[Vol 1] The Secret Life Of An Honor Student Chapter 2

Chapter 2 – Boys Like This Kind of Thing, Don’t They?

 

Even after learning the secret of Mamiya Yuu—the perfect honor student—my life didn’t change all that much.

I still woke up before seven, got ready for school, and walked several dozen minutes to get there.

The school I attend is Kamino High School, located in a regional city in the Tohoku area. It ranks among the better schools in the prefecture academically, so getting accepted wasn’t easy, but I somehow managed to pass the entrance exams.

The school rules are pretty relaxed, the atmosphere is free, and club activities are very active. There isn’t a day when you don’t hear the shouts of the sports clubs, whether it’s in the morning or after school.

Well, I’m part of the go-home club, so that kind of school life has nothing to do with me.

It’s not like I chose this school because I wanted to join a club anyway. A lot happened, and I just wanted to distance myself from my middle school classmates.

As far as I know, only enough of them to count on one hand came to this school. And even those few never really tried to interact with me. I can safely say my relationships have been reset.

That’s why I lived a quiet, keep-my-head-down kind of school life—what some might call boring or uneventful.

At least, until yesterday.

Now, just going to class feels unbearably depressing. I can’t exactly refuse to go to school though—my reason for skipping would be way too stupid. After giving up on that idea and resigning myself to my fate, I changed into my indoor shoes and started heading toward the classroom.

"Yo, Akito. You tired or something?"

"Morning, Aki-kun!"

The cheerful voices of a boy and a girl called out from behind me.

When I turned around, I saw a sharp-featured guy with short, dark-brown hair and a lively, petite girl walking toward me hand in hand.

The guy was Shishikura Natsuhiko. His ever-present grin, which people often compared to a dog, was in full display today too.

The girl next to him was Tatara Hikari. Her light brown short hair swayed as she flashed a small, animal-like smile.

At first glance, you wouldn’t think the two of them had any connection—but they’re childhood friends and a couple.

Because of that, there’s always a sweet atmosphere surrounding them, and it’s said that the poor singles who get forced to watch their flirting every day shed tears of frustration.

"...Oh, Natsu and Tatara. Morning. Do I really look that tired?"

"There’s no life in your eyes. Well, I mean, you usually don’t look very motivated, but still."

"You look even more wilted than usual today?"

"Is that supposed to be a compliment or an insult?"

"I just state facts, that’s all."

He let out a snort and gave me a pat on the back. He probably thought he was just being casual, but for my scrawny body, it actually packed a punch.

Tatara was grinning beside him too. They really didn’t have to be so in sync about stuff like this.

Still… no life in your eyes, huh. The reason was no doubt what happened after school yesterday.

When I returned to the classroom to pick up something I’d forgotten, I caught Mamiya Yuu—the model honor student—undressing and taking selfies… and she threatened me to keep her secret.

Being dragged into something so outrageous must have left me mentally exhausted.

"Akito, you need to build up some stamina. Try jogging or something, it’ll clear your head."

"Don’t lump me in with extroverts like you."

"Yeah, I can’t really see Aki-kun doing that either."

Not that I asked for anyone’s opinion in the first place.

"Still, putting yourself down like that won’t do you any good. I mean, it might sound corny, but your face is actually pretty decent. Change your hairstyle or your vibe a little, and you’d probably be popular. Plus, you’ve got a good personality."

"I never said I wanted to be popular. And being told I have a good personality doesn’t sound like a compliment for some reason."

"That’s what makes you an interesting guy, though."

"Yeah yeah. Aki-kun, you really should have more confidence in yourself."

"It’s sad there aren’t more people who get you, man."

"I’m not sad, so there’s no problem."

Natsu put on an exaggerated, terrible crying act—“Boo hoo”—and I just gave him a halfhearted response, exasperated.

Natsu’s objectively pretty good-looking, so I really don’t get why he bothers hanging out with someone like me. Even after half a year of knowing him, it’s still a mystery.

I also don’t get what Tatara finds amusing about me. I guess that’s just what it means to be birds of a feather?

We chatted as we walked down the hallway, and when we reached the classroom—

"Well then, guess this is where we say goodbye, Hikari."

Tatara let go of Natsu’s hand and waved. "See you later!" she said before heading toward the next classroom.

"Too bad you’re not in the same class."

"Sure, but something like this won’t make Hii-chan and me drift apart, you know?"

Natsu said that like it was the most natural thing in the world. Hii-chan was Natsu’s nickname for Tatara. Apparently, he’d been calling her that since they were kids.

