Prologue: What If I Saved the Most Beautiful Girl in School Who Collapsed in Front of a Net Cafe?

The silver-haired maiden lying in the net cafe's flat room awoke, like a princess in a fairy tale whose curse had been broken.

Her silver hair sways, and while scratching the mat with her white fingertips, she sits up.

I averted my gaze as if to flee. However, bare legs awaited me where I looked.

Bathed in the incandescent light pouring down from the wood-grain ceiling, they were just like melted fresh snow.

「Fueh? H-Huuh...?」

On top of the black synthetic leather mat, the maiden yawned like a cat.

My tension eases at her defenseless reaction, and I inadvertently raise my face. That was not good.

Peeking through her white blouse, a lime-green bra.

The designated girls' uniform of Shirakami School is swelling into two bountiful mounds.

A private room in a well-air-conditioned net cafe. Even though I'm being bathed in cold air from above, I can't calm down in the slightest. My heart played a restless beat, sending hot blood coursing through my body.

「...Um, you're a staff member, right?」

My classmate, Kurahashi Mai, spoke to me with moist eyes.

Her eyes, framed by delicate lashes, gaze at me inquisitively.

I──Shibuya Kimito──quietly put on the mask of the chief staff member of the net cafe "Three Freaks".

「Yes, that is correct.」

「Em... excuse me. Why was I sleeping here?」

「You suddenly collapsed in front of the store. You were unconscious, so I brought here.」

「...Is that so?」

Letting out a cute sneeze with a kushyun, Kurahashi-san notices a change in her body.

「Kyah, my jacket is off...?」

「I'm sorry, you looked hot.」

Her uniform jacket was folded at her side, and the button at the collar of her blouse was loosened.

「Also, my skin feels a little, dry...?」

「I thought it wouldn't be good for you to catch a cold...」

It's not good to expose a sweat-drenched body to cold air.

I swear, I haven't done anything indecent.

The proof of that was her chest.

Kurahashi-san's gaze fixes on that sweat-dampened spot. At the sight of her underwear showing through her blouse, she blushed overtly and hurriedly covered her chest.

「Was that an overstep on my part...?」

I had disarranged a woman's clothing without permission. If she felt uncomfortable, I will readily accept my punishment.

In the full-flat private room, I kneeled properly and bowed my head.

「Ah! Please, don't apologize!」

Kurahashi-san scooted toward me on her knees and clasped my hand, which was resting on the mat.

She gently lifts it and presses it to her damp chest.

「Thank you for saving me...」

「N-No, I just did what anyone would have done...」

A conversation at a proximity that would be unthinkable at school.

And her tone was somehow unguarded──as if she were talking to a friend.

Her body temperature, still warm. The scent of shampoo mingling with her sweat. The breath exhaled from her vivid, peach-colored lips smelled like lemon.

A private room in a dark net cafe. A young man and woman, so close their breaths could mingle, huddle together and gaze at each other. We are doing something terribly wrong. But contrary to the thought that this is bad, my heart pounded, and my body grew hot.

Even though I came into this room to escape the midsummer heat, it feels like I'm about to lose consciousness from the heat.

Furthermore, Kurahashi-san closes the distance.

I reflexively shook off her hand and created some distance.

Kurahashi-san is now by the private room's entrance, while I am separated on the side with the table where the computer is placed.

My chest ached with a pang at her eyes, which stared at me sorrowfully.

「S-Sorry! But, I thought it might not be a good idea...!」

「......Ah! Y-You are wrong! It's not like that at all!」

It seems both she and I are confused.

I take a white peach frozen drink from the table and hand it to Kurahashi-san.

「Here, let's drink this and calm down a bit... okay?」

「Ah... yes. Thank you.」

「Also, it's okay to speak casually.」

"Since we're classmates", I started to say, but then I reconsidered──

「I like it better that way, because it's cute.」

「It's...... that so?」

Thinking it was really not good to mix public and private matters at my part-time job, I had rephrased it into a safer line.

