Thanks to Rose’s fluster-inducing performance, the subsequent discussions progressed very quickly. The helpers brought by the futsumen was promptly acknowledged, and the topic swiftly moved to the negotiations for officially recognizing the Breakdance Club as an official school Club.

However, what can't be avoided is the current club president's peculiar preference.

"By the way, Kousaka, are there no other club members here?"

Unexpectedly, Takeuchi-kun hit the core of the issue.

A question that naturally arises.

Kousaka's expression instantly hardens again, as it's not that long since he has been exposed as gay.

The incident where the Breakdance Club members left on the same day still lingered vividly in his memory, becoming a trauma deep within him. Moreover, the splendid dance by Rose, witnessed just now, was too precious to repeat such an incident.

"N-No, um, well, that's..."

"Surely, you're not alone, right?"

"......"

A tanned-skin underclassman who is reluctant to say anything.

In the midst of his struggles, there was a man offering an inconvenient helping hand.

It's Nishino.

"About that, it seems that his homosexuality was exposed to the other members, and they all decided to quit. Apparently, there's a required minimum number of members to register this club. That's why I approached Takeuchi-kun and the others to join us."

"!?"

The baritachi's facial expression is at its utmost.

W-Wait a sec, Senpai! Why are you disclosing things on your own!? His expression says it all.

Still, Takeuchi-kun's response to this didn't change much.

"Hmm? Sounds like a difficult situation."

"That's the situation, and I'd appreciate your help."

"Not a big deal, but I'm not doing it just because you told me, okay?"

"Yeah, I'm aware of that."

Nishino, without considering how Takeuchi-kun's preferences might affect the distance with others, extended the invitation for that very reason. And his assumption proved correct. The ongoing exchange was met with a quiet response, as if to say, 'So, what's the problem with that?'

The estimated percentage that identifies as homosexual is said to be one in ten of the world's population. Turning them into enemies is equivalent to making enemies with one-tenth of all humanity. Within that fraction, there are both men and women, the poor and the wealthy. With a wide circle of friends and acquaintances, Takeuchi-kun understood this fact accurately.

Regardless of his own personal feelings, he would never make statements that would turn them into an enemy.

Furthermore, Gabriella, who openly declares herself as a lesbian, is accompanying them. Takeuchi-kun couldn't deny the fact that she is a beautiful girl. He's a handsome guy who's aiming for a threesome with Gabriella and Rose.

Additionally, it can be said that the same applies to others besides Takeuchi-kun.

"I couldn't care less about your personal background. More importantly, could you quickly provide the information needed for club approval? Now that we have enough members, if we submit the application today, the club should be approved right away, no?"

Rose is quickly working to promote the Breakdance Club to an official club, planning to withdraw from the club along with Nishino afterward. The silver-haired Lolita pays no attention, casually gazing at Rose. On the other hand, the blonde Lolita, being stared at, already disregards her existence.

"Eh? Ah, y-yes... We have gathered five people, so, um, I guess it should be okay."

"If that's the case, shall we head there right away?"

"Ah, but please wait a moment."

"What? Is there anything else?"

"Upon being approved as an official club, we are assigned a new place and budget for our activities. Therefore, considering this, there's no guarantee that the application will be approved; it undergoes a proper evaluation. That's why I want to thoroughly prepare before submitting the application."

"Specifically, what do you mean?"

"There's an event next weekend, so I'm thinking of participating in it before proceeding."

"Hnn..."

This wasn't a very interesting discussion for Rose, who was thinking of quitting this club by the end of the day, just like what she did in the Language Club. However, the promise she made with Nishino was to assist in elevating the Breakdance Club to an official club. Therefore, she couldn't reject this in the presence of the futsumen.

On the other hand, Gabriella shows a terribly surprised expression at his words.

"Eh? Um, w-what do you mean by five people?"

With an expression as if she just realized something, she locked her gaze on Nishino.

"To state it clearly, there are 'five' of us here. Err, is something the matter?"

Responding with a puzzled expression, Kousaka appeared confused about the intention behind her statement. Despite her lack of noticeable reaction after learning that he was gay, he started to ponder what exactly was surprising in the current exchange.

"The way you phrased it just now, it almost sounds like you're saying that man is included as well."