When Natsu and I finally walked into our own classroom, the usual morning scene was waiting for us. I parted ways with Natsu so I could put my bag on my desk and get ready, then sat down in my seat—back row, window side, on the right.

There are a lot of ways people spend their time before morning homeroom.

Some gather with friends to chat, others are rushing to finish homework, some study on their own, and a few just collapse on their desks, still half-asleep.

As for me, I usually just kill time messing around on my phone.

But then Natsu suddenly went, “Ah!” as if he just remembered something.

“I forgot to do the math homework!”

“As usual.”

“Don’t say it like that… Come on, we’re friends, right?”

Natsu put on a fake cutesy voice and wrapped his arm around my shoulder from behind.

“Get your arm off me, it’s hot.”

“It’s called manly friendship! So, in honor of the overflowing love I have for my dear Akito—”

“Stop talking like that. And direct that so-called overflowing love toward Tatara instead.”

“No matter how much love you pour into a person, humans are creatures who can never be truly satisfied.”

“You think you just said something deep, don’t you? That smug face is annoying… Whatever.”

I sighed and said, “Fine, I'll give it to you, so wait.”

“That’s my Akito! You really get me!” he said, sounding like some minor manga character.

I dug through my bag, found my math notebook, and handed it to him. “You’re a lifesaver!” he said with a huge grin before hurrying back to his desk. If he really paid back every favor he claimed to owe, at Natsu’s rate he’d be buried under them in no time.

Left with nothing to do, I started idly scrolling on my phone when suddenly the chair to my left was pulled out. The person who sat down was… Mamiya Yuu. The very girl who had blackmailed me yesterday, smiling like nothing had ever happened.

“Good morning, Aisaka-kun.”

Hearing her morning greeting from above made my heart beat a little faster from the tension. Awkwardly, I tore my gaze from my phone and turned to look beside me. There sat a perfectly put-together girl in her school uniform—Mamiya Yuu.

Without meaning to, I remembered yesterday and my eyes flicked toward her chest for a split second. Realizing what I was doing, I quickly looked away and forced my mind elsewhere.

“…Morning, Mamiya.”

I couldn’t just ignore her greeting, so I answered curtly, sounding as grumpy as possible. For some reason, that seemed to amuse her, because Mamiya let out a small, reserved laugh before sitting down gracefully.

Her quiet, well-mannered movements made it almost feel like yesterday’s hidden side of her had just been a dream. But the fact remained—her contact was still saved in my phone, and those photos were still sitting in my history.

If that was really her hidden side, then right now I shouldn’t have any reason to be on guard. At least, that’s what I had to tell myself just to get through this.

Repeating 'It’s fine' over and over in my head like a mantra, I suddenly felt my phone buzz with a notification.

Mamiya’s name popped up at the top of the screen.

Startled by the unexpected message, I quickly glanced around to make sure no one was watching, then hid my phone under the desk and opened the chat.

『Are you free after school today?』

That was all it said.

I stole a glance at the girl sitting next to me. All I got in return was a gentle smile. Whatever she was plotting behind that smile, I couldn’t see through it at all.

…I don’t get it. Saying no would be easy, but Mamiya had me by the throat with that secret of mine. Making her mad didn’t feel like a good option.

Fortunately, I had nothing planned after school. Even so, I hesitated to reply right away, taking a moment to think before sending a message back.

『What are you planning?』

『That’s a surprise for after school♪』

Who even are you right now? You’re totally out of character. I swallowed the words that almost slipped out.

I really can’t understand her.

I had no idea what Mamiya was up to.

The fact that she specifically mentioned 'after school' suggested this was something related to her other side, but I had no clue why she wanted me there. While I was thinking about it, another message arrived.

『If you don’t come, I’ll spread those pictures. Just so you know♡』

I hate this girl.

Honor student? Who’s that? If someone told me she was actually a demon, I’d believe them.

I never had a choice from the start.

As long as those photos exist, I have no choice but to do what Mamiya says. She’s holding too much power over me.

Couldn’t I win if I reported this to the police? …No, somehow I doubt it.

If they did a DNA test on Mamiya's uniform, they’d probably find skin cells or something on the fabric, and that would just turn into evidence against me. I’m completely screwed.

“…Haa.”

A light sigh escaped me. I already knew what my answer had to be, but I couldn’t just ignore her message. I sent back a short 『Got it』 and sighed again.

“Aisaka-kun, what’s the matter? If you sigh that much, your happiness will run away, you know?”

Completely ignoring my feelings—or rather, deliberately pretending not to notice while obviously knowing exactly what was going on—Mamiya spoke in a concerned voice.

