The Heroines All Regretted It

It was a cool and pleasant early autumn morning in Tokyo.

Gabriel woke up, struggling to turn her stiff neck.

Yoru's face was reflected in her pupils, then gradually turned into the white ceiling.

Her expression froze. Her mind went blank.

"I Slept in the same bed as Yoru... all night?!"

Realizing this, Gabriel didn't even dare to breathe.

She glanced at Yoru from the corner of her eye, muttering inwardly.

And their posture was strange.

Yoru had turned to the side, one leg draped over her.

One arm was tossed aside, while the other held her like a doll.

"This isn't right."

"This is all wrong!"

Gabriel tried to wiggle her leg out from under Yoru's.

Even though she didn't understand much about love between boys and girls...

She at least knew that sleeping in the same bed with the opposite sex was a no-go.

"No use... it's stuck... he's heavy..."

She tried several times, all failed. Her expression turned odd and anxious.

A few days ago, she wouldn't have reacted like this—she might've just yelled and woken Yoru up.

But after reading Eriri's art book, Gabriel couldn't sit still anymore.

She was terrified Yoru might suddenly wake up.

And when that happened, it'd be unbearably awkward.

"I remember..."

Gabriel stared at Yoru's face, recalling last night.

After dinner, she played with San-san for a while and, overcome with drowsiness, seemed to have fallen asleep on the sofa.

She got up in the middle of the night to use the bathroom, still half-asleep.

The apartment layouts were pretty much the same.

"So that means..."

Gabriel's soft pink lips parted slightly as she remembered.

Late last night.

She'd gotten up to use the bathroom but, not fully conscious, had mistaken Yoru's home for her own.

In the dark, she had crawled straight into Yoru's bed.

"Slept like a log…"

"If I use a bit more strength, it should be fine."

Gabriel looked at Yoru again.

Just then, Yoru rolled over onto his back.

Still holding the doll-like Gabriel in his arms, she ended up sitting on top of him.

Gabriel thought Yoru had suddenly woken up and nearly cried out.

After calming herself, she scratched her messy blonde hair and relaxed.

Finally free.

Still, why did she sleep so well last night?

Sitting on Yoru's lower abdomen, Gabriel began to slowly shift her body.

She would've been fine if she hadn't moved.

At this time, Yoru was also about to wake up.

In light sleep, the sensation of weight and pressure on his body suddenly disappeared.

Instead, it jolted his brain awake.

Yoru opened his eyes and instinctively sat up, looking toward his stomach.

Gabriel was stretching her stiff legs, moving over Yoru's head, and was startled.

"Ha!"

She jumped, and her pale little foot stomped down right on Yoru's dazed face.

She didn't hold back.

Her soft sole pressed down tightly on his nose, mouth, and half his face.

"Mmmph..."

Completely caught off guard, Yoru let out a muffled sound and instinctively reached for Gabriel's foot.

Why the hell was she stomping on his face out of nowhere?!

Gabriel reacted, bracing herself on the bed and trying to stand up quickly.

But just then, Yoru's hand caught her foot.

Petite, smooth, and soft.

His fingers landed right on her sensitive and ticklish sole.

The ticklish sensation surged through Gabriel's entire body. Her soft toes tensed briefly, then relaxed.

Yoru gave a hard shove, tossing her foot aside and sitting up immediately.

He panted heavily, then looked at Gabriel with clear confusion and asked, "Gabriel, why are you in my bed?"

"Just now…"

Yoru's eyes were drawn again to Gabriel's soft, pale feet.

She even stomped on his face?

Milky-scented, warm…

And she was still sitting on his lower abdomen.

This early in the morning—it was too much to handle.

"I... um..."

"I was half-asleep last night. I didn't do it on purpose..."

Gabriel sat at the edge of the bed, head slightly lowered, her cute face tinged with red.

She wasn't sure if it was from nervousness or because Yoru had just attacked her sensitive feet.

"You didn't go back last night?"

Yoru tried to recall.

"Mhm, sorry..."

Gabriel nodded obediently, watching Yoru's expression.

"Sigh—"

"It's fine. Just startled me, that's all."

Yoru forced himself to look away and casually waved it off.

If he were a bit more perverted, he might actually enjoy being woken up like that by Gabriel every morning.

Preferably with her feet in his mouth, even.

"Ha~"

Gabriel nodded and yawned.

"Want to stay for breakfast?"

Yoru calmed down and asked evenly.

"Yes!"

Gabriel nodded vigorously.

"Go freshen up first. And Gabriel, be careful next time—you're a little exposed."

