[Blind Date II]

The day of the blind date hosted by Suzuki-kun arrived over the weekend. 

Nishino woke up earlier than usual and used the entire morning to get ready for the occasion through trial and error. 

Then, as soon as he finished lunch, he was seen off by Rose and Gabriella, with whom he shares the house, and departed from the share house much earlier than planned. 

Even if he took his time, he would have arrived about an hour earlier than he had planned. 

Okuda-san will be joining as well.

He is very enthusiastic about taking this opportunity to shorten the distance between them. 

By the way, he is wearing a leather jacket, jeans, and boots that he used on the school trip. He is a Futsumen who believes that this is what is cool. He chose this outfit despite having a hard time deciding between it and the suit he used to wear as a host. He wears no makeup. 

Taking the train to the destination. 

Naturally, Rose and Gabriella followed him quickly. 

The location was as confirmed by Suzuki-kun at the school gate the other day. If they shared the same destination and were sufficiently far away from each other, no matter what, Nishino could not have noticed their presence.

"Sister, don't you feel that we are doing this more and more these days?" 

"Please don't point this out to me. I am also concerned about it." 

The group arrived at a coffee shop, just a short walk from Shibuya station. 

It is a relatively inexpensive chain store that students casually use. 

The plan for the first part of the day was to meet there, have a drink, and then move on to another place. At least that is what Rose had heard from the Futsumen. Once inside the restaurant, Nishino informed the waiter of his meeting and settled into an empty seat. 

Rose and Gabriella arrived near the store. 

The girls began to watch Nishino from the street, hoping to catch a glimpse of him.

"As far as I'm concerned, we're not seeing the whole situation from here." 

"Sister, if we get any closer, we'll get caught."

A small building on the opposite side of the street from the coffee shop Nishino had entered. They hid themselves in the shadows of the building and watched the movements of the Futsumen. The store has a window in the wall facing the street. However, the subject's figure cannot be confirmed from there.

"What happened with the girl from the other day? " 

"She's on her way. She should be there soon." 

"Well, then, we'll just have to wait and see what she can do with the tools you have prepared for her." 

Gabu-chan said, looking at the bag that Rose carried on her shoulder. 

It contained surveillance equipment, starting with a camera. 

After a while, a cab stopped in the corner of their field of vision. 

Alice Kurusugawa emerged from inside the car. 

However, she is disguised in a wig and plain clothes, and is a completely different person than usual. 

In contrast to the school uniform she was wearing the other day, she was dressed in a simple outfit of a high-necked sweater, overalls, and a duffle coat. She is wearing a hat and glasses, and her wig is the same dark-haired one she wore yesterday. 

She is also wearing makeup and looks somewhat older than her actual age.

"You've done a very good job of disguising yourself. I'm sure he won't even notice." 

"Well, of course, I'm still eating in costume!" 

Rose and Gabriella even had some doubt as to whether or not she was Alice Kurusugawa until their eyes meet and they both take a step toward each other. Her attire was the opposite of her glamorous original image. 

"They are already waiting inside. I'm sorry to start this so soon, but would you mind if I gave you a brief explanation of how to handle your equipment? We'll be watching from the restaurant across the street, and we'll be able to see what's going on through the camera."

"Okay, I'll take care of it!" 

Rose supplies Alice Kurusugawa with the equipment. 

Hiding in the shadows of a small building, she also learned how to use it in a lesson. 

In the meantime, Suzuki-kun and the others arrived at the coffee shop. 

Gabriella, who was in charge of monitoring the scene, reports to them.

"Onee-sama, the target has appeared. It's with two other men ." 

"Do you recognize their faces?" 

"At least I don't. I don't think they're his classmates, either." 

Both boys are about the same age as Suzuki-kun. 

From their neatly styled hair and clean-cut, neatly dressed in casual clothes, it seemed that they were good at socializing with others. At the very least, he was a world apart from a Futsumen, including in terms of face deviation.

"Well then, could you please head to the site?" 

"I'll take care of it. I'll use this camera to capture the scene perfectly." 

Prompted by the two, Alice Kurusugawa heads for the coffee shop. 

On her shoulder is the bag that Rose gave her. The lens of a hidden camera peeks out from the side of the bag, which sends the captured images in real time to a phone that has been preconfigured. 

The tablet in Rose's hand showed the scene clearly.

"Communication and reception seem to be fine." 

"So, let's hope she will continue to do well as planned."

Alice Kurusugawa enters the coffee shop and is seen on the phone display taking a seat very close to Nishino and the others. Upon confirming this, Rose and Gabriella also moved out of the back alley. They moved to a restaurant just around the corner.

◇ ◆ ◇

At the scene, movement was seen as soon as Alice Kurusugawa entered the store. 

Three boys followed by three girls came to the store. 

With the exception of Suzuki-kun, the two boys, followed by the three girls who visited the shop, Nishino was not acquainted with any of them.

Naturally, we had not received any information about them.

"Nishino, didn't you come here with Okuda-san?" 

"I'm sorry, Suzuki-kun. Should I have come with her?" 

"Perhaps you are not really that close?"

"Well, I wonder if that's the case." 

"...... Well, whatever." 

Suzuki-kun decided to ignore Futsumen's unique attire. 

Still, the handsome man was able to swallow the contempt that was about to rise to his throat because he was dressed in a guise he had witnessed once before on a school trip. 

He was able to ignore the irritating light words that were returned to him as well. 

While they were sitting down, the three girls were having a good time. Their attention has been focused on Suzuki-kun since the moment they first met. Compared to the other two boys he brought with him, he is a handsome man with excellent facial features. 

However, the remaining two men are not as outstanding as Nishino. They approach the table with a calm demeanor. They positioned themselves so that all the participants could fit into the four-person seat where Nishino was already seated and the vacant four-person seat also next to it, which was also close to the four-person seat. 

Nishino, Suzuki-kun, and the remaining two boys were lined up on one side of the row. 

The three girls sat on the opposite side of the row, with Nishino on his side. 

The Futsumen was surprised that the girls took the initiative to sit on his side. In reality, this was a result of the concerted efforts of the three girls who were aware of Suzuki-kun, and everything was under the control of the handsome men who wanted to keep Okuda-san away from Nishino. 

This left only Okuda-san as the scheduled participant. 

Just as Nishino and Suzuki-kun looked at the empty seats and thought this, the bell at the entrance to the restaurant made a dry clang-clang sound. Hearing the sound of the bell announcing the arrival of visitors, their attention also turned in the direction from which the sound came. 

There, they found a person dressed more outlandishly than the Futsumen standing in front of them. 

She was wearing a white blouse with a formal look and a tight miniskirt with a front zip. On her feet were long boots that reached just above her knees. On her chest was an inverted cross pendant. She also wears a long coat with a fancy collar that goes all the way down to her knees. 

Except for the shirt and accessories, everything else was made of leather and was glossy black.

"......Seriously?" 

Suzuki-kun's honest opinion leaked out of his mouth. 

Which Hollywood actress had appeared on the scene? 

I remember seeing a porno of similar nature. 

The other members of the group were also looking at the leather woman with a surprised look on their faces. Nishino was the only one who seemed unconcerned. He seems to be unperturbed by the fact that there is someone close to him who likes to dress in a similar way. He is wearing a heavy leather jacket, either. 

Okuda-san spots two familiar faces in the store and heads downstairs with great enthusiasm. 

