Thus began my relationship with Meguru-chan.

          That being said, we quickly came upon a certain issue after having the chance to get home and text each other. We didn’t have many opportunities to spend time with each other as lovers. Not only were we in different classes, we were also in different grade levels. We wouldn’t see each other very often just going about our days. As for after-school activities, neither of us had joined any clubs yet, but considering how much attention I drew, it’d be difficult to find time for just the two of us. That left us with the weekends, and it’d get kinda lonely if those were the only days we could meet up. Was there anywhere we could meet in secret…? While pondering on this, I remembered that I was in possession of a certain key – all thanks to the coolness of yours truly. With such knowledge in hand, I sent her a text.

          Hey, Meguru-chan. You free after school tomorrow?

          Yep I’ll make time!!

          Her reply came within a matter of seconds, like all her previous texts.

          Thanks. Can you come to the third floor of the East Building? There’s a spot I wanna show you.

          Got it!

          Alright, one problem down. I was a bit… worried about how quickly and unconditionally she agreed to this, though.  …Yeah, I definitely had to protect her! With that thought in my mind, I drifted off to sleep.

          The day after, I went straight to the specified location as soon as school ended – where Meguru-chan was already waiting for me.

          “Hey, Senpai!”

          She loudly greeted me.

          “Shh!!!”

          “Hm?”

          I was happy to see her too, but I wanted to lay low, so I gestured to keep her voice down. It was empty around here though, since there weren’t any active clubs that used rooms on this floor. Regardless, we had to hurry up before anyone did come around. I led her to a particular door, took a key out from my bag, and deftly unlocked it.

          “After you.”

          “Woahhh…”

          Beyond that door was “my” room.

          The interior was neatly arranged, with just the right amount of space for a small group to hang out. A two-seater sofa and a table at the very center completed the decor, creating a luxurious and comforting atmosphere. This wasn’t the kind of spot you’d expect to find in a school building. As we both entered, I locked the door behind us. Finally, I could relax.

          “I’ll make some tea.”

          I leisurely took some stuff off a shelf to brew some tea. In contrast, Meguru-chan was stopped in her tracks right by the door, scanning the room in speechless amazement.

          “W-where are we?!”

          “Hmm… If I had to describe it, I guess I’d say it’s my private room.”

          I poured out the tea with refined precision as we spoke.   

          “A private room?! And it’s yours?!”

          “Yep. Nice spot, isn’t it?”

          Good, good. I look so cool right now. That’s right, I’m no ordinary student at all! I may have been a bit careless when she confessed to me, but in this moment, the sides of me that I want to show off are on full display! What do you think, Meguru-chan? I’m totally cool, aren’t I?

          “Wait, a private room inside the school… D-does that mean—”

          “Ahaha, so I’ve finally been found out, have I? It’s exactly what you’re thinking, Meguru-chan. I—”

          Uh oh. I got carried away and just started saying things without knowing what she was actually thinking. …Someone help! I can’t take it back anymore! …What’s she even going to say? It’s probably nothing crazy, but—

          “You thought it would be best to live close to school, so you rented a room in the school itself to be as close as possible!”

          “Oh… you’ve got a healthy imagination.”

          I said, deflated. With such a creative idea flying right at my face, I suddenly lost all the strength in my body.

          “It’s so cute how innocent you are, Senpai!”

          “Um, the innocent one is you, though…”

          “What?”

          I put a stopper on the topic of my apparently extremely short commute time and moved the conversation onto something else. If that really were the case, then I would have went all the way back to the school building after we said our goodbyes at the gate yesterday. …And wait, she thought it was cute? It’d be one thing if she were disappointed that I didn’t seem very cool, but the fact that she was happy at the idea was…

          Ahaha. At least I had an escape route.

          “Well, you see, this is the student council’s prep room.”

          I explained.

          “Really? The student council has a room this nice?”

          “Yeah. I can give you the details, so just take off your shoes and get over here.”

