That day, right after arriving at school, Matsuura-san was trembling with shame in front of her seat.

The reason was entirely due to her desk, which had drastically changed from the day before.

The desktop was covered in thick black marker with words like "sl*t", "b*tch", and "d*e" scrawled all over it. Moreover, someone had spilled juice or something similar, leaving the chair and various spots sticky and unpleasant. It was impossible to sit there.

Additionally, someone had thrown trash into her desk, emitting a foul odor. Her textbooks, left in the classroom, were ruined. The same went for her half-read paperback and spare sanitary products.

It was a situation eerily reminiscent of Nishino's desk from some time ago.

"......"

Thanks to that, Matsuura-san stood frozen.

Ever since she reached her desk, she hadn't moved a muscle—just stared fixedly at her seat.

In her mind, she already had a suspect: Risa-chan, the queen bee of the girls in Class 2-A. Matsuura-san thought that Risa-chan must have held a grudge against her for revealing her virginity during their interaction the day before.

In reality, someone else was responsible, but such details didn't matter to Matsuura-san.

What mattered was having a clear target for the pent-up frustration inside her.

"......"

And so, she desperately endured the present moment.

Of course, any help from the other girls was out of the question.

But maybe—just maybe—one of the boys might say something to her. Or perhaps Takeuchi-kun, who hadn't been to school in a while, might help her today. That's what she was thinking. After all, she was a girl who understood full well the power of femininity over men.

Therefore, the only command Matsuura-san chose was to defend.

She endured the present moment with all her might, aiming for a dramatic turnaround.

"......"

Because of that, she had forgotten.

She had forgotten that, in situations like this, there was someone in her class who was even more troublesome to deal with than the teachers themselves. What's more, that person had recently been arriving at school unusually early. According to someone from the neighboring class, they had even seen him running around early in the morning.

"Good morning."

As this was happening, a cheerful greeting echoed through the classroom.

It was none other than Nishino.

"I saw osmanthus flowers on my way to school today. You can really feel autumn setting in."

As soon as he arrived in the classroom, these words of greeting slipped from his mouth. Although no one had ever bothered to reply, he made a point of saying something every day before entering. His remarks were surprisingly clever, daily without ever repeating.

Thanks to that, his classmates couldn't help but feel irritated first thing in the morning.

"......"

Naturally, Matsuura-san's desk came into his view.

Inevitably, the provocative words written there caught his attention.

"...I see." he muttered.

Right after entering the classroom, his steps came to a halt.

What did he mean by "I see"? Every student in the room turned their attention to Nishino. Over the past few weeks, they had begun to realize that Nishino, being dull and unremarkable, was more proactive than they had imagined.

Rumor had it that Nishino's hunger for women was no joke.

"Matsuura-san, what happened to your desk?"

As expected, Nishino immediately headed over to ask.

His steps naturally led him to her.

"......"

The one who couldn't bear it was the person being spoken to.

With a prayer-like desperation, she wished: 'I won't even ask for Takeuchi-kun to save me anymore. I'll compromise, even Suzuki-kun would be fine. So please, just send me literally any other good-looking guy instead.'

She pleaded with every fiber of her being.

"Are you okay? Matsuura-sa—"

Perhaps because of that, the heavens unusually sided with her.

A third person's voice interrupted Nishino's words.

"—Morning... wait, what's going on? The classroom's got a weird vibe."

It was a voice she hadn't heard in days.

Matsuura-san's long-cherished wish had come true. Takeuchi-kun had returned to school after several days.

Her gaze, which until now had been cast downward at her feet, shot up toward the classroom entrance, where the voice had come from. Naturally, Nishino's eyes also followed hers, shifting in the same direction.

Everyone in the classroom turned their attention to Takeuchi-kun.

As if to observe his every move, all eyes were fixed on the ikemen.

"Huh? Seriously? Looks like something crazy happened here."

He glanced at Matsuura-san's desk and commented casually.

However, he didn't seem all that surprised.

"Takeuchi-kun, um... I..."

Matsuura-san spoke up, seizing the moment.

Her delicate, upward gaze, reminiscent of a fragile girl, was a skill she had honed over time for just such an occasion. She hadn't practiced in front of the mirror every night after her bath for nothing. Carefully formed tears shimmered at the corners of her eyes.

Seeing this, Takeuchi-kun turned from her to face the rest of the class.

"So is this about that rumors going around school that Suzuki and I slept with Matsuura-san?"

Takeuchi-kun asked, subtly checking with those around him.