Kurahashi-san takes the drink from me and scoops up the milky-white melted shaved ice with a spoon.

「Ehehe, time to eat...」

When she said that, she had an innocent smile I had never seen at school.

「By the way... what kind of store is this?」

「It's called a net cafe, but what you do here is... a bit hard to explain?」

「......C-Could it be, an erotic store?」

「N-No! That's not what I meant!」

◇ ◇ ◇ ◇

Let's rewind time a little.

A Sunday in mid-April. Aomori Prefecture.

An unseasonable midsummer day had struck Hirosaki City, located in its southwestern part.

A temperature over thirty degrees Celsius, a rarity in the Tohoku region.

By early afternoon, wireless warnings for heatstroke were broadcast, and the town of Hirosaki was in a bit of an uproar. From Sakura-Oodoori, the street in front of my part-time job, the figures of citizens usually taking leisurely strolls had all vanished at once.

「This is incredible. It's so hot it hurts my skin.」

「Don't you think everyone will take refuge at our place? And then... we'll get special hazard pay!」

「Hahahaha, we don't have a system like that here, you know?」

After exchanging small talk with a junior staff member a year younger than me, I started the task of cleaning the parking lot.

In this heat, I really couldn't bring myself to make the general staff do it.

Shibuya Kimito. Seventeen years old. A second-year student in the general course at the prefectural Shirakami School. At school, I'm an unremarkable gloomy kid.

That me was working as the chief staff member at a privately owned net cafe in the city. It's not a story about a mob character having a surprising talent──it's just that the owner and manager is my father.

「Oh my, Kimito-chan. Working hard cleaning again today, aren't you?」

Tabata-obasan, who lives behind the store, called out to me.

She was in a tracksuit. It was usually the time she went for her daily jog──but it seems she turned back because of this heat. With her removed jacket tied around her waist, she wiped the sweat from her forehead with the sleeve of her black tracksuit.

「It's hot, isn't it? Are you okay? If you'd like, please come cool off in our store.」

「I'm fine. This old lady is still full of energy.」

「No, I'm worried...!」

「...Really? Well then, I'll take you up on your kind offer.」

I guide Tabata-san into the store. After having her sit in the open space right by the entrance, I went to the drink bar, poured a sports drink, and returned to her.

「Here you go, please drink this.」

「Oh my? Is this okay?」

「I'd be sad if Tabata-san collapsed.」

「Oh, my my. You've gotten so good at handling women. You're at that age now, aren't you, Kimito-chan.」

The old lady, having taken the glass from me, sips the sports drink little by little.

「You've really become so mature, Kimito-chan.」

「You think so?」

「When the store first opened, you were only up to my knees...」

「Give me a break.」

After pressing her to rest well until her breathing calmed down, I returned to the parking lot once again.

Communicating with the local residents is also an important part of the job.

For a "24-hour establishment" like a net cafe, it can be a matter of life and death.

If late-night noise can be forgiven for the price of a single drink, it's a cheap price to pay. It's true I'm worried, though.

Stepping outside the store again, I gather the trash scattered in the parking lot with a broom.

Cigarette butts. Gum wrappers. A torn hair tie. A ripped flyer.

A condom wrapper. A torn adult magazine.

「Having stuff like this lying around gives a bad impression...」

I mutter to myself while wiping the sweat from my forehead with the sleeve of my uniform. My net cafe uniform, which I hadn't switched over from the winter version yet, was soaked with sweat all the way down my back before I knew it.

「I wonder if I left a change of clothes in my locker?」

Just as I muttered those words──

「......Huh?」

A familiar uniform entered the corner of my vision.

On Sakura-Oodoori, a beautiful girl with dazzling silver hair is walking. Amidst the cherry blossom petals of Hirosaki Park, whipped up and dancing in the wind, she was weakly tapping her brown loafers on the ground.

A face as perfectly proportioned as a Western doll. Just by being there, she looks like a scene from a famous painting or movie. A height of perhaps 150cm, with a prominent, ample chest.

