"...You know why, right? The fake confession in middle school. When everyone laughed and said, 'No one would ever get an erection for a flat-chested girl like her.' When you, Takumi, come so much, it makes me feel like I can do it too..."
Kotori's expression hardened, as if recalling that time.
Even though Kotori now hangs out with the "First Army Girls," before high school, she was like Takumi—just a background character, quietly existing in the corner of the classroom.
Her current appearance was the result of her so-called "high school debut."
But while her appearance changed drastically, she couldn't change her inner self overnight.
That's why Kotori needed that routine before doing anything.
She had used the same routine when she got her ears pierced, which was the topic of conversation in the classroom this morning.
She had intended to get both ears pierced but ended up only getting one because she got cold feet.
She had also needed it when she first went to buy cosmetics, when she switched from glasses to contacts, when she shortened her school skirt, and even on the first day of school when she was so scared of going to school with her new, polished look that she had to do the routine in a hurry that morning.
What a strange relationship it had become.
Takumi, with a self-deprecating smile, said in a forced cheerful voice, "Seriously, for a routine like this to be necessary, Kotori, you're a real pervert."
"Shut up!"
"So, shouldn't you hurry and go to Futaba? They're waiting for you, aren't they? I'll take care of the cleanup."
"Oh, right. Sorry, and thanks again."
"No problem. Now get going."
"This is another achievement unlocked, another part of my youth conquered. Oh, the key is in the usual place."
"...Got it."
"Conquering youth."
Hearing those words, Takumi's face twisted for a moment.
Kotori, meanwhile, pulled up her underwear, grabbed her bag, and rushed out of the room.
Left behind, Takumi let out a weary sigh and reflected on how he and Kotori had ended up in this relationship.
It was at the beginning of winter in their third year of middle school when Kotori was confessed to. The boy was known as a joker in their class, but he was quite handsome.
Naturally, Kotori was greatly shaken by this unexpected, first-time experience.
Despite being swept up in unfamiliar emotions, she seriously considered the boy and tried to think positively about their relationship—but the confession was, as they say, a fake one.
He didn't know the details, but he heard that some pretty terrible things were said. He also heard a rumor that the boy had insulted her in front of everyone.
From a distance, Kotori was so depressed it was painful to watch.
Even Takumi, who was just a neighbor and didn't like to get involved with people, felt compelled to reach out to her. That was the start of their current relationship.
"W-What do you care? Someone like me, a gloomy and ugly girl, no one would ever want to touch, and no guy could get hard for me. You probably look down on me on the inside, too!"
But Kotori, who had completely lost her trust in people, didn't listen to his words. And since Takumi was in a situation where he was forced to retire from track and field due to an injury, an argument ensued. They both became emotional and couldn't back down, and in the heat of the moment, they ended up losing their virginity.
Even now, looking back, he thought it was a terrible thing to have done.
In fact, he was filled with self-loathing for a while after.
It was ironic that he became so absorbed in his studies as a form of escapism that he raised his target school's level by two.
Then, on a day shortly before high school entrance, when their relationship was becoming estranged due to the awkwardness, Kotori was waiting for him in front of his house, her face red up to her ears as she asked him, "Help me conquer my youth!"
The concrete method she asked for was this routine.
Of course, he refused at first. It was only natural. It went against public decency.
Besides, Takumi had a strong sense of ethics that these things shouldn't be done between people who weren't in a dating relationship. That was precisely why he regretted having gone so far with Kotori that one time.
However, when Kotori cornered him by saying he had forced her to lose her virginity, his sense of guilt made him unable to refuse. Since then, Takumi has been helping Kotori "conquer her youth" and has continued this routine.
After cleaning up, Takumi left the Nabata household.
He locked the door and put the key in the mailbox. He then looked towards Kingyo Mall and murmured, not for anyone to hear, "'Become a popular person, make a wonderful boyfriend and friends, and have a sparkling high school life,' huh..."
That was Kotori's current goal, set to show up the boy who gave her the fake confession.
(And yet, she said she wanted to be able to talk proactively and liven up the atmosphere.)
She was moving forward toward the person she wanted to be, but she was already struggling at the stage of making friends she could talk to about anything.
Takumi could easily imagine Kotori at Futaba in Kingyo Mall, too nervous to say anything and just silently sipping her new drink through a straw.
Takumi wore an ambiguous, unreadable smile as he headed toward his own house.
Post a Comment