All Beautiful Girls Want to Stick with Me

As Utaha and Mai were chatting about Kotomi, the subject of their conversation had already returned to Class 1-F after washing Yui's lunchbox.

"Yui, here you go. Thanks for the lunch," Kotomi said as she handed the clean lunchbox back to Yui Yuigahama.

"I'm glad you liked it. This was my first time making braised pork. I was worried you wouldn't enjoy it, but seeing how much you ate, I feel a lot more confident in my cooking now," Yui replied with a relieved smile.

"You know me—I'm a total carnivore. As long as it's meat, I'll love it."

Kotomi's love for meat was innate.

Yui, on the other hand, hadn't been particularly fond of meat when she was younger. But as she grew older, the daily demands of helping her mom with housework and baking cakes—a surprisingly strenuous activity—changed her tastes. The more energy she burned, the more she craved meat, transforming into just as much of a meat-lover as Kotomi.

"This was your first time making braised pork?" Yukino Yukinoshita asked, genuinely surprised.

It wasn't surprising that Yukino thought Yui had experience making the dish. During lunch, she'd tasted a few pieces and found the flavor exceptional. In fact, she thought it was twice as good as the braised pork made by her family's professional chef.

"When I tasted Yui's braised pork, I had only one thought," Kotomi suddenly declared, her tone serious. "I must marry Yui and make her my wife!"

"Quite the ambitious goal you've got there, Kotomi," Megumi said with an eerie smile. Her small hand, moving as if by magic, lightly pinched Kotomi's waist.

The unexpected sensation made Kotomi break out in a cold sweat. Megumi's touch wasn't forceful, but the mere placement of her fingers was enough to make Kotomi feel the looming threat.

Thankfully, Megumi didn't squeeze hard. She simply lingered for a moment, making her point, before withdrawing her hand with a satisfied smile.

Kotomi was left feeling like she'd narrowly avoided a calamity.

She knew Megumi could be possessive, but she hadn't expected her to react so strongly to even the smallest hint of teasing.

Still, Kotomi couldn't deny that she was nervous. If she didn't take the initiative and assert herself more, what would happen the next time Megumi got jealous? As her girlfriend and seatmate, Kotomi's waist would always be within reach!

For the rest of the afternoon classes, Kotomi found it impossible to focus. She kept glancing at Megumi every 30 seconds, stealing shy, furtive looks.

Megumi, meanwhile, was the picture of composure. She paid full attention to the teacher, diligently jotting down notes when important points were mentioned.

To anyone observing, it would seem like Megumi was the diligent, high-achieving student in their partnership, while Kotomi—often seen lounging on her desk—was the slacker.

Yet the reality was quite the opposite.

The teachers, too, had been fooled at first. They frequently called on Kotomi in class, suspecting her of zoning out.

But every time, Kotomi's answers were not only correct but impressively thorough, complete with detailed explanations of her thought process. Her insights occasionally left the teachers themselves marveling, some even wishing Kotomi could teach the class in their stead.

Eventually, the teachers stopped questioning her habits. They now regarded her with a mix of awe and indulgence.

After all, with grades like hers, who could complain?

***

By the time the afternoon classes concluded, Kotomi had made up her mind. She turned to Megumi and quietly said, "Today, I'll leave with you."

The sudden declaration caught Megumi off guard. She glanced at Kotomi with a mix of surprise and joy. "Why the sudden change? What's the occasion?"

"Don't ask," Kotomi replied, a hint of playfulness in her tone. "Just know that today, I'll be walking out of here with you."

Megumi smiled gently, her soft gaze as soothing as a warm breeze. "Alright."

After packing her bag, Kotomi turned to Mashiro Shiina and said, "Mashiro, I won't be heading to the art room with you today. I have something to take care of first, but I'll join you later."

"Okay," Mashiro replied simply, nodding.

But as Kotomi and Megumi left the classroom together, Mashiro's eyes followed them to the doorway.

In the past, Mashiro wouldn't have thought much of this. But now, things were different. As she watched Kotomi and Megumi walk side by side, she couldn't help but recall what she'd seen yesterday outside the art room.