Her face peeked into my view, and her expression carried the same faux-concern as her words—but in those hazel eyes, I could clearly see the amusement she couldn’t hide.

That was her hidden face—one she only showed me, because she knew I could see it.

She’s way too good at playing the perfect honor student.

Seriously, you don’t have to keep the act up this far.

“I’m not feeling great. Just tired.”

“I see. Make sure you get some rest when you get home, okay?”

“Yeah, I know.”

I didn’t have the energy to give her a proper reply and just brushed it off, but Mamiya kept her worried expression the whole time. It left me with an uncomfortably complicated feeling.

She really throws me off… Just pick one side already, please.

Class went on, and soon it was lunchtime. I ate alone at my desk.

Natsu was apparently eating with his girlfriend in the courtyard. Honestly, it was better for my mental health not to have their flirting happening right in front of me, so I had no complaints. I was used to eating alone anyway.

Beside me, Mamiya had already finished eating and was reviewing her notes for the next class. She really is diligent. Her grades put her in the top ten of the whole year on the last exam.

I finished the lunch my mom had packed for me and started up a mobile game. Watching the battle play out on auto-mode, my thoughts wandered to the unpleasant thing waiting for me after school.

“…Haa.”

It was only natural that another sigh slipped out. I told myself it was fine and tried to calm my nerves, when suddenly there was a loud clatter nearby. Mamiya’s pen had rolled under my chair.

“S-Sorry, Mamiya-san! I wasn’t looking and bumped into the desk…”

“No, it’s fine. Are you hurt, Utsumi-san?”

“I’m fine, but…”

It seemed like the boy had accidentally bumped into Mamiya’s desk. Utsumi apologized with an awkward look as his eyes scanned the floor. Mamiya followed his gaze, and soon noticed a phone that had fallen under the desk.

Utsumi spotted it a moment later, but Mamiya was the one who picked it up first.

“Is this yours, Utsumi-san?”

She asked politely, and Utsumi quickly nodded. He looked a little flustered, but Mamiya calmly handed the phone over to him. Utsumi immediately checked the screen, let out a sigh of relief, and said,

“Thank you very much!”

Then he hurried out of the classroom. He probably felt embarrassed after bumping into Mamiya’s desk and drawing everyone’s attention. I could relate to that feeling well.

I picked up Mamiya’s pen from under my chair and handed it back to her, earning a very polite “thank you” in return.

Mamiya was just about to resume her studying when the sound of the classroom door opening caught our attention.

“Mamiya, are you here?”

The man in a tracksuit who stepped in was none other than Gadō Dai-sensei, our homeroom teacher and the one in charge of student guidance. He called out to Mamiya, who immediately put down her pen and stood up.

The teacher was holding what looked like a mountain of handouts. He placed them on the teacher’s desk and turned his gaze toward Mamiya.

“What is it?”

“I need someone to carry these handouts for the next class. Can I count on you?”

“Of course.”

“It’d be even better if someone else could help out too…”

Gadō-sensei glanced around the classroom, probably looking for a free student to help. But before he could pick someone,

“…Aisaka-kun, could you lend us a hand too?”

And just like that, Mamiya effectively issued me an order.

She probably meant it as a simple request, but as long as those pictures existed, I couldn’t treat her like an equal—even in moments like this.

Man, I really am hopelessly spineless.

“…Fine. I’ll help.”

“Thank you.”

Her words of gratitude didn’t warm me at all. If anything, they just made me shiver. I shoved my phone into my pocket and followed Gadō-sensei alongside Mamiya to the staff room. There, we saw the real size of the stack of handouts on his desk—and yeah, there was no way one person could carry all of that.

“Sorry to trouble you,” Gadō-sensei said with a sheepish look.

We both nodded and started dividing up the stack. I grabbed what seemed like a manageable amount and lifted it with both hands—yeah, okay, that’s actually heavy.

Maybe I’m just weak, but still.

“Aisaka-kun, that’s too much.”

“It’s fine.”

“But—”

“I said it’s fine.”

My arms were trembling a little, but it should be manageable until we got back to class. If I carried less than her, what would be the point of me helping at all? And besides, if I let Mamiya carry more than me, I’d probably get death-glares from all the guys who liked her.

More importantly, I didn’t feel right letting Mamiya, with her thin arms, carry too much.

Apparently satisfied, Mamiya reluctantly picked up about half of what I was carrying. Gadō-sensei nodded in approval at the sight.

“I’m counting on you two.”

“Understood.”