          I was too exhausted to feel like trying to act cool now, so I served up the tea while she brought herself onto the carpet and sat down on the sofa. Then, I explained to her, without any exaggeration of the facts, the story of how I had come into possession of the key to this room.

          It had been just shortly after I had started at this school. By then, there had already been rumors floating around of a particularly cool student among the new cohort. Having heard those rumors, the student council president at the time came directly to see me. She had said that she wanted to recruit me for the position of the student council’s public relations officer (at Yuizono, only the president and vice-president are elected positions, while the other positions are filled with approval from the current officers and faculty advisor).

          Honestly speaking, I immediately refused. Because of the discomfort I had begun to experience, I couldn’t even bring myself to join a normal club; the student council was out of the question. However, the president had a stubborn streak to her and refused to back down. After I reluctantly heard her out, I realized that it was actually a pretty sweet deal. First off, the PR officer was, rather like a panda meant to draw attention, more like a lion that stood out in order to demonstrate the authority of the student council. Basically, there wasn’t actually much work to do. That alone wasn’t a reason to join, though.

          The biggest reason was something that the president had proposed in a very defeated mood as our discussion was coming to a close – the management of the prep room.

          “This isn’t working, is it…”

          She had said, as if she were grasping at straws, but… to me, the key to that room was a shining treasure. I stood out no matter what. I felt like I was suffocating and wanted a space at school where I could just be by myself and relax. And if I got this key, I could have that wish granted. And that’s how I agreed to join the student council. …That being said, this very important prep room was flooded with random stuff like it was a warehouse. I could have guessed that from the name of the room, but I hadn’t imagined it to be as bad as it was. I wanted to complain, but fortunately, I didn’t hate cleaning. Thus, I decided to turn it into a space that I liked and got to work on renovations – which is how the room turned into how it is now. I personally made the room so spotless that it shined and got rid of anything that I was allowed to. The result of my labor was a room that the president herself lamented was “even cleaner than the actual student council room”. Ever since then, I’d come here whenever I felt like being alone.

          “Woah, so you’re on the student council, Senpai… That’s impressive…”

          “I’m more like a decoration than an actual member, though. I only have responsibilities to take care of like once a month.”

          “And what’s more, you transformed the prep room into a beautiful Amanone Room!”

          “Amanone Room, huh… well, I’ve cleaned up well enough that it looks nice, but there’s still some warehouse-like qualities to it. Like, when you look inside this shelf here, you’ll find a strange costume inside.”

          We went over to a shelf by the wall, and I showed her what was inside.

          “Woah, you’re right! And over here, these look like board games, I think!”

          “I wonder what this was even for… there’s still a lot of clutter, but it’s nice to have the sofa and table, at least. They let me use whatever little things I could find to decorate the interior.” 

          The layout of this room was more elaborate than my own room. I’m not sure why, but I just couldn’t help but enjoy myself when I was redesigning this place.

          “Wow… wait, will the teachers get mad at me if I’m here without permission?”

Meguru asked.

          “We can pass it off as you helping me tidy up. And besides, regardless of what this room’s actual use is, it’s a fact that I’m the one keeping it clean, and that it’s kept clean because I’m the one using it.”

          “I see!”

          “However, it’s still not exactly allowed, so this’ll be our little secret, Meguru-chan.”

          I leaned in close, brought my index finger up to my lips, and winked.

          “Especially since we finally have a way to be alone together, right?”

          And there it was, the coup de grace. …There was no student in this school that this move wouldn’t work on.

          “Is this really okay, though?”

          “W-what do you mean?”

          But it didn’t work.

          Even though we’re dating… Aw man…

          “You said earlier that you felt like you were suffocating…”

          “Oh, uh, yeah. It’s been kinda weird ever since I started high school.”

          “So that means it’s important for you to have this space to yourself, right? Is it really okay for me to intrude…?”