However, this time, no one offered a response. Given the sensitive nature of the topic, everyone understood that it was best not to get involved to avoid any potential backlash. The general consensus among the classmates was that they didn't want their school life disrupted by such trivial matters.

"I don't mean to sound like a total player, but... I'm pretty open when it comes to this kind of stuff."

"...Eh?"

A voice of doubt came from Matsuura-san.

Unfazed, Takeuchi-kun continued speaking confidently.

"So, even if the rumors were true, I'd be the one entirely at fault. Matsuura-san doesn't deserve to have her desk trashed over this. It seems like I've caused you a lot of trouble, huh? I'm really sorry about that. Truly, my bad."

"Takeuchi-kun..."

Matsuura-san gazed passionately at Takeuchi-kun, thinking, 'He really is my prince charming.'

However, that moment was short-lived.

"But honestly, I don't have the weird habit of bragging about this kind of stuff in public. Seriously, who would even do that? Keep spreading rumors like that and eventually no one will trust you anymore. That's just my take."

"!"

Matsuura-san's face immediately turned pale.

In fact, Takeuchi-kun had confirmed the situation with Suzuki-kun over the phone the night before. More accurately, Suzuki-kun, whose position in the classroom was at risk, had sought Takeuchi-kun's advice without hesitation.

Naturally, the class's number one heartthrob handled the situation flawlessly.

Matsuura-san being openly bullied didn't sit well with Takeuchi-kun, especially given their past fling, which made things a bit awkward even for someone as smooth as him. However, at the same time, he also wanted to avoid getting further entangled with Matsuura-san, who, in his eyes, was nothing more than 'a girl with mental illness.'

So, he put on an act, pretending as if he had only heard parts of the rumor. He subtly criticized Matsuura-san while also trying to appease her.

Without addressing anyone in particular, Takeuchi-kun spoke his thoughts aloud.

Then, someone chimed in with agreement.

"As expected of Takeuchi-kun. I think so too."

"......"

Of all people, it was Nishino.

Just when it was least needed, he had to butt in—right as the entire classroom had, for once, reached unanimous agreement. Everyone turned to him with looks that clearly said, 'Nobody asked for your opinion.'

Naturally, Takeuchi-kun smoothly ignored him.

He was gradually getting used to the fact that Nishino was simply that kind of creature.

"So, I'm sorry to ask, but could you help me clean up the desk? If the teacher catches us again, who knows how long the lecture will be. And I really don't want to go through another 'find the culprit' ordeal."

"Y-Yes, exactly! Takeuchi-kun's right!"

Class rep quickly backed him up, steering the mood toward resolution.

As the second most influential person in the class after Risa-chan, her words carried significant weight. Her success in leading last month's cultural festival still resonated with everyone. It's in moments like this that her leadership truly shines.

"—Yeah, Ōtake's nagging lectures are the worst."

"—Besides, who cares who hooks up with who? It's their own business."

"—Totally. I think Takeuchi-kun's got it right."

"—Man, the way Takeuchi-kun just says stuff like that outright is kinda badass."

"—Exactly, you got that right."

"—Wait, if he's 'open for everyone', then I totally want in!"

"—Hey, that's not fair! I want to do it with Takeuchi-kun too!"

"—Me too! If it's with Takeuchi-kun, I'm cool with no protection!"

"—Uh, hello? Wasn't the whole point that this kind of talk is bad?"

Before long, the classroom returned to its usual atmosphere.

Thanks to this, Takeuchi-kun's reputation, which seemed like it would plummet yesterday, actually rose. His bold, no-holds-barred attitude had somehow been taken as a positive. If Nishino had said the same thing, he would have definitely been glared at.

The only one left uneasy by all this was Matsuura-san.

"U-Um... Takeuchi-kun..."

"Hey Suzuki, sorry to bother you—but could you bring a new desk over?"

"Eh? Me?"

Dodging Matsuura's intense gaze, Takeuchi-kun remained calm in the moment. Although pursuing her was his way of utterly dominating Nishino, this was pushing his limits. This handsome bastard had just gotten a taste of what truly makes a mentally unstable girl so unstable.

When considering the long term, it seemed like he had struggled alone and ended up saving Nishino from Matsuura-san. His reward? A few rounds of sex and some homemade videos. Whether that's a cheap price or a high one is probably up to each person's judgment.

"Come on, you can handle at least that much work."

"Y-Yeah, got it!"

Suzuki-kun hurriedly left the classroom.

After seeing him off into the hallway, Takeuchi-kun turned to face Matsuura-san.