The sound of the soles of her boots hitting the floor echoes loudly in their ears.

"Hello, you must be the members of today's group, right? Nice to meet you." 

She says this with her hands in her coat pockets as she takes her seat. 

Her voice is trembling, a sign that she is nervous. 

If you look closely, you can see that her knees are also a little wobbly. 

Suzuki-kun thought. Maybe I have to walk with these people on my day off. However, he could not just throw them out in the middle of an event he had planned himself. He raised his voice in a determined effort to serve as the host of the event as originally planned.

"You should sit down for now, Okuda-san. That side." 

"Ah, I understand ." 

Okuda-san sat in the far corner of the girls' side, where three people had already been seated. 

It was just diagonally across from the seat Nishino had taken and was the farthest away from him. As soon as she took her seat, she straddled the table and began glancing at him. It seems that she is interested in what the Futsumen is wearing today. 

She is also looking at him with a not-so-satisfied gaze. 

It seems that she is interested in him. 

They are a black leather duo who are aware of each other. 

When all the participants had arrived, they ordered drinks from the waiter. With coffee or tea in hand, they began to bustle about the day's plans. According to the self-introductions exchanged there, two of the boys were Suzuki-kun's juniors. 

The three girls had been invited to the party by the two boys. 

Alice Kurusugawa is quietly peeking at them from a seat a little distance away. 

The bag entrusted to her by Rose is placed on a chair opposite the two-seater. 

A hidden camera is pointed at Nishino and the others.

"The participants are all here. Is this the right angle for the camera? "

"Yeah, please keep shooting like that ." 

"Isn't it too close of him?" 

" If you go any further away, we won't be able to pick up the sound." 

"I don't mind if you keep your position, but please be very careful."

"I'm usually the one being filmed, so this is a new experience for me." 

The stalker communicates with Rose and Gabriella outside the store through a microphone attached to the inside of the sweater's collar. Earphones were placed in her ears so that she could talk to both of them. The earphones are professional equipment brought in by Rose. 

In her hand is a tablet. On the display is a manga that has recently become popular. From the outside, she looks like a student who is waiting for someone or having a free time on her day off without any plans. 

In front of her, Nishino and the others started their party. 

The three girls who took the initiative and started chatting, with the exception of Okuda-san, were the first to speak.

"Suzuki-senpai is definitely better looking than he looks in his picture, isn't he?"

"Oh, that's what I thought too!"

"The real thing looks so cool!"

"Personally, I prefer the sharp eyes."

"I mean, aren't his arm muscles amazing? " 

The girls' attention was generally focused on Suzuki-kun. 

In contrast, Nishino and Okuda-san were completely out of the picture.

What is important in a conversation is to put ladies first. Interrupting a woman's conversation is outrageous. The former, who learned how to communicate with the opposite sex from working at a host club, gave priority to their conversation and kept listening to their exchanges. 

On the other hand, Okuda-san, is a girl who looks ostentatious on the outside but is quiet on the inside. Moreover, her distance from the Futsumen makes it difficult for her to talk to the person she is interested in. She lost the opportunity to open her mouth because of the momentum of the three girls. 

As a result, the scene was under Suzuki-kun's control.

"It's not that big of a deal. Don't praise me too much. " 

"Suzuki-senpai, do you still play soccer?"

"I joined the soccer club because I admired you. " 

"By the way, you mentioned that you go to the gym, right?" 

"I was surprised to see your toned belly in the picture you posted before." 

Two of the junior boys also seem to have decided to take advantage of that trend. 

Using Senpai, they engaged in conversation to close the distance between themselves and the girls. 

After a few more exchanges, Suzuki-kun was convinced that he was in control of the situation. Aside from the two boys, with whom he had already had a prior meeting, he decided that there would be no problem with the three girls, who were meeting for the first time. 

As originally planned, Suzuki-kun began to fight against the Futsumen.

"I mean, please don't focus only on me, but do something for him too." 

He pointed with his gaze at the Futsumen sitting next to him and said. 

Immediately afterward, three of the girls raise their voices in question.

"I've been wondering about you for a while now, but you seem pretty normal for a friend of Suzuki-senpai's."

"I heard you are classmates, but do you usually go out with him? " 

"I mean, do you have the same leather jacket as hers?"

Both of them are wondering about the existence of the Futsumen. 

Suzuki-kun takes this opportunity to play with the Futsumen.

"This guy is still a virgin, even though we're on the same class. He's looking for a girlfriend." 

In response to the word virgin, the three girls cackled and buzzed. 

What followed was a rather unreserved statement.

"You're right, it does have the air of a virgin, doesn't it?" 

"Excuse me, but have you ever been with a girl?"

"Suzuki-senpai is so kind to go out of his way to arrange a blind date for his friend!"

Apparently, the girls had a fair amount of sexual experience. Combined with Suzuki-kun's light demeanor, any restraint the girls may have felt toward the Futsumen disappeared. The three of them judged him to be a virgin whom they did not mind teasing. 

Normally, I would have been offended by this exchange. However, this kind of light talk is an everyday occurrence for him. What Suzuki-kun told me was the truth, and it was the only thing that led to today's blind date. 

This is all Nishino's own fault. 

The Futsumen were rather conscious of the fact that it was finally their turn to speak up. He was trying to liven up the event, and even to lure Okuda-san, who seemed to be alone and lonely, into the conversation, putting his own position on the table and thinking big.

"Oh, Suzuki-kun, you are truly a kind and reliable person. You went out of your way to prepare an opportunity for me and others. I can't thank you enough. And to top it off, this will be my first experience at a blind date."

"Really? Even junior high school students have been to blind dates."

"I had a college student boyfriend when I was in middle school. " 

"When your boyfriend is older than you, he pays for all of your dates and everything."

"That's right, that's right." 

The Futsumen, who is very hard-hitting. 

Still, Suzuki-kun, not to be outdone, goes on the offensive. 

He struggled to somehow get Nishino to show his ugly side in front of Okuda-san.

"What's the matter, Nishino, these girls are relying on you so much!"

"If that's the case, I'll pay today's bill." 

Then the Futsumen, who was on a roll, began to speak haughty and arrogant things. 

For Suzuki-kun, it was an eyebrow-raising remark. 

He thought he hit a light jab, but it was countered cleanly.

"What? Are you serious? " 

"I can't let you take out your wallet. It's a man's responsibility." 

Yesterday, Nishino had withdrawn his money at a nearby convenience store in preparation for attending a blind date. His cheap, no-name, no-brand wallet was stuffed tightly with 10,000 bills. Thick enough that he would have no problem walking into an expensive restaurant, bulging the pockets of his pants.

"Do you mean that today, you will keep it even after we move from here?"

"Do you think Nishino-san is a rich man?"

"There are four girls alone, and I believe the amount of money will be quite large." 

Upon hearing Futsumen's ATM declaration, there was a slight change in the tone of voice of the three girls. 

The thickness of their wallets was justifiable for these girls. 

We can't keep going like this. 

Suzuki-kun signaled to the two boys sitting next to him with a glance. 

They immediately understood Senpai's intention and opened their mouths together.

"Wait a minute, Nishino-san. We can't force Suzuki-senpai's friend to pay."

"If that's the case, we'll help you too. In fact, if things continue as they are, there will be no room for us." 

Confirmed the comments of the junior members.

