listen, actually, It's My First Time. 87 Days Until My First Time With a Loose-Ish, Innocent Girlfriend V1 - Ch 3

 Chapter 3: The Senpai Who Wants to Be Embraced

[Kaburaki Hayato's May 5th]

As Golden Week was nearing its end, I was at a ramen shop known for its delicious miso ramen with Miyabi and Kuto.

"I saw the photos, Hayato—looks like you two were doing some pretty couple-like things," Kuto said.

"It was pretty embarrassing for you to see it. I was nervous about the posing and how close our faces were. How did it look? Did I give off that awkward virgin vibe in my first-ever couple’s photo with my girlfriend?"

"Unfortunately, all I saw was that couple vibe straight out of a theme park, having fun like you're in some dream world... What are you grinning about? You’re pretty dizzy, huh?"

The day before yesterday, Hiyori-chan and I went on our first trip together, just the two of us, to a major theme park with a famous mascot character. Since it was the first day of the holiday and the weather was clear, the park was packed.

Despite the crowds, we had a blast. Hiyori-chan looked undeniably cute in her casual outfit, and when we wore matching character ear hats, she was absolutely adorable. I really can’t find the right words for it.

That night, Hiyori-chan posted a photo of us with our faces almost touching, both smiling, on SNS. The response was beyond my imagination, and Hiyori-chan was surprised by the number of likes—it was the most she had ever gotten. According to Kuto, nearly every student at Harukou had seen it.

"By the way, Nakamua, even if this picture is a little exaggerated, it's still pretty cute, right?"

While looking at the photo Hiyori-chan posted, Kuto was grinning.

"Don’t look at someone else’s girlfriend with pervy eyes. Also, Hiyori-chan is cute even without any filters."

"Ugh, all I said was she’s cute, okay? So, did you do it?"

"It’s a fair warning for guys like you who always bring up stuff like this. …We, uh, held hands."

Masakuto’s eyes widened dramatically.

"…Seriously? You spent the whole day together and didn’t even kiss?"

"…We, uh, had an indirect kiss when drinking juice, but… Hey, don’t look at me like that. We’ve only been dating for about a week, okay? It’s not weird."

Avoiding Masakuto’s pitying gaze, I focused on my bowl of thick noodles. Conversations like this, so unlike Kaburagi Hayato’s “ladies’ man” reputation, are something I can only have with Masakuto.

"What are you, a preschooler? Don’t tell me you’re satisfied with just that!"

"…That day, holding hands was the best I could manage. During the final parade, when I finally held her hand, I was overwhelmed with emotion."

"…You know, I feel like I’m saying something that’s going to ruin this pure-white version of you, Hayato… but I can’t imagine myself in that situation. Even if I was talking to a girl about gorillas, I’d still make it lead to sex."

"How do you even lead a conversation from gorillas to sex?! Like I could pull off something like that with my virgin self!"

"By the way, did you know all gorillas are blood type B?"

"Wait, really? Why?"

After a random but lively gorilla talk, Masakuto lowered his voice slightly.

"Hey, didn’t you ever think about getting with Nakamura?"

"You spent the whole day with someone you like, right? Of course, I thought about it... But it’s no good if it’s just me wanting it. I’ve decided that I’m going to take good care of Hiyori-chan."

"…Isn’t Nakamura probably feeling the same way? I bet she’s just waiting for you to make a move."

"Why do you talk like you know what Hiyori-chan is thinking?"

"Well, I know that no matter how popular you are, you’ve always stayed true to Nakamura. Even though you’re finally together, you’re dragging your feet. That’s the thing about girls—they can change their feelings in an instant."

Masakuto’s words, coming from someone who’s been in relationships with many girls, carry a certain weight—though it’s hard to say whether that weight is sincere or just his usual teasing.

He keeps trying to shift the conversation to something perverted or tease me, but I know he always slips a little bit of truth into what he says, so I just thanked him genuinely.

"…Thanks for worrying about me. If anything happens, I’ll talk to you about it."

"It’ll be too late once something happens, though… Anyway, I’m always here to listen. You can ask me about anything—whether it's good places to eat, love hotels, or recommended condoms."

"Why do you always bring it to that stuff?! …I might need that advice someday, though."

Masakuto burst out laughing and, as if to add some cheer, dropped a boiled egg into my bowl with a playful gesture.

[Kabaraki Hayato's May 11th]

Twice or three times a week, I work part-time at a local family restaurant called "Lights."

I didn't start because I really needed the money, but rather just because I thought it would be a light way to spend some time. However, I quickly realized that even part-time work can be quite demanding.