Her gaze points to Nishino as she asks.

Apparently, she hadn't considered that the futsumen would also be a member of the Breakdance Club. Drawn in by the idea of Rose joining, the lesbian unknowingly stepped into the enemy's stronghold without realizing.

"Ah, yes. I got word from Nishino-senpai about joining the club, so we've been discussing about the club's future since last week. It was a last-minute decision, so I didn't expect to really have someone brought in like this. I'm really grateful, and it makes me so happy."

"Wha..."

"Ara? Could it be that you hadn't noticed?"

Wearing a mischievous and delighted grin, Rose inquires.

She appears to be quite amused.

"......"

"Surely, you wouldn't say you don't like it, would you?"

Her gleeful expression as she happily talks to the distressed silver-haired Lolita is likely a reaction to the persistent bother she has faced over the past few days. Thinking back, their relationship began during the graduation trip, and this could be the first time the blonde Lolita has a chance to counterattack.

"No, u-um, Onee-sama, that is..."

"Well then, let's start practicing, or whatever, shall we?"

At that moment, the silver-haired Lolita's complexion immediately turned pale.

"Eh? But, i-is it alright? That senpai over there looks a bit unwell..."

In response to this, the blonde Lolita replied in a calm manner.

"The event is next week, isn't it? There's no time to relax."

With a triumphant expression, Rose eagerly takes a step forward.

On the same day, the Breakdance Club's activities concluded with only a meeting.

The reason was solely due to the proposal from the current club president. It was a consideration for the two female members who did not have sports attire. With the rest of the members also being gentlemen, there were no voices of opposition. That's how it ended.

Nishino, Rose, and Gabriella made their way home.

Kousaka headed to the staff room because he had some paperwork to do.

And as for Takeuchi-kun, who was left alone—

"...This is bad... This is seriously bad..."

He was in a hurry, thinking 'I have to do something.'

The handsome man never imagined being called up on the day he was approached. Furthermore, it's completely unexpected that every gathered member, including Rose and Gabriella, can dance to some extent. This is all beyond Takeuchi-kun's expectations.

"I need to practice, or else I'll be in trouble. I have to at least surpass Nishino..."

While muttering to himself, he hurriedly made his way to Class 2-A.

Originally, he had planned to confidently invite Rose for an after-school date. However, he did not have the luxury to do so now. The current ikemen was so cornered to the extent of silently watching Nishino and Rose walk home together.

As soon as he arrived at the classroom, he went straight to his seat and started getting ready to go home.

There was an urgent need for breakdance practice. Failing to reach a level where he could dance smoothly with the other members could be a serious matter, affecting not only Rose's attention but also his standing in the school caste.

In the midst of his anxiety, a fellow student approached him and called out.

"U-Um, Takeuchi-kun!"

It's Matsuura-san.

Until just a couple of weeks ago, she spent every day hanging out with Takeuchi-kun. However, recently, he has not been responding to her emails, and she feels uneasy. With those accumulating thoughts, it appears she was waiting for him after school in the classroom.

However, now is the worst possible time to strike up a conversation.

"Huh? Oh, what is it? Is it something urgent?"

"Um, i-if it's okay with you, would you like to hang out somewhere together today..."

Summoning up her courage, she gathered her resolve to invite him to an after-school date.

However, currently, Takeuchi-kun had no room for such indulgence.

"Sorry, I won't be available for some time. My bad."

"Eh? What are you..."

"Actually, I'm going to be busy for a while."

Immediately after saying that, he quickly packed his belongings into his bag and hurriedly left the classroom.

The direction of his consciousness leads to a rental room near his house. It's a facility he's used before for breakdancing practice. It provides privacy, and he can also use power sources and a large mirror. For a prideful ikemen, it's an ideal practice location.

"Ah... T-Takeuchi-kun!"

Matsuura-san tried to stop him, but it didn't reach Takeuchi-kun.

In the blink of an eye, the sound of his footsteps quickly faded away from the classroom.

"......"

Her biggest mistake was calling out to him in public.

In the thinly populated classroom with a few remaining students, several female students witnessed the unfolding interactions. The two are already attracting a lot of attention, it seems. The lively chatter that had filled the air just moments ago seemed to have subdued, leaving the room in silence.

