Two days later, in the evening.
Kotaro was incredibly nervous.
He was entering a college senior's room for the first time—a woman's room, no less—and the room of the person he'd fallen for at first sight.
There was no way he couldn't be nervous.
They'd gathered on campus for a welcome drink, and they'd just arrived at Misaki's room five minutes earlier. There were four freshmen, including Kotaro, and seven seniors. He was surprised by how spacious and tidy the room was—large enough to accommodate eleven people.
"We'll wrap up the drinking session in about two hours, but anyone with plans tomorrow can leave early. Cheers!"
"Cheers!"
The seniors and freshmen, holding paper cups filled with alcohol and soft drinks, raised their voices cheerfully. Misaki had led the toast.
"I've been stuck with leading the toast since last winter... Hey, Kotaro, are you listening? What's wrong?"
Kotaro flinched violently, as if he'd been electrocuted, when Senior Misaki suddenly peered into his face, her beautiful, mature features framed by the dim light.
"Uwah?! N-no, nothing's wrong! Nothing at all!"
"Bullshit! Hey, seriously, what's wrong with you?"
Misaki giggled at Kotaro's flustered reaction, her laughter tinkling like bells. She's really cute... he thought, feeling his tension ease slightly, though he remained on edge.
She's so close... too close...!
Misaki was seated beside him as if it were the most natural thing in the world, and their positions placed them facing away from her bed.
She was wearing a white, short-sleeved dress with frills, a ladylike outfit that complemented her cool, refined features perfectly. The low table in front of them was crowded with appetizers that looked like they'd come from the supermarket, but Misaki's overwhelming beauty and charm left him so nervous he had no appetite.
Huh... There's this amazing scent in the air...!
Even now, the faint, pleasant aroma lingering in the air was indistinguishable—whether it came from the room, the bed, or Misaki herself.
"S-Senior Misaki, your house is so spacious and beautiful!"
Kotaro knew that if he didn't start the conversation, Misaki would tease him. Though that wouldn't be so bad... he thought, flustered, as he managed to squeeze out a safe topic. Misaki smiled happily at his compliment.
"Well, when we have a drinking party, I do tend to put a little effort into cleaning up."
As Misaki blushed with amusement, a short-haired senior woman, clearly beautiful, grinned knowingly.
"Right? You're usually a bit more... casual around here, aren't you?"
"Why did you have to say that?!"
The senior woman laughed heartily at Misaki's playful retort. Their banter clearly showed a close friendship.
"Ah, I'm Shiina Megumi. Misaki and I are classmates, but since I took a gap year, I'm two years older than you. Nice to meet you."
"Ah, I'm Kagaya Kotaro... Nice to meet you too."
Megumi casually touched her short hair and smiled. Her tall, slender frame gave me the clumsy impression of being somehow mature and... alluring.
After finishing her greetings, Megumi joined another conversation group. Misaki muttered quietly:
"Megumi is the complete opposite of me in every way... She's tall, her boyfriend's in the Social Welfare Research Society, she's tall, and... she's tall..."
"It's mostly about her height, though..."
Still, Misaki added with a faint blush and a smile, "But somehow, we just click." I wondered if this was what friendships at university were like... and felt a twinge of envy.
The conversation among the eleven flowed easily, with some participants moving around frequently. Kotaro and Misaki joined in various discussions, but their positions remained unchanged.
"Alright, let's have the freshmen introduce themselves around here."
Under the guidance of Fukushima, the representative of the Social Welfare Research Society, the freshmen took turns greeting the group. They all seemed quiet and gentle, giving off an impression that they were well-suited for volunteer work, though that was just his own assumption.
After three introductions, it was finally Kotaro's turn.
"Um... I'm Kagaya Kotaro."
"Oh, the one Misaki brought?"
"That's right, my only catch of the day!"
"How cute!"
"Uh, can I... continue?"
The seniors continued their conversation, leaving Kotaro, who was still introducing himself, behind. They smiled gently at his awkwardness.
"Alright, alright. Continue."
"Uh, yes. I'm in the Faculty of Humanities..."
"What?! Kotaro, are you my junior?!"
"Huh, really?!"
Misaki raised her hand and started bouncing around excitedly. Her twin ponytails and ample chest swayed energetically. I barely managed to resist joining her excitement, desperately trying not to let my gaze wander downward.
My self-introduction is really dragging on... I thought with a wry smile. Some people were even chatting about their hobbies, but my hobbies—light novels, manga, and social games—didn't seem like they'd lead to much conversation in this setting. I was just thinking that name and faculty should be enough when Misaki raised her hand enthusiastically and declared, "Okay, question!"
"Ah, yes. Go ahead."
"Do you want to join this Circle? You're in, right? Great, you're in!"
"What kind of recruitment triple conjugation is that?!"
I reflexively snapped back, and the room erupted in laughter. Good, it worked... I relaxed, relieved. Even Misaki was laughing heartily.
"Uh, well..."
After the laughter subsided, Kotaro scratched his cheek with an embarrassed smile.
"This is my second time at the welcome party, but I just... I really feel like this is such a warm, friendly place..."
