Vol. 2 Chapter 4 – Using Slenderness as a Weapon
by PinkPanther“Lisara, let me take a sexy shot of you.”
On the fateful Friday morning, after breakfast at the dining table, Kaga Ryousuke made a proposal. Naturally, the response was—
“What the hell is that out of nowhere? If you’re gonna talk in your sleep, do it while you’re asleep.”
—ice cold. But that much had been expected from the start. Undeterred, Ryousuke rested his chin on his clasped hands and stared intently at her.
“I thought about it all night, and with the current situation, there’s no way we can beat Iria. It’s almost certain she’ll be ranked first in the student vote. She’s an active gravure top idol, after all. So that means Iria will automatically get three points. Then there’s the matter of whether she’ll get the three points from the judges too but don’t you think at least one of them—either Tamano-senpai or the secret judge—will vote for her?”
“That… might be true, but…”
“Indeed, unlike Onee-sama, Iria-san does have a body that looks more impressive on stage.”
At Kyuru’s comment, Lisara’s eyebrow twitched but she took a deep breath.
“Fuu… you’re right. Yes, I won’t underestimate the enemy’s power. It’s true, it wouldn’t be strange for one of them to vote for her.”
“Yeah. Which means we have to assume Iria will score at least four points.”
“That’s right. And if that’s the case, then of course, unless Onee-sama ranks second in the student vote, there’s no chance of winning.”
“That’s exactly right, Kyuru.”
“I already know that!”
Lisara said with a displeased expression.
“On top of that, with Iria’s scheme yesterday, it’s questionable whether Lisara can even make it into the top four.”
“And what does that have to do with my photos?”
Lisara tapped the dining table with her fingers.
“It’s simple. I’m not called Ero-suke by the Itate crew for nothing. I’ve got access to routes through a network of enthusiasts who hold a decent amount of influence in the school.”
“『Enthusiasts』? Um, you mean, like… cultured people?”
At Lisara’s question, Ryousuke snorted through his nose with a smirk.
“It means pervy bastards who have a strong opinion on fetishes.”
“I was stupid to expect something refined…”
“Shut up. But hey, their information-spreading ability is no joke. Some of them are actually handsome guys, hidden among the routes.”
At Ryousuke’s reply, Kyuru nodded with a wry smile.
“I see. So you’re saying, by spreading Onee-sama’s sexy shots among those people, we can boost her popularity in one go.”
“Exactly like Kyuru said. That’s why—let me take some sexy photos.”
Ryousuke stood up and activated the camera on his phone.
“Wha—y-you’re gonna take it with a digicam!?”
“Look, I’ve got neither time nor money to get prints made. This is the fastest way to circulate the info.”
“T-that might be true, but still…”
“I’ve been torn up about this too, you know. But after seeing the effort you and Mina put in yesterday, I genuinely want you to win — even setting aside my issue with《Gram》. And with this method, there’s a chance, Lisara.”
Ryousuke stared at her seriously, and Lisara quietly closed her eyes.
“Dragging even Mina into this and still ending up with a pathetic result that wasn’t even a proper fight… there’s a limit to how disgraceful that is. Besides, if I run away from a possible chance to win, the name Lisara Restall would be tarnished.”
When she opened her eyes again, they shone with a strong determination.
“Well said, Lisara.”
Ryousuke nodded firmly and looked over Lisara’s body from bottom to top.
“The problem is the composition. Normally, I wouldn’t even need to think about it and a good setup would just pop into my head. But for some reason, even when I look at your body, nothing really gets me all fired up, like fu-tsu-fu-tsu.”
He stared hard at Lisara, practically devouring her with his eyes, then tilted his head.
“I feel like I’m being seriously insulted here…”
Lisara puffed out her cheeks as she said that.
“Shut up. It’s all your fault anyway, for sucking out my life energy. Without my pervy spirit, I’ve got no creative drive.”
“Then what are you going to do?”
“Don’t worry. Even if I’m not feeling it, I’ve still got knowledge.”
Saying that, Ryousuke searched through his mental archive.
“Alright… how about using your hair color and giving the illusion of red pubic hair showing through your panties…?”
“Okay, time to head to school.”
“Wait, not allowed?”
“『Not allowed』doesn’t even begin to cover it! That kind of photo would be R-18! I’d never be able to get married after that!”
