”Ugh… seriously, why are you following me around?” I muttered.
”Aww, c’mon, Senpai-let’s hang out, yeah? ♪” Kumagai Kirari said cheerfully.
She’s a second-year, so she’s my underclassman. She’s also the girl who screamed at me yesterday as if I were some kind of rapist. That’s why I have absolutely no idea why she’s following me around now.
”Hey, Kumagai,” I said.
”Mm~ Senpai, y’know, you gotta call me Kirari~♪ or it doesn’t count!” she insisted.
”So who was it yesterday that went around screaming ‘serial rapist’ about me?” I asked.
”Ah- that, uh… well, that was… ah, ahaha… s-sorry about that…” she stammered.
”…You don’t want to get assaulted, right? So just disappear already,” I said flatly.
”Ah, wait, no, that’s not- I know you’re not that kinda person, okay!” she said quickly.
”Ugh…” I groaned.
”Uuu… Senpai’s mad at me… right?” she asked.
”Nah, I’m not mad… it’s just that the students here are still going to believe those rumors and treat me like an enemy anyway. If I got angry every time, I’d never get anything done,” I said.
”Uuu… y-yesterday I just got, like, totally freaked out, y’know? ‘Cause I’d heard those rumors about you too, so… I, uh… well… uuu…” she trailed off.
”Ugh… stop, seriously. You’re gonna start some other rumor that I’m bullying you or somethin’…” I said.
”Uuu~~~ Senpai~~~” she whined.
”Anyway, why are you even getting so clingy with me? We have nothing to do with each other,” I said.
”Ah, um, well, tha-that’s…” she started.
”What?” I asked.
”Uuu//… S-Senpai, like, d-do you… have, like, a g-girlfriend…?” she asked hesitantly.
”Hm? Yeah, I do,” I said.
”Ugh- r-right, of course you do… Senpai’s good-lookin’… and strong… ah- h-how many!? How many ya got!?” she asked.
”How many? Well… just one right now,” I said.
”O-oh! Okay!” she said, looking relieved.
For some reason, she looked happy about that. Honestly, the difference between her attitude yesterday and today is so massive that I can’t figure out what she’s actually getting at. Is she interested in me or something? …Nah, that can’t be it. There’s nothing about me that would make someone like me. Noel’s a special case, so she doesn’t count as a reference.
”Ah, um, S-Senpai?” she said.
”What?” I asked.
”Uh, well, so, like… h-how about me? Ehehe, I mean, sure, I’m no angel or goddess or whatever, but c’mon, I got a killer figure, and, like, big b**bs too, and- I’m totally the type who’d spoil her man, so I’m a total bargain, y’know!?” she said.
”Huh?” I blinked.
”Ah… um…” she trailed off.
Okay, so… this is, uh, that thing, right? She’s saying she wants to date me or something? I thought there was no way, but-for real?
So, what do I do… Normally, you can marry up to four people, but… no, that doesn’t matter anyway. I’ve got that card, so there’s no limit on numbers. Which means I could make as many lovers as I want without any problem, but…
”What, exactly, are you doing?” a voice said.
”Hm?” I turned.
”Wah!?” Kirari gasped.
The voice made me turn my head. And when I saw the person standing there, I couldn’t help but make a face.
”Ah, uh… you’re, uh… Kuonji, right?” I said.
”Yes. And you are Kumagai Kirari, I believe,” she said.
”Huh? Wait, did I ever introduce myself?” Kirari asked.
”No. But I remember every student in our year,” she said.
”Whoa, seriously? U- wait, what!?” Kirari exclaimed.
I can’t blame Kirari for being surprised. Put simply, that means she remembers the faces and names of about a thousand students in our year. Which is insane. It should be impossible, anyway… but this stepsister of mine is seriously smart, so… the scary part is that she might actually have memorized them all.
”Nii… what exactly were you doing here with an underclassman girl, if you don’t mind my asking?” she asked.
”Nothing. She’s the one who won’t leave me alone,” I said.