Suzuki-kun makes a full proposal.

"Well, then, the boys will take the girls' share." 

The plan is to pull the topic off Nishino's wallet. 

Even if the Futsumen story were true, they would attempt to form a team to make it so. If the four boys share the responsibility, one head is not that much. The high level of the three girls also helped, and they were hungry and determined to make it a necessary expense for the day. 

The voices from the other side of the room were one after the other, all of them feeling good about themselves.

"Are you sure you don't mind? I feel bad about it. " 

"Many of Suzuki's acquaintances are very manly, aren't they?"

"I'm sure that having a handsome guy like you buy me a drink will be a memory I'll remember for the rest of my life." 

By the way, there was only one person at the same place who looked warmly at Nishino. 

Yes, it was Okuda-san. 

As a virgin, she felt as if she had found a friend in the vortex. The fact that the topic of sexual experience came up made her feel uncomfortable. Then, the virgin entered the room. The point was an added one to add to the camaraderie she had been feeling. 

So she decided to delay one step and go to the Futsumen's aid.

"By the way, everyone, I'm actually a virgin as well ." 

After Nishino had successfully gotten through the virginity talk, she emerged as a virgin. 

Okuda-san took advantage of the moment when everyone's voices broke and said, I'm a virgin. 

Her assertion that she was a virgin echoed through the restaurant as if it were something very loud. 

Without a moment's pause, not only the three girls but also the three boys, excluding Nishino, looked at her as if to say, What are you talking about? Suzuki-kun was like, Isn't this person even worse than Nishino? 

"Nishino, life is not all about sexual experience. Don't worry about it. " 

It was obvious that Okuda-san was the one who was more concerned than any of the others. 

For a moment, conversation was lost among the people around the table. 

The silence was broken by the person who was staring at her.

"Thanks, Okuda-san. I think you are right." 

"How do you think the concepts of virginity came about in the first place? " 

"I am sorry, but may I ask you to enlighten me?" 

"They were originally just a religious way of being. The value of the condition of the genitalia as an organism was far greater during the period when it was thought that the less experienced one was, the better, and our human penises and vaginas are ......" 

As if to make up for his silence up to this point, Okuda-san started chattering. When she and Nishino, who was seated a few seats away, connected on a conversational path, she was desperate to keep it going. She began to share her great strength in this and that, one after another. 

From the point of view of the other members of the group, it is difficult to listen to this kind of talk in public. 

The prohibited words that entered into the conversation echoed to the other customers in the restaurant. 

Even Alice Kurusugawa, who was watching them, had a few words to say about this.

"Rose-san, is there one person who has a little more punch than the others?" 

"She's a classmate of Nishino's. Although they're not in the same class, she visits him every day. "

"Her behavior is a little strange, but when you talk to her, she's a surprisingly honest person."

"Just to confirm, what is her position? " 

"Maybe someone is trying to get her to sleep with another man in front of him? " 

"If that's the case, I think you can leave her alone." 

In this situation, Suzuki-kun could not remain silent. 

Although he did not want to touch her if possible, he did not know what would happen if he left Nishino to deal with the situation. He was a virgin who had entered the zone, and he was waiting for her to come to him.

"Okuda-san, I'm sorry. I'm sorry, can we talk about a different thing?"

" Eh ? Ah , uh, yeah . I agree. I think that's good. " 

Being told in person by a handsome man makes Okuda-san docile. 

The response that has become ingrained in her mind is due to her lower caste. 

For the three girls and two boys who did not know her background, the talk time was enough for them to pass judgment on what kind of person the full-body leather woman was. Let's try to avoid talking as much as possible, was their shared view.

◇ ◆ ◇

Shortly after deciding to move to a different location, Suzuki-kun took the excuse of payment and got up from his seat. 

As he had insisted to the three girls, he briefly told Nishino, who had offered to pay the full amount, that he would split it with them later. At the same time, two of the junior guys muttered that they were going to the restroom and left the table following Suzuki-kun. 

They thus left the party and met up with each other in the men's restroom of the same restaurant. 

They began discussing their future plans.

"Suzuki Senpai, we don't like it. I mean, she is weird."

"She's the same age as you. Isn't that a bad thing?" 

Suzuki-kun gave the two boys a brief explanation of the purpose of today's party. He said that he wanted them to sleep with a girl who was a classmate of his. They were willing to participate in the party with a casual attitude, hoping that they could be arranged. 

However, when they finally arrived, they were greeted by a strange, full-body leather woman with strange behavior.

"I mean, the clothes are a little odd, but don't you think they look pretty cool?" 

"If you get attached to her, it would be unbearable. "

" Right. She seems to be full of energy." 

Okuda-san's words and actions, which they had witnessed just a few moments before, told the two boys what kind of person she was. 

"..... That's right. Yeah, I'm sorry. " 

Suzuki-kun apologized honestly after receiving a shove from a younger colleague. 

If he had been in the same position, he would have absolutely refused. 

Witnessing his reaction, the two of them raised their opinions one after the other.

"I mean, don't they look good together? Those two leathery guys over there." 

"Why don't we part from them and enjoy ourselves?" 

"You promised to give us some of your money, didn't you? Let's have a lot of fun!" 

"The three girls we brought with us usually don't accept our invitations."

"But when we mentioned Suzuki's name, they accepted our invitation very easily."

When they say that, Suzuki-kun has a lot on his mind. 

I thought that I should quickly give up the subject and pursue my personal happiness. He wonders how much value there is in wasting his time and effort on Nishino. It's been a long time since Suzuki-kun broke up with his ex-girlfriend in order to date Inchou. His drastically reduced opportunities for sex force him to make a decision that prioritizes the convenience of his lower body.

" ........ "

Because, the three girls that the junior invited were of a high level. 

It was Suzuki-kun who felt even at the beginning of the meeting that he would like to enjoy them if possible. You can always play with Futsumen. However, with the girls I met today, my chances of meeting them face to face are limited.

"I understand what you guys are saying. Then, let's do it like that." 

"I'm glad to hear that, Suzuki-senpai! "

"Why don't we set the timing for the move? We'll follow you." 

The three boys discuss the plan to let Nishino and Okuda-san go. 

After a few minutes, they had settled on a plan, and just after they left the restroom, a person appeared from a stall that had been in use until that point. 

A person appeared from a private room that had been in use until then. 

It was Alice Kurusugawa. 

She exits the men's restroom after confirming that the people around her have disappeared. She moves to the floor where a series of guest rooms are located. Then, out of the corner of her eye, she saw Suzuki-kun and his friends leaving the table and heading out of the restaurant. Nishino and Okuda-san were following them. 

Immediately after the three men made their move, she was the one who had moved to the restroom ahead of them.

"Yes, Rose-san?" 

"You're an idol, aren't you? I didn't think you'd go into the men's room." 

"I wore overalls just in case. If you cover your head with a hat, people won't notice me. Well, if you are a girl like me, you can just say that the women's restroom was crowded and you were about to leak something."

Alice Kurusugawa returns to her table while talking with Rose and the others over the microphone. 

Then, she started to pack her bags to leave the restaurant herself.

"Either way, there's a sense that you've settled on what you saw beforehand. "

"Why don't we invite  her to come and see a movie? There's a film I'd like to see." 

"Hey, you, I don't want to talk about that here. "

"Oh, in that case, Alice will join you too." 

