All Beautiful Girls Want to Stick with Me

After fulfilling Megumi's two conditions, the earlier tension between her and Kotomi disappeared, restoring the usual comfortable atmosphere between them.

"Megumi, you're always so subtle when you're upset. If I didn't know you so well, I'd never even notice when you're mad," Kotomi said softly, recalling the anxious moments earlier. Someone like Megumi, who doesn't show their emotions on their face when upset, exerts a unique kind of pressure.

"Me? Subtle? I don't think so. I really was jealous and a little annoyed earlier, but I'm not the type to deliberately hide my feelings. It's just that class was in session, and I didn't get the chance to properly 'express' them. I was planning to talk to you after class, but you noticed before I could, and then launched your 'counterattack' as soon as the bell rang," Megumi said with a cheerful smile.

"Sounds like I struck at just the right moment," Kotomi teased, relieved after hearing Megumi's explanation.

"That's what they call being perfectly in sync," Megumi quipped.

Stare—

Suddenly, Kotomi became aware of a gaze from behind her. Startled, she turned around and found Mashiro Shiina quietly watching her and Megumi.

Panic immediately set in.

She had been so focused on Megumi that she didn't even notice Mashiro, who rarely spoke, sitting silently behind her.

When did Mashiro start watching?

Did she overhear their whispered conversation during that hug?

"Um, M-Mashiro! Is there something you need?" Kotomi stammered, her nerves getting the better of her.

"Kotomi, hugging Megumi so suddenly—does it feel nice? And what were you two whispering about? I didn't catch it," Mashiro asked, her gaze earnest and her tone unusually serious.

Kotomi froze. Her mind raced for an excuse, and after a moment of inspiration, she managed to come up with something plausible.

"Ah, well… I just started using a new body wash last night and wanted Megumi to smell it. I was asking her if she thought it smelled good. That's all," Kotomi explained, the words spilling out as if she had rehearsed them.

To make it more convincing, she turned to Megumi with a forced smile and said, "Right, Megumi? That's what happened, isn't it?"

Megumi, seeing Kotomi's flustered state, couldn't help but smile slyly.

"Yes, that's right. Kotomi smells lovely~" Megumi replied smoothly.

Mashiro's eyes lit up, as though she wanted to experience this new fragrance herself. However, her curiosity didn't stop there.

"Why do you care so much about whether Megumi likes the scent? Does her opinion matter a lot to you?" Mashiro asked earnestly.

The question hit Kotomi like a sudden ambush, leaving her momentarily speechless. But she quickly composed herself. If there was one thing she excelled at, it was navigating tricky conversations.

"Of course, I care about Megumi's opinion! If I ask her to smell it, naturally I want to know what she thinks. And if I asked you, Mashiro, I'd care just as much about your opinion," Kotomi declared confidently.

Her quick thinking not only defused the potential awkwardness but also erased any lingering suspicion Mashiro might have had.

Not bad, Kotomi! she praised herself inwardly.

Still, she couldn't shake the faint feeling that Mashiro's earlier tone had a hint of jealousy—similar to what Megumi or Aimi might sound like when jealous.

But that couldn't be right. Mashiro didn't seem like the type to get jealous. Or was Kotomi overthinking it?

After hearing Kotomi's explanation, Mashiro tilted her head in confusion but eventually nodded. While something still felt off, she couldn't quite put her finger on it. Deciding to let it go, she stretched out her arms towards Kotomi and said, "I want to smell Kotomi's new scent too."

Mashiro's innocent tone and expectant eyes melted Kotomi's heart. It felt almost sinful to deceive such a pure-hearted girl.

"Alright, come here for a hug!" Kotomi said warmly, pulling Mashiro into a tight embrace.

She held Mashiro close, not caring that Megumi was watching.

The two hugged until the next class bell rang, much to the amusement of their classmates.

To the onlookers, it was a heartwarming display of friendship. After all, Mashiro was known for her artistic brilliance and solitary nature. If anyone could understand her, it would be Kotomi, a fellow art enthusiast.

"Wow, Kotomi and Mashiro have such a great relationship. I'm so jealous. I wish I could hug Kotomi like that," one classmate remarked.

"Maybe you should throw yourself in front of a truck and reincarnate as a cute girl," another joked.

"The way Kotomi hugs Mashiro is like an older sister doting on her little sibling. She looks so gentle and protective—so big-sisterly."

"Well, isn't Kotomi an actual older sister? I heard she has a younger sister in middle school."

"Really? Lucky her. I wish I had a little sister!"

Amid the chatter, one classmate nudged another who seemed entranced by the scene.

"Hey, snap out of it! I've been calling your name—are you coming to the restroom or not?"

"I was just thinking… relationships between girls are so wonderful!"

Kotomi, ever the center of attention, wasn't unused to such comments. Being admired and praised in this way was a feeling she secretly enjoyed.

When the second-period bell rang, Kotomi finally let go of Mashiro. Her cheeks slightly flushed, Mashiro seemed a little dazed. After a moment, she sighed contentedly and said:

"Kotomi, you smell amazing!"

Though Kotomi understood what she meant, she couldn't resist teasing her.

"Why does it sound like you're describing food instead of a fragrance?" she joked with a laugh.

The second class was supposed to be math, but the usual math teacher, Mr. Nakamori, was out sick. Instead, it was replaced with P.E (Physical Education).

The announcement thrilled the students. Without any upcoming sports events, most P.E. classes were laid-back. After a warm-up run, students were usually free to chat, play games, or just hang out—as long as they didn't get too rowdy.

In the girls' changing room, Kotomi was in the middle of removing her white tights when Megumi, already dressed in her P.E. uniform, snuck up behind her.

