ushernet Ch. 130 - Miyabi-senpai and Shihou Chouko
Ch. 130 - Miyabi-senpai and Shihou Chouko
Perhaps because Miyabi-senpai was on the rooftop, Harutaki tried turning the metal door handle—and found that it could be pushed open without a key.The door leading to the school rooftop could be locked from the other side. Harutaki only remembered this halfway through, but trusting that unreliable old man, he didn’t bother going back to get a key.
Click.
Creak—
The dry grinding of the unlubricated hinges broke the silence that seemed to fill the air. He carefully held onto the doorframe and peeked out.
The wide sky stretched out like a canvas painted in pure blue, with a few soft cumulus clouds drifting lazily across it. On the empty rooftop below, a girl with a cool, distant aura sat with her legs drawn in. Her left hand acted as a cushion between her chin and her knees, while her right hand held the tip of her shoe. Her slender thumb was tucked between the pages of an A6 paperback, separating them like a bookmark—
Like the horizon that split the world in two, it also isolated Miyabi-senpai from the noisy world inside the building.
Harutaki had the feeling she wasn’t actually reading.
From afar, Miyabi-senpai gave him a strange illusion—like a dandelion that might drift away with the slightest breeze, or a fleeting reflection in a flowing stream that would vanish the moment he reached out to touch it.
Suddenly, Minako’s words surfaced in his mind.
“A dog crossing a river with meat in its mouth.”
A greedy dog, unsatisfied with the meat it already had, sees another identical “piece” reflected in the water—and jumps in to chase it.
“Hoshikawa-kun, isn’t it?”
Before he could speak, Miyabi-senpai guessed his identity without even turning around.
“Actually, I’m just a figment of your imagination. You know the real Hoshikawa-kun is still in the classroom, but because you miss me so much—”
“You can hear the bell from the rooftop too.”
“Then… were you thinking about me, Miyabi-senpai?”
Just like he did before along the cherry blossom path by the stream, Harutaki brushed off the stone surface beside her and sat down.
At this point, he didn’t think he needed to ask for permission anymore.
“If saying I was thinking about you would make you happy, then let’s say I was.”
Which meant… she wasn’t.
He couldn’t help but feel a little disappointed.
After a moment of silence, he suddenly changed the topic.
“The weather’s really nice today…”
“Hoshikawa-kun’s character setting is ‘playboy.’ Please don’t act like some pure, innocent virgin.”
She was unusually sharp today.
He wondered if he had done something to offend her last time—but no matter how much he thought about it, he couldn’t recall anything.
“…Phew…”
He sighed.
With her eyes that seemed to see through all disguises, he figured there was no point in beating around the bush. Better to be direct.
“Why didn’t you attend the ‘career guidance homeroom’ today, Miyabi-senpai? I was really looking forward to seeing you properly at school—even in the classroom.”
“Do I need a reason not to participate in an activity?”
“If you didn’t want to participate, why sign up in the first place?”
The school respected students’ choices. If third-years didn’t want to guide others, teachers would fill in.
“The reason is simple…”
She paused slightly, as if emphasizing something.
“…I just suddenly didn’t feel like going.”
“That’s… very concise.”
Half sarcasm, half complaint.
“I’m not good at beating around the bush.”
“Then you could refuse to answer. That would hurt less than giving an answer like that.”
“I’m not good at refusing people either.”
Really?
He teased her.
“Then will you go out with me, Miyabi-senpai?”
“……”
Instead of words, he received a cold glance.
Like she was looking at a discarded plastic wrapper—or perhaps a rat in the gutter.
Even without an obvious change in expression, he somehow felt looked down upon.
“…Ahem. Sorry, just kidding.”
Even if both of them knew it, it still had to be said—to ease the awkwardness.
He shifted topics.
“Then, I’d like to ask you to tell me—why did you suddenly not want to attend the session?”
“……”
“Aren’t you not good at refusing?”
“…Not good at it doesn’t mean I can’t.”
The cold aura around her finally loosened slightly under his persistence.
She let out a small breath, sounding somewhat helpless.
“…I don’t think I’m qualified to guide anyone.”
“…Wait, so in your eyes I don’t even count as a person anymore? If possible, please at least treat me like a cat.”
“You’re underestimating yourself—and overestimating me.”
She shook her head. It wasn’t clear whether she was denying him, or herself.
“What do you mean ‘overestimating’?”
Harutaki clicked his tongue, dissatisfied.
Girls were already hard to understand—but someone like Miyabi-senpai, who showed almost no emotion or openings, was even harder.
So he spoke from the heart, directly.
“When we first met, it was your reminder that helped me remember my original intention.”
“That was just a normal reminder.”
“When I was stuck and overthinking, it was your advice that helped me see what I had overlooked.”
