Chapter 321

No rain, and a cool breeze blowing...

Today's weather was completely satisfying.

Fweeeet! Fweet!

Out in the middle of the schoolyard, where puddles still remained here and there, the gym teacher was blowing his whistle.

He was trying to stop a group of boys from starting a game of soccer.

The higher-ups had probably given orders to hold class outside since the weather was nice, but forbidden them from using the soccer field.

Those higher-ups just didn't understand students brimming with youthful energy.

If they were going to do that, they should have just sent everyone to the Gymnasium to play basketball.

Rebelling against the system solely in my thoughts, I looked around for Miyuki.

I saw a few girls running on the field... but she wasn't there.

She was among the students gathered in small groups under the shade of the stands, chatting.

She was saying something with a bright expression and giggling. She looked cute.

I debated whether I should join them, but decided to just sprawl out on my back and close my eyes.

For some reason lately, exhaustion kept washing over me.

I guess lethargy had set in.

Finding the sunlight quite warm, I kept my eyes closed.

A few minutes passed like that, until a dark shadow fell over my orange-tinted vision, blocking the sunlight that had pierced my eyelids.

Wondering what it was, I opened my eyes to find Hiyori staring intently at me.

"What are you doing here?"

Because she was looking directly down at my face, her long hair was just barely brushing against it.

Even though it hadn't actually touched me yet, it felt as though a tickling sensation was already there.

Feigning indifference, I answered.

"Taking a nap."

"Isn't it class time?"

"That's exactly why I'm sleeping. What are you doing here?"

"I have gym class too, so I came out. I saw you sleeping, sunbae-nim, so I called out to you."

I lazily sat up, leaned my back against the stands, and looked at Hiyori, who had stepped to the side.

Hiyori in her gym uniform... It suited her perfectly.

Unlike the typical delinquent students who rolled one pant leg up to their knee, she had rolled both legs up just to her ankles. I particularly liked that.

Her pale, slender ankles... it made me want to suck on them.

"How's your cold?"

"I feel a bit better after resting for a day."

"That's a relief. But you still have it, right?"

"Yeah."

"Then stay away from me."

"Ah, what the...! So annoying...!"

Seeing her grumble and wave her hands at me almost made me laugh out loud.

Suppressing the urge, I asked.

"Aren't you having class?"

"Since it's the first day and the students feel awkward, they gave us free study time."

"A legal chance to skip is rare. Enjoy it."

"Enjoy what? But why are you out here alone, sunbae-nim? The other seniors have all found their own groups and are hanging out. Are you being bullied? Should I save you?"

"How exactly are you going to save me?"

"I'll give them a harsh scolding."

If she did that, I might become a real outcast.

I swallowed those words and replied with a soft smirk instead.

Hiyori smiled brightly back at me, then pointed to the waist-high fence at the far end.

"Do you remember that spot?"

The place where a large tree stood tall.

It was where I had found Hiyori on that pouring rainy day.

"I remember."

"Oh... how?"

"What do you mean, how? It hasn't even been that many days, so of course I remember. But when are you giving me my windbreaker back?"

"It's drying."

"Is it?"

"Yes."

My mind immediately conjured up the image.

My windbreaker hung up among Hiyori's clothes—more specifically, sandwiched between her various colorful bras and panties.

For some reason, I felt like it would be screaming in overwhelming happiness.

"You're imagining it, aren't you?"

I frowned at Hiyori's follow-up question and fired back.

"What weird thoughts?"

"Like something a pervert would think."

She was needlessly perceptive.

I gave a light snort and waved my hand, shooing her away.

"If you're going to talk nonsense, get lost."

"Did that hit the mark?"

"Not even close."

"Your expression says otherwise, though..."

"I said no."

"I'll pretend I believe you."

The more she acted like this, the more I wanted to teach her a lesson.

For a virgin, she acted like a total nympho. But if she actually saw my naked body, she'd probably be too embarrassed to say a word.

I would bide my time until that day came.

"What's with that wicked look on your face?"

Had she read my eyes?

Hiyori's expression turned suspicious.

I just shrugged.

"You only think that because you're wicked yourself."

The distance between where Hiyori and I sat side-by-side was ambiguous—close if you considered it close, far if you considered it far.

Was she being mindful of what I'd said earlier about keeping her distance so I wouldn't catch her cold?

No, she was clearly just taking precautions on her own.

I pulled a disposable tissue from my pocket and handed it to Hiyori, who was pouting.

"Wipe your nose."

Her eyes went wide.

"You carry stuff like this around?"

"Yeah."

"Why?"

