Chapter 65: Cinderella [side Yukari Tomonaga]
*This chapter contains some sexual content. Please be advised.*
I gave my virginity to Kuzu-kun.
Just a week ago, I was vaguely imagining a future where I'd end up with Kousuke-kun after the culture festival, so this week really feels like a twist of fate.
*It was all just as Kuzu-kun wanted.*
Kuzu-kun... I want to call him by his first name, Tatsuo, but since there's the beauty contest, he asked me to stick with his last name for now.
So this is what a break feels like at this hour? It's kind of strange.
It's late at night, but since my house is close by, I sneak out with Kuzu-kun and head home.
Kuzu: "See you tomorrow."
*In a sexual sense.*
We kiss and part ways.
I'll never forget today!
I was so excited I couldn't fall asleep at all!
And then, the first day of the culture festival arrives.
Kuzu-kun came to pick me up at my house.
Honestly, I want to cling to him and go to school all lovey-dovey, you know?
But, as we discussed yesterday, because of my romantic confession plan—confessing during the beauty contest!—I'm still pretending we're just good friends.
*That's exactly the kind of thing Kuzu would come up with.*
We just did it yesterday... It's kind of embarrassing, isn't it?
Yeah, since it was my first time yesterday... there's still a foreign feeling down there...
Beauty contest waiting room.
Including me, there are four first-year contestants.
I greeted two of them.
But that Mishima Satsuki keeps glancing over at me...!
Is she confused because I made it to the beauty contest unscathed?
She used such dirty tricks!
If Kuzu-kun hadn't been there, it would've been a disaster!
*Talk about a setup and payoff.*
As I mentally replay my romantic story from yesterday, from the attack to the moment we were finally together...
Mishima: "Let's have a good one today, okay?"
Huh? Mishima-san?
How can you just greet me after what you did?
I don't want someone as filthy as you in the beauty contest!
Kousuke-kun really has no sense, huh...?
This girl only looks pretty on the outside... but her personality is the worst!
*Look who's talking.*
With my anger bubbling over, I say,
"Huh? There's no way I'm wishing you luck. How can you even say that?"
Mishima Satsuki looked like she was about to snap for a second, but she held back, didn't she?
I almost laughed! Does she have a thick skin or what?
*Look who's talking.*
Mishima: "I was just saying hello. I don't recognize your face. Who are you?"
I can't help but twist my face and laugh—it's just too funny.
She's such a bad actress. Even though she's so pretty, she's going to get tricked by guys.
*Skipping the rest.*
"We've met before, you know? Did you forget? That's why you ended up in remedial classes."
When I throw in that jab, her face turns red—serves her right!
"You made fun of me all summer, didn't you? It's me, Yukari Tomonaga. The girl Kuzu-kun dumped over summer break? Did you already forget?"
I spelled it out for her so even she could get it!
That way, even a failing student could understand.
After all that, when I provoke her, she actually gets rattled!
Failing student!
☆ ☆ ☆
Finally, the pre-event PR starts!
Starting with the first-years, we wear our appeal outfits, walk on stage, introduce our class and name, and say a brief comment to the camera. It's recorded and played in an endless loop.
I promote the class's maid café just like Osada-san told me to!
I even asked, "Do I really need to promote the maid café?"
I mean, it's a beauty contest, so shouldn't I be showing off...?
But then,
Osada: "If you push your own appeal too much, it just comes off as calculated, you know? Doing it for the class makes Yukaricchi look earnest and endearing—and people want to support you. Take a good look at Mishima from Class 5. She pushes herself so much it's off-putting. Oh, and model your PR comment after Mishima's, okay?"
I was not happy. Why do I have to be lumped in with that girl...?
Osada-san is totally underestimating me!
Osada: "Same comment, same maid outfit—it makes it easy to compare. Head-to-head! When it's a direct matchup, it's easy to see who wins or loses, right? And your outfit is way better! Yukaricchi, you're not so great under pressure, are you?"
Osada-san is scary! I can't argue back at all...
My turn is getting close,
Mishima: "Tomonaga, what class are you in?"
Huh? I really wish she wouldn't talk to me.
