Airi Miyama was supposed to have turned down the invitation from Ichinose and the others because she had a date with her boyfriend after school.
So why on earth was she here, working a part-time job...?
I stood there, dumbstruck, watching Miyama clutching a stack of books while wearing a Tatsuya uniform.
The fact that she’d lied meant there was likely some serious reason behind it, but that was none of my business.
(Alright. Let’s just pretend I didn’t see anything and get out of—)
Just as I turned on my heel to beat a hasty retreat, Miyama slammed the books onto the counter, lunged out from behind the register, and grabbed my shoulder with all her might.
"Hey, what are you doing here, otaku?"
Having caught me, Miyama glared at me, her brow furrowed with suspicion.
(I-I just came here to buy a book.)
"Wait... are you planning to tell everyone that I’m working here?"
"Huh?"
"I-I’m telling you, I have permission from the school, and I’m working within the hours set by the school regulations! I have... nothing... to feel guilty about..."
Miyama’s expression darkened, her eyes shimmering as if she were on the verge of tears.
Apparently, she was convinced that I was going to spread malicious rumors about her part-time job. I wished she’d rein in the prejudice and persecution complex she had toward gloomy otaku... but considering my usual behavior, I suppose her assumption was fair.
"Um, look. Aren't you misunderstanding something?"
Not knowing how to put it, I spoke to her in a faltering tone. "I-I just came here to buy a light novel. I wasn't thinking anything about you, Miyama."
"Please, I’m begging you!"
"Eh..."
"Don’t... don't tell Yuria or Rui-chan about... about this!"
With large tears streaming down her face, Miyama pleaded with a desperate expression.
"Please... please, I’m begging you."
Was it really something to cry about? W-W-W-What was I supposed to do?!
(A gloomy otaku like me doesn't have the social skills to handle a girl's tears!)
"—Alright, alright. That's enough with the lovers' quarrel, you two."
A female clerk with short blonde hair stepped between us before I even realized she was there. She had a mature aura about her, and the badge pinned to her apron read 'Saito' above the title 'Store Manager.'
"Miyama-chan, a lovers' quarrel during your shift is a major no-no."
"...Ngh."
Miyama let out a sob, seemingly unable to argue back.
I really needed her to tell the manager that I wasn't her boyfriend, otherwise this was never going to settle down...
"Geez, I guess it can't be helped. Miyama-chan, go to the break room for a bit. You too, Boyfriend-kun. Follow her."
"Eh? Ah, okay."
☆☆
Led to the staff break room behind the registers, we sat facing each other on small folding chairs.
(Being brought to a place like this makes me feel like I’m being treated like a shoplifter.)
"Enjoy your little spat~. Oh, but I’m docking this time from your wages."
The blonde manager left us with a mischievous smirk.
"Sorry, otaku..."
"No, I mean, I’m sorry too."
There was absolutely no reason for me to apologize, but I ended up doing it anyway, swept up in the mood. I wondered if there was a reason she wanted me to keep quiet so badly that she’d actually cry.
As Miyama calmed down, she wiped the tears from her eyes and stared directly at me.
(The Airi Miyama is staring straight at me...)
If I had to summarize my honest impression in a few words, it would be: "Her boobs are huge."
Her face and hair were as cute as any fashion magazine model's, but her chest was on the level of a gravure idol—no, it was even more erotic than that...
(Wait, what kind of depraved things am I thinking at a time like this?!)
I immediately looked away, my gaze wandering. As expected, a loner like me couldn't handle facing someone like her at this distance—
"I just... I got scared all of a sudden," Miyama said, breaking the silence. Her voice was slow and quiet. "I thought, what if people start calling me poor again, like they used to?"
"P-Poor...? What do you mean?"
When I asked, Miyama bit her lip hard before continuing.
"Actually, my family is super poor. My dad died when I was little, and my mom raised me all by herself, but it’s been really tough. I haven't been able to get an allowance for a long time... I’ve had to deal with a lot of painful stuff."
Miyama began to pour out her life story. It was a background far removed from the image I’d had of her until now.
(This is getting about a million times heavier than I’d anticipated...)