Having confirmed the exchange between Suzuki-kun and the others, she just assumed that the job was already done. The girls also began to exchange lively words over their future plans. Soon after, Alice Kurusugawa also paid the bill and left the coffee shop just as Nishino and the others went out of the store.

◇ ◆ ◇

After leaving the coffee shop, Suzuki-kun and his colleagues moved quickly to deal with Nishino and Okuda-san. 

They exchanged words as they walked along the street on their way to their next destination. The karaoke parlor they were looking for was only a few minutes away on foot. The handsome man decided to make his move in the meantime.

"Nishino, you got a minute?" 

"What is it, Suzuki-kun ? " 

"You're interested in Okuda-san, aren't you?" 

While keeping his distance from Okuda-san, Suzuki-kun asked Nishino in a whisper. 

Nishino replied in a slightly pretentious manner, as usual.

"......... I'd be lying if I said I wasn't interested." 

"We'll take it from here, you two go have some fun."

The handsome man continues to speak, frustrated by the casual exchange. 

For him, it was an extremely unwilling act. 

Considering his original goal of destroying the relationship between the two, the party has turned out to be the exact opposite of what he had planned. However, he knew that this would be the most effective way to get rid of Nishino and Okuda-san. 

Immediately afterward, the two junior members of the group would speak up.

"I think Okuda-san is definitely interested in Nishino-san."

" According to our own observation, if you push her lightly, she will just fall over." 

For Nishino, it was a very convenient proposal. 

From their interactions over the past few days, his attention has not ceased to be directed toward Okuda-san. The three girls he met today were also lovely, but even as a virgin with a communicable disease, he knew that their interest was directed toward Suzuki-kun. 

However, Nishino is hesitant to nod his head when told so.

"But it's a blind date that Suzuki-kun has set up for me."

"No, no, don't hold back. We're in the same class, right ? " 

"I don't like the idea that I'm the only one who gets to enjoy myself because we're in the same class." 

If I were in the same position, I would definitely leave. 

Suzuki-kun and the two boys thought strongly. 

However, the Futsumen insisted on accompanying them to the party. 

This is Nishino enjoying his day off with his classmates in this way. He was introduced to Suzuki-kun's junior, and it seems that his friendships are about to expand. Furthermore, if Okuda-san was accompanying him, he could balance the two of them being alone with her. 

He is an adolescent who is excited about going to a party for the first time in his life. 

And if Nishino was going to accompany him, Okuda-san was going to be there as well. 

"No, no, no, no, don't worry about us, okay? " 

"That's right. Don't worry about us. " 

" If you don't mind, how about a discount coupon for a nearby hotel ? " 

One of the two junior members of the group offers Nishino a discount, which he pulls out of his wallet. If you stay overnight, you get 1,000 yen off. Even for a short break, it is 500 yen off. The discount can be used on weekdays and weekends alike. After 1:00 a.m., you can get a further discount of 300 yen.

"I'm sorry, but she and I aren't quite there yet. " 

"That's why I'm saying, why don't you make the move today?" 

A stoic virgin's statement to no end. 

Suzuki-kun almost raised his voice unintentionally. 

Alice Kurusugawa watched such an exchange from a little distance. 

Immediately after leaving the coffee shop, she changed her coat and hat for a makeover and took up a position a few meters behind them. 

"Nishino-san, your perception is a little strange, isn't it?"

"Is that so?" 

"Is she still very strong or calm? " 

"Maybe that's the expression she has when she enjoys spending her days off with her classmates. If anything, she seems to think that the girls' teasing is an amicable exchange."

"What? Why is that?" 

"You'll have to ask her." 

"When you're used to strong, harmful intent, you don't mind a little bit of malice." 

"It's true that I don't mind anonymous anti-criticisms sent to me either." 

Rose and Gabriella are moving about 10 meters away from her, hiding in the shadows. They are stalking her by putting a building or something in between so that she will not be in Nishino's sight. 

The area is crowded with pedestrians, and so far no one, including Alice Kurusugawa, has noticed them. 

In the meantime, I see the karaoke place I am looking for. Suzuki-kun, who is in charge of the negotiations, begins to get impatient, thinking that this is a bad idea. Once inside the store, the difficulty of getting rid of the girl would increase. 

In his vision, he suddenly saw a presence that was more dangerous than the Futsumen.

" ...... " 

She is a classmate of Class 2A and nowadays Suzuki-kun's natural enemy. 

Matsuura-san. 

The other party was walking from just the opposite side of the street from them heading for the karaoke bar. 

She spots Nishino and the others on her way and naturally reacts to them.

"Oh, Nishino-kun and Okuda-san? I mean, why are you with Suzuki?"

"Matsuura-san, what a coincidence that we meet at such a place. Are you shopping on your day off?" 

Having identified the Futsumen, she strode up to the bottom of the party participants. 

For Matsuura-san these days, Nishino is nothing but prey. She is planning to open her proud crotch and make a cage of him whenever she gets a chance.

"Nishino-kun introduced me to a training school near here, right? I had some time before my lesson, so I just wandered around while having a meal. I mean, that's an unusual combination, isn't it?"

"No, I had Suzuki-kun set up a blind date for me. "

"What? Why a blind date? Suzuki-kun with Nishino-kun and Okuda-san? I don't understand." 

The Futsumen, who spoke a little proudly. 

Matsuura-san's eyes widened in surprise. 

Her eyes immediately turned to Suzuki-kun. 

This drew attention from the participating members of the party. When Suzuki-kun stopped, not only Nishino and Okuda-san, but also three girls and two junior boys stopped. Their gazes were back and forth between Matsuura-san and Suzuki-kun. 

Matsuura-san continued to chat with them without any concern for the attention of the others.

"Okuda-san, I thought you didn't have any frivolous hobbies like going to a party or anything like that." 

"No, no, Suzuki-kun asked me if I'd like to go." 

"Seriously ? " 

"Everything is an experience, Matsuura-san." 

" ......... "

Okuda-san spoke, sweeping her hair up in a huff. Having participated in a real-life-like event, the wonder girl's attitude has grown a bit large. Matsuura-san saw right through her, and a blue streak appeared on her forehead from irritation. 

Naturally, the other members of the group voiced their doubts as well. 

The reaction from the three girls in particular was remarkable. 

From their point of view, it was someone they thought was an acquaintance of the handsome man they were looking for. She was also a woman of considerable physical assets. Matsuura-san, who had recently dropped her modest attire, was attractive enough to pass as an idol.

"Do you know each other, Suzuki-senpai?"

"If you know Nishino-san, is she a friend of yours from school?"

"Maybe she is your former girlfriend?"

The words that were raised in rapid succession were a number of words that probed the relationship between her and Suzuki-kun. 

This is a situation that Suzuki-kun would rather not have to deal with.

"We know each other, or rather, like Nishino, we are classmates. We don't have much contact with each other."

"Is that so? It seems like you and Suzuki have had more contact recently."

"I don't think it's contact, it's just a coincidence that we happen to see each other." 

This would not be the time to let Nishino and Okuda-san go. Suzuki-kun is trying to deal with the situation so that he can quickly break up with them and escape to a karaoke bar. However, as if seeing through his intentions, Matsuura-san takes the initiative in sticking with them.

"Wow, that's terrible. Suzuki, you say things like that in front of him?"