"So, Matsuura-san, like I said earlier, this is the kind of guy I am."

"!"

It was essentially a "stay away from me" declaration.

More importantly, Takeuchi-kun had bigger things to worry about right now. Because of a promise with Nishino about the Breakdance Club, he'd been practicing relentlessly, barely getting any sleep. His entire body ached with muscle pain, and there was no way he could carry desks. The heartthrob had zero time to deal with Matsuura-san.

As this was happening, a group of female students began to swarm around Takeuchi-kun.

Matsuura-san, without even a chance to speak, was pushed aside by the crowd. One of the mean girls elbowed her in the stomach, forcing a pained groan from her. But with the crowd blocking the view, Takeuchi-kun didn't—couldn't—see any of it.

Staggering, she managed to pull herself upright.

By the time she caught sight of him again, Takeuchi-kun's figure was already distant.

The cruel whispers of the female students reached her ears.

"—Honestly, wasn't it Matsuura-san who threw herself at him?"

"—True, that girl's such a sl*t."

"—I heard she's got a whole harem of guys wrapped around her in the club, too."

"—Uwa, that's the worst."

"—Like, what's she even living for?"

"—She should just d*e."

After all the twists and turns, Matsuura-san found herself at the very bottom of the school caste.

During the cultural festival preparations, when the futsumen happened to talk to her, she ended up dragging him down with her.

But even now, she refused to give up.

Over the crowd, her gaze remained fixed on Takeuchi-kun.

"......"

Her eyes burned with humiliation and fury, dark flames flickering in their depths.

◆

After school that day, all the members of the Breakdance Club had gathered.

It was a meeting that included Takeuchi-kun, who had returned to school after several days' absence. With only three days left until the main event, the purpose was to go over the final details for the big day. The meeting was held in the usual empty classroom that also served as their practice space.

"Well then, I'd like everyone to run through the routine I explained before."

The one who spoke up was the club president, Kousaka.

He looked around at the members, who were standing in a circle as if forming a huddle.

Without missing a beat, Nishino raised his hand.

"Sorry to interrupt, but may I ask a question?"

"What's it, Nishino-senpai?"

"!"

'Nishino-senpai.'

'What's it, Nishino-senpai?'

'Nishino-senpai.'  Those words resonated deeply with Nishino.

Throughout his years as a student, from elementary to high school, he had never been properly addressed as "senpai" before. The unexpectedly pleasant sound of it made him feel a newfound sense of responsibility towards his junior.

He was an easy-to-please senpai.

"...Senpai?"

"Ah, no, it's just... there's something I was a bit curious about."

"If it's something I can answer, I'll do my best..."

"When I think of a breakdance event, I imagine groups of a few people taking turns battling each other one-on-one. But from the explanation we received earlier, it sounded more like a regular dance contest. We've been practicing, but I was wondering about that aspect."

"Ah, I see. I didn't explain that part, did I? Sorry about that."

"No, it's not a big deal, no need to apologize."

"The thing is, there are different types of breakdance events."

"I see."

The event that Nishino and the others were participating in was to be held in a style called a "Showcase".

Generally, when people think of breakdancing, as Nishino mentioned, the image is of dancers taking turns battling one-on-one. However, there's also a format where a group dances together, much like other dance styles. A 'showcase' refers to this latter style.

Kousaka explained this to Nishino and the others.

"In this event, the top four teams from the showcase will advance to the 'dance battle', but we don't necessarily need to aim for that. We haven't had much practice time, let alone time to properly structure our performance."

"So the point is just to participate?" Nishino responded.

"Exactly. I think it's enough if we can all dance through to the end together. Just to avoid any misunderstanding, a showcase is usually something you prepare for over months, with a proper storyline and all."

"Sounds like a pretty demanding competition."

"It really is. Like you said, Senpai, a showcase takes a lot of time and effort. It's completely different from an impromptu battle. You might use costumes, specific soundtracks, or even props in some cases. But since we don't have that kind of leeway this time, we'll just focus on stringing our moves together smoothly."

"Will that really be okay?"

Truth be told, the futsumen had taken a keen interest in the taunting battles that unfolded between dance rounds.

As a rookie breakdancer, he had secretly hoped to do something bold, like throwing up a middle finger at least once.

He felt a small pang of disappointment upon learning that he wouldn't get the chance to do that.

"Since it's just a low-level regional qualifier, I think what we have is enough. Actually, after seeing Rose-senpai's dance, I can't help but have a little bit of hope that maybe, just maybe, we might pull something off."

