Chapter 90: Transfer student and Fried horse mackerel

Translator: Soafp

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The second semester began. Everyone was heading to school with heavy hearts, knowing that summer vacation had come to an end. Of course, I also had some mixed feelings. Well, I didn’t have much time to dwell on that. There were still potential bad endings to worry about, and my complicated love life to navigate. Even though it hasn’t been officially recognized yet, it feels like things are progressing.

Amidst all these thoughts, I made my way to the classroom, which felt strangely nostalgic. Sasamoto was seated in front.

“Osu.”

“Good morning.”

“Sorry to ask right away, but can you show me the homework?”

“I thought you’d ask, so I already have it with me.”

“Great, thanks!”

It was pretty much as I expected, so I handed him the homework. Later, I’ll ask for a healthy, unregulated manga or something in return. Everyone seemed to be chatting excitedly. Some commented on how cute Kohaku still was, even with a bit of a tan. Well, whether she was slightly tanned or not, she was still cute, so it didn’t really matter.

There’s a universal truth in this world and a question that could easily appear on a company’s general knowledge hiring test: The concept that Gindou Kohaku is just too cute. It attracts the attention of various men and even manages to make them fall in love. It’s pretty much my story.

However, falling in love isn’t limited to just me.

Today, a transfer student is coming to this school. A new character, so to speak. Aside from Kataumi Aoi, who is being treated as a transfer student, there is one more. A male student transferring to Class 1-A during the second semester.

Kuromaguro Takeshi . He has specs that rival Kimchicka’s. He’s handsome, tall, and excels in sports. Plus, he’s passionate… and he’s the guy who’s going to fall head over heels for Gindou Kohaku.

Well, I don’t really care, and I’m pretty sure she won’t be swayed by such a guy. But handsome guys are a force to be reckoned with… I wonder if I can compete as an average guy…

As I thought about this, the teacher opened the classroom door. Inside was an incredibly handsome guy. The girls started squealing, and the boys raised their middle fingers. Damn, he’s incredibly handsome. If he stood next to Kimchicka, they could probably create doujinshi together… With his black hair and passionate black eyes, he gives off the impression of someone who has been reincarnated in another world.

By the way, I vaguely remember something from my previous life about doujinshi featuring Kimchicka and Kuromaguro… It seems like there was a time when doujinshi about those two became a hot topic on the internet… I shouldn’t dwell on it.

“Good morning, everyone. I know the feeling of summer vacation hasn’t quite worn off yet, but let’s do our best in the second semester. There are some things I need to tell you, but first, let me introduce our transfer student. Please go ahead.”

Prompted by Rikudo-sensei, Kuromaguro started writing on the chalkboard. His handwriting was neat. Not that it matters, but it’s annoying.

“I’m Kuromaguro Takeshi. Nice to meet you!”

“Kyaa!”

“He’s as handsome as Kimchicka!”

“This could lead to an amazing coupling!”

“Give me some paper!”

Pointing his index and middle fingers together and flicking them over his head in a cool gesture, he garnered massive support from the girls. The boys, on the other hand…

“By the way, the second semester means it’s time for the cultural festival and the sports festival. Hahaha.”

“I’m looking forward to it, hahaha.”

“I fell for a one-click scam during summer vacation, 57 times. Hahaha.”

“I had a virus on my computer during the summer and had to kneel down in shame in front of my father. Hahaha.”

“I spent 50000 yen on gacha in a mobile game. Hahaha.”

“I also reached the spending limit, Hahaha.”

The boys hardly seem to be paying any attention, as if the sound isn’t even reaching their eardrums. Well, maybe it’s getting through, but they’re ignoring it and busily discussing their summer vacation memories. Wouldn’t it be nice to at least listen to the conversation a bit? Well, it felt a bit cheesy to just flick their fingers in the air like that… Anyway, Kuromaguro Takeshi, after introducing himself, looked around the class and then became fixated on a girl sitting in the front row near the hallway.

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[Natsuko PoV]

My name is Natsuko Noguchi. I’m a high school girl who loves flowers. Summer vacation has come to an end, and it’s my first time back at school in a while. I’m excited to see my friend, Gindou-san. We’ve been in touch a bit during the summer break, but it’s been a while since we talked face to face.