It was because of Miyuki.

Lately, pollen kept getting up her nose, making her sneeze softly.

"If you don't want it, never mind."

"Who said I didn't want it? Thank you."

Hiyori snatched the tissue from my hand and wiped her upper lip.

I thought she'd be embarrassed that I pointed out her runny nose, but she just wiped it openly.

She had learned this from a young age.

That acting like this wouldn't tarnish her reputation in the slightest.

Honestly, even if Hiyori blew her nose or picked it right there, no one would lose their attraction to her.

Instead, they would probably praise her for being down-to-earth.

That was just how lookism worked.

But it looked like Miyuki hadn't noticed Hiyori and me chatting so affectionately.

Was this a harem protagonist's plot armor? From my perspective, it would be better if Miyuki saw this scene...

"I'll get going now. Here, take this..."

She tried to hand the snot-covered tissue back to me.

I recoiled in disgust and scowled.

"Hey, you... throw your own trash away."

"But there's still a lot of clean space left to use."

"Ah, come on..."

"Okay, okay."

Our Hiyori... what was I going to do with her when she was this unrefined?

I had a mountain of worries. I would have to guide her onto the right path myself.

"Um... ma'am. Could you give me a little bit more?"

A student pleaded with the cafeteria worker who was serving the sausage side dish.

When she nodded and scooped some more onto his tray, the student politely thanked her.

"Thank you."

It was a truly heartwarming sight.

At least, until a fierce-looking guy in the group right behind him made a snide remark.

"Do they not feed you at home?"

'Huh?'

The moment I heard those words, I flinched as a wave of déjà vu washed over me.

An event from my time playing Doki-Aka was unfolding right before my eyes.

When playing as Tetsuya, this random event would trigger upon visiting the cafeteria. But why was it happening to me now?

There didn't seem to be anyone nearby to gain affection levels from... Miyuki was far away, too...

This didn't mean I was turning into Tetsuya, did it?

Anxiety flared up. My heart grew restless.

Was I being punished? Because I'd been acting so pathetic lately?

If so, it would be best to handle this situation my own way.

Back then, I had chosen the option to call over the nearby Student Council... but not this time.

Having made my decision, I kicked the back of the trash-talking student's calf quite hard with the tip of my shoe.

Thwack.

He let out a choked gasp and whipped his head around.

"Which son of a—"

Ready to lunge at me with a ferocious glare, his momentum instantly deflated when he saw my size and the second-year nametag pinned to my chest.

"Why did you hit me?"

So he was a first-year. The situation was slightly different from the event I remembered.

I had a feeling... a hunch that this was related to Hiyori.

No, it was closer to absolute certainty than a hunch.

"Hey."

"...What."

"What class are you in?"

"Why do you care?"

"You're in Class 1-C, right?"

At those words, the student flinched.

My guess was right. Was he one of the students who had gotten close to Hiyori?

If so, I would have to give Hiyori a stern lecture later.

"Hand over your side dish."

His jaw dropping slightly at my demand, he asked in return.

"Excuse me...?"

"I said hand over your side dish."

"What are you talking ab—"

I reached out with my spoon and stole every last sausage right off the dumbfounded guy's tray, then spoke.

"Now get lost."

"..."

Despite me being so blatantly aggressive, he showed no signs of fighting back.

A typical bully who acts tough in front of the weak and cowers before the strong. He must be someone a bit like Tetsuya.

Wait, no. Was that insult too harsh?

Cursing me with their eyes, the Class 1-C student and his group backed away.

Ignoring them, I approached the bullied student, who was standing there blankly, and asked in a friendly tone.

"Do you want some sausages?"

"...Huh?"

Then, I dumped all the sausages I had just confiscated onto his tray as he watched in confusion.

"Eat up."

"Ah, um..."

He was glancing nervously at the retreating backs of the group that had just left, looking torn over whether he should thank me or not. They were probably in the same class.

"Are you in Class 1-C too by any chance?"

"Huh? Ah, yes...!"

In that case, I needed to drop by Class 1-C before the lunch period ended.

I had a feeling something good was going to happen.

Like maybe a tiny increase in Hiyori's affection level toward me... wasn't it okay to expect something like that?

"Got it. Go on."

"Yes... um... thank you..."

Sending off the student, who gave a timid bow, I locked eyes with the cafeteria worker.

She had a complicated expression on her face, like she didn't know whether to praise me for a job well done or not.

Flashing her a grin, I held out my own tray.

"Lots of sausages, please."

"R-right..."

Since it was Miyuki's favorite side dish, I had to load up on a ton of it for her.