Entering school the next day, I was a bit early. This was only due to the bus arriving early since I usually arrive at the same time as most people.

Beside my foot locker however, was a new girl I hadn't seen before.

I crouched down and started undoing my lock as she bent over, "are you Tadano?"

I looked up, "oh, hello. That is me, is there anything you need?"

The girl shook her head and leaned against the lockers, "not really, I just wanted to meet the guy that all the buzz was about. You are the one that decked Tyr, right?"

I scratched the back of my head with my left hand, "I wouldn't say I-"

"It totally is you with that bandaged hand! Hi there, I'm Yokubo (欲望) Kankei (関係)." She brushed her hair to one side.

I finished putting on my shoes and closed my foot locker. I held out my hand to her, "hi, you already know me as Tadano."

She looked down and softly took my hand, shaking it.

I turned and she started walking with me.

"What class are you in, Yokubo?"

"Class 3-4, a long way from you. Do you mind if I walk to your classroom anyways?"

I shrugged, "I mean, why not?" I rubbed one elbow, "so… you heard about me through the grapevine?"

She scoffed after studying me, "who hasn't? I heard you crushed Tyr after he challenged you, as well as delivering one liners!"

I laughed softly, "that's not all that true. I gave him a bit of his own medicine but-"

The girl laughed, "oh don't be so coy about it! You nearly broke one of his ribs and bruised his jaw! Big man was nothing but bark."

I rubbed my left hand, "I wouldn't say that. Anyways-"

"Tadano! There you are!"

I jumped as another feminine voice called out to me. I turned to see Manbagi bounding towards me, the top buttons of her uniform undone as always.

She stopped in front of me and glanced to Yokubo, "hey there, Yokubo. You know Tadano too?"

The girl studied her nails for a moment, "I mean, who wouldn't want to?"

Manbagi just closed her mouth and tilted her head slightly at that response. After a second she just shook her head and gestured to my left hand, "I heard you got hurt yesterday. Is it doing any better today?"

"I have a feeling I'm going to get that question a lot." I scratched the back of my head with my right hand while responding, "but yes, it feels much better. It'll heal properly with time as long as I keep it clean."

Manbagi smiled, "that's good to hear. I spoke to Shoko yesterday about it all and she seemed really worried."

Yokubo bumped my side and placed a hand onto my shoulder, "how could we not be worried?! It was quite the display of dominance yesterday!"

I blinked a few times, wondering what she meant by that.

Manbagi's eyes slowly fell to the girl's hand that rested on my shoulder. Manbagi hefted her bag for a moment, "right… that's what we were all thinking. Anyways," she turned back to me, "I just wanted to check in with you. I'll see you later!"

I waved a hand to her as Manbagi went past us towards her classroom. She stopped and looked to Yokubo, "Aren't you coming? We have the same class."

Yokubo paused for a moment in thought before taking her hand off my shoulder. She clasped her hands together, "thanks, but I'll see you closer to when class starts!"

"But we've only got a bit until-"

"I'll see you then~!" Yokubo called out while turning away.

Yokubo walked ahead of me, gesturing for me to follow as we moved away from Manbagi.

I looked back to the confused and conflicted girl. I decided to wave and call out before we got too far, "I'll tell Shoko you said hi!"

Manbagi paused and exhaled, her body relaxing. She waved back energetically before turning and walking away.

I didn't notice the cautionary glance she cast back that was met with a "you lose" expression from Yokubo.

It was only a minute of casual conversation before we arrived at classroom 3-1.

I gestured to the classroom and opened the door immediately.

I was immediately met with greetings from the classmates inside, excitedly welcoming me in. I gave a friendly wave and made my way to my seat.

"Najimi, you're in the wrong seat."

Najimi pointed a finger gun at my desk, "oi oi! Your desk is a hostage now, fighter! 100 yen and I'll leave."

I tilted my head.

Have they always been this obsessed with money?