We replied in unison and started heading back to class. I walked a couple of steps behind Mamiya, focusing on the weight of the handouts to keep my mind off all the curious stares we were getting in the hallway.

Still, there really were a lot of these. I could see why Gadō-sensei wanted help. Though now that I thought about it, hadn’t he been carrying them just fine earlier? Well, the guy’s got enough muscle that you can see it even through he’s in his tracksuit, so I guess I couldn’t compare myself to him.

We walked back at a slower pace than when we came, carefully making our way down the hall

“Sorry for making you do this. You’re clearly carrying way more than I am.”

Suddenly, Mamiya apologized like that.

“It’s not like you did it on purpose, right?”

“Well, no… but that’s not the point. I was in a situation where I couldn’t refuse.”

“I’m not complaining. Honestly, I just wanted some post-lunch exercise.”

Having her feel guilty over this would just be awkward. But Mamiya blinked in surprise, then gave me a small, quiet laugh.

“What’s so funny?”

“Oh, nothing… I just thought you were really kind.”

This was Mamiya we were talking about. She probably knew full well that I was lying. Anyone who knew how I lived would instantly know I wasn’t the type to say stuff like that.

If I had my way, I wouldn’t move at all—much less interact with Mamiya, especially after yesterday. But when someone asks me directly, I can’t just refuse. Sure, I had a small hope that helping might improve the situation between us, but she’s probably already seen right through that too.

Being made aware of just how shallow I was made my back itch with discomfort.

“If I were really kind, I would’ve volunteered before you even asked.”

“That’s true.”

Even though I said it myself, hearing her agree so readily left me feeling weird.

“...Still, I really do think you’re kind.”

She said it with a gentle smile.

I had let my guard down, thinking the conversation was over, so the words slipped right into my ears. Being called kind by someone who blackmailed me just yesterday wasn’t exactly flattering.

I only did this because she asked me to. If it weren’t me, whoever else she asked would’ve said yes too.

Kindness had absolutely nothing to do with my decision. Being mistaken for a nice guy made me feel anything but happy.

“...Cut the jokes.”

“I’m not joking. I mean it.”

“...That’s even worse.”

“Even though I’m complimenting you?”

“Then at least wipe that smug grin off your face.”

She was clearly enjoying watching my reaction. She’ll probably say something about this after school, but whatever. If I ignore it, it doesn’t matter.

Even a guy like me has a little bit of pride left, you know.

“Then let’s just leave it at that.”

“...Fine, whatever.”

If that’s how Mamiya had already chosen to see me, then nothing I said would change her mind.

I gave up quickly and just focused on walking the rest of the way back to the classroom.

After school.

With everyone gone for club activities or already home, the only ones left in the classroom were me and Mamiya.

“Alright. I think it’s about time.”

Sitting beside me, Mamiya changed her tone as she spoke. It seemed the honor student mode was finally over. She put away her assignments and stretched with both hands above her head.

“Mmm…” she let out a sound as she stretched, her back arching and her chest pushing out against the inside of her uniform. Way too defenseless. Was she seriously not worried about me at all?

“What’s wrong? Staring at my boobs like that.”

“Could you at least pretend to have some shame? And I wasn’t staring.”

“It’s just over my clothes. I’m used to feeling eyes on me anyway. Besides, you kind of sneak glances, so it’s funny. Makes me feel like I’m teasing some innocent boy.”

“Sorry, okay?” she added with an unapologetic smile.

Wait, isn’t she the one who’s supposed to be embarrassed right now? Why am I the one feeling awkward?

I couldn’t win against honor-student-mode Mamiya, but apparently I couldn’t win against the real her either. She was just too good at dealing with people.

“...So, what are you making me do today?”

“You say that like I’m forcing you.”

“It’s your imagination.”

“If you say so. Anyway, I thought we’d continue from yesterday. I still didn’t get to take a picture for my ura-aka account.”

Right, yesterday I caught her in the act, so she couldn’t take one. I’m not apologizing though.

“And, well, I’d like your help.”

“...Help?”

I repeated, suspicious.

“When I take photos by myself, the composition gets repetitive. But now that I’ve got a convenient extra pair of hands, I figured I’d try some new angles.”

“...You want me to take pictures? For your ura-aka account?”

“Exactly. If you’ve got a problem with that, I’ll just leak that photo.”

“You’re a demon.”

“Excuse you, I’m a flower of youth—a high school girl.”

High school girls who blackmail people really shouldn’t call themselves that.

Wait, so… am I seriously taking the pictures?

She said it was for her ura-aka account, and judging by yesterday, they’re probably a little risqué.