"In middle school, all my friends started using makeup and stuff, but I was the only one left behind. It was miserable. I didn't want to feel that way in high school, so I worked myself to the bone to save money. I studied fashion and makeup like crazy so I could become a 'cute' version of myself. Thanks to that, even I think I’m the cutest girl around, but I had to face the reality that maintaining that image costs money."
I see. So that was why she was working.
Until now, Airi Miyama had seemed like she was at the absolute peak of fashion. The things she wore were always flashy and stylish, but I had no idea she was such a hard worker behind the scenes.
"I-It’s not like I care if people mock me for being poor! I’m used to it... But I absolutely don't want Yuria or Rui-chan to find out. They’re the first real friends I’ve made since my first year! That’s why..."
Apparently, she still thought I was going to make fun of her. To be honest, I didn't think 'working a part-time job' automatically equaled 'being poor' anyway.
(This is actually offensive. As a representative of gloomy otaku everywhere, I have to set the record straight.)
"I... I respect you, Miyama. I would never make fun of you."
"Eh?"
"I’ve never bought a single thing with money I earned myself... So, in a way, you’re much more of an adult than I am. I can't look down on someone like that, and I won't."
"Otaku..."
As a loner, this was the best I could do to support her... but I hoped it conveyed that I wasn't her enemy.
"...Well, look at that. You’re surprisingly kind."
A faint smile finally returned to Miyama’s face. I took that as a sign that my message had gotten through.
"Since you’re an otaku, I thought you’d say something like, 'I'll keep quiet if you let me do something lewd with you.'"
"Wh-! I-I would never say something like—"
"Or do you want to try rubbing them? My boobs."
Miyama gave an enchanting smile, her eyes still a bit red and hazy, as she reached for the top button of her white blazer. I didn't miss the brief glimpse of the deep valley between her massive breasts.
W-Was it really okay? Was I actually going to get to touch Airi Miyama’s legendary chest? The massive tits that every guy in school dreamed of...!
"Just kidding~! Did you actually get your hopes up? Figures. You really are a gross otaku."
It seemed she had just been toying with my virgin curiosity.
Fine, fine, I got my hopes up. I might find Airi Miyama difficult to deal with, but her breasts were innocent.
"I have to get back to work. You were here for a reason, right? That 'something-something breasts' book."
"Ah... I totally forgot."
The moment I remembered, I dashed out of the room and headed straight for the light novel section.
☆☆
It’s not here... it’s not here!
"In Another World, I Sucked the Breasts of S-Rank Beauties and Sucked Up Their Cheat Skills Too" was gone!
The spot where it should have been was empty. There were supposed to be copies in stock... sigh.
(I guess my luck really is just non-existent today.)
"Did you find it, otaku?"
"...No. It’s sold out."
"Pfft... pffft, ahaha!"
When I slumped my shoulders in disappointment, Miyama burst out laughing.
How irritating... who did she think was responsible for me missing it? If it’s come to this, maybe I really should spread rumors about her past out of spite—wait, huh?
"Lookie here. What’s this?"
Miyama held out a book to me.
What?
I reluctantly took it, and my eyes nearly popped out of my head.
"Th-This is Volume 1 of 'In Another World, I Sucked the Breasts of S-Rank Beauties and Sucked Up Their Cheat Skills Too', isn't it?!"
"The title is super gross, but this is what you wanted, right? When I heard you on the phone earlier, I put a copy aside for you."
Are you serious? Is she an angel...?
I wanted to punch the version of me from five seconds ago who thought about spreading rumors.
"Well? Where's my thank you?"
"Th-Thank you... very much."
I was so overwhelmed with gratitude that I accidentally started using formal speech.
"That's not the kind of 'thanks' I’m looking for."
"Eh?"
"I went out of my way to hold it for you, so you owe me. Treat me to something."
"Ha? What?"
"Now that you know the real me, I’ll be blunt: I’m a very calculating girl. So, you’re treating me to lunch at the school cafeteria tomorrow, okay?"
Th-This woman... she’s no angel, she’s a total succubus! A busty little devil!
"By the way, otaku, what's your actual name?"
"Uh, it's Ryouta Izumiya."
"Then, Ryouta. I’ll be looking forward to lunch tomorrow."
H-Hey, wait a minute. Having lunch with the school’s top beauty, Airi Miyama, in the middle of the cafeteria was going to be a disaster.
(My peaceful life... is officially over.)