-san…

“Kimika-san! Is it okay if I take some pics of Himemiya-kun in his work uniform?”

“Of course~! Take your time, okay~♪”

…What even are my human rights?

As Koino-san cheerfully vanished like a breeze of love (ai souyoku), Misaki—having just seen her off with a bright smile—whipped out her phone. 

“Himemiya-kun, look this way and give me a pose~!” Click!

I really, really wanna flip her off right now.

Quit snapping pics all casual-like, Hatori.

Eventually, either because they’d gotten the shot they wanted or realized no matter how many they took the result’d be the same, the two finally set their phones down. I handed them the menu.

“So, what’re you two ordering?”

“Hmm, what do you recommend?”

“There’s this new place near Hankyuu Oka Station that specializes in bubble tea—”

“Can you please recommend about what THIS cafe has!?”

“…What, aren’t all high school girls into boba or whatever? Bet you’re no different.”

“That’s such a stereotype… I-I mean, I do like it, but still…”

See? Look at her. Even Hatori’s blushing next to her. Nailed it. Go slurp some tapioca or somethin’.

“Geez! Just tell me what you recommend, Himemiya-kun! I’ll go with that!”

“Aaaand there it is.”

“…Huh?”

A siren blared in my head. Misaki’s words had tripped every alarm on the radar I’d set up in my soul.

Misaki, on her end, braced herself—based on past experience, she figured there was a high chance I’d hit her with some complaint or other. Useless resistance, really.

“I don’t like the ‘just choose for me’ approach.”

“Muu. But whyyy?”

She pouted, fixing me with a grumpy, dissatisfied look. I redirected her gaze—not to my face, but to my index finger. Then, with slow and deliberate motion, I guided that finger across the menu to point out a single item.

And then I said it, nice and clear.

“Our café’s top recommendation is the charcoal-roasted coffee. To really savor the depth of the beans, we serve it black—with no sugar or milk.”

“Ugh…”

Zuhn. Her eyes shifted into flat, deadpan mode. Misaki pressed her lips together tightly, narrowing those big sparkling eyes of hers. It wasn’t bitterness she was imagining—it was pain. I’d struck a nerve, and it showed.

“You’re not ordering it, right? I mean, you can’t even handle mild sugar… and I’m recommending black.”

“I-I’m not… I c-can’t drink it…”

Misaki’s whole body visibly shrank, like she was getting crushed under a mountain of gravity.

“With how popular you are, don’t people ask you to hook them up with someone? Like, matchmake?”

“S-Sometimes, yeah…”

“And when you ask them what kind of person they’re into, if they say ‘Oh, anyone’s fine,’ it’s hard to work with, right?”

“It is…! Ruri once said, ‘Just someone who’s hot,’ and I had no clue what to do with that…”

Like she’s picking a beer off a menu. As if you can just go, ‘One hot guy, please!’

While I was laying the verbal smackdown on Misaki, the Power of Friendship suddenly burst in—kashaa! Unable to watch her bestie take more hits, Hatori flipped the switch and stepped up. You wanna go, huh?

“B-But, like… a lot of the movies and books, or bands and game streamers you recommend, Himemiya, I actually end up liking too…?”

“That’s just ‘cause we’ve got similar tastes, that’s all.”

“!? ———!!”

What, is it that embarrassing to have the same taste as me?! Hatori let out a voice that wasn’t even a voice, then swish!—she clapped both hands over her face to shut herself down. With her arms also squishing against her… uh, generous chest, the pressure caused a rather bold cleavage reveal from beneath her T-shirt.

Hello there, Valley of the Gods.

Friendship Power: Self-destruct.

“It’s not bad to ask for recommendations. Even I ask store staff when I’m clueless about, like, clothes. But still—there’s gotta be some basic input. Otherwise the staff don’t know what to do, and it’s not satisfying for them to suggest stuff either.”

Neither of them had any objections. Shrunk down to toddler size, they nodded in perfect sync.

“Yes… you’re totally right…”

“Mmhm… that makes sense…”

Even the YouTube algorithm doesn’t just throw random videos at you. It checks your watch history and serves up stuff tailored to your taste. Learn from YouTube. Praise be to the algorithm.

“So, once again. May I take your order?”

Misaki’s a good girl when it comes to reflecting. She nodded with a soft “yeah…” as if wiping away the gloomy air, then looked back up at me with a cheerful smile.

This time, holding onto her own will.

“In that case, I’d like something not bitter… something light and refreshing. And I still want your recommendation, Himemiya-kun.”

“Then, tap water it is.”

“Seriously!! This is exactly what’s wrong with you sometimes!”

It’s got a pretty high freshness score, you know. Straight from the tap—vintage, just-turned!

Alas, my solo act fell flat.

When Shirahoshi came here for the first time—

“What’ll you have?”

“Himemiya-san, I’ll have whatever you recommend!”

“Even if it’s just tap water?”

“Yes♪ If you say it’s your recommendation, then I’ll gladly drink it♪”

…I wonder if she’s okay in the head.

Well, that one’s totally on me. I admit it. Gotta own up to your mistakes.

“In that case, Misaki. How about an iced royal milk tea? We just got a fresh shipment of tea leaves, so the flavor’s really vivid. And of course, you can add milk—and even cinnamon, if you like.”

Misaki gave me the stare. Not the deadpan one, though—this time her cheeks were faintly pink. Almost like she was trying to keep herself from smiling too much.

Maybe I broke her with too many emotional crits.

“Himemiya-kun, you act like you don’t pay attention… but then you are actually watching. That’s just not fair… It makes me wanna forgive all your teasing from earlier…”

“I so get that, Karin…!”

Too easy. I’m seriously worried about their future. May they never fall prey to trashy guys.

“Then I’ll have the iced royal milk tea, Himemiya-kun.”

“Got it. Hatori, what about you?”

“U-Um… Then I’ll try the mint lemonade…!”

As expected of our ever-ambitious girl, Hatori. Choosing not to go with a recommendation—there’s some flavor in that, too.

“Thanks for waiting, guys~!” came a voice like summer sunshine, running a bit late—enter Kurashiki.

Rocking mini overalls with a touch of boyish charm, yet still undeniably girly—in a way only Kurashiki could pull off. It was honestly super cute.

“Ooh! Just like the rumors said—Himemiya’s working hard! That apron look suits you, suits you!”

“Welcomeeeeeeeeee.”

“Don’t be shy now!”

“What’ll you have, Ruri?” Misaki asked, as Kurashiki flopped into a seat and tried a finger snap that totally didn’t land.