" Isn't that true ? Is there any other relationship between Matsuura-san and me ? " 

"I don't think that's right after you've already fucked me." 

" ......... "

Matsuura-san's sadistic exposure time has begun. 

The evil smile on her face was so infectious that it caught Suzuki-kun's attention and wouldn't let go.

"Don't be so naive. We're not even dating." 

"Speaking of dating, what's going on with Inchou?" 

"That's none of Matsuura-san's business." 

"You broke up with your girlfriend to go out with Inchou, but you're still going to blind dates." 

"That's a different story. Nishino said it earlier, didn't he? Nishino asked me to set up this blind date. So, the matter with Inchou is a different story, or rather, it has nothing to do with this." 

"In the first place, I don't understand what you mean by for Nishino's sake."

"I don't think Matsuura-san knows this, but he and Takechi, Rose-chan, and others made bets on the midterm exam. The one with the lowest score would listen to the one with the highest score. That's how Nishino asked me to have a blind date with him."

Suzuki-kun is desperately on the defensive. 

He cannot show his poor appearance in front of his juniors. 

Especially when he is in front of a girl.

As a result, Nishino follows up with him.

"Matsuura-san, I think you should refrain from discussing private matters here." 

"Suzuki was playing with you anyway, wasn't he? Then come play with me, Nishino-kun." 

"Though it is not like that......." 

Okuda-san also voiced her concerns about the encounter with Matsuura-san. 

It was a pursuit into the exchange that took place between her and the Futsumen at the beginning of the encounter. 

"Matsuura-san, I heard you say office or training school, could that be ...... "

"Between you and me, I'm getting close to my debut. Lately, I've been taking lessons on my days off. And it's all thanks to Nishino-kun. So, Nishino-kun, in return, let me entertain you until the lesson."

"No, I'm in the middle of a blind date......." 

For Suzuki-kun, if Nishino would follow Matsuura-san, that was the way to go. 

If you want, I am thinking that you could take Okuda-san with you.

"If that's the case, I don't mind taking them home. I did what I did for Nishino's sake, and if Matsuura-san is willing to deal with her, it would be more enjoyable for him, too, don't you think?"

"Suzuki, are you trying to force Okuda-san on me?"

"That's not true. And if you're going to have a party, you need to have a good number of both men and women." 

And there was one person who would not stand idly by as this happened. 

At a point a little away from them standing on the street, Alice Kurusugawa, who had been eavesdropping on the series of exchanges, muttered to herself. 

"Rose-san, I'm sorry, but I'm afraid that's all the surveillance you're gonna get."

"What are you doing?" 

"I can't let Matsuura-san have Nishino-san." 

Through the microphone at her mouth, she tells Rose and Gabriella, who stood by at a distance. 

Alice Kurusugawa moves immediately upon seeing her natural enemy appear. She hid behind a building and put her bag at her feet. She then hurriedly begins to prepare herself, removing her wig and removing her makeup with a wet wipe.

"What the hell are you doing here, taking off your disguise?" 

"You're not going to go to him, are you?" 

"If she gets Nishino-san's help, the industry will be in serious trouble."

From her point of view, he is a Futsumen who is positioned as a key person in the industry. If that power was in Matsuura-san's hands, she had no idea where she would go from here. It seems that she immediately made a decision not to give Nishino to a such corrupt person.

"Wait, that's not right. It's too unnatural. "

"Don't worry. I've thought of an excuse." 

Over the radio, Rose repeatedly called out to stop her. 

Alice Kurusugawa, regardless of this, dashed out into the street. 

With her pink hair swinging, she headed straight for Nishino and the others. 

Witnessing her figure, some began to glare at her. The color of her hair is a flashy color that is rarely seen even in the downtown area of Tokyo. Some of the gazes drawn by that color knew her face. 

Soon, her name was being exchanged here and there.

"Is that Alice Kurusugawa?" 

"Who is that?" 

"Wasn't she famous for cosplay or something?"

"Wasn't there a lot of talk about her debut as an idol?"

"The girl who was on TV with Mr. Taro?"

"She's very small, isn't she?"

"I thought you said she was still in junior high school." 

"Isn't she too young?" 

The same was true for Nishino and the others. 

Matsuura-san was the first to notice this.

"Oh...... " 

She saw the face of someone she knew out of the corner of her eye and blatantly frowned. 

The attention of the other faces also turned to Alice Kurusugawa. 

And before they had time to do anything, she called out to them ahead of time.

"Matsuura-san, what are you doing here?" 

"That's my line. Didn't you say you were on vacation today? " 

" My plans have been canceled, so I'm going to go to my lesson now. " 

"You should just rest at home ." 

"The junior members are really pushing me hard, so I have to work hard too."

"You just made your debut and you're already acting like a senior, isn't that bad? " 

"Matsuura-san, you haven't even debuted yet. Alice is your senior."

She visits Nishino and his friends and first approaches Matsuura-san. 

She could not risk a relation with the Futsumen in public. The explanation, which is not much different from the one Matsuura-san had mentioned just a few moments before, is not that unnatural considering where she works. 

I took advantage of my colleagues at work and skillfully mingled in the conversation.

"I am wondering if you are going to have a lesson now, Matsuura-san? " 

" So what?" 

"Since we just met, let's go together!" 

" What's in it for me?" 

"I'm sure Matsuura-san will be the talk of the town if I hang out with Alice. It's a very chic idea from a senior to a junior. Or do you not want to be friends with Alice, Matsuura-san? If so, I won't force you to do so."

"......... "

That being said, from Matsuura-san's point of view, she has a lot of things to think about. She thinks that rather than prioritizing her contacts with Nishino, she should prioritize her interactions with Alice Kurusugawa for now. It is possible to cultivate friendships with the Futsumen on campus. 

Judging the feelings of the younger students, Alice Kurusugawa says.

"Nishino-san, may I borrow Matsuura-san?" 

"Oh, that's fine. " 

"If you want, I don't mind if you join us, Nishino-san. 

" No, I have other plans here. " 

Alice Kurusugawa called out to Nishino. 

This was unexpectedly friendly from the outside. 

Witnessing this scene, the three girls reacted.

"You are Alice Kurusugawa, right? I saw a TV special on her the day before yesterday. " 

"Nishino-san, do you know Alice Kurusugawa?" 

"Is it possible that one of your classmates is also an idol?"

The attention that had been focused on Suzuki-kun shifts to Alice Kurusugawa and the Futsumen. 

Nishino responded to this in a nonchalant manner.

"Not so much as acquaintances, more like mutual associates." 

"Well, Alice and her friends will have to leave now."

It was a response out of concern for Alice in a neighborhood where there were many people around. 

She, too, took advantage of the situation and tried to escape with Matsuura-san. 

The blonde Lolita, watching the whole scene from afar, watched her actions, saying something like, Well, if that's the way it's going to be, there's nothing we can do about it. She seemed to understand that the other party's intention to separate Matsuura-san and Nishino was true. 

Shortly after she did so. 

A bustling noise could be heard coming from a street some distance away. 

Alice Kurusugawa is a conspicuous figure in the area. The bustle, which was incomparable to this, was moving toward the area where the Futsumen were standing and talking, from the side they had been walking since they left the coffee shop. 

A thick crowd had formed around something that existed in the middle. 

At a quick glance, most of them were young women. 

They were moving slowly along the sidewalk, following the path.

