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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Nekorune
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Tetsuya emerged from the house.
He was munching on a piece of bread, and just as I was thinking ‘If he drops a single crumb inside the car, I’ll kick him out…’
Perhaps realizing he should at least show that much courtesy, Tetsuya stuffed the rest of the bread into his mouth as soon as he saw the car.
He was about to open the backseat door when he stopped, as if remembering something, and opened the passenger door instead.
*click*
His face dropped as a wave of confusion washed over him.
“Uh… Miyuki? Isn’t it my turn to sit in the front today?”
He remembered their agreement to take turns.
Miyuki, with a bright smile, replied.
“Matsuda-kun looked bored, so I just got in.”
“I see… Should we switch places then?”
“No need, really. Just get in quickly.”
“Ah, okay. Thanks for the ride today too, Matsuda.”
Perhaps sensing the unusual vibe from Miyuki, Tetsuya hesitated for a moment before getting into the backseat.
I grinned at the guy who had just thanked me.
“No prob.”
Tetsuya, Tetsuya… have you noticed how Miyuki has changed, even if just a little?
But this is nothing.
Soon enough, you’ll be bawling your eyes out after I steal your childhood friend.
All you have left is resorting to some hypnosis app.
But even if you somehow manage to get your hands on such a nonexistent item, I’ll just take it from you right away, ha ha!
Still, that bastard is a lucky one.
No, more like he’s overflowing with luck with women.
Even Renka and Hiyori will fall for Tetsuya, who just sits there doing nothing.
It’s truly unfair.
Meanwhile, I have to bust my ass off to get these events going.
All while girls keep flocking to that worthless piece of garbage.
I understand that Tetsuya is the typical protagonist of a love comedy in this Doki Doki Academy universe, but it’s still my wish, my destiny, to save all the heroines from his clutches.
That’s the path to a happy ending.
Fired up with renewed determination, I arrived at school and headed towards the entrance with the other two.
After changing into our indoor shoes, we arrived at our lockers in the first-year hallway. As I opened mine and took out my books, Miyuki spoke to me softly from behind.
“Shouldn’t you organize your books a little? It looks so messy.”
Indeed, the inside of my locker was a jumbled mess of books.
I hadn’t bothered arranging them neatly, so it usually took a while to find the textbooks I needed for each subject.
I grabbed my business textbook and waved my hand dismissively.
“It’s a miracle I even put them in the locker to begin with. I deserve some praise instead, don’t you think?”
“That’s true, but… wait… um…”
It seemed like she was about to say that ‘waiting is annoying.’
But then she hesitated, clearly embarrassed.
I tossed her my locker key and said,
“Why don’t you tidy it up for me during the break after the second period?”
“No way. Why do I have to do it?”
“Come on, you can do this much for me. We’re friends… right?”
As I emphasized the word “friends,” Miyuki flinched and took half a step back.
She looked like she wanted to argue but couldn’t find the words.
I chuckled and lightly nudged her back before entering the classroom.
“Good morning, Matsuda-kun.”
A classmate greeted me awkwardly, waving her hand.
She was the girl who had choked on her bread at the main gate because of me the other day.
What was her name again… Masako?
I guess she remembered me since we had met before, seeing as she greeted me first.
Thank you. But you’re not in my ‘to get’ list.
Though I wouldn’t say no if you threw yourself at me.
I casually waved back and replied.
“Morning, Bread Girl.”
“B-Bread Girl…?”
“Choked on any bread today?”
“Ah, no… I’m fine today.”
“That’s good. See you later.”
“Y-yeah… You too, Matsuda-kun.”
I sat down at my desk and chatted mindlessly with Tetsuya until I saw Miyuki enter the classroom.
It had been a while since we parted ways in the hallway. Did she actually organize my locker?
Judging by the affectionate glare she shot me for a moment, it seemed she did.
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[Matsuda-kun, can you stay for a moment after class?]
[Why?]
[Just stay.]
I secretly read Miyuki’s messages and rested my head on my desk.
Tetsuya tapped me on the shoulder.
“Matsuda, we need to go to the locker room, we have P.E. now.”
“I’m gonna take a five-minute nap and then go. You go ahead.”
“Really…? Alright. Don’t be late.”
“Sure.”
I listened to the sound of my classmates chattering excitedly as they left the classroom. Soon, silence descended.
Just as I was pretending to be asleep, I felt something lightly tapping on my head.
“Matsuda-kun.”
It was Miyuki’s finger.
I sat up and looked around the classroom.
It seemed everyone had gone to the locker room.
I looked up at Miyuki, who was standing with her hands on her hips.
“Why did you tell me to stay?”
“I need to talk to you.”
“About what?”
“Don’t try to boss your classmates around like they’re your subordinates, using the excuse of being friends.”
She was referring to what happened earlier in the hallway.
I stood up and frowned.
“Boss them around? And classmates? That hurts, you know?”