“Nah, I’d say it’s more like R-15. For high schoolers, it’s barely okay!”
He grinned as he clenched his fist, but it seemed convincing Lisara was out of the question.
“You know, anything like underwear or other direct stuff is absolutely off-limits. I don’t care if it’s to beat Iria, I’m not budging on that. What do you think a girl’s purity even means!”
“Got it. In that case, first, sit in the chair and cross your legs.”
Lisara followed his instructions obediently, a question mark practically floating on her face.
“Take off your slippers. Yeah, like that. Now lift the toes of the leg you’ve crossed… ah, just like that. With a vibe like,『I’m about to stomp on you!』Yeah. And make your face look sharp and cold. That’s it, perfect”
Kacha— the shutter snapped.
“Hey, are photos like this really what make you happy?”
“Listen, the soles of the feet are a frontier mankind didn’t start seriously exploring until the 21st century. The nape, collarbone, chest, waist, butt, legs — all those areas seemed fully excavated already. But then, humanity discovered a new fetish frontier within the female body — the soles of the feet!”
“…I don’t get it at all.”
“Okay then, to put it simply… does it awaken your inner masochist?”
“I didn’t want to get it.”
Her response was immediate.
“Alright, a few more shots. Sure, all guys carry a bit of masochism in their hearts, but that’s not everything.”
【Idiot, point your toes! Open your knees to about a 120-degree angle, and wear stockings. Ah, stop the stockings below the knees. Nice, great changing scene.】
【Yup, now spill a little milk and drink it. Ah yes, like that. And while you’re at it, let’s get a shot of you licking your lips.】
【Alright, the last one. Raise your right arm 45 degrees upward. Good, let it show the inside from your sleeve opening. No, don’t worry — I swear I won’t include your bust, just your armpit. Oh, that blushing face is great…】
As he pressed the shutter, Ryousuke got completely absorbed in the screen for a moment. Lisara’s bashful expression looked absolutely amazing. Without a doubt, it was the best shot.
“What is it? Aren’t you done already?”
“Ah, no… I just need one more.”
Ryousuke answered her reflexively.
“What, did you mess it up?”
“Y-yeah, kinda.”
He replied in a hurry, saving the last photo into a separate folder. Then, he took another picture with a similar composition.
“I don’t get it. I feel like men as a species have become even more distant… just from this morning.”
“Onee-sama, Kyuru feels exactly the same.”
For some reason, the two of them were completely drained.
“Well, just watch. The results are gonna be phenomenal.”
Ryousuke nodded with absolute confidence, while the two girls looked at him like he was some unidentifiable creature.
※ ※ ※
Before class begins, school feels like an unnatural world. The time known as『class』, which binds students, hasn’t started yet. But it also doesn’t carry the sense of liberation that comes with break time. And of course, it’s not the completely free world of after school either.
Precisely because it’s that kind of time, it wouldn’t be strange if there were a dark, creeping fear of the constraints about to begin.
“It’s been a while since we’ve come here, Ryousuke.”
In that dim, secluded world, Oohira muttered. A few other male students nodded in response to his words.
“The library… Pre-Columbian South American history like the Inca Empire… As always, this place hasn’t changed.”
At Ryousuke’s comment, Oohira grimaced.
“By the name of the great first emperor of the mighty Inca Empire, mocking this place shall not be forgiven.”
“I know. I always carry the name of the first emperor deep in my heart.”
“As long as you do… So, what brings you here today? You’ve always been a man who secures his own resources and crafts his own vivid delusions. You shouldn’t need our help.”
“I want your cooperation.”
Ryousuke brought up a photo he had taken that morning on his phone — an image of Lisara’s sole.
“T-this is…”
A stir ran through the group of boys.
“I need this circulated immediately through this route. Before the voting starts.”
“I see. To get Kaga Lisara elected, huh.”
“Thanks for catching on quick, Oohira.”
“And the reward?”
At Oohira’s prompt, Ryousuke gave a nod and showed another photo.
“What!”
The effect was instant.
“Word’s out that you’re into armpits.”
It was a photo of Lisara raising her right arm at a 45-degree angle. Beneath her short sleeve, her armpit was clearly visible.
“A photo taken just after she woke up, before her shower. Naturally, the night dew is still clinging to her.”
“…I can tell. You didn’t even have to say it. This sheen… it’s unmistakably the real deal.”