“Himemiya! The usual!”

You’re not even a regular. That joke’s already too much effort to argue with.

“You drink that ‘Orey’-type stuff a lot in class, right? How about a mixed juice?”

“As expected of Himemiya! You’re really watching me, huh? Wanna get married? Wanna go file the paperwork right now?”

“Nope. Not happening.”

The moment I replied instantly, Kurashiki burst out laughing with a loud “Nyahaha!” Even though it’d been two weeks since we last met, she was her usual self—thankfully so.

Even if we ran into each other at some class reunion years from now, I bet she’d be exactly the same.

Not that I’d ever go to a class reunion anyway.

“Okay then! I’ll have a mixed juice! Oh, and I want the Himemiya no moe moe kyun option too!”

“There’s no such option, idiot.”

“Boo, bad service!” Kurashiki puffed up her cheeks in protest—meanwhile, out of the corner of my eye, I noticed Misaki and Hatori whispering to each other. While glancing at me.

“Hey, Erena… honestly, the way he actually pays attention? It’s totally unfair, right?”

“Yeah. Total foul play.”

I had the sudden urge to scratch out the order form and replace it with ‘Charcoal Roasted Coffee ×3’ or something.

Once I finished bringing everyone their drinks, it was time for a slightly late break.

Work and private life—on and off—should be kept strictly separate. Which means I had no reason to join in the conversation at Misaki’s table. I took a seat in the very corner of the counter, solo.

From behind me came the warm buzz of girls chatting away cheerfully.

“Which festival should we go to? Minato Kobe, maybe?”

“If it’s the Ashiya fireworks, you can see them from my house. We could time it with our pajama party—might be just right.”

“Or we could just go all out and hit up Osaka! Tenjin or the Yodogawa one!”

The three of them were getting hyped, totally ignoring the fact that I existed. And because of that, I didn’t feel like pouring cold water on the mood with something like, “Why not just do sparklers on your balcony? Everyone throws their own party.”

I scarfed down my sandwich and got ready for some reading time, coffee in hand. Entering my personal Emperor Time—solo edition.

What I was reading was a sci-fi novel that’s getting a movie adaptation this year. Bought it just because I liked the cover and title, total impulse buy—but now that I’m over halfway through, I gotta say… not really my thing.

That said, just because it’s not my taste doesn’t mean I regret buying it. Or reading it, for that matter.

When it comes to stuff I like, stumbling around and exploring blindly is part of the daigomi—the real flavor.

Sure, asking someone with actual knowledge for recommendations is efficient and reliable. No doubt about it.

But I don’t think that lets you gain real experience points. It can’t beat the EXP you earn from going in blind, challenging yourself, failing, succeeding, getting hyped or disappointed, and figuring stuff out on your own. And more than anything, the time I spend on my own, searching for that one supreme book, is time well spent.

A certain manga shihan-dai once said it too. “Rather than forcefully prying open your shoukou and learning nen, it’s better to train carefully and let it awaken naturally.” I agree with that 1000%.

If it ends up being fun, that’s a win. If it’s boring or meh, that’s fine too. As long as you don’t just go “meh” and move on, there’s always something to be gained.

What didn’t work? What did? Would it be better if this part was done differently? Stuff like that. Thinking all that through while reading is what makes it enjoyable.

So yeah—thinking while reading is my absolute jam.

Books aren’t for reading. They’re for thinking. By: Lone Reader.

Before flipping the next page, I took a sip of coffee.

Guatemalan blend. Smooth mouthfeel, refreshing citrus-like acidity—like lime almost. Yeah… good stuff. Master really knows his coffee game.

Letting out a quiet breath, I savored the lingering aftertaste.

Man… I’m really alive right now…

The formula of Solo Emperor Time = Pure Bliss is absolute. Because it’s solo.

Just as I was soaking in that sense of being truly alive, my phone lit up on the table.

[Arisu]: “I’ll be heading over to the café now~!”

Followed by an adorably fairy tale-ish emoji stamp.

Bad news: Bliss Time… has officially ended.

Shirahoshiiii…

“Message from Shirahoshi-san?”

There goes the “A real man speaks through his back” theory—shattered, by me.

I spun my chair around to see Misaki and the others looking in my direction.

“Looks like it.”

“Ahaha… You really seem to be in a tough spot.”

To be able to express all that in one short message… is it because she’s just that much of a loving soul? Or maybe I’m just amazing?

…No, I’m probably just the problem.

“Himemiya, you really are a national treasure, huh.”

What, does she think I’m some rare species of wildcat or something? Kurashiki stared at me like I was some kind of exotic creature. Even beckoned me over like here here, but I ain’t going.

“What’s that supposed to mean, Kurashiki?”

“Well, y’know. For people our age, it’s totally normal to be desperate for a lover, right? Wanting to be all lovey-dovey is just the standard, no?”

“…Huh?”

Maybe realizing I wasn’t getting it, Kurashiki added, “Like, for example—”

Then turned and locked eyes with Hatori, who was sitting beside her.

“Like this!♡”

“R-Ruri?!”

Kurashiki suddenly pounced, wrapping Hatori up in a tight, over-the-top hug—the kind of lovey-dovey that was legally bordering on harassment.

With few customers around, Kurashiki takes full advantage, burying her face even deeper into Hatori’s ample chest, reveling in its softness. She squeezes Hatori’s breasts, making squishing sounds, and kneads her sides, creating a festival of lewd onomatopoeia. Onomatopoeia extravaganza!

“Oyoyo? Being a recipient of my sexual harassment for so long—did they grow again, hmm~?”

“Mm… H-Hey… it’s embarrassing in front of Himemiya…”

“Nya nya nya~? So you’re saying it’s okay if it’s not in front of Himemiya, Erena~? Or maybe… you wouldn’t mind getting all lovey-dovey with Himemiya, huh~?”

“!” Erena’s clear eyes widened as much as possible.

The gaze slowly moved and crossed paths with mine.

Erena’s face, fire.

“~~~!!”

“E-Erena!?”

The positions of Kurashiki and Erena had reversed.

And no wonder. Erena, in a state of extreme embarrassment, activated her usual habit to suppress her feelings. With both arms, she pressed her ample chest harder than usual.

Right against Kurashiki’s face.

“V-dasada-kaahhh~~!”

What in the world… Gyumumuu~~… Kurashiki was getting devoured by Erena’s monster bust. So envious──, how scandalous…

Erena’s unique skill: The Breast Four-Way Lock.

