I Liked Her First, but My Brain Was Broken, Then for Some Reason, I Became Friends With Beautiful Girls, So I’m Done My With Childhood Friends
On the stage in the gymnasium, there were band performances, comedy performances, and other presentations that were different from the class performances.
I knew there was a light music club, but I had no idea there was such a thing as a “comedy” club. My school has a rather large number of club activities.
And it seems that some students participate not only in club activities but also in individual ones. As someone who is not good at showing off, I admired the fact that they were willing to go on stage by themselves.
“There you are, Hiro kun.”
“Matsuyuki san.”
I was looking at the stage from the back of the gymnasium when Matsuyuki san called out to me.
The stage was brightly lit, but it was dark on the audience side. I was impressed that she was able to find me in such a situation.
“I’m glad I was able to find you. It’s almost time to introduce the participants of the beauty contest. Look, everyone is gathering.”
Just as Matsuyuki san said, the number of students entering the gymnasium increased. That’s how much attention the beauty contest is getting.
“I wonder if Kido san will be okay…..”
“Hehe. Hiro kun, you’re like Tsumugi san’s mother.”
“What do you mean by ‘mother?’……”
Isn’t that supposed to be ‘father?’ Well, I didn’t intend to be looked at from a parental perspective.
“I helped Tsumugi san. Of course she’ll be fine.”
“I wonder where that confidence comes from.”
Matsuyuki san doesn’t seem to be the type of person who gets nervous in front of people.
However, it is Kido san who will be in front of many people this time. Whether she will be able to stand in such a prominent place on stage and not be nervous remains to be seen.
If I were in the same position, I would definitely be nervous. If anything, Kido san is the same type of person as I am. When the time comes to go on stage, she might get agitated.
“So on the first day, all you do is introduce yourself, right?”
“Yes, that’s right. We have to get people to remember our faces and names. That’s why it’s important to make an impression.”
“Impression……”
I feel like the fact that she’s a tall, silver-haired, busty beauty is enough to make an impact. But with a size like that, they’re more like gigantic breasts than big……
“Hiro kun, this is not the time to be thinking about naughty things.”
“Naughty….!? I-I’m not…..thinking about those boobs.”
“…..”
Matsuyuki san’s absolute blank gaze pierces me. H-how did she know what I was thinking !?
“Hiro kun, you should tighten your expression a bit. Your face shows what you’re thinking.”
“Even so, if it weren’t for Matsuyuki san, I don’t think anyone would be able to tell.”
“It’s normal to read facial expressions. Especially if they are of the opposite sex.”
“I don’t think it’s normal, I think it’s more like a special ability.”
I remember the other day when the three of us, including Kido san, were playing at Daihinmin. Matsuyuki was insanely strong.
You can’t hide anything from Matsuyuki-san. As I was making such a mental note, the MC announced the start of the beauty contest.
[Now, now ! The beauty contest that you have all been waiting for is about to begin ! Who will be this year’s winner? Please cast your votes and lead your guesses to the top !]
“The MC seems extremely tense.”
“Don’t say that, let’s just enjoy the show.”
Even though he is the MC, he is still a high school student. Even if you know you are not the star of the show, it must take a lot of courage to speak in a place like that.
[There are twenty-four participants this time ! Your guesses will surely be among them ! Look forward to it !]
“Twenty-four people? That’s more than usual.”
“I heard that the number of candidates increased when I heard that some previous year’s champs didn’t participate.”
This information came to my ears when I was going around the festival with Kido san.
Usually, it is said that only about 15 people gather for the contest, but since Matsuyuki san was not participating this year and Kido san was not expected to participate in the beauty contest due to the rumors, many candidates thought that they had a chance.
Besides, there were fewer people using the stage in the gymnasium than in previous years, so they decided it would be a good idea to increase the number of participants in the beauty contest.
“Oh dear.”
Even though she knew it was because of her, Matsuyuki san’s reaction was as if it was someone else’s fault.
“With a feeling like that, you must not be an enemy of Tsumugi san.”
No, I trust Kido san, so I won’t think it will be a problem when there are more participants.
Prompted by the MC, the beauty contest participants lined up on stage.
