Unlike the wealthy private schools, the public school I attended—Prefectural Natsuhama Central High—couldn't boast much in the way of facilities, even if it did sit at the top of the regional academic rankings.
But ever since Rui Kuroki enrolled, the school's antiquated equipment had been completely overhauled. The dilapidated gymnasium had been renovated, and the dirt athletics field was even converted to artificial turf.
The reason was simple: Rui Kuroki was an absolute beauty with massive statewide recognition. Her presence alone had caused donations to pour in from every direction.
This school-wide trip to support the track and field club at the Inter-High was another example of her influence. Word had it that before Rui arrived, students had to travel in a scrap-metal bus borrowed from a local company—an old bucket with no air conditioning that was one step away from the junkyard. Since her arrival, however, the school was able to charter gleaming, luxury coaches for every collective cheering event.
(Seriously, Rui Kuroki is a literal goddess...)
In this world, star power and money were everything. Only two people in my life made me feel the weight of that reality: Shohei Ohtani and Rui Kuroki.
"Ryouta? Come on, get on the bus."
"Eh? Oh, right."
I had been standing there, staring at the bus and feeling grateful for—and slightly intimidated by—the sheer weight of Rui Kuroki's influence, when Tanaka called out to me. Inside the bus, the air conditioning was already blasting. The four of us sat in two rows of double seats toward the back; Airi and Yuria took the front row, while Tanaka and I sat behind them.
"I brought snacks to eat on the way!" Airi chirped. "Yuria, let’s share!"
"Ugh, I just ate breakfast, so I’m not really in the mood for food... Hey, Ryouta, do you have any gum?" Yuria asked, peering over the back of her seat.
"Gum? Uh, sorry. I don't have any."
"No? Oh well, I guess I'll have some of Airi's after all."
I didn't have gum, but I did have "rubbers"... If I actually said that, Yuria would probably kill me, so I kept my mouth shut. Ever since Rui had told me about my "punishment," I’d been convinced that July 30th would be the day I finally graduated from virginity. I’d even come prepared with protection... only to find out this was just a normal school trip.
"Sigh... Honestly, talk about an anticlimax."
"Wyouta-kun, wha'th tho an-tee-cli-mathic?"
Tanaka, sitting next to me, was busy gnawing on a sheet of dried squid as she spoke. If my expectations had been met, I’d be alone in a classroom with Rui right now, engaging in some hardcore masochist play... Instead, here I was, sitting next to my best friend—a glasses-wearing, baby-faced, gloomy otaku loli—as she chewed on something that smelled like old fish.
"Damn it! You smell like a dockworker, you squid-girl..."
"Hey! Why are you in such a foul mood? It’s the first time we’ve sat together like this since junior high. You could at least act a little happy about it."
Tanaka looked a bit bashful, then stuffed more of the squid into her mouth and munched away.
"Look, Tanaka. Like I said before, I came here today expecting some serious adult action. I thought this was my one shot to finally graduate from being a lifelong virgin! And instead, I’m stuck tagging along for this... Obviously, my mood is going to tank!"
"Goodness, you never change. Let me ask you this, then: do you actually know why Kuroki-san tricked you?"
"Huh? What do you mean?"
"To put it simply, you look like the type who hates these kinds of school events. She probably figured that unless she baited 'Perverted Taro' with something lewd, you wouldn't bother coming."
Unless she baited me...? Just how much of a cynical jerk does Rui think I am? I would have come even without the trick if she'd just asked me normally.
"But well, this is just my theory... knowing her personality, she was probably too embarrassed to come right out and say, 'I want you to come cheer for me at the meet.'"
"What? Why would that be embarrassing?"
"Honestly, you really are hopeless. This is why you're a thick-headed, virgin, gloomy otaku."
"Oh, yeah?! Calling me a virgin now?! Fine, in that case, maybe I'll just graduate from 'it' with you right here, right now!"
"Wait—m-me?! That's... I mean, absolutely not! No way! ...Though, if you really wanted to graduate with me that badly, and you begged me for it on your hands and knees... I might consider it?"
"As if I'd ever beg you!"
"Hey, you two. Quiet down. You're being noisy, and the bus is leaving."
"S-sorry," we both muttered, instantly deflated.
"Sigh. Anyway, Tanaka, swap with me. Airi wants to give you some snacks."
"Really?! Yay!"
Tanaka hopped out of her seat and switched with Yuria. Now, Yuria was sitting right next to me.
"So, Ryouta..." Yuria began, her brow furrowed into a deep scowl. "Why don't you tell me all about that 'lewd play with Rui' you were blathering about this morning? Every. Single. Detail."
Holy crap, Yuria was absolutely fuming!