As Oohira stared at it hungrily, Ryousuke closed his phone.
“So, what about my request?”
“I’ll take it on, of course. But this alone isn’t enough. That photo of her sole about to stomp someone — it’s worth a lot of points, no doubt, but it’s still only the beginning. You understand, right? Among the perverted gentlemen who frequent this route within the school, there are those who expect more.”
“I know. And I know you’re a top-ranker among them too. I’ve prepared some extra shots to satisfy those with slightly more niche tastes — one of her changing stockings and one of her drinking milk.”
“None of them blow me away but as always, you do good work.”
Oohira nodded in satisfaction.
“They’re not for personal use. All the data’s stored on this card.”
“Got it. What’s the target rank?”
“Honestly, getting first at this point would be tough. I’m aiming for second.”
“Second, huh…alright, let’s give it our all. But in return, I want a success reward: a photo of her armpit after school. One that practically reeks of her scent.”
“You really are a connoisseur.”
Signaling his understanding with a raised hand, Ryousuke turned and began walking out. Behind him, Oohira called out,
“You’re no perfect superhuman, after all.”
And with that, he started giving orders to the other boys present.
“All hail His Majesty Manco Cápac, first emperor of the Inca Empire!!”
That chant echoed around them.
Hearing their repeated cries, Ryousuke quietly looked at his phone. He gazed silently at the best shot — the one he somehow couldn’t hand over to Oohira.
‘…If I really wanted to win, I should’ve given him this, right?’
He found himself puzzled by the part of him that just couldn’t bring himself to hand it over.
※ ※ ※
“Ryousuke-kun♡”
Iria approached Ryousuke’s desk with a beaming smile. It was already after school. He had received word from Oohira that the campaign had gone smoothly. The voting was over and now all that was left was to wait for the results…
“Look at this, what’s thiiis?”
She said that while holding out an A4-sized sheet.
“What the… What the hell is this?!”
Seeing the paper placed on his desk, Ryousuke gasped. Even Mina and Lisara leaned over to peek at it, curious about his reaction.
“Uhh,【We hereby appoint Fukumine Iria-san’s campus guide to be Kaga Ryousuke】. Signed by… Ranbashi…? Wait, what?!”
“W-what’s the meaning of this?! Is it a fake?”
Lisara stood in front of Iria, glaring sharply at her.
“A fake? It has the teacher’s official seal on it, you know? Or… are you saying Lisara-san here is capable of forging documents?”
For a brief moment, Iria flashed a wicked, smug smile. She clearly already knew that Lisara had forged paperwork to transfer into the school.
To Ryousuke, it could only feel like a veiled jab at that fact.
Lisara seemed to realize it too, biting her lip in frustration.
“Fufu, there’s no way an ordinary person could do something like that, right? So this really is Ranbashi-sensei’s official order. Which means, Ryousuke-kun, I want to ask you to show me around the school. Is that okay?”
“Why me?”
“Because if they don’t assign someone specific, it’ll cause confusion, right~? So, since you’re good friends with Lisara-san, I thought I’d ask you♡”
The reasoning was too flawless.
“And you know, Ryousuke-kun, Iria wants to check out the school store! Puh-lease♡”
She smiled adorably and clutched Ryousuke’s arm with surprising force.
“Okay♡?”
Her expression and tone were all cute, but the pressure behind it left no room for refusal.
“…That damn Ranbashi really dumped this on me.”
Muttering under his breath, Ryousuke stood up.
“Ah, Lisara-san, you and the others wait here, okay? If they let anyone else tag along, it’ll turn into a huuuge line~”
She smiled like a blooming flower. In contrast, Lisara looked like she’d bitten into a bitter bug.
‘Why is she suddenly talking to me? What’s her goal?’
As he walked with Iria, Ryousuke tried to figure it out.
There were two possible reasons Iria would approach him.
The first was obviously related to Lisara. Ryousuke had been stabbed with the《Broken Sword Gram》and was supplying her with spiritual energy. It wouldn’t be strange if Iria wanted to investigate that.
The second was the judging. Ryousuke would be one of the judges for the swimsuit contest. It made sense for her to try and get close to him ahead of time. Maybe… the other judges had already been bought off.
‘She could totally pull that kind of thing… If that’s the case, I’ve got no clue what she might try with me next. Well, luckily, my life energy hasn’t fully recovered yet. Just a bit of cheap seduction isn’t enough to shake my heart!’
