When we arrived at the candy store, Miyama bought a mountain of snacks, seemingly as a thank-you for all the cardboard boxes the owner had given her.
My pockets were feeling light after a recent string of expenses, so I just bought a single bottle of Ramune and wiped the condensation from the glass with my handkerchief.
"So, Ryouta? Shall we head to the bench?"
"O-oh, yeah..."
Stepping out of the shop, we sat side-by-side on the bright red bench out front.
"Well then... Ryouta, shall we do it?"
She sounded like a girlfriend right before her first time.
Damn, ignorance really is a sin... Good grief, everything about her was just so soft and curvy.
"Hey, are we really doing this?"
"Yep! Well then, excuse me~"
Miyama handed me the bag of snacks and leaned toward me, resting her head on my thighs.
(Her face is... on my thighs... And wow, her face is tiny.)
Usually, my eyes were glued to her massive chest, but seeing her face this close, it was easy to see why she was considered a top-tier beauty. Her hair was smooth, glossy, and feminine. The meltingly sweet scent of her shampoo was a bit much for a virgin like me. It was incredibly creepy of me, but I couldn't help thinking how happy I’d be if I could just bury my face in that hair.
Lying there, Miyama pulled an Umyaa Stick out of the bag I was holding and started munching on it.
"Munch, munch... Hmm, Ryouta, your thighs are kind of hard, aren't they?"
"Anyone’s would be."
I twitched at the word "hard." I was desperately holding back a certain other part of me from becoming just as hard.
(Endure it, me... if I pitch a tent in a place like this, it’ll be a disaster.)
"Hey, is Airi’s head heavy?"
"I-it’s not heavy, but..."
"I see. That’s good then~"
Her head wasn't too heavy or too light. But her beautiful hair was a little ticklish...
"Hey, look at that."
"Kyaa, what’s that?!"
"They’re totally flirting~"
A few passing students from Nishi Junior High pointed at us, giggling as they walked away. Well, from an outsider’s perspective, this situation definitely made us look like a total "stupid couple."
"Heh... Ahaha."
"Wh-what is it, Miyama? Why are you laughing all of a sudden?"
"No, it’s just... I was thinking how strange it is that we're doing this."
"Strange?"
Miyama finished her Umyaa Stick and ran her tongue around her lips.
"Until just recently, you were just that loner otaku sitting in the corner of the classroom to me."
"Urk..."
I figured that image was still pretty accurate from an objective standpoint.
"But... it’s different now. In just these few weeks, Ryouta has become Airi’s friend."
Miyama, who had been lying on her side, suddenly flipped over. Now lying on her back on my lap, she stared straight up at me. At this distance, we would probably kiss the moment I lowered my head.
(Th-this is bad, her face is... s-she’s way too cute, damn it!)
Downstairs, please, calm down...!
"Airi... has something she wants to say to Ryouta."
"Eh."
Something she wants to say in this situation?! Could this be... a co-co-confession?!
"I never got to apologize for the things I said before I found out Airi’s secret."
"Huh?"
"I’m sorry for calling you otaku-ish and stuff, Ryouta."
Miyama frowned slightly as she apologized.
I wondered what she was going to say, and it turned out to be that? I actually harbored a faint hope that she was going to confess... how embarrassing.
"U-um, listen, Miyama. I don't mind that at all, you know? I mean, everyone probably thinks I’m a creepy otaku... and that hasn’t changed even now."
"Ry-Ryouta..."
"But still, I’m grateful to you, Miyama, for treating even a guy like me—a creepy otaku—with a smile. You encouraged me a lot today, too. So, thanks for everything."
"...!"
Hiding the embarrassment of mistaking her words for a confession, I conveyed my sincere gratitude. Miyama abruptly turned her face away again, just like before.
"M-Miyama?"
"Just... my face is red right now, so don't look."
"Red? What is?"
"N-nothing!"
I could usually read her emotions like an open book, but right now, I had no idea. Her earlobes were beet red... Was she angry?
"H-hey, Miyama, shouldn’t we stop the lap pillow soon?"
"No! We’re staying like this!"
"Wait, what...?"
This "stupid couple" routine was getting tough between the stares from people and my own physical reactions.
"Airi... maybe wanted to play the lead role a little bit too."
"Hmm? You wanted the lead that badly? Oh, in that case! I can explain it to everyone and let you take over the Snow White role!"
"Ugh, not that! Sigh... oh well."
Miyama sighed and sat up, ending the lap pillow to sit beside me.
"Ryouta, do your best as Snow White, okay? Airi will do her best as a Dwarf too!"
In Miyama’s case, she wasn't a Dwarf; she was a Busty Dwarf.
"Also, since you finally got the lead role, don’t go giving it up to someone else right away! Got it?"
"Y-yeah."
"Promise? Because if Ryouta doesn't play Snow White, Airi won't play a Dwarf!"
"A-alright, I get it."
Having made that promise to Miyama, I spent the remaining two weeks putting in effort, however clumsy, without giving up the role of Snow White to anyone.
And then—the fateful Cultural Festival finally arrived.