[Vol 2] The Secret Life Of An Honor Student Chapter 3

Chapter 3 - Maybe you’re just sexually frustrated

 

[Mamiya's POV]

 

"──Would you go out with me, Mamiya-chan?"

During lunch break behind the gymnasium, I was being confessed to by a second-year senpai who wore a refreshing smile.

I had no recollection of the name Shinohara Shinya, nor had I ever received any kind of approach from him before. As far as I was aware, this was our first time meeting. Whether I liked or disliked him was beside the point.

"Um… Shinohara-senpai. I'm sorry. Right now, I don't intend to date anyone."

"Does that mean you dislike me?"

"No. In the first place, I don't know you well enough to dislike you, Shinohara-senpai. And the same goes the other way around. I can't think of any reason why you would say you like me."

When I clearly expressed my intention to refuse, he let out a small sigh and said, "Man, this is rough," his smile faltering slightly with disappointment.

From the brief conversation we had just now, he seemed like the type who was used to dealing with girls… or to put it less kindly, someone who might be a bit of a player. Even so, his way of speaking was polite and gentle, and he didn't seem like the kind of person who would try anything forceful. There were probably plenty of girls who liked him.

In other words, he was exactly the kind of person I least wanted to get involved with.

The nail that sticks out gets hammered down. Even if I had no intention of standing out, the result alone would still be seen by others. Since I knew how troublesome that could become, there was no way I could choose to date someone like him.

Well, even aside from that… right now, there's only one person I can see as a romantic interest anyway.

"…Can I ask you just one thing?"

"If it's something I can answer."

"You said you don't plan on dating anyone, but… is that because you already like someone else?"

"Up until recently, I truly had no intention of dating anyone… but now, I do have someone I like. I don't have the time to look at anyone else."

"I see… that's really unfortunate. I can't help but feel jealous of the person Mamiya-chan likes. I know there's nothing uglier than a man's jealousy, though."

He laughed self-deprecatingly, but the disappointment in his expression seemed genuine.

"…May I ask you something as well?"

"Sure. What do you want to know?"

"Well… why did you come to like me, Shinohara-senpai? As far as I remember, we never had any connection."

"Ah… that? It's actually a very simple story."

He scratched his cheek with a fingertip, perhaps out of embarrassment, then took a small breath before speaking.

"──It was love at first sight. Ever since I first saw you smiling near the school gate."

"…When was that?"

"Around April. When the cherry blossoms were starting to fall. Though, considering I had all that time and still couldn't confess until now… maybe I never really deserved to stand beside you in the first place."

Hearing the reason he fell for me filled me with a small amount of surprise—and doubt.

If his words were true, then he had seen me during the beginning of the school year in April, fallen in love at first sight, and spent the entire time until December still holding onto those feelings before finally confessing today.

On the surface, it sounded like a very pure love story.

But where was the proof that it was actually true?

All I could know were the words and actions shown on the surface. I had no way of knowing what lay hidden underneath.

Whether he was truly a good person… or someone harboring ill intent—I couldn't determine that yet.

Still, when it came to the feelings he had conveyed to me, I had to respond honestly as well.

"…I'll say it again, but I can't return your feelings, Shinohara-senpai. I already have someone I like."

"I understand. I really do… but it hurts more than I expected, getting rejected. I don't usually say that I like someone. People always say it's surprising, but… I've actually never had a girlfriend before."

"From a girl's perspective, that's probably because you're quite shy, Shinohara-senpai. In my case, my answer wouldn't have changed no matter when you confessed… but if you happen to fall for someone else in the future, it might be better to tell them how you feel sooner."

"That's a harsh observation… really. Getting rejected and then receiving advice for my next love… it really makes it clear that I never had a chance."

He let out a helpless sigh. Thinking I might have said too much, I apologized with a quiet "I'm sorry.” He simply shrugged and replied, "Don't worry about it."

I've turned down confessions from many people before—dozens, even—but his reaction was one of the calmest I've ever seen.