As a server, the types of customers I struggle with the most are the drunken ones who try to hit on me and the women who constantly talk to me without any sense of body language.

"Here is your cheeseburger set, and pasta with mushrooms and cream sauce. Please be careful, the plate is very hot."

When I went to deliver the order to a table with two women, I could feel a burning gaze. This is bad; my instincts are probably right—this is going to be the type of customer I fear.

"Hey, are you Kabaraki-kun? You’re such a handsome guy! Can you give me your contact info?"

One of the women, who had just learned my name from my nameplate, called out to me.

"I'm sorry, but my manager told me I'm not allowed to give out personal information."

I responded with a smile, making sure to point out that it was part of my job. I’ve gotten a bit better at dealing with these situations since I first started, even though it still isn’t easy.

The other woman, with a short haircut, clasped her hands together lightly.

"Sorry about her! She’s just really into handsome guys. …Kabaraki-kun, be careful walking home at night, okay?"

"I won’t attack you, I swear! …Probably."

"That’s the least you can guarantee!"

While arguing and laughing in voices that aren’t very refined, I bowed with affection and left the place.

The two of them now are still the kinder ones, and I have received numerous remarks that could be considered more vulgar or even something I could normally sue for sexual harassment. I’ve thought many times about quitting. But I’m still able to continue working part-time like this.

Every time I felt like giving up, it was because there was a senpai who helped me.

"You're still popular as always! You're a signboard girl who wouldn’t be embarrassing to show anywhere. Though I don’t intend to show you anywhere!"

With a lively voice, my senior, Chiharu-senpai, who works a year ahead of me at this part-time job, happily tapped my shoulder.

"At least call me your son there. I don’t really want to be told that by you, Chiharu-senpai. It seems that the sales are different when you’re here and when you’re not, you know?"

"The manager is saying something random again. You shouldn’t take it seriously, okay? I want you to grow up as a straightforward, cute, and handsome guy, Shun-kun."

Chiharu-senpai is a second-year university student. Except before exams, she works part-time three times a week. Since our available working hours overlap, we often work together.

My senior, who has bright long hair and loose curls, has large, drooping eyes that make her seem good at acting cute, which is captivating. With her voice, gestures, and atmosphere being somewhat seductive, she is an existence that’s a little too stimulating for someone like me, a virgin.

The "sales are different" that my senpai casually mentioned is by no means a myth or exaggeration by the manager.

In fact, today there are a lot of male customers. I know that my senpai dislikes regular customers who don’t spend money and just stay for a long time, so after eating and drinking, they leave smartly, and the turnover rate is high.

It was an unspoken rule that was created through my senior’s skillful communication with the customers.

My senpai is not only contributing to sales. She is always keeping an eye on the entire hall, and her service to customers and support for us employees is perfect.

To put it simply, she is incredibly competent at her job, and I’ve been helped countless times by her. When I was feeling the unique struggles of the customer service industry, it was my senpai who listened to my concerns.

"Shun-kun, you’re working until 10 PM today, right? Let’s go home together!"

"Sure. I’ll walk you to the station."

As I watched my senior, quietly saying "Yay" as she headed to take the order, I thought to myself that I needed to push through for the remaining hour and a half until my shift ended.

☆

After checking out on the timecard, Chiharu-senpai and I left Lights.

The wind on a May night is still a bit chilly, but when I feel it after work, it seems to ease the fatigue just a little. I wonder if my senpai feels the same way, as she gazed at the night sky with a look of ease.

"Next is Saturday, huh... Oh, that’s right! Hey, listen, Shun-kun! My best friend finally got a boyfriend, and, well, he seems really nice, and she looks happy, so I want to wish them well. But, like, how can she suddenly start being so bad at keeping in touch? I’m not saying she should prioritize me, okay? But don’t you think there should be a bit more balance?"

From her refreshing expression, she suddenly pouted and began expressing her dissatisfaction. As I listened to her, I decided to learn from her best friend and make sure to balance my time with Hiyori-chan while also valuing my friendships.

"Yeah, I think it might not be good to neglect friends when you're caught up in a romance."

"You think so too!? Damn, Maki-chan, if I ever get a boyfriend, I’m totally going to get back at her!"

Since breaking up with her boyfriend six months ago, my senpai has been busy with work and school and hasn’t been in a relationship. It’s hard to believe such a beautiful woman doesn’t have a boyfriend—if Masa and Kuto found out, they’d definitely keep showing up at Lights trying to win her over.

...No, wait, in his case, even if she did have a boyfriend, he might still try. I’ll just keep my senior’s existence a secret.