She takes the seat in front of me. Is there anyone who looks this good in a school uniform? When I meet her again, it feels like my status as a friend of hers has been elevated. And… is it just my imagination, or has her bust size increased since before…? In this short time…? It must be my imagination, right?

“Good morning, Natsuko-san. How was your summer vacation?”

“Yeah, I’m doing okay, but… more importantly, did you see the news about the magical girls?”

“Eh!? Oh, yes, it’s, um, quite interesting!”

“It’s incredible how something like that can happen in life, isn’t it? It’s been making a huge buzz online, and for some reason, their faces don’t show up well. It’s so mysterious.”

“Uh, yeah, th-th-that’s right… magical girls and all, it’s mysterious.”

Why does Gindou-san seem so flustered? It seems suspicious… Well, let’s leave that aside for now. I need to catch up on her recent romantic developments.

“Speaking of which, how did things go with Kuroda-kun over the summer?”

Since I’ve decided to help her, I need to see it through to the end. However, during summer vacation, she just said things were going “okay,” so she didn’t give me many details.

“Fufu, things have progressed quite a bit. It got a bit out of hand, but…”

“Oh? How did it turn out?”

“Well, he confessed to me.”

It’s progressed so far! The story seems to have reached its conclusion. If she was confessed to, and she accepted, they must be a lovey-dovey couple by now. But she seems to be saying it somewhat hesitantly, with a hint of bewilderment. Well, let’s start by congratulating her.

“Congratulations, that’s great!”

“Yes, I was happy about it…”

Her expression after that is a bit of a wry smile.

“Was? Past tense?”

“Yes… after that, he knelt down and begged to date both me and Karen-senpai.”

“I can’t understand what you are saying.” [Written in English]

I can’t understand what she is saying. I inadvertently responded in English, not understanding what she meant.

“It may indeed be hard to understand, but… well, it’s the truth. He both like Karen-senpai and I, and he couldn’t decide. So, he wanted to date both of us.”

“Uh… sorry… I don’t know what to say.”

I am trying my best to understand what Kuroda-kun is thinking while thinking that she is still amazing for instantly understanding my English and continuing the conversation as if nothing is wrong. However, I can’t understand anything. It has lightly exceeded my common sense.

“That’s… exactly how I feel.”

“Um, Gindou-san, what do you think about it personally?”

“Well… I did consider allowing him to date both of us at first…”

“Eh? Really?”

“But in the end, I wanted to have him all to myself, so I turned him down.”

“Oh, I see. It sounds like you had quite an intense summer…”

“Yes, because Izayoi-kun is an incredibly intense person. Naturally, every day became intense and enjoyable.”

“That sounds somewhat lewd…”

Just as the conversation was going on, Rokudo-Sensei entered the classroom, causing the conversation to pause. Other students besides us also close their mouths as the teacher enters. I always think this, but Rokudo-Sensei’s face is quite intimidating. That’s probably why everyone becomes quiet when he’s around.

And now, at the beginning of the second term, the teacher seems to be putting extra effort into everything, making him even scarier. Behind that stern teacher stands the epitome of handsome, rivaling Kimchika – the Ultimate Handsome Guy. Arara, you can feel the tension among the boys. Some of them are already raising their middle fingers… This is why they’re not popular. The boys in our class, I mean.

Well, the girls are all hearts for him, so we can’t just focus on the boys. Personally, he might be handsome, but I don’t feel anything special. Gindou-san also seems indifferent, absentmindedly gazing out the window, giving off a twilight-like vibe.

No, it’s absolutely picturesque…

The transfer student is an ikemen named Kuromaguro Takeshi. After finishing a brief self-introduction, he fixed his gaze on Gindou-san… Oh, here comes a twist in the plot.

Gindou-san is looking out the window, so she hasn’t noticed his gaze. Gindou-san might have a beautiful appearance, but I have a feeling she’s thinking pretty down-to-earth things in her head.

—What should I make for dinner today?

Like that… Well, let’s call him Maguro-kun for short. He walks up to Gindou-san’s desk, speaks to her, and she finally notices him. Eh? What? Her expression seems to be saying.

“Can you tell me your name?”

“I’m Gindou Kohaku …”

“My name is Kuromaguro Takeshi .”

“Yes, I’ve heard.”

“I see… Can we… No, I’ll talk to you later.”