People tend to reveal their true nature when things don't go their way.

Among those I've rejected before, there were some who tried to force themselves on me, and others who broke down crying and left me at a loss.

They all claimed to like me… but how many of them truly liked me for who I was?

Did they simply want to date the honor student who seemed naive about men, just to receive admiration from others?

I don't mind people having those fantasies, but being treated like someone's trophy makes me feel insulted.

Compared to them, the boy standing in front of me—clearly disappointed yet still calm and polite—left a very good impression.

That didn't mean I would come to like him, but at the very least, it was fortunate that the person he liked wouldn't end up hating him.

"Sorry for taking up so much of your time."

"It's alright. I'm used to it."

"…So Mamiya-chan really is popular. But even carrying everyone's expectations, you still remain yourself. I envy that."

He looked at me with admiration.

In response to that gaze—as if he were looking at something special—I quietly shook my head.

"…That's not true. I'm simply good at keeping up appearances. Being relied upon makes me happy, but sometimes it feels suffocating as well. I'm only human, after all."

"I'm called the ace of the basketball team… and honestly, it's tough. I'm happy about it, but the expectations are heavy. Every day, I just struggle not to be crushed by them. But because of you, Mamiya-chan, I felt like I could keep trying. I thought maybe someday… you'd notice me."

"…My answer in terms of romance won't change, but being able to work hard for someone's sake is a wonderful thing. I'm sure a better woman than me will fall for you someday, Shinohara-senpai."

"…Seems like I'm the one who got encouraged. Sorry for taking so much of your time. And thank you."

After returning my smile with a polite bow, he left.

Once his straight back disappeared from view, I finally released the breath I had been holding in my chest.

"It really isn't something you get used to… especially now that I know what it means to fall in love."

I murmured quietly before heading back to the classroom before lunch break ended.

Even though I've been confessed to many times, I doubt the day will ever come when rejecting someone's feelings feels normal. The words "I like you" may be the same, but the emotions contained within them differ from person to person. No two are exactly alike.

Even so──I truly believed, from the bottom of my heart, that I was glad I had come to understand what it meant to love someone.

 

◆

 

[Akito's POV]

"The study session is tomorrow afternoon, right?"

"Yeah. If we go on too long, we’ll lose focus anyway."

With the study session involving Natsu and Tatara scheduled for the next day, Mamiya and I were walking home while confirming the plan. I did want to question how walking home together with Mamiya had somehow become the norm, but there was no way she’d listen.

Since we lived in the same direction—and even the same apartment building—she always found some excuse to tag along. And since it came from goodwill… or affection, it was hard to firmly refuse.

Well, having someone to talk to isn’t a bad thing.

"…Hey. Akito-kun, are you free in the morning?"

Mamiya asked as if probing me.

"…Mamiya. The way you’re calling me."

"It’s fine, I already checked—no one’s around. You can call me Yu too, you know."

"Don’t give me permission like that."

I glanced around and quietly pressed her on it, but she didn’t seem bothered at all.

Ever since she got invited over by my older sister, Mamiya had started calling me by my first name whenever we were alone. On top of that, if I called her 『Mamiya』, she’d obviously act displeased, forcing me into using her first name too.

So I tried to avoid saying her first name consciously, but she’d probably already seen through that.

"Do you really hate calling me by my first name that much?"

"Like I said before, calling someone by their first name feels like something only really close people do. It makes me hesitate."

"…We are pretty close, aren’t we?"

"Depends on how you define it."

We might be close, but at the root of it was a relationship built on shared secrets—mutual benefit. Still… it wasn’t just that.

I did think of Mamiya as a friend. And she had even confessed that she likes me. It definitely wasn’t a relationship you could call bad.

"…I guess that’s just like you, Akito-kun, worrying about that kind of thing. But I’d be happier if you called me by my first name."

Being told something like that so directly… I still wasn’t used to it.

"…Fine, Yu-san."

