Having blown away my summer cold and returned to school with the spirit of "Natsukawa, Come On!", the struggle to catch up on the lessons I’d missed turned out to be an uphill battle that left me gasping for air. Math is seriously lethal...
Just as I reached noon in a state of being burned out to pure white, half my soul leaking out of my mouth, a sudden impact to my backside rebooted my system. It seemed Ashida, who sat behind me, had kicked the bottom of my chair. Hey, stop cackling, Ashida! Hey, lend me your notes for a sec—whoa, you're strong! Your pulling strength is insane! Why are you being so stubborn about lending them to me?!
After making a racket and being told to "Shut up" by a buzz-cut kid from the baseball club nearby, I suddenly realized I hadn't bought lunch. Leaving Ashida behind as she cradled her notes like they were precious treasure, I let out a sigh and stood up with a single coin in hand.
By the time I left the classroom, the young ladies clutching their super-miniature lunchboxes had already settled into their respective groups for lunch. The largest among them was the circle of sparkling extroverts surrounding Natsukawa—somehow, Natsukawa was starting to look like some kind of cult leader.
I told Ashida, "I'll just grab something quick today," and headed to the cafeteria. At the convenience-store-like shop in the corner, I managed to snag a somewhat rare sweet bun, finished the checkout, and looked for a suitable place to eat. As expected, I really didn't want to be outside in this damn heat...
"Ah, there he is!"
"Eh?"
Since it had been hot lately, I tried to take refuge in a different corner of the cafeteria—only to run into the members of the Inatomi Circle (Provisional). Well, more like they spotted me with their hawk-like eyes. Before I knew it, I was sharing a table with them... I mean, it didn't feel bad, you know? They smelled nice. But look, the stares from everyone else...
"Um... you pulled me over here because you had some business with me, right? Otherwise, I don't think we're really on such intimate terms..."
"Ehh, is that so?"
Isn't it, Inatomi-senpai...?
Seated in one of the four-person booths against the wall, I was blocked in by Mita-senpai next to me, making escape impossible. Inatomi-senpai, sitting across from me, was smiling for some reason. Our first meeting was supposed to be complicated... and we haven't even talked that much, so why are you looking at me with such sparkling eyes?
"Why is her affection level so high...? Are you using paid items on her?"
"That's unfair, Sajou."
"You don't even know what that means, do you?"
Mita-senpai, who was apparently Inatomi-senpai's childhood friend, narrowed her eyes at me with envy and jealousy. Joining in, Shinomiya-senpai also voiced a complaint, though her face said, "What on earth is a 'paid item'?" If I could buy such a thing in real life, I would've bought it long ago, no matter the price. I would've even paid in installments.
"I heard from Rin-san. Is your fever all gone now?"
"Ah, yeah, I'm fine now."
I was basically cured, but I stayed home for two days just to be safe. I rested quietly and played games, hehehe.
Even so, I couldn't hide my confusion at the tiny senior who was giggling and saying, "That's good, that's good." She was super cute with her red ribbon fluttering, but what on earth was I supposed to do? Prostrate myself? The two people next to and diagonally across from me were making terrifying faces. I value my life, so could you please stop directing those innocent smiles my way?
"Ahem! Now then, there is a reason I went out of my way to bring you here. I actually wanted to talk to you sooner, but unfortunately, you collapsed."
"Hah..."
Switching into serious mode, Shinomiya-senpai began to emit the aura of the Disciplinary Committee President from when we first met. The atmosphere suddenly felt like I was undergoing a job interview. Honestly, it was scary, and I wanted to get out of here as soon as possible.
"I'll be blunt—would you like to join the Disciplinary Committee?"
"Heh?"
A weird sound escaped me. I looked around at the other three at the unexpected proposal. Mita-senpai was looking at Inatomi-senpai in a daze, and the tiny senior herself was smiling cheerfully, looking at nothing in particular. Hey, wait, do you have zero interest? I want to go to that world too.
"I am not a man of such caliber."
"My term will end in autumn, and I haven't been able to find any male underclassmen to entrust with the committee's succession. A significant number of girls have come to observe, but they seem to have a strong sense that they're just coming for fun."
"Yeah, plus their ulterior motives are obvious. They only see the Disciplinary Committee as a status symbol."
So my roundabout message of refusal was ignored. Um, could someone at least give me a comeback? It's better than a joke failing, but it's getting awkward. Isn't it unfair for Mita-senpai to join the conversation right now... Mini-senpai! I'm being treated like this because you're looking at me so happily!
Is that it? They're definitely planning to make me join. It's only been three months since I enrolled, so I don't really feel it yet, but apparently this school has a packed schedule of events in the second semester. Starting with the cultural festival, then the sports festival once it starts to cool down—just those two alone would be busy enough, but students belonging to a club or committee become even busier. It's a hassle, and the Disciplinary Committee would undoubtedly be heavy labor.
