In the end, no matter how much I searched, I couldn't find a picture book of Snow White. I eventually settled for reading the first volume of a female-oriented light novel Tanaka had been pushing on me to fill in the gaps in my knowledge. It was titled The Cheat Snow White of Another World: You Woke Up the Strongest Me with a Kiss but Then You're Seriously Breaking Off Our Engagement?! (Why has my life come to this?)
Reluctantly, I bought the e-book version.
"You just wanted to push your favorites on me, didn't you?" I grumbled into the phone.
"Well, there’s a bit of that, too. Engagement annulment is a huge genre in the community right now!"
"I mean, I know that, but..."
Since it was written from a female protagonist's perspective, there were more descriptions of male physical beauty than there were spicy scenes featuring a heroine. For someone with a hormone-addled brain like mine, the stimulation was severely lacking.
(Whether something is erotic or not... that’s a life-or-death issue for a high schooler whose access to such things is already strictly limited.)
"Still, to think you’re actually playing the role of Snow White, Ryouta-kun... I didn't realize you had those kinds of interests."
"I told you, the popular kids forced it on me! I'm only doing it because I don't have a choice!"
"By the way, the Prince Roles are being played by Kuroki-san and Ichinose-san, right?"
"A-ah. Yeah. What about it?"
Tanaka let out a long, low groan. "Those two playing the Prince... that’s practically a cheat code."
"Tell me about it. Unlike us loners, those two are living cheats just by existing."
"I suppose. So... how have things been going with the Beautiful Girl Trio lately?"
"How? Well... we’ve been going on dates. Dates, dates, and more dates."
"That’s a lot of dates! Wait, seriously? Is that all you’ve been doing?!"
"Pretty much."
I spoke with my head held high, practically beaming with pride.
Tanaka was the only person I could actually brag to about dating the Beautiful Girl Trio. I would’ve loved to rub it in the faces of the popular guys at school, but doing that would inevitably lead to me being beaten half to death.
"You’ve changed, Ryouta-kun. Before long, you’ll probably just casually toss away that virginity you swore to protect until thirty, and then you’ll stop talking to a loner like me."
"What are you sulking for, Tanaka? There’s no way a gloomy otaku like me is losing his virginity anytime soon."
"But..."
What was with her? Was she jealous because I’d 'betrayed' our Gloomy Alliance? Maybe I’d been a bit too arrogant with my bragging, and she was getting the wrong idea.
"Listen, Tanaka. Even if I go on dates with them, it’s not going to turn into that kind of relationship."
"Huh? What do you mean?"
"The truth is, all three of them already have someone they like."
"Someone they... like?"
"Yeah. Apparently, they all have some boy they’ve liked since elementary school, and they’re still pining for him now. So, even if I hang out with them, I’m never going to actually date any of them. Unfortunately."
"I-I see... I see." Tanaka let out a long sigh.
Was she relieved to have it confirmed that I was still one of her kind?
"Anyway, even if there was a one-in-a-million chance I ended up dating one of them, I’m not the kind of guy who’d just ditch you. You’re my only real otaku friend, after all."
"Ryouta-kun... Hehe. I guess you really haven't changed after all."
"What? Of course I have! I’ve been on sweet, flirty dates with the three most beautiful girls in school!"
"But if you can't actually date any of them, aren't you just going to be a virgin for the rest of your life?"
That was so painfully accurate I couldn't even find a comeback.
"Well, I suppose that’s fine in its own way," she added.
"What’s that supposed to mean?"
"Nothing. I have cram school soon, so I should probably head out."
"A-ah. Right. Thanks for everything, Tanaka. Seriously, talking to someone I’ve known as long as you is a huge relief. I can just say whatever’s on my mind and relax."
"............!"
"Hello? Tanaka?"
"It’s... it’s precisely that part of you, honestly."
With that final mutter, the LIME call disconnected with a soft chime.
"What did she mean by 'that part of me'?"
I didn't have a clue.