"You don’t need the ‘-san.’ You wouldn’t feel embarrassed if you just stopped overthinking it."

"If it were that easy, I wouldn’t be struggling."

"…Still, Yu-san is kind of nice too. The way you get a little embarrassed when saying my name is a big plus. Actually, didn’t you call me ‘Yu’ at the end of that message you sent?"

"…That was, uh… just trying it out."

"That excuse is pretty weak."

Mamiya laughed in exasperation.

With my level of social skills, there was no way I could win against her.

"Anyway. This might sound like a complaint, but can I talk to you about something?"

Out of nowhere, ignoring the flow of the conversation, Mamiya brought it up.

It was rare for her to say something like this, though I wasn’t sure if I could actually help.

"Sure, but I’ll probably just end up listening."

"That’s fine. Actually… I got confessed to by a senpai at lunch today."

"…Not unusual for you, right?"

"Yeah. Being confessed to isn’t rare, and even if it’s a senpai, I’m used to it. But apparently, that person is pretty popular."

Even though being liked by someone should be a good thing, her expression wasn’t bright. Knowing her past experiences, I quietly listened.

"From the sound of it, you turned him down."

"Of course. The only one I like right now is you, Akito-kun."

"……………………"

"Are you blushing?"

"……………………I’m not."

I awkwardly looked away, but she laughed lightly. "You’re not fooling anyone," she said, her voice innocent. Faced with such a pure, unfiltered "I like you," I didn’t know how to react.

At the same time, the fact that even a popular senpai’s confession didn’t shake her feelings—and that they were still directed at me—made me feel both happy and strangely restless.

I was becoming aware that my feelings were gradually leaning toward her, but I hid it behind the best poker face I could manage.

"…Anyway, back to the point. You’re worried someone might say something again, right?"

"That’s basically it. People say girls are each other’s worst enemies, and it really can be scary. Even if the senpai who confessed just thought, ‘If I’m lucky enough to get an answer and we end up dating, that’s a bonus,’ the girls who like him won’t see it that way."

"…If you think they might look at you that way, it’s hard to trust things."

"Exactly. That’s why it’s a pain."

She let out a deep sigh, wrapping up her explanation.

Yeah… that really did sound troublesome.

Especially since it wasn’t something she could control.

"So, it’s been building up."

"…Frustration?"

"That’s not it. …Well, not entirely, but what’s building up is stress. You get it now, right?"

"So you want me to hang out with you? But what are you planning to do?"

At that, Mamiya smiled mischievously.

"You’re free tomorrow morning, right? Then… let’s have an at-home date."

She dropped what was essentially a decision I really didn’t want to hear.

 

Saturday morning, the day of the study session.

When I woke up, no one else was home—everyone had already left for work. Eating the sandwich my mom had made, I thought about the study session in the afternoon… and before that, the so-called “at-home date” Mamiya had decided on.

Well, she’s the only one calling it that.

"……………………I can’t relax."

I muttered in front of the bathroom mirror, my expression complicated.

Fine, I could accept her coming over in the morning. The fact that no one else was home was a bit worrying, but still manageable.

But… the idea that she was treating this as a date was honestly too much.

We weren’t dating—we were just friends. A date was something for people in a relationship. Maybe it’d be different if we both liked each other, but I had already rejected her confession.

In other words… this was incredibly awkward.

And more than that, with no one else around, I had no idea what she might do. …Shouldn’t she be the one worried about that? Being alone with a guy should be riskier for her.

"…There’s nothing I can do about it."

Sighing, I resigned myself. No matter what I did, the future wasn’t going to change.

Mamiya said she’d come—so she would. She even messaged me last night to confirm.

Accepting that I’d be spending the morning with her, I got ready and tidied up my room just in case. Then—Ding-dong—the doorbell rang.

Guess she’s here. When I opened the door, there stood Mamiya, wrapped in a black coat.

"Morning, Akito-kun."

"…Morning. Well… it’s cold, so come in."