Kousaka spoke with a cheerful smile.

Even so, the truth was that his original goal had been set much higher.

The baritachi's gaze was somewhat lonely.

"If that's the case, I'm sorry, but can I ask something too?"

Next, Takeuchi-kun raised his hand.

"Ah, y-yes! What is it, Takeuchi-senpai?"

Kousaka's expression, compared to when he was speaking to Nishino, seemed to sparkle a bit more. It wasn't for nothing that he nearly destroyed the club after coming out as gay. His gaze was drawn to the handsome features of the good-looking guy, and before long, he started sneaking glances at the contours of Takeuchi's chest through his shirt.

Takeuchi-senpai is on the soccer team, so his body must be pretty toned too... or something like that.

"What about outfits? As for the music we're using on stage, we got the printout during the last meeting—it had the song along with the sequence of moves, so we've been practicing with that. But when you just tell everyone to 'come wearing something that fits the vibe', It's kind of worrying, don't you think?"

Takeuchi-kun spoke, casting a sidelong glance at Nishino standing beside him.

It was a concern born from his awareness of this futsumen's hopeless fashion sense. The memory of Nishino splurging on an expensive suit at some department store not too long ago was still fresh in Takeuchi-kun's mind.

Normally, Takeuchi-kun wouldn't care if Nishino embarrassed himself, but this time they were participating as a group. The last thing this good-looking guy wanted was to be dragged down by him. If, by some cruel twist of fate, Nishino showed up in a suit, it would be an absolute disaster.

And in fact, the idea of wearing a suit had already crossed Nishino's mind.

He was thinking that maybe dressing sharply like that might actually make him stand out and look cooler.

"In that case, I've already placed the order on my end, so it's all good."

"Hmm? You're pretty well prepared. Not bad, Kousaka."

"N-No, not at all! Besides, Rose-senpai helped me out too."

Being praised by Takeuchi-kun made the baritachi incredibly happy.

Meanwhile, the ikemen's attention quickly shifted to the blonde lolita.

"Is that so? Thanks a lot for helping out too, Rose-chan."

"You're welcome."

Being praised by Takeuchi-kun made the versatile Kousaka very happy.

Meanwhile, the ikemen's attention quickly shifted to the blonde Lolita.

"Is that so? Thanks a lot for helping out too, Rose-chan."

"You're welcome."

With a sly, satisfied smile, Rose gave a small nod.

Given that she was reluctantly involved in the club, one might expect her to be annoyed by the extra effort. However, a cheerful smile was on her face.

And then, for some reason, her gaze turned toward Gabriella.

"Onee-sama? Is there something you need from me?"

Gabriella noticed and spoke up with a delighted expression.

Her crimson eyes shifted sharply within her exceptionally pale face—paler even compared to Rose's. At the same time, her well-shaped eyes widened with joy. To Rose, who understood Gabriella's peculiarities, this reaction from the silver-haired lolita was more creepy than cute.

"No? I don't have any business with you."

"Is that so? I could've sworn I felt your gaze on me."

"It was just a bug flying in front of my eyes, so don't make a fuss about it."

"That's a shame."

The exchange between them was a perfect reflection of their recent relationship—nothing particularly new. The others present were already familiar with this dynamic, so no one bothered to comment or interject.

For the rest of the day, they practiced until sunset.

◆

Takeuchi-kun's entry into the Breakdance Club quickly became a hot topic at school.

After school, Takeuchi-kun stayed late in the classroom, practicing dance by himself. Determined not to lose to Nishino, he was giving it his all. A female student who caught a glimpse of this scene leaked it, and the news spread across social media overnight.

As a result, the next morning before homeroom, a crowd had gathered around him.

The impact of Matsuura-san's 3P declaration was already nowhere to be felt.

"—Takeuchi-kun, you can breakdance? That's so cool!"

"—I heard you're doing both the soccer club and the Breakdance Club. Is that true? Isn't that amazing?"

"—Isn't breakdancing really tough? My little brother even broke his neck during practice."

"—Eh... i-isn't that dangerous?"

"—We've been in the same class since first year, but I had no idea Takeuchi could dance."

"—That kind of dedication is just so cool."

"—I get it, it's really admirable."

"—M-Maybe I should give it a try too?"

"—Don't even think about it. You'll just end up breaking a bone."

"—I kind of want to join, but the bar seems high."

"—Didn't Rose-chan join too?"

"—If we joined, it would probably be awkward."

"—I heard the transfer student joined too."

