A classmate who used to be called "Shirobuta" (white pig) has become "Snow White" and is now featured in gravure magazines after a few years of not seeing her. - Chapter 3

TL: Mowaso

ED: Animu

Chapter 3-Revisiting

◇◇◇

I was flipping through the pages of a weekly shonen manga magazine with a gravure idol on the front cover. It was a magazine that I buy every week.

Next to the catchphrase ‘Snow White never sleeps.’ was a picture of a girl that looks like a princess from a fairy tale… If you think about it literally, you can easily understand why her nickname is ‘Snow White’ by taking ‘white’ from her surname, ‘Shirata,’ and the fact that she has a beautiful snow-like white skin.

Somewhat relieved and disappointed that she wasn’t wearing a swimsuit, I flipped through the pages to find Kirika Shirata wearing various clothes with various expressions on her face.

◇◇◇

“Satsuki! I heard that you were walking with a girl from another school last night!”

The following day, while I was lying down at my desk in the classroom, a bad friend approached me in a somewhat excited manner. His name is Kamiya Anji. A classmate of mine since elementary school. He has short black hair and several piercings that give him a rough impression. 

I was walking with Shirata the other day, and someone must have seen us. Although it was late at night, we were in the neighborhood, so it was only natural. However, Kamiya was one of the people who called Shirata “Shirobuta,” and I didn’t like people who made fun of others, so I thought for a moment about what to say.

“I haven’t seen it, but I heard that Satsuki was walking with a very cute girl in the middle of the night! Where’d you meet her? Don’t tell me―”

“No, no, stop it, seriously.That’s not how it is.”

“Ahー I see. I guess if you got a girlfriend, your best friend since elementary is no longer needed. That’s cold. But it can’t be helped. If I was in the same position, I’d do the same thingー”

I’d rather say he’s a bad friend than my best friend.

“No? I mean, I have a girlfriend, but I still hang out with you guys, right?”

My other friend, Wakui Hiiragi, questioned Kamiya’s statement while sticking his cheek on the desk. We went to different elementary schools, but we attended the same junior high school. The three of us usually hang out together, but only this guy has a girlfriend. He is tall and slender, with long, light brown hair. He was a basketball club member in junior high school, but didn’t join any club activities in high school. As a guy, I have to say that he’s quite handsome. By the way, this guy is also a former delinquent.

I don’t know much about gangsters and yakuza, but it seems that a lot of good looking guys in junior high and high school are yankees. I wonder if it’s because they’re confident that it shows on their faces, or if it was something entirely different. Well, it was something that had nothing to do with me.

Hiiragi smiles at me while resting his cheek on the desk.

“Isn’t it fine to prioritize that over us? New relationships are also important.”

“No, I won’t allow it. Your father will never forgive such an act! I can’t believe you’re having unhealthy relationships. It’s against school rules! Hey, Mom.”

“Eh, am I supposed to play the mom?”

The story is heading in a weird direction, but Shirata and I just happened to meet each other while I was working at the convenience store and just happened to be going home in the same direction and at the same time. We ended up walking home together while chatting because we hadn’t seen each other in a while, or maybe because we were excited about the magazine in which Shirata was featured, or perhaps both.

She said, “See you later,” but I think she was just being polite, so there’s nothing to worry about in the future.

“She’s just a senior at my workplace, nothing special. Isn’t it a little too unreasonable for a girl to be treated as my girlfriend just because I was walking with her? So how about this? If Kamiya just happened to walk home with a girl, does that make you think that way?”

Since it was just a coincidence that we met, there would be no next time or anything, so it would be a good way to muddy the waters with an appropriate lie.

“Is that bad?”

“Eh?”

At first, I couldn’t understand what he was talking about, but the next words Kamiya said answered my question.

“The fact that she’s fine walking home with you at night …is a sign of trust! That means there’s a connection ! Normally you’d push it! Yes, normally!”

“Ahaha. I suppose that’s the reason why Anji is not popular.”

“I get what you mean. I think he’s too creepy.”

“Huh? Shut the f*ck up, herbivores.”

“Hmm? Me too?”

“…No, buddy, please give me some advice.”

◇◇◇

Two energy drinks are handed over to me at the cash register. It was 9:50 pm and I was about to finish my part-time job.

“396 yen.”

Kirika Shirata was standing in front me as I read out the amount in a machine-like tone. It seems that today’s purchase was in cash, and after receiving the change and receipt, Shirata smiled and left the store.

“Thanks for the hard work. Here’s some refreshment.”

When I walked out of the staff room, I found Shirata standing there again, offering the energy drink she just bought to me for some reason. But unfortunately, I also bought an energy drink. In case you’re curious, it’s a different brand than the one Shirata had bought.

“What are you doing here again?”

She smiles suggestively at my question.

“Hmm? I also just finished work, so I thought I’d go home with you.”

“I see. That’s tough, working until this late. Anyway, let’s go home.”

“Oh, you’re inviting me?”

“Not really, but that’s how it will end up, right?”

“Fufu, it helps that you understand so quickly.”

I don’t know what her intentions are, but it’s certainly late at night, and I think it’s better for my mental health than leaving her and saying, “See you later.”

“Have you looked at it?”

Shirata was on foot today, her bicycle was nowhere in sight. She paid with cash today, but she paid with her smartphone the other day. Well, I don’t care either way.

“Ah. You mean those panty shots?”

“Eh!?”

“Just kidding.”

Shirata placed her hand on her chest and let out a big sigh of relief, then shot a displeased glare at me.

“I know. I checked it properly. Haー I panicked a little.”

“Which one is it?”

“So, how is it? Impressions.”

“The manga?”

“…I can tell you if you want.”

“No, no. I’ll pass.”

Although I tried to dodge the subject with a joke, it was obvious that the “impressions” referred to Shirata’s gravure photos.

“Can I give my frank impressions then?”

“Un, un, of course!”

“Ah, you’re not wearing a swimsuit.”

“Eh?”

A few seconds of silence flowed.

“Do you mean to say that you prefer swimsuits?”

“No, no, as you said, it’s just my frank opinion. It doesn’t mean anything weird, I mean, that was the first thing that came to mind the moment I saw it.”

“F-Fuuun, Any other thoughts?”

“Other… Well, I just thought it was amazing.”

My words seemed to please her, and Shirata smiled triumphantly.

“I did my best, didn’t I? I worked so hard.”

“It’s great that you can achieve that by working hard. I couldn’t become one even if I tried.”

I realized when I said it myself that no matter how hard I try, a high school boy can’t appear in a weekly shonen magazine as a gravure idol. What kind of gender discrimination is that? Well, it’s not that I want to be on the cover. The thought of me wearing a swimsuit on the magazine cover makes me want to throw up.

It was an eleven-minute walk from the convenience store to my house. It’s a distance that could be reached quickly with a little conversation.

“Well, I’m around here. See you again.”

There is a saying that what happens twice will happen three times, and since my workplace is within our neighborhood, I’m sure we’ll meet again. So I said “see you again,” but I didn’t have any other hidden motives.

“Un, see you again. Thank you for sending me home.”

Kirika Shirata waved her hand with a fluttering gesture, and continued to do so until I turned around the corner.

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