Even if I wasn’t thrilled, I couldn’t leave her outside. I let her in, and she politely said, "Excuse me for intruding," before neatly lining up her shoes.

Under her coat, she wore a white sleeveless ribbed knit top with a green shirt over it, cinched at the waist with a belt. Her skirt was about the same length as her school uniform—simple, but it still made her look a bit cold.

"You really came, huh."

"Did you think I was lying? I told you last night, I’m coming didn’t I?"

"Yeah, but… you know. No one else is home."

"That means we can do anything we want."

"We’re absolutely not doing anything like that."

"Yeah, I know. There’s no way you’d make a move on me. You’re a virgin, after all."

"That last part was unnecessary."

I really wished she wouldn’t say things like that. I was still a guy, after all. And even with my distrust toward women, Mamiya was definitely on the cute side—and I knew she liked me.

I tried to convey that with a look, but she just kept smiling happily.

Thinking about why she was smiling like that made me want to groan.

Then she leaned close to my ear andー

"…Don’t you want to do it?"

she whispered in a moist, sweet voice.

My steps came to a sudden halt.

My face stiffened as I looked at Mamiya—

"……………………You don’t actually intend to, do you?"

I dodged the question while throwing it back at her. Mamiya blinked, thought for a moment, then lightly flushed, smiling shyly.

Then, placing her hand against my ear, she whispered again,

"…If you want to, I don’t mind."

I couldn’t tell if she was joking or serious.

My mind filled with question marks, unable to process it. Her words echoed in my head as I slowly began to understand what she’d said.

…No, that’s not it. She’s just teasing me. There’s no way she means it.

That kind of thing… is something couples do. It’s way too soon for someone like me. …And yet, I knew her feelings weren’t a lie.

I became aware of how fast my heart was beating. My body felt hot. At some point, I had stopped moving, and Mamiya was peeking at my face from the side. I could barely see her clearly, but I was sure my face was bright red.

"…Just kidding. Totally joking. Did you actually take it seriously?"

She laughed lightly. It was the answer I wanted—but something about it still felt like she wasn’t entirely joking.

"…Please don’t make jokes like that. It’s bad for my heart."

"Yeah… you’re right. Sorry. But—what if it wasn’t a joke?"

"…………If you were serious, that’d be even worse."

I forced myself to sound annoyed to cover up the tension. Otherwise, I felt like I’d be swallowed by the atmosphere.

I couldn’t just laugh it off. Not when I knew she genuinely liked me.

"Sorry… That wasn’t good either. Why did I even say that?"

"You’re just frustrated, aren’t you—"

"I’m not!"

She raised her voice in embarrassment. Honestly, that only made it more suspicious, but I decided not to push it further.

Everyone has those kinds of desires. Me included. Her too. It was kinder to leave it alone.

"Ugh… I’m really not, okay? It’s just that the situation felt too perfect, so I got curious and asked."

"If you keep talking, you’re just going to dig yourself deeper."

"Shut up!"

She lightly smacked my shoulder, though it didn’t hurt at all.

Finding her unusually childish, I led her to my room.

 

"So this is your room, Akito-kun… it really feels like a guy’s room."

As soon as she stepped in, she looked around. There wasn’t much—just a desk, a bed, and a game console setup. Nothing unusual.

"Does that mean it’s messy or badly kept?"

"No. It’s just different from a girl’s room. The things you have here, the smell… ah, no, I didn’t mean it like that."

"………………"

I gave her a suspicious look. After a few seconds of silence, she was the first to give in. "…I’m not some kind of smell fetishist," she said, almost on the verge of tears.

"So?"

"…………It’s a calming smell."

She said it with clear reluctance. I didn’t really get it… but since I was always here, maybe that made sense. When I went to her place before, I thought it smelled kind of sweet too—

…Wait, that sounds kind of perverted.

Yeah. Better not think about that. Cutting off that train of thought, I noticed Mamiya also cleared her throat.

"…Anyway, smell aside, it’s obviously not messy. Did you clean up before I came?"