"—No way, seriously!?"

Before the morning homeroom, the ikemen chatted with his classmates gathered around him.

"No, no, no, I'm still not that good yet..."

Trying to sound casual and confident, Takeuchi-kun was actually sweating nervously under his arms and on his back.

In fact, during yesterday's practice, he was the worst dancer.

The fact that he was even worse than the futsumen was putting his handsome reputation in a really tough spot. To make matters worse, a stage performance was scheduled just a few days away. Those who stepped onto the stage would inevitably be compared, whether they liked it or not.

Of course, he had his excuses ready.

For instance, the president of the Breakdance Club. Losing to him could be brushed off as inevitable, with a harmless explanation. After all, the amount of time they had dedicated to practice was different. Everyone would likely accept this explanation. In fact, it would be counterproductive if Takeuchi were to stand out more than the president.

And as for the golden and silver-haired lolitas, he thought that explaining their otherworldly presence would also be easily accepted by others. Their unique aura could make even the hard-to-explain aspects convincing enough.

However, there was no way he could let himself be outdone by Nishino.

No matter how he tried to explain it, no clever words came to mind. The reason was simple: the other person was Nishino. No matter how skilled Nishino was, the current trend in Class 2-A was that if Nishino could do it, then surely anyone else could too.

Because of this, Takeuchi-kun is filled with anxiety.

Nishino, Nishino, Nishino.

Like a curse, the name echoed endlessly in his mind.

"......"

Surrounded by others, he came to fully grasp the situation he was in. His body naturally tensed up. Despite the recent drop in temperature, he was secretly sweating uncomfortably under his shirt.

'Don't underestimate Nishino, you guys. This is seriously tough for me.' He muttered inwardly, frustrated by their misjudgment of the futsumen's abilities. As a result, Takeuchi-kun had been cutting his sleep time in half for the past few days.

Meanwhile, the futsumen in question is exceptionally silent.

"......"

Yesterday was no different—there was hardly any sign of people around him.

Even so, Nishino sits at his desk, waiting for someone to strike up a conversation. He's been waiting for a good ten minutes or so. He's itching to tell someone that he's joined the Breakdance Club. Glancing at Takeuchi-kun, who's surrounded by a crowd of students, Nishino fidgets restlessly.

However, not a single classmate comes to talk to him.

"......"

I joined the Breakdance Club with Takeuchi-kun too. He desperately wanted to have a casual conversation like that. But Nishino had no one to talk to. The reason was simple — he was at the very bottom of the school's social hierarchy.

Nothing has changed since yesterday.

"......"

At this rate, morning homeroom will start without anything happening.

He had joined the Breakdance Club to become more popular with girls, but if he couldn't even tell anyone about it, it would all be meaningless. The sight of Takeuchi-kun, basking in the overwhelming attention, only made Nishino more impatient.

And just then, a voice suddenly reached his ears.

"By the way, I heard Nishino joined the club too."

"!"

Finally, his moment had come.

Nishino's body tensed.

Joy surged through his entire being.

Bring it on.

Talk to me as much as you want.

However, reality wasn't so kind.

"—He'll probably quit in a few days, right? Bet he's just after Rose-chan."

"—Yeah, that makes sense."

"—He's been clinging to her like crazy lately."

"—Honestly, I feel bad for Rose-chan."

"—What if he's got some dirt on her or something?"

"—Wouldn't surprise me at all."

"—Besides, he doesn't even have that desperate energy, y'know?"

"—Exactly."

"—Like, why doesn't he just go to a brothel or something?"

"—Nah, no way. With that face, he'd definitely get rejected."

"—He's kinda like a middle-schooler, isn't he?"

"—Maybe if he grew a beard, he'd have a shot?"

"—Ugh, no thanks. I seriously don't want to see a bearded middle-schooler."

The bearded middle-schooler was being utterly trashed.

"......"

But right now, he didn't have the power to stand up to their words.

He simply didn't have enough status in the social hierarchy.

Thus, all Nishino could do was wait.

To soothe his growing loneliness, he gazed at his Mathematics B textbook, which he had prepared for first period. His eyes landed on a line graph of the standard deviation—the probability density function of a normal distribution with a mean of zero and a standard deviation of σ.

The probability that a random variable following this distribution would fall within 0 ± σ was approximately sixty-eight percent. He saw himself at the position of -3σ, far outside that range. More abstractly, he was in the flat area at the far left tail of the distribution.