Yoru was about to get out of bed when he noticed her loose clothing and gave a casual reminder.

Gabriel glanced down, replied with a nonchalant "Oh," and left the room.

Yoru looked back at her for a moment before going to wash up.

He brushed his teeth and washed his face.

Looking at his now slimmed-down reflection in the mirror.

He gently patted one cheek, turning his head side to side as if evaluating himself.

Gabriel left the room shortly after, called out once, and then went to wash up herself.

"Next step: burn fat and build muscle."

Wiping the water off his face with a towel, Yoru returned to the room, rolled out his yoga mat, and started his usual workout.

A few more days of cardio, then he'd revise his training plan again.

About half an hour later.

Gabriel came over in her Shuchiin uniform, carrying her school bag.

Yoru had just finished making breakfast and began eating.

"Gabriel, there's still some time. Don't you want to fix your hair?"

He sipped some milk and casually asked.

"Nope…"

Lazy as ever, Gabriel shook her head lightly.

It was her own choice, so Yoru didn't want to meddle too much.

Looking at her, he couldn't help but recall getting stepped on first thing in the morning.

"Maybe… I should try getting a girlfriend?"

The thought popped into Yoru's head.

As a former disgusting fat shut-in, now a single and physically healthy guy, wasn't that normal?

"But... sigh..."

Yoru sighed again, pushing the thought aside.

The only girls he could interact with were his classmates at Shuchiin.

Back when he was a disgusting fat slob, those girls probably looked down on him more than a little.

Now he'd feel weird chasing after them.

It'd be like swallowing a fly—disgusting.

As for friends…

They were too close already...

Besides...

Yoru always liked harem stories, enjoying both what's in his bowl and what's still cooking.

"I'm full."

Gabriel finished her milk, her little pink tongue licking the last drop from the corner of her mouth.

With that, she picked up her plate, bowl, and cup and went to the sink to clean up.

Yoru's thoughts were interrupted. He smiled faintly and took a big bite of toast.

At exactly eight o'clock.

Yoru and Gabriel came out of the station at the end of the shopping street.

"Oh right, Gabriel, I've got good news to share."

Yoru suddenly smacked his forehead. Eriri had already cleared it up, and he'd forgotten to tell everyone.

"What is it?"

Gabriel was busy calculating her budget and possible savings in her head.

She was planning to save up for gacha spending.

"I'm talking about that thing with me stealing Kasumigaoka Utaha's stockings and panties."

Yoru smiled cheerfully.

"What are you talking about?"

Gabriel blinked in confusion, suddenly finding Yoru's smile… kind of nice to look at.

"You don't know? I told you before!"

Yoru froze, slightly surprised.

Gabriel really forgot?

"Not really. I was thinking about other stuff. But congrats."

Gabriel gave a perfectly cute smile to play along.

In that instant, Yoru almost thought the old Gabriel was back.

But then again, the current one was great too.

After walking a few dozen more steps—

Yoru passed by the Angel Café and glanced inside.

Business seemed decent. Most of the customers were students from Shuchiin Academy.

"Yuigahama, the manager..."

Yoru spotted a busy figure inside. For a brief moment, he instinctively tensed up a little.

Soon after, Yoru and Gabriel arrived at the bookstore where Nanami worked.

Nanami, who had been organizing the display case by the entrance, paused her work and greeted them with a soft smile.

"Morning, Gabriel."

"Morning... Yoru..."

Nanami had clearly seen Yoru first, yet she greeted Gabriel first.

"Morning."

Gabriel slightly slowed her pace.

"Morning, Nanami."

Yoru smiled at her and waved as he walked away.

"Yoru and Gabriel really are close... They go to school together every day, and they've known each other longer than I have... Gabriel is also way cuter than me."

After they left, a faint look of conflict and confusion appeared in Nanami's eyes.

She realized she had genuinely fallen for him—fallen for Yoru.

Ever since that day, whenever she was alone and had nothing to distract her hands or mind, she would start thinking about Yoru without even meaning to.

She had never liked any boy growing up.

But now, she was certain. The way her heart raced and her face flushed every time she saw Yoru—how she couldn't stop thinking about him—it had to be love, didn't it?

But as for herself... she wasn't that pretty. Her life was a mess. Time felt like a squeezed-dry sponge, with nothing left to give.

Working in the morning, school afterward, napping during lunch break, then back to school again, followed by another part-time job into the night...

Day after day.

She couldn't afford to stop.

If she did, she wouldn't be able to cover the expensive fees for her voice acting classes.

...

"Gabriel, I'm heading in first."