She's the kind of girl who does dirty things.
*...*
"Class 6, okay?"
It's fine, I'm cuter anyway!
My maid outfit is custom-made, super cute, and the slim cut fits me perfectly!
Mishima-san, lol. She's freaking out because not only do our outfits overlap, but mine is tailored differently!
Staff: "Mishima-san! Please standby!"
Mishima Satsuki, as expected of a beauty contest contestant, did a beautiful walk.
Satsuki: "Class 1-5, Mishima Satsuki! My friends entered me without asking! Please support me! And come visit the maid café too!"
Mishima Satsuki made her appeal in a cute, high-pitched voice... so she can do that too, huh...
My turn!
I'm seriously nervous.
...Ugh, I still feel like there's something inside? I guess this is something all girls go through...
There's a foreign sensation down there, and it makes my walk feel awkward!
*This was why my walk was so awkward.*
But!
Go for it, Yukari-chan!!
You look absolutely gorgeous!
You can do it!
Yukariii!!
Yukari! Yukari! Yukari!
Cheers for me! Is it because I'm cute?!
Oh, someone yelled, "I saw the documentary!"—so that's why.
Osada-san told me to be humble and earnest!
After being startled, I hurriedly bow my head. The cheers rise up again...!
"Class 1-6, Yukari Tomonaga! My friends entered me without asking! Please support me! Oh, and come visit the maid café too!"
That documentary was really that popular, huh!
It was rough...
But! Now it's working in my favor!
I can win this!
After the PR, Mishima Satsuki came to complain.
Aren't you embarrassed to copy my outfit and greeting like that?
I thought, What is this trashy girl even talking about?
I tried to hold it in, but I ended up snorting with laughter w
"Since we're also doing PR for the food stall, isn't it obvious we'd be in maid outfits? As for the greeting, sorry! Osada-san told me to do it the same way as you♪"
*Just as Osada-san predicted, my nerves right before going on made me forget the lines I'd prepared w*
Mishima: "Huh? What's the point of doing it the same way?"
She's so dense.
*Yukari also didn't get it until it was explained to her.*
"She said, if you get asked that, just answer, 'Let's do a chicken race under the same conditions!' Osada-san is amazing!"
When I repeated Osada-san's words, Mishima Satsuki froze in surprise.
...I get how she feels. Seriously, Osada-san is scary.
I made sure to pass on Mishima's message, and not to forget the warning about yesterday.
"She told me to tell you, 'Tomorrow I'll be in a white dress. You can match me or not, either way is fine. But please, don't use any dirty tricks, okay?'"
I really love white dresses, but... remembering how a girl who seemed like a friend used to get bullied and have her white dress dirtied makes my heart ache.
Still, I think I look the best in one.
*See main story: I did get swept up in the peer pressure, but I was one of the first to gleefully splash muddy water on the bully's cue.*
Mishima: "H-hmph, well, tomorrow's the real deal!"
Miss Red Mark said something like a villainess and ran away!
She's probably just going to do something naughty with her boyfriend to escape reality, right?
*After this, Yukari ends up doing something similar too.*
Feeling pretty confident, I head back to Class 6!
A girl who said she'd watched the documentary compared me to Cinderella.
I love it! I'm Cinderella!
I'm exhausted! Can I get excused from work for a bit...?
Osada: "Yukaricchi? Being earnest is your weapon, right? Chop-chop, get working!"
"Yes, ma'am!"
Osada-san worked me to the bone...!
I think Osada-san seriously underestimates me...!
Because I was scared of another attack on the way home, Kuzu-kun walked me back.
Kuzu: "Was it your first time... confidence? Or maybe it's hormones? You seem to shine, like you've gotten even prettier..."
"...Geez!"
When I patted his shoulder with a "poka!" I ended up running away from reality after being overworked, and went with him to the same love hotel as yesterday.
It didn't hurt as much as yesterday.
Kuzu-kun is... like a boob fanatic or something...
After the break, I went home.
Cinderella... me...
To be compared to Cinderella as a girl... remembering the beauty contest and my time with Kuzu-kun, I fall asleep with a big grin, thinking there's no way my magic will ever wear off...