All Beautiful Girls Want to Stick with Me

A crystalline stream of water arced gracefully, joining the pool below.

After resolving her "excess hydration" issue, Kotomi exited the restroom, washing her hands before glancing at the time. She still had plenty of time left, so she decided to visit Class 1-A and ask Arisu Sakayanagi what had brought her to Kotomi's classroom the previous day.

"Although, after the last monthly exam, I did break 1-A's collective morale... Is it really okay for me to just waltz in there now? Hmm… Eh, it's fine. Whatever they're feeling is their problem. I'm just an innocent girl going to find their class rep," she mused, setting off toward Class 1-A.

As Kotomi descended a flight of stairs, she couldn't help but note, "1-A's location is ridiculously isolated. It's as if they're quarantined to protect everyone's IQ. If someone from 1-A urgently needs the restroom, would they need to sprint a marathon first?"

She hadn't gone far when she heard someone call her name.

"Kotomi!"

Turning toward the voice, Kotomi saw Arisu Sakayanagi waving to her from a short distance away.

Another "coincidental" encounter, huh? Kotomi thought. She quickly walked toward Arisu, her hands ready in case Arisu, leaning on her cane, lost her balance.

Surprisingly, despite appearances, Arisu's steps were swift and steady. Unlike Kotomi, who could trip over her own shadow, Arisu's movement betrayed none of the frailty her cane might suggest.

If it weren't for the cane, you'd think she was practically sprinting.

"Are you feeling better?" Arisu asked as soon as they met, her tone filled with concern.

Kotomi nodded. She hadn't expected Arisu to remember her illness, and the thought warmed her heart. "Fully recovered! Thank you for asking."

Kotomi's bright smile seemed to infect Arisu, whose own lips curled into a delicate smile. The natural ease between them felt like that of lifelong friends.

"I came to Class 1-F yesterday to see you, only to hear that you were at home with a cold," Arisu mentioned casually.

This jogged Kotomi's memory. "Oh, right! I wanted to ask you—what brought you to 1-F yesterday?"

"I did have something to discuss," Arisu replied with a serene smile. She glanced around to confirm no one was nearby before continuing. "This Friday, my maid has some personal matters to attend to and won't be able to prepare my dinner. Could I come to your house for dinner that evening?"

So, it's about dinner. That's simple enough.

Still, the mention of a personal maid made Kotomi's envy flare. She imagined how glamorous life with a maid must be—having someone to care for every need.

If only I could afford a maid…

The simplicity of Arisu's request made Kotomi chuckle. "Of course you can! Both hands up in agreement! Though I should let my mom know in advance."

"Of course. If it's inconvenient, please don't worry about it. I'll manage on my own. However, I must admit that I've long wanted to meet your parents," Arisu said with a faint smile.

"Long wanted to meet my parents"? But we've only known each other since the monthly exams! Kotomi thought, puzzled.

"By the way, do you usually live with just your maid?"

"Yes, why?" Arisu asked.

"Oh, I was just wondering. If your maid's unavailable, couldn't your parents cook for you instead?" Kotomi asked, curious.

Arisu's expression shifted subtly. She lowered her gaze, her slender shoulders trembling slightly. She looked small and frail, like a lost child.

"Because my family home is far from Chiba City, my parents rented me an apartment nearby to make school more convenient. One of our longtime maids lives with me to take care of my daily needs.

"But on Fridays, she sometimes needs to leave for half the day. While I could take the train home, the trip takes two hours each way. If there aren't any seats, I worry I won't be able to stand on my own for the entire journey."

Her words were punctuated with a soft sniffle as she gazed at the floor.

"If it's too much trouble, I won't impose. Even if I have to stand in the station for hours and endure a long journey, I'd rather not inconvenience you, Kotomi," Arisu murmured.

Kotomi waved her hands emphatically. "No, no! That's not what I meant at all! I was just curious. You're more than welcome to come over for dinner on Friday. And if you don't mind, you can even stay the night!"

As soon as the words left Kotomi's lips, Arisu's glistening eyes lit up with a flash of excitement. She barely resisted shouting, "I can stay?!"

Initially, Arisu's goal had been modest—share dinner with Kotomi's family, meet her parents, and subtly foster goodwill with Kotomi's sister, Aimi. With Aimi on her side, Arisu figured she could strengthen her bond with Kotomi without interference.