Recently, Matsuura-san has garnered resentment from the girls in the class. In this situation, where she was treated lightly by the handsome Takeuchi-kun, who ensures her position—there's no way these girls are merely silently observing.

"—Hey, did you see what happened just now? Didn't Matsuura-san get dumped by Takeuchi-kun?"

"—Right? Or rather, he didn't even make eye contact with her, didn't he?"

"—True, true!"

"—What, what~? Could it be that Matsumura-san got dumped for real?"

"—Uwaa, poor thing."

Naturally, those chatters reach Matsuura-san's ears too.

"!"

If she had been foolish-minded like Nishino, she wouldn't have been bothered by this and would have thought positively, saying, "He seemed to be in a hurry for some reason; I'll ask him out again tomorrow."

However, her mental strength is not as tough as that of that particular futsumen.

—Matsuura-san's school life enters its second phase.

Moving the scene to Rose's residence.

While Matsuura-san was crushed by loneliness and despair in the classroom, there was this woman reaching the peak of happiness.

She is none other than the master of the mansion, the blonde Lolita. Right now, she is experiencing the greatest happiness she has felt in months with her whole body.

"Yes, that's it. Twist your hips there. Like drawing a big circle."

"Ugh... Like this?"

The reason lies solely in the warmth she feels from her beloved's skin.

Her arm touches his body as they practice breakdancing together at the entrance of their home. It's like a physical education class where students pair up to do flexibility exercises. Naturally, their skin touches each other closely during the process.

"At the same time, bring your head forward, but it appears difficult in this posture."

"If...If there's a will, there's a way."

"You'll harm your body if you push yourself too hard, you know?"

They became close under the guise of practicing breakdancing.

—It all started because of Nishino's plea.

In the classroom after school, the futsumen, who had witnessed Rose's exquisite dance moves, bowed his head and begged her as soon as they got home. He pleaded, "Please, could you teach me breakdancing?" It was a heartfelt and sincere plea, accompanied by a deep bow.

As one might expect, she's unlikely to refuse.

And so, the lecture, which started promptly has gradually heated up and continues to the present.

Having gained the overwhelming advantage of being a teacher, she is free to do whatever she wants. She explains that it is better this way, and even though she supports his weight, her hand needlessly ends up around his groin area. Even now, her arm that passes from back to front between his legs is pressing on his sensitive part.

Her palm was supporting his abdomen, but her full attention was focused on her upper arm. The temperature of the futsumen's lower abdomen that she felt on her arm made the blonde Lolita ecstatic.

Her other free hand gently stroked his cheek. She tapped it repeatedly, as if instructing him where to move his head, like a dance teacher. Their inexplicable posture looked like a game of Twister to an observer.

"Ugh... this is a rather demanding position."

"Normally, this posture is meant to be swiftly flowed through with momentum, so it's inevitable."

"I see..."

"If I put my finger in your b*tthole, wouldn't it be nice if your body tenses up just the right way?"

She spoke while stroking the area around his butt through the fabric of his pants.

Her gaze looks as if she's not just about to put her finger in, but is about to start licking it with her tongue.

"If you put it in, I'll kill you."

"Ara, what a shame."

Under normal circumstances, one would be expected to harbor at least some suspicion about her actions.

However, this futsumen, being incredibly naive, obediently took everything at face value. He never imagined that the other person was in love with him. The thought that Rose would offer herself to him without any monetary exchange never even crossed the mind of this clueless virgin.

As a result, his crotch remain calm.

If Rose had any dissatisfaction, it would be solely because of that.

"......"

The blonde Lolita had an overwhelming desire to touch Nishino's groin to check if it was erect.

Inevitably, the practice grew more intense. Seizing the opportunity, she would casually rub her arms or legs between his thighs, pretending it was accidental. Sometimes she would hug him; other times, she would press herself against him. It became an unprecedentedly thrilling time for her.

Surprisingly, the Breakdance Club wasn't so bad after all.

The influence of the practice that continued right after returning home was enough to make her think that way.

"Oi, don't get your face so close. Your breath is making me feel uncomfortable."

