"Good morning, Yoshikawa-san."
"Morning~ Yoshikawa-san."
Upon entering the classroom, I was promptly greeted by Nakaya-san and Nishikawa-san. Since that notable day when I became involved with them, students—especially the boys—began to shoot me scornful glances. To them, I appeared to be nothing more than an inconvenience, taking advantage of Nakaya-san's kindness. Their thoughts were clearly etched on their faces.
I understand their perspective completely. I mean, who wouldn't want the attention of cute and beautiful girls? But guys, could you please refrain from showing it on your faces? It makes me feel uncomfortable. And it was Nakaya-san who approached me, making her move. She utilized her advantage to leave me defenseless, and as a guy, I instinctively surrendered to her.
"Ah, good morning, Nakaya-san and Nishikawa-san," I greeted them before heading to my seat. Haruto gazed out of the window, paying no heed to their scornful glares as the boys clenched their teeth in anger. Mio sat with a cheerful expression, looking at him from her seat. Meanwhile, Ichika could only sigh, observing her friend's bravery, or rather, her natural disposition.
These days, as Mio began to care for Haruto, students from his class felt uneasy about the situation, sensing that something was amiss. To gain a better understanding of the situation, they approached Mio and inquired about Haruto. She responded candidly, "Ichika and I recently became friends with Yoshikawa-san; it's only been a few days." Hearing this, the entire class erupted into an uproar. They bombarded her with questions like "How?" and "When?" Overwhelmed by the enthusiastic students, sweat dripping down her face, Mio looked to her savior and best friend, Ichika.
Ichika couldn't help but laugh quietly to herself as she observed Mio's subtle plea for assistance through her eyes. Responding adeptly, Ichika handled the situation, leaving Mio feeling grateful. Her eyes, akin to a predator assessing its prey, gleamed with gratitude as she looked at her best friend. Sensing a chill creeping down her spine, Ichika shivered and scanned her surroundings nervously. Finding nothing out of place, she breathed a sigh of relief, once again feeling secure.
Ichika could have never imagined that her friend, whom she always perceived as an airhead, was actually the predator she had been seeking. If she had known... she would have eagerly engaged in a hundred rounds of playful battle with her in bed, completely dominating her bouncy assets.
In the days that followed, although the girls occasionally looked his way, they concluded that he wasn't worth their attention. They started to wonder if there was something wrong with their eyes or if Mio had made a mistake. Failing to find anything remarkable about him, doubts began to arise regarding Mio's taste in boys. After all, there were plenty of boys like Haruto in their class—average, ordinary, and unremarkable. The only distinction was that Haruto didn't initiate conversations with them and wasn't the talkative type. They could only assume that Mio wanted to watch out for him, considering that Haruto seemed somewhat isolated from the rest of them.
"Ya~ Morning, Mio! Morning, Ichika!" exclaimed the newcomer as he entered the classroom. His short bob-style hair was a blend of white and blue, and despite being slightly taller than Mio, he shared the same stature as Ichika. With his appearance resembling that of a girl in boy's clothing and a voice that leaned towards a feminine tone, no one seemed to take notice.
Is that the privilege of being a beautiful boy? Damn! I'm so jealous...!!
"Hey! Morning, Yoshikawa-kun," greeted the attractive boy, Abe Hinata.
"Good morning," I responded lazily, not wishing to become more involved than I already was.
Yes, this guy's name is Abe Hinata. He's quite well-known, especially as the president of the Dance Club, much like Nishikawa-san, who's renowned for her skills in Kendo. Abe-san has achieved notable success in dance, triumphing in numerous tournaments. He is part of the same group as Nakaya-san and Nishikawa-san.
Hinata smiled warmly in Haruto's direction before shifting his gaze to Ichika and Mio. "Is everything alright...? You do realize, Mio, you're causing quite a stir for Yoshikawa-san," he remarked. "Being the most beautiful girl in school, many look up to you. And boys can be jealous creatures, you know. When they see an average guy with a beautiful girl, they start questioning themselves, 'Why him and not me?' It tends to lead to trouble. You can tell from Yoshikawa-kun's situation—ever since that day, the atmosphere around him has changed drastically. Boys are glaring at him with resentment, and girls are showing contempt."
Ichika could only smile wryly at Hinata's words. Seeing the changes around Yoshikawa-san, she knew what Hinata said was basically correct. And her oblivious friend couldn't see it clearly; her eyes were always on Yoshikawa-san, directly ignoring the people around him. Besides, even if she thought of telling Mio about it, seeing how oblivious her best friend was, she gave up on explaining and chose to watch and intervene if Yoshikawa-san was troubled by it.