Am I even allowed to be doing this?

Wouldn’t taking them just give her more blackmail material??

“I’ll say this now: I won’t blame you for anything later. I’m the one asking for this.”

“You think I’d believe that after you blackmailed me yesterday? You might want to get your head checked.”

“So mean. But you’ll just have to trust me. It’s not like you can run away, so just brace yourself.”

“You’re the last person who should be saying that.”

Who even says 'brace yourself'in daily conversation?

Now that I thought about it, it’s not like I could escape, and one or two extra pictures wouldn’t change anything at this point… but admitting that myself felt frustrating.

“Fine. So, what kind of pictures are we taking?”

“Let’s see… sit on the desk, raise my knees, and shoot me from a low angle straight on.”

“...Won’t that show your underwear?”

“Not ‘won’t’—it will.”

“You’re practically an exhibitionist.”

“I’m not. It’s just necessary. But hey, you should be happy. You get to stare at a JK’s panties while you’re taking the picture. Lucky you, right?”

“We really need to have a talk about how you see me.”

I asked through gritted teeth, but Mamiya didn’t respond. If she had, I could already imagine her going, “Ehh~ Aisaka-kun, you perv~” while grinning.

More importantly, why was she casually asking me to take pictures where her underwear would be visible? Sure, maybe it made sense for her ura-aka account, but at least ask a girl friend or her boyfriend.

Yeah, okay, I get that most normal high school guys would be thrilled by this situation. But… how do I put it… I’d at least like to have a choice about the context.

It’s way more exciting when it happens naturally—like a quick accidental glimpse—or when the girl is shy about it. Having her shamelessly show me is just… no.

And for the record, that’s not a fetish. That’s just a normal guy opinion.

Probably.

Don’t ask me how reliable that statement is though.

“Well, no point overthinking it. Let’s get started.”

Mamiya clapped her hands lightly and stood up from her chair.

She slipped off her indoor shoes, then smoothly sat down on top of the desk, hugging her right knee while leaving her left leg stretched out.

Her legs were wrapped in black tights.

Not only were they beautifully shaped, but my eyes couldn’t help but wander further.

From her knees, to her thighs, and then toward the dark spot hidden beneath her skirt—before guilt made me quickly avert my gaze.

Because, well… beyond that was her underwear. The criminal nature of the angle and my thoughts made my mind strangely calm instead.

And besides, I was being blackmailed here, so it wasn’t really my fault.

“You can use my phone. Its camera is better than yours.”

“...We’re really doing this, huh.”

“Can’t post anything if we don’t take them. Come on, just get it over with.”

“...Fine. Just don’t complain later saying, ‘You saw my underwear!’”

“I won’t, I won’t. Oh, by the way, they’re light blue. There’s a tiny ribbon on the front—super cute.”

“Stop giving me unnecessary details, you’re breaking my brain.”

“Well, you’re gonna see them anyway, so why not?”

Is she missing a few screws…?

At the very least, it was clear she didn’t see me as a guy—or maybe she just thought she could walk all over me. Either way, it irritated me a little.

With a smirk on her face, Mamiya handed me her phone with the camera already open. I took a deep breath in, then let it out slowly.

“Alright, I’m taking it.”

I told her, still tense, as I pointed the camera at her. “Okay,” she nodded without a shred of resistance.

I aimed the borrowed phone at her. Mamiya, the subject of the photo, looked completely relaxed—she was even smiling.

Couldn’t she at least let me borrow some of that calm right now?

“You’re not taking it?”

“Hold on, I need to… prepare myself.”

“Mentally, you mean.”

“Exactly. So give me a second.”

“Nope. I hate being kept waiting.”

What a selfish girl… What’s even the point of her honor-student mode?

I let out a deep sigh and finally got her in frame.

“Oh, I forgot to mention—don’t get my face in the shot, okay? I don’t want to get identified.”

“Then maybe don’t wear your school uniform for this either.”

“That’s different. The JK brand is important. Also, make sure you get a panty shot. You’ve got the low angle, so I want an angle I can’t get by myself.”

“You sure have a lot of demands…”

Forget the JK brand—she’d clearly planned on a panty shot from the start, which explains why she told me all about the details… Still, I had mixed feelings about it.

Anyway, I lowered the camera to avoid her face and centered it around her skirt area to match her request.

The hem of her skirt, following the lines of her legs, was as short as you’d expect from a high school girl. With her right knee pulled in, it looked even shorter, and she was casually pinching the fabric with her fingers.