Kotomi's dazed expression, and Megumi's triumphant, almost taunting glance...

Megumi hadn't panicked when she noticed Mashiro watching. Instead, she had deepened her kiss with Kotomi, as if to flaunt her victory.

Did she see me as a threat she could dismiss so easily?

Mashiro's hands clenched tightly, her nails digging into her palms. Yet, alongside her jealousy, a strange thrill bubbled up within her—a thrill far stronger than yesterday's.

Would other girls besides Megumi kiss Kotomi like that?

The thought made her cheeks flush with heat, her breathing becoming unsteady as she wrestled with conflicting emotions of envy and exhilaration.

***

Kotomi and Megumi walked together until they found a quiet, deserted corner on the way to the library.

Suddenly, Kotomi reached out and embraced Megumi tightly.

Before Megumi could react, Kotomi leaned in and pressed a hesitant but heartfelt kiss against her lips.

Panting softly after pulling away, Kotomi's cheeks were flushed as she whispered, "Megumi... Please don't get jealous so easily anymore, okay?"

For a moment, Megumi didn't respond. Her eyes sparkled mischievously as she beckoned Kotomi closer with a crooked finger.

"Come here," she said, her voice low and teasing. "Closer."

Kotomi stepped closer to Megumi as instructed, the distance between them already intimate. Before Kotomi could fully steady herself, Megumi grabbed her tie with a firm tug, pulling her in abruptly. Kotomi nearly fell forward onto Megumi, but her honed reflexes—courtesy of her "Queen of All Females" physique—allowed her to brace herself against the wall with her hand.

The unexpected move left Kotomi sweating nervously. Thank goodness this didn't happen on the stairs, she thought. If they had been there, and she had fallen onto Megumi, with no wall to catch her, they might have tumbled down together—a potentially hospital-worthy disaster.

Still holding onto Kotomi's tie, Megumi caressed Kotomi's cheek with her free hand, smiling mischievously.

"Scared? Don't be. From now on, I'll always protect you. But really, you just got yourself a girlfriend, and now you're talking about marrying Yui? Even if you're switching affections—or planning to have it all—you're moving way too fast, my little fickle cat."

"Ugh! Megumi, stop pulling my tie like that—it's hard to fix if it gets undone. Wait… are you actually jealous?"

"Of course I'm jealous! I have a very, very small heart, you know."

"That's not true! Megumi is the sweetest, most understanding person ever!" Kotomi declared with a survival instinct sharp as ever.

The flattery drew a laugh from Megumi, who teased, "Oh my, when did your silver tongue get this smooth? Let me taste it—see if it's as sweet as your words."

Before Kotomi could react, Megumi kissed her, their lips meeting in a tender but assertive gesture.

Kotomi's eyes widened in shock as Megumi parted her lips gently, feeling a slippery tongue slide into her mouth, intertwining with her own.

Lost in the intensity of the kiss, Kotomi felt herself growing breathless, the sensation becoming hazy as Megumi's tongue passionately entangled with hers. She became addicted to the intoxication, unable to pull away. They lingered in the kiss for a moment longer, savoring the sensation and taste, before Megumi finally pulled away, a thin trail of saliva still connecting them.

Megumi stuck out her tongue, licking her lips with a satisfied smile. "It's so sweet," she remarked playfully.

Koromi had resolved to take the initiative this time, yet here she was—once again—being outmaneuvered and kissed by Megumi.

Megumi, now barefoot, lifted one of her nylon-covered legs and gently pressed her knee between Kotomi's legs, brushing against her inner thighs. Looking at Kotomi's flushed face, she smiled warmly and began fixing Kotomi's tie.

"I love seeing you blush, Kotomi. I wonder what you'd look like blushing in all kinds of situations..."

Adorable. Absolutely, irresistibly adorable.

If there were a way to fully express the depths of her love for Kotomi, Megumi would gladly do it. But for now, she simply cherished the sight before her.

"Megumi, you keep ambushing me! I was supposed to be the one taking charge this time—being the aggressor! And yet, I didn't even get a chance," Kotomi whined, puffing out her cheeks in a display of mock indignation.