At the entrance of Shuchiin Academy, Yoru and Gabriel parted ways.

As he neared the school building, his phone rang Utaha was calling, telling him to wait downstairs.

"What is it?"

Yoru answered and put her on speaker.

"Where are you? Have you arrived at school?"

Her tone was cold.

"I'm at school, downstairs by the building. What's up?"

Yoru replied casually.

"Come to the student council room."

She ended the call immediately after.

Yoru turned and headed for the student council.

Not far from the council room, Utaha was seated on a bench, her pale, shapely hips clad in sheer black tights spreading against the wooden seat, exuding an astonishing allure.

Her long, seductive legs were casually stretched out, black leather shoes resting on top of each other.

"I'll talk after I finish breakfast."

As Yoru approached, Utaha was nibbling slowly on a blueberry bun.

"Homeroom's about to start."

Yoru's gaze flicked to her breakfast—a bun and a small bottle of chocolate-flavored milk. A typical convenience store combo.

"Same taste as mine..."

Before his weight loss, Yoru had eaten that exact combo for breakfast four days a week.

Not long after, Utaha finished eating and sat up straight, phone in hand. She turned toward Yoru, her wine-red eyes flashing with annoyance and restrained anger.

"Give me your bank account number."

"My bank account? You're giving me money?"

Most of Yoru's attention was fixed on Utaha and hadn't moved away.

"Do you want it or not?"

She was tapping on her phone with one hand, logging into her mobile banking app, while touching her left cheek with the other.

That side of her face had taken a full, unreserved slap from someone.

It had hurt like hell.

Even with medicine, it had taken two full days to heal completely.

"Just a second."

Free money—Yoru didn't hesitate.

He took out his phone, logged in, and brought up his full account number.

He walked over to Utaha and handed her the phone.

"Let me see... 621226..."

Utaha's pale fingers danced over the screen, glancing up every now and then to confirm the digits.

Ten seconds later, she murmured the number again, confirmed it, and completed the transfer.

"Done."

She briefly held up her phone screen in front of Yoru's eyes.

A long string of digits displayed her balance—impossible to miss.

"Over eleven million?"

Yoru was mildly surprised.

Then his own phone chimed with a notification.

An unknown account had transferred 500,000 yen to him.

With the money he already had—around 900,000—he didn't even come close to Utaha's leftover change.

"Five hundred thousand. From now on, I don't owe you anything."

Utaha tucked her phone away and stood up, speaking calmly.

"Alright, damn... you're really loaded."

Yoru mumbled as he nodded.

"Hmph."

At his words, Utaha snorted proudly, her expression slightly smug.

"Aren't you from the 'impure' Department?"

Yoru asked casually.

He didn't expect her to actually respond.

"I am. But that doesn't mean I'm useless."

Utaha smiled faintly, clearly implying something more.

Women... they definitely hold grudges.

"Why so smug?"

Yoru rolled his eyes. He admitted he wasn't as rich as Utaha, but if he wanted to make money, there were plenty of ways.

"Let's go clear things up with the student council."

Yoru said, and the two of them entered the building together and knocked on the council room door.

At the same time, the bell for homeroom began to ring.

"Who is it?"

Inside, only Chika and Kaguya were present.

"It's me, Fujiwara-san."

Yoru responded, pushing the door open forcefully and stepping inside.

"Kitakami-kun, do you need something?"

Chika put down her work. Kaguya also looked up. When she saw it was Yoru, a flicker of disdain crossed her eyes before returning to normal.

She just didn't like him—pure and simple.

Then Utaha stepped out from behind Yoru, drawing both their gazes.

What a strange pairing.

After all, Yoru was known as the one who had stolen Utaha's stockings and panties—how could the two of them be together?

Unless...

Chika and Kaguya exchanged a glance, both recalling what Yoru had recently declared with confidence—that he wasn't the real culprit and had caught the one who was. He would clear his name soon.

"Don't tell me... Kitakami-kun?"

Fujiwara asked hopefully, genuinely happy for him.

"That's right."

Yoru nodded firmly, a faint smile forming as he looked over at Kaguya.

"So it really wasn't him?"

Kaguya maintained a composed expression, but her mind was racing.

That means... everything she and Hayasaka had assumed was wrong.

Who was the real culprit?

And... was this why he's been so hostile toward me? Because he knew all along that I had wronged him?

"I'll keep it brief. The real culprit confessed to me in private."

"The culprit isn't Kitakami Yoru."

Utaha spoke slowly, letting out a sigh in her heart.

She couldn't bring herself to go hard on Eriri.