"Ahh, I’m so craving human contact... Shun-kun, can I link arms with you? I’m getting tired... If I keep going like this, I won’t be able to walk."

In a deliberately sweet voice, she looked up at me, pleading.

Would linking arms make her seem flirtatious? But it’s normal to help someone who can’t walk, right?

I silently extended my left arm.

"...Please be careful not to be misunderstood by customers who are here because of you, senpai."

"I'm not an idol or a hostess, so I can't be that careful."

I let my senpai wrap her arm around mine, and we walked down the night street together. The chilly night air no longer felt refreshing. Though I didn’t think anything would happen, the skin that touched mine still radiated an unusual warmth, which is just the way human nature works.

"Hey, Shun-kun—my school starts in the afternoon tomorrow, so how about staying up a bit longer? Come over to my place."

"Please don’t try to bring me over so casually. I have school tomorrow, too."

"Geez, you're so guarded. It’s fine, just a little bit! I won’t do anything!"

"Please don’t say things like an old man hitting on a young girl."

If I were a real playboy, I’d probably happily go along with the invitation. But I sensed that my senpai was teasing me like this precisely because I wasn’t taking the bait.

Talking to my senpai makes me realize just how complicated women can be.

"Shun-kun, you’re like a well-known playboy at school, right? Do you think I’m not attractive enough?"

My senpai asked, looking up at me. She was undoubtedly aware of her own cuteness. Though I was taken aback, I had to act casual to avoid revealing that I was a virgin.

"Senpai, you have nothing but charm. That’s why I want you to take care of yourself."

In the first place, the fact that rumors about me reached even my senior's ears was a complete mistake.

It all started when a group of friends came to tease me while I was working and they quickly spotted my cute senior. Using me as an excuse, they tried to hit on her.

The combination of my friends, who were spreading completely false stories about me being a playboy, and my senior, who joined in on the fun and played along, was nothing short of a nightmare for me. If Masakuto had been around, he would have acted as a stopper and prevented any damage to my reputation at work, but the fact that he wasn’t there made things worse.

After getting some information from my friends, my senpai cut down their attempts to flirt with a smile and started teasing me as a full-fledged playboy.

That’s why, just like at school, I had to keep up appearances and act like a playboy even in front of my senior.

With her glossy lips pouting, my senpai leaned against me.

"Aah, I got rejected by Shun-kun. It’s fine, I’ll go home remembering Shun-kun’s warmth in my arm. Since Shun-kun didn’t comfort me, I’ll do it alone..."

She’s a senpai I respect and can always rely on, someone I can talk to about anything, but her tendency toward borderline sexual harassment is a problem. If I ever did anything like that, I would definitely get fired from my part-time job, yet she keeps doing it without hesitation.

I can’t tell how serious she is. With my level of understanding of women’s hearts, which is practically imaginary, there’s no way I could ever figure out her true feelings.

"Stop! Senpai! Please stop bullying a younger high school boy!"

When those words were thrown at me one-on-one, there was no way I could keep up the playboy mask.

I turned my face away, not wanting her to see my blushing face, and had no choice but to play the embarrassed, virgin role.

For some reason, my senpai seemed to really enjoy my reaction, as she scrunched up her beautiful face and laughed cheerfully.

...Maybe, from Hiyori-chan's perspective, my interactions with my senpai could be misunderstood. To maintain some distance, I should let her know that I have a girlfriend.

"Um, Senpai... I..."

"Ahahaha, you're so cute, Shun-kun! I want to work with you for as long as possible, so if there's anything, just let me know. I'll do my best for you, okay?"

Seeing my senior’s smile, I didn’t want to ruin the mood, so I swallowed my words.

"Ah... thank you. But I don’t want to always rely on you, so I’ll also work hard to become the kind of guy who can be relied on by you, Senpai."

I’ll tell her next time our shifts overlap.

As my senpai stretched and ruffled my hair, she looked so happy—and, well, beautiful.

After parting ways with my senpai and being alone, I sent a message to Hiyori-chan.

'Work is done. It was busy!'

'Good job! Your next shift is on Saturday, right?'

'Yeah. From 10 AM to 6 PM. It's a long shift, but I'll do my best. After that, it's a date!'

'I’m looking forward to it too! Can I call you tonight before bed?'

After sending an OK stamp, I put my phone back in my pocket.

I like talking to Hiyori-chan before bed. It's nice to hear her voice, and it makes me fall asleep feeling happy.

Maybe I'll talk about things from work today. There's a lot I want to say.

Despite being tired, my steps on the way home felt somehow lighter.