So thought Ryousuke — though he was feeling very empty inside.
Just then, Iria wrapped her arm around his, walking beside him like they were a couple on a date.
“Uwah!?”
“Hehe, this is your reward for being my guide♡”
Her scent wrapped around him and her breath whispered teasingly into his ear. With a series of unfamiliar gestures, Ryousuke completely froze — not out of pervy thoughts but from pure-hearted nervousness.
Perhaps pleased with his reaction, Iria pressed her body even closer. Yes — she softly squished his arm between her large breasts. That soft, tayun sensation made Ryousuke go:
“…U-Uuun?”
He instinctively tilted his head. Deep within his soul, his erotic spirit was screaming,『This is just… empty!』Far from being filled with joy, a vast emptiness spread through him.
Noticing his reaction, Iria gazed at him with sorrowful eyes.
“Could it be that Ryousuke-kun… prefers breasts like Lisara-san’s? You know, all flattened out like they’ve been leveled and paved in concrete?”
She asked, looking serious.
“No, I prefer them big!”
He blurted that out without thinking.
“Hmm, then that makes it even weirder~ Oh! Maybe… are you desperately holding yourself back? So you don’t fall madly for Iria’s charms?”
“W-Well… I guess something like that…”
“Aha, you don’t need to hold back so much~ After the swimsuit contest, Ryousuke-kun — you and that 《Broken Sword Gram》 of yours are going to belong to Iria, you know?”
She giggled softly.
“Or… don’t you know what’s being wagered?”
“No, I know. But hey, can you at least try pulling 《Gram》 out of my soul or something?”
“Hmm, what to do? That’ll depend on what Ryousuke-kun does from here on~♡”
She said something devilish in the cutest voice, totally casually.
“What do you mean『what I do』?”
“Fufu, tomorrow at the swimsuit contest…I’m sure you’ll understand♡”
Iria grinned and pressed her chest into him even harder.
But even so for some reason, Ryousuke still couldn’t get excited. They were soft and fluffy, and yet… it just didn’t work.
“Hmm… Ryousuke-kun’s no fun.”
Suddenly, Iria pulled away from him.
“So this is the school store, huh. Hehe, thanks, Ryousuke-kun. I’ll ask you to guide me around again next time… just the two of us♡”
She emphasized just the two of us, then turned and greeted her gathering fans with that perfect gravure idol smile.
“…If Iria ends up becoming《Gram》’s master, she might treat me even worse than Lisara does.”
And if she found out about increasing spiritual energy through erotic acts… Just imagining such a future — whether bright or dark — made Ryousuke shake his head.
Seeing that, Iria shrugged and said,
“Aaah~ total failure on the seduction attempt. Oh well, with these boobs, it’s not like Iria loses anything anyway☆”
She muttered softly.
“Eh?”
“Mm-mm, just talking to myself♡”
Ryousuke couldn’t catch what she said and asked back, but Iria only smiled. As he tilted his head at that smile—
“Oh my, what a rare pairing this is. Should I go tattling to Lisara-oneesama?”
Kyuru from the middle school division came walking over with a sly grin.
“It was an order from the teacher, can’t be helped. Lisara knows about it too.”
“Hmmm, you’re as sneaky as ever, Iria-san.”
Kyuru chuckled in response to Ryousuke’s answer. But Iria simply smiled gracefully and bowed her head, smoothly brushing off the snide remark.
“Oh my, Kyuru-chan. Long time no see~”
Even so, Kyuru didn’t even bother to return the greeting.
“Ryousuke-san, have you seen the front of the student council room yet?”
“No?”
“The preliminary voting results are posted.”
“Waah, I’ve gotta go see!”
Iria reacted immediately and started walking off.
“Haa~ She’s so impatient. She’s always been the type who just loves seeing proof of how amazing she is.”
“So she’s got a strong need for self-display, huh.”
“Well, that’s one way to put it. Kyuru, on the other hand, is already sick of seeing the results.”
Haa… Kyuru let out a deep sigh.
“What were the results…?”
Gulp Ryousuke swallowed hard.
“It’s the worst”
“The worst? Don’t tell me Lisara didn’t make it?”
“No, that’s not it. Iria-san came in first and Lisara-oneesama is in second place.”
Ryousuke let out a sigh of relief at that answer.