It could be described as a technique that makes the target simultaneously taste both pleasure and death.

Kurashiki, drowning in her chest, was desperately gasping for air, tears welling up.

“Buwaa! H-Help me, Karin and Himemiya! I’m being killed by Erena’s chest!”

“You brought this on yourself…”

I couldn’t find words other than that to agree.

It was a bit noisy, but she could just stay there and suffocate in Erena’s chest.

Ruri’s punishment was left to Erena, and Misaki moved to the counter next to me with her drink in hand.

“Himemiya-kun, do you hate Shirahoshi-san?”

“I don’t hate her. I just want a certain amount of distance.”

“I won’t ask how much ‘certain’ means though,” Misaki said, taking a sip of her drink.

I ended up staring at Misaki a bit too much as she took a sip. Maybe I stared for too long, because Misaki noticed and tilted her head with a confused ? while still holding the straw in her mouth. I shouldn’t be thinking that her gesture was cute right now.

“Misaki, has anyone ever approached you multiple times?”

Misaki pulled the straw from her mouth and replied with a vague “Ah…” and a bitter smile.

“Honestly… yeah.”

An answer that didn’t surprise me at all. Stories of Misaki being confessed to or rumors about her had reached my ears even when I was reading in class. She was undoubtedly the Madonna of the entire school during elementary and middle school, the object of everyone’s admiration.

Misaki started telling her story.

“It was during middle school. One senpai confessed to me every single day.”

“Oh?” That seemed like a story worth hearing.

“At first, he confessed in a deserted park after school. The next day, it was in the hallway during break, and then the day after that, in the classroom during lunch.”

“…Wait. Didn’t he keep confessing in more and more crowded places?”

“You noticed, huh…?” Misaki smiled, but it was a little bitter.

“Was he trying to get sympathy from others?”

“No. As he kept getting rejected, he started enjoying it.”

“A true born pervert.”

“In the end, on the day of the all-school assembly, he confessed to me over the loudspeaker on the roof. With an original love song… and a banner that said ‘Misaki Karin LOVE’…”

“…Whoa.”

Even the popular kids have their struggles, huh? There’s nothing to say but too bad for them.

“So what happened to that senpai?”

“He got caught by the teachers who rushed up to the roof. After that incident, he never confessed to me again.”

“It’s not that he didn’t, but that he couldn’t.”

“I was also confessed to by some random old man during elementary school… I never saw him again after that, so I guess the police took him away.”

Sounds like that man was probably escorted to a place where he’d be talked to.

There were many more similar stories. Misaki, recalling her sad and regrettable past, was no longer able to smile properly. Her eyes lost all light, and she just stared into the distance, her usual sweet and charming expression nowhere to be found.

I couldn’t bear to watch.

“I’m sorry, Misaki. Don’t remember any more of those painful memories.”

“Himemiya-kun…”

“Just think about making friends like usual and live your life.”

“Stop saying stuff like I’m some pitiful person!!”

I’m terrible at comforting people.

“Good grief,” Misaki sighed deeply. I thought I might’ve made it worse, but surprisingly, that wasn’t the case. While I couldn’t comfort her, Misaki’s face slowly returned to a natural smile.

“I’ve been through a lot myself, so… I kind of get how you feel about this situation, Himemiya-kun.”

Unexpected encouragement. As usual, she’s such a kind person. Even after revealing her painful past, she still cares about me.

“Rejecting someone who likes you without hurting their feelings is really hard, huh?”

“Yeah. I don’t mind being hated, though.”

“Ah! You’re saying that again. You’re not going to do it even though you make it sound like you would.”

I’m not being kind, I’m just being logical. But I won’t say it, because it’ll turn into an argument.

As I silently sipped my coffee, Misaki seemed to have an idea and clapped her hands together with a “That’s it♪”.

“Hey, hey. How about we all go out and have fun together today?”

“Don’t wanna.”

“Don’t just flat out deny it,” Misaki said, completely ignoring my refusal. She’s scary when she’s familiar with you.

“About you liking to be by yourself, Shirahoshi-san has only known it because you said it, right?”

“Yeah.”

“See? So, we should make a proper opportunity to interact and let her get to know you.”

In other words, she means not just showing the results, but also the process.

Since Misaki had initially thought of me as just some lone-wolf trying to act tough, she had a lot of persuasion.

“Of course, you need to get to know Shirahoshi-san too. I think you two don’t know each other nearly enough, and things are way too one-sided. Let’s work on fixing that.”

If we’re going to get stuck in a deadlock without knowing each other, then we should get to know each other.

“Typical proposal from the humanitarian Misaki.”

“Well, who knows, maybe after you get along, there’s even a future where Himemiya-kun ends up loving Shirahoshi-san.”

“…Heh.”

“Stop with that forced smile of yours, okay?”

My cheek was gently pulled, and my perfected fake smile was completely undone.

“See? Why don’t we try going out together after your work, all of us?”

“…”

“I want to be friends with Shirahoshi-san too, and I really want to be recognized as a friend by Himemiya-kun!”

“…Aren’t you just wanting to hang out with everyone?”

“Who knows♪”

She said it so sweetly, it’s just too cute. High marks for that.

When I got such an obvious reply, I lost the will to argue.

Well, Misaki’s point is definitely valid. There’s a lot that makes sense.

However, I’m not quite ready to get on board with it. After all, the person we’re talking about isn’t just anyone. We’re talking about Shirahoshi Arisu, who is in “Love is Blind” mode… No, “Love is Blindness”, in her case. She calls me her “Prince Charming,” but to me, she’s as troublesome as a devoted follower.

Since I watch a lot of live gameplay videos, I know very well how scary devoted fans can be. No matter how much their favorite streamers or idols screw up, once the fans filter it through their lens, everything turns from “bad” to “good.”

Even if they suddenly hit an old man on the side of the road with a lariat, the fans would be like, “That old guy was walking too slowly! ○○-san did the right thing! So cool!” Or if the streamer gets completely naked and starts shouting weirdly during a broadcast, they’d say, “○○-san took off his clothes to entertain us! So cool! Hug him!”

I’m not exaggerating; this is actually how it happens.

So, with Shirahoshi in her devoted fan mode towards me, it’s hard to just say, “Let’s adopt Misaki’s idea.” It could very well pour fuel on the fire and result in an even bigger disaster.

I decided to put Misaki’s idea on hold. And just as I did, I got another message from Shirahoshi.

[Arisu]: I’ll go with the lucky color coordination today♪

The message came with an image.