"Stop that. It's getting weird," I told her.

Komi held up her notebook too, "good morning. Did you sleep well?"

I nodded to her as I stepped behind Najimi, "I slept very well, thank you. Also this is Yokubo, I met her downstairs."

I shooed Najimi out of my seat after I gave him a 10 yen coin out of pity.

Najimi sat on the front of Komi's desk now instead, "oh yeah, Yokubo aren't you in class 3-4?"

The girl nodded and sat in the seat just in front of me, turning to face me.

"I am, but I wanted to meet some new interesting folks." She looked to me as she met my eyes.

I looked to the right and gave a thumbs up. "I thought this would be the perfect opportunity for you to get another friend, Komi."

I glanced back to Yokubo who was surprised, looking awkwardly back to Komi. She scratched her neck and gestured back to me, "w-well why don't you say a bit about yourself first?"

I thought for a moment, "uhm… well… huh. I don't know."

Najimi stood up with hands on his hips, "how about this! Tadano is both a complete loser and the most popular guy in school! Somehow he balances out to completely average."

I stared at Najimi, "huh? What do you mean by that?"

Yokubo whispered under her breath in thought, "most popular guy in school…?"

Komi held up her notebook quickly, "I don't think you're a loser."

I blinked, "well I'd hope no one thinks i'm a loser!"

Yokubo butted in, "yeah! I haven't heard anything about you being a loser." She clasped both hands and closed her eyes for a moment with a smile, "I've actually heard very good things up to now." She opened her eyes and looked to me.

I tilted my head and glanced to the side, seeing Komi glaring at Yokubo.

There was a certain pressure to her glare. Usually it was expressionless but this aura she had felt… territorial. It softened when she looked to me and met my eyes.

I smiled and asked, "did you sleep well?"

Komi perked up and nodded happily.

I couldn't help but smile at her. Najimi suddenly stood up and started pacing, "alright, you two do your thing. I've got some people to swind- uh -play games with."

Najimi shimmied away before we could respond. I frowned, "do you think he's saving up for that festival rope game?"

Yokubo waved a hand, "she will lose it all like usual. Say, Tadano, you seem to have good judgment. You must've crushed that rope game."

I tilted my head, "nope, I lost like most. Komi here actually won the biggest prize in first year. But now that I think about it we just gave it to Najimi…"

I glanced to Komi, "did you get anything in return for that?"

The woman shook her head.

I frowned but shrugged it off. Komi wrote in her notebook so I looked over and started waiting patiently for her.

"Hey, Taaaadaaaanooooo~" Yokubo called out.

I looked over at her as she smirked for a second. I tilted my head as she placed both elbows on my desk, resting her head on her hands.

"You look pretty good for a guy who supposedly took a hit yesterday."

She grinned, seemingly expecting something as she glanced to Komi for just a moment. She focused her attention on me when I spoke.

"Oh, that's because of the makeup."

I pointed to my right cheek as Yokubo whispered in shock, "eh?"

I looked over to Komi and spoke again, "my sister knows more than I do though since she is the one who did this for me. She mentioned that if I were to cross dress again, some foundation would help sell it." I frowned for a moment, "it hurts knowing that she remembers that and has pictures."

I looked back up and Komi shifted, about to hold up her notebook again.

Oh right, she was writing! I was-

"Tadano, you have a sister?"

I nodded to Yokubo, "her name is Hitomi, she's in middle school right now."

Yokubo examined her nails with a smile, "and you cross dressed before? I like a man who is in touch with his feminine side."

I nodded to her with a slight blush, not all too sure what she meant by that. She opened her mouth to speak again before I could look back to Komi.

"T-Ta… Ta… Hito… Hito…." Komi whispered to my right.

I looked over suddenly, my blush erupting now as Komi said my first name.

She almost never says that! It feels… sacred.

