Yuria, Tanaka, and I sat on cushions around the low table.
Spread across its surface were several individual packets and a small brown box.
This was awkward—beyond awkward.
"So... have the two of you already... done it? You know, the obscene act?"
"Of course not!" I barked.
"But with these things spread out on the table, you don't exactly have much credibility."
Tanaka was right, of course. But the more I tried to explain myself, the more I felt like the conversation would veer off in a bizarre direction.
"So, Tanaka," Yuria chimed in, "if we were doing that kind of thing, would it actually cause some kind of problem for you?"
"Th-that's..."
Yuria was making this even more complicated than it needed to be. Tanaka’s expression hardened.
What are you thinking, Yuria?! If you say things like that, Tanaka’s going to get the wrong idea!
"Yes, it would be a problem! If Ryouta-kun stops being a virgin... I-I won't have any friends left!"
"Ta-Tanaka..."
Wait a second.
Why was my status as a virgin a prerequisite for being Tanaka's friend? What did that even mean?! It made absolutely no sense.
"I see. Then you can relax, Tanaka. I haven't actually done it with Ryouta. Besides, a chicken like him wouldn't have the guts to lay a hand on me anyway, right?"
"Y-you're right! It is Ryouta-kun, after all! If he were the kind of guy who could make a move on a perverted gyaru like Ichinose-san, he'd be sleeping around with everyone by now!"
And there it was—the inevitable turn toward insulting me for being a loner virgin. More importantly, she shouldn't call her a "perverted gyaru" right to her face. Even if she was one.
Then there was Yuria, playing the part of the girl who treated me harshly just because Tanaka was there. This girl had been acting pretty flustered herself just a few minutes ago.
(Fine. If that’s how it’s going to be, I’m going to have a lot of fun with you in my head tonight, Yuria...)
"What's with that look, Ryouta? Got something to say?"
"Not particularly."
"Now, now. I'm just relieved to know you two haven't done it yet. But if that's the case, what were you planning to do here today?"
Oh, right. We weren't here for lewd talk; we were supposed to be having a Study Session.
I’d almost lost sight of our original goal because of that sudden, erotic accident.
"We’re having a Study Session," Yuria explained. "Exams are coming up."
"Oh! A Study Session! That sounds like fun."
"You want to join us, Tanaka?"
"Is that okay?!"
"Sure thing. You’re really smart, aren't you, Tanaka? You can help me study."
Before I knew it, the plan had shifted to include Tanaka.
"I'll help you too, Ryouta-kun," she offered.
"I'm fine."
"Why are you being so standoffish? We used to have study sessions together all the time back in junior high."
"Oh? Were you and Ryouta that close back then, Tanaka?"
"I suppose so. For members of the opposite sex, I think we were on quite good terms. We spent a lot of time together during summer vacations and after school. Though, it was mostly just watching anime."
"I see... I’m kind of jealous of that."
Yuria muttered the words softly, glancing at me out of the corner of her eye.
Jealous, huh? Since Yuria had always wanted an Otaku Friend, I guess that made sense.
"Anyway, before we start studying—I’m confiscating all of this trash. It’s for your own good, so you don't end up in an impure relationship with some random person."
"That's a great idea! Since Ryouta-kun won't ever get the chance to use them anyway, he shouldn't be allowed to buy them until he's an adult!"
"You've got to be kidding me..."
With Yuria seizing the goods, my faint hopes were completely extinguished.
"Just so we’re clear, if you do anything weird with Rui or Airi, I'll be seriously pissed. Got it?"
"Y-yes..."
At this point, Yuria felt less like my Understander and more like my manager.
Then again, I did have a bit of a desire to be managed by a beautiful girl, so I didn't mind all that much. But I couldn't help wondering why she’d specifically brought up Rui and Airi.
The only girls I was close with were the Beautiful Girl Trio and Tanaka, but it wasn't like I seriously thought I could get into that kind of relationship with girls like Rui or Airi.
"Alright, let's get this Study Session started."