"Well, I knew someone was coming over."

"I see, I see. You must have things you don’t want people to see, after all."

"I don’t have anything like that, though??"

"That’s suspicious. Under your bed, or deep inside your desk drawer… aren’t there things like that?"

With a sly grin, she threw me a meaningful glance. But instead of actually trying to search, Mamiya casually sat down on my bed without hesitation.

The naturalness of it caught me off guard, and I ended up recalling what had just been said earlier.

"…Mamiya."

"Call me Yu."

"……………………Yu-san. Why did you sit on the bed?"

"Because we can sit side by side here, right?"

Without any ill intent, she patted the space next to her.

She clearly wanted me to sit there too, but… wasn’t that a bit much?

"…You must be thirsty. I’ll go get some tea."

"Ah, you’re running away."

Shut up. This is a strategic retreat.

Ignoring her gaze, I headed to the kitchen, poured two glasses of cold barley tea, and brought them back. Mamiya was still sitting on the bed, and while I had my thoughts about it, I deliberately ignored them and drank first.

"…So, when are you getting off?"

"More importantly, when are you going to sit next to me, Akito-kun?"

"No, there’s no reason for me to sit th—"

I stopped mid-sentence when I noticed her pouting at me.

Today, she had come all the way here calling this an 『at-home date』. Even if we weren’t dating, it felt wrong to completely brush off her feelings.

Besides, I was used to her sitting next to me at school… though I really wanted to believe this situation—on my bed—was some kind of joke.

Without saying anything, I steadied my breathing and cautiously sat down beside her. The bed creaked under our combined weight as it sank slightly.

There was enough space between us for one person.

Closer than at school, but farther than holding hands.

"You finally came."

Mamiya smiled in relief and closed half that distance. The bed creaked again, and her long hair brushed lightly against my shoulder.

Her presence felt stronger now. I instinctively tried to create distance again… but let out a sigh, realizing it would be pointless.

If I moved, she’d just move closer again. Once, twice, as many times as needed—just to show me that her feelings were real. That was the kind of girl Mamiya Yu was… and somehow, that made her seem dazzling.

"…There’s nowhere to run anyway."

"I’m not planning to let you run."

"Did you just turn into a yandere or something?"

"I didn’t. But if you keep dodging things forever, who knows? You might want to watch your back."

"That’s a joke, right?"

"…Actually, recently I’ve been putting effort into cooking, and I bought a new knife—"

She spoke so calmly that a slight shiver ran through me, yet she simply smiled at my reaction.

…Seriously, give me a break.

I knew both sides of her. I believed she wouldn’t do something like that—but hearing it directly still made me think twice.

Maybe somewhere deep down, I couldn’t completely rule it out. All I could do, with my lingering distrust toward women, was maintain a proper distance so she wouldn’t turn yandere. I had already given her my answer, so I shouldn’t be seen as indecisive or as someone keeping her as a backup… probably.

…Isn’t this situation kind of dangerous when I think about it?

"By the way, what are we even supposed to do, just the two of us? It’s not like we’re studying or anything."

"…Being alone with the person I like is already enough to make me happy."

………………、…………、……。

"Akito-kun, your face is red."

"……Is that a problem?"

"Not at all. I’m happy you’re actually conscious of me."

And then she continued,

"I know you don’t like me yet… but I’d be happy if you’d indulge me just a little."

Blushing slightly, she said it directly.

"…What exactly are you planning?"

"It’s obvious what you’re thinking, but I mean within normal limits. Talking, playing games together, casually touching… things like that. Things couples would do."

Those were probably the kinds of simple, wholesome moments couples shared—quiet, but filled with happiness.

Mamiya had once said she couldn’t fall in love. With her dual nature—honor student and ura-aka girl—she was always hiding something.

But I was different. I knew her secrets and her past.

This relationship had started by chance. It didn’t have to be me.

But right now, the one Mamiya says she likes… is me.