If the distribution of students within the school's social hierarchy showed the same properties as the graph Nishino was staring at, his current position would be equivalent to -3σ or lower — a world of decimals. In other words, only a handful of students like him existed in the entire school. Probabilistically speaking, he was super rare — in a bad way.

"......"

His Mathematics B textbook had taught him about probability distributions, but it didn't show him how to manipulate them. He wondered what factors determined the x-axis of the school's social hierarchy, pondering with the textbook open in front of him.

He was so lost in thought that he didn't notice someone approaching until that individual spoke.

"Hey, Nishino-kun, do you have a moment?"

"!"

Caught off guard by his name being called, Nishino abruptly lifted his head.

It was as if he'd touched something scalding hot.

"Wh—hey! Don't suddenly look up like that! You startled me!"

"Oh it's you, Class Rep. What's up? Do you need something from me?"

Standing in front of Nishino's desk was Shimizu.

Realizing who it was, he calmed his racing heart. For a moment, he had mistakenly thought that someone else—perhaps a classmate interested in the breakdancing topic—had finally come to speak to him.

"Why do you look a little disappointed?"

"No at all? It's an honor to have the class president talk to me."

"......"

The futsumen delivered the line with shameless ease.

Whether he realized it or not, Nishino's perception of the class president had changed since the incident during the graduation trip. She had seen a more private side of him. Now, she was not just a classmate, but also someone who had come to know certain things about him.

That's why he instinctively keeps his distance—because of the goal he holds.

What this ordinary-looking guy sought was bittersweet memories of youth. There was no room for violence in his vision; he wanted pure and innocent moments at school or slightly naughty times after school—either way, peaceful experiences.

Perhaps that's why he distanced himself when Shimizu took a step closer.

"Well, whatever you think of me, Nishino-kun, it doesn't really matter."

"It's not good to put yourself down. You're a very attractive woman, Class Rep."

"...! I-I told you before that you can't just say things like that, didn't I?"

"...Sorry."

He had stepped on a landmine without realizing it.

And yet, despite that, Class Rep showed no signs of ending the conversation.

"By the way, y-you joined a club, right? If I remember correctly, it was 'bureikudansu' or something."

"Yeah, that's right. Just a few days ago."

"Nishino-kun, are you an experienced dancer?"

"No, I'm nowhere near that level."

"Then why did you join the Breakdance Club?"

"......"

That was something Nishino wasn't eager to admit openly. At the same time, for Shimizu, it was a question she asked based on her own quiet speculation. And in the end, both of her assumptions matched with rare precision.

"Are you that desperate to be popular with girls?"

"......"

The futsumen was utterly defeated.

He couldn't even muster a response.

"...Could it be that I hit the mark?"

"Well, I wonder."

"That's even more straightforward than I imagined, and somehow I feel sorry for asking that question."

"......"

The futsumen felt a wave of shame wash over him.

He had been completely outmaneuvered.

And yet—he couldn't bring himself to deny his true intentions.

"I truly want to cherish the present moment. That's why I want to do everything I can. Even if I end up regretting something, if I can say that I gave it my all in this moment—then surely, I'll be able to accept it later as just a funny story I can look back and laugh at."

"...!"

This youthful declaration from the futsumen unexpectedly resonated with Shimizu's heart.

She was on the verge of losing sight of herself. More specifically, she was a second-year high school student struggling with her grades as she prepared for the entrance exam to the Tokyo University of Foreign Studies. If things continued this way, her future would likely be limited to a third-rate private university she had applied to as a safety net.

And precisely because she was fighting so hard herself, his desperate resolve pierced her deeply.

There are certain perspectives that only become clear when you're in a similar situation.

"W-Well, if that's how you feel, then I guess you should go for it."

"Thank you for cheering me on, Class Rep."

"I-I'm not cheering you on or anything!"

"I that so?"

"This might be meddling, but if you're going to preach about self-improvement to others, you should at least get your teeth straightened! In Western countries, the alignment of your teeth is very important—it even affects your social credibility!"

"...I see."

A desperate attempt to save face.

Little did Shimizu know what kind of disaster her words would unleash.

The futsumen nodded, earnestly accepting her advice.

It was, after all, a suggestion from someone he respected—the class representative of Class 2-A.

"Thanks. I'll work on fixing it right away."

"Y-Yeah. That's a good idea!"

"I appreciate your concern. Thank you, Class Rep."

"!"

Receiving Nishino's thanks, Shimizu hurriedly walked away.

He sat alone at his desk, looking a bit lonely. Their entire exchange had been driven by her compassion, feeling sorry for him. As a result, he found a new goal and promptly took out his phone.