"I've decided—after school, when I kiss you, I'm going to kiss you so thoroughly you won't even be able to breathe," Megumi whispered slyly.

Her playful tone and the not-so-subtle message left no doubt—Megumi was jealous of Kotomi's earlier interaction with Mashiro.

Kotomi could only chuckle helplessly in response.

As expected, today's P.E. class was relaxed. After running two laps around the track, students were allowed to do whatever they wanted.

However, because the track at Sobu High School was massive, running two full laps left many students quietly lamenting their situation.

Even so, most gritted their teeth and pushed through. To many, enduring a run during P.E. was preferable to enduring a math class in the classroom.

After completing the run, the P.E. teacher, ever understanding of the students' eagerness for an easy class, promptly declared that they were free to do as they pleased.

P.E. classes that were largely unstructured weren't just beloved by the students but also by the teachers themselves. After giving the required instructions, the teacher could sneak off for a cigarette break or even join the boys for a game of basketball or soccer. Such leisurely arrangements often made other teachers green with envy.

"Ha… ha… This is exhausting," Yui panted, bending over with her hands on her knees. "When I first enrolled here, I thought Sobu High School's track was impressively large. But now I realize the downside of such a big track. Running these two laps every P.E. class is absolute torture! I feel like I can taste blood in my throat."

Kotomi, who stood nearby, could empathize.

The sensation Yui described—the metallic taste that crept up your throat after exerting yourself—was all too familiar to Kotomi.

In her previous life, during her middle school years, she had to run laps around the track every morning as part of a boarding school routine.

She had always found the schedule puzzling: waking up, running laps, and then heading straight to breakfast. After running, her throat would feel raw, and her body drenched in sweat. Eating breakfast in such a state was out of the question.

Because of this, Kotomi had gone without breakfast for nearly her entire three years of middle school in her second life, turning the habit into second nature. It wasn't until high school that she forced herself to break it.

Looking at Yui, who seemed utterly drained, Kotomi couldn't help but recall her own struggles back then. A wave of sympathy rose in her chest.

Placing a comforting hand on Yui's back, Kotomi gently helped her stand up straight.

"Alright, alright, I know running leaves your throat feeling awful, but don't stay hunched over like that. Here, straighten up and focus on steadying your breathing," Kotomi said with a kind smile.

Following Kotomi's guidance, Yui gradually felt better.

"Phew… finally," Yui exhaled in relief. "Freedom during P.E. is always a joy, but to enjoy it, we have to first suffer through these two laps. It's such a bittersweet feeling."

"I know exactly what you mean," Kotomi replied, patting Yui on the shoulder.

While Kotomi's current physique made running a non-issue, seeing Yui brought back memories of her younger self—someone who both looked forward to and dreaded P.E. class.

Yui, feeling the warmth of Kotomi's hand on her back, blushed slightly. Though tired from the run, her stamina wasn't bad—her work in her family's cake shop had given her an edge over most of her peers.

Still, Yui always made a point of exaggerating how exhausted she was after each run. She had discovered that doing so led Kotomi to show her more concern—like now, when Kotomi's hand gently rested on her back.

Kotomi's touch… it's so warm and soft. If only I could hold her hand all the way home… wouldn't that be wonderful?

Lost in her thoughts, Yui felt her face heat up even more.

Why am I thinking more and more like this about Kotomi?!

"Yui, are you okay? Are you still feeling unwell?" Kotomi asked with concern.

"A-Ah, I'm fine now! Thanks, Kotomi!"

"Good. Come on, I want to take you somewhere," Kotomi said, suddenly grabbing Yui's hand and pulling her along before Yui could ask where they were going.

She's holding my hand! Her hand is so soft and warm—it feels so nice! Yui thought, her smile growing wider with every step.

Meanwhile, back on the field.

When Megumi Kato turned around, she realized that Kotomi, who had been standing nearby just moments ago, had disappeared.

"My wife? Where's my wife? She was right here!" Megumi muttered under her breath, scanning the field for any sign of Kotomi.

"Megumi, what are you doing?"

Sitting in the shade of a tree with a book in hand, Yukino Yukinoshita looked up and saw Megumi pacing anxiously around the track. Seeing the beads of sweat forming on Megumi's forehead, Yukino guessed that something must have happened.

When Megumi heard Yukino call out to her, she paused and asked worriedly, "Yukino, did you see Kotomi just now?"

"Kotomi? Wasn't she standing right over… wait, she's gone?!" Yukino followed Megumi's gaze, only to find Kotomi nowhere in sight. A slight frown crept onto her face.

How could someone as conspicuous as Kotomi just disappear?

"Exactly! I've looked all over and can't find her. Where could she have gone?" Megumi's voice carried a note of urgency.

"Wait a second… something feels off," Yukino murmured as she surveyed the area. Her frown deepened. "Isn't Yui missing too?"

"Kotomi and Yui are both gone?!" Megumi's alarm only grew at this revelation.

"Maybe they went to the restroom together?" Yukino suggested.

"I already checked the nearest restrooms."

"Uh… where could they have gone? Even if this is a free period, it's still restricted to the track area. If they're caught outside the boundaries, they'll definitely be reported to the homeroom teacher. Let's go look for them," Yukino said, letting out a sigh of resignation.

As she prepared to leave, she suddenly stopped and turned back to Megumi.

"Why don't we just call her? I saw Kotomi sneak her phone into her skirt pocket when we were leaving the classroom earlier."

"I didn't bring my phone…" Megumi said with a helpless shrug.

"I've got mine. I'll call her," Yukino said, pulling out her phone and dialing Kotomi's number.

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