“That’s just the difference between being in it and observing from outside.”
“When I was feeling down that week, you kept me company and talked with me.”
“You sat there and talked to me yourself. I couldn’t just ignore you.”
“And helping Shihou escape her cage—that idea came from your guidance.”
“That was just coincidence.”
Harutaki took a deep breath and fired straight at her.
“You’re avoiding the point, aren’t you?”
“……”
Her body trembled slightly—he had hit the mark.
“Those things don’t prove anything…”
“At least they prove that my admiration for you isn’t misplaced.”
“You don’t understand anything about me.”
A warm early-summer wind blew past, scattering her smooth black bob like drifting dandelion seeds.
Just as she said—he understood nothing.
All he could do now was stand there, watching her lonely figure blur further and further away.
Creak—
Before he could say anything else, the metal door behind him suddenly made a sound.
He turned—
And met a pair of lively pale-gold eyes.
He blinked in confusion.
The other side responded with a playful wink.
“Shihou… y-you… why are you here?”
He swallowed, reacting quickly—striking first.
Since hiding was clearly impossible, Chouko simply pushed the door open and walked onto the rooftop, a victorious smile on her face.
“Asama-sensei told me~”
That bastard old man really was jealous!
What a ruthless move…
“What? Got something you don’t want me to see? Or… something you don’t want me to see?”
As she spoke, her gaze shifted to the girl sitting beside him.
What a two-timing guy.
With that thought, she greeted her.
“Good afternoon. You must be Shirasagi-senpai, right? I’m Shihou Chouko, Hoshikawa’s classmate. He’s mentioned you before—this idiot has been in your care.”
She deliberately used “this idiot” to imply she was closer to him.
“Good afternoon. I’m Shirasagi Miyabi.”
Miyabi nodded slightly, then said calmly:
“Hoshikawa-kun has mentioned Shihou-kouhai many times too. He said you’re the girl he likes the most.”
“Oh? Is that so…”
Chouko glanced at Harutaki with a forced smile that made his skin crawl.
What’s wrong with saying you’re my favorite!?
He tried to keep smiling.
“Why are you looking at me like that?”
“Didn’t you say your number one favorite was Shirasagi-senpai?”
“…Guh.”
He immediately broke.
How long ago was that?! Why does she remember it so clearly!?
“Every second I spend with you—I remember it all.”
Seeing this, Harutaki took a deep breath, suppressing guilt and pain.
He had already expected this when he chose this path.
Sorry, Shihou.
"Then do you still remember the hair—"
"Y-you… what nonsense are you trying to spout now?! We’re at school!"
The moment she heard that familiar word, Chouko instantly lost her composure.
She genuinely believed Harutaki might say it out loud in front of others. After all, this guy was the kind of scumbag who casually told dirty jokes to girls.
"Hoshikawa-kun, that really is the face of a disgraceful scumbag."
Miyabi stood up, patted down the skirt that had been pressed beneath her, then walked over to Chouko’s side. The two girls fixed their gaze on Harutaki, who stood there all alone.
Even though she did not quite understand what Harutaki was talking about, she was certain of one thing. He was definitely bullying Shihou.
That much was obvious just from the girl’s reaction.
But… the faintly intimate, teasing atmosphere between the two, like lovers bantering, made her feel deeply uncomfortable.
It was as if she had become the protagonist of a novel by Albert Camus. Yet unlike a true “outsider,” her emotions were anything but numb.
And on top of that, there was a trace of dissatisfaction toward Harutalo, and a hint of irritation toward Shihou. The moment she noticed those feelings, she froze.
Was this… jealousy?
That handsome underclassman who used to confide only in her, who shared his thoughts with her, now had a girl he was intimately close with.
That same boy who once lay on her lap like a child, gazing up at her with admiration, now lay on another girl’s lap…
For once, Miyabi’s heart was in disarray.
"Ah… right. I almost forgot. I haven’t properly thanked Shirasagi-senpai for your help yet."
Switching to a Kyoto dialect, Chouko bowed politely and spoke with formal respect.
"Thank you, Shirasagi-senpai, for guiding Hoshikawa out of his confusion, and helping him illuminate the path forward for me."
"I… I didn’t do anything. It was all Hoshikawa-kun’s own effort."
Illuminated her path forward…
As Miyabi looked into Chouko’s eyes, she felt as though she could see a radiant will and conviction shining within those pale golden irises.
It was completely different from what she saw in the mirror every morning.
Rather than “still as an ancient well,” she thought, those violet eyes of hers were closer to a stagnant pool of dead water.
How nice.
At this point, she no longer even had the desire to compare herself.
She only wanted to leave. To leave this rooftop that seemed so free, so boundless.