Her black-tights-wrapped legs were smooth and glossy, and with her indoor shoes off, her toes were exposed and curled like a cat’s paw.

Her thighs pressed tightly against the desk through the fabric of her skirt, and just barely visible beyond them was the light blue fabric behind the sheer black layer—practically screaming for attention despite showing so little.

It was so provocative that my eyes were glued to it, my body gradually heating up under the stimulus.

I mean, I’m still a guy. If something like that is in my field of view, of course I’ll look. Pure reflex.

And this was Mamiya, after all—the honor student who was always perfect and could easily be called cute. Sure, now that I knew her secret side, the honor student part felt almost like a lie, but still.

"Ah, you can see it now, right?"

"...I can’t see anything."

"Liar. I made sure you could. No need to hide it. More importantly... how is it? Your thoughts after seeing a girl’s panties?”

“I want to stop this right now.”

"Then you’d better hurry up and take the picture."

I let out a light sigh, reset my thoughts, and adjusted the camera.

No face. Panty shot. Legs in frame. After confirming all that, I pressed the shutter.

The sound of the shutter echoed, and an odd sense of defeat washed over me.

“Take a few more like that. I’ll post the best one.”

"...Fine."

"I'll switch up the poses too."

I nodded to her one-sided declaration, and Mamiya shifted her position.

This time, she sat with her legs spread a bit wider so that her panties were even more visible than before.

The shadow cast by her skirt, the view reaching all the way up to where her thighs met—and yet, Mamiya’s expression was completely calm.

Meanwhile, I was a mess inside.

No matter how I looked at it, I had to keep staring in order to take the pictures, and the image of Mamiya sitting there so provocatively was being seared into my brain.

She was definitely the same person as Mamiya Yuu, my honor-student classmate, and yet this side of her was the exact opposite of that image.

Confused by the gap, I still couldn’t look away from the tempting sight in front of me.

"...Hey, Mamiya. Didn’t you ever think about what would happen if I just decided to leak these photos?"

"Huh? But if you did that, yours would get leaked too, right? There’s no way you’d do something that pointless."

She was right.

Depending on how she played this, I’d be the only one taking the hit. No matter what, it’d be Mamiya’s victory… Maybe this was her way of showing me that I had just as much reason to keep this secret as she did.

I couldn’t put it into words, but it was frustrating.

I pressed the shutter when Mamiya stopped moving. Took a few shots, then she changed poses, and I took a few more.

I started to feel like a monk in training… reaching some weird state of mental detachment, when—

"Okay, let me see the pictures we’ve got so far."

"Don’t expect too much. I’m not a pro at this."

"If they suck, I’m leaking your stuff."

"That’s something you should’ve said earlier!?"

"Shhh, don’t be loud. People might come over."

"—!"

Mamiya pressed her finger against my lips to silence me.

The gesture was so natural that it stole my breath away. I instinctively stepped back a bit.

"You can’t, okay? This is our little secret—just between you and me."

She traced her lower lip with that same finger and then winked playfully.

Outside, the sky glowed faintly red. With her cheeks dyed in the same shade, Mamiya smiled softly, almost sweetly.

My gaze was pulled toward her against my will, my chest tightening in a strange way—and by the time I realized it, Mamiya had already finished checking the photos.

"Perfect. These will work."

"Hey, Aisaka-kun. You know, I think labor should always be rewarded."

She suddenly said something completely out of nowhere.

Before I could even figure out what she meant, Mamiya’s hands went to the hem of her skirt.

And then—she pinched the edge and slowly lifted it up.

"W-What?"

The dumbest sound imaginable slipped out of me.

The faintly visible sky-blue panties under her black tights filled my vision. Nothing was stopping me from staring, and my brain short-circuited on the spot.

Why—why was this happening? The overwhelming confusion and the surreal situation of a girl deliberately showing me her underwear made my head feel like it was boiling.

"Boys like this kind of thing, right?"

"...Enough with the teasing already."

I turned my face away, trying to hide the heat rising to my cheeks, and heard her chuckle softly.

"Do you feel like pouncing on me?"

Her whisper was clearly meant to provoke me, fanning the flames.

My heart thumped hard, and for a moment, my vision swayed. I forced myself to take a deep, slow breath before replying,

"...Like hell I do."

"Oh, really? Are you sure you don’t want to look? This is supposed to be your little reward."

"You’re insane."

"But you’re still looking."

"Guh—"

Stop with the verbal critical hits. I wasn’t looking because I wanted to. She was the one showing me, I couldn’t help it.

"Ah, I see now. You wanted to touch, didn’t you?"

