His Childhood Friend is a Beautiful, Reclusive Girl, So He Spends His After-School Hours in Her Room (But He’s Not Her Boyfriend!) - Ch. 14: Today, As In All Days, I Took A Picture Of My Childhood Friend!

Hello, I’m a guy who’s a few inches taller than the average, with slightly slanted eyes, and I don’t look good in women’s clothes. I’m also not a fan of the occult, and I like the sweet Yuika.
… Ugh, when I think about it myself, I don’t really have many features, do I?

As my mind ran back to yesterday, Yuika came up behind me and covered me.

“Hey, hey, hey, hey, Souta.”
“That’s a lot of hey. What is it?”

I was working on my assignment at the glass table as usual.
Yuika clung to my back. I was a little hopeful, but she successfully moved her left hand and didn’t touch my chest.
Dang, she’s so guarded when it comes to skinship.

“… You’re thinking of something naughty right now, aren’t you?”
“If you know what I’m thinking about, you could give me a little more service, you know?”
“Specifically, your left hand—”
“No, thank you.”
“I’m still in the middle of it…”
“That’s not important. I just realized something.”

Her right hand reached out from the side of my face and pointed to the tabletop.

“Souta has a smartphone, right?”
“Well, I’m a modern man.”

Yuika is pointing to my phone, which is next to my notebook.

“Smartphones can take pictures, right?”
“Any phone can take pictures nowadays.”
“So, did you take pictures of the school festival with your phone?”
“… You’re a genius to have noticed that.”

I said it in a calm tone of voice, while I held my head in a rage.
I’m pretty sure I saw a group of people from my class posting pictures on an app. Oh man, what a blind spot I had.

“Hey, let me see.”
“I don’t have any. I don’t have any pictures or anything. They attacked my village a long time ago, so I sealed them away deep in my heart.”
“Oh, that’s why Souta didn’t have any friends since he was a kid. I guess everyone in his village hated him…”
“I do! At least I had more friends than you!”
“And while we’re talking, I got it!”
“Not on my watch! You fool!”

As Yuika’s right hand went to my phone, I quickly grabbed her wrist.
However, she immediately half stood up and now extended her left hand.

“I’m gonna get it this time!”
“You dummy! You don’t have enough reach from behind me!”
“Shadow clone here!”
“What!?”

Before I knew it, Yuika had a King Author doll in her left hand. The phone is snatched away from her as she slips it into its mouth.

“You’ve been very active lately, King Arthur.”
“She’s got a cute, loose face. I don’t blame you.”

With my phone in the mouth of her shadow clone, King Arthur, Yuika was proud of her victory.
She then tried to surf the phone, “now, where is Souta’s maid outfit?” But it didn’t work.

“Hey, it’s locked! Why?”
“It’s supposed to be locked.”
“Oh, my! Is there something you don’t want me to see?”
“That’s exactly what’s happening right now. Look at what you’ve done!”

“Unlock it! —Release the girl. She’s a human being!”
“It’s forever sealed. You need to get your stories straight. And don’t refer me as a girl when in girl’s clothes. That seal will never be broken. Give it up, mortal.”
“No! I want to see it, I want to see it, I want to see Souta as a maid! Please send me a picture on my phone!”
“Aren’t you just going to see it? Isn’t the demand going higher?”
“I want it anyway!”

My childhood friend is throwing her arms and legs out and flails about. It’s been a while since she’s been a spoiled child.
Fu, you’ve changed your tactics after you failed to get me in the costume and instead got yourself in a Miko costume.
I can’t handle this anymore. … Haa, I guess it’s time for me to pay my dues.

“Then, I have a condition. You send me a picture of Yuika, and I’ll send you mine.”
“Mine? I don’t have one. I hate pictures.”
“I’d like to learn from your boldness in saying that without hesitation… as if it were obvious. Good grief…”

I stood up, took the phone back from Yuika’s hand, and quickly ran through it. I unlocked it and went to the camera.

“Okay, look at me. Pose for me.”
“What!? You’re going to take a picture now!?”
“Let me just say this without sounding like I’m taking it for granted, but of course I will. That’s what the camera is for, right?”
“Wait, wait a minute. Give me the comb, comb! And I’ll change my clothes too…”

“You don’t have anything to wear in this room except your pajamas.”
“I do! What does Souta think I am!?”
“Eh, I think you’re a huge recluse…?”
“Don’t say that with a puzzled look on your face! You should have added ‘beautiful girl’ after the ‘recluse’! If you’re going to take a picture of me, at least let me look like a beautiful girl. If it’s going to be on Souta’s phone forever, I don’t want to look weird!”
“That’s too bad! I want to keep the cute little Yuika who is in such a hurry. So, say cheese!”
“Aah! … Pea, peace?”

The sound of the shutter clicked.
Oh, I got a great picture.

“It came out pretty good.”
“Really? Let me see.”
“No, I can’t, I won’t.”
“Why not?”

I couldn’t help but cover the screen as Yuika peeked at me. As soon as I did, my childhood friend’s eyes went blank. A voice with or without a face that sensed my evil thoughts.

“Show it to me. I won’t allow a refusal.”
“… Yes.”

I gave up and held out my phone.
In the picture, Yuika was making a peace sign in a hurry, but she was a beautiful girl and looked good as expected. The only thing was that her pajamas were unbuttoned due to the fact that she had been squirming on the floor earlier. The lace of her bra and a little bit of her cleavage was visible from her chest.

“… How is that good. Souta no ecchi.”
“I have no excuse.”

She quickly adjusted her collar and glared at me with a frown. I was down on my knees in an instant.

“What do you think you’re going to do with this picture of me?”
“I’ve been anxiously awaiting the opportunity to use it for tonight’s entertainment.”
“So honest! … Souta, is a healthy boy after all.”

She looked at me like she always does, and then my phone was placed on the glass table.
The photos have not been removed… probably.
I look up in horror.

“Are you sure…?”

Yuika turned her head away.
Her ears reddened and she replied in a whispery little voice.

“… Keep moderation.”

Yay! I was gutted inside.
I quickly saved it before the princess changes her mind.

“Oh, make sure you send me your picture. It’s part of the deal, you know?”
“I’ll send it, I’ll send it right away. You can do whatever you want with my pictures.”

As I pressed the send button, it occurred to me.
I can honestly say that I was so excited that my head was boiling.
I looked up from my phone and asked quite naturally.

“Are you going to w*nk too, Yuika?”
“Souta.”
“Yes? —Hogee!?”

With a smile and a strong fastball.
King Arthur exploded in my face and I fainted on my back.
Yeah, what the heck… though, it was my fault this time.