"I can't help it; your body is just so stiff. If you're going to talk big, why don't you do some stretching exercises regularly? I wish you would consider the feelings of someone who has no choice but to get close to you."

Shamelessly spouting excuses, she presses her forehead against Nishino's nape. Her face, glowing with ecstasy, remains hidden from his view. Feeling the body odor of her beloved at zero distance in her nostrils, this deranged pervert wets her crotch in depraved excitement.

"I have a question."

"...What?"

"Why not just use your power?"

She had witnessed it several times in the past—the futsumen's mysterious ability, no doubt what she was referring to. It's not that she was dissatisfied with him not using his power. On the contrary, thanks to that, she could freely indulge in her reverse sexual harassment, which was actually quite delightful for her.

Still, Rose couldn't help but be curious about whatever caught her interest.

"Your goal in joining the Breakdance Club wasn't the activity itself, but to make friends with the opposite sex, right? I don't get why you'd take such a roundabout approach. If you have a power perfectly suited for it, you should use it right away."

"I'd feel guilty earning trust that way."

"Your power belongs entirely to you, doesn't it? Why should that make you feel guilty?"

"At least within this school, I want to approach everything fair and square."

"...How irrational."

"Say whatever you want."

For about an hour, Rose's reverse sexual harassment continued relentlessly.

◆

The next day, the atmosphere in Class 2-A was noticeably different.

The primary cause was the group of female students in the class.

Usually, they were engrossed in gossip within the classroom, but on this day, they were exchanging words even more busily than usual. And without exception, all their gazes were fixed on one person — Matsuura-san.

'Apparently, Matsuura-san was dumped by Takeuchi-kun.'

Had Takeuchi-kun himself been in the classroom, they might have held back a little—at the very least, they wouldn't have dared gossip right where he could hear.

However, the ikemen in question was absent from school. The reason was entirely due to an incident at the Breakdance Club.

Today, the humiliated heartthrob was holed up in a rental studio near his house, practicing like his life depended on it.

"Good morning."

As this unfolded, the futsumen arrived at school.

Despite never once receiving a response, he strode in cheerfully, tossing out morning greetings like always. Lately, he'd even started waking up a little earlier and making jogging part of his daily routine, so he seemed a bit more energetic than usual. Nishino has unintentionally acquired a healthy lifestyle.

He made his way to his seat and casually sat down, crossing his legs.

Then, his eyes fell on the female student sitting diagonally in front of him to the right.

It was none other than Matsuura-san. Usually, she would be surrounded by friends, chatting and laughing, but today, she had her head down on her desk, clutching her head.

And as he glanced around, he noticed several gazes directed at her.

".........."

As he listened more closely, Nishino could hear voices discussing something about her personal affairs.

This led him to a thought.

Could this be... bullying?

He recalled a time when he had witnessed her being cornered by some female classmates on the rooftop. Up until the previous day, she had been chatting normally with her classmates, so he had assumed the issue had been resolved.

Putting his own position aside, he thought it was a harsh situation.

"...This isn't good."

If something unfortunate had happened to Matsuura-san, it was likely because she had caught Nishino's attention. From the moment he'd smelled that stench in the classroom that day, her fate had probably been sealed. Rising from the seat he'd just settled into, The futsumen began making his way toward her.

"Matsuura-san, are you feeling unwell?"

Trying his best to sound casual, he spoke to her as she lay slumped over her desk.

In an instant, the female students in the class reacted to the scene.

"—Wait, hold on, Nishino actually went over there."

"—Maybe he's picking her up because Takeuchi-kun threw her away?"

"—Seriously? What kind of hyena is he?"

"—I mean, being that into Matsuura-san is kind of creepy."

"—You gotta respect Nishino for pulling stuff like this."

"—What does he even see in a girl like that?"

"—Kinda feel bad for Nishino now."

"—It's not like a virgin can understand a woman's hidden side, right?"

"—Hey, why don't you educate him?"

"—Ehh? Me?"

"—It's fun to watch from the sidelines, though."

"—Totally."

Giggles scattered through the air, as the girls continued gossiping without a care.

However, there was no response at all from Matsuura-san, who was crucial to the situation. She remained slumped over her desk, not moving an inch. With her forehead pressed against the surface of the desk and her palms clasped on top, she was completely still, like a statue.

