Life In The Reverse World

Clack.

The sliding door of the unused classroom shut softly. With the only boy, Harutaki, having left, the room was now occupied solely by the girls— Chouko, Izumi, Sae, and Minako.

“Hehe, that pervy dog finally left. Now it’s girls’ time!”

Izumi let out a long breath of relief, then spoke up eagerly, her tone full of excitement.

“Next up, let’s head to Hyogotei for dinner and have a girls’ night~”

A girls’ night…?

Chouko couldn’t help picturing the place in her mind: a small shop with dark wooden panels, a simple white noren curtain hanging at the entrance, boldly brushed with the words “Hyogotei.”

“So Izumi goes to… places like that too.”

She had passed by Hyogotei many times after school. In her impression, it was quite a “down-to-earth” kind of restaurant. The food was filling, the taste decent but not extraordinary.

Still, for students who didn’t care much about atmosphere or service, it was definitely great value.

“Mostly because Sae likes it.”

Izumi shot a helpless look at Sae, who was happily munching away on the wagashi Harutaki had given her.

“She’s in a sports club, you know. Her appetite is terrifying. The food there tastes good, the prices are student-friendly… and the old lady who runs the place is really nice. She seems to like kids like Sae who eat a lot, so she often gives her extra portions.”

“That does sound like Sae.”

“Right?”

Izumi nodded, then turned and smacked Sae lightly on the head. Under Sae’s confused gaze, she explained the plan.

“We’re going to Hyogotei, and you’re still eating? …Honestly, that idiot dog Hoshikawa probably didn’t expect you to eat this much. Once you finish that box, there’s no second one.”

For a moment, Sae’s tanned face lit up—but upon hearing there was only one box, her expression instantly fell.

She rubbed her flat stomach and muttered:

“Guess I’ll have to eat more at Hyogotei later…”

“Ah, I’m so jealous of you, Sae. No idea where all that food goes—you never gain weight.”

Minako pinched her cheek, but Sae suddenly flipped around and planted both hands squarely onto those mountains even Harutaki couldn’t handle.

Kneading them, she complained through gritted teeth:

“You’re the one to talk! You don’t control your sweets or calories, you don’t exercise, and everything you eat goes straight to the right places!”

“Ugh…!”

“S-Sae, that’s not appropriate…”

Watching Minako’s cheeks flush pink, Chouko couldn’t help recalling what Harutaki had done to her the night before.

She had heard about it before, but when boys weren’t around, girls really did get… quite bold.

And also… Minako’s chest was so big that even she, as a girl, couldn’t help wanting to try squeezing it.

What an indecent bust.

She glanced down at her own chest.

…Wait, hers wasn’t that much smaller, was it?

There was that saying—being touched by someone you like could make them grow bigger—

Maybe if she asked Harutaki to help more, she could surpass Minako!

“So yeah, whenever I hang out with Sae and Minako, it feels kinda weird. Like parents taking their kids out.”

Seeing Minako’s pleading look, Izumi pulled Sae back to the desks pushed together into a table.

“Then I’m definitely the dad, right?!”

“What do you think?”

“Guh…”

Ignoring Sae’s dejected slump, Izumi glanced at Minako’s cheerful expression and clicked her tongue.

“Jeez~”

“Lewd chest!”

In the end, she couldn’t resist either and reached out to grab.

“Next time that pervy dog Hoshikawa is around, wear a chest binder.”

“Hehe, are you jealous, Izumi?”

“I-I’m not!”

After a couple squeezes and realizing there wasn’t anything particularly special about the experience, Izumi returned to her seat and began packing her bag, preparing to lock up and head out.

But Chouko suddenly spoke up, stopping the others.

“Wait a moment, please.”

She unzipped her bag and took out several neatly wrapped items—clearly gifts.

“I’ve got something for everyone too.”

Originally, Harutaki had said he’d give gifts to Izumi, Sae, and Minako on behalf of both of them. But Chouko felt that wasn’t quite enough. Besides, since becoming friends, she hadn’t given them anything herself.

“These are incense sticks I bought secretly without telling Hoshikawa~”

She opened the first box, revealing three bundles of differently colored incense, along with a small tray.

“Secretly,” she said—but in truth, she had “borrowed” money from Harutaki. He probably still hadn’t realized a Fukuzawa Yukichi(¥10,000) note had gone missing from his wallet.

“Izumi’s is a spring sakura limited edition~”

“Sae’s is lotus~”

“Minako’s is plum blossom~”

After the three accepted their gifts and thanked her, Chouko took out neatly folded cloth pieces.

“These are fabrics from Eirakuya. If you trim them a bit, they make great handkerchiefs.”

Izumi’s had a black base with pale pink-tinged white sakura. Sae’s was white with fresh green clovers. Minako’s was also black, but with crimson plum blossoms.

Of course… she had also prepared one for Harutaki.

He had gone all the way to Kyoto, yet returned without bringing back any souvenirs himself…

“I should’ve just picked some mushrooms in the mountains…”

She recalled the joke he made on the Shinkansen—

That she, Shihou Chouko, was the best “souvenir” from Kyoto.

Honestly…

Even though he didn’t ask for anything, she still bought him a gift along with the others.

It was also a handkerchief. In the center was a cat—his favorite. A white cat stretching upward on black fabric, as if reaching through flowers… and she was still embroidering a white butterfly onto it, so it would look like the cat was playing with it.

She wanted to stitch her feelings into it as well, so that years later, when they took it out again, they could reminisce and smile together.

…

Fried chicken drizzled with lemon juice, golden pan-fried dumplings glistening with oil, potato salad sprinkled with fresh green onions…

Clack.

As the last dish was set down, the shop owner’s lively voice rang out.

“The tonkotsu ramen’s ready. Enjoy, kids.”

“Thank you, granny!”

Since she came often, Sae seemed quite familiar with the owner. After thanking her, she immediately pulled the steaming bowl toward herself, drooling at the thick slices of chashu on top.

“Time to eat—”

“Wait.”

“Huh?”

Just as she picked up her chopsticks, she was stopped. Looking up, she met Izumi’s glare.

“This dinner is supposed to celebrate Chouko’s return. Show some manners…”

Izumi nudged Chouko with her elbow.

“…You’re the main character today.”

“Eh… m-me?”

After a brief pause, and seeing Minako nod as well, Chouko hesitantly spoke.

“Um… thanks to everyone, I found the courage to take a step forward. And thank you to Hoshikawa too… even if he’s not here right now. I really love being with all of you. I want to go shopping together, eat delicious food together, and spend more wonderful time together…”

“This is when we toast, right?!”

Sae suddenly raised her cheap glass with a grin.

“Such an old man move.”

Even as she teased, Minako lifted her glass of apple juice.

“Then let Chouko say it.”

Izumi raised her orange juice as well.

“Mm…”

Chouko looked at them—crimson, ocean-blue, emerald eyes—all holding the same warmth.

Her nose stung.

For a moment, she felt like crying.

She wasn’t alone anymore.

She wouldn’t be alone on the path ahead.

“Cheers!”

“““Cheers!”””

The glasses clinked together, ringing brightly above the table.

After taking a sip, Izumi glanced at Sae’s drink.

“Didn’t you not drink cola before?”

“This is oolong tea~”

Sae crossed her legs and took a big gulp.

“Ahh—cold oolong tea is the best!”

Everything about her—from tone to posture—was utterly unrefined.

“You’re just like Asama-sensei. A sloppy middle-aged man.”

“Oolong tea… seriously?”

“At this rate, no one’s ever going to like you, Sae.”

The others chimed in with teasing, then burst out laughing.

…

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