[Hayato Kaburaki, May 14th, 2:00 PM]

My next shift was on Saturday. I was caught up in the rush of customers and the unstoppable stream of orders, and finally, the lunch rush ended.

After finally getting a break, I sat down in the break room chair and let out a breath. Chiharu-senpai came over and sat next to me, saying, "Good job~!"

"Today was soooo exhausting. Hey, after work, how about we go eat together? I also have an after-work plan, you know?"

I thought, This is it. I had been debating when to tell her about my girlfriend, and I saw this as the perfect opportunity.

"...Senpai, actually, I have a girlfriend now. I want to cherish her, so I plan to avoid doing anything that could lead to misunderstandings. So, I can't go out to eat just the two of us. Sorry."

I can't beat around the bush. I kept it short and to the point, and Senpai widened her eyes in exaggerated surprise.

"Eh, what!? Really!? When? Congratulations! Is she from the same school?"

"She’s someone I’ve had feelings for for a long time... The situation was a bit unique, but last month I confessed, and we started dating."

"I really want to see her! What kind of person is she? Do you have a picture?"

Senpai seemed more enthusiastic than I expected, and I found myself overwhelmed by the barrage of questions.

"U-um, the break is almost over, so I’ll talk to you later!"

I tried to escape the interrogation by standing up, but Senpai stared at me intently, as if observing me.

"Hayato-kun, you know... You're the type of guy who talks about having a girlfriend openly and even declares that you want to cherish her without being embarrassed. It’s so different from the rumors that you're a playboy, you're actually so sincere."

I tensed up suddenly. I was panicking because I feared that if it came out now that I was still a virgin, my relationship with my senpai might fall apart.

“W-well, I think that’s just normal, don’t you? Alright then, let’s work hard until the end, okay?”

As I hastily left the break room, my senpai saw me off with a smile that seemed to say she had seen through everything.

For a while after that, the flow of customers slowed, and we carried out our work smoothly and calmly.

When I checked the clock, I noticed there was less than an hour left until the end of my shift at 6 p.m. Just then, the door opened.

“Welcome—...ah.”

"I wanted to see you working, so I came! Surprised?"

Smiling innocently like a child who had just pulled off a prank, the one standing before me was my girlfriend.

"Y-yeah, I’m surprised. Uh, let me show you to a seat."

Whether it was my formal tone, my uniform, or just the curiosity of seeing me at work, Hiyori-chan kept smiling brightly all the way to her seat.

"I’ll be done with my shift in about an hour. Wanna grab something to eat after?"

Speaking carefully so as not to be overheard by other customers, I asked,

"Of course! That’s actually what I was hoping for when I came here. Mission accomplished!"

Hiyori-chan said this while flashing her milky white teeth in a grin. With such an adorable strategist, I’d gladly fall for her plans as many times as it takes.

Determined not to show her any embarrassing sides of me, I geared up to work extra hard. After passing along Hiyori-chan’s order to the kitchen, I returned, only to be spotted by Chiharu-senpai.

"Hey, could it be that girl is your girlfriend?"

Senpai had a sharp intuition. Maybe she picked up on something during that brief exchange or the atmosphere between us.

Considering her naturally curious personality, I had a feeling things might get complicated. But since I had nothing to hide, lying didn’t even cross my mind.

"That’s right. Don’t you think she’s adorable?"

"Super adorable! Alright, I’m taking over all her orders!"

I hurriedly stopped Chiharu-senpai, who was about to go to Hiyori-chan with sparkling eyes.

"Wait! I’m worried if you go over to her when I'm not looking! I'll go to her myself!"

"Ah! That's unfair! Just because you're her boyfriend, you get to be the one with her! I want to chat with cute girls too!"

"What do you mean 'unfair'! Besides, she came here to see me as a customer, so it’s only natural that I handle her... right?"

My words trembled as I realized someone was standing behind me and Senpai.

Cautiously turning around, I found the veteran shift leader, with 15 years of experience, standing there with a scary smile.

"I’ll take care of that girl’s seat. Understood?"

"Y-yes..."

After being scolded by the leader, Senpai and I agreed that once our shifts were over, I’d briefly introduce Hiyori-chan to her.

Whenever the staff went to serve Hiyori-chan, it was always a veteran employee, and she silently asked me "Why?" with her gaze multiple times.

It was because I didn’t have enough awareness that I was at work. Sorry.

☆

When I went to Hiyori-chan, who was waiting outside of "Lights," with Chiharu-senpai, she noticed us and waved her hand saying, "Good job!"

"Sorry for making you wait. And, um, my senpai really wants to talk to you... is it okay for just a little bit?"