Looking at the image, it was as she said: Shirahoshi was wearing a white dress as my lucky color today. The white dress with a collar exuded a sense of purity, and the girl wearing it, with a big straw hat, flashed a radiant, innocent smile.

I just wanted to leave it at that.

“…Huh?”

I froze as I looked at the screen, and Misaki, curious about my reaction, peered over my shoulder.

“Wow~! Shirahoshi-san looks just like a doll! Why did you make that noise just now?”

“No… Something that shouldn’t be visible is in the picture…”

“Huh…?”

Misaki’s excited expression immediately turned pale. Her blood drained from her face, and she started shaking, practically turning into a puppy.

Hatori and Kurashiki, who had already calmed down, noticed Misaki’s panic and came over.

“What’s wrong, Karin?” “What’s going on, Karin?”

“A…a bloody decapitated head of a fallen samurai seems to be in the picture!”

“Calm down. There’s nothing like that in the image.”

It wasn’t just a small disturbance—it was a full-on panic.

As expected from Misaki, who’s bad with horror. She had previously said she couldn’t handle splatter films, but apparently, she couldn’t deal with ghost-related things either.

But…

“Misaki, it’s not a ghost or anything that shouldn’t be there…”

“R…really…?”

Misaki, with frightened eyes, stared at me. She honestly looked like a puppy from a cardboard box, asking, “Won’t you take me home…?”

Reluctantly, to calm her down, I handed my phone to the three of them.

“Look closely at the image.”

They nervously peered at the screen.

After a while, all three of them spoke in unison.

“Her skirt is lifted…” “It’s visible…” “Her panties all visible…”

All of them were right.

At first glance, it seemed fine. But focusing on Shirahoshi’s lower half, you could see her skirt was either caught on something or lifted up.

As a result, Shirahoshi’s pure white panties were perfectly visible. She was striking a “cheese” pose.

I couldn’t believe it. I couldn’t believe her panties were also white, matching my lucky color…

Which means… her bra is probably white too…?

The mood turned quiet as everyone processed it. Just then, my phone chimed with some combat background music.

“…Hello?”

『U-um! Excuse me, but… did you… see it?』

“…”

『Based on your reaction, I guess it’s too late…?』

“…Yeah.”

『Hi-hiiin!』 Shirahoshi’s scream came through the speaker. THE panic.

『U-um, how do I delete this image from the chat!? How do I delete it from your mind!? How do I…?』

“Don’t worry. I’ll delete the image from the chat right away. But as for my mind… sadly, you’re going to have to give up on that.”

It’s impossible with today’s medical and scientific technology. My condolences.

『Then, please go out with me!』

“…Huh?”

『My friends said that sending slightly pervy images is normal between couples! My seniors said it’s something they often ask for!』

“What happened to you belonging to a girls only school”

The knowledge about sex is all over the place. Is there no health teacher there?

Shirahoshi, who had been getting more and more worked up, suddenly started speaking awkwardly.

『I-If Himemiya-san really doesn’t want the photo deleted, then… w-well… I suppose it’s okay to keep it…?』

“……”

Shirahoshiii…!

『Well then, talk to you later~!』
And just like that, Shirahoshi ends the call.

I glance to the side, sensing a powerful gaze—only to see the three of them in full-on THE PANIC mode.

“Himemiya-kun! We should totally go out all together right now! This is a state of emergency! I mean, we have to teach you what a proper relationship between boys and girls is supposed to be!”

“I-I agree! That photo from earlier definitely has to be deleted right away! You’re not planning on… saving it… right?”

“Nyahaha~! That girl’s freakin’ hilarious!”

With Shirahoshi being that loud, of course they heard the whole conversation…

My schedule for today is officially in shambles…

※　※　※

After our little break, I worked for another hour or so before my shift was over.

Originally, I was planning to go watch a movie by myself. A biographical drama about a legendary vocalist. And maybe even catch another film right after that.

That was the plan.

“Heh~ So Arisu-chan and Himemiya-kun met because of some trouble on exam day?”

“Yes!♪ Himemiya-san is both my savior and my prince on a white horse~♪”

“You always say you like being alone, but the way you just went and helped Arisu without hesitation… Himemiya, you’re kind of amazing. That gap between your usual vibe and your actions? Totally hits hard…!”

“Exactly!! That gap is what makes my heart go kyun kyun~!!”

Where… am I? And who… are you people…?

We’re currently in a karaoke place tucked away in a corner of Hyougo Prefecture’s go-to hangout zone—Sannomiya. The group? The usual trio of besties led by Misaki, now joined by Shirahoshi, forming a fresh new lineup.

The room is one of those spacious group booths, complete with a comfy U-shaped sofa and a massive screen. Honestly, it feels almost too fancy.

Ah, the classic solo-karaoke person dilemma. Big open rooms are a no-go. Give me a cozy little enclosed booth any day.

Call me timid if you want, but those tiny rooms—basically a manifestation of your own personal space—are just… comforting. I even tried to rent my own booth when we arrived, but Misaki totally shot that down. R.I.P, my alone time.

I’ve got every reason to complain, but hey, this isn’t a solo karaoke run. I’m here with purpose. I’m here to let Shirahoshi fully understand who I am. It’s a matter that could affect the rest of my summer vacation. So yeah—I’m motivated.

But that doesn’t mean there’s a ton for me to do. Kinda makes it feel… hollow.

I’m supposed to show her my natural self. So if I try too hard to plan stuff, it defeats the purpose. I’ve gotta let it gooo~ and show her the real me.

So all I can do now… is observe. Watch Shirahoshi slowly transition from stranger to friend with Misaki and the others.

Right now, I’m even listening in on their convo.

“If I had to compare Himemiya-san to an animal, I’d say… a panda!”

“Himemiya-kun, a panda?” “Himemiya, a panda?”

“He’s usually calm and chill, but when the moment calls for it, he moves with such surprising agility—it’s just like a panda!”

“”You know what? I kinda see it!””

Misaki and Hatori both puff out little giggles, clearly trying to contain their laughter as they picture it.

The three of them—including Shirahoshi—laugh together like old friends. Yep. Good for them. Happy ending and all that.

Can I go watch my movie now?

They say even beauties get boring after three days… So before I get sick of this whole thing, lemme log out, please.

While sighing to myself and sadly shaking my maracas in a solo rhythm, I spot someone peeking through the door’s window.

I open it to find Kurashiki walking in, carrying a tray full of drinks, lips pouting in full-on sulk mode.