"…………Alright. But I don’t really know what I’m doing either. So if either of us feels uncomfortable, we say it right away. Deal?"

"Yeah. Otherwise it wouldn’t be fun."

At the same time, I found myself honestly wanting to grant this small wish of hers. I was still scared to take a big step forward… but I wanted to see the same view she did.

Following her lead, we decided to start with a game.

"Have you ever played something like this, Mamiya??"

"…Are you making fun of me?"

"No, it’s just… you don’t seem like you have."

It was hard to imagine Mamiya playing games. Studying or reading suited her much better.

"I don’t play much, but I do have one at home."

"That makes things easy. What do you want to play?"

"Hmm… how about something you like, Akito-kun?"

"Something I like, huh…"

After thinking for a moment, I chose a well-known racing game where you race through tracks in space. It was simple but deep—perfect for beginners.

"Ah, I’ve played that before. But… that one, Ah…"

"Is there a problem?"

"…I tend to lean my body when I play."

"Ah… yeah, I get it. People who lean during turns."

"What about you?"

"I used to. I don’t anymore. So I won’t laugh."

Having said that beforehand, Mamiya gave a small nod, still wearing a somewhat tense expression.

It was embarrassing when someone watched. I used to get laughed at by my sister a lot… with zero mercy.

I quickly turned on the console and handed her a controller. After a few seconds, the game started up with a cheerful voice 『Yahoo』 from the screen.

"Which character should I pick…"

"I’ll go with Star Princess."

The character Mamiya chose without hesitation was a girl set as some kind of star-themed princess. Her dedicated vehicle was a sleek, light-blue vehicle that looked like a high-end car. In terms of performance, it was a heavyweight type focused on speed—probably not the easiest to handle. Since the only real difference between characters lay in their vehicles, there wasn’t any major advantage or disadvantage. Still, there were definitely stronger combinations of characters and vehicles.

I picked a comical skeleton character—Kyarro. His vehicle matched the theme, constructed entirely out of bones. Its performance leaned toward acceleration, making it a midweight type, so I’d probably get overpowered by Mamiya’s setup.

"You can pick the course."

"Really? Then… this one."

"Starry Road? Why such a difficult course where you fall so easily?"

"I like it. When you hit someone and they fall, it’s fun."

"That’s a terrible reason."

So she was playing aggressively.

Starry Road was a course set in outer space, and since there were no guardrails on the outer edges, getting pushed meant you’d fall off in no time.

The vehicle Mamiya was using was a heavyweight… she was definitely aiming for that. And the fact that she actually looked forward to it… yeah, she really did have a nasty streak. They always say people with a mean edge are stronger at games, but still.

With that, the game began, and with a fanfare, the screen shifted to Starry Road.

"Want to make a bet? Just racing normally is boring."

"You sound confident."

"Well, not entirely without reason. You are too, right?"

"I’ve played this a lot, so I don’t think I’ll lose… what’s the bet?"

"The loser grants one small wish. The key is that it’s 『small』."

…A small wish, huh.

When I tried to read Mamiya’s expression, she was only wearing a faint smile—giving away nothing.

From experience, I knew that when she looked like that, she was usually thinking of something no good.

That was exactly why I was on guard… but there was no way I could outmatch someone like Mamiya, who had always lived while hiding her true feelings.

Still, it did seem more interesting than just playing normally.

The definition of a 『small wish』 is vague and depends on the person. In reality, it’d probably be judged after it’s said, so neither of us would be able to demand anything too outrageous—or at least, that’s what I figured.

"Fine, I’m in. But don’t complain if you lose, okay?"

"I know, I know. You’d better not let your guard down either, Akito-kun. ──Girls are strong at times like this, you know."

With a slight curl at the corner of her lips, Mamiya said that. Even as I felt an inexplicable shiver, I brushed it off as my imagination and focused on the screen.

The feel of the controller in my hands was the same as always. The top half of the split screen showed my character—slightly cramped, but nothing I couldn’t handle.