Without hesitation, Nishino began making an appointment with the dentist.

◆

After school that day, Nishino made his way to Kondo Dental Clinic.

Risa-chan, the girl who reigns over the girls in Class 2-A, also has the surname Kondo. Nishino once overheard on the rooftop that her father is a dentist. In fact, her private room is located on the second floor of the clinic, making the area part of her living space.

"Nishino-san, this way please."

"Yes."

Guided by a female dental hygienist, Nishino walked toward the examination room.

The dental hygienist was a young woman with a large chest.

Even though he usually tries to act cynical, Nishino is still a man. He couldn't help but feel a rush of excitement, wondering if this was 'one of those situations'. Since it wasn't a particularly large clinic, he couldn't help but wonder if something like that might happen, his heart racing with excitement.

Suddenly, a voice reached his ears.

"Papa? Dinner's ready~!"

The voice came from around the corner of the hallway ahead of him. He had already guessed that the clinic also served as the residence of the owner, judging from the building's exterior. Naturally, he assumed the voice belonged to the doctor's family.

He moved to the reclining chair in the treatment room. From there, he saw two people talking in the corner of the room. One was a man in a white coat, probably in his early forties—likely the clinic's dentist.

Like Nishino, the man had thick, single eyelids and an unremarkable face. However, his expression held a natural smile, giving the impression of a gentle middle-aged man.

If one were to point out a flaw, it would be the slightly questionable state of his hairline.

"Sorry, but I still have a patient. You go ahead and eat without me."

"Huh? But it's already past the usual time, isn't it?"

And the other person was someone Nishino recognized.

It was Risa-chan.

"There's a patient in trouble, so you shouldn't say things like that."

"Mou, Papa, you're always like that. I might end up hating you, you know?"

It was a heartwarming exchange.

Risa-chan pouted as she spoke, but her expression was contrary to her words, beaming with a big smile. She was always a cheerful girl at school, but at home, her smile seemed even brighter.

"Today, we promised to eat dinner together and take a bath together, didn't we?"

"We might have promised to eat together, but we didn't promise to take a bath together. Come on, go back inside. A patient will be here soon, and they might feel uncomfortable if you're around."

"It's fine, Papa. Let's take a bath together~"

"If you want to take a bath so badly, why not go with Pochi?"

"I don't want to go with Pochi, I want to go with you, Papa~"

However, for a girl in her mid-teens, such words stood out a bit. It's said that most girls going through adolescence tend to dislike their fathers. In contrast, the way she looked at her father was filled with a certain warmth.

In short, Risa-chan was a daddy's girl.

And not just any daddy's girl—she was the type who openly adored her father, even to the point of disregarding social norms.

The reason why her hymen still remains intact is because her father continues to treat her as his daughter, and she has not yet succeeded in "winning him over". Over the past few years, she has repeatedly tried to get closer to him by barging into the bathroom or sneaking into his bed—such actions are too numerous to list.

Naturally, she keeps this fact a secret from her classmates. While playing the role of a somewhat carefree girl, she has acted as the leader of her female friend group. At the same time, Risa-chan does not feel any guilt about this reality.

She looks at the situation shrewdly and is planning her approach to "conquer" her father. In her mind, she has a concrete plan that even includes pregnancy and childbirth. Her dream for the future is to become a dental hygienist and live by her father's side. She was that kind of intensely passionate girl.

"If you keep saying stuff like that, I'll just crash your bath again, you know?"

"You used to be so much more obedient... How did you end up like this...?"

"Fufufu~ Don't you think getting to bathe with a high school girl is a pretty sweet deal, Papa?"

"No father gets excited over his own daughter. Now go on, get out of here."

Thus, the time spent at home with her father in the evening was, for Risa-chan, the most precious moment in her life. What should they talk about today? Which TV show should they watch during dinner? These were the kinds of things she constantly thought about.

But there was someone who disrupted her bliss.

"Sorry for making a last-minute appointment like this."

A patient who could read English but not the room: Nishino Gokyou, sixteen years old, virgin.

His natural apology drew a reaction from both of them.

"Oh, no, please don't worry about it. I'm the one who should apologize for letting you see something odd. Come on, Risa, since we have a patient, you should go back. You can go ahead and eat your dinner."

"Eh...? W-Wait, why is Nishino here!?"

Seeing Nishino there, Risa-chan's expression turned to shock.

Her big, round eyes opened even wider in surprise.