It's my classmate, Kurahashi Mai.

For some reason, she's in her uniform on a day off. Sheltered by a white parasol, her steps are somewhat unsteady.

An on-season spring breeze blows on an off-season midsummer day. The maiden's body sways, and she looks like she's about to stumble out toward the road. With terrible timing, a medium-sized truck was approaching──

「Watch out...!」

I rushed over in a panic and caught her by the shoulder.

A prolonged honk echoes in the blue Hirosaki sky. The truck, without a glance in our direction, disappeared toward the station front while spewing gray exhaust.

「...Are you okay?」

To the maiden I had reached out to on impulse, I called out.

「......kyuu」

The maiden with the parasol had lost consciousness from the heat.

Now, what should I do.

I could call an ambulance, but I hesitate to leave her lying under this blazing sun.

A place to cool down immediately──

「I wonder if there's a private room free?」

The perfect place was right in front of me.

Kurahashi Mai is my classmate and a bona fide young lady of high class. Her father is the president of a general trading company in Tokyo. Moreover, he's not just an employee──he's the next head of the founding family.

The reason such a young lady is in Hirosaki is because the main branch of the Kurahashi family is here.

The Kurahashi family is a line of samurai dating back to the Edo period, and they apparently held important posts in the domain. They started a business at the opportunity of the Meiji Restoration, and while growing into a large corporation by riding the tides of the times, they continued to live in their hometown.

Well, to put it simply, they're an old family.

However, their influence is immense, and it is whispered in all seriousness that "if you want to live in Hirosaki, you must not go against the Kurahashi family".

She is the daughter of such a fearsome family. One might wonder what kind of arrogant and mean-spirited personality she'd have──but to one's surprise, she was a wonderful young lady who was kind to everyone, full of consideration, pure and modest.

「Good morning, everyone.」

With just her greeting, the classroom becomes brighter.

「Emm... everyone, about the next class, it's been changed to a supplementary lesson due to the teacher's urgent business!」

Even annoying notices from teachers sound charming when she says them.

「Mai, look here. A yurukawa plushie. Isn't it cute?」

「Waa, it's Yuru-chan! Where'd you get it?」

「At the arcade in front of the station. A little hard for Mai to go in, maybe?」

「Ehh, I want one too...」

「Then I'll get one for you next time. The tabby cat plushie Mai likes.」

「Really!? Thank you, Kaori-chan!」

She had a charm that made you unintentionally listen in even on her casual daily conversations with friends.

A beautiful girl with a naive and innocent charm. Combined with her otherworldly appearance, our classmates, boys and girls alike, were captivated by Kurahashi-san.

Without a doubt, the cutest beautiful girl in school. And that girl is──

「Is this a computer? It's different from the one at my house.」

She had turned her rear defenselessly toward me and was intently inspecting the net cafe's private room.

Her checkered skirt sways and flutters. Her white thighs peeking from the hem and her small bottom have been restlessly bouncing about since a while ago.

「Ah, a cute trash can♪ It's so tiny♪」

「Is that something to get so excited about?」

「I wonder if my bag will fit in this locker?」

「No, this is for valuables.」

「A big sofa~♪ Rolling around~♪ Lazing around~♪ This is the best~♪」

She is just like a child visiting an amusement park for the first time.

Kurahashi-san's eyes sparkled at each and every piece of furniture in the net cafe's private room as she let out cries of admiration.

「Net cafes are amazing.」

Amidst that, the computer started up, and a browser launched on the display in front of the table.

「Ah, it's Yurukawa♪」

「Yeah, that's a WeTube anime we're streaming, on a whim of my father's.」

The web page for our net cafe's user guide. In its corner, a Yurukawa WeTube anime is playing. Just for that simple thing, the young lady frolics innocently.