I apologized while bowing, and from behind me, Senpai, with a cheerful expression, approached Hiyori-chan.

"I'm Chiharu Yamamura! I’ve been working here for about a year longer than Shun-kun. I’ve been curious about the girl who captured this handsome guy's heart, and I have to say, you're super cute!"

While being showered with Senpai's intense gaze, Hiyori-chan, looking slightly flustered, bowed politely.

"Uh… I’m Hiyori Nakamura. I go to the same school as Shun-kun, and... we’re, um, dating. I hope we can get along going forward."

Even though Senpai wasn’t family, it was a rather formal greeting. Maybe she thought she should be proper since she was meeting her boyfriend's workplace senior? If that’s the case, perhaps Hiyori-chan is a bit more traditional, considering her somewhat old-fashioned behavior compared to Senpai’s flashy appearance.

Senpai, glancing at me, grinned with a sly smile. I had a bad feeling about it.

"Hiyori-chan, huh, nice to meet you from now on! ...By the way, have you already had sex with Shun-kun?"

We both froze instantly at the direct question.

“W-What are you saying! Please stop! If it were just me, that's one thing, but if you're going to sexually harass Hiyori-chan too, I’ll seriously get mad, you know!?”

Why didn’t I stop my senpai when I had a bad feeling? It’s too late for regret now. As I hurriedly tried to cover my senpai’s mouth, Hiyori-chan was looking at me with a troubled expression.

This is the worst in every possible way. If this makes things awkward with Hiyori-chan, what should I do about my senior?

“...Hmm, it’s a secret! I want to keep this kind of thing just between the two of us.”

Hiyori-chan skillfully brushed it off while laughing, but her face was turning red.

Matching my senior's energy on a first meeting must be hard even for someone like Hiyori-chan, who’s outgoing. I could tell I was making her uncomfortable, so I was about to suggest we wrap it up when—

“I don’t know, I’m getting all hyped up! Let’s go shopping now! I’ll treat you!”

My senpai said that and wrapped her arm around Hiyori-chan’s.

A few hours ago, she was exhausted, saying, ‘Today’s tough,’ but now she was full of energy.

☆

I was fully intending to refuse Chiharu-senpai’s invitation, but there was no way that the combination of my senpai, who was good at getting into people’s good graces, and the honest, easygoing Hiyori-chan would not work well together.

After about five minutes of chatting, the two of them became fast friends, and with a cheerful and energetic mood, they dragged me—who had now become a third wheel—into the station building.

“I wish we had more time to go further into the city and hit up a bunch of stores, but since it’s already this late after work, we can only go to places nearby. It’s so frustrating!”

In response to my senpai’s pouting, I found that I couldn’t come up with an appropriate reply.

For a certain reason, I couldn’t hide my confusion.

“This isn’t really about being frustrated… uh, are we really going in there? Me too?”

It made sense that I was going shopping with my girlfriend and my senpai from work at the station building, but—

“Of course! It’s pretty normal for a boyfriend to pick out underwear for his girlfriend, right? Come on, let’s go! We’re picking out cute underwear for Hiyori-chan!”

However, the idea of going into a women’s lingerie shop with my girlfriend and my work senpai was something I couldn’t understand at all.

“Well, leave it to me! I’ll pick out the cutest and most sexy lingerie for Hiyori-chan and you!”

Even though I was already out of place as the only guy surrounded by female customers, if I acted awkward, I’d seriously be thought of as creepy. My senior had just said, “It’s pretty normal.” Maybe for someone like a playboy, going along with choosing his girlfriend’s underwear was just an ordinary thing to do.

I definitely didn’t want either my senpai or Hiyori-chan to find out that I was still a virgin.

So, I decided to confidently give off the vibe of, “I’m just here as my girlfriend’s escort, okay?”

That said, it would be weird if I was the first one walking around the store. I stayed one step behind the two girls, trying my best to not let them notice how troubled I was about where to look, while I casually looked around the store.

"...These bras around here are recommended for summer, but what does that mean? Is the material thin and cool? ...Seamless bras...? Oh! I get it! It means the shape of the bra doesn’t show through under tops!"

"Well then, I’m going to try this on, so just wait here for a bit."

I was busy thinking this by myself when suddenly I was spoken to, making my heart jump.

"Uh, sure. Take your time."

Hiyori-chan headed to the changing room, hiding whatever underwear she was holding from me, so I couldn’t tell what she had chosen. Damn it! I should’ve paid more attention!

Though I tried to act cool as I sent her off, I regretted it a lot. As if she could read my mind, my senpai peeked over at me, grinning.