“Don’t scare me like that. That’s not the worst.”
“No, it really is the worst. Because Mina-san came in third, and this Kyuru was in fourth place… Why on earth do I have to appear in a swimsuit in front of people?”
“Huh?”
At Kyuru’s response, Ryousuke could only stare blankly in disbelief.
※ ※ ※
“Fueeehn, why do I have to participate toooo…”
On the way back from school, Mina clung to Lisara’s arm in protest.
“It can’t be helped. You were chosen.”
“Exactly. The more I hear about it, the more it feels like the true victim here is me”
Kyuru added with a completely sour expression.
“It’s not like we have a choice. The student vote ranked Mina third and Kyuru fourth.”
Saying that, Lisara suddenly paused to think.
“Wait a second…with these results, was it even necessary for me to spread those embarrassing photos?”
Lisara shot a sharp glare at Ryousuke.
“No, it was. If we hadn’t secured the high school votes with that campaign, you would’ve been overtaken by Kyuru. According to Tamano-senpai, a huge number of middle school votes went to Kyuru. I mean, for a middle schooler, she’s got a really good figure and draws attention in all sorts of ways.”
“When Ryousuke-san compliments me, it gives me chills, honestly.”
“You’re so rude…”
“But Mina getting third place without doing anything is impressive.”
At Lisara’s remark, Ryousuke chuckled wryly.
“Mina’s always been popular. On top of that, she’s been going around campus with you. That made her popular again and pushed her into the ranking.”
“I-I see… Mina, um… sorry.”
Mina drooped her shoulders helplessly.
“Uuugh… if I could withdraw, I totally would.”
“Come on, Mina. You got picked fair and square. More than that, are you going to betray the expectations of the people who voted for you?”
“That’s true, but… haaah…”
She let out a heavy sigh.
“More importantly, Ryousuke-san, you remember, don’t you?”
Kyuru jabbed Ryousuke in the side with an elbow.
“Ow! What the hell was that for?!”
“You promised to buy swimsuits for Lisara-oneesama and Kyuru, remember?”
That sentence struck Ryousuke even harder.
He couldn’t exactly say,『I already bought two school swimsuits』, in this kind of atmosphere.
After he made the purchase, an announcement clarified that swimsuit contest participants could wear any swimsuit they wanted. Under those circumstances, there was no way he could just go,『How about school swimsuits?』
“That’s right. This is a real battle. Then I need to pick my battle gear carefully!”
Lisara was fired up now too.
“Then it’s decided. Let’s go shopping right away”
Kyuru said, clapping her hands.
In contrast, Ryousuke slumped his shoulders.
“Hmm, I guess I’ll need a new one too”
Mina added, touching her lips with her index finger and looking up at the sky.
“Wait, didn’t you buy one last year?”
“…It doesn’t fit anymore.”
“Huh?”
“B-because… um… m-my bust…”
“Oh! Your chest grew?”
Ryousuke nodded in understanding. For some reason, Mina went bright red and walked ahead quickly.
“Mina-san… still growing, huh. That’s amazing.”
“Why are you looking at me, Kyuru?!”
“You might still grow too, you know?”
Kyuru let out a fufu and then ran ahead as if fleeing.
“That girl is so dead…!”
“Well, even if your boobs are small, Lisara’s still really beautiful, so it’ll be fine.”
Ryousuke tried to cheer up the gritting Lisara.
Or so he thought.
“Hmph!”
She turned her face away and went into the shopping mall ahead of them.
“What the hell? I just complimented her, didn’t I… Ugh, I’ll never understand women.”
Ryousuke tilted his head and followed after them.
The shopping center near the station had all kinds of stores inside. Among them, the swimwear section of the sports store had a decent selection even from a guy’s point of view. The prices were decent too.
“Hmm, I didn’t realize swimsuits came in so many types.”
Lisara looked around the store, curiously glancing this way and that.
Wire bikinis, triangle bikinis, one-pieces, skirt types, short skirt-pants and even tank top and shorts combinations. Rows of swimsuits lined up so tightly they seemed to fight for space.
By the way, Ryousuke had gained all this knowledge from secretly buying swimsuit specials at the convenience store and browsing online sites. He really liked swimsuit models too. They looked so healthy and energetic.
“Mina-san, could you help me choose?”
Kyuru peeked up at Mina.