It was an absolute, unyielding declaration: Leave me alone.

Right now, she was determined to stay hunched over the desk, fully prepared not to lift her head for anything other than Takeuchi-kun's voice. She stubbornly believed that any moment now, her prince on a white horse would come to school and save her from the crisis of her school life.

However, the prince who arrived was just the futsumen.

"If you're not feeling well, I can accompany you to the nurse's office..."

And to make matters worse, this "prince" was being genuinely nice—which somehow made it even more unbearable.

He is approaching her with a genuinely worried expression.

Unusually, he has no ulterior motives.

But his words didn't reach the slumped-over girl. Because Matsuura-san was, after all, a sucker for good looks. She had no interest in opening her legs for anyone less than a heartthrob. Just being seen with the futsumen and becoming the subject of gossip was enough to wound her pride as a beauty-chaser.

Even so, to get her to open up, money in yen or dollars is necessary.

Recently, she has also started showing interest in Bitcoin.

"........."

"........."

Thanks to Nishino's unnecessary actions, the atmosphere in the classroom has turned sour. Whispers here and there have created a very uncomfortable space. Even the lower-caste students, who usually showed no interest in such gossip, started casting sneaky glances.

Perhaps that's why Risa-chan, unable to stand it any longer, spoke up.

"Hey, everyone, the teacher's gonna be here soon!"

Her cheerful voice echoed through the classroom.

Ever since Rose transferred in and stole the spotlight, Risa-chan had been overshadowed, but up until the previous year, she had been the school's Madonna. Her influence was considerable. Everyone's attention shifted to her.

The classroom regained its serenity.

Perhaps that display of leadership rubbed Matsuura-san the wrong way.

"...What are you acting all high and mighty for? Are you trying to take charge again or something?"

The princess, who had been lying face-down on her desk, slowly lifted her head.

Having stayed in that position for quite some time, the texture of her uniform sleeve had left clear marks on her forehead. Seemingly unaware of them, her eyes were fixed intently on Risa-chan.

It seemed that the incident where she was threatened on the rooftop still lingered in her mind.

It may have been her own doing, but Matsuura-san couldn't care less about that now.

"It's not like I'm trying to act all high and mighty or anything. It might be true that I want to take charge, but if I don't, the teacher will be here soon. After what happened last time, I really don't want to sit through another nagging lecture."

She was referring to the incident where Nishino's desk ended up smelling like poop.

Risa-chan was trying to persuade her, even bringing up a topic she'd rather not touch.

But her efforts didn't reach Matsuura-san.

"That's exactly what acting all high and mighty means!"

It seemed her patience had finally reached its limit.

And the one who pulled the trigger—was undoubtedly Nishino.

Thanks to him, the relationship between the two girls had hit rock bottom.

"So, what do you want me to do about it?"

"...!"

Even Risa-chan, as expected, seemed fed up with this and replied.

Being talked back to like this—in front of the whole class, no less—by the girl who stood just below Rose in the social hierarchy was no small matter. If any other student had found themselves in the same situation, they'd likely have been left speechless. And truth be told, the words from Risa-chan that sparked this were, if anything, meant to defend Matsuura-san.

But this was Matsuura-san we were talking about. She'd never react the same way as everyone else.

"I-I... I had a threesome with Takeuchi-kun and Suzuki-kun during the trip!"

She sacrificed the social reputations of two handsome boys to protect her own position.

If she let this moment slip away, she would likely struggle at the bottom of the social hierarchy until graduation. She understood this, which is why she made such a bold move. What she desired from her current boyfriend was a solid status within the school, based on Takeuchi-kun's affection.

However, if that proved difficult, and if she was destined to fall even further down the social ladder, she would go to any lengths to blow everything to smithereens, to the point where she wouldn't even care about her own blunders. She was the type of person who could press the button for humanity's extinction without hesitation at the moment of her own demise.

Thus, Matsuura-san was a princess. Not just in title, but in her very way of life.

"Eh? W-Wait a second, w-what are you suddenly blurting out?!"

Who did what with whom? Meanwhile, Risa-chan was thrown into complete confusion.