Now, her plans had escalated.

If she could stay overnight, she might share a room—maybe even a bed—with Kotomi.

In the past, Arisu might have hesitated, worried it would seem too forward. But since witnessing the kiss between Kotomi and Megumi Kato at the aquarium, Arisu had cast aside any reservations. If she didn't act decisively, someone else would steal Kotomi away.

First, dinner at her house. Then, a sleepover. By the time I'm done, Kotomi will be thinking only of me. The next day, she'll realize we're meant to be. The day after that? I'll propose!

A sly smile curled Arisu's lips—a victor's smile.

"What would you like for dinner? Any food you dislike?" Kotomi asked, eager to ensure her guest would be comfortable.

"I'm not picky. As long as there's meat, I'm happy."

Not picky? That makes things easy!

Kotomi had expected a refined taste from someone like Arisu, but her straightforward preference was refreshing. It seemed they shared a mutual love of meat.

They agreed to head to Kotomi's house together after school on Friday. As the bell rang, Kotomi bid Arisu goodbye, her petite figure flitting back to Class 1-F with a light step.

Arisu, however, walked slowly, her movements deliberate as her phone began to ring.

She frowned slightly. Who could it be?

Glancing at the caller ID, she sighed. It's Atsuki.

"Yes, what is it?"

"Miss Arisu, the family just called. They've finished most of the moving preparations, so I don't need to return this Friday. What would you like for dinner that evening? I'll prepare the menu in advance," Atsuki said.

Arisu's expression darkened, her gaze sharp as ice.

"Atsuki, when was your last vacation?"

"Hmm... I think it's been two years," Atsuki replied after a moment of thought. As Arisu's maid, she was accustomed to working year-round.

"Good. Then you're taking Friday off. Fly to Hokkaido, Yokohama, or Izu—anywhere you like. Return Saturday afternoon."

"Wait, but Miss Arisu—what about your dinner?"

"It's fine. I'll eat at Kotomi's house," Arisu said, catching herself before she blurted something inappropriate. "Enjoy your break. That's final."

"But Miss Arisu, a trip to Izu isn't enough for a full day—"

Before Atsuki could finish, Arisu had already hung up.

Back in the classroom, Class 1-F started their English lesson, which began, as usual, with a vocabulary quiz.

The English teacher gave the class five minutes to review the words.

Kotomi hadn't studied, but she didn't feel the slightest bit nervous. Opening her English textbook to the vocabulary list for Unit 6, she scanned it from top to bottom once and committed the words to memory.

Meanwhile, Yui sat blankly at her desk, staring at her English textbook in confusion.

Wait... When did the teacher say we needed to memorize this?

Recollecting that she had fallen asleep midway through yesterday's English class, Yui shrank into her chair, dread creeping up her spine. If she got more than three words wrong, she'd have to stay after school for remedial work.

Her eyes filled with desperation as she glanced toward Kotomi, who immediately understood without needing to hear a word.

Sigh... She forgot to study again.

Resigned, Kotomi sighed softly, tore a sheet of paper in half, and prepared to use their tried-and-true method to help Yui pass the quiz.

Thanks to Kotomi's assistance, Yui scored an unprecedented B on her vocabulary test.

She only got one word wrong.

Kotomi could have easily ensured Yui received a perfect A, but Yui had begged her to make a minor mistake on purpose. After all, if the teacher noticed her sudden, miraculous improvement, she might get asked to redo the test, and that would be disastrous.

"Thank you, Kotomi," Yui said gratefully during lunch, pouring a cup of grape juice for Kotomi with utmost reverence.

"Does getting by on cheating really make you that happy?" Yukino asked, her voice as frosty as ever. Yukino, who had easily aced the test, couldn't resist commenting.

"What's mine is Yui's," Kotomi replied with a mischievous smile before taking a sip of her grape juice.

Yui nodded enthusiastically, like a little bird pecking at grain. "Exactly! I like that. I'll write it in my textbook later."

Before Yui could bask in her triumph, Kotomi shoved a spoonful of green onions and bell peppers into her mouth, wiping the gloating look off her face. Yui's expression turned sour as she realized that every favor from Kotomi came with an unspoken price.