“Me?”
“Of course. Kyuru doesn’t know anything about swimsuits. Your advice is absolutely essential, Mina-san.”
“Oh, then maybe I should ask you for help too?”
As Lisara raised her hand, Kyuru shot her a cold glare.
“Onee-sama, are you misunderstanding something?”
“W-what?”
“You and I are already rivals, standing on the battlefield known as the swimsuit contest. There’s no way I’d hand over such a precious advisor to my opponent. And I haven’t given up on knocking you down, Onee-sama. You really are too naïve.”
With a smug, Kyuru laughed through her nose and grabbed Mina’s hand.
“K-Kyuru-chan, but I… I mean, I’m also a contestant, you know?”
“Oh, Mina-san won’t be able to do a proper appeal anyway — she’ll just get all flustered. You’re not even a threat.”
“Fueeehn… That’s probably true, but even if it’s true, it still stings~”
Half in tears, Mina was dragged away by Kyuru. And as she left, for some reason Kyuru looked back at Ryousuke and gave him a playful wink.
“…Huh?”
“What’s with the face? You look like a pigeon that just got nailed by a bean cannon.”
Lisara, who had been muttering complaints about Kyuru, turned to Ryousuke with a puzzled look.
“No… I mean… it’s nothing.”
He was pretty sure there was zero chance Kyuru was flirting with him. So that wink had to mean something else.
‘Uhh… what the hell did that mean?’
He tilted his head, but Ryousuke’s brain wasn’t equipped to produce a satisfying answer.
“Whatever. Ryousuke, you’re going to help me pick.”
Lisara began walking as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.
“Huh?”
“『Huh?』isn’t a valid response. Kyuru took Mina with her, so you’re the only one left. You’re the only person who can explain these swimsuits to me.”
When Lisara turned around, her face clearly said, 『Obviously, you idiot.』
“But I’m a guy…”
He blushed a little.
“A swimsuit contest is basically a contest to see who gets the most lust-fueled votes from guys, right? Then what’s wrong with asking for a guy’s opinion?”
Being told so directly only made Ryousuke feel even more guilty.
Of course, helping a girl pick out a swimsuit was the kind of event he had dreamed of. This was the ultimate winner’s event. Visually pleasing, and emotionally it felt like he was getting closer to a girl — it was truly a wonderful experience.
But still.
Just like in the underwear section, stepping into this female sanctuary made the pure-hearted Ryousuke feel embarrassed in real life.
“Ugh, this guy — I really can’t tell if he’s got guts or not!”
“Well, yeah… If I had to say, probably not? I mean, I’m more of a poet who appreciates the flowers than someone who plucks them, you know?”
“What kind of nonsense are you spouting?!”
She grabbed Ryousuke’s wrist.
“Look, I’m the one asking, so hurry up and come with me!”
“Y-yes, ma’am!”
Dragging Ryousuke along, Lisara didn’t even look back. Without even giving him a chance to help pick anything, she stormed off toward the back of the store with her shoulders bristling.
Ryousuke looked at her back with a faint, wry smile. That smile said,
‘I see now. Yeah, Mina probably couldn’t handle this kind of intensity. Kyuru must’ve left Lisara to me on purpose — probably wants me to keep her in check. Well… I don’t really know what Kyuru’s true motives are.’
He was caught between stubborn Lisara and not-so-honest Kyuru.
“Hey, Lisara.”
“What?!”
Still not stopping, she responded with a voice trying a bit too hard to sound angry.
“Well, at that pace, you won’t be able to pick anything, right?”
“…”
She froze. A few seconds of silence.
“W-well, I guess that’s true.”
She turned around with a stiff smile.
“Okay then, you probably want something that makes your chest look a bit bigger, right?”
“…Yeah.”
Lisara nodded honestly.
“Then, a halter bikini’s your best bet.”
“H-halter bikini?”
“It ties not just at the back, but also behind the neck — around the nape, you know? That way it lifts and makes your bust look bigger. And you’ve got nice legs, so for the bottom, one with string sides would show off your hip line and make them look longer.”
“…You sure know a lot.”
For some reason, Lisara looked at him like she was taking a step back.
“I mean, I’ve always looked at swimsuit specials… and lately I’ve been spending a lot of time browsing swimsuit websites.”
“Why?”
