All Beautiful Girls Want to Stick with Me

Returning to Class 1-F after lunch, Kotomi went about her usual Friday routine, gathering the weekend assignments from each subject representative.

Fortunately, the workload wasn't heavy. Thinking back, it seemed that since starting high school, assignments only increased significantly when exams were approaching.

"I've collected the assignments. Yui, want to do them together?"

"But the next class is math, not a self-study period."

"So what?" Kotomi countered.

Yui Yuigahama thought about it carefully and realized Kotomi had a point. She nodded. "True, let's work on them together then."

When the bell rang, Kotomi and Yui began working on their assignments stealthily. It wasn't due to any love for studying—let's be honest, who writes their assignments frantically during the last class on a Friday out of a passion for learning? Eighty percent of the time, it's because they want to finish their homework at school and enjoy two full days of fun at home.

Take Kotomi, for instance.

Every Friday, she completed her assignments at school, and when she went home, her backpack didn't contain a single textbook. Instead, it was stuffed with snacks and drinks bought on the way home. At most, she might toss in a pencil case to maintain the bare minimum respect for her backpack.

Kotomi finished her weekend assignments within half a period and habitually handed her Japanese workbook to Yui. Since tutoring her, Yui had significantly improved in science subjects, which Kotomi found gratifying.

As for lending her the answers to the humanities assignments—it was because there was simply too much writing involved. If Yui had to figure out and write everything herself, it would take at least half an hour. Given her slower writing pace, completing all her weekend assignments would take her over an hour.

Providing her with the correct answers saved considerable time.

"Wow! Kotomi, you're such an angel!"

"Shh! Keep it down, or the teacher will catch us doing homework during class. If that happens, everyone's assignments will double," Kotomi whispered a reminder.

Yui quickly clamped her mouth shut and obediently worked on her Japanese workbook.

The math teacher was teaching at the podium, and Kotomi didn't need to pay attention—she had already mastered the material. She began to feel bored.

After confirming that no teacher's "death glare" was watching through the back window, she stacked a few textbooks to the right, opened the top one, and skillfully placed her phone next to it.

She was all set for some discreet phone time during class.

Just as she turned it on, she realized she had forgotten to mute her phone. A message notification rang out loudly.

Kotomi's heart nearly stopped.

"Achoo!!!"

Yui let out a loud sneeze, perfectly masking the phone's notification sound. Taking advantage of the moment, Kotomi quickly switched her phone to silent mode.

The crisis was averted. Kotomi gave Yui a thumbs-up.

Yui: My superhero.

Yui returned the gesture with her own thumbs-up.

Sometimes, sneaky antics during class are the best way to build camaraderie and deepen friendships among classmates.

Kotomi opened the message and found it was from Megumi Kato. 

[Megumi: (Photo)]

[Megumi: Sorry! My phone ran out of battery earlier, but I just got off the plane and started charging it. By the way, that Chishima sauce on stir-fried udon is really good—you should try it!]

[Megumi: (Photo)]

[Megumi: I've arrived in Hokkaido.]

I will absolutely not try it, Kotomi thought to herself.

[Kotomi: Your timing couldn't have been worse! I had just turned on my phone, and your message notification blasted during class. The teacher almost caught me because I forgot to mute my phone!]

[Megumi: Oops, sorry! But since you're still texting me, it means your phone wasn't confiscated, right?]

[Kotomi: It wasn't, thanks to Yui. She saved me with a perfectly timed sneeze. So thoughtful, so timely. Yui is the best—my eternal goddess. I love her!]

Their conversation continued, with Kotomi casually chatting with Megumi. Occasionally, she glanced at Yui, who was still diligently copying the answers from the workbook.

The math lesson went on, unnoticed by either of them.

After sending her message, Kotomi noticed that Megumi remained silent for a few seconds before her phone buzzed incessantly with a series of dots.

[Megumi: .]

...

[Megumi: .]

Kotomi immediately understood the intent behind this bombardment of periods. Clearly, Megumi was attempting to flood her phone with notification sounds. Unfortunately for her, Kotomi had already set her phone to silent mode.

[Kotomi : Hehe, I've muted my notifications.]

[Hmph!] Megumi shot back, clearly displeased.

After a moment of silence, Megumi sent over a photo.

[Megumi: Just left the airport. I'm about to grab a taxi. Ugh—the dry, cold air feels like icy knives cutting through me. Thankfully, I packed some thick clothes in my suitcase and even stashed one in my backpack. The moment I got off the plane, I switched to warmer layers.]

[Megumi: Is it already getting that cold in Hokkaido, and it's only September?]