          “Ah…”

          I see. In other words, this was my safe space. Because I was in charge of it, the other student council members rarely ever came in here, and I’d never invited anyone in before either. However…

          I brought my hand to her downcast expression, gently raised her face to meet my gaze, and spoke.

          “No worries. I feel like if I’m with you, I can get over this feeling. And besides, we’re going out. I want to take this relationship seriously. I’m not just playing around, okay?”

           And there it was. The coup de grace. …This time for sure, there was no student in this school that this move wouldn’t work on. None of it was a lie, after all. I was glad to be able to properly communicate that to her, even before she began to see how cool I was.

          “Senpai…”

          See? This time, I’ve really lit a fire in her eyes. …Wait. Fire?

          “I understand! I, Hanabana Meguru, declare that as your lover, I’ll eat up all of your discomfort!”

          “R-really? Thank you, I think?”

          H-huh? I thought there’d be hearts in her eyes, but rather, they seem to be burning with resolve.

          I began to think the same thing as when Meguru-chan confessed to me. Considering the way her mind worked and how she happily remarked at how she thought I was being cute and innocent earlier, it seemed like her sensibilities were more on the unique side compared to the rest of the student body. She usually didn’t say anything out of the ordinary, but when it came to me in particular, her responses tended to get weird… But maybe that’s what I liked about her. Somehow, I think… It was reassuring to hear her speak with such confidence. I myself felt different from usual when I was talking to her.

          Come to think about it, this was probably the first time I’d ever been open about those feelings to someone else. It wasn’t cool to be vulnerable, after all. But just like that, I ended up telling her about it as if it was the most natural thing in the world. She really was such a strange girl. And from today onwards would officially mark the beginning of our relationship…

          We went back to the sofa.

          “…………”

          F-firs-first off…

          “Senpai!”

          “Y-yes?!”

          “What are couples supposed to do?”

          “Ahaha…”

          We both were too inexperienced in the ways of love to hit the ground running.

          “Senpai, do you know what to do?”

          “Well… This is my first time in a relationship too…”

          “What?! Your first relationship?! Really? Even though you’re so pretty?!”

          “Yeah. It might be because I’ve always gone to all-girls schools, but I don’t really understand love.”

          “I see… Ehehe, so I’m your first! That makes me so happy!”

          “…Thank you.”

          “Huh? For what?”

          “Ah, uh, well, you know, stuff.”

          This was my first time ever dating. Honestly, I was scared to admit it because I was afraid it’d be seen as uncool. But Meguru-chan just smiled, getting lost in her own happiness as if it were the easiest thing in the world. …And that made me so happy that the words of gratitude just slipped out.

          “What about you, Meguru-chan?”

          I asked.

          “I went to a co-ed school before this one, but the vibe was pretty similar… But that’s exactly why seeing you gave me such a shock! I realized that you were exactly the person I’ve been looking for!”

          “R-really? I’m happy to hear that.”

          I felt a bit apologetic for just getting embarrassed when Meguru-chan was being so direct with her feelings as she usually was, so I…

          “Oh.”

          …Began to stroke her head, as the cool Amanone Sakoto ought to do. Yep. This is how I should be doing things, right? …It took so much to work up the courage, though! And I’ve heard that some girls don’t like this, so maybe I messed up?

          I felt like an awkward guy stumbling around his first girlfriend.

          “Mmm~♪”

          She seemed to enjoy the petting, even leaning into it. Thankfully, she liked it. …Seeing her like this, she really was like a puppy. While her chaotic side had its own charm, that had taken backstage for a more classic type of appeal. She was so cute that even I found myself beginning to smile.

          “Does this feel nice?”

          “Yes… Oh, and it’s cute how you’re doing this even though you’re kinda nervous.”

          “Y-you don’t need to point that out!”

          “Whaaat?”

          Never mind. The moment I think she’s starting to act normal, she just starts saying the weirdest things…

          I continued to gently stroke her head.

          “Meguru-chan, your hair feels nice. It’s so fluffy.”

          “Hehe! I’m very proud of it!”

