Parking his motorcycle, Eriri stepped down from the back seat and then came to Masa's side.
"...."
Masa stared at this girl, who stared back at him with an expectant smile. He sighed and helped her remove her helmet. Being a dense character was probably good since, this way, there was no need for him to act like a gentleman.
Fortunately, Eriri had always upheld the rules of give and take.
"I will wear kneesocks later."
"White?"
"Why not black?
"It doesn't suit your image, after all."
"Do you mean that I am childish?!"
"I mean, you are pure and innocent."
"...don't you feel weird to praise me that way."
"You are right, but ignoring your interior, your exterior matches the description well."
"...." Eriri.
The two of them knew well that there was nothing pure or innocent about Eriri, especially since this girl was an 18+ doujinshi creator, and frankly, instead of him, it was this girl who invited him to read a hentai manga for the first time during their childhood.
"Oh, you also appear pure when I hold you. It's nice to see you all shy."
Eriri blushed and wanted to beat this guy up, but—
"Sawamura-san!"
"It's been a while. How are you?"
"It's great to see you again."
When the two talked, a group of girls approached, and watching them, Masa knew that they were Eriri's classmates in the 1st grade.
"Good morning everyone." Unlike before, Eriri smiled sweetly and showed the perfect facade of an elegant young lady from a big family instead of a perverted little goblin.
Masa only rolled his eyes, but he didn't care much since it was a normal thing for one to have two faces, whether it was in public or private, and this also showed that even if she was a little silly, her EQ was high, especially in the interpersonal relationship.
While she was half, unlike the others who were discriminated against, she was revered by many and often became the leader of everyone, especially when she also won several painting competitions, showing her difference from everyone.
Beautiful, gentle, talented, and came from a wealthy family.
More importantly, she was Masa's childhood friend.
Even if they didn't want to give up, they knew well that they had to give up.
Yet, when they saw Masa remove his helmet, showing his handsome and masculine face... all of them could only stay in a daze, and some of them even drooled.
Meanwhile, Eriri's lips twitched helplessly since she knew well that instead of coming to ask about her, they just wished for an excuse so they could leer at her boyfriend, which made her helpless.
She wanted to take a protective measure, yet Masa had become more handsome.
Still, nothing would change, even if Masa had become more handsome and stronger since his popularity in this school was impossible to rise anymore as it had reached the limit of development.
Or rather, he had become the dream lover of everyone in this country, whether they were young or old; all of them, especially females, wished to be held by him.
Frankly, if he wished to, he could solve the problem of this country's declining birth rate by himself. Unfortunately, he was loyal to his girlfriend, and instead of making a harem, he either thought of making her body stronger by the power of technology or did dual cultivation, which disappointed many.
"You are going with your friend, right? I will leave first."
"Um."
Eriri nodded, but the others quickly pleaded.
"Ah, you are not going with us, Tenma-kun?"
"Yeah, don't you need to see which class that you are going to assign to?"
"We might be in the same class, so why don't we check it together?"
Masa, who wore a facemask, smiled with his eyes and apologized. "I am sorry. I have to go to the staff room since I need to talk with the teacher about my speech later."
"Ah, is that so?"
Hearing that, they knew that they couldn't do anything since they knew Masa's grade well, but there was no doubt that they were disappointed, and even after he left, they couldn't even look away.
Eriri rolled her eyes, wondering how their dream would be crushed when the truth was that their gentle prince was a sadist with a Machiavellian trait.
"..."
'It seems they will love him more?'
As a woman, Eriri knew well about a woman's masochist tendency, hoping their man to torment them, making them into his bitch, as they could only beg for mercy as their bodies were dominated by him.
"..."
Shaking her small head furiously, Eriri tried to throw away all the dirty thoughts in her mind.
"Ah, by the way, Sawamura-san, is it true that Tenma-kun is going to retire?"
"Yeah, that's not true, right?"
"I have been watching him for a long time..."
All of them felt like it was too wasteful for Masa to retire, especially when his growth was so amazing that it could make him have a lot of wealth, but more importantly, all of them had become his fans, so how could they give up and rooted for their star, even if they knew it was impossible for them to become his girlfriend.
'Yes, it doesn't have to be his girlfriend... if we can become lovers, then...'
Still facing all of them, Eriri was as calm as ever. "We're already in the 2nd grade, and his purpose in working as an internet influencer is to get tuition for his future education. As he has earned enough, he wants to focus on his studies."
"Ah, we see..."