As I spoke, I was sorting out my thoughts. I glanced sideways and saw Misaki smiling gently at me.
"I mean... I think I'm going to join. Really."
Misaki's eyes widened like a cat's, and her smile bloomed like a flower. I was captivated by her radiant grin as the room suddenly buzzed with excitement.
"Whoa, seriously, dude?! Wait, sorry—what's your name again?!"
"Huh? Oh, I'm Kagaya Kotaro."
After Fukushima, a third-year student, Megumi, who was in the same year as Misaki, leaned in close.
"We often give nicknames in this Circle. Did you have one before? We have all sorts of nicknames here, like Hobbit, Fairy Penguin, Koropokkuru, and Tatsumi..."
"Those are all me! Wait, I'd never heard the last one before!"
Misaki's retort sent the room into another uproar.
"Um, I didn't really have a nickname before... They just called me Kotaro."
"I see... Well, we'll have to give you one later, then."
"Kotaro, what do you want to do? Have a naming ceremony?"
"Huh? Does the Social Welfare Research Society even have such a solemn ritual?"
"Huh? What are you talking about? Stop messing around!"
"You set the trap and then push me in?!"
The room erupted in laughter again. It seemed everyone was thoroughly enjoying Misaki's banter. Megumi was doubled over, tears streaming down her face, and even the other freshmen seemed to be enjoying the humor. That was the most important thing.
Once the introductions were over, the atmosphere relaxed back into its easygoing mood.
"Huh? Senior... you can drink alcohol?"
I glanced sideways and saw Misaki pouring chu-hai into a paper cup. Her expression was a mix of excitement and nervousness.
"Yeah, my birthday was a few days ago. Now that I've officially come of age, I can drink legally."
"Hey, Misaki, are you trying to act all tough? Remember when you tried drinking sake for the first time on your birthday? One sip and you gave up, whining, 'N-no way! I'm not ready for this yet!'"
"Why did you have to bring that up?!"
Misaki's face flushed crimson at Megumi's words. Maybe she's sensitive to alcohol? Even her flustered state is adorable.
"Ugh... Just you wait... I can totally handle this..."
Despite her grumbling, Misaki didn't take a sip from her chu-hai. She gripped the paper cup tightly, trembling so hard it looked like the cup might start to disintegrate.
"Um, Senior... that doesn't really sound like an excuse..."
"Hey!"
She glared at him with an expression that made him think, Is she some die-hard Yankee? Even with her scowl, she was still cute, and her voice had a girlish charm.
"Don't you underestimate me, Kotaro! You're the one who makes 100-yen shop rounds a weekend ritual!"
"Stop making up these weird backstories! Besides, that's insulting to people who work at 100-yen shops!"
Ignoring Kotaro's retort, Misaki gulped audibly and tilted her cup back.
*****
There were no mishaps like drinking a sip and fainting.
But still...
"Hey, Kotaro, you drinking?"
"Orange juice, actually..."
(So annoying... but she's cute...)
He was getting pretty tipsy.
Misaki was sipping her chu-hai, giggling and exclaiming, "Pfft! So this is what alcohol tastes like? Gross!" Everyone around them—seniors and even the freshmen—watched with warm amusement. She was like a drunk hamster, really.
The canned highball Misaki was drinking was only 3% alcohol. Even Kotaro, who had never drunk alcohol before, could tell that wasn't much. Still, Misaki was cheerfully tipsy. She was exactly the kind of working woman you'd expect to see on a Friday night, spouting spirited, if slightly slurred, words in a way that only made her more endearing.
She's really cute... Whoa!
Desperately fighting back the urge to melt into a puddle, Kotaro stole a sideways glance and nearly let out a strange noise.
"Haaah, this is so much fun..."
Misaki, perhaps feeling the heat, laughed and unbuttoned one of the buttons on her white dress. From the angle—looking down from his slightly elevated seat—the change wasn't immediately noticeable to others. But to Kotaro, it revealed a deep, soft cleavage that he couldn't help but see. Faced with this raw, feminine sight for the first time, he whipped his head away so quickly he feared his neck might snap.
I saw it, I saw it, I saw it...!
From an angle visible only to him, he caught the faintest glimpse of Misaki's femininity. Her flushed cheeks and the soft valley between her breasts replayed intensely in his mind. He tried to think of something else, but the vivid image overwhelmed everything.
"Kotaro, what's wrong? You've been quiet for a while."
"Huh? Oh, hey, that's cold!"
Misaki grinned cheerfully, pressing her can of chu-hai against his cheek. He felt a little annoyed but managed to calm down. Unaware of Kotaro's agitation, Misaki playfully tapped his knee, looking amused. Why is she tapping me? he wondered, his heart racing at the sudden intimacy.
"Misaki, you've been all over Kotaro-kun for a while now. Are you that taken with him?" Megumi approached the pair, whispering teasingly.
Kotaro's face burned instantly, but Misaki just grinned and patted his head.
"Ah, you give such good retorts, don't you? You're worth teasing."
"Hey, Senior...?"