"I did not."

"Your face says you wanna touch, look more, take off my tights, and smell my sweaty panties."

"Do you even realize what you’re saying??"

"Can’t be helped, you’re a boy. If you really want to… it’s kinda embarrassing, but I’d let you."

"Stop. Any further and this is seriously dangerous."

I took three steps back and said it with a straight face. Mamiya just held her stomach, laughing.

"Ahaha, you’re panicking way too much. I know you don’t have the guts anyway."

She wasn’t wrong, but somehow that just pissed me off more.

Left speechless, I just stood there when my phone buzzed in my pocket.

"That’s a little extra for you. I can’t just leave you frustrated, so think of it as my way of making it up to you."

I had a bad feeling about this as I opened our chat—and sure enough, it was one of the photos I had taken today.

She was holding her skirt up with one hand, her soft-looking thighs and sky-blue panties clearly visible.

Of all the shots I took, this was the best one—unfortunately.

"...And what exactly am I supposed to do with this?"

"Use it as your bedtime material?"

"Yeah, no thanks… That’s the last thing I need."

I closed the chat with a sigh.

"You’re no fun. You could at least be happy about it."

"A guy’s heart is a delicate thing, okay?"

And so, my first photo session with Mamiya ended without incident—at least on the surface—while leaving me mentally drained beyond belief.

 

◆

 

"I'm home."

"Welcome back, Akito~"

The one who greeted me as I came home was my older sister—Aisaka-Akaha, who’s in her second year as a working adult. She might look young, but on the inside, she’s a hopeless drunkard… or so you’d think, except that she actually works as a nurse.

She must’ve had the early shift today, because even though it wasn’t even six o’clock yet, she was already leaning back on the sofa with a can of chu-hi in hand. I know she has it rough sometimes since she occasionally vents about work to me, so I figured if drinking helped her blow off steam, then it was fine.

Well… as long as she doesn’t overdo it.

"Where’s Mom?"

"Still at work. She said she made mapo tofu for dinner, so just heat it up and eat."

For the record, Mom’s also a nurse. Dad’s a police officer. Depending on his shifts, he might or might not be home, but I don’t think our family’s relationship is particularly bad or anything.

"So, what’s up with you, Aka-nee?"

Whenever my sister starts drinking this early, it’s usually because something happened at work.

With that assumption in mind, I asked. Akaha tipped her can back and gulped down every last drop of chu-hi—then set the now-empty can down on the table with a soft clink.

"That's right! Ahh, just thinking about it makes me so mad! That damn old man grabbed my butt and said, ‘For a young woman, it’s pretty firm.’ Can you believe that!? I'm only twenty-four! And don’t go touching people’s butts without permission, you creepy old man!"

My sister was panting, ranting nonstop, then shouted, "Not enough booze! Beer!" and demanded that I go get it for her. I didn’t bother arguing, just grabbed a can from the fridge and handed it to her.

"Don’t drink too much, okay? You’ll wreck your health."

"If my body could be wrecked by just this much, I’d have died from stress ages ago!"

She popped open the beer, gulping it down in one go. "Puhhaaah!" She let out a satisfied sigh, her face looking oddly refreshed, before glancing over at me.

"...So, Akito? Was school fun today?"

"It was normal."

"So cold. Don’t you think it’s about time you got yourself a girlfriend or two... wait, no. Cheating or NTR storylines are off-limits."

"A girlfriend? Yeah, like that’s gonna happen."

My voice came out colder than I expected, even to myself.

"...Still not ready, huh?"

"It’s better than before, I guess. But I still don’t want to go out of my way to think about that stuff."

Two years ago—back in middle school—something happened that changed everything.

It was in my second year. A girl suddenly confessed to me.

She was the type who stood out—if I put it bluntly, she looked like the kind who might be messing around. She didn’t have dyed hair or anything, but she was always hanging out with a group of girls.

She was one of the popular ones—high in the school caste. Someone a gloomy loner like me normally wouldn’t even talk to.

But she suddenly called me out, told me she liked me, and I was over the moon. Without even questioning her words, I tried to say yes—only to have the rug pulled out from under me in the cruelest way.

"Even if it’s for a punishment game, there’s no way I’d confess to Aisaka!" ...When I heard that, my mind went completely blank. I couldn’t take the icy stares from her friends, who had been watching from the start, and I ran away crying.

Ever since then, I started distrusting girls—anyone outside my family. Even after becoming a high schooler, I’ve only gotten a little better. It’s not something that’s completely healed.