“C’mon, at least let me rest on the days I’m not working… geez.”

“Fufuun♪ It’s Ruri’s fault for losing at rock-paper-scissors~”

“Sorry if the orange juice tastes weird, Karin.”

“Wait—what’d you put in it?!“

Kurashiki just lets out a loud, mischievous “Nyahahaha!” and grabs a mic, holding it up to my mouth.

“Hey, Himemiya! You’re at karaoke with this lineup of top-tier JKs, y’know? You’ve got yourself the best summer memory now! Lucky you~”

“Yeah… totally unforgettable. Which is exactly why I think it’s time for me to head out.”

The moment I stood up, Misaki and Hatori each grabbed one of my arms.

“Himemiya-kun, just flattering us won’t let make us you leave, y’know?”

“I just want to watch a movie…”

“Even if you speak your true feelings, we’re not letting you go.”

Then how many parts of pure-hearted emotion do I need to mix in before you’ll finally get the message?

And before I know it, Kurashiki’s got her arm around my shoulders like it’s the most natural thing in the world, guiding me right back to my seat.

Still with her arm around me. My heart’s racing. Mostly out of fear.

“Oi oi. We haven’t even been here ten minutes yet, you know? I went all the way to make coffee for you, Himemiya. So take your time and enjoy it, yeah?”

“…Thanks.”

I failed to escape and, before I knew it, I was sipping the iced coffee they offered me.

…Bitter.

Is this really a karaoke room? Not some sketchy rip-off bar?

You girls… are you evil cabaret hostesses or something?

Looks like there’s more than just one person I need to keep my guard up around.

We suddenly dive into karaoke time, with small talk mixed in here and there. Four dazzling—and totally suspicious—high school girls gathered means the song selection is all over the place.

Misaki and Hatori go with summer hits from a three-piece girl band that’s a hit among subculture-loving teen girls.

At first, Hatori’s all stiff and nervous, but as Misaki leads the way, she starts to loosen up, her voice ringing out freely. Why is it that the quiet ones tend to be total karaoke freaks?

Kurashiki belts out a hit song from one of those idol groups with either 48 or 46 members—I’ve lost count. Being petite with a small-animal kind of face, her singing and dancing are seriously idol-tier. It suits her way too well.

Even her backup dancers—yup, three of them—are right on beat.

They don’t even slack off during the instrumental break.

“Arisu, you’re doing great for your first time! But, um, tone down the appeal to Himemiya just a tiny bit, okay!?”

“Got it♪ I’ll limit it to once every three phrases!”

“Erena! Arch your back more! Stick your butt out with more… allure!”

“H-h-h-h-how embarrassing…!”

“Karin! It’s forbidden to dance better than me! Keep it toned down!”

“But you told me to do a perfect copy… I trained super hard for this…”

Kurashiki nails the final phrase and immediately cues her backup dancers A, B, and C:

“Finish it off! Hit a pose for Himemiya!”

Kurashiki: smug face + Zukkyun pose.

Shirahoshi: sparkly face + heart symbol.

Hatori: shy face + wavey hands.

Misaki: ehe~ face + double peace signs.

What… what on earth am I being made to witness? I mean, it’s crazy cute but still.

Then Shirahoshi takes the mic next and chooses that song. The one from the mouse movie that caused a nationwide phenomenon. You know, the one that lets you really let it go.

Just as I’m thinking, “Dang, she picked a tough one,”—

Wait… English…!?

Instead of the Japanese dub, Shirahoshi starts singing the original version. Everyone freezes.

And her pronunciation… native-level!?

She really wasn’t lying when she said she was in the choir club. We’re all totally captivated.

By the time she finishes, applause bursts out all on its own.

“Shirahoshi, how come you’re that fluent in English?”

“My grandpa, who lives with us, is from England. So I learned it before I even knew what language was ♪”

Ojou-sama school? Private villa? British grandpa? Fluent in English?

Yep. Just from those keywords, I’m fully convinced Shirahoshi is part of the elite rich girl tier.

How much does the outfit she’s wearing even cost…?

Kurashiki must’ve come to the same conclusion. She freezes mid-dip, a fry covered in ketchup hovering inches from her mouth.

I get you, Kurashiki. I wouldn’t wanna eat curry udon next to Shirahoshi either.

If I even accidentally splattered something on her… the cleaning bill alone would obliterate a month’s worth of allowance. Maybe even overkill.

I sip my iced coffee as carefully as humanly possible, then swap the glass for a mic.

It’s my turn.

The moment I hear the opening bars from the speakers, my body naturally starts grooving to the rhythm. Just reading the lyrics on the screen is enough to pull me into my own little world.

If someone asked me what my personal theme song was, I’d choose this one without hesitation.

The more I sing each line, the more the message seeps into my heart.

And the more I sing, the more I start to believe in the lyrics’ message—live true to yourself. Believe in your values. Don’t force yourself to fit into someone else’s mold. That conviction gets stronger and stronger.

Just like I love thinking about the deeper meaning of stories when I read them, I also love thinking about the lyrics while I sing. Maybe I’m not a print addict—maybe I’m just addicted to thought.

Before I even realize it, the song’s over.

As I soak in the lingering echoes, a thought surfaces.

I’m coming back. Next time… alone.

Solo karaoke is the best. You can sing until you’re satisfied, obviously, but even better—you won’t feel awkward singing a song no one else knows, and you don’t have to fake interest when someone sings a song you don’t know. It’s not like everyone’s a freakin’ Exile expert.

I put down the mic and take another sip of iced coffee… and that’s when I notice something strange.

The four girls who’d been goofing off and chattering non-stop are suddenly dead silent.

As soon as I meet their eyes—

““““S-SO GOOD…!””””

Well, thank you very much.

“Himemiya-kun! Why are you that good at singing!?”

Misaki’s question catches me off-guard, and I let out a dumb little, “Huh?”

What is this, some commercial? “How did you get so big?” kind of thing? Don’t ask me—I’ve never compared myself to others.

“Hmm… I guess if I had to say, it’s probably ‘cause I got super into karaoke as a way to blow off stress for a while. Maybe the stress leveled up my singing skills?”

“Nyahahahaha! Just how much stress does it take to get that good!?”

Thanks to all of you, really.

Right next to a howling-with-laughter Kurashiki—

“Uwoah…!”

NUH! Suddenly, a hand shoots out and grabs mine with a firm grip.

Before I know it, I’m yanked forward, and Hatori—now in full MAX HYPE MODE—is right up in my face.