The countdown to the start appeared at the top of the screen: 『３』. Then 『２』, 『１』. As it reached that point, I hit the accelerator──and the moment the signal came, I shot out onto a course that looked like it was scattered with stars.

Both Mamiya and I got off to nearly identical starts. Alongside several other vehicle, we began racing across the star-colored track.

On this course, the most important thing was not falling. Especially if you got hit by an interference-type item, you’d be stunned and come to a stop—and in that opening, you’d get pushed off and fall off the track… it happened all the time.

So I had to keep an eye on what was happening behind me as I raced—but for now, I stuck with the front group.

I was in 3^rd place out of 12^th.

Mamiya was right behind me, watching for any opening to knock me off, her eyes fixed on me like a predator.

"You’re being way too obvious."

"Maybe that’s just the power of love."

"I’d rather not deal with physical love."

"Some things don’t get across unless you make them physical."

Even as she said that, Mamiya tossed a shooting-star interference item at me.

Piyo, Piyo, Piyo—accompanied by a cute little sound, it came flying toward my vehicle, but I’d already anticipated it and easily dodged to the side.

"Why’d you dodge?"

"Of course I’d dodge."

If that thing hit me, you’d just ram into me and knock me off, right?

If I lost, she’d make me grant that so-called 『small wish』, so there was no way I could afford to go easy. Even putting that aside, if I couldn’t dodge such obvious attacks, I wouldn’t even stand a chance against Aka-nee.

With things going like that, the race progressed. By the end of the second lap, I was in first place, with Mamiya right behind me in second. I managed to stay unscathed by elegantly dodging her interference—and occasionally passing the trouble onto other racers.

"You’re not even going to let a girl take the win?"

"It’s a fair match, isn’t it? I don’t owe you enough to throw the game."

"I see. Well then… can’t be helped."

She let out a small sigh. Sensing a subtle shift in her mood, I focused on the screen just as a curve came into view.

As I drifted through it, Mamiya followed behind me, doing the same—

"—Hey, watch it!"

"Ah, sorry~ My body just leaned with the turn."

Drawn in by the curve, Mamiya toppled toward me without a hint of guilt, pressing against me. Through the knit fabric, the softness of her chest was unmistakable—enough to shake my concentration.

Even after the turn ended, she stayed leaned against me, continuing the race like that.

"Please, just move away…!"

"Eh? But if I stay like this, I don’t have to lean every time there’s a curve—and I get to mess with your head too. Two birds with one stone, you know?"

"That last part’s the main goal, isn’t it!?"

"Well, yeah. You can’t be picky about methods if you want to win."

Mamiya looked up at me from below. Normally, that sweet gaze might make any guy get the wrong idea—but right now, it felt more like a devil’s stare. I could feel my focus slipping.

Even trying not to think about it, every small movement she made changed the way her body pressed against me, forcing an undeniably distracting sensation on me.

For someone like me, who had no experience dealing with girls, it was practically poison. Breaking into a cold sweat, I let out a long breath, trying to focus on the race that would be decided in just a few more seconds.

"…I’m not losing to something like this."

"Oh? Then it’s fine if I get even closer, right?"

"Huh?"

…Yeah, that was the wrong choice.

Even as I let out a dumbfounded sound, I couldn’t take my eyes off the screen. Mamiya moved even closer, pressing against me more tightly. My left arm was caught between two soft mounds, and the warm breath brushing against my ear sent a shiver down my spine—my thoughts blanking out for a moment.

At the same time, Mamiya, who had been right behind me, used a boost item.

"Here!"

With that cute shout, she rammed into me. My vehicle was sent flying—and fell right off the course. This is bad. If she passes me here, turning it around will be really tough.

All that’s left is the final corner and the straight. Can I make a comeback? No—I have to.

If Mamiya is going this far, then her so-called 『small wish』 might end up being something seriously inconvenient for me.

"Looks like this is my win."

"…I’m definitely overtaking you."

"No way. You only have one item left before the curve."

She was right.