"Curious about what kind of underwear she’s trying on? Don’t worry! I promised I’d pick out something super cute and sexy, didn’t I? ♡ You should really thank me, Shun-kun."

Matching my senpai’s lowered voice so Hiyori-chan wouldn’t hear, I lowered my tone as well to respond.

"Th-thank you very much. I’m looking forward to seeing it with my own eyes."

I thought my quick-witted reply was pretty good, but I must’ve been too relaxed.

Without realizing it, I failed to notice the next move as my senpai carefully positioned both her hands where I couldn’t see them.

"Shun-kun, if it were me wearing them, which would you prefer: these thong panties or a T-back?"

With an effect like a ta-da sound, two pairs of panties suddenly appeared right in front of my senpai’s chest, almost making me dizzy.

I realized my senpai had lowered her voice because she didn’t want Hiyori-chan to hear what she was saying for many reasons.

"Huh!? ... W-well, I think it’s fine as long as it looks good either way?"

Even with just the underwear itself, I can’t help but think of erotic thoughts, and with senpai holding them, it's easy to imagine her wearing them, which makes it difficult.

Even though I'm desperately trying to look away naturally, senpai, whether on purpose or not, continuously tries to put the panties in my line of sight. What a merciless attack.

"This kind of opportunity doesn't come by often, so I want to hear your opinion, Shun-kun? Please?"

I raised the white flag. After confirming that Hiyori-chan had not yet come out of the changing room, I took another look at the underwear in Senpai's hand and whispered to her.

"............This one is better. But even something not so extreme, a cute design like white or light pink... Ah, it's embarrassing! What are you making me say!"

Just because senpai is mature, I don't think the underwear should match that image. Would it be more appealing if she intentionally wore something pure? Is that my fetish? Or is it something every man thinks?

Senpai, who had been watching me seriously answer, grinned.

"Okay! So you're the pure type, Hayato-kun! I like it, you're a virgin after all!"

"I feel like I was just teased while being called innocent!?"

"That's not true, right? Hey, Hayato-kun, have you ever had sex with a girl who wore a thong?"

Not only have I never had sex, but today was the first time I saw it with my own eyes—I'm a virgin.

"Please stop, geez. I'm not answering that."

Though I was greatly shaken by the unexpected question, I decided that it was safe not to lie and say "yes" just to look impressive. I answered in a way that hinted at something, but didn't go too far, keeping it within the safe line to avoid pushing the other person away.

"Hmm? ...By the way, do you know if there's any benefit to a thong other than the fact that it looks erotic?"

Senpai, who had put the thong back in its original place, held up the faintly pink one she had left in her hands in front of her chest.

"…Is it because it's light and comfortable to wear?"

"That's part of it, but I think the biggest advantage is that the lines of the underwear don't show. You know, with a tight skirt like the one I'm wearing now, you can see the shape of the panties from behind, right? But with a thong, that doesn't happen."

The senpai, happily and eagerly, spoke about the charm while turning around and slightly sticking out their buttocks.

...Hm? I can't see the line of the senpai's underwear.

The heart, which had been pounding rapidly, continued to accelerate even more.

C-Could it be...?

"I'm wearing the same one as this right now. You didn't notice, did you?"

That one sentence made my emotions suddenly tremble.

Although I hadn't actually seen her wearing it, when she said such a thing at this close distance, where both her voice and scent were reaching me, I couldn't help but imagine the senior wearing this sexy thong.

Even though Hiyori-chan is in the changing room, what am I thinking? I have to push these disturbing thoughts away. As if mocking my efforts to concentrate, the senpai said,

"Do you want to take a better look? Or maybe touch it? Here."

The senior brought her buttocks even closer than before, and I desperately turned my face away, twisting my neck.

"...No, senpai."

"Eh? If it's you, the playboy Hayato-kun, I thought you'd be used to this by now, huh?"

I know she's provoking me. I also know I shouldn't respond in a way that would spoil her mood.

But still, I have to say this to the senpai, who's showing her white teeth while watching me get flustered.

"...Is it okay, senpai? Even though I'm used to seeing girls' panties, I still get flustered by your underwear. So, please take better care of yourself."

I said this to protect myself from having my heart shattered by senpai, but for some reason, it seemed like her cheeks were slightly flushed.

"...Okay. I'm sorry."

Even though I was panicking inside, I acted all high and mighty while giving her advice. Senpai obediently responded and then returned the thong she had been holding to its original place.

"By the way, Hayato-kun, do you know Hiyori-chan's bra size?"

"...I-I couldn't possibly know!"

I denied it instinctively and then realized. It was a conflict that I didn't know her cup size despite being in an intimate relationship. This made it clear that Hiyori-chan and I weren't actually "that kind of relationship" yet.

