Chapter 27 The Most Beautiful Girl in School Wants to Pair With
#18ZenkouSeitoThe Most Beautiful Girl in School Wants to Pair With
During the day’s long homeroom.
“Alright, I think everyone knows, but the sports festival is coming up. So, the event committee members will help decide everything. I’m out of a🬀cohol. Don’t rely on me.”
With that, Suzaku-sensei lazily exits the classroom.
By now, no one even comments anymore—it’s just become normal. But honestly, it’s strange.
Out of a🬀cohol? What kind of teacher says that?
Besides, they’re always “out of a🬀cohol” at school anyway.
After that, the event committee stepped up to decide on individual event participation…
“Next, let’s talk about the pair dance.”
As soon as the event committee says those words, the energy in the classroom ticks up a notch.
“If you’ve decided on a partner, please report it to me. The deadline is this Friday. Now then—”
“Hey, hey! Have you decided who you’re pairing with?”
“Not yet! I’m still trying to figure it out.”
“Didn’t you say you were going to ask a senior?”
“No way, I can’t!”
“You can’t let this chance slip by!”
“And don’t forget about the jinx!”
“I’m so excited~!”
The classroom is buzzing with chatter.
No one is paying any attention to the event committee anymore.
“P-please listen to me!!!!”
The bespectacled event committee member shouts desperately.
…Good luck, buddy.
“By the way, who’s Irara-san going to pair with?”
I instinctively react to the mention of Irara’s name.
It’s true.
I can’t imagine someone like Irara skipping such a fun event.
But…
“She just broke up with Nakano, didn’t she?”
“Ah, that’s true.”
“Actually, that makes it the perfect chance! Now’s the time!”
“I heard Sasaki from the soccer club is planning to ask her.”
“Seriously? Sounds like there’s going to be some competition.”
“This is a rare opportunity. Everyone’s probably going to aim for Irara-san.”
“Man, I wish I could pair with Irara-san.”
“If it works out, there’s that jinx…”
“Getting to pair with Irara-san feels like a dream!”
Irara becomes the center of attention for the boys in the class.
Meanwhile, she’s surrounded by girls, chatting happily.
“Who are you going to pair with, Irara-san?”
“For the pair dance partner! A senior, maybe?”
“Um… haha, I wonder…”
“Everyone’s dying to know who Akari-chan will choose!”
“Look, even the boys are staring.”
“Eh?!”
Flustered, Irara looks around.
The boys quickly avert their gazes, trying to play it cool.
And then…
“Ah…”
For just a moment, our eyes meet.
Crap… she caught me looking at her.
This is so embarrassing…!
I bury my face in my desk.
…I want to die.
“QUIET DOWN, ALREADY!!!!!!”
““““I-I’m sorry!””””
After school.
I leave the staff room with a sigh.
As if the long homeroom wasn’t enough, Suzaku-sensei also called me in because of some incomplete academic paperwork…
And somehow, I ended up helping her pick out snacks for her drinking session tonight.
“Does she even see me as a student…? It’s hard to believe.”
She probably just thinks of me as some convenient, disliked, and mildly amusing guy.
Anyway, I head toward the school entrance, eager to go home.
On the way,
“Th-thanks for coming!”
“Sure. So, what did you want to talk about?”
In the courtyard, I see a boy and a girl talking.
One of them is Irara.
“Um, about the pair dance… Do you already have a partner, Irara?”
“Not yet, for now.”
“R-really? Then, would you consider pairing with me? I’d love to be your partner for the dance!”
The boy musters his courage and asks.
He has neat hair, sharp features, a tall, athletic build—he looks like someone who’d be popular.
A textbook “ikemen” guy.
“Um… I’m sorry. Actually, there’s someone else I want to pair with.”
Irara’s words land heavily.
So, Irara already has someone in mind.
“Huh? But just now, you said you didn’t have a partner yet…”
“I haven’t asked him yet! And I doubt he’d ask me either… Honestly, even if I did ask, I’m not sure he’d say yes… Oh, and please keep this a secret! I haven’t told anyone else!”
“O-okay. Got it.”
Who could Irara want to ask?
And someone who might not even agree… just who is this incredible person?
But if it’s someone Irara wants to pair with,
He must be incredibly cool, dependable, and perfect for her.
After exchanging a few more words, the boy walks away.
I found myself watching, even though I know it’s not a good habit.
Peeking on others like this isn’t exactly commendable.
“…I should head home.”
Apologizing in my heart to the two of them, I turn to leave.
—And at that moment.
A spider dangling from a thread appears right in front of me…
“Whoa!!!!”
I can’t help but yell.
And then…
“Huh? Kyogoku-kun?”
“I-Irara…”
I force an awkward smile.
Thinking I should apologize immediately, I bow my head.
“Sorry! I accidentally saw what just happened…”
“Oh, the pair dance thing?”
“Yeah, sorry!”
“It’s fine! Don’t worry about it! It’s not like it was something embarrassing to see.”
“R-really?”
I was worried she’d be upset… Thank goodness.
Relieved, I adjust my bag on my shoulder.
“W-well then, I’ll be on my way…”
I take a step forward—when suddenly.
“Wait!!!”
Irara grabs the sleeve of my shirt.
“Um, so… about what I was saying earlier…”
Irara’s cheeks flush red.
“What I was trying to say is… um…”
A tense silence hangs between us.
“Would you… w-would you…”
I swallow nervously.
Irara presses her lips together tightly, then, with determination, says,
“W-would you walk home with me?!”
“…Eh?”