“Geez, who do you think took away all my DVDs and erotic magazines? You cleaned out my stash, remember? So now all I can do is look at swimsuit sites online! Damn it, you know, if a guy doesn’t see something sexy at least once a day, he’ll die!”
“…Uhh, right. I guess this one looks kind of cute?”
She completely brushed off Ryousuke’s impassioned rant and began selecting swimsuits exactly as he had described.
“Hmm, how about something like this?”
Lisara brought out a black-and-white striped swimsuit and another with a black base.
“W-what do you mean『how abou』…”
“Yeah, true. Umm, I can try these on, right?”
“I mean, I think you can…”
“Then I’ll try it on — so could you take a look for me?”
“You’re serious?!”
Bon! Ryousuke’s face turned red. He’d sighed dreamily at girls in swimsuits at the pool before, sure but he’d never had one shown to him directly.
“What?”
“N-no, just… is that really okay?”
“We’re going to be showing them off when the pool opens anyway… wait, stop blushing like that! You’re making me feel embarrassed now too!”
Looking up at the ceiling, Lisara’s gaze wavered. She must’ve gotten self-conscious all of a sudden her face was just as red as Ryousuke’s. Still, she didn’t seem willing to back down from confirming her swimsuit choice. From that, Ryousuke could feel her burning determination, this was a fight, a showdown with Iria.
“Hey… do you really want to beat Iria that badly?”
“Of course I do!”
Lisara’s voice strengthened with conviction. It was more than just wanting to win because she’d lost earlier — there was something deeper, a long-standing anger.
“That girl is a wall standing right in front of me. Unless I get past that idiot, I can’t move forward. Besides, I want to take back《Flotti》for the honor of the Restall name. And most of all, I wanna humiliate her while she’s gritting her teeth in frustration!”
With a grin blazing with fighting spirit, Lisara declared her intent.
“That last one’s… kinda a petty reason, though.”
“She’s done plenty to deserve it. And besides…”
“Besides?”
“I absolutely can’t let《Broken Sword Gram》fall into her hands. That relic is a treasured heirloom of the Restall family.”
“Wait, then why the hell would you gamble something that important in the first place?!”
“Ehe♡”
“Don’t think acting cute will let you get away with it!”
“Cheh…”
She pouted and pretended to sulk.
“But…《Broken Sword Gram》 is important, yeah. But so is Ryousuke, okay?”
“Huh?”
His heart skipped a beat.
“If you disappeared, I wouldn’t be able to continue searching for the Singular One in the human world.”
“O-oh, r-right, you meant it like that.”
“What?”
“A-ahaha, nothing really.”
Ryousuke scratched his head in a panic.
‘What the hell am I misunderstanding? Someone like me… it’s not like I could seriously be a romantic interest or anything… damn it, I wanna be popular…’
He scratched at his head, trying to calm himself down — though it was drifting in a slightly pathetic direction.
“You’re a weird one, Ryousuke. But anyway, that’s why… I’m sorry, but I need your help a little longer. I might be a bother, but… please.”
Lisara looked straight into Ryousuke’s eyes and bowed her head. That gesture made Ryousuke exhale a quiet fuu of relief inside. If he hadn’t already calmed himself down earlier, that move would’ve seriously shaken his composure.
“Come on, what are you saying now, all of a sudden?”
“Huh?”
“This is what they call a『ship you’ve already boarded.』”
At those words, Lisara let out a chuckle.
Ryousuke laughed along with her.
“Alright, Ryousuke! Time to check out how I look in a swimsuit!”
Grabbing Ryousuke’s wrist again, Lisara’s voice sounded so cheerful it was hard to believe she had been in such a mood since encountering Iria.
‘I still don’t get girls… Master Caesar, please enlighten me…’
Tilting his head, Ryousuke let himself be pulled along by Lisara.
“Hey, Mina-san. Just like Kyuru predicted Lisara-oneesama’s motivation is totally fired up, right?”
Kyuru poked her head out from behind a swimsuit rack with a sly grin.
“Uugh, they really do seem close. Lisara’s so pretty and kind…I can’t blame her, but maybe she’s started noticing how strong and gentle Ryousuke-kun is… haaah…”
Mina muttered quietly while watching Ryousuke and Lisara, letting out a heavy sigh.
“Mina-san?”
“Ah, no, I mean, um, yes?”
Startled, Mina flinched then flailed a little before tilting her head. She clearly hadn’t been listening.