"Your face came to mind at a time like that. Being Kaede's brother makes you trustworthy, and I want you to support the committee just as you gave me advice before."
"But that's a story for the second semester, right?"
"Yes, that's right. So I want you to think about it starting now. The Disciplinary Committee needs you."
Guh, such a passionate love call...! Have I ever been so wanted before?! A part of me deep in my chest that's starved for love is starting to think, "If you're going that far..."! If—if you want me that much, it's not like I couldn't accept...
"We're counting on you, Sajou-kun—"
"Waaagh!?"
"Kyaa..."
Just as my desire to avoid trouble was about to lose, Inatomi-senpai suddenly leaned forward from across the table and grabbed my hand. Startled, I let out a strange cry and pulled my hand back. Immediately after, Inatomi-senpai's eyes turned sad as she gave a wry smile.
"Sajou... you bastard."
"Hey... you."
"Hieee, awawawawa—Ah!?"
"Fueh!? Sajou-kun...!?"
In a second, the two seniors turned into hannya demons. Out of sheer terror, instead of making an excuse, I reached out to take Inatomi-senpai's hand back. As I wrapped both my hands around it and the small, soft sensation was transmitted to me, I realized I had just added fuel to the fire.
"Ah, no, wait, this is...!"
"Sa-Sajou-kun... you're being so forceful..."
"Sajooo..."
"Khooo..."
Shinomiya-senpai's voice sounded like a curse from the beyond. Mita-senpai had become a martial arts master and began to cultivate her Kung Fu. The air began to tingle. Eh? No way, can members of the Disciplinary Committee do this too?
"U-Um! I'm still recovering from—"
I never thought the day would come when I would receive a headlock and a leg lock from two senior girls at the same time.
◆
"Your mouth is open."
"...Honey trap."
"What was that all of a sudden!?"
A slight lingering pain and tension in my neck remained, along with the phantom sensation of something soft against the side of my head. The latter, in particular, wouldn't disappear even after returning to the classroom. Mita-senpai... I can't forget it. That softness alone made the happiness outweigh the pain.
As I reflected on the events of a few minutes ago, Natsukawa, who was passing in front of me, spoke to me. Perhaps because I was dazed, I must have unconsciously blurted out something strange. She gave me such a shocked look that I almost fell for her again. Wait, I already fell for her long ago.
"W-What do you mean by honey trap!"
I really blurted out something incredible.
Natsukawa was huffing with anger. Even so, perhaps because I was still recovering, she still interacted with me with a slight sense of concern. I thought it was an exaggeration for just a cold, but it had zero persuasive power coming from me, who had collapsed so dramatically over a minor illness. Also, please stop saying "I'll carry that" to me, a guy, during cleaning time. Yamazaki was watching with a grinning face, and it was grinding down my mental state too.
"I—It's just... I mean you're that much of a beauty, or something?"
"Wh-What is it now..."
Natsukawa put her hands on her hips and turned her head away with a "hmpf." I can't stand it—that "I guess it can't be helped" expression is gold. It was actually the first time I'd seen Natsukawa in her summer uniform from right in front of me, and I couldn't help but stare at the white skin extending from her short sleeves. My heart wouldn't stop pounding. Palpitations? Oh no, is it the cold...?
"You, that..."
As my eyes had nowhere to go and my behavior became suspicious, Natsukawa looked down at me sitting in my seat with an exasperated look and approached.
"Wh-What...?"
"You... why is half of your head all messy?"
"Oops..."
Had it gotten messy? Because Mita-senpai put me in a headlock—Mita-senpai... soft sensation... hehehe... Oh crap, I'm confident I'd be taken into custody based on my expression alone right now. I can't let Natsukawa see this. I'll look down to hide it while I fix it.
"Oh, honestly, stay still."
"Eh...?"
As I was fixing it with my fingers, I was stopped by Natsukawa's voice, which sounded impatient, as she held my head with both hands. Perhaps my hair was still sticking up, as she pressed down on a few spots as if stroking them. Once she finished arranging the flow of my hair, she finally released me with a satisfied voice, saying, "There."
"There, all done."
"Ah, yeah... um."
"What?"
...Wait, what's with that normal attitude? Eh, you don't particularly feel anything? We're a boy and a girl, you know? At this age, shouldn't you be more flustered by physical contact like this? If it's like that, could I ask you to do it every day? No, there's no way, this is Natsukawa we're talking about. She shouldn't be the type to sell physical contact so cheaply. If her guard isn't high, I'll actually feel bad for some reason.
"Is five thousand yen enough?"
"I don't want your money!"
And it's free...?! Is that it? So she's the type of girl who does it unconsciously. Seriously, women are like this! Isn't she being too influenced by Ashida! Unconsciously charming a guy, damn it! I'm not washing my head today, dammit, I'll just harden it with wax as it is!