"Nishino, something is going on in town."

"Maybe it's a live TV broadcast?"

"Ni, Nishino, Okuda-san, let's go to the karaoke bar." 

Suzuki-kun began to get impatient at the casual mutterings of Okuda-san and the Futsumen. 

The black leather duo was perfectly dressed for the occasion. If they were caught on TV together, it would be a disgrace to the Suzuki family for generations to come. In a panic, Suzuki-kun abandoned his original intention and invited them to a karaoke bar. 

Contrary to their fears, it was an acquaintance of Nishino's who showed up.

"Yo, yo, Nishino. What a coincidence that we meet at such a place, huh?"

A familiar figure peeked out from among the crowd that had moved to the front of the karaoke bar. 

He was a tall man who looked a head taller than the people surrounding him. He was wearing an expensive-looking suit that had been carefully ironed, sunglasses around his eyes, and a mask around his mouth. Although he was wearing a mask over his mouth, the Futsumen recognized him immediately.

"......Why are you here?"

He is Tarosuke. 

He was the one who had been intrigued by Rose and Gabriella's confirmation of Nishino's schedule. On his way to the coffee shop where it was to be a meeting place, he was surrounded by people before he knew it. 

The mere encounter with Matsuura-san and Alice Kurusugawa was one oddity after another. 

The appearance of all the acquaintances, so unnatural, forced even the Futsumen to wonder.

"I went out for a quick bite to eat and saw a familiar face walking around."

"If you make as much money as you do, you could eat somewhere quieter and more relaxed. " 

"I don't like formal restaurants. Sometimes I miss the taste of a familiar place ."

He is a handsome man who has recently been taking on a more Nishino-like tone. The other day, Alice Kurusugawa asked him, Taro-san, you are also worried about Nishino-san, aren't you?

He desperately denies it.

"Well, that's a luxury I can't say I've ever had." 

"But thanks to that, I got to meet you." 

"What's the point of meeting? If you need me, just call me or something." 

"Eh .... Is it okay if I call you ? " 

The members of the party began to speak out in response to Tarosuke's appearance. 

The nickname Taro-san  gave away the true identity of the person in front of them, whose face was hidden by sunglasses and a mask. What also made me wonder why Nishino was talking to the other party as if he were a big shot. 

The arrangements made by Rose and the efforts of Alice Kurusugawa were also ruined.

"Sister, we have a someone on site who is speaking with the subject"

"I really can't do anything about it........." 

"What do we do?" 

" Let's get ahead of the him and join them before he finds out we're here." 

"If he knows we've been watching him, he's going to accuse us of a lot of things."

"To avoid that, we'll go to them and explain the situation to them. If we explain the situation honestly, I am sure he will understand. Well, I'm sure he'll say our fears are unfounded, no matter what we tell him."

"His love of school is very strong."

In this situation, there was no such thing as a blind date. 

Following Alice Kurusugawa, who had stormed the scene earlier, Rose and Gabriella decided to join the group. From another street across the building, they moved to a street lined with the eaves of karaoke parlors. The girls could see the neighborhood, which had increased in population density following Tarosuke's visit.

"But sister, are you sure about that?" 

"What do you mean?" 

"I mean exactly what it says." 

"I don't know, that's why I'm asking you." 

"I can imagine my sister lonely masturbating in front of him and me while we make love in the near future. Or I can imagine you preparing a meal for us after we have finished our lovemaking while we shower."

" If you ever say the same thing to me again, I will shoot you without hesitation." 

The sister who has become accustomed to watching over them from the shadows, while spouting off all kinds of big talk. Gabriella, thinking about the relationship between the two, which has not progressed at all, tells her. She wonders if this guy is actually holding back because he's afraid he'll be rejected.

"You know, I think it's a bit of a joke to talk about something that can't be done. " 

"I'll attack you in your sleep." 

"...... That's a little scary." 

While walking down the street, several cabs passed by in the driveway. 

One of them was unoccupied. 

Rose stopped it, climbed into the back seat with Gabriella, and motioned for them to head out into the middle of the commotion. The driver blatantly frowned, but he could not refuse a customer's request. The driver turned the steering wheel toward the karaoke bar. 

A crowd of people overflowed into the roadway. 

The cab came to a stop right next to it. 

When Rose opened the door facing the sidewalk, the other party quickly responded 

"No way, but you guys are the cause of this?" 

Nishino said when he saw Rose and Gabriella in the car. 

Nishino looked at Rose and Gabriella in the car and said, What's this all about? The Futsumen seemed to be having a lot of second thoughts after the arrival of the girls. Tarosuke, his face turning pale, shivered silently.

"In the meantime, would you please just get in? I'll explain everything in the car." 

"Sister has been wondering about you, Nishino Gokyou." 

"Wait. What are you talking about?" 

"What do you mean?" 

"When a good friend of yours goes to a blind date without you, don't you tend to get suspicious? In your sister's case, I think she may have gone a little too far, but I think the root of the problem is the same." 

Gabu-chan said something nice. 

This resonated with Nishino in an unexpected way. 

If his friends seemed to be worried with his participation in a blind date, it was a surprisingly youthful feeling, and the Futsumen did not feel bad about it. In fact, today's event seemed even more precious than before.

"Indeed, I understand the feeling." 

Futsumen put his hand on his chin, and nodded his head. 

Rose, then, also tried to get in on Gabriella's statement.

"If that were the case, would you hate us?" 

"No, I wouldn't go that far. I don't mean to be rude." 

Again, the response was irritating. 

The people who were present were not at all pleased with his pretentious mannerisms. Fortunately for Rose, she was able to disguise the fact that she was stalking him and succeeded in preventing the Futsumen from joining the blind date shortly after it started.

"Really? I would like to continue to get along with you. " 

"I have been helped a lot by your recent actions. If you don't believe me, how about having dinner together again this evening?" 

"Oh, really?" 

Rose's heart is also pounding with the unexpected favor shown to her. 

Recently, Nishino's attitude toward her has been growing softer and softer. 

And now he has no choice but to give up the idea of continuing the blind date. 

The Futsumen also remembers this year's cultural festival, when the interaction with the light music club, which was obtained through Rose's guidance, was shattered to pieces by Tarosuke's presence. It was easy to imagine how he would be treated if he stayed here. 

In some cases, he might even cause trouble for Suzuki-kun. 

Nishino tells the him with an apologetic expression on his face.

"I'm sorry, Suzuki-kun. I'm sorry, for the opportunity you've given me."

"............"

As for Suzuki-kun, he was no longer able to make a single sound. 

The topic of the party was completely taken up by Nishino. He just stares meekly at his classmates as they are welcomed into the car. Beside the handsome guy, three girls are buzzing about the presence of the Futsumen.

"Hurry up and get on, too ." 

Rose said to Tarosuke and Okuda-san. 

Immediately after hearing her voice, there was a hint of hesitation, but they nodded obediently and got into the cab. The latter out of pure wonder as to why they had shown up. The former out of fear for the blonde Lolita. 

Following their backs, Alice Kurusugawa took a dashing step forward.

"Thank you for having me, Rose." 

"No, not you Kurusugawa-san ." 

" Eh ...... "

"This cab holds six people. Please walk with your friend over there." 

Rose said, pointing with her gaze at Matsuura-san, who remained on the street. 

When Alice Kurusugawa counted the number of people on the car, she opened her mouth.