[Megumi: It's the kind of chill that makes you want to dive straight into a kotatsu. But more than a kotatsu, I'd rather dive into your arms～]

[Kotomi: ...I'm going to class now.]

With flushed cheeks, Kotomi quickly set down her phone.

By the time she had finally completed her weekend assignments, only three minutes remained before class ended. As the dismissal bell rang, Kotomi handed back the workbook to Yui, who had come to borrow it earlier.

"Here's your workbook. Thanks for letting me copy your answers! Now I don't have to stress over my homework this weekend."

"Don't forget to pile on the orange slices on my orange cake."

"Deal."

They high-fived, sealing their arrangement.

Once she finished packing her bag, Kotomi left the classroom, though she didn't head straight for the exit. Instead, she pulled out the keys to the art room and began making her way there.

As she stepped outside her classroom, she nearly bumped into Arisu Sakayanagi, who was walking toward 1-F. Despite needing a cane to walk, Arisu's pace was surprisingly quick—faster than many able-bodied students.

Kotomi remembered how, back at the start of the school year, Arisu would walk at a snail's pace. Although her gait didn't seem particularly labored, it would take her three minutes to cover what most could in one.

"Kotomi, you're quick to leave today! I was just about to head to your classroom to find you. I thought it'd be fun to grab your hand in front of everyone and whisk you away dramatically."

Arisu sighed wistfully before continuing, "Ah, but my cane gets in the way. Otherwise, I'd love to princess-carry you out of the classroom under everyone's envious gazes. Hey, why don't you head back so I can at least hold your hand?"

"Not a chance."

"Humph! Kotomi, when did you become so stingy? When we were kids, you didn't even hesitate to share one of your two jelly snacks with me!" Arisu puffed her cheeks in a mock pout.

"Let's just head to the art room. The sooner we finish, the sooner we can go home."

Kotomi deflected the topic with a quick change of subject, pretending not to have heard Arisu's teasing remarks.

In truth, Kotomi heard every word. The reason she avoided engaging further was simple: she didn't know how to respond.

Arisu always acted as if she knew Kotomi inside and out, constantly referring to their supposed childhood friendship.

And yet...

No matter how much Kotomi wracked her brain, she couldn't recall a single memory of Arisu in her past.

But now that Arisu mentioned it, two jelly snacks? Did I seriously only give her one bite? Was I that possessive of food as a kid?

No way. That can't be right. There's no way I was that stingy. She must be making this up!

Using the key, she unlocked the classroom door and pushed it open. As Arisu stepped into the art room, her curious gaze darted around the space.

"Oh~ Oh~ So this is what the art room looks like. It's my first time seeing it," she exclaimed.

Arisu's eyes wandered, inspecting every nook and cranny as if she were a child experiencing an amusement park for the first time.

"Arisu, is this really your first time in the art room?"

"Mm, it's my first time. After all, since the start of the term, the number of art classes we've had can practically be counted on one hand. Even when we did have one, I've never been in the art room," Arisu explained, her eyes still exploring every corner.

That wasn't surprising. After all, Class 1-A had a significantly different curriculum compared to the other classes, with art lessons being a rarity. Having one every two weeks could already be considered fortunate.

Moreover, the elite students of Class 1-A didn't seem to have much interest in art or music classes.

Some weren't interested, while others had undergone rigorous, specialized education from a young age. To them, the art and music taught in high school were child's play.

"Arisu, can you draw?"

"Nope. But seeing all these paints and brushes has suddenly made me feel interested—and a bit excited."

"Excited?"

"Yep!" Arisu nodded enthusiastically, a mischievous smile spreading across her face. "Hehehe, I really want to use these brushes and paints to make a mess out of you, Kotomi."

"Did you just say something incredibly problematic?"

"Eh? Did I? I don't think so."

"You definitely did."

Without entertaining Arisu's antics further, Kotomi turned her attention back to her work. The hour she had reserved was far too precious to waste. She needed to make the most of it.

Adjusting her tools, Kotomi unveiled the white drape covering her canvas and immediately immersed herself in her painting. Before losing herself in her art, she gave Arisu a quick reminder:

"The fridge in the corner has some cold drinks. Sensei left them here for us. Since there's no air conditioning in the art room, feel free to grab one if it gets too hot."

"Ah, so there's no AC here. No wonder it feels stuffy compared to other classrooms. But after sitting in air conditioning all morning, this dry heat actually feels kind of nice," Arisu said as she removed her jacket and settled into a chair, closing her eyes as if savoring the discomfort.

"The smell of wood and paint—it's strange, but not unpleasant," Arisu mused as she reclined in her seat, casting a smiling glance toward Kotomi, who was already immersed in her work.

"Right? That's exactly how I felt when I first joined the art club," Kotomi replied with a grin before her focus fully shifted to her canvas.