But with even one item, there’s still a chance to turn it around.

"Don’t underestimate me… Do you have any idea how many times I’ve fought against my sister going all-out with top-tier builds?"

"Ugh…"

A fire lit inside me.

Realizing from the depths of my soul that I couldn’t lose this, everything except the game disappeared from my focus. By the time I was pulled back onto the track by a support character, I had dropped to 6^th place.

But that wasn’t a problem. In fact, this position might even work in my favor.

I took the optimal racing line and reached the final corner, drifting through it smoothly, grabbing an item and accelerating.

The item I got was──a comet.

An item that automatically targets first place and explodes.

"Wait, that’s not fair!?"

I heard her shout from beside me, but ignored it. I launched the comet—it flew ahead and struck Mamiya’s Star Princess, exploding spectacularly.

Mamiya spun out in a stun, but at the last second she braked, dragging several racers behind her into it. As a result, her position didn’t change. Recovering quickly, she hit the accelerator, and it became a straight one-on-one race between us.

"Ahh, come on! If it’s come to this, I’m winning no matter what…!"

Her voice carried intensity.

She accelerated and blocked my path perfectly.

I followed right behind her. At this speed, overtaking would be difficult—but here, I could use that.

The finish line was right ahead. 『3』, 『2』, 『1』──

"Got it!"

My vehicle surged forward.

"Slipstream…!"

"Sorry, Mamiya—I'm passing you…!!"

Too late to react now.

My vehicle accelerated and began to overtake hers. The finish line was close—if things stayed like this, it would be a close call.

Just a little more… almost there—Then suddenly, Mamiya tilted her vehicle into mine, bumping me and slightly stealing my speed.

"Ah—"

At the same moment I let out a sound, the screen displayed: 『Second』.

"…Looks like I win."

Breathing heavily, Mamiya declared her victory while still leaning against me.

"…Seems like it. For someone who doesn’t play much, you’re pretty strong."

"It’s not that you’re weak… but saying I’m strong is more peaceful, right?"

"That kind of consideration hurts."

"Sorry, sorry. Anyway──that means you have to grant my 『small wish』."

Right.

The outcome of the game had been tied to that 『small wish』."

"It better really be a 『small』 one."

"I know. So… let’s take photos like usual. But──I’ll act like I do at school, as an honor student. So, do your best?"

………………What?

"…Wait. So you mean… taking the same kind of photos we do in the classroom, but with your honor student persona?"

"Exactly. Sounds fun, right?"

"Wouldn’t that just make me look like a total creep?"

"It would."

Don’t just say that so easily.

Doing that with the school-version Mamiya…?

The polite, slightly distant, but still kind version of her—taking those kinds of photos?

This was impossible, unreasonable, reckless. I might actually die from guilt.

"I thought this was a 『small wish』. What part of this is small?"

"We’re just doing what we always do—taking photos, right?"

"That’s true, but… the situation is completely different."

"Everyone loves a good gap, you know. I get it."

"If you get it, then stop…"

"Nope. Because if we do this… you’ll look at me more, Akito-kun. Right?"

She gently rubbed her cheek against my shoulder, conveying that soft yet dazzling feeling.

In the end, I understood—this was the only reason she wanted this. And because of that, I couldn’t bring myself to refuse.

"…Haa. Fine. I’ll do it. Happy now?"

Still, not wanting to give in so easily, I nodded reluctantly, keeping my tone as indifferent as possible. “That’s so like you, Akito-kun—you really get it,” she replied, clearly excited.

And yet, she still didn’t move away.

"How long are you going to stay like that?"

"You like it, don’t you? Boobs."

"Can you stop asking questions that are impossible to answer?"

"I like seeing you struggle, though. But yeah… staying like this forever wouldn’t be good, so let’s get started."

Finally, Mamiya moved away. I took a deep breath.

She blinked her long eyelashes once, then—

"Now then, Aisaka-kun. Please take a cute picture of me."

With a refined smile, she handed me her phone.