“Amaz～～～ING! That was amazing!”

She’s in full-on machine-gun talk mode. There’s no stopping her.

“Sumika’s lyrics matched Himemiya way too well—I got goosebumps! The way you used vocal strength and control was so clear, the delicate emotions in the lyrics just jumped out! And you weren’t even forcing vibrato or falsetto to bump your score—it felt real and it was so good—”

Scary scary scary scary scary!!

If this were an ora ora rush, I’d be dead like 30 times already.

“Hatori. Deep breath. Now.”

“! …～～～～！ …Okay.”

Like some kind of magic word, she finally manages to calm down a little. Her eruption settles… for now.

Mission: suppress the Ereranyo Phenomenon—complete.

…Or at least, I thought it was.

“Uhm!”

…When did she even get there?

Shirahoshi had somehow wedged herself between me and Hatori. Her clear, glass-like eyes locked firmly onto Hatori’s eyes, and with a face full of shinken resolve, she asked—

“Erena-san… are you dating Himemiya-san…!?”

“…Haeh!?”

Elegant onee-san goes fly-away.

Welcome back, Elereranyo phenomenon.

Shirahoshi, you really like asking that same question over and over again, huh.

Is your brain just a flower park or something?

“You were holding hands with Himemiya-san and talking all sparkly and close… So I thought, um… maybe you were in a boyfriend-girlfriend relationship…”

“S-So embarrassing…!”

Hatori clutched her face like it was breaking apart, writhing in shame.

She’s the type to get so hyped up that she completely loses awareness of her surroundings, and now she was holding a full-blown self-reflection meeting—solo.

While squashing her perfectly shaped chest.

Unfazed by Hatori’s meltdown, Shirahoshi leaned forward.

“Embarrassed!? As in, you’re embarrassed because everyone saw how lovey-dovey you two are!?”

A big dummy.

As the two spiraled into chaos, someone else stood by their side… grinning from ear to ear.

“It’s only natural to be curious, nya~. I mean, he’s got a lot of those ‘popular guy’ traits too… that Haruichi—Himemiya.”

“Ruri-san!? Y-You just now… You called Himemiya-san by his first name, didn’t you!?”

“Eh? Nope nope, I totally didn’t just call darling with his first name, Haruichi or anything~”

“D-Darling!? So that means… you’re his girlfriend, Ruri-san!?”

“Maaaaybe nyaa~♪”

Why does Kurashiki lie in such instantly see-through ways?

And why can’t Shirahoshi ever spot a lie even when it’s flashing neon?

She might not have the ability to sniff out falsehoods, but she does seem to have a soul made of sheer indomitable will.

Or maybe it’s just recklessness taken to religious levels.

“I won’t believe it until your love with Himemiya-san is proven right in front of me!”

A stance worthy of Miyamoto Musashi himself.

Like drawing twin blades from a party platter, Shirahoshi grabbed two Pocky sticks—and stabbed them straight into Hatori and Kurashiki’s mouths.

“Play the Pocky Game!”

“Ah…?”

“Haeh!?”

“Nya!?”

“If your love is real, you should be able to do this! For couples, eating Pocky from both ends is just a normal everyday thing, right!? That’s what the school nurse said!”

…So it wasn’t that the school nurse was missing, huh.

She was probably exorcised.

Kurashiki.

Now the fire’s spreading to me, too.

I shot her a look like, “What the hell do we do now,” but—

“Nya… nya… nya…!”

Kurashiki wasn’t the usual mischievous troublemaker.

Her expression had melted into nothing more than that of a bashful maiden.

She looked at me, mouth slightly parted, nervously bobbing her Pocky back and forth.

Girl’s always been weak to counterattacks. Probably dumped all her stat points into offense.

Hatori wasn’t any better.

The chocolate end in her mouth had started to melt slightly, making her lips just a bit… scandalous.

To protect her comrades now lying emotionally slain, the final stopper—Misaki—stepped up.

“A-Arisu-chan, calm down, okay—!?”

“To be honest, Karin-san is actually the most suspicious one! I demand an inspection!”

One-shot finish.

Before she could even stop the madness, Shirahoshi jammed a Pocky into Misaki’s mouth too.

This was no longer a game. This was a spiritual interrogation, like those old religious stepping-on-the-cross tests.

“Now then, Himemiya-san! If your true lover is one of these three, then show us by eating Pocky all the way to the end—from lips to lips!”

What the hell, that’s like “in for a penny, in for a full-blown makeout.”

What kind of eroge is this?

You’d think they’d just throw this crap scenario in the trash already, but the three girls weren’t thinking that far.

They just stood there, frozen, staring at me—mouths full of Pocky.

Seeing their faces—blushing, all pitiful and bashful—I felt like I was going to lose my mind.

If I kissed even one of them, maybe we really would become a couple.

Maybe that would make it real.

I looked toward the one person here who probably still had a functioning brain—Misaki.

Thanks, Misaki.

Because of your wild idea, I’ve come to understand Shirahoshi a lot better.

And because I understand her more deeply now…

I’ve found myself inching even closer to her.

“H-Himemiya-san…?”

I silently held out a Pocky stick to Shirahoshi’s sweetly scented lips.

She didn’t get what it meant at first—but only for a moment.

“…! …Okay♪”

Her face lit up like all the final puzzle pieces had clicked into place, and she bit down on the Pocky without hesitation.

She slowly closed her eyes, brought her hands together, and leaned forward with lips parted—waiting for mine.

She didn’t need words.

I could tell. She was saying “I’m ready if you are…”

All three girls stared at us with laser focus.

But it didn’t bother me in the slightest.

I couldn’t stop now.

I gripped my glass tightly, and shot the three of them a glance that said:

“Now that Shirahoshi’s quieted down, I’m going for a coffee refill.”

“””……”””

They glared back with their eyes, silently saying:

“You’re still the same ol’ you, huh.”

Welcome back to reality, girls.

Fiiiuu… Man, this coffee’s great.

By the drink station.

I chugged my “post-escape” cup in one go.

Since it was a free refill bar, I went with a gulp-friendly mix:

Just a hint of mineral water to dilute, a bunch of ice, and a tiny drizzle of syrup. Recommended.

So—after all this close-up Shirahoshi observation…

Yeah.

I can’t keep up with that girly, fantasy-filled Fancy Girl.

As expected, she’s still a total believer.

No matter what I say or do, she won’t deduct points—she’ll just add them.

Even if I fumbled a steal, it’d still be counted as safe.