This kind of gossip was typically shared quietly among the top-tier caste members and girls who relished such topics. That's why, even if a fair number of students knew about it, the unspoken rule was to never make it public.

And now, Matsuura-san had just gone and broken that rule—innovated it, in a sense.

"Kondo-san left halfway through, so she might not know."

"Wait... d-do you mean after that time...?"

She was referring to the card game that took place at the hotel in Athens.

'Seriously? You're bringing that up now?'  was the desperate thought of Suzuki-kun, who was present in the classroom. His gaze instinctively turned toward the Class Rep, his true crush.

But in the end, the ones who suffered the most from her statement were none other than the boys positioned in the lower caste. Never in their wildest dreams had they imagined that the quiet, bookish girl they spent their days with in the same classroom was having a threesome with two handsome guys. What's more, it happened during their trip. They had always thought she was the kind of well-mannered person who would never do such a thing.

Hence, the shock they experienced was severe.

'Could it be that other girls are like this too?'  That poisonous suspicion spread like wildfire among them. A secret world, meticulously hidden until now, had been laid bare at their feet. The lower-caste boys, upon hearing the truth, felt their very foundations shake.

After all—without a single exception—they were all virgins.

"Since we're all here, I think everyone should know. Honestly, why hide it in the first place?"

Matsuura-san spoke with unshakable conviction.

Had her interests been directed elsewhere, she might have achieved great things.

But her path was set straight toward being a princess.

After all, Matsuura-san loved being fawned over by the opposite sex.

"Even so, don't just declare it in a place like this!"

That said, Risa-chan's shock was particularly intense.

Despite knowing at least part of the story, she was still visibly shaken. More shaken than the loner virgin quietly reading a paperback at his desk, more than the otaku virgin chatting about anime with friends, even more than the school's most infamous masochist, Kousuke Tokumoto, who was busy deciding which bishoujo game to buy this month.

Perhaps because of this, Matsuura-san chose to ask her a question.

"Kondo-san, do you by any chance have no experience?"

To Matsuura-san, it was just an offhanded joke—the kind you'd laugh off without a second thought.

But the words sank into Risa-chan's heart far deeper than she ever intended.

"N-No way! I've totally d-done it! L-Like, completely, totally done it!"

Unfortunately, those were the words of a virgin.

No matter who looked at it or from what angle, it was a virgin's bravado.

A feat only possible because she remained, in every sense, untouched.

"......"

Even Matsuura-san seemed taken aback by this.

She was at a loss for words, unsure how to respond.

She hadn't expected Risa-chan to actually be a virgin.

In fact, among high school girls their age, the virginity rate, even based solely on self-reported statistics, was said to be below 50%. And given Risa-chan's relatively flirty persona, no one would have thought she was a virgin.

"......"

As a result, the power dynamic between the two flipped.

The flow of the conversation now completely belonged to Matsuura-san.

"Eh... could it be, Kondo-san, you're actually a virgin...?"

"I already told you, I'm not! I'm not a virgin!"

"Really?"

"Of course! And, like, stop asking me about it!"

"Then when was your first time?"

"Huh?"

"Middle school? Or after you started high school?"

"M-Middle school, duh! That's totally normal."

"Mine was in elementary school."

"........."

Even Matsuura-san was at a loss, unsure where to steer the conversation as she began to falter. She had tried provoking Risa-chan, but she didn't actually want to keep arguing with her. After all, Matsuura-san's real goal was self-preservation—not Risa-chan's humiliation.

"J-Just because you started earlier doesn't mean you're better!"

"That's true, but..."

"........."

Risa-chan noticed the stares from those around her.

Her face had, at some point, turned bright red with embarrassment. She struggled to compose herself, doing her best to act as if nothing had happened. But the words she'd just blurted out—that she wasn't a virgin—had rung out loud and clear, echoing beyond the classroom and all the way into the hallway.

Because of that, there were quite a few who felt saved by her words.

Yes—the virgin boys of the lower caste.

Risa-chan’s unblemished purity somehow brought healing to the hearts of the inexperienced boys. Learning that one of the class's most beautiful girls was still a virgin filled their hearts with warmth. It was no exaggeration to call it a form of salvation.

From this day forward, their support for Risa-chan skyrocketed.