What happened with Mamiya caught me completely off guard, but I only agreed because it was about keeping a secret. From what I’ve seen of her, she doesn’t seem like the kind of person who’d lie. And she’d gain nothing from doing it. But still, I could never completely trust her.

I’ve gotten used to always doubting people.

"Well, I don’t think it’s possible for me anyway. What about you, Aka-nee?"

"...What’s that supposed to mean?"

Her sharp gaze pierced me.

She wouldn’t actually kill me if I said the wrong thing, but I didn’t want any trouble, so I looked away.

She sighed, and the tense air in the room loosened slightly.

"If it were me, I wouldn’t leave a guy like you alone. They have no taste. That girl back then, your classmates—none of them knew what they were missing."

I wasn’t sure about that.

"Anyway. Just drinking is getting boring. Make me something to eat."

"What about the mapo tofu?"

"Already in my stomach. Don’t worry, I left yours."

Looks like she already ate first. At least she had the decency to leave some for me. If she’d been any drunker, she probably would’ve eaten it all.

But... make her something? No specific request? That’s the hardest thing to deal with.

I checked the fridge. Hmm... guess I’ll make rolled omelets.

"Wait here a sec."

"Yeees!"

She sure knows how to answer cheerfully when it’s convenient for her. She really should learn to cook a little herself—for my sake.

I went back to my room, changed out of my uniform, and started preparing the rolled omelet.

 

◆

 

[Mamiya's POV]

 

When I got home, the usual quiet greeted me.

My parents divorced a few years ago, and I ended up living with my dad. But the thing is, he’s away on business trips most of the time, leaving the house empty. So, in reality, I’m the only one who actually lives here most of the time.

Maybe he’s found a new girlfriend somewhere on his trips—but that’s fine with me. Who he chooses to be with has nothing to do with me, and as long as he keeps sending money for living expenses, I have no right to complain.

I’ve gotten used to living alone, but I still feel a bit lonely sometimes.

Maybe that’s why I started finding comfort in the big stuffed shark sitting in my room.

“Haaah… I’m so tired today.”

Taking off my shoes, I stretched my back as I walked down the hallway, letting all the exhaustion of the day out in a single breath.

Playing the honor student role isn’t easy.

It’s gotten to the point where I’ve almost completely gotten used to it, but if I ever let my guard down, the real me might slip out. Especially recently… maybe because of what happened after school, it feels like the line between the two is getting blurrier.

It was fine when I was just looking for a thrill and taking a few risqué photos at school, but letting Aisaka-kun find out about it was a huge blunder. The only silver lining was that I managed to threaten him into keeping quiet—sorry about that—and he turned out not to be the kind of person who would go around spreading my secret.

If it had been a teacher who found out… my school life would have been over.

I really need to make sure there isn’t a next time.

“...Still, maybe this worked out for the best.”

After washing my hands and rinsing my mouth, I sat down on the living room sofa and unlocked my phone to look at the photos I’d taken at school.

A slightly low-angle, suggestive shot showing my legs and underwear. This one would probably get more reactions than usual. People say guys like stuff with strong fetish appeal, after all.

Aisaka-kun’s reaction confirmed it for me. Or rather, he was so innocent about it that I might have teased him too much. These days, it’s rare to find someone so completely defenseless against girls.

But that’s part of what makes him so fun.

“Well, I did give him a good reward for his trouble, so it’s not like he has any right to complain.”

I gave him plenty today, after all.

I wonder if he’s using my pictures at home… nah, probably not. If he was that kind of guy, he wouldn’t have hesitated to stare during the photo shoot.

Thinking that far made me sigh without realizing it.

“...Why did I even start doing this, anyway?”

It was a kind of regret I’d been holding onto, just a little.

All I wanted was to satisfy a tiny bit of curiosity and the need to be noticed. So I made a ura-aka account and started posting photos.

Not to brag, but my body is pretty feminine and I have a decent chest, so even just slightly sexy photos easily got likes. I knew those people were looking at me for my body, not me as a person, and I knew what kind of comments they were leaving—but even then, it still satisfied that craving for attention.

And it felt… really good.

Ever since then, I’ve been taking photos in all sorts of places just to upload them to that ura-aka account.

The reason I started taking them at school was probably because I wanted to enjoy the thrill of maybe getting caught.

The real me isn’t some perfect honor student everyone looks up to.

I’m a girl who started running a ura-aka account, someone who craves attention and takes slightly naughty photos.

“Even so… Aisaka-kun didn’t even try to touch me after seeing me like that. As a guy, isn’t that kind of weird? Am I really that unattractive?”