Now that I think about it, it’s strange. If she was just going to introduce me to the student council president, Kimiya could’ve just asked me straight up. I wouldn’t have refused even without all this buildup.
She’s helped me enough to deserve that. Actually, even if she hadn’t, it’s not something I’d turn down outright.
Despite that, Kimiya took the time to prepare a handmade lunch before bringing up the topic.Of course, the lunch might have just been something she made separately, completely unrelated to what she wanted to talk about—but the timing was just a little too perfect for that. It’s probably safe to assume she intended it as a bargaining chip from the beginning.
—Maybe I gave the wrong answer. Now I have this creeping feeling I made a mistake.
I should’ve known from the very start that this girl, Kimiya Natsuki, isn’t someone you can afford to let your guard down around.That should’ve been clear the moment we first met.
But it’s too late now. I’ve already said yes, even after she asked for confirmation.
“Then please come to the student council room today after school, at 4:30 PM.”
That’s what Kimiya told me. I shook off the uneasy feeling and nodded at her words.
There’s no point in letting my imagination run wild. I do have a bad habit of being overly suspicious.
But I am a student at this school now. There’s no use doubting everyone needlessly.
I’m forming a connection with the student council president. I should just be happy about that. It’s been hard trying to connect with upperclassmen on my own, so this is a lucky break—almost too good to be true.
“——————”
And yet.
Why can’t I shake this bad feeling?
5
The sixth period ended, and school was out for the day.
There was still more than an hour before the promised time of 4:30 PM.
After thinking it over, I decided to head back to the second club building.
No special reason. If I had to say, maybe I figured I’d at least drop by the Second Literature Club. Well, I wasn’t sure if they’d actually welcome me or not.
The main reason I chose this Seishinkan Academy was to build connections.
It’d be a waste to just leave a potential one hanging. Luckily, I have the perfect excuse—“looking for job opportunities”—which makes it easy to visit clubs I have nothing to do with.
And so, I found myself at the Second Literature Club room after school.
There were noticeably more people around than during lunch. Cultural clubs and small hobby groups mainly use this second building.
I climbed to the second floor and stopped once again in front of the door labeled “Second Literature Club.”
I knocked.
Two soft raps. I waited, but there was no response.
No one there? Well, I didn’t make an appointment or anything. Still, I tried the doorknob— It wasn’t locked, and it opened easily.
“Huh, maybe they just stepped out?”
Now I was conflicted. If I had no other plans, I’d wait, but with that meeting coming up, my time was limited. …Okay, I’ll set a limit.
If no one shows up in ten minutes, I’ll give up for today.
With that decided, I took a seat and waited in the empty Second Literature Club room.
Looking around again, the room was pretty plain despite having the same structure as the Drama Club’s. There was an electric kettle, but no obvious club-related equipment.
I had entered the First Literature Club room for a job once before. That one was full of stuff—old club magazines, a printer, shelves full of paperbacks. It had the proper feel of a literature club.
Well, that one’s bigger, and it’s in the main building. So it makes sense this one feels emptier.
The shelves were nearly bare, and there were no manuscript papers or computers around.
The only thing that stood out was that sketchbook. Maybe it belonged to Minase?
Without thinking, I picked up the sketchbook.
It felt more like an art club supply than something for a literature club.
As I flipped through it idly—
[Welcome back, Isa]
[How did it go?]
[×]
[○]
READ THE ORIGINAL TRANSLATION AT LOCALIZERMEERKAT.PAGES.DEV
—It was Minase’s handwriting, clearly written just to tease me.
I shook my shoulders in frustration at her improv comedy bit. And then I noticed something unexpected.
“…Huh?”
Lying under the sketchbook on the table was a stack of white papers.
Covered in dense handwriting—
it was clearly a manuscript, maybe a novel.
As expected of a literature club. Looks like they actually do write things.
I was about to look away, thinking I shouldn’t snoop—
—but my eyes were drawn to it and couldn’t pull away.
“Wait…?”
The reason was simple. Even just glancing at it, I couldn’t miss that name. Because right there in the text, bold as day, was my name—Kageyuki Sou.
“Wait. That’s… me, right?”
I mean, sure, I’ve coincidentally met four girls named “Natsuki,” but there’s no way someone just happens to write a character named “Kageyuki Sou.” This was definitely about me.
“What the hell is this…? Why’s my name in here…?”
Without realizing it, I started reading the story.
It seemed like a school slice-of-life type. But it was hard to say whether it was a novel or an essay. The content described the moment I came into this club room.
The only other characters besides me were Isa and Minase, the two I met during lunch.
It described me carrying Isago on my back into the room, and meeting Minase there.
The scene was written from Minase’s point of view.
It was almost like a highly detailed diary entry, but the tone still felt like fiction.
Then I moved on to the second page of the manuscript.
And that’s where things started to stray from reality.
According to it—
※
Even after some time passed, Kageyuki-san didn’t put Isa down.
He must’ve wanted to enjoy the soft sensation on his back for as long as he could.
“Feel good, Sou?”
Isa asked with a teasing smile. But I didn’t miss the slight blush on her cheeks. A sensual look that Sou would never see.
Right now, I was the only one in his view.
His eyes scanned me up and down, almost licking over my body.
There was no doubt—he wasn’t satisfied with Isa alone.
Now he was coming for me too—
“That’s total fiction!!”
I shouted—right as the door opened.
Startled, I jumped as the sound hit me mid-reading.
The person who walked in was one of the two I met earlier—Minase Natsuki.
Her blank gaze met mine, catching me sitting there reading her manuscript.
“…………”
“…………”
Neither of us said a word for a moment.
I couldn’t read what Minase was thinking from her nearly emotionless face.
What do I do? The room was now filled with the most painfully awkward silence imaginable.
But eventually, as if bored of the stare-off, Minase walked right in and stood in front of me, looking down.
“──Pervert.”
“Wait, I’m the pervert here?”
“Peeping.”
“Okay, I admit that part…”
“So? How was it?”
“You’re asking me that!? After all this!?”
“For reference.”
“…Wait. So you wrote this, Minase?”
Minase gave a small nod. I didn’t think she’d admit it so casually, without any embarrassment.
Though… now that I look closer, were her ears just slightly red? Maybe she was a little embarrassed.
“So, uh… What exactly is this?”
When I finally asked, unsure what else to say, she answered in a flat tone:
“It was rare for Isa to bring a boy.”
“…And?”
“I thought it was an interesting situation.”
“…So?”
“I decided to turn it into an erotic novel.”
“What kind of friend does that to their own friends!?”
“Material.”
Minase was completely unapologetic.
Seriously? She used her classmates as characters in a smut story? That takes guts.
“Though I kinda got bored halfway through writing.”
“Honestly, that’s a relief.”
“Bad casting. Especially the guy—he just wasn’t appealing.”
“Hey, why is this suddenly my fault?”
I couldn’t help but throw in a retort.
Then I noticed—just a little—Minase’s ears really were red.
She was embarrassed, just a bit. Well, yeah. Anyone would be if someone read that.
“Sorry.”
I put the manuscript down and apologized.
Regardless of what it was, I had peeked at her writing without permission.
“I saw my name and got curious. I don’t know if this helps, but I only read up to the second page. I hope that gives you some peace of mind.”
“…There is only two pages.”
“Then I basically read the whole thing… Sorry again.”
“It’s fine.”
Minase remained calm.
Still calm, she tilted her head slightly, as if curious.
“Kageyuki-san, you’re not mad?”
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