「Ah, this lady in a swimsuit fidgeting under the Yurukawa is...?」

「Don't worry about that.」

「Ah, she's being caught by a man who looks kinda evil...!?」

「That's right. How about we play a game since you're here? Is there any game you want to play? We're very particular about our computers performance, so you can play anything, you know?」

I closed the browser before Senmanin SLGZ (an adult-oriented social game) could reach a sensitivity of 30,000 times higher.

「U-Um... Staff-san.」

Kurahashi-san is blushing. If I look closely──my arm was touching her damp chest.

The feeling of close contact is incredible, partly because it's absorbing sweat. If the total amount of a person's luck is predetermined, I've probably used all of mine up with this.

「S-Sorry! It wasn't on purpose!」

「Y-Yeah. I don't mind...」

For someone who says she doesn't mind, her cheeks are colored as red as an apple.

Hiding my panic, I moved away from her.

This should be enough. She has completely regained consciousness and has recovered enough to hold a normal conversation. She has hydrated, and I think her fever has gone down.

「Well then, I'll be going. Please use the room until it cools down outside.」

「U-Um...!」

As I try to leave the room, Kurahashi-san calls out as if to cling to me.

When I turned back with my hand on the doorknob, she placed a hand on the chest I had touched, her cheeks still dyed red, and asked with downcast eyes.

「U-mm, I, I don't know anything about games.」

「Eh? Aha, is that so?」

「If it's okay with you, could you teach me? In great detail.」

◇ ◇ ◇ ◇

Guiding her in great detail aside, I ended up giving Kurahashi-san a lecture on games.

「Um? Is there a Yurukawa game?」

「I don't… think so?」

「Right...」

For now, I show Kurahashi-san a list of games playable on the PC.

She blinked her eyes cheerfully at the packages of famous titles.

I was skeptical, but from her reaction, this must really be her first time. She is a young lady from an old family, so perhaps her parents and those around her are strict about such things.

「Um, Staff-san.」

The silver-haired maiden laughs "Ehehe" and pokes my shoulder.

「Yes, what is it?」

「Is this one interesting? Does it look like something even I can play?」

Kurahashi-san points a finger at the LCD display. Her index finger was pointing at the package art of a chibi, three-heads-tall angel with white hair, and a pair of siblings dressed in stateless-style outfits.

The title is "Chi Shin Impact".

It's an open-world RPG that has dominated the social game scene for several years.

In Japan, it is known by the name "Nanagami".

「You're interested in this one?」

「Yeah! I think the angel-san flying around all fluffy is cute♪」

「Well, can't be helped then. But honestly, this game is for advanced players...」

「It's okay, I'll do my best!」

In response to my concern, she gave me a look that stubbornly said, "I want this one!"

Then she slowly brings a hand to her chest──

「Please guide me in great detail.」

She said such a thing with a blushing face.

Come to think of it, I had promised to teach her how to play the game.

「Got it. Well then, as far as we can get.」

I looked at the computer's clock and it was just before 4:00. Even though we hadn't been talking for even an hour yet, it seemed my admired classmate had come to trust me a great deal.

Touring an open world with a sheltered young lady was more arduous than I had imagined.

Never mind the basic operation of a desktop PC, there's no way a game novice could suddenly operate a character with WASD (the basic keys for character movement).

It took 15 minutes just to take the first step.

「Ah, ah, ah! What should I do! It won't stop!」

「Take your finger off the W key.」

The character, which continued to move forward, fell into a pond and drowned.

We can't even reach the tutorial character. Just by strolling around the starting point, an hour had passed before I knew it.

Well, that's not a bad thing, but──

「Ah, a beautiful butterfly♪」

「You're right.」

「I wonder if I can catch it... ei♪ ei♪」

「...! Sorry, that vibration...!」

「Ah! S-Sorry! Did it hurt...?」

Having Kurahashi-san on my lap to guide her in great detail was tough. In many ways.

The soft bottom pressing squishily against my thighs. The silver hair swaying at the tip of my nose. Her back, occasionally leaning against me unguardedly. I was made to realize the softness of a woman's body more than I ever thought possible.