Kido san had said she was going to compete in a maid costume as she was, so I was worried that she might stand out in a weird way. It seems my fears were unfounded, since the other participants were also dressed in cosplay-like outfits. In fact, there were only a few people in uniform.
“Kido san is……there she is. Twenty-fourth.”
“The first performer will be the most memorable, after all. It was worth negotiating with the student council.”
Matsuyuki san wiped the sweat from his forehead as if to say, [I did a good job]. She probably wasn’t sweating.
“Did you have such negotiations with the student council?”
“Fufu, you must have been surprised. It’s a surprise for you, Hiro kun.]
Is it really okay to give me a surprise? That’s what I wanted to say, but Matsuyuki san looked so smug, so I quietly held back my words.
“The number of participants has increased, but most of them seem to be satisfied just to be on this stage. I guess there are about three or four people who could be Tsumugi san’s rivals.”
“Just by standing on that stage, she will be recognized as a beautiful girl in the whole school. Even if she doesn’t win, she is still the winner at this point.”
The fact that they are on this stage makes it easier for them to be included in the “ranking of the most beautiful girls,” which the boys do in secret.
I, with my limited friendships, knew only Kido san’s face at the event.
I do think they are all cute, but with all due respect, I don’t think they are as cute as Kido san. It was like there was only one model in the mix. I felt out of place in a different way.
One by one, they introduced themselves. Then it was Kido san’s turn.
The tall, beautiful girl with silver hair steps slowly to the front of the stage.
Her walk was somehow different from usual? Her movements were even graceful, and I could feel the eyes of the audience glued to her.
Kido san stood in front of the microphone set up in the center of the stage and bowed deeply like a maid.
“Entry number twenty-four, Kido Tsumugi.”
Her calm voice through the microphone shook the gymnasium.
“Fuh !?”
A strange voice leaked out unintentionally.
Because that Kido san was smiling. It was an endearing smile that made everyone take a look at it.
“I’m a freshman, and this is my first time participating in a place like this…..so I’m very nervous.”
Her voice was a little trembling. She tilted her head, showing some embarrassment.
I can tell she’s embarrassed. She’s cutely dressed in a maid outfit, which makes me want to protect her.
“Still, I will do my best, so please…..give me your support !”
She looked nervous until the very end, but she ended with a radiant smile, as if she had done all she could.
She did not say anything special.
Only a few words of self-introduction. And yet, every single one of Kid -san’s actions, including her voice, facial expressions, and gestures, tickled my male heart.
[ [ [O-ooh…..] ] ]
A small, thick voice overlapped.
A loud round of applause followed. The strong voices and applause, mainly from the boys, indicated that Kido san had taken a big lead.
“All right, just as we practiced, Tsumugi san. You got this one.”
“M-Matsuyuki san? What in the world……”
Matsuyuki san answered with a sickened smile.
“The theme is innocence. There is data that boys like inexperienced and pure girls. If you show them that you’re not used to it, that you’re still fresh, you can win their hearts even if you’re just introducing yourself to them.”
So, does this mean that Kido san’s self-introduction earlier was as directed by Matsuyuki san?
“B-but….I don’t think Kido san is capable of smiling like that.”
“That’s naive, Hiro kun.”
Matsuyuki san said with a smug look on her face.
“You can make cute gestures, you know. Women can do anything for a purpose.”
I was reminded of all the things I still don’t know about girls.
◇ ◇ ◇
The participants of the beauty contest have finished their self-introductions.
Tomorrow is the appeal competition. And the results will be announced. Although I’m only a spectator, I cannot stop my heart from pounding.
As Matsuyuki san and I were going to pick up Kido san, we happened to spot Mitsuki in the crowd.
“Ah……”
“Uh……”
Mitsuki seemed to have noticed me as well, and our eyes met.
She was going around the festival with Izumi kun. I’m glad he doesn’t seem to have noticed me.
“……”
Suddenly, she turns her back on me.
“……”
When she acts like that, there’s nothing I can do.
We pass each other without making eye contact.
I wonder how long we will stay fighting. Even though I thought that, I just couldn’t find the courage to speak to Mitsuki myself.
The first day of the festival was a day of both good and bad things.
Maigetsu