"Before morning homeroom, Class Rep pointed out that I should get my teeth straightened. I heard Kondo-sensei is renowned as one of the best doctors in Tokyo, so I made an appointment to have him take a look. Just as Risa-chan was bragging about at school, there were tons of articles online praising him."

"!"

The futsumen casually called her "Risa-chan".

Moreover, he even brought up the class president to support his point. Why would she care about his crooked teeth? Why would she go out of her way to suggest getting them straightened? To Risa-chan, his words only raised more questions.

"Class Rep suggested it? W-What's that supposed to mean?"

"Exactly what I said. I was advised to get my teeth straightened because they're crooked."

"......"

Risa-chan was completely lost, unable to make sense of the situation.

As usual, this futsumen was terrible at explaining things.

"Are you Risa's friend?"

As the conversation between the kids came to a pause, Risa-chan's dad spoke up. It seemed he hadn't expected the patient to be someone his daughter knew. He looked at Nishino with a gentle gaze and asked.

"We spend our days together as classmates."

"I see, so you're in the same class."

"After hearing at school about how proud she is of her father, I thought I'd come see the renowned doctor for myself."

He spoke, recalling a certain incident from the school rooftop some time ago.

It was the time when Matsuura-san got a yellow card from all the girls in the class.

"...Are you perhaps her boyfriend?"

Risa-chan's father asked, seemingly misunderstanding the situation.

He was being treated as her boyfriend, of all things.

Naturally, Risa-chan, who had no interest in anyone but her father, panicked.

"Wait! Hold on, Papa!!"

"Why are you so flustered, Risa?"

"No way that's true! He's not my boyfriend!"

"Is that so?"

"Absolutely! My type is more like... someone who's always calm, someone who stays composed no matter how hard things get, and someone who makes me want to be by his side! Nishino is nothing like that! He's totally not my type!"

"...Don't you think that's a bit harsh to deny it so strongly in front of him?"

Her beloved papa had just assumed that a classmate she had no interest in was her boyfriend.

Risa-chan couldn't possibly stay calm inside.

That said, Nishino wasn't the type to get upset in a situation like this.

Although it was shocking, he brushed it off and tried to smooth things over.

"Sorry, but could we proceed with the treatment?"

"Oh, yes, of course. I'm sorry for the commotion."

"No, not at all. Please, don't worry about it."

"I apologize for my daughter's behavior..."

Risa-chan's father bowed his head repeatedly, apologizing profusely. Even toward Nishino, who was just a student around the same age as his daughter, he showed consideration and bowed respectfully. His face bore a kind smile, indicating his gentle nature. He seemed to have quite a humble personality.

Understanding this, Nishino also took a step back and bowed in return.

"No, I'm sorry for taking up your family time."

This was how a normal person would respond with courtesy in kind. However, in Nishino's case, there were very few people in the world who actually treated him with such politeness, which was why his behavior had settled into this reserved manner. This was something that couldn't be fixed easily, like correcting teeth with braces.

"However, when it comes to orthodontics..."

In response to Nishino's words, Kondo-sensei spoke up.

"Is there a problem?"

"This isn't a specialized orthodontic clinic, so will that be alright? Compared to specialists who focus exclusively on orthodontics, we naturally have less hands-on experience, so in terms of expertise, we might fall short. In the medical field, just like in many others, experience often speaks volumes."

Risa-chan's father relayed his concerns honestly.

Some dental clinics contract with external orthodontists and limit patient visits to just one day a week. There are not a few patients who, after paying the fee, discover the existence of specialist orthodontists.

In the midst of such circumstances, Kondo-sensei, who spoke honestly, proved to be a conscientious person.

"Even though he's saying all that, my papa is a certified orthodontic specialist, you know? He's amazing! There are only about 3,000 in the whole country, and only a few percent of all orthodontists ever get certified!"

"Hey now, Risa. You should stay out of this and sit quietly in the back."

Risa-chan, seizing the moment, is showering his Papa with praise.

She crossed her arms, looking as proud as if it were her own accomplishment.

"That's impressive. In that case, I'd definitely like to request Kondo-sensei's expertise."

"Are you sure?"

"That is, of course, if you're willing to take my case..."

"In that case, let's do our best together."

Even with Nishino's blunt words, Risa-chan's father remained polite and composed. This demeanor was likely one of the things Risa-chan admired about him. But this time, that same virtue of his was working against her in an unfortunate way.

"I'll be in your care."

Nishino bowed respectfully in response.

Standing beside him was Risa-chan, staring at him with a frustrated expression.