“Okaaay, Nanami loses. The penalty game goes to Nanami!”
“Penalty game!! Penalty game!! Yay, I’m so glad it’s not me!”
“Eeh—me…?”
The top of the class caste, the embodiment of extroverted cheerfulness—flashy gyaru-type girls who were blessed with both beauty and cuteness, basically born into life’s winning side—were playing cards in the classroom after school for some reason.
They weren’t gambling or anything. Apparently, they had simply set up a penalty game as part of it.
Despite their flashy appearance, it seemed pretty wholesome. I couldn’t help but admire that.
I… Misumai Youshin, just happened to walk in on the scene. I’m their classmate, but we have no connection whatsoever.
To be precise, I came back to retrieve something I forgot and ran into them still inside the classroom. As someone who’s always been an introvert with barely any presence, they hadn’t even noticed me.
Even though my name contains the kanji for “sun,” I’m a gloomy introvert. Talk about not living up to your name. Not that I really care.
Anyway, the thing I forgot wasn’t anything important. Just my pencil case. I picked it up, put it in my bag, and quietly moved to leave the classroom. They still hadn’t noticed me and continued chatting.
Well, my seat is in the back… and the classroom door had been left open, so it didn’t make much noise. Considering how loud they were, even if it had made a sound, it probably would’ve been drowned out.
“Alright then, as for the penalty game—… let’s make it a confession!! Tomorrow after school, you have to confess to a guy you normally have no interaction with!!”
“Ooooh, that’s a good one!! A penalty-game confession, that’s a classic!!”
“Eeeh…? A penalty-game confession…?”
The one assigned the penalty—Barato Nanami-san—replied in an obviously reluctant tone. Despite wearing an extremely short skirt, she sat cross-legged on top of her desk.
If someone were standing directly in front of her, they’d probably get a full view of her secret area. I had to clench my teeth and resist the urge to circle around to the front.
Even introverts have desires, you know.
“A penalty confession is awful!! Playing with someone’s feelings is the worst!! A confession should be something serious… something you do with someone you actually like…!!”
“You’re the only one who keeps saying that. You’re the only one in our group without a boyfriend.”
“Exactly. You’re the cutest one, you get confessed to all the time, and you turn every single one down, don’t you?”
“Ugh… but… guys are kind of scary… and when they confess while staring at my body the whole time…”
Barato Nanami-san was surprisingly reasonable, but her two friends—whose names I’ve unfortunately forgotten—pressed her with concerned expressions, leaving her at a loss for words.
Don’t falter there. You’re right, Barato Nanami-san. Don’t give in. Stay strong.
Having gained a bit more respect for her, I cheered her on silently in my heart. I didn’t say anything out loud, of course.
“Nanami just isn’t used to guys at all. So first, confess to someone harmless-looking and date him for at least one month! That’s the penalty!”
“Eeeh…? A whole month…?”
“The reason doesn’t matter. You just need to get used to boys. We’re worried about you. At this rate, you might get targeted by some weirdo.”
It seemed like they were worried about Barato Nanami-san in their own way. Though their approach felt a bit misguided…
Also, I was technically eavesdropping… but now I was too curious about what would happen next to leave. Thankfully, they still hadn’t noticed me. What should I do?
“Right, it should be a herbivore type—or maybe even an ‘abstinent’ type. Someone who wouldn’t suddenly pounce on you even if you were alone together…”
“It’s just a penalty game, so you don’t have to force yourself to keep dating him. But if you end up wanting to continue, that’s fine too. And if you break up, as long as he never finds out it was a penalty game, he won’t be that hurt, right? I mean, getting confessed to by Nanami and dating her for a month? He’d totally be thrilled!! And we’ll never tell him it was a penalty game!!”
Her two friends were completely fired up, egging her on.
True, if the guy dated her for a whole month without ever knowing it was a penalty game, he probably wouldn’t be emotionally scarred. It might even feel like a reward.
But did they realize how other guys would look at whoever got confessed to by Barato Nanami-san?
She had sunk—no, obliterated—countless handsome guys who had confessed to her before. Dating someone like her would absolutely attract jealousy, envy, and all sorts of complicated stares from those very same guys.
If it were me, I wouldn’t be able to handle it.
My stomach would probably develop so many holes it’d look like a beehive. Instead of sweat, digestive juices would burst out of my pores. And then I’d melt away entirely.
I don’t know which poor yet enviable guy will get to taste both heaven and hell at the same time… but it has nothing to do with me.
I wish him the best. The penalty-game confession, the one-month relationship—may he survive it. I’ll keep the fact that it’s a penalty game locked inside my heart as well.
Having resolved that, I stopped eavesdropping and prepared to make my cool exit—
—only to freeze solid when I heard their next words.
“Alright then, tomorrow… confess to the quietest guy in class—Misumai Youshin!!”
“Misumai, huh…? Yeah… if it’s him… okay… I’ll try.”
I see. So the enviable yet pitiful guy is named Misumai Youshin. Sounds familiar. Yes, Misumai Youshin… such a close and friendly name.
Huh? Misumai Youshin? …Was there someone else in this class—or even this school—with the exact same name?
…Um… I’m right here, you know. I heard everything perfectly…
Wait. Tomorrow, I’m getting confessed to as part of a penalty game?
By Barato Nanami-san?
…I should probably prepare myself mentally.
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