Each stroke of the brush drew her deeper into the world of her painting. Within five minutes, Kotomi was completely engrossed, her mind oblivious to everything else around her.

While Arisu was curious about the subject of Kotomi's painting, she knew that many artists disliked showing incomplete works to others. Even if they didn't say so aloud, it might leave them feeling uneasy.

With this in mind, Arisu resisted the urge to peek at the canvas. Instead, she quietly retrieved a drink from the fridge and strolled around the art room.

Arisu wandered the room aimlessly.

Kotomi painted with full concentration.

Arisu sat down, quietly watching Kotomi.

And Kotomi kept painting.

An hour can feel endless during a boring class but passes in the blink of an eye when playing games—or, worse, during an intense boss fight where an hour of effort only scratches the surface.

To Kotomi, this painting session was no different from her childhood experiences playing games. Promising herself to play "just one more hour," only to find the time vanishing before she could enjoy it fully.

"That was so satisfying," Kotomi murmured softly.

She stepped back to take in her work—a painting titled Twilight Sky: Sunset. The scene depicted a twilight sky, painted in deep oranges and reds that stretched across the heavens. Standing beneath this vibrant expanse was a lone girl, her enigmatic smile illuminated by the fading sunlight.

The enigmatic smile on the girl's lips in the painting seemed to beckon endless curiosity. Was it joy? Or sorrow? Yet, this deliberate ambiguity infused the artwork with an unyielding magnetism that made it impossible to look away.

"It's finished… Now, it just needs some refinement. With two full days next week, that should be more than enough!"

Kotomi carefully packed up her art supplies, then gently draped a pristine white cloth over the painting to shield it.

"Arisu, sorry for keeping you waiting. Just give me a little more time to clean up, and we'll head home—"

Kotomi's words trailed off as she noticed the art room, which had been meticulously tidied. The spotless floor, the dust-free cabinets, and the fresh breeze wafting in through the wide-open windows all contributed to a pristine, refreshing atmosphere.

"Did you clean this, Arisu?"

Kotomi turned toward Arisu, whose forehead glistened faintly with beads of sweat, and asked in disbelief.

"Who else?" Arisu tilted her head with a small smile. "I may have maids handling my daily needs, but I'm not some pampered princess incapable of basic chores."

"But… what about your legs? Are you sure they're okay?"

Kotomi asked with concern, knowing Arisu's limited mobility made physical tasks challenging.

"No worries! I've been learning how to handle more things with my cane. Stuff like mopping and dusting is child's play for me."

Arisu's tone was lighthearted as she brushed off Kotomi's concern. She then opened the mini-fridge and pulled out two cans of Pepsi, handing one to Kotomi.

"Let's head home."

"Mm!" Kotomi accepted the can with a grin, but couldn't help quipping, "Though, shouldn't I be the one saying, 'Let's head home?' You stole my line."

"Pfft. I don't see the issue. After all, we'll be family sooner or later—like when I marry you," Arisu replied playfully, mischief glinting in her eyes.

"Arisu, you're joking again."

"Gulp, gulp… Pepsi really does hit the spot."

As they exited the art room, the campus of Sobu High School was already quiet, with most students and many teachers having gone home.

Approaching the faculty office, Kotomi turned to Arisu. "Wait here for a moment. I'll check if Teacher Sengoku is still around so I can return the keys."

"Sure."

Kotomi stepped into the office and immediately spotted Shizuka Hiratsuka seated at her desk, typing away on her computer.

"Sensei Hiratsuka," Kotomi called out in greeting.

"Eh? Kotomi? What are you still doing here at this hour?" Shizuka blinked in surprise at her presence.

Kotomi explained the situation, detailing her decision to stay late for an hour of solo painting. After listening, Shizuka nodded.

"Sengoku left about ten minutes ago with Mashiro. Here, I'll hold onto the art room keys for you. I'll return them to her on Monday when I'm back in the office."

"Thank you, Sensei!"

"It's no problem, really. I'm impressed, though. I didn't think you'd volunteer to stay late for extra work. That's some real dedication." Shizuka teased with a lopsided grin.

"Did I not seem dedicated before?"

"Not particularly. You've always given off more of a 'slacker' vibe."

"Ahaha…" Caught red-handed, Kotomi scratched the back of her head sheepishly.

Noticing Shizuka's attention returning to her monitor, Kotomi decided not to linger. "Sensei, I'll take my leave now."

"At least give me a proper, 'Goodbye, Sensei,' huh? Haha, take care on your way home. Don't get distracted by any roadside food stalls and forget to go home!"

"As if I'd do something so silly!"

With a playful farewell, Kotomi exited the office.

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