          Ahaha. I got the impression that a lot of girls here were conscious about having hair on the wavier side, so it was nice to see her with such confidence. In fact, it suited her well, and it was nice to touch. …We probably looked like a couple proper right now. From the outside, I imagined we seemed like the perfect pairing of a princely senpai and puppy-like kouhai. As we stayed like this, I began to feel a sweet, yet sour sensation tinge the air.

          “…This is what couples do, I guess.”

          She said.

          “Hmm?”

          “My question from earlier. I think that no matter what, the most important thing is for us to be in each other’s company.”

          “…Yeah. You’re right.”

          I felt the same way. She had come up with the answer before I did. She had a reasonable side to her after all. I still can’t help but think back to what happened when she confessed to me, but I could tell from this conversation that she possessed common sense.

          “We should try going on a date.”

          I suddenly remarked.

          “A date?! I’d love to! Let’s have one tomorrow!”

          “Ahaha, but we have school tomorrow too.”

          “Oh, right…”

          “Let’s do something this weekend.”

          “Okay!!”

          Instead of deciding on something specific, I listed out some couple-like activities.

          “Oh, and we could also play video games.”

          “I don’t really know much about those… Do you play, Senpai?”

          “Sometimes.”

          “Then please tell me all about it!”

          “Uh… I only play single-player games. Like RPGs.”

          “Awesome! Let’s go on an adventure together!”

          When I play anything online, I end up minding both my teammates and other players so much that I get exhausted in no time at all. But…

          “If I’m playing with you, I think I’d enjoy gaming online.”

          “Really? Then I wanna try being the best in the world in something competitive!”

          “That’s pretty ambitious of you…”

          Maybe I’d enjoy myself with her. I guess I’d give it a shot the next time I had a chance. What else…

          “It could be nice to just relax at home.”

          “I’m happy as long as I’m with you, Senpai!”

          She was so good at fitting the part of younger girlfriend… Wow, I’m so happy…

          Oh, and while on the topic of couple-like things to do… W-what about s-sex?

          …Never mind, what in the world am I thinking? Why’d my mind drift to weird stuff when I only brought up wanting to relax at home? I absolutely would not be saying that out loud. After all, there’s no way that someone as puppy-like as Meguru-chan would have anything like that on her mind.

          …Well, she did say that she wanted me to be her female. Did that mean that she, uh, wanted to do all sorts of stuff to me? Thinking back to that moment, to those eyes that pierced through me—

          I shook my head from side to side, shedding my mind of its worldly desires.

          “Um, Senpai?”

          “Sorry, sorry! Oh, uh, right! Meguru-chan, I think you should keep us a secret from your friends.”

          “What? Why?”

          I changed the topic to steer my thoughts in a different direction, but I’d been meaning to bring this up anyway.

          “I’ve got a lot of fans, so there are some students that might try to hurt you if they find out we’re dating. …I want to believe that something like that wouldn’t happen, but…”

          “Oh…”

          She seemed to be satisfied with my answer for a moment, but then she suddenly puffed out her beautifully round chest and said:

          “I’ll be okay! I might not be at your level, Amanone-senpai, but I’m still pretty popular!”

          “…”

          Doubt.

          “Don’t look at me like that! It’s true!”

          “…Really?”

          “Yes, really! If you’re that worried, then come and check out the first-year classrooms yourself! And even if someone does try to hurt me, I’ll be fine! I’ll make sure to shut them up real good!”

          “I-I see.”

          I was a little taken aback at the phrase “shut them up”, but if she could say that with such confidence, then… maybe she was strong both physically and mentally. …Well, in the first place, aside from things related to me, she was certainly very cute and sociable. Of course she was popular. I was simply curious as to what she was like in class.

          “Could I come see you sometime?”

          “Of course! Oh, but even if they all find out about us, it’s still important to have a place for us to be alone, right?!”

          She was so happy to be here that she was literally bouncing with joy on the sofa.

          “I’m glad that you see it that way. Oh, it’s already getting dark outside.”