After getting home that night, she thought long and hard and eventually decided to leave some leeway between her and Eriri.

"Then who was the culprit?"

Chika blinked curiously.

"I can't say. I promised to keep it confidential... sigh."

Kasumigaoka Utaha glanced at Yoru.

Back then, all the evidence had pointed straight to that disgusting, fat otaku—who would have thought he was innocent?

And so began a chain of events.

When Utaha realized someone was following her, she immediately suspected Yoru.

But if the one who stole the stockings and panties was Eriri, then who had been stalking her?

"Judging someone by their appearance."

Yoru cast an annoyed look at Utaha and added, "Don't forget. You promised to publicly apologize to me in front of the entire school."

"I remember."

Utaha nodded calmly. She would take responsibility for what she'd done.

Yoru looked her up and down and was somewhat satisfied with her attitude.

As expected, giving someone a hard slap in the face really does change things.

It shattered the self-righteous pride she once had in front of him.

Just like Eriri's arrogance and pride—it was the same thing.

Now, when Eriri sees Yoru, she can't avoid him fast enough.

"Can you at least tell me whether the culprit was male or female?"

Kaguya divided part of her attention to carefully observe Yoru's expression and reaction.

"It was a girl. So you can relax, Shinomiya-san."

As a girl herself, Utaha fully understood Kaguya's concerns.

"Don't worry, Kitakami-kun. I'll contact the school's press club at noon and print a public notice to clear your name."

Chika turned to Yoru with sincerity.

"Thank you."

Yoru thanked her from the bottom of his heart.

Chika had really done a lot for him. How could he ever repay her?

"I'll leave it to you guys then... and..."

Utaha gave Kaguya a small nod, then turned to Yoru.

Since childhood, there had only been two boys who had ever left her frustrated.

One was Tomoya, the guy she liked—barely acceptable.

The other was Yoru, the guy with that absurdly handsome face who had slapped her.

"You want to call it even?"

Yoru spoke up before she could.

"Yes, let's call it even."

Utaha agreed firmly.

"Fine, but I'll still hate you."

Yoru hesitated for a moment and then nodded.

"Heh..."

"Like I'd ever like you anyway."

"I'd never fall for someone like you."

Utaha gritted her teeth, just as stubborn.

Then she muttered under her breath, "Disgusting pervert. So what if you look good?"

Who brings a whole stack of foot-fetish doujins on a school trip?

Even if it were just normal ones, that'd be one thing.

But no—each one was more twisted than the last.

You like getting stepped on? If I get the chance, I'll stomp you to death!

Yoru ignored her and walked a few steps forward, sitting down on the couch in the student council's break area.

It was still homeroom period—no rush.

"I'm heading out first."

Utaha withdrew her gaze and left without lingering.

"Aren't you going too? Why are you still here?"

Kaguya immediately walked up to Yoru and spoke coldly.

"You were the one who accused me of being the culprit and even tried to force me to drop out in the principal's office. Don't you think you owe me an apology?"

Yoru narrowed his eyes and glared at her.

"I'll compensate you."

Kaguya replied coolly.

Now that the misunderstanding had been cleared up, her opinion of Yoru had improved. He wasn't a thief anymore.

But she still hated him.

Because he'd once said she was incompetent and unfit to be the student council vice president.

That was her reverse scale—as the proud heiress of the Shinomiya conglomerate.

On top of that, she'd clashed with Yoru a few times before.

But hate is hate, right is right.

In her heart, she didn't completely reject the idea of compensating Yoru to resolve the matter.

Still, personally apologizing to someone who had insulted her? No way.

As the daughter of a powerful family, she had her pride. No one could force her to apologize to someone she despised.

"I don't need your compensation, Shinomiya. I'd prefer if you apologized like Kasumigaoka Utaha did."

Yoru replied bluntly.

What he hated most was that arrogance and prejudice ingrained in high-class girls like her.

"Never happening."

Kaguya replied coldly, glancing down at the boy on the couch.

"Then how about now?"

Yoru's brows furrowed.

"Kaguya-chan, Kitakami-kun, can you two not fight again..."

Chika saw her two friends starting to argue and quickly stepped in.

She hurriedly pulled Kaguya back, then sat beside Yoru and gave him a pleading look.

"I knew it... same old story..."

Once the argument paused, Chika sighed inwardly.

She knew Kaguya's stubborn and prideful personality all too well.

"Kitakami-kun, could you stop for my sake? How about I apologize on Kaguya-chan's behalf?"

Chika knew exactly what was going on.

Yoru was about to refuse and tell her to stay out of it.