“Like I said, just as Kyuru predicted, if we leave Lisara-oneesama in Ryousuke-san’s hands, her fighting spirit will burn even hotter.”
“Y-yeah, that’s definitely… very true.”
“Mina-san, your face looks kind of gloomy though?”
“Eh? N-no, not at all! I’m totally fine. Yes! Um, r-right, but aren’t you okay with this, Kyuru-san? Didn’t you want to knock Lisara down…?”
“That’s that, and this is this. Kyuru is still a Shinigami of the Restall family. There’s no way I’d forgive someone like Iria, who betrayed us for Melro. I want to beat her into the ground just as much as Onee-sama does. So Lisara-oneesama has to do her best. Since Kyuru came in fourth and got zero points in the student vote, it’s a pretty tough situation for me, you know?”
She smiled sweetly.
“Yeah, that’s true. If Iria becomes the master of 《Gram》, she’d take Ryousuke away too… Lisara really has to win.”
Mina said that, but her face showed a complicated, conflicted expression.
A Certain Single Shinigami and a Single Teacher’s Monologue, Part 3
~ At Izakaya “Gunsha Torimoichi” ~
“Puhaaaaah, beer is… so damn good!”
“In the end, we came again today, didn’t we, Maru-san?”
“Like I had a choice! I got slammed with an absurd mission, and I’m gonna die tomorrow! …Gulp, gulp gulp, Puhhaaaah! I can’t deal with this unless I drink!”
“Gubi Did something happen?”
“Uuuugh, I… I… got ordered to fight someone I have no chance against... Gubi, gubi gubi…”
“You’re going really hard there. Your tummy’s gonna go tapu-tapu, you know?”
“Hey, what’s that supposed to mean, Ran?!”
“…Beer belly?”
“I-I do NOT have that, okay?! I’m totally fine, totally! Go ahead, touch and see for yourself! Most of my salary disappears into rent and booze anyway, so it’s not like I eat fancy food or anything! I’m totally fine!”
“Yeah yeah, I get it, Maru-san. Gubi gubi, Puhhaaa, let’s just drink for now, alright?”
“Yeah, you’re right...Gokugoku…Haaaah, alcohol really is soothing… Hey, Ran, listen. That crazy order I got for tomorrow? It’s seriously messed up!”
“What happened?”
“I told you before, right? Gubi — I’m a 4th-Class Shinigami. I was just one step away from making 3rd-Class.”
“Ah, yeah, you did mention that. Gokugoku…”
“But now, get this… they’re telling me to fight a 1st-Class Shinigami!! Seriously, don’t you think that’s totally insane?! Right?! RIGHT?!”
“Hiyaaah, M-Maru-san, please don’t shake me like that… urghhh, it’s making me drunk faster…”
“Ah, sorry… but still! That’s how awful the order is!”
“Yikes…I never really understood the whole Shinigami ranking thing, to be honest…”
“Oh, right…Goku, Puhhaaa. So there are six classes total. Most Shinigami are Class 6 or 5, I think.”
“Heeh, then being Class 4 means you’re pretty amazing, huh?”
“Well, yeah. Classes 4 through 6 are considered lower ranks, but Class 4s usually supervise the other lower-ranked Reapers”
“I see. But Maru-san, you’re always working alone, aren’t you?”
“There are management types with no subordinates in every world, Ran… Gubi gubi, Puhhaaa…”
“T-that sounds rough…”
“Haaaah… well, anyway. The upper ranks oversee the entire lower division or take on special missions. Especially Class 1 — they’re assigned exclusively to Singular Ones. Real elite stuff. There’s only a handful of them in the whole Shinigami world.”
“Wow, that really is impressive…”
“Right? When you reach upper class, they give you special weapons and you can use way more spells… the difference is night and day. And they told me to fight one of those ridiculously higher-ranked 1st-Classes. My heart seriously stopped… Gubi, gubi gubi, Puhhaaa, damn that shitty boss!”
“C-come on now, let’s try to stay calm. You’ll do great, Maru-san.”
“I know, I know! I’m not about to give in to this stupid order. Goku… That jerk probably wouldn’t even notice if I dropped dead! Like hell I’m dying! I’ll be happy before that bastard ever is! Just watch meeeeee!!”
It seemed the girls’ stress-draining drinking party had only just begun…