“Haa…”

She tilts her head and looks somewhat puzzled. He breaks off the conversation for now, returns to his seat as instructed by the teacher, and sits down. Unbelievably, Kuroda-kun’s seat is right behind him… Hey, this is getting a bit interesting, isn’t it? No, no, I shouldn’t think that way. Although it’s an intriguing development, I mustn’t entertain such thoughts. It’s not good to find enjoyment in others’ situations like this.

Yeah, yeah, it’s no good. While I’m thinking this, Gindou-san talks to me.

“Natsuko-san.”

“Hmm? What’s up?”

Could it be that the person from earlier has some kind of connection, like being an ex-fiancé or a family acquaintance? No, I’m not getting excited. Definitely not.

I wonder what Gindou-san is thinking? Well, she’s most likely completely devoted to Kuroda-kun, but has she felt anything?

“For tonight’s dinner, which would be better, curry or fried chicken?”

“Oh, um, I feel like curry is more of a Friday thing, so go with fried chicken today.”

“I see, I’ll do that!”

Her mind seems to be filled with menu planning, and she doesn’t seem to care about Maguro-kun at all.

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[Moegi PoV]

Well, well, it’s been a while since I’ve been in 2nd year class A, and I’m excited these days. During summer vacation, there were all sorts of chaotic parties with demons, magical beings, cohabitation, etc. It was fun, but I also want to enjoy the atmosphere of this class for a bit. Plus, Aoi-chan is transferring in! Yahoo!

The girl in front of me, Karen-chan, is engrossed in a book since morning. I really want to talk to her!

“Hey, Karen-chan.”

“Hmm?”

She’s been focused on her book and doesn’t even glance my way.

“What are you reading?”

“It’s called ‘A Rank F Employee in Another World Became an S Rank Adventurer ~ In This World, My Unique Skill Is Too Outstanding, I Easily Defeat Strong Enemies and Conquer Nations, Plus Beautiful S-Class Women Come My Way~'”

“That’s so long! The subtitle is longer than the main title!”

“Well, that’s how things are these days.”

I haven’t really been paying attention to her story. Karen-chan is such a bookworm.

As I’m feeling a bit lonely, someone pats my back. When I turn around, a finger pokes my cheek. What a classic prank. Only one person would do something like this…

“Good morning, Moegi.”

“Fuyumi-chan! Good morning!”

“Hey, listen up. I couldn’t get a boyfriend.”

“That’s a shame.”

“Muu, seriously, they’re all such jerks. Not making me their girlfriend is just a total lack of taste!”

“Well, sometimes it’s like that.”

“Is it because my body’s not curvy enough? Do all these guys just have d***s in their brains or what? Go die, big boobs!”

“Um, could you please not lower your gaze and say that to my chest?”

She’s a really nice girl, and I like her a lot, but occasionally, she makes somewhat inappropriate jokes, and it can be a bit off-putting. Plus, she’s pretty bold about it…

“Haa~, you’re really killing the mood. Anyway, speaking of which, you’ve heard about the Magical Girls, right?”

“Yeah, they’re mysterious, aren’t they?”

“That’s right. You never know what might happen in life. Maybe I’ll get an amazing boyfriend too.”

“Haha, that would be nice.”

“Are you… nervous about something?”

“Gulp! N-No, not at all.”

Phew, that was close. I need to make sure my secret about the Magical Girls doesn’t get exposed. As I hurriedly tried to cover up, our teacher entered the classroom. It’s been a while.

“Hello, it’s been a long time. But let’s get straight to it and introduce our new transfer student. Please come in.”

It must be Aoi-chan, I’m sure of it. I waited for her to come in, but she didn’t… she didn’t enter.

“Um, please come in.”

When the teacher said that again…

Aoi-chan entered with a highly nervous expression. Her arms and legs moved in unison, like a robot. Her face was expressionless, but she seemed incredibly nervous!

She stood in front of everyone.

“Um, um, I’m, not, I mean… uhh, I-I’m, my name is, um, Ka… Ka-Ka-Ka… Kata…”

Her eyes were spinning in circles… Karen-chan looked worried too. In that moment, I raised my hand.

“She’s Kataumi Aoi. She might be a bit shy, but she’s a really nice person, so please befriend her!”

“Baaaaaa!”

Her face lit up like crazy. Whew, I managed to smooth things over nicely.