"Or rather, that's a completely different issue! It's got nothing to do with this, does it!?"

Trying to make excuses, Risa-chan only ends up making things worse.

Perhaps that's why. Witnessing this series of exchanges, someone decided that things couldn't go on like this.

That someone was none other than Nishino.

He stepped forward, intending to carry on her will and defuse the situation, making his way toward the two girls. Then, right in the center of their classmates' attention, he struck a cynical pose and declared:

"Don't worry, there's no correlation between a person's value and whether or not they've had sexual experience. I'm a virgin as well."

""""........."""

Not that anyone had actually asked.

"I told you already, I-I'm not a virgin, okay?!"

Risa-chan shouted at full volume.

And with that, the whole exchange was abruptly brought to an end.

"—Alright, everyone, homeroom's starting. Get to your seats."

Their homeroom teacher had arrived, stepping in from the hallway and through the doorway.

"Hm? Takeuchi's absent again today?"

In the end, not a single person involved in the commotion had gained anything from that chaotic morning.

◆

That same day, the classroom of Class 2-A was enveloped in an oddly tense atmosphere.

The cause lay in the whispered words exchanged among the male students or the fleeting, furtive glances directed at the female students present. Things like, "She looks all quiet and innocent, but who knows—maybe she's out there having threesomes with hot guys."

These murmurs stirred the girls' hearts, unsettling them far beyond the usual.

Most of it was disgust.

There was a time when even unattractive men could get married. But in this age—where men with low "face scores" have long since lost their place in the romantic social order—the stares and gossip from less-than-handsome boys were, at least to the girls of Class 2-A, nothing but repulsive.

And so, the blame naturally turned toward the person who had sparked this situation.

It was Matsuura-san.

Having gotten one over on Risa-chan, Matsuura-san was in noticeably higher spirits today, engaging with her studies with a newfound enthusiasm. In English class, she even went so far as to ask questions, outshining the class president in a bold display.

However, not a single friend or acquaintance who had been by her side until yesterday could be seen. No matter what anyone else might say, her standing in Class 2-A was plummeting at a staggering pace.

And dragged down alongside her fall was Suzuki-kun.

"Uh, h-hey, Class Rep, about what happened before homeroom..."

"I don't really want to talk about that."

The shocking "threesome rumor" had thrown his position in the school's social hierarchy into complete disarray. That day during lunch break, he made his way to the Class Rep, hoping to casually offer some sort of excuse, only to be coldly ignored.

"Sorry, I need to go to the restroom."

"O-Oh... okay..."

There was no opening—no chance to even start a real conversation.

On the other hand, the class rep was thinking about something completely different.

It was about the membrane that was still attached to a close friend's crotch.

Risa-chan was a virgin. A close friend, whom everyone absolutely thought was not a virgin, turned out to be one. And she revealed it in such an adorably charming way. The gazes of her classmates looking at her were so heartwarming.

The class rep was utterly shocked by this fact.

She thought to herself, I kind of envy her.

Having had her self-esteem shattered into pieces during a trip to Greece, she was still lost in herself. She had begun to question her way of life up to that point. At the very least, she no longer felt confident in her role as the smart and cute chairperson.

Even so, the days continued to pass.

Before she realized it, several days had already gone by.

Naturally, she started to feel anxious.

On the other hand, what about Nishino? Just this morning, he boldly came out as a virgin in front of his classmates, brimming with confidence. There was no hint of hesitation in his demeanor. To be honest, Shimizu found it rather unpleasant to hear, but at the same time, she couldn't help but feel a twinge of envy toward his boldness.

Furthermore, after spending these past few weeks around him, she understood that there was no malice in his actions.

The fact that she couldn't help but compare herself to someone like Nishino was proof of just how pathetic she had become. And yet, she was too lost to even realize that. Her confidence was completely gone.

"........."

Looking back, she had always lived her life according to the expectations of those around her.

And that path had led her to become the class president.

The role of a smart and cute girl.

But now, with high school more than half over, people like Nishino and Matsuura-san had appeared—individuals who walked through life completely ignoring the rules she had held dear. This caused small but persistent pricks of irritation, subtly shaking her heart.

And then, today, there was the incident with Risa-chan.