Misaki continued to tousle Megumi's hair. Megumi looked torn between understanding and confusion at Misaki's flippant words.
"Well, if you're having fun, Misaki, then fine... Take care of her for me, Kotaro."
"Huh?! Oh, yes! You can count on me!"
Kotaro nodded so vigorously he nearly snapped to attention, making Megumi burst into laughter.
"Ah ha ha! You don't need to be so intense! Just keep an eye on her and make sure she doesn't drink too much."
"Y-yes!"
Megumi waved goodbye and left. Normally, she or another senior would have taken charge of this role. Maybe she did this so Misaki and I could talk alone, Kotaro thought, choosing to interpret the situation in the most convenient way.
I glanced at the neighboring circle and saw a mixed group of freshmen and upperclassmen had formed.
"Senior Misaki is so cute, right?" a female freshman remarked.
The seniors, both male and female, nodded in agreement.
"Exactly! Exactly!"
"She really lifts your spirits, doesn't she? Even when you're exhausted from lectures, coming to the meeting and getting all riled up with Misaki just puts you back in a good mood."
"Huh?! Senior Misaki would let us... I-I'd love to try..."
"Oh, come on! She'd probably go along with it somehow."
They were animatedly chatting about Misaki. Noticing they were talking about her, Misaki pursed her thin lips slightly. How cute. But she didn't say anything further, turning back to Kotaro with a radiant smile. She was so adorable it nearly made me faint.
Senior, you're really popular.
Still, something felt... off.
The seniors clearly found Misaki adorable. But it was less about her feminine charm and more about seeing her as a cute mascot.
That alone was proof of how much Misaki was adored. Yet, as someone who had fallen head over heels for her at first sight, Kotaro couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong. She was cute, beautiful, petite, and had large breasts.
Even though she's so insanely popular, it's not surprising at all...
As his thoughts swirled, he finally realized what was bothering him: he was fixated on whether Misaki already had someone. He was appalled by this blatant desire. Even so, he wished the people around Misaki would notice her other charms. It felt like she'd been appointed as the tourism ambassador for some prefecture.
Could I ask her if she has a boyfriend now? Hmm, but...
I'm incredibly shy—I've never even confessed to a girl before. It seems like it should be easy to just casually ask, but I can't bring myself to do it. I feel utterly pathetic.
"Ugh, they all treat us like we're still kids..."
As I hum in agreement, Misaki grumbles, sipping her chu-hai in a cute manner. It seems she's been thinking the same thing.
Just as I consider talking to Senior about it—
Suddenly, I catch a glimpse of the back of Misaki's neck. It's flushed with a seductive crimson. Combined with her white one-piece dress with short sleeves and her legs flowing freely, the sight is so intensely alluring that I find myself staring intently.
Without realizing it, I gulp audibly.
The sound wasn't particularly loud, but Misaki seemed to hear it clearly. Before Kotaro could even turn away, her relaxed demeanor vanished, and she whipped around with a start. Petrified, she froze as Misaki stared intently at him.
"...Kotaro, your eyes looked like a wild animal just now."
"Huh?!"
The serious tone of her words made his heart clench. This was a first for him. The realization that he'd looked at a woman with such a predatory gaze filled him with both shock and intense self-loathing.
"I'm... I'm so sorry...!" he murmured, genuinely contrite. If I look at a woman like that, she'll definitely be repulsed. How could I do such a thing to the Senior I adore? he thought, but Misaki continued to stare at him with an unreadable expression.
"...Kotaro, do you think I'm just a child?"
"Huh?"
Caught off guard by the unexpected question, I let out a dopey sound. Fortunately, everyone around us was engrossed in their own conversations, so no one noticed.
I didn't really understand. But even if I didn't, this felt like an opportunity to show my sincerity.
With that thought, I set down my cup and scrambled to find the right words.
"Um, Senior... you're definitely not tall, but hey!"
My palm was pinched. "Ouch..." I hissed cutely, glaring at her. She was so adorable I wanted to keep staring at her for hours.
"But... I don't think of you as a child."
Misaki's eyes widened at Kotaro's words. Then they blinked rapidly as she parted her long bangs and stared intently at him, as if determined not to miss a single trace of his true feelings. Feeling his heart race wildly, Kotaro continued speaking.
"I don't even think of you as a kid... Actually, Senior, you look incredibly mature, beautiful, and... ahem, never mind the last part! Don't pinch me again!"
Misaki pinched the back of his hand again, but this time she wore a mischievous grin.
"Wow, Kotaro, you really think of me like that?"
"Y-yes... that's exactly how I feel," he murmured.
Then, Misaki's small hand gently stroked the spot she had pinched, soothing the sting.
"You little pervert."
"What?!"
He was startled by the accusation. He wanted to ask for clarification, but Misaki just laughed and ignored him.
She's not angry... right...?
He'd thought he was doomed when she accused him of having "a bestial look in his eyes," but not only did she not seem bothered, she was even cheerier than before. He let out a relieved sigh.
Her chu-hai consumption seems to be speeding up... he worried, though he tried to relax and enjoy the leisurely conversation.