Be My Boyfriend

As the midterms drew closer, the atmosphere in the classroom grew increasingly heavy. Even Ike, Yamauchi, and the others, who were usually thick-skinned, had no choice but to devote themselves to studying under the pressure of being expelled if they failed.

Hirata, the kind-hearted guy who cared deeply about the class, naturally could not stand by and watch his classmates get expelled. He made use of the time after school to organize study sessions.

The study sessions organized by the popular Hirata received support from many of the girls.

At the same time, whether intentionally or not, Hirata had specifically invited Kushida to join as well.

With that, boys like Ike had a reason to convince themselves to attend the study sessions.

Hoshino privately guessed that even if Ike and the others attended the sessions, passing still was not very realistic with their terrible foundations.

Why did he think that? Just look at the results Sakura and the others were getting from studying.

By now, Hoshino had finally accepted that some people simply could not learn no matter how hard they tried.

For the moment, using the exams as motivation was enough to make the girls study harder. If their grades still could not consistently reach passing marks by the time the exams arrived, he could just use the fallback measures he had prepared in advance.

As for the rest of Class D, Hoshino had already confirmed with Ayanokoji that he had made the same preparations. He would leave them all to him.

Arisu had canceled all their dates before the exams under the excuse of preparing for the midterms, so Hoshino's life had become very simple. He idled through classes during the day, and at night, all he did was hold study sessions and tutor Karuizawa and the others.

After taking a day off, Kushida returned to school. When faced with her friends' concern and gossip, she responded with a composed yet slightly shy attitude. At least she had left out the part about Hoshino forcing himself on her, and that alone was worth being grateful for. Other than that, the two of them had little interaction in public. It suited the subtle distance between people who had just confessed and been rejected.

As they met more often and spent more time together, Hoshino grew increasingly close to the girls. Even Sakura, the most introverted among them, had become able to laugh and chat without her former restraint.

Other than that first day, whether through unspoken understanding or private discussion, the five girls never came to Hoshino's room all at once again.

Sakura and Hasebe were always together. Karuizawa, Sato, and Matsushita were usually together as well.

"Having to study with them every day means I barely have any time for myself. More importantly, I haven't seen Arisu for an entire week."

Hoshino sighed inwardly as he poured hot water into the instant coffee powder.

"Once the exams are over, I definitely need to get intimate with Arisu properly."

Hoshino lightly shook his head, shaking off the messy thoughts in his mind.

"Sorry to keep you waiting. Here you go."

"Thank you..."

His classmate, Karuizawa Kei, accepted the coffee cup with both hands.

Hoshino pulled over a chair and sat directly across from Karuizawa.

Since the start of the school year, Karuizawa had gradually become the leader of the girls' group in class through her unusually forceful manner. Aside from a few loners such as Horikita, most of the girls had gathered around her.

Karuizawa's highly conspicuous blond hair was tied into a high ponytail. She sat on the edge of the bed with her legs together, cradling the coffee cup in both hands and gently blowing on it. This obedient appearance was completely different from the image she usually presented in class.

Hoshino discreetly swept his gaze over her, then spoke gently. "Karuizawa, I didn't expect you to come over today. Did you finish the problems I gave you yesterday?"

"...I've already finished them."

Hoshino raised an eyebrow and took the several test papers Karuizawa handed him. With one glance, he saw that she had gotten two out of three questions wrong. He looked up at Karuizawa, who was sitting stiffly, and roughly understood.

"It seems Karuizawa has something she wants from me?"

A trace of panic flashed across Karuizawa's face. Her gaze darted away as she stammered, "I... um..." After a while, she finally made up her mind, gathered her courage, placed her coffee cup on the table, and stood up.

"I want to ask you to be my boyfriend—"

"No."

Karuizawa's eyes widened.

Hoshino stood as well, walked around the table, and came to stand before Karuizawa. Karuizawa instinctively tried to step back, but she was already at the bedside. There was nowhere for her to retreat, and she fell back onto the bed. A faint, barely noticeable panic showed on her face as she looked up at Hoshino looming over her.

"Normally, when you confess, the first thing you should say is, 'I like you.'"

"I..."

"So I conclude that you don't actually want to date me. You have some other purpose."

"..."

"Go on, tell me. When you're asking something of someone, sincerity is necessary."

After a long silence, Karuizawa finally answered in a quiet voice, "You have to promise you absolutely won't tell anyone."

"Of course."

Karuizawa forced herself to take deep breaths, once, twice, before finally speaking.

