"Aren't you done with that cat yet? Can we go home?"
Kuroki wouldn't stop stroking the stray's belly. Frustrated, I stood up and started heading toward the park exit first.
"Oh, Ryouta-kun. Are you jealous that I'm giving the cat all my attention?"
"I am not! It's just... I've had a long day. And you just finished track practice, didn't you? You must be exhausted too."
"I suppose you're right."
Once I reasoned with her, Kuroki finally pulled herself up.
"Goodbye, kitty."
She gave it one last, lingering stroke before catching up to me.
Kuroki was definitely a weird one.
Usually, she maintained this image of being perfectly poised and ladylike—not too bubbly, but not gloomy either. Yet, when we were alone like this, she'd show me these soft, genuine smiles.
Maybe it was just part of her perfectionism, some tactical drive to make me fall for her... but I couldn't be sure.
"About that story from earlier," I said. "What did you mean when you said another 'special' thing was born that day?"
"...Do you really want to hear it?"
"Well, yeah. You've got me curious."
Kuroki had a habit of ending her stories on cryptic notes. I knew if I didn't press her now, it would remain a mystery forever.
She gave a small nod and began to speak softly.
"Back in elementary school, my cat suddenly got sick. We took her to a very skilled veterinarian in the neighboring town."
Right, she was talking about the cat she’d mentioned before—the one that had passed away.
"The vet fixed her right up, and everything seemed fine. But the trouble started on the way back."
"The way back?"
"You know that massive parking garage in front of the Neighboring Town's Station? While my mother was getting the car ready, the cat—who was suddenly full of energy again—bolted right out the window."
"Whoa, that's bad."
"It was. I panicked. My mother and I searched everywhere for her, and I was crying my eyes out. There were cars going up and down every level; I was terrified she’d get run over... but then..."
Kuroki stopped and stared intently at me.
What was with that look all of a sudden?
"A boy appeared in front of us."
"A... boy?"
"He had my cat perched right on his shoulder. He was eating wafers with his right hand and holding a blue plastic bag in his left."
"He sounds... impressively coordinated."
"Hehe, doesn't he? But to me, he looked incredibly cool."
She let out a small, nostalgic giggle, shielding her mouth with her hand.
I didn't think it sounded cool at all.
"He was there on an errand for his mother. Once he gave the cat back, he just left. I never even got his name. He didn't say much, which only made him seem cooler and more composed."
That qualified as cool? Kuroki’s tastes were definitely a little skewed.
"So, that boy is my other 'special' memory. There. Do you feel better now?"
"Yeah. Thanks for sharing."
"...Is that all you have to say?"
"Huh? Uh, yeah."
As we talked, the massive Kuroki estate came into view.
"...You know, Ryouta-kun, you might regret it if you let me get away."
"What? What's that supposed to—"
"Thanks for walking me home. I enjoyed our little stroll date. It was nice to talk."
She opened the heavy gate leading to the mansion and stepped inside.
"Oh! And since today was special, I'll send you those photos later today! ♡"
She glanced back over her shoulder, giving me a wink with a dramatic, Shaft-style head tilt.
"Uh... sure."
Then she vanished into the mansion.
The fact that I couldn't bring myself to tell her I didn't want them probably meant I really was just a pervert. A bit late to be realizing that, though.
Monday.
I arrived at high school early as usual and sat at my desk, reading a light novel with zero shame.
(Man, I ended up talking to Kuroki about way too much yesterday... and Yuria, too.)
On top of that, word had apparently gotten out that I’d been on an after-school date with Airi Miyama at Snow Tops on Friday. My male classmates were currently drilling holes into the back of my head with murderous glares.
"Seriously, what is up with that guy?"
"Do you think he's already copped a feel of Miyama's massive rack...?"
"Dammit... that absolute fuckboy loner."
Apparently, I’d been branded with the wildly oxymoronic title of "Fuckboy Loner" behind my back.
(I mean, obviously I want to feel Miyama's tits... but there’s no way in hell that's happening.)
I didn't know what the rest of the class thought, but Miyama and I weren't like that.
Sigh. No matter how many dates we went on, I was destined to be the "male friend who knows her secrets" and nothing more.
But what if?
What if some miracle happened and things actually progressed with those three? Would a day ever come when I could squeeze Miyama’s breasts as much as I wanted? Or bury my face in Yuria’s thighs? Or slowly trace the curve of Kuroki’s navel?
"No, definitely not."
I was a virgin gloomy otaku through and through.
If I let myself get my hopes up, it was only a matter of time before some handsome guy snatched them all away, leaving me with a front-row seat to a BSS ending.
"Hm? What's definitely not happening?"
"Whoa!"
I’d been so lost in thought that I hadn't noticed Miyama sitting in the seat in front of mine, facing me.
"Geez, Ryouta, you look exhausted. Want Airi to cheer you up?"
"N-Never mind that! Why are you just talking to me like it's totally normal?"
"Well, everyone already knows Airi and the others are close to you, so I figured it was fine. It’d be weirder to keep hiding it, don't you think?"
She really was a bit of an airhead.
Talking to me like this would only make people even more convinced that we were dating.
"Ryouta, Ryouta~"
"Yeah, what?"
"What are you going to pick for the Cultural Festival vote?"
"The Cultural Festival vote?"
I reflexively repeated the term. I hadn't heard anything about it.
"Yuria—the committee member—said we’d be deciding what to do today, remember?"
Right. She had mentioned something about that during homeroom on Friday.
"We're doing a majority vote on whether we should do a cafe or a play, right? Airi really wants to do a cafe!"
"A... cafe..."
Miyama... in a maid outfit...
Just the thought of her massive chest spilling out of a maid's uniform made me want to be "served" by her so badly I couldn't stop myself from grinning.
"Hey, Ryouta? Why the creepy smile?"
"...A big-titty cafe wouldn't be half bad."
"Huh?"
While Miyama looked at me in confusion, Yuria and Kuroki walked into the classroom together.
Miyama immediately turned away and chirped at them.
"Morning, Yuria! Morning, Rui-chan!"
"Good morning, Airi... Hey, were you just talking to Izumiya?"
"Oh, I was just telling Ryouta to vote for a cafe!"
"...Right. Of course."
Yuria shot a quick glance my way before sitting down in her seat to my left.
She was still playing it cool in front of these two, even though we’d had such a great time on our movie date yesterday.
As I watched Ichinose out of the corner of my eye, Kuroki stopped right in front of my desk.
"Hehe. So, which one are you actually going to vote for, Ryouta-kun? The play or the cafe?"
""R-Ryouta-kun!?""
Airi and Yuria both recoiled in shock at the name.
At the same time, Rui Kuroki simply gave a bold smile and licked her lips.
That... that damn girl! She’s doing this on purpose! This is going to be a nightmare!