In front of the girl named Shihou Chouko, she felt like a mere firefly trying to outshine the moon, laughable and pitiful.
"I won’t disturb the two of you any longer. Please excuse me."
She picked up the paperback she had left by her seat and bid farewell to the two.
"Miyabi-senpai, you—"
"Until next time, Hoshikawa-kun."
I really am not the senpai you admire.
Noticing the confusion on his face, Miyabi let out a silent sigh.
Creak.
The rusty sound of the metal door turning echoed once more, and her figure disappeared from the rooftop.
Harutaki watched for a moment before finally turning back, looking at the girl standing with her hands on her hips, waiting for him to speak.
"Um… Shihou, when did you…?"
"There it is. That classic line straight out of a drama."
Chouko could not help but burst into laughter, a soft snort escaping her lips.
The beauty mark above the left corner of her mouth seemed to tremble along with her laughter.
"Should I say I’ve been listening since your very first sentence?"
"I mean… it’s not like I’ve done anything wrong…"
Harutaki replied awkwardly, forcing a straight face.
"Look at you, all scared. I’m not some jealous wife from a TV drama. I’m not going to stab you with a kitchen knife~"
Terrifying! She could say something like that so casually with a smile?!
“Haha…” He let out a dry laugh, hoping to ease the tension with humor.
"Seriously? Then I—"
"You actually want that?! You scumbag, Hoshikawa."
"You flip faster than turning pages…"
He muttered, only to be met with a glare from Chouko before he could finish.
"Hm?"
"Sorry. I was just introducing myself."
Honestly…
Watching him grin apologetically, Chouko could not help but pout.
Seeing the boy she liked sitting together with another girl, chatting and laughing with admiration in his eyes, of course it bothered her. Of course it upset her.
But…
After everything Harutaki had done for her, how could she treat him with petty jealousy?
Besides… she thought to herself, he had not done anything out of line with Shirasagi-senpai anyway.
Still, a little “discipline” was necessary.
"Tch."
She deliberately put on an annoyed expression and questioned him like a prosecutor.
"Don’t you think you owe me an explanation?"
"Let’s start with how the groups were decided for this ‘career guidance class.’"
Harutaki told her everything that had happened, and did not hide his desire to talk with Miyabi either.
He did not want to lie to Chouko about this. Though… he did adjust his wording slightly, referring to Miyabi as a “senpai he admired.”
"…That’s about it."
"Maybe if we check the anonymous school forum now, Class 1 has already posted about you again?"
Chouko threw herself into Harutaki’s arms like a pet greeting its owner returning home, rubbing her head repeatedly against his chest.
She wanted to cover him in her scent.
And as she listened to his story, she could not help but imagine the scene in her mind.
As expected, Harutaki was still so cool, so kind.
A hero who warmed everyone like the sun.
"Doesn’t matter… I’m already a man crowned with multiple titles anyway."
"Hehe~ the crowns of ‘scumbag’ and ‘pervert’?"
After only a few rubs, she noticed that Harutaki was already reacting quite noticeably.
"Hoshikawa, you’re such a loser~ You’ve already done it, yet you still react like a virgin from just a little touch."
"Looks like even though midterms are over, I’ll have to help you review and really reinforce your memory."
As he said that, under Chouko’s puzzled gaze, Harutaki walked over and locked the rooftop door, then approached her with a smile.
"Th-this is school…"
No… no way?!
Watching him step closer, memories of their last intense encounter after a meal resurfaced, and Chouko’s legs weakened.
And… this was exactly like the scenes she had once imagined.
Back then, she had still been wary of him. They were not even friends.
Fragments of her fantasies flashed before her eyes. Inside a bathroom stall. In an empty classroom after school. In the infirmary when the teacher was absent. In the equipment storage during gym class. In the quiet school corridors late at night with only security patrols…
Ugh…
Before she could say anything, a sudden sense of weightlessness washed over her.
"Ah!"
Harutaki lifted Chouko into a princess carry, causing her to let out a cute cry.
Even though his rational mind had already taken a backseat, he had not forgotten to make preparations.
The soft, full warmth of her body was laid bare in his arms.
Carrying her, he moved behind the stairwell entrance, letting her brace herself against the wall just in case. Given the environment and limited time, at most…
"W-wait… don’t lift my leg that high…"
Forty minutes later.
[Part 1]
[Shihou Chouko]
…
[Internal: 42 ml]
[External: 0 ml]
"This is…?"
"Hehe, good thing I saw it coming. Luckily I prepared disposable underwear in advance~"
While changing into the clean replacement, she showed him the aftermath he had caused.
"Don’t tell me you were already planning to do it at school—"
"T-th-that’s nonsense! I never thought about that!"
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