Even if I hit a Duke Home Run against her, it wouldn’t be a foul.

She believes in me so blindly… it almost makes me feel guilty.

If she’d been saved by some other guy back then, maybe by now she’d be happily head-over-heels in love.

And if it had been a girl, maybe they’d be best friends, tighter than Melos and Selinuntius.

Sorry.

Sorry that someone like me had to be the one to save you.

I do feel guilty, yeah.

But even so… I can’t bring myself to go out with Shirahoshi.

Because I’m a proud lone wolf. An ohitori-sama LOVE type through and through.

Kicking back somewhere peaceful, getting lost in a book or music by myself, wandering aimlessly while thinking about nothing in particular… that’s what I live for.

While everyone else is out tappin’ boba with their friends or lovers, I just wanna sip coffee with myself as my only companion.

I don’t want to match someone else’s pace, nor force someone to match mine. I just wanna cruise along at my own rhythm.

‘Cause I’m that kinda clumsy guy.

If that makes me a kid, then fine—call me a kid.

But I won’t lie to myself just to act grown-up. I like being alone.

So yeah, Father…

Himemiya Haruichi vows to stay single, in sickness and in health, forever and always.

They say women’s hearts change like autumn skies, so seriously, Shirahoshi—just give up on me already.

My ohitori-sama heart? Zero chance of it changing.

“Ge…! Himemiya…!”

“A?”

Yeah, it’s Himemiya. Got a problem?

I turn toward the voice—and what do ya know? Standing there is the queen of my class.

Endou Hina.

Her signature fluffy perm, tied back with a hairband, gives off this real normie energy. Whether that’s good or bad… well, depends on who you ask.

This is the Sannomiya karaoke joint, so running into her here isn’t that weird.

Still holding a grudge against me, huh?

Endou’s glaring at me like I just ran over her pet, and her sickly-sweet perfume is straight-up attacking my nostrils.

Even bratty girls like her still learn basic manners, y’know.

“Yo,” I nod, offering the bare minimum of politeness as I start heading back to my room.

“About the other day… um, thanks.”

That stops me in my tracks.

“The other day?”

“Thanks to you, Hina’s made up with Yumeno… Hina never really said it properly, so… yeah.”

Oh yeah, that thing right before the field trip.

Man, color me surprised.

While I’m nodding—once, twice, three times—Endou starts fidgeting, twirling the tips of her permed hair around her finger. Then she gives me another glare.

“W-What?”

“Sorry. Just… didn’t expect you to thank anyone. I got a little impressed.”

“Wha—!? Hina does thank people, okay!? Don’t get cocky!”

And just like that, she snaps back to her usual prickly self.

Now this is the Endou I know. What a relief.

Hmph! She snorts, then angrily jabs the button for oolong tea.

Honestly, I pegged her as more of a straight Calpis syrup kinda girl, so that’s a surprise.

Actually, this is perfect timing.

“Hey, Endou. Got a sec?”

“What now?”

“You in love with anyone?”

“…Hah!?”

Straight from the mouth of a gloomy loner like me, those words hit her like a thunderclap.

Like some trash-tier NPC suddenly opening all Eight Gates and going full boss fight on you.

“What kinda freak question is that?! S-Seriously, you’re so gross it’s unreal.”

“Teach me about love.”

“!?!?!?!?!?!?”

Her face goes beet red.

She totally forgets she’s still holding the drink button down.

“Oi, your hand on the button—”

“I-I can’t! No way! Hina already likes someone!”

Oh? So Endou has someone special, huh?

…Wait.

Is she misunderstanding something?

Meanwhile, the oolong tea just keeps pourin’ and pourin’ into the glass.

Can’t talk her out of it? Then I’ll have to show her.

I take a step forward, reaching to peel her hand off the button.

“D-Don’t come closer!! I’m super in love with him, okay?! There’s no room for you, not even a crack!!”

Oh-ho.

Sounds like she’s head over heels.

“Got it, got it. But seriously—just let go of the button.”

“You mean let go as in give up?! No way! I haven’t even confessed yet and I refuse to stop loving him!”

…This girl’s brain might be fried.

At last, joba joba joba…—the tea starts overflowing.

Just ’cause it’s free drink bar doesn’t mean this behavior’s okay, y’know?

These types are always the ones mixing zero-yen Calpis just to giggle about it.

Alright. Time for drastic measures.

I step right in front of her and reach for her wrist—

And right then, with teary eyes, Endou lets out a dramatic scream:

“I love Shuntarou so you can’t—!!!”

Oh-ho-ho. So the lucky guy is Namikawa, huh?

“Don’t scare Hina like that, you dumbass Himemiya.”

Kon!, a light knock to the back of my head.

Behind me stands Urogase, wearing a look of pure exasperation.

Her outfit today? Long tee and high-cut sandals—pretty bold exposure-wise.

Her nails, of course, are on full blast—vivid colors glittering at the tips of her fingers.

She must have the day off from her preschool job.

“Yu, Yumeno~~~! Himemiya said that to Hina he li…!”

Endou practically dives behind Urogase’s back like she’s escaping a horror movie villain. Dang, that stings.

Urogase, with the calm of someone soothing a toddler, pats Endou’s head and murmurs, “There there~”—a total case of occupational hazard showing. She’s so deep in nursery teacher mode right now.

“That must’ve been scary, huh~? That guy’s serious face is kinda terrifying, right~?”

Ouch. That cuts deep.

“So? Why’d you ask Hina if she was in love, Himemiya?”

Urogase—the kind of girl who looks like she’s not thinking, but totally is—hits the nail right on the head. Her insight’s honestly a lifesaver.

Would’ve been even more helpful if you’d shown up a little earlier, though…

Can’t afford to be picky anymore.

“Haruichi-sa～～～n♪”

“That’s the reason.”

“Ahh… You’re still being chased around by that girl, huh…”

Where I pointed, there she was. Clad in a sparkling aura of flower fields and fairytales, wielder of the Shinken of Storybook Sparkles, the ever-grinning Shirahoshi was bounding cheerfully our way.

Tch. So the sealing spell I slapped on her’s already worn off. If only I’d used something longer-lasting like a Super Chou-Hi-Mo-Q or an Ehoumaki instead of just a Pocky, I might’ve bought more time…

Honestly, I was ready to be screamed at for ghosting her, but Shirahoshi looked super happy. Like, bubbling over with joy happy. If anything, she was more chipper than usual today.

Did she just power-up from a near-death experience or something? Is she secretly descended from a Z-fighter?