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“Thanks for earlier.”

“It’s no big deal, really.”

“I was worried… Aoi, you’re shy, aren’t you?”

After our morning homeroom ended, Aoi came over to thank us.

“Being stared at too much… I-I freeze.”

“Oh, I see. If you had told me, I would have talked to the teacher.”

“Thank you, but I wanted to overcome it myself.”

“Aoi-chan, you’re such a hard worker! I think that’s cool!”

“Thank you…”

She’s the type to blossom when praised. While we were talking, Fuyumi-chan also joined us. She’s just like me, quite assertive.

“Hey, I’m Fuyumi. Nice to meet you.”

“H-hello, I’m Aoi… N-nice to meet you…”

Aoi-chan responds nervously to Fuyumi-chan’s sudden greeting. She’s really cute when she’s a bit shy.

“Do you two know each other?”

“Yeah, um… we’re friends, right?”

Aoi asks with an imploring look in her eyes. She doesn’t need to worry; we’re here for her.

“Of course.”

“We’re friends.”

“…”

Aoi-chan quietly celebrates her small victory.

“Heh, then let’s be friends too! Let’s exchange contact info!”

“R-really!? Is it okay, even with someone like me, who’s like a distant relative of a hawk?”

“It’s fine. We have a hawk as a pet at home, so I actually like them.”

“Um, then… Nice to meet you!”

Her speech pattern at the end sounds a bit strange! Wait, did Fuyumi-chan mention having a pet hawk at home?

“Okay, registration complete. By the way, Aoi, do you have a boyfriend?”

Fuyumi-chan, in her usual style, steers the conversation suddenly. She puts her phone away and asks Aoi-chan with a slightly pressuring tone.

“No, I don’t.”

“I see. Well then, Aoi, nice to meet you, my new best friend!”

“A-ah, yes.”

They firmly shake hands. Fuyumi-chan and Aoi-chan are both pure-hearted, so I shouldn’t tease them too much. Karen-chan seems slightly concerned about this.

“Aoi, do you want a boyfriend?”

“Not really.”

“Just like Moegi, huh? And what about you, Karen?”

“…I want one.”

“Same as me, that’s exciting!”

“Why do you get excited over something so trivial?”

“Because it’s exciting when it’s exciting. Oh, wait? But didn’t you say you didn’t care before, Karen?”

“There’s nothing I can do about it now… I started thinking I wanted one…”

Ara, blushing Karen-chan is cute too! Fuyumi-chan and Karen-chan haven’t talked much before, but they occasionally chatted with me in the mix.

“Oh, it’s Fried horse mackerel-kun! You are so in love!”

“! I-it’s actually him who’s in love with me! And don’t call him Fried horse mackerel! I’m a little sentimental at times and I’m concerned about it! Double Destruction Overlay, and stuff! Fried horse mackerel! Please stop mentioning it!”

“Okay, okay. Anyway, Karen is seriously in love.”

“That’s not true!”

“Have you had s*x?”

“Ah!!! I-I won’t say it!!!”

You shouldn’t shout in the classroom. Fuyumi-chan, you’re coming in strong right from the start. But then, Aoi-chan tilts her head in confusion and asks a question.

“What’s ‘sex’?”

“Eh? Seriously? Pretending to be innocent like that can come off as calculating and make you unlikeable.”

“Eeh!? No way. But… I really don’t know… I don’t want to be disliked, so please tell me.”

“Eh? Seriously, you don’t know? …There really are kids like that… Well then, I’ll tell you, mugo!”

Fuyumi-chan was about to say something, so me and Karen-chan sealed her mouth shut.

“Don’t worry, Aoi-chan. Even if you don’t know about this, no one will dislike you! Fuyumi-chan, this isn’t the kind of thing to talk about in the classroom! Cut it out!”

“That’s right, it’s fine even if you don’t know. So, just ignore this pervert! Talking about anything more explicit in the classroom is a breach of etiquette!”

“Mugo, mugo.”

Fuyumi-chan couldn’t say anything and halfway through, she brushed our hands away and continued talking to Aoi-chan.

“Do you know what ‘ekiben’ is?”

“Yeah, I like it quite a bit.” [TL: Ekiben has two meaning: boxed lunch bought at a station (often a local specialty) or s*xual position in which one person stands supporting the other]

“”Stop it””