"Ah, I see. Even if you've seen or touched them, cup size is judged by the difference between the top and underbust, so it's often something that boyfriends don't know well either."

While I was too nervous to say anything, senpai nodded as if she understood.

...Was I saved? Looking at me, relieved, senpai gave a smile that seemed to hide something.

Maybe senpai had already seen through my disguise and was enjoying my reaction. This terrifying assumption made me want to go crazy from embarrassment.

But thinking about it would have to wait. My intelligence had sharply decreased in this lingerie shop. I wanted to avoid digging myself into a deeper hole by overthinking.

"...Girls' underwear situations are way too complicated for men."

I tried to escape with a weak excuse, and senpai let me off the hook.

"I just learned Hiyori-chan's size a moment ago... That girl is the type who looks slimmer in clothes. With her tiny waist, it's rare to see a girl with such big breasts. I bet you know, but you're a lucky guy, Hayato-kun."

The punishment for being let off the hook was something beyond expectation.

From now on, every time I see Hiyori-chan, I'll be filled with mixed feelings.

"It’s probably about time Hiyori-chan finished changing. I really wanted you to see Hiyori-chan wearing cute lingerie, but she firmly refused, so I’ll just go by myself for now."

Laughing at me, who was completely consumed by lustful thoughts, senpai left with a light step.

I had thought about this before, but now I was certain :

The capable senpai at my part-time job seems to have an exceptional talent for teasing people.

And there I stood, a virgin, frozen in place at the center of the lingerie shop.

[Hiyori Nakamura's May 14th]

After watching Hayato-kun working and waiting for his shift to end, I imagined a simple, enjoyable day where we’d go out to eat together.

Who could have predicted that such a situation would arise when I walked to Hayato-kun’s workplace with such a carefree plan in mind?

As I undressed in the changing room of a lingerie shop, I found myself flustered, staring at a bra and panties hanging on a hanger, each with an exceptionally minimal amount of fabric.

This kind of sexy and bold lingerie is something I’d never choose under normal circumstances.

If I were to send this underwear to the laundry after Chiharu-san recommended it, my mom’s eyes might pop out of her head. If she asked whether I’d gotten a boyfriend, I’d want to be honest, but... having her pry into anything sexual would be incredibly embarrassing.

As I thought over various thoughts, I finally finished changing when Chiharu-san called out to me from outside the changing room.

“Hiyori-chan! Are you done trying it on?”

“Y-yes! I just finished now!”

As I responded, Chiharu-san swiftly entered the changing room. I was startled, but since this wasn’t regular clothing and throwing the curtain open wasn’t an option, this might be the usual way of handling things.

“Wow! That looks great! Super cute! It suits you perfectly!”

With praise that could rival a store clerk’s, Chiharu-san lifted my mood naturally. It might seem simple, but it still made me happy.

“Thank you. It does feel like I’m pushing my limits, but wearing cute lingerie really lifts your mood, doesn’t it? ...Though, I feel like the bra is just a tiny bit too big.”

While nodding earnestly, Chiharu-san stared intently at my chest and...

"Excuse me for a moment~"

"Kyah! Ch-Chiharu-san!?"

"I'm just checking the size. Hiyori-chan, you don’t usually try on lingerie? Normally, the store staff would do this, but today, let me handle it for you."

Chiharu-san inserted her hand into my bra and began making adjustments. With her delicate fingertips, my chest was being molded into various shapes. With little patience for such things, even though it was another woman, I tightly pressed my lips together, trying to avoid making any strange sounds.

Maybe Hayato-kun is nearby. Thinking about that made this embarrassing situation—being touched by Chiharu-san in such a state—feel unbearable, yet at the same time, my body was becoming more sensitive, which I found confusing.

"A-actually, this is my first time. It just felt like trying on lingerie was such a high hurdle..."

Answering normally was difficult, but I made sure not to reveal anything.

"Hmm, hmm... Yeah, I can see you have more than I expected! Your waist is incredible, your skin is so firm and smooth... This is the body that would make any guy fall for you."

"Isn’t this a bit too much? W-what about my chest and this bra—do they fit?"

"Hmm? I finished checking the size a while ago. Normally, I wouldn’t be doing this much 'momi-momi'... but I’m just touching you because I want to."

It was an unapologetic confession of sexual harassment.

"You said the bra might be too big, but if you properly adjust your chest into the cups, it’ll fit perfectly. If you don’t wear the right size bra from a young age, your body shape will start to change in the future. You should make sure to try things on properly next time."

