Chapter 306. [Please Or Freeze]

It happened as soon as I sat in my usual seat on the school bus.

The girl who always sat next to me reached for my scarf with a laugh.

《Come on, Iroha-chan. It’s too hot for this inside the bus. I’ll take it off for you.》

《Ah, wait!?》

I tried to stop her, but it was too late.

The scarf was loosened, exposing my neck.

Seeing this, the girl seemed to realize something instantly.

Her face turned bright red, and she mouthed wordlessly…

《~~~~!? W-what is this mark!? Iroha-chan, did you… on Halloween night…!?》

《Ah, no, this is!?》

《Hey. What’s going on with you two?》

《《Gah!》》

Our shoulders jumped in unison.

Shitennou sitting across the aisle was eyeing us suspiciously.

《Ah, wah!?》

The girl glanced nervously between me and Shitennou.

Growing impatient, he leaned closer…

《N-nothing!? Here!》

《Guh!?》

In a panic, the girl rewrapped my scarf around my neck… wait, hold on!? You’re choking me!?

《Hmm? Well, if that’s all, then fine.》

The Four Heavenly Kings member tilted his head but returned to his seat.

My secret was safe for now.

But still…

I tapped the girl’s arm desperately.

《~~~~! I give… help. I’m dying~!》

《Eh? Ah! Iroha-chan’s turning white!》

The girl quickly released me, loosening the scarf.

Finally, she noticed.

《Cough cough!?》

《I’m so sorry!? I got surprised and…!》

《Ah~ that was close… I saw both the Sanzu River and the Styx.》

《I’m really sorry!?》

Seriously, I’d rather not die over something this dumb.

It’s ridiculous to risk my life over a few kisses…

For a moment, Mai’s face flashed in my mind, but let’s forget that.

And anyway…

《… Stare》

The girl was staring at me intensely.

When I hesitated, she muttered quietly.

《But wow… Iroha-chan, even though you’re so small, you’ve already experienced it. I haven’t done anything yet.》

《No, no!? This isn’t like that… It’s just a prank from a girl friend!》

I’m not lying, right!?

We stared at each other for a moment… and she smiled.

《Geez, don’t scare me like that~!》

《S-sorry, I’m glad you believe–》

《Gotcha!》

《Hyah!?》

Suddenly, she lifted the hem of my shirt.

For a moment, my bare skin around my waist and belly was exposed…

I hurriedly pulled my shirt down.

Shivering with embarrassment, I asked.

《Did… did you see it?》

《… It was a hundred times more intense than I expected. How should I say this, erotic――》

《Don’t say it!?》

《But… yeah! There were way too many marks on your neck for it to be just a prank! And even down there…! I never raised you to be this kind of child!》

《You didn’t raise me at all!》

《But wow. Iroha-chan… no, Iroha-sensei!》

《“Sensei”!?》

《So, Sensei! How do I win over my crush!?》

《Eh!?》

《Please teach me as a romance master!》

《Even if you ask me that!?》

In her mind, I already had a lover.

But I haven’t even mustered the courage to confess yet…!

《Hey, you two. What are you whispering about? “Crush” and “Sensei”?》

《No, it’s just!?》

Now truly suspicious, Shitennou asked.

I racked my brain…

《Y-you misheard! We were just talking about “class” and “teacher.”》

Silence filled the air. The engine of the school bus and the surrounding chatter seemed distant.

Seconds felt like an eternity…

《Oh, that’s it. Sorry, I thought you were skipping studying and talking about weird stuff again.》

《N-no way, haha》

《Really, we need to be careful about misunderstandings.》

Speaking of which, that tragic incident happened on Halloween night.

A Japanese exchange student went to a Halloween party in costume.

Unfamiliar with the area, they went to the wrong house.

The homeowner, thinking they were intruders, pulled out a gun and said.

Freeze.

But the student misheard.

In the worst possible way…

And.

They approached the armed homeowner…

I don’t know the truth of the story.

Some say the homeowner had murderous intent from the start.

But if the word had been “stop”, the outcome might have been different.

That’s what I think.

《I need to be careful too.》

Not just as a listener, but as a speaker.

Though it’s different from the above story, I once had a terrible misunderstanding myself.

This is a true story…

In a certain diner, you can never order a “small portion”.