Instead of being an unstable star, Masa wished for stability, which was something that made their hearts skip, and they wished to get more from him.
"By the way, what kind of university is he going to aim for?"
If they couldn't get him in high school, then they would get him in university, they thought. No one thought to give up since they knew it was probably destiny that they could meet each other.
Only—
"University Tokyo. Medical University."
Ah, they had to give up, they thought.
Nevertheless, Masa, who was in the principal's office, enjoyed a warm cup of tea, ignoring the bustling within the school. Yes, instead of being asked by the teachers to talk about his speech for the representative of his grade, he decided to rest in the principal's office to get some quiet time.
"But you are as popular as ever, Tenma-kun. Many new students come just because they want to see you."
"Don't tease me, Principal."
"But it's all thanks to you that our school's popularity and reputation have become higher."
Yes, it was because of that Masa got special treatment.
In the end, a school was also a business; the more students it had, the better reputation it had, and the more prestige it could gain, and it wouldn't have trouble getting more students.
More importantly, if Masa became an alumnus, then there was no doubt that the future of their school would be even brighter.
"It's fine. You have given me special treatment, after all."
"No, no. If you need anything, just ask. You can ask me anything except to transfer to another school."
Masa chuckled and said, "No, I won't. I have been comfortable in this school, after all."
The two talked happily as the principal thought about Masa's plan. He knew that Masa had decided to retire as an internet influencer, and naturally, Masa's answer satisfied him as an educator.
Still, it was time for the school entrance, which made the two leave the room and go to the hall where everyone gathered.
"Then, I will leave first, Principal."
"Ah, yes, be careful. Just wear your facemask until you are called."
"Thank you."
Some students were so crazy that they wanted to kiss him suddenly, so the principal gave Masa special treatment by allowing them to wear a facemask.
No, if Masa wished to, he might even wear a mask to school.
Still, when he went to the hall, he saw his girlfriend again.
"Masa, here! Here!"
In the first grade, the two of them were in the same grade, but what about now?
"We're in the same grade~!"
Watching Eriri's silly, happy smile, Masa nodded and felt it was normal since if they weren't in the same class; then he would ask the principal again.
As the two sat next to each other, naturally, they attracted much attention, especially when Masa wore a facemask, yet someone was attracted by Eriri's silly smile, which was so different from her usual elegant facade.
"Oh, Megumi? Have you been there for a long time?"
Masa then noticed the familiar girl beside Eriri.
"Yes, I have been here for a long time, but as usual, you ignore me."
"Sorry, sorry. Don't look at me with that kind of gaze, okay?"
"It's fine."
This girl might not have said anything, but there was no doubt this girl was a bit sensitive after his decision to retire.
Masa also felt awkward, but he didn't plan to say anything since it was his decision. Still, considering this girl was Eriri's girlfriend and this girl also had helped him a lot in the beginning, he knew that a proper explanation was needed.
"I will talk about this later."
"...um."
In the end, even if the girl didn't want to talk to him, her heart still couldn't bear it, and once again, she let him off, which made her sigh inwardly, thinking that she couldn't be straight and just cut everything, considering what the two had faced, yet, she knew that she couldn't do anything with her feelings as he was her best friend's boyfriend.
Still, Eriri, who was in the middle, only looked at the two thoughtfully with a strange, morbid gaze.
"...stop thinking about weird things."
"I-I am not!"
"What are you two talking about?"
"Nothing, Megumi!"
As the three talked about the position of the third grader, one young woman couldn't help but glance in the direction of the three, and then there was one girl with an envious expression before she looked at the young man with a complicated gaze.
Nevertheless, when the entrance ceremony started, everyone quieted down, listening to the principal's speech until—
"And now for the presentation of the top prize for the last month's mock exam.
"Tenma Masa of Class 1-A."
"Yes."
As his voice fell, Masa stood up straight like a javelin before he walked firmly as he gave off the majesty of a monarch.
At that moment, those new students, especially females, could tell that they wouldn't be a match for him no matter how hard they tried, yet females and some guys just stared at him in a daze.
The noise and background disappeared from their sight, and all they could see was his figure as they thought that even if they gave up everything, it was all worth it if they could get him.
"As the new season arrives..."
As his voice fell and the speech started, Eriri took a picture of him with the secret camera given by her mother so many times with a flushed expression like a pervert.
Only the girl on the side stared at Eriri helplessly with a sigh, then looked at his figure, who was so close, yet so far away.
---
By the way, can you recommend a good action story?
Also, do you think Kaiju-8 is good?