Megumi's heart softened instantly. She stroked Kotomi's hair and said gently, "Alright, alright. Next time, I promise. You can take the lead, okay? No pouting now."

"Really?" Kotomi sniffled, looking up at Megumi.

"Really. I always keep my promises."

The very next moment, Kotomi's expression shifted dramatically. Her previously teary, pouty demeanor morphed into a mischievous grin, like a triumphant little fox who had just outwitted a hunter.

"Yay! You said it! You promised! Next time, I get to take charge! Don't you dare go back on your word—otherwise, I'll bite you!"

Kotomi punctuated her threat with a playful growl, baring her teeth in a mock display of aggression.

"So scary. I'm trembling," Megumi teased, feigning fear as she leaned in, clearly intending to embrace Kotomi again for another kiss.

But Kotomi, her face already flushed, sidestepped with a squeak, looking as though she had just remembered something urgent. Raising her wrist (though it was conspicuously bare), she pretended to check the time.

"Oh no! Club activities are starting soon. Bye, Megumi! I can't walk home with you today—I've got something to do and need to leave early!"

"Wait—your wrist is empty, there's no watch there! What's this about? Where are you going? Why can't I—"

Before Megumi could finish, Kotomi was already darting down the hallway, her legs a blur as she escaped.

Left standing in the empty corridor, Megumi's outstretched hand slowly fell back to her side. Her gaze grew distant, and her shoulders drooped slightly.

"Don't tell me… did Kotomi forget that today is my birthday?" she murmured softly.

September 23rd. Megumi's birthday.

She had mentioned it to Kotomi once before when they were in Shinagawa. Kotomi had promised—sworn—to remember it.

So Megumi had been looking forward to this day, even if it was just to hear Kotomi say, "Happy birthday."

But all day long, Kotomi had acted as if it were an ordinary day. Megumi had hoped to drop a hint on their way home together, but now even that chance had slipped away.

"This might be my worst birthday yet," Megumi sighed, a bitter smile playing on her lips. Her parents were out of town, meaning she'd have to celebrate tonight alone.

***

When Kotomi arrived at the art room, she found Hibiki Naegi standing in front of a small refrigerator, inspecting it.

"Good afternoon, Naegi-senpai!"

"Ah, Kotomi. I leave for one day, and suddenly, we have a new appliance. Am I that bad at my job as club president?" Hibiki quipped, half-joking.

"Of course not. This mini-fridge was brought in by Chihiro-sensei. Even though it's not summer anymore, it's still a while before the weather cools down completely. Since the art room is too old to install air conditioning, she got this as a bit of compensation for us."

"This must've been expensive. We'll have to thank her properly," Hibiki said, her tone shifting into one of reliable leadership.

"Hehe, actually, there's another reason Chihiro-sensei bought the fridge," Kotomi added with a sly grin. She opened the fridge and gestured toward the bottom shelf.

Hibiki bent down, peering inside. Her lips twitched when she saw the neatly arranged row of chilled beer cans.

"I knew it. Stocking beer in the art room fridge… Chihiro-sensei sure has some nerve," Hibiki muttered.

"I counted yesterday—there were 32 cans. Now there are only 20 left. Looks like she drank quite a few last night," Kotomi noted as she squatted to inspect the contents.

Just as she was finishing her observation, the door to the art room swung open. Chihiro Sengoku strode in, exuding a rare sense of purpose.

Determined to increase her visibility as a club advisor—especially after hearing complaints from former members that she was a "ghost advisor"—she was determined to change her reputation starting today.

But then she spotted Kotomi crouching by the fridge, her gaze fixed on the beer cans.

"What are you doing?" Chihiro blurted, marching over to slam the fridge door shut.

"Kotomi, don't tell me you were thinking of drinking these! No way—little girls like you shouldn't touch beer, not even fruity ones!"

From across the room, Emi Tsujimoto whispered to Ruriya Hojo, "Who's that?"

"I think it's the club advisor, Chihiro-sensei," Ruriya replied.

"Wait… that's her?!" Emi gasped. "No wonder her name sounded familiar but I couldn't place it—she's actually real!"

"Don't act so shocked! Am I really that much of a ghost advisor?" Chihiro groaned dramatically.

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