”Is that so… Kumagari-san, for your own good, I’d advise you to stay away from this type of person,” she said.
”Huh? I mean, isn’t that goin’ a bit far-” Kirari started.
”Yeah, well, I actually agree with Kuonji on this one. You’re better off not hanging around someone with a reputation like mine,” I said.
”Ah…” Kirari said.
”Hm? What is it, Kuonji?” I asked.
”Nothing… (Idiot. That’s not what I meant to say at all…)” she said.
Now what was that all about? Normally, this is where the oblivious protagonist trope would kick in or something, but-no, I’m not the protagonist of this world, am I? Besides, thanks to [Body Enhancement], I heard it perfectly. So my stepsister actually meant to say something else? What was it… hmm. I have no clue.
”Ah, um! K-Kuonji-san!” Kirari called out.
”Yes?” she replied.
”Look, I- I’m approachin’ Senpai ’cause I wanna, okay! So I don’t care what you say-I’m not backin’ off!” Kirari declared.
”Ah… I see. Don’t say I didn’t warn you,” she said.
”Fine! I won’t regret it either!” Kirari said.
”…Understood. Excuse me,” she said.
I watched my stepsister walk away. Beside me, Kirari was puffing out her cheeks.
”Muu! I don’t care if she’s like, the goddess or whatever-that was just mean!” she pouted.
”Leave her alone. That’s just how she always is with me,” I said.
”B-but still!” she insisted.
Keen-kohn-keen-kohn… Keeen-kohn-keen-kohn
There was some strange noise in the middle of that, but the bell rang. Well, perfect timing, I guess.
”See, I’m heading back to class too. You should go back,” I said.
”Ugh- ah, oh yeah! Senpai! Can we swap RAIN IDs!?” she asked eagerly.
”Huh?” I blinked.
”Is that… no good?” she asked.
She’s staring at me with those big eyes, looking up at me like that. She’s not exactly angel-tier, sure, but she’s undeniably cute. Honestly… if I hadn’t gotten used to it with Noel, this might have been dangerous.
”Maybe some other time,” I said.
”Aww, c’mon~~~” she whined.
I left Kirari behind and got out of there quickly.
Trivia:
- The protagonist’s internal dismissal of his own likability (“I’ve got nothin’ that’d make someone like me”) contrasts sharply with Kirari’s enthusiastic pursuit and Noel’s special attachment, suggesting the narrative is setting up a slow realization of his actual appeal.
- Kuonji Minaho’s whispered “Idiot. That’s not what I meant to say at all” reveals romantic interest beneath her cold formality, making her a secret rival in the developing harem dynamic.
- The protagonist’s ability to hear Minaho’s whisper thanks to [Body Enhancement] subverts the classic light novel trope where male leads conveniently miss important romantic cues, creating dramatic irony for the reader.
- Kirari’s blushing hesitation before asking about his relationship status (“Uuu//… S-Senpai, like, d-do you… have, like, a g-girlfriend…?”) shows genuine vulnerability underneath her aggressive, flashy exterior.
- The “card” that removes limits on partner numbers hints at a broader world mechanic or power system yet to be fully explained, suggesting the protagonist may have future polygamous relationships.
- Minaho’s ability to memorize all thousand students in her year is framed as both impressive and terrifying, reinforcing her genius-level intellect and social distance from ordinary students.
- The school bell sound effect Keen-kohn-keen-kohn uses elongated vowels and rhythmic repetition common in Japanese school chimes, creating an auditory anchor for the scene’s close.
- Kirari’s shift from accusing the protagonist ofr**apeto aggressively pursuing romance is not explained directly, implying she had a sudden revelation or change of heart off-screen.
- The protagonist’s comparison of Noel to Kirari (“Noel’s a special case, so she doesn’t count as a reference”) suggests Noel’s relationship with him is unique or unconventional, possibly involving supernatural or contractual elements.
- The story explicitly mentions ratings, bookmarks, and likes, acknowledging its web novel serialization format and directly engaging with the audience.