          “Oh, you’re right… Is it time to head out?”

          “…It’s almost time for the clubs to wrap up, so we should get going before then so nobody finds out about this room.”

          “I guess so…”

          “It’ll be okay. We can come here any time. Just let me know when you’re free.”

          I tried to ease her noticeably saddened mood. We’ve gotten to know each other a little better now, and in the process, there were plenty of times where I thought to myself that we were a good match. I was sad to be parting ways too. But that just meant that the next time we met would be even better.

          “Okay… Oh, Senpai! Can I just tell you one last thing before we leave?”

          “Hm?”

           I was already standing and reaching for my bag, but Meguru-chan stopped me, leaning in up close to my ear as if to whisper me a secret.

          “W-what is it?”

          The sudden closeness took me by surprise. I didn’t see a need to whisper when there wasn’t anybody else in here. What was she thinking?

          “You know how we were talking about what we should do as a couple? I have something to add.”

          “Y-yeah?”

          “I’m looking forward to the naughty stuff too.”

          ?!?!?!??

          I couldn’t believe my ears. I reflexively whipped my vision over to her. She was looking straight at me with a beguiling smile at odds with her adorable appearance. That gaze — oh, that gaze. It sent shivers down my spine. In an instant, she had completely changed the atmosphere inside the room.

          “W-what are you even saying?!”

          Unable to compute the things going into my eyes and ears, I had to turn away. I could feel my face burning up.

          “What do you mean? Isn’t that what lovers do?”

          “Well, you’re not wrong, but…”

          “I want to do those naughty things with you, Senpai.”

          !?!?

          Again and again, she just kept saying and doing things that I’d never have expected from her. She had a cute face, but her current expression exuded temptation and her bright, cheery voice rang clear with lust. It was almost as if right at this very moment, we were doing something we shouldn’t be. She had seemed so innocent, and yet, this girl – she was being more obscene than anything else I’d ever laid my eyes on.

          “Don’t you want to, Senpai?”

          “I… If you just spring that on me, I…”

          “Senpai.”

          “Ah.”

          Before I knew it, she was no longer just leaning in close. She was pressing her weight onto me to push me down onto the sofa. It was then that I finally realized what it was – the impulse that I had felt when she had confessed to me, the way the contrast between her looks and her personality made me feel. A ten-letter word.

          Immorality.

          My breath caught in my throat.

          However…

          “Just kidding!”

          “…Huh?”

          “Oh, Senpai! Clubs are gonna be done soon! We should hurry up and get going!”

          “Huh? What?”

          Something crazy had just been about to begin. And at that very moment, as if slamming on the brakes, Meguru-chan had suddenly let me go. I unwittingly let out a disoriented noise.

          “Cmon, Senpai! We gotta go!”

          As if the atmosphere just before had never existed, she was now bouncing at the door like an impatient puppy.

          “C-coming!”

          There were now plenty of things on my mind, but I knew we had to leave, so I hurriedly grabbed my bag and headed out.

          “Go go go go go!”

          “Don’t go so fast you trip, okay?!”

          “Kaaaaaay!”

          I locked up and followed behind as she dashed towards the entrance. Then, we changed our shoes at the shoe lockers and headed over to the gate.

          “I’ll be going now, Senpai.”

          “Yeah, see you tomorrow.”

          And just like that, we were done saying our goodbyes.  I couldn’t help but wonder if that bewitching figure from earlier had just been an illusion. Right as I was thinking that…

          “Yep, see you sometime.”

          “Ah.”

          For just a moment, I felt as if her eyes once again carried that alluring luster. I could only stare at her back as she walked away with a light tap to her step. She may be as cute as a puppy, but she was far from normal. I kept finding myself surprised when I was in front of her, unable to act cool at all. But as I thought about it, I realized it was just as she had declared. There had not been a single suffocating moment with her.

          “See you sometime…”

          I unconsciously whispered as I watched her back shrink into the distance.

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