"Y-Yes, I’ll do that! Thank you for teaching me so much."

I was left with a strong impression of Chiharu-san as the dependable older sister. She’s beautiful, kind, and reliable—no wonder Hayato-kun admires her so much.

"You’re such a sweet girl. Alright, as a sign of our closeness, I’ll give you this lingerie as a present!"

"Eh!? That’s too much! I’ll buy it myself properly!"

"Now, now, think of it as me doing you a favor... But, more importantly, when Hayato-kun sees you wearing this lingerie, don’t you think he’ll be overjoyed? Just be careful not to overdo it, okay?"

"O-Overdo…!? ...Y-Yes. I’ll be careful..."

My heart was racing at Chiharu-san’s words, and I glanced down at my chest once again.

In the cramped space of the changing room, wearing the lingerie that pushed my limits, adrenaline was flowing through me, and my mind was in a dreamy state. I couldn’t help but imagine myself wearing this sexy lingerie, in bed with Hayato-kun.

Would Hayato-kun be happy?... He’s probably used to sexy lingerie by now, so it might be hard to make him excited, but maybe, just maybe, he would be incredibly turned on.

If that happens... would he push me down? I wonder if I’d get to see the expression on Hayato-kun’s face, the one where he doesn’t have his usual smile and looks desperate.

"Hiyori-chan~. Come back here!"

I snapped back to reality at Chiharu-san’s voice. Seeing my flushed face in the full-length mirror, Chiharu-san smiled mischievously, as if she could see straight through my daydreams.

"Hayato-kun is so lucky. Last thing… here, this is for you."

From behind, she suddenly grabbed both of my breasts firmly, and despite my efforts to hold back, I couldn’t stop a sound from escaping.

[Hayato Kaburaki’s May 14th ,8:25 PM]

The shopping was over, and Hiyori-chan and I saw Chiharu-senpai off in front of the ticket gate.

"Thank you! I had so much fun today! Hiyori-chan, make sure to stop by Light sometime! When I'm there!"

"I had fun too. Thank you so much for the gift."

Hiyori-chan said this and bowed to Senpai.

"I’m so glad you liked the lingerie I recommended. And more than that, this is a memorable occasion since we met! Hayato-kun will probably be happy too, so don’t worry about interrupting your date."

"It’s not like I’m angry or anything, I actually had fun shopping with you, Senpai."

"I’m happy to hear that. My next shift is Wednesday—let’s do our best! See you!"

After watching Senpai disappear through the ticket gate, Hiyori-chan and I sat down on a bench on the opposite platform. It was about thirty minutes until I would send Hiyori-chan home, and this was our time alone.

"...Sorry about today. I know you came all the way to my workplace, but I ended up dragging you around."

"No, don’t apologize. At first, I was surprised by the energy, but Chiharu-san was a really nice person, and I had fun shopping. She’s bright, kind, and I thought she might be free-spirited, but she was really thoughtful about me... When I turn twenty, I want to be like that too."

Hiyori-chan’s words made me oddly happy, realizing that Senpai’s charm had also reached her in such a short time.

It seemed that I had the feeling of wanting to show off Senpai. Senpai had asked me to introduce her to Hiyori-chan, but it seemed like I wanted to introduce Hiyori-chan to Senpai too.

"...Hey, Hayato-kun... Are you curious about the lingerie I got as a gift today?"

"Huh!? ...Well, yeah, I guess..."

I answered too honestly, and Hiyori-chan giggled softly.

"Hehe, it’s a secret. But actually, Chiharu-san told me 'You can just wear it home,' so right now, I’m only wearing the bra."

"S-So that’s how it is..."

It wasn’t visible, but my heart was racing. I don’t think Hiyori-chan realized that this alone was enough to excite me.

"Ah, the train’s coming."

We moved to stand behind the yellow line, waiting for the train. The wind from the arriving train blew Hiyori-chan’s hair and skirt, causing her shirt to billow.

In a reflex, Hiyori-chan reached up to hold her hair down, and her bag fell from her hand. As she scrambled to collect the items that had spilled out, I saw something from the lingerie shop bag—a pair of black lace... or rather, a pair of panties that seemed like they barely covered anything.

Frozen, I watched as Hiyori-chan quickly shoved the panties and other things back into her bag.

"...Ahaha... well, this is what it looks like... Please forget about it!"

The sight was too much for me, and I’m sure the image would be burned into my mind for a long time.

I wanted to hide the fact that my heart was racing, but as a virgin, I knew my face was bright red.

On the train ride, I don’t remember what Hiyori-chan and I talked about.

──── 70 days left until the first time we do it. ────