It started when Kurahashi-san──

「...Um, is it okay if I move a little closer?」

「It's fine. Do as you like.」

「...Then. Yoisho.」

「......Fueh?」

──sat on my lap as a surprise attack, that was the cause.

Unable to force her off, and since it certainly made it easier to teach, we've arrived at the present situation, but I couldn't understand the maidenly heart that would be in such close contact with a male classmate so defenselessly.

While I struggle with my inner conflict, Kurahashi-san happily sways her bottom.

Each time that exquisitely soft thing pressed down on my thighs, I almost let out a strange noise.

「Staff-san? Did it hurt after all?」

「No, I'm okay.」

In fact, I'm a little too energetic for my own good.

「If there's anything I can do, just say so, okay?」

Then get off my lap right now──I desperately held back those words.

Because she is truly, genuinely having fun playing the game.

Since she entered the private room, my image of Kurahashi-san has been continuously shattered, for better or for worse. The most beautiful girl in school, devoted, kind, and smart.

That image of a perfect beautiful girl is changing into a mischievous and clumsy beautiful girl.

I wonder which one is the real her.

「Ah! Angel-chan! That way is the pond...!」

In the end, we made little progress in the tutorial after that, and before I knew it, it was past 5:00.

「Ah! Oh no...! I have to go home soon...!」

It seems that was Kurahashi-san's family curfew.

She jumped off my lap in a hurry, put her arms through the sleeves of her uniform hanging on the wall, and put on the loafers placed at the entrance.

And then──her eyes shot wide open, and she took out her wallet from her chest pocket.

「Em, this is a store, right? I'm not sure how much I should pay, but...」

What she held out was a 10,000 yen bill. Three of them, no less.

I quickly shook my hands and head.

「Please don't worry about the fee.」

「No, no. This much of a gratuity is normal.」

「I haven't done anything to deserve a gratuity.」

「Then, instead of money, this...」

From inside her wallet, she took out a single, pure white business card.

It was a simple thing, with just her name, contact information, and address written on it.

「My name is Kurahashi Mai, the second daughter of the Kurahashi family.」

「Ah, yes, thank you for the polite introduction...」

I already know, though. We're classmates.

Kurahashi-san should know me too, but──I guess etiquette is important.

「I'm sorry, I happen to be out of business cards.」

「Ah, no, that's not why I gave it to you...」

「This is my LIKE account. If it's not a bother, please add me as a friend...」

「Eh...?」

Instead of a business card, I showed her my LIKE account.

Unlike Kurahashi-san, I don't carry things like business cards.

This was all I had to offer in its place.

Still, maybe that was rude. Kurahashi-san freezes, not moving a muscle.

「Is it not okay, I guess?」

As I tried to pull my hand back, she hurriedly grasped it in return.

Her cheeks were dyed bright red.

「I... Is it okay?」

「Yeah, if you're not inconvenienced.」

「No! Thank you, I'll accept it!」

「You're overreacting.」

「Even so... I'm so happy!」

I didn't understand why Kurahashi-san was so excited, but in any case, we exchanged our LIKE contact info. She, who operated the app with hands that looked completely unused to it, was cute.

「Your icon is a yurukawa-style tabby cat, isn't it?」

「Yeah! I love them! Staff-san's is... huh, a woman?」

「She's a character from the game we were just playing. Well, please don't worry about it.」

「Okay... We're both otaku, huh.」

Clutching her smartphone with both hands, Kurahashi-san smiles with a goofy grin.

「...Kimito-san♪」

「...Yes?」

I replied. But just for that, Kurahashi-san's face turned red.

「Ah, sorry. I just wanted to call your name. Would -kun be better, maybe?」

「No, I don't mind at all. Please call me whatever you like.」

We're classmates, after all. As I tried to add that, Kurahashi-san took my hand and turned her moist eyes on me. Just like a maiden in love──

「Kimito-san. Is it okay if I come again?」

「Sure. You're more than welcome.」

As a net cafe employee, I gave a perfectly normal reply.