"There's still room for one more." 

"Oh, you're not going to let your junior in the walk alone, are you?"

" Ugh ...... " 

"Well, we'll leave you to it then." 

As the other party was about to say something, the door was closed by Rose. 

The cab quickly starts moving and leaves the scene. 

A crowd of people could still be seen in the vicinity. Alice Kurusugawa, who was afraid of forcing her way into the taxi, had no choice but to watch it go by in silence. When she looked behind her, she saw Matsuura-san looking at her absentmindedly. 

The juniors give her envious glances at their seniors.

"Thanks you Kurusugawa-san, this is perfect" 

"Oh, you're blaming Alice?" 

" I wonder where is the sophisticated arrangement from seniors to juniors?" 

"Ununuuu...... " 

"Rather a pestilence? " 

"I understand, let's head to the office together." 

Most of the crowds that sprang up on the streets were in search of Taro-san. The fact that the other party was an underage woman also helped, and the number of passersby who chased after them dropped dramatically. Watching the process from behind, the two left the scene, exchanging light banter. 

What was left behind were the six participants in the party, led by Suzuki-kun. 

Nishino and Okuda-san were the ones who were released safely as planned. 

However, after a talk with Matsuura-san, the three women's favor for Suzuki-kun dropped dramatically. Furthermore, he was completely eclipsed by the Futsumen, whose expectations had been raised by the presence of Alice Kurusugawa and Tarosuke. Immediately afterwards, he was asked for Nishino's contact information. 

For Suzuki-kun, it was the most humiliating experience ever. 

As we parted, his eyes were fixed on Nishino. 

It was a hatred that even his friend Takeuchi-kun had never seen before. 

On the same day, the blind date did not produce any results for the three boys, and the party was broken up at the end of the karaoke session.

◇ ◆ ◇

It's Monday after the weekend, in a classroom of Class 2A. 

A few moments before morning homeroom. Rose, Gabriella, Matsuura-san, and Okuda-san could be seen in Nishino's seat. The four girls face each other as they surround the Futsumen, who has been seated in his own seat.

"Rose and Gabriella, did you know about the blind date before?" 

"Or rather, you were making plans for the day right in front of us!"

"We were having lunch in the student cafeteria when we were approached by the other party." 

Matsuura-san, who had parted ways with Nishino on a day off at Shibuya Center Street and never spoke to him again, went to Nishino's seat, who had just arrived at school, to find out what had happened. At the same time, Rose, Gabriella, and Okuda-san arrived. 

Immediately after the Futsumen's arrival at school, they settled into their current state.

"The invitation from Suzuki-kun to Nishino-kun for a blind date is definitely suspicious, if you think about it in a normal way." 

"It's not the best choice of words, but it's true that we were worried about him." 

"We are honestly grateful that you were concerned about me. However, please don't be so presumptuous. There was no such fact. Rather, I was the one who caused trouble for everyone. "

"In any case, he has consistently been saying this, hasn't he?"

From Rose's perspective, they are using Matsuura-san's presence to lead the conversation to give credibility to their excuses. As usual, she was dealing with a classmate-loving Futsumen, and she didn't want the relationship to get any more complicated than it already was. 

For Nishino, making fun of the virginity at the party was nothing more than a straightforward exchange.

"Matsuura-san, I wonder if you are jealous of us who were invited to the event?"

"Honestly speaking, Okuda-san’s reckless brain is really scary."

Okuda-san, just like Matsuura-san, took the initiative to join in the conversation. 

She is the one who has been waiting near the doorway of the Class 2A classroom for more than 30 minutes before the Futsumen arrived at school, looking for him. She enjoys interacting with Nishino so much that these days she arrives at school earlier than anyone else, except for the athletic club members who have morning practice. 

Two seats next to them, the Inchou is listening to their exchange. 

She is chatting with Risa-chan, who is standing right in front of her, but the content of their conversation is slipping through her mind from right to left. Her mind was not in the right place. Risa, who was standing right in front of Shimizu, looked troubled and asked her.

"Inchou, are you interested in Nishino-kun?" 

"What? No, of course not!" 

"Because you have been glancing at him for a while now." 

"That's just because I was curious about what Matsuura-san said......." 

The Inchou is the one who had been concerned about the situation ever since she heard about the blind date at the school cafeteria until today. With Okuda-san accompanying Nishino, and Rose, Gabriella, and Matsuura-san also present at the party, I couldn't help but be curious about what was going on. 

Suzuki-kun watched their interaction and sighed.

After all, for him, the weekend's events had been a tedious and a frustrating experience. 

Suzuki-kun, who was spending his morning at Takeuchi's place, overheard the whole exchange and turned an annoyed glance at the Futsumen. He wondered if this was another step away from his relationship with the Inchou.

"Takechi, isn't Nishino getting on top of his game these days? " 

"I know it seems like he's on a roll, but he's not bothering anyone, is he?" 

"Rose and Gabriella, there's definitely something going on." 

"What do you mean?" 

"Because, you see, it's absolutely weird that they're so concerned about Nishino......." 

Suzuki-kun tries to motivate the handsome man by citing the presence of Rose and Gabriella, but Takeuchi, who correctly understands the relationship between the girls and Nishino, tells him with a calm face, as if he is trying to quiet his friend.

"They were born differently from us, and their feelings are quite different from ours, aren't they?"

" ...... "

Suzuki-kun's resentment was building up as even his good friends reproached him. 

He could not come up with a good rebuttal, and had to keep silent. 

Because of this situation, Nishino's seat is a complete harem. 

It looks as if a Futsumen with a pouty face has a female student sitting with him. The girls spontaneously gathered around Nishino, who was sitting alone in his chair. Moreover, they are happily exchanging words with each other. From the point of view of the boys who were present, it was a very frustrating situation. 

By the way, the scene of boys and girls looking friendly is not limited to the Futsumen. Among some students, new pairs of boys and girls had been formed since the confession fiasco during the school trip. This may have influenced Nishino's harem play, but they also flirted without restraint in the classroom.

"Kaneko has been flirting with Satake-san since this morning." 

"I heard from a guy in B class that he saw them walking around the hotel district in Shibuya."

"Seriously?" 

" What were they doing there?

"Can we stop talking about this kind of thing? I'm beginning to dislike Kaneko. " 

"I just want peace in my mind." 

The unrestrained interaction between men and women in the classroom, which had been the practice of upper caste students, was beginning to be seen among students in the middle and lower caste groups as well. The number is still small, but because it is small, it is noticeable. 

This is not interesting for a student who was late to the party. 

Nishino, Matsuura-san, and Okuda-san, who were in the same position, seemed to be enjoying themselves. But what about myself? When Takeuchi, Suzuki-kun, Risa-chan, and Inchou were like that, jealousy, which they had never felt before, began to spread among the students in the middle and lower caste levels. 

Not only among male students, but also among female students.

"Aren't you impatient?" 

"What do you mean by impatient?"

"You'll be a senior next year."

"It's nice that someone can afford a boyfriend."

"Even though I have a boyfriend, I'm still impatient. "

"Why don't we just go to college? "

" Isn't it bad ? "

"It's really hard for me because I'm going to get a job. I'm about to die."

High school is a once-in-a-lifetime experience that lasts only three years. 

In the winter of his sophomore year, he had already passed the turnaround point. 