But the next moment...

That pink-haired girl looked up at him with pleading eyes, gently cupping his hand in both of hers.

"Fujiwara..."

Yoru's face turned grim.

"Please, Kitakami-kun... just for me. Let me apologize for Kaguya-chan..."

Chika gripped his hand tighter, her expression earnest.

"Ugh... fine..."

Yoru clicked his tongue, pursed his lips, and hesitated, shaking his head slowly.

In the end, he gave in.

"Thank goodness... Kaguya-chan!"

Chika immediately brightened up, smiling sweetly at Kaguya.

Seeing her only good friend getting so close to someone she despised made Kaguya even more upset.

It felt like Yoru had stolen her favorite toy.

"Kaguya-chan..."

Chika turned on the charm, her tone sugar-sweet.

"I'll make it up to him a little more."

Kaguya's expression struggled for a moment, but in the end, she gave in and softened her stance slightly.

"Yes!"

Chika suddenly clung tightly to Yoru's arm, her radiant smile blooming.

And this—this was just the beginning. Her true goal was far beyond that.

What she wanted was for her two good friends to let go of their hatred and stop being hostile.

"I should go."

Yoru pulled his arm back. There was no point in staying here any longer.

"Ah, see you."

Chika replied with a smile.

Yoru gave a small nod, glanced one last time at the cold-faced Kaguya, then left the student council room.

"Fujiwara."

After Yoru left, Shinomiya Kaguya turned to her with displeasure.

"Kaguya-chan, don't be mad..."

"Please, please... Hibiya Amusement Park is reopening at the end of the month. Let's invite the president Kei and Moeha too, and all go have fun together, okay?"

Chika turned on her spoiled-child charm and silently added in her mind:

'I'll secretly invite Kitakami-kun too, and set it up so Kaguya-chan ends up exploring the haunted house with him. If they go through something scary together, they're bound to get closer... heehee...'

This was an idea Chika had been working on for a while.

After leaving the student council room, Yoru didn't return to class immediately. Instead, he headed to the bench where Utaha once sat.

He sent a message to Mai.

Kaguya's attitude really left a bad taste in his mouth.

Apologizing in private—she couldn't even say that?

All she could talk about was compensation. Just money again?

The arrogance deep in her bones was disgusting.

Yoru felt intense revulsion.

Damn those wealthy elites!

What's she so proud of?

Wasn't he being tolerant enough already?

All he wanted was a simple apology!

A few minutes later...

Mai replied.

She was still recovering from her illness and taking it slow. After such a serious bout, her body was still weak.

"Rest well. If you miss me, just call."

Yoru messaged her back.

"Mhm..."

Mai pressed send, then held her phone to her chest.

She missed Yoru terribly.

But she also missed her family.

"Mom..."

She looked up at the elegant woman working at her desk. She looked about 50–60% like Mai.

By the time early morning homeroom ended, Yoru finally returned to class.

"Utaha kept Eriri's identity a secret. Their relationship must be complicated~"

As he walked to his floor, Yoru slowed his pace, curious about Eriri's current state.

Passing by, he spotted the misbehaving golden-haired girl, the one who needed to be properly disciplined, slumped over her desk.

She was staring blankly at her LINE messages, thinking:

"Kasumigaoka Utaha only scolded me a bit..."

"She didn't expose me? And didn't threaten me either..."

Eriri was confused and surprised. Then she noticed Yoru walking by and looking at her, so she quickly sat upright by instinct.

Fear... tension... anger... relief... all mixed in her heart.

Meanwhile—

This was the first time Nanami had returned to Shuchiin since that incident. The moment the bell rang for break, a crowd led by the class rep swarmed her.

Some apologized sincerely. Others just went through the motions.

But no matter who it was, Nanami could only nod uncertainly.

In the end, she was left holding a thick envelope containing a little over 100,000 yen in compensation.

She had no choice but to accept it.

She couldn't possibly return every single yen to all her classmates.

"Half a month's salary..."

"Is it really okay for me to accept this...?"

The kind and innocent Nanami hesitated again, glancing around at her classmates.

Then she carefully placed the envelope in her school bag.

Feeling a bit better, she smiled, rested her elbows on her desk, and held her face in her hands.

She couldn't help thinking of Yoru again.

"No no..."

"Don't get distracted..."

"Better wash my face and cool off."

Every time Nanami had free time, she ended up thinking of Yoru. Sometimes she even smiled like an idiot.

She quickly stood up and hurried to the restroom.

The cold water on her face made her feel better.

"Hu~"

"Can't let myself get distracted during class."