"I-I... am I really troubling him?" asked Mio, her expression serious with a hint of worry, as she pondered where things went wrong. She glanced at Hinata and Ichika, seeking their opinion on the matter. Hinata and Ichika sighed softly, then they noticed Keisuke and Fuji approaching them as they entered the classroom.
"What's going on, guys...? I can tell something's bothering you," Keisuke inquired, observing the girls deep in discussion, apparently about something important. He didn't want to feel left out. Keisuke Tachi, a handsome young man who excels in all aspects of life—whether it's academics, sports, or socializing. He's the epitome of the charming prince, with a charisma that can rally the entire class. His warm smile has the ability to brighten even the gloomiest of moods, instilling hope and confidence in everyone around him.
Ichika and Hinata greeted them as both Keisuke and Fuji sat opposite them, making it easier for them to engage in conversation. However, there was one person who didn't return the greeting, leaving Hinata and Ichika speechless, aware of what was going on inside Mio's mind as she completely ignored the newly arrived duo.
"Is something the matter? Both Ichika and Hinata seem at a loss for words." Their silence was understandable, because Mio seemed oblivious to Keisuke and Fuji's presence right in front of her, lost in her own world. Fuji, being rather dense, didn't notice this even after questioning Ichika and Hinata's reactions. However, it was Keisuke who noticed Mio's odd behavior among the trio. Hinata and Ichika couldn't help but chuckle at Keisuke's expense, causing him to feel uncomfortable, leading him to contemplate speaking up. Just as he was about to do so, Hinata suddenly spoke up.
"Ah...! It's nothing, actually... We were just chatting about Yoshikawa-kun. I was wondering why Mio seems so interested in him, so I asked her. Unfortunately, my efforts to find out why Mio and Yoshikawa-kun suddenly became friends were fruitless."
Hinata's interruption snapped Mio out of her world, and she only just noticed Keisuke and Fuji. Their sudden arrival had caught her off guard, as she had been absorbed in the conversation between Ichika and Hinata. As she contemplated greeting them, Ichika's comment on her behavior caused her to pause mid-step.
"Yes~ Mio sure did something I didn't think was possible! I never imagined she'd gather the courage to ask Yoshikawa-san to be her friend. Hehe~ It was interesting... Ah! If only I could capture that moment in a picture... I'd turn it into wallpaper for my bedroom walls!"
Ichika wore a regretful expression as she said that.
"Huh!? Ehh...!! D-Don't exaggerate what I did! And w-who said I was a-a-attracted to him...! I-I simply find him reliable, so I spoke my mind! Humph! I'll be ignoring you for a while," Mio said, her cheeks turning red and the blush creeping up to her ears. Mio hadn't anticipated Ichika and Hinata teasing her in front of others. Despite her pout, she kept a sharp gaze on her two friends, a faint smile gracing her lips.
Upon witnessing Mio's smile, Ichika and Hinata's legs turned weak; its connotations were exclusive to them. Just moments ago, they had observed Mio's shyness and blush, but now, it had transformed into something that nearly drove them to flee from their surroundings.
Keisuke's expression darkened like charcoal upon witnessing Mio's shyness for the first time. To make matters worse, it was directed towards someone completely unrelated to their group; his friend was about to be abducted, and all he could do was stare... How could he allow such a thing to occur right before his eyes? Keisuke holds a dim view of Yoshikawa-san; his grades remain stagnant, he dozes off in class without concern for others' perceptions. Overall, he appears lazy and lacks seriousness towards life. Given these observations, how could he stand by and let Mio's standing be compromised?"
Keisuke resolved to keep Mio away from Haruto, his fist clenched as he made a solemn vow to himself.
Where am I? I thought as I gazed at the group of famous people gathered around Nakaya-san's table.
Ha... I'm jealous...! Friends... I want them too.
They were clearly enjoying themselves, their lively and cheerful smiles infectiously spreading to others like a virus.
Ah! So bright...! Can you please stop? I can't look straight; my eyes are about to fall out from too much exposure. Okay, I should stop joking. But yeah... I'm truly envious of their friendship. I could only observe them secretly; too much isn't good for one's health.
As if she felt my stare, Nakaya-san turned to look back at me, leaving me stunned. She smiled at me, which made me feel awkward, causing me to lower my head and pretend to sleep.
Okay! I'm done. Let's sleep earnestly.
Mio couldn't help but laugh as she watched Yoshikawa-san, in a state of panic, sleeping on his desk.
"Why are you laughing, Mio?" asked Keisuke, looking puzzled.
"Oh, it's nothing. I just remembered something funny. Don't mind me," replied Mio casually, her lips quirking up slightly, giving her a seductive appearance. Keisuke and Fuji appeared charmed but wore dull expressions.
"Ahem...!! So, what were we talking about?" Ichika interjected, saving the moment and pulling them back to reality. Blushing, they changed the subject, and just like that, their day came to an end.