Chapter 22: My childhood friend’s boyfriend is__.

For a while after that, the “I’ve got a boyfriend” appeal by the pig continued.

　After school, she went out of her way to have Isami pick her up from class, and then she would fold her arms and say, “Let’s go to the school gate together”. She looked at me and smiled. Every time this happens, the boys in the class lament, the girls scream, and there is a bit of a commotion.

“P-Princess Rua! Who is that guy?　Is he your boyfriend?　Are you going out with him?”

“Eeh?　I don’t mean to say that, but does it look like that?”

What a surprise, she rubbed her cutting board against Isami-kun’s arm and looked at me again. And she makes a smug face. I want to punch her.

Well, I don’t mind (I just ignore her), but I pity Isami-kun, who is forced to go along with her.

Piggy’s group in my class is totally against it.

The girls are also gossiping about Isami.

　It must take a lot of courage to come to a high school classroom by yourself, even though you are still in the middle school and a transfer student. But, Piggy ignores all of that. Pity. It’s not like they’re dating, it’s more like they’re being preyed upon.

　But still–.

　Every time he comes to class, his eyes meet mine.

　He looks at me with a passionate and somewhat sad gaze.

　It’s a strange feeling to be gazed at by an exceptionally handsome boy with such a gaze. After all, if I look at him from the outside, he could be described as a cute younger boy.

At first I thought that he was wary of me, her childhood friend, but it seems that there is something else going on.

　I have dredged up my memory many times since then, but I have never met a boy named “Shirasagi Isami” who had apparently moved from another prefecture and had no connection with me.

　Why was he looking at me with such sad eyes?

　I spent many days puzzling over this question—–

　A certain day in July.

　One day after school, after the final exam and with summer vacation just around the corner, I was summoned by the drama club to the student hall where they were working.

　There, a narrow-eyed third-year girl was waiting for me. She is the head of the drama club. She is the tallest girl in the school, and I have seen her several times at student assemblies. She is not particularly beautiful, but she has a charming smile.

“You must be the Kazu Suzuki I’ve heard so much about.”

“I don’t know if it’s a rumor or not, but Suzuki is me.”

　The manager smiled at me. When she smiles like that, her narrow eyes become like threads.

“I heard that voice actor Amane Minase got her big break thanks to you.”

“No way. It’s her power.”

“She herself told me. She seems to really respect you.”

Amane, did she say that? Yare yare ……

“To be honest, I was skeptical when I heard what she said, but after the incident at the cafeteria the other day, I’m ready to believe her. You’re no ordinary person to talk down that Princess Rua. I heard that even President Kocho is getting close to you these days.　I can’t believe you could melt the ice of that cold hearted President.

Even the president. You are too much of a hypocrite.

“I have a favor to ask of you. Would you watch our training for two weeks before the summer break and give me your opinion?”

“Me, an amateur?”

“The people who come to see our performances are amateurs, you know.　I want our August performance to be a success.”

　Even now, about 20 members of the club are rehearsing their performances in the hall. Every member’s face is serious. I could hear the spirit in their voices and movements. They are much more enthusiastic than the baseball team I saw practicing the other day.

The status of the drama club is not so high in this Teikai Academy. It is because they do not have a good track record. The club’s activities take place in a seedy hall like this. Past achievements are more important than current passion. That is the rule of this school.

　If that is the case, then I will defy the rules.

“I really don’t have much to say.”

“Uwa, thank you!　I look forward to working with you!”

　The director squeezed my hand tightly.

“I’ve got a quick question for you. It’s about Shirasagi Isami-kun.”

　I was surprised.

“He’s been a member of a theater company since he was a child, and he’s a good actor. He is somewhat stiff or doesn’t seem to fit in with our club. There are rumors that he’s dating Princess Rua, but if that’s the case, he should be more flirtatious.”

“He just transferred here, so it can’t be helped, right?”

　The director groaned, “Hmm.”

“It’s not like that. For example, he changes clothes and takes breaks separately from the other male members. It’s like he’s avoiding them.”

“What’s the reason?”

“I don’t know.”

Fumu…..

　I wonder if it has something to do with that wistful look he’s giving me.

“He’s just taking a break in the back. You’re welcome to talk to him if you’d like.”

　I left the hall and headed for the room next to it. Apparently, he was using that room as a waiting room.

　I knocked on the door and called out to him.

　No answer.

　I said, “Excuse me,” and opened the door to find no one there. I saw a bag on the desk, which I guessed belonged to Shirasagi Isami. He might have gone to buy some juice.

　I heard the sound of running water coming from somewhere.

　I look around the room and see a corner with curtains. Someone seems to be behind it.

　I opened the curtain and found myself in the shower room. I rarely visit the student hall, so I had no idea. I didn’t know this room had a shower.

　In a basket on the floor, the boys’ uniforms were neatly folded. The color of his tie indicated that he was in the middle school.

　But it wasn’t the uniform that caught my eye.

“…………”

　A pure white bra and panties lay on top of the uniform. Both have cute one-pointed ribbons on them. It’s just plain underwear with an emphasis on [functionality, and yet I want to make it as pretty as I can!]

　A white bandage-like cloth is placed next to the underwear.

Is this a ” bandage”?

“………………”

　Behind the polished glass, someone is taking a shower.

　It is the owner of this men’s uniform and women’s underwear.

　Even through the glass, I could see that (s)he had a well-developed body. The overall silhouette was mellow, with perky br*asts and buttocks. Especially, her breasts. They were more like Amane-chan’s and less like the chairman’s. It would be hard to hold them down with a bandage.

　Perhaps immersed in that sense of freedom, he, or rather, she, behind the polished glass, is humming faintly. She seemed to be enjoying herself. That’s why she didn’t notice my intrusion.

　I left the room, careful not to make a sound.

　Leaning against the hallway wall, I took a deep breath, looked up at the ceiling, and organized my confused thoughts.

So, here’s the thing.

My former childhood boyfriend is a ” girlfriend”.