Spreading joy like flower petals on the wind, she bowed deeply to Urogase and Endou.

“Hello there♪”

“Long time no see! Since the end-of-term ceremony, yeah? You out on a date with Himemiya?”

“…Ehehe♪ Does it… look like that?”

“I mean, I want to say yes, but looking at Himemiya’s face, y’know…”

Guess today’s the day when having my emotions written all over my face actually worked in my favor.

Not that she cared one bit. Shirahoshi beamed at me like a sunbeam with teeth, going, “Haruichi-san, Haruichi-san♪”

“This place has cosplay outfits available, huh?”

“Heh.”

“I think I’ll try on a sailor uniform! I’ve always wanted to wear one, just once♪”

“Hooh.”

“Is there anything you want me to try on, Haruichi-san? If it’s for you… I don’t mind showing a little skin…♡”

“Ah. I’m good, thanks.”

“Right? Showin’ skin wouldn’t count as cosplay anymore~”

“HAHAHAHAHAHAHA”

“Well then, I’m off to change~♪”

Stone-cold responses? No problem! With her angelic smile shining bright, Shirahoshi floated off to the fitting room.

Urogase gave me an exasperated look.

“You two look even more like a dumb lovey-dovey couple than before.”

“Don’t say it out loud.”

“She even calls you by your first name now.”

“Don’t say—… wait. …She does, huh…”

“You just noticed!?”

Since when!? She slid it in so naturally I didn’t notice at all. Is she a magician or what!?

It seems Shirahoshi’s gotten way closer to the core of me than I ever imagined.

Anyway, back to the matter at hand.

“That’s what I meant. I figured if I could understand what a girl in love—like Shirahoshi—feels, maybe it’d give me a clue or two.”

“So that’s why you were grilling Hina, huh. Hina, looks like that’s what it was about.”

“S-So… that means you weren’t… confessing to Hina, Himemiya…?”

“Obviously not. Like I’d confess to you.”

“Wh-… Ughhh!! Hina really hates you!!!”

You hated me from the start, though.

“Chill, Hina. Yelling at Himemiya won’t change anything—it’s just a waste of calories.”

“If he helps Hiba lose weight, Hina’ll take him home and use him as a punching bag!”

“You’re only gaining weight ‘cause you’ve been lazing around all summer.”

“D-Don’t talk like I am fat! I just gained a tiny bit, okay!?”

“So if we think of your feelings for Namikawa as body weight, then you’ve ballooned up, huh.”

“Kiiiiiiiiiiiii!! You’re so freaking ANNOYING!!”

“Told you not to poke the bear…” Urogase said, gently pacifying the howling Endou again.

Yaaay. Your bestie’s got tissue-paper durability.

Like when I fought with Urogase before, it’s clear: Queen Endou’s got a massive weakness to being on the receiving end.

Kurashiki’s bad with counters too… Are high school girls these days all built like glass cannons? What a scary age we live in.

Anyway. This mood clearly isn’t one where I can get a love lesson. Time to head out. Movie vs. cosplay? Movie wins.

Glancing at my watch: just before 5pm. If I head out now, I’ll definitely make it in time for the next showing.

I nod slightly and make my move to escape… but then I notice Urogase, puffing her cheek out, eyes trained on her nails. That’s her classic “I’m thinking something over” gesture.

“Hey, Himemiya.”

“Yeah?”

“Next weekend, we’re staying at a cabin at the campsite with the usual crew. Wanna come?”

“Camping?” I tilted my head, right as Endou practically shouted, “Yumeno!?”

“What’s that got to do with anything we’ve been talking about?”

“It’s not just a trip, okay? We girls planned it out to push Hina and Shuntarou’s relationship forward.”

At the name Shuntarou, Endou squirmed like a worm on a hook. She’s head-over-heels for Namikawa, and planning to go all-out with the romance assault during the trip, huh?

Hmm. I get the picture.

“So basically, you want me to watch and learn from Endou’s love strategy?”

“Yup. Perfect opportunity to study the heart of a maiden, right?”

“Yumeno! Hina really hates Himemiya, though!!”

Himemiya sure is hated.

“I get it, but still. Having Himemiya around might actually help, y’know?”

“Himemiya being helpful…?”

“You’ve seen it, haven’t you? How good he is at handling stuff. Like how he smoothly handled the second party at the social, or when he helped patch things up between us after our fight.”

“Uhm well… yeah. That’s true, maybe.”

Seems like their relationship’s improved a ton. Probably ‘cause they both vented out their gripes and Urogase stopped putting so much pressure on herself.

“Instead of treating Himemiya like the enemy, we should get him to help us out.”

“If you say so, Yume no… then Hina’ll… bring Himemiya along…”

“Yay~♪”

They clasped hands and smiled at each other, like they were in a frickin’ shampoo commercial.

Such a wholesome scene.

…Not that I ever agreed to go, mind you.

Urogase shot me a mischievous smile, leaning in with twinkling eyes.

“So? What do you say, Himemiya? Gonna turn down such an innocent little invite from us girls?”

Innocent? All I saw was raw energy and battlefield instincts.

Still…

“Sure. I’ll take you up on the offer this time. Mind if I invite Shirahoshi too?”

The second I said it, Urogase blinked, eyes wide and surprised.

“What?”

“I totally thought you’d shoot us down flat. No way! The legendary lone wolf Himemiya joining a group trip!? Growth!!”

“…”

“Something wrong, Himemiya?”

“Nah, it’s nothing.”

I just figured, if Shirahoshi sees me in the middle of a group of lively normies, maybe she’ll realize how incompatible we really are. Can’t exactly say that out loud.

If people get bored of beauties in three days, surely they’ll get sick of a loner in a two-day-one-night trip.

When I turned away from Urogase’s skeptical gaze, Endou was already glaring at me, eyebrows furrowed like a comic panel freeze-frame.

“I-I’m telling you, if you go around telling people that Hina likes Shuntarou, I swear I won’t forgive you, okay!?”

This feels like when I was threatened by Urogase before summer break…

“Hina. For Himemiya, saying ‘I won’t forgive you’ isn’t a threat, so you gotta be way more intense with your words.”

“Got it! Himemiya! If you tell anyone about Shuntarou, I’ll kill you, okay!?”

“Okay, okay, I get it. I’ll make sure to try my absolute best not to say anything, even if it kills me.”

“”Pretty sure you plan on really getting killed!””

If I do end up getting killed, I’m leaving a dying message and a will behind.

Looks like my “lone wolf” joke won’t work here…