“B-but it’s true…! We’re in the same grade at school… and I’m the class president…”
“Class president? Are you drawing a line between us? Seriously? Are you actually trying to hurt my feelings?”
“That’s not what I meant…”
“Then what?”
I stared down at Miyuki with a serious expression. She hesitated for a moment before suddenly reaching for a bang of her own hair.
Her voice softened as she picked off a loose thread.
“I don’t know, I just… felt irritated for some reason…”
Miyuki twirled the bang between her fingers as she confessed her true feelings.
She lowered her head and continued.
“O-of course, I know you trust me, Matsuda-kun, and that’s why you asked me to organize your locker…”
“And you wanted to get back at me?”
“It’s more like… I wanted to tease you back… but I didn’t think you’d take it so seriously… I’m sorry…”
So, she wanted to tease me back but went a little overboard with her acting.
I had totally fallen for it. And what a relief.
I thought she was genuinely upset.
Shaking my head, I ruffled Miyuki’s hair playfully.
“Stop it…!”
Miyuki whined and swatted my hand away before fixing her hair.
She patted down her hair and meticulously straightened her bangs before moving on to adjust the crooked desks of our classmates.
Why was she doing that?
Was she feeling awkward and trying to busy herself because she didn’t want to leave yet?
That sounded just like our kind Miyuki.
I walked over to Miyuki, who was adjusting the angle of a desk by the window, and placed my hands on the desk, trapping her.
Then, I grinned at her.
“You seemed pretty sincere about it for someone who was acting.”
“D-don’t get the wrong idea… It’s nothing like that…”
“Alright, fine. Just give me back my locker key then.”
“You should say thank you first…”
“Nope.”
“Then I’m not giving it back. Good luck with your afternoon classes without your textbooks.”
“Then I’ll just skip. It’s been a while since I last played hooky anyway.”
Miyuki was taken aback by my nonchalant response.
She stared at me silently for a few seconds before asking,
“Are you serious…?”
“If you’re curious, why don’t you put me to the test?”
A hollow laugh escaped Miyuki’s lips as if she was at a loss for words.
After a few more of her chuckles…
“But aren’t you hot?”
I asked that while flicking at her sleeve.
“What?”
She flinched, startled by my sudden action.
“What was that for?”
“Why are you wearing long sleeves already? Especially when you get hot so easily.”
“H-how do you know I get hot so easily?”
“Because I’ve touched you enough times to know.”
“M-Matsuda-kun…!”
Miyuki yelled, her face flushed, and looked around.
Even though the classroom was empty, she was worried that someone might overhear.
Relieved that no one was around, she started to say something, probably to scold me.
But…
“Huh…?”
Her eyes widened as I leaned forward and brought my face closer to hers.
“Hey.”
“…W-what…?”
“Isn’t it a bit much to be acting all angry after we already kissed?”
As I blatantly brought up last weekend’s big event, Miyuki’s face flushed even brighter, and she averted her gaze.
“D-did we…? Did that really happen…? I don’t remember…”
“Want me to refresh your memory? Come here.”
“…”
Miyuki’s cheeks turned crimson at my bold invitation.
The blush quickly spread across her entire face, reaching her ears.
She fidgeted, at a loss for what to do, before looking at me with a hesitant gaze.
“R-right now…? Really? Are you serious…?”
I had meant it half as a joke, but as expected, Miyuki took everything seriously.
She seemed somewhat tempted. Was she curious about what a second kiss would feel like?
Now that the opportunity presented itself, I couldn’t let it slip away.
“Yeah.”
“We have… P.E.—”
“We have plenty of time… Hey, my back’s starting to hurt. It’s tough matching the height of someone so short.”
I shoved my hands into my pockets, further provoking her. Miyuki was about to retort when she caught my serious gaze and closed her mouth.
“…”
She tilted her head slightly, gauging my reaction, and bit her lip.
It was a sign that she was tempted.
After a moment of hesitation, she—
*screech*
She closed the window next to us.
It wasn’t even a tinted window, so it was a pointless gesture.
But it was endearing how she was trying to create a sense of privacy.
Then, she looked at me with a determined gaze.
She even moved her arm behind her back, as if bracing herself.
I almost burst out laughing at how she was announcing her readiness, but I held it in.
If I laughed now, Miyuki might get upset and leave.
“C-close your eyes…”
She whispered, her voice barely audible.
I did as she asked, closing my eyes and giving her the lead.
Soon, Miyuki’s sweet scent grew stronger.
It was a sign that she was getting closer.
Moments later, when I could feel her nervous breath tickling my ear—
Softly.
Her warm, soft lips met mine.
We stayed like that for a while.
Neither of us moved our tongues or touched each other. We just stayed still.
*chirp-chirp! chirp-chirp!*
As my senses heightened, the sound of cicadas clinging to the trees outside pierced through the window and reached my ears.
Late morning… An empty classroom… A pure kiss shared between two people who hadn’t confessed their feelings but knew they liked each other.
It was a scene straight out of a love comedy.
This must be…
What being in an event CG scene feels like.
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