The sudden debate over virginity and non-virginity prompted her to consider crafting a new persona for herself at school. The old Shimizu would likely have brushed it off, treating it as nothing more than an embarrassing secret of a friend unexpectedly revealed.

However, when people lose confidence, they tend to take the easiest path to reclaim it.

And fortunately or unfortunately, she had the qualifications to take that path.

"...A virgin, huh?"

At that moment, Shimizu felt like she might be able to do something.

◆

After school that same day, Nishino received a call from Marquis.

It happened right after classes ended. His phone, which hadn't buzzed in a while, displayed the name of a bar's master on the screen. When he answered, he was told in a slightly tense tone that there was something important to discuss.

On the other hand, Nishino also had something to explain. After the incident in Greece, he'd been instructed to route all future jobs through Rose. So today, instead of making his usual appearance at the Breakdance Club, he decided to head straight to Roppongi.

And so, shortly after the bar opened for the evening, their conversation began.

"...And that's the situation."

Inside the bar, there was no one else besides Nishino and Marquis.

Taking advantage of the moment, Nishino explained his circumstances.

After laying out the details, he tilted the glass in his hand, letting out a small gulp. The drink, a favorite of his, gently burned his throat, still a bit too young for such indulgences. The indescribable sting made his eyes narrow slightly, an expression that, whether intended or not, was bound to unsettle anyone watching.

Had the one sitting across from him been the class president, she surely would've had a thing or two to say about it.

"Oi oi, cut me some slack. This'll ruin my business."

"You've got others working for you, don't you? Just make up the difference with them."

"No offense, but even if I combined all of them, they wouldn't hold a candle to you."

"...Is that so?"

Marquis's words were news to Nishino.

Or rather, he had never been particularly interested in others' achievements.

"But if we're talking about all your earnings, we're looking at a pretty hefty sum, right? If you don't handle it right, it'll definitely raise flags. This country's tax bureau is ruthless when it comes to outlaws. I'd really rather not get dragged into that mess."

"I've got connections to handle that. Don't worry about it."

"...That woman, huh?"

"That's right."

"Can't think of anyone else in this country as useful as her..."

What came to their minds was a certain smelly-crotched old lady from somewhere.

By the way, the person in question had just left Europe for Japan, right after the incident with the Gothic Lolita girl. She is not as carefree in her work as Nishino thinks she is. She—Francisca—is, after all, a capable woman.

"So, what's this matter you wanted to talk about?"

Changing the subject, Nishino asked Marquis.

He was referring to the reason he had been called all the way here.

"Ah, about that..."

In response, the bartender's expression turned grim.

His behavior seemed somehow reluctant.

"What's wrong? Got dumped by a girl or something?"

"........."

From across the counter, the average-looking Asian teenager threw out a playful jab.

Despite having not only zero experience with breakups but even zero experience with dating, he spoke with an air of authority. It was hardly the sort of line you'd expect from a virgin. If Takeuchi-kun had been here, he probably would've scowled and muttered some complaint under his breath.

But as for Marquis, who was staring at him, he didn't seem particularly bothered. As always, he remained calm and quiet, showing no sign of agitation. Having known each other for several years, he had grown quite accustomed to this futsumen's pretentious mannerisms.

"I just want to give you one piece of advice."

"Advice?"

"It's about that rich girl you picked up in Greece."

"What about her?"

"No matter what happens from now on, you must absolutely stay uninvolved with her.

"That's quite a one-sided piece of advice."

"......"

Nishino spoke as if deliberately provoking him.

However, Marquis said nothing further. Thanks to that silence, the futsumen grasped the weight of what Marquis was trying to convey. The fact that he had been summoned for this conversation over the phone made it clear that this was far from a trivial matter.

"That's all I can say."

Marquis's gaze as he stared at Nishino was more serious than ever before. The last time Nishino had seen his face this tense was probably back when they first met—when the utterly average teenager had recklessly flaunted his power in front of him.

Even Nishino, despite his usual attitude, gave a simple nod in response.

"Got it."

"...That's all I had to say. Sorry for dragging you out here."

"No, it's fine."

With a small nod, Nishino tilted the glass in his hand.

The sound of his throat gulping echoed loudly in the quiet bar.