Normally, students would have looked at Nishino's eccentricities from a distance. Even if they did not make fun of him outwardly, they looked down on him or denied his existence in their hearts. But today, they were staring at the Futsumen with a somewhat serious look on their faces.

◇ ◆ ◇

That same day, morning time flew by and homeroom began. 

As the students begin to return to their seats after hearing the pre-bell, their homeroom teacher, Mr. Otake, arrives. Just as he stands at his desk, the bell rings in the campus. The students move in response to the three beats of stand, bow, and be seated given by the homeroom teacher. 

Private conversation was discouraged, and the classroom became quiet and still. 

After confirming this, Otake-sensei said.

"Starting today, there will be a new student in this class." 

From the point of view of the members of Class 2A, it was a complete surprise. 

Everyone looked more or less surprised. 

Even the students who had been looking elsewhere naturally turned their attention to the teaching table. 

Usually, when a new student comes to a school, some students who had some information about the new student would talk about the rumor beforehand. This time, however, the day of the event arrived without any of that. More than usual, the students' attention was focused on Mr. Otake. 

A clamor began to spread around the new student, who had yet to be seen by the students. 

Regardless of the reaction of the students, the teacher went to the hallway and called out to them.

"You, come in." 

" ......... Excuse me " 

Following Mr. Otake's instructions, a transfer student emerged from the door at the front of the classroom. 

She appeared from the hallway, dressed in the school's uniform. 

For the students who welcomed her, the first thing they noticed was her exotic, glossy brown skin. Next, when they checked out her facial features, some students began to say that she looked like someone they had seen somewhere before. 

Eventually, a few of them came up with the idea. 

It was the girl who had hugged Nishino at the airport on the last day of the school trip.

"I'd like you to introduce yourself quickly ." 

" Yes " 

At Otake-sensei's instruction, Nora went to the blackboard behind her. 

With an unaccustomed hand, she wrote her name in hiragana on the board. 

She then put down her chalk and turned to face the students once again.

"My name is Nora Dagu. Pleased to meet you." 

At first glance, the Futsumen and the Inchou understood that the other party was an acquaintance. Still, since they had not been informed beforehand, they were as surprised as the rest of the students. Nishino wondered what Francisca was up to. 

To answer their doubts, Mr. Otake said.

"Nora has decided to move from Guam to Japan due to her parents' work. She speaks Japanese reasonably well, but she must feel overwhelmed living in a country she is not familiar with. I hope everyone will support her."

As far as Nishino knows, Nora lost her mother, and her father has been in Francisca's custody since after the incident in Guam. Although he has been assured that he is still alive, he has no freedom of movement.

However, Mr. Otake, oblivious to this, continued.

"I heard that you and Shimizu are good friends? " 

"Yes, we have exchanged contact information........." 

"I'm sorry, but can I ask you to show me around the school during break time and after school?" 

"Yes, of course." 

As Shimizu had been taking English conversation lessons over the Internet last night, he was not sure what was going on.

Nevertheless, when his homeroom teacher offered her a task, she nodded in agreement.

"Oh, Takeuchi and Suzuki, I'm sorry, but could you two carry the desks? I've already prepared the things, so I'd like you to come with me and carry them to the classroom. It was such short notice that we didn't have time to carry them to the classroom during the break." 

"So that's why it wasn't prepared in advance." 

Takeuchi and Suzuki-kun nodded and followed behind Mr. Otake. 

As they had been informed, there were no empty desks to be found in the classroom. Normally, empty seats would have been prepared in advance. That is why the members of Class 2A were surprised to welcome the new student. 

As soon as the homeroom teacher disappeared from the classroom into the hallway, Class 2A was bustling with activity. 

Students stood up from their seats and walked over to Nora, who was standing by the teacher's table. 

They began to ask questions in rapid succession.

"You're the girl who was at the school we exchanged with on our school trip, right?" 

"Is it okay if I ask you some questions in Japanese?"

"Do you have any textbooks? If not, I'll ask the teacher to borrow some." 

"Nora's eyes are so beautiful. You are so cute!"

"Do you live around here? I can show you around after school if you want" 

The closest students are the upper caste social girls, led by Risa-chan. 

They are surrounded by upper caste male students. 

The Inchou, who has been named by Mr. Otake to do the job, stands up from her seat and stands right next to the girls. However, she leaves the talking to the other students and keeps a low profile so as to be prepared for any problems that may arise. 

The students in the middle and lower caste groups are watching from a distance. 

In the midst of all this, Nora's feet moved as she turned down the offer to the female students around her. 

Her steps lead her to the desk in front of which Nishino, who had been watching from his seat, stops. Naturally, the attention of her classmates turned to the two of them. The classroom, which had been buzzing with the arrival of the new student, became suddenly quiet when they saw him and her staring at each other.

".........."

"What's up? What can I do for you?" 

Nora is about to say something, but hesitates. 

Nishino asked her before she could say anything. 

After a few seconds of hesitation, she replied.

"That woman told me. She said you're just like me." 

" Same ? What do you mean? " 

"You left your family and you live alone."

" ...... What about it? " 

The exchange in poor Japanese was delivered to the members of Class 2A. 

It is a well-known fact in the classroom that the Futsumen lives alone away from his parents, as Takeuchi, Inchou, and Risa-chan have visited his residence in the past. The students are wondering what's up with that.

"That's why I want to help you." 

" ......... "

Nishino was now silenced when he heard the statement that continued. 

There was no need to ask her what she was helping him with. 

At the same time, it was not something that could be exchanged here. 

Nora herself seemed to be aware of the situation, and even after waiting for a while, nothing more was said in detail. Nishino understood the background of the unexpected transfer student, as Francisca seemed to have informed him of at least a minimal amount of information about her. 

On the other hand, from the point of view of those who were listening, the proposal was nothing more than an unwanted intrusion.

"Hey, what she mean by that?" 

"Did she come after Nishino?"

"Of course not."

" Ohtake said just now that she moved here for her parents' work." 

"But she and Nishino hugged each other at the airport in Guam, right?"

"Maybe they are distant relatives?" 

This was no exception for the Inchou. 

The love affair unfolded at the airport in Guam. Having been subjected to a similar incident herself, she felt threatened by the out-of-season transfer student. However, it is difficult for her to openly question the new student since they are in the classroom. 

In front of her, the two continued their conversation.

"Did she suggest this to you?" 

" No, I asked her ." 

"I'm afraid you might have been led into it." 

"Am I bothering you? " 

"No, not at all ." 

"Then I want to help you." 

"......."

A proposal from Nora that no longer sounds like a love call. 

The classmates were in a mixed mood, as not only Rose and Gabriella, but also Matsuura-san, Okuda-san, and even a transfer student seemed to have an interest in Nishino. Among them, the nonmotivated students who looked down on him in particular could not hide their irritation at the sight. 

Why Nishino?

After some time, Takeuchi and Suzuki-kun returned to the classroom. 

They had brought in additional desks and chairs as instructed by Mr. Otake. Witnessing their return ended the exchange between Nishino and Nora. New seats were set up in the empty space in the classroom.

"Nora, is it okay if I put your desk here?" 

"Yes, it's fine." 

"If you have any trouble, don't hesitate to tell me or Takeuchi." 

" Thank you. " 

In the meantime, the bell rings to announce the start of first period. 

Questions about the new student were carried over to the next recess.