"I... was bullied constantly in the past..."

Hoshino sat directly on the table, a faint smile on his face as he calmly watched Karuizawa.

Karuizawa lowered her head, her gaze drifting toward nowhere in particular. Her voice was mechanical and low, and her expression numb, as though she were telling a story that had nothing to do with her.

Hoshino knew she was numbing herself. It was a form of self-protection. Yet from the slight tremble that occasionally entered her voice, he could tell those painful memories were still hurting her.

"...So, I was wondering... could you please pretend to be my boyfriend? Then..."

Karuizawa cautiously raised her head and met Hoshino's gaze. Then she immediately felt guilty again and hurriedly lowered her head.

"I see."

Hoshino's voice was calm, with no emotion detectable in it.

"The strength Karuizawa usually displays is just a disguise to protect herself?"

Karuizawa hesitated before nodding.

Since she had decided to tell him everything, there was no need to keep putting on a front in front of him.

Besides, she vaguely felt that this boy before her had long since seen through all her disguises.

"In other words, Karuizawa intends to use me, borrow my influence, and rely on me to keep herself from being bullied again... No, perhaps you want even more than that."

"No, that's not..."

"That's fine."

"...Huh?"

"Why are you surprised by something you suggested yourself?"

Hoshino could not help but smile.

"I can be someone you rely on. I can be your protector. I can guarantee that from now on, no one in this school, regardless of class, whether male or female, even including teachers, will ever hurt you again. As for bullying, it absolutely will not happen again."

"..."

"But pretending to be your boyfriend is still not possible."

"Uh, so it really isn't possible..."

"Sorry. I don't like false things like that. But don't worry, even if we aren't dating, even if we're only friends or classmates, whenever Karuizawa needs help, you can rely on me."

"...I understand. I was too rash to make such a troubling request."

Karuizawa spoke softly and tried to stand up from the bed. Hoshino stepped aside to make room for her. Karuizawa did not look at him at all as she walked straight to the entrance to put on her shoes.

"Hey, Karuizawa."

"What?"

"Why don't we make the fake relationship real? You can really become my girlfriend."

Karuizawa was bent over putting on her shoes when her body stiffened. She nearly lost her balance and fell.

"Y-you're joking, right?!"

"Of course I'm serious. How could I joke about something like this?"

"But... it sounds like a joke. Who confesses like that... just blurting it out like it's nothing..."

Karuizawa still had not turned around, but even from behind, Hoshino could see that her ears had turned red. Her incoherent voice also showed just how shaken she was.

"A-and besides, Sato and the others too... You're close with so many girls, aren't you?!"

"Oh, that's simple. As long as you don't mind."

"How could I not mind?!"

"So you do mind."

"!"

Karuizawa had been led around so thoroughly that her mind was about to stop working.

"Pfft, pfft, pfft! Why would I care about you? Whoever you're close to has nothing to do with me!"

"But I like you, Karuizawa."

"Y-you!!!"

Karuizawa was defeated once again. Even the shoe she had been holding fell to the floor.

"Y-you, how can you suddenly say something like..."

Hoshino took another step toward the flustered Karuizawa and took her hand. Karuizawa gave a light tug but could not pull free. Then she stopped struggling and let him hold it.

"...You're like this with other girls too, aren't you?"

"So far, I haven't said that to any other girl. Karuizawa is the first."

"Hmph, do you think that would make me happy? You definitely won't stop with me anyway."

Hoshino gave a light pull, drawing her into his arms, then wrapped his other arm around her back. Karuizawa leaned against his chest for a moment before forcefully pushing him away.

"You perverted creep who keeps touching people, you filthy lecher, you playboy! There isn't even the tiniest possibility that I'd ever like you!"

She said it in a cheerful tone as she quickly put on her shoes.

"What a shame. I hope you'll agree to stay next time."

"As if!"

Karuizawa walked to the door and raised her hand to grasp the handle.

"I... just want to confirm one more time. From now on, I can call myself your friend, rely on you, and ask you to help me solve whatever trouble I run into... right?"

"Yes."

"Thank you, Hoshino."

She thanked him quietly, then opened the door and left.

"So Karuizawa, who looks so strong, actually has a past of being bullied. That explains some of the things she usually does."

As Hoshino tidied up the room, he considered what to do next.

"Ah, didn't I agree too easily? Even if we weren't going to date, I could have asked for something else."

Hoshino regretted his own misstep a little.