"This braised beef self-heating bento is tasty, but there's way too much green onion—and now they've added bell peppers? It's like searching for beef in a forest of greens!" Kotomi complained as she picked through her meal.

After meticulously removing every scrap of green onion and bell pepper, Kotomi was shocked to discover how little beef was left. Even if she halved her usual appetite, there still wouldn't be enough to fill her up.

And considering the steep price tag?

Kotomi's brows furrowed. She was about to launch into a verbal tirade, ready to rain fire and brimstone upon the company that made the bento, when Yukino's soft voice interrupted.

"Here, try this."

Kotomi looked up to see Yukino placing over half of her steak into Kotomi's bento box.

Though Yukino framed it as "letting her try some," the portion was far too generous for a simple taste test.

Realizing that Yukino had noticed her predicament and wanted to help, Kotomi's heart swelled with gratitude.

"Thank you, Yukino," Kotomi said with a beaming smile.

Yukino merely nodded slightly, picking up a piece of broccoli and dipping it in black pepper sauce before eating it. She kept her gaze averted, looking out the window instead of at Kotomi.

Despite her reserved demeanor, Kotomi had spent enough time with Yukino to recognize this as her way of expressing happiness—subtle but genuine.

As the seasons transitioned into autumn, the north wind began to blow, and the air turned cooler. Even at noon, the day's warmest time, a crisp chill lingered in the air. It was no wonder Kotomi felt comfortable wearing a sweater under her uniform jacket.

The white curtains swayed gently in the breeze, and Yukino's jet-black hair shimmered as it fluttered lightly.

It's officially autumn weather starting today, Kotomi thought.

She recalled how her mother had insisted she wear more layers in the morning. Mom really has a knack for predicting these things.

"By the way, the submission deadline for the Tokyo National Youth Art Competition is approaching. How's your painting coming along?" Megumi asked, feeding Kotomi a piece of octopus-shaped sausage from her lunch.

"Hmm... I didn't work on it yesterday, but I've been steadily making progress over the past few days, so missing one day won't hurt," Kotomi replied between bites.

Megumi's concern reminded Kotomi of what Chihiro Sengoku had told her the previous afternoon: not to stress about the deadline, as she could apply to work on her painting over the weekend at school if needed.

Even though weekend club activities weren't the norm for the art club, the school allowed students to use its facilities on weekends as long as they registered with the security office in advance.

Still, Kotomi planned to finish 95% of her painting, Twilight Sky: Sunset, by Friday. Only minor touches would remain for next week, giving her ample time before the Wednesday deadline.

If I can win this competition and secure early admission to university, I'll have so much freedom in my school schedule, Kotomi mused. Even more than Utaha-senpai, who already skips classes half the week.

Meanwhile, Yukino finished her lunch first, cleaning and packing her bento box before quietly resuming her classical literature book. However, her focus was noticeably absent.

As she tucked a few stray strands of hair behind her ear, she realized her thoughts had been elsewhere the entire time—on Kotomi, savoring her steak with relish.

Seeing Kotomi enjoy the meal so much, Yukino allowed herself a faint smile before returning to her book.

Her mind wandered to her older sister, Haruno Yukinoshita.

The previous weekend, Haruno had returned home, and their family had shared a rare meal together. Haruno had bombarded Yukino with questions about her high school life, asking how she was getting along with her classmates and whether she had made any new friends.

At the mention of friends, Yukino immediately thought of Kotomi, then Yui and the others.

However, Yukino didn't feel inclined to share her personal life with Haruno. She brushed off her sister's inquiries with a vague "It's fine" and quickly steered the conversation elsewhere.

Although the Yukinoshita sisters' relationship wasn't bad, their bond had frayed over the years.

Once Haruno entered middle school, she spent less and less time at home. By the time she graduated university, their interactions were sporadic at best, and a quiet distance had grown between them.

This unintended "vicious cycle" of estrangement left Yukino unsure how to approach her sister anymore.

Still, Haruno's question lingered in her mind.

She cares whether I've made friends? Yukino wondered.

For a fleeting moment, Yukino considered telling Haruno about Kotomi—perhaps as a way to introduce her to her world.

But she quickly dismissed the idea.

Even if I told her, she wouldn't know who Kotomi is.

For now, Yukino decided to keep her high school life private.

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