I studied her as she shook, hiding behind her notebook for a moment. The page of her notebook said, "Najimi promised to take me back to the rope game sometime after first year. We didn't get to last year."

Oh right, that's what we were talking about.

I smiled kindly, "why don't we go again at this year's festival? I'll make sure Najimi pays you for an extra try since he forgot last year."

Komi hid behind her notebook for a second before peeking out and nodding.

She turned her notebook and started writing quickly.

Yokubo picked up her voice, "hey Tadano, about that rope game-" She was cut off as Komi squeaked and held up her notebook again.

Her writing was slightly sloppy and very rushed as she showed it to me, "your makeup looks good. Is your hand okay?"

Glancing down to my hand, I adjusted the bandages. As soon as I looked away, I didn't see the two glares the girls exchanged as Komi squinted her eyes from above her notebook.

Yokubo took her next move, reaching forward and holding my left wrist. She studied my hand, "wow, you really did get stabbed. That's very brave of you. That must've been one good fight."

I tilted my head to the side and spoke seriously, "I don't think any fight is a good fight."

"Wait, what?"

"I'm just saying… things could've been resolved peacefully if people didn't jump to violence like Tyr did."

I sensed a hint of annoyance behind her eyes but it quickly disappeared.

I scratched the back of my head, feeling the air getting tense.

I noticed the glares being shared by Komi and Yokubo now.

What's going on here?

I turned to the side as Komi wrote again, "you look nice today."

She was blushing as she held it awkwardly to me. I smiled and tilted my head, "thank you, so do you!"

Yokubo tapped my desk and I glanced back to her before I could see Komi's reaction. "Well I think you're glowing today."

I held a slight blush at all the compliments, "I uhm… thank you?"

I heard writing again and turned to the side to Komi, however it was not me she was addressing this time.

The paper was pointed to Yokubo as it spelled, "please stop."

Yokubo leaned forward on her hands and spoke softly, "whatever could you mean? Am I infringing, Tadano?"

She didn't even look at me when she spoke to me. Both her and Komi were glaring at each other now.

I raised my hands slightly, "I… don't know? What's going on here?"

Yokubo ignored my question, "so, Tadano, what do you find attractive in a woman?"

"Oh! Uhm… I… what…? I guess… how friendly they-"

"Physically."

I jumped nervously and blushed from Yokubo's question. I scratched the back of my head awkwardly, "I don't see why you're asking…" I glanced over to Komi who was going to retort, but slowly lowered her pen hand, intrigued on what my answer will be.

Why does it feel like they're working together on this question?

I looked at my desk as I frowned.

What do I find attractive?

I honestly don't know…

I'm attracted to Komi so… what's one of her prominent features?

"I… guess… girls that… have… longer legs are… attractive."

Why the hell did I say legs?! I know she's self-conscious of their length and height!

I raised both hands and covered my face from Komi as I looked to the left and out the window.

Yokubo didn't give my blush a chance to go down, "well my legs are 75cm and I've got a 48% leg to body ratio. Is that enough?"

I looked back, "e-enough? What for?!"

"M… My legs…" Komi started speaking nervously.

"Are…8 … 89cm… with a… 53% leg to body… ratio…"

I stared at Komi in surprise, hearing those numbers again and again.

I closed my eyes and ingrained those numbers into my head to never be forgotten.

I don't know if I was actually attracted to long legs before but…

Now I sure am.

Yokubo reared back for a moment but bit her tongue, knowing she had lost.

Komi had smoke rising off of her as she shook from anxiety for a moment. Her eyes slowly rose to meet mine. I averted them for a moment but slowly raised them to meet her gaze.

I smiled and tilted my head with a tug on my collar, "that is… certainly…" I couldn't help my gaze looking down, studying the length of her legs now.

I tugged on my tie as I looked to the nearest wall, "they look nice."

There was silence for a moment. Yokubo started talking but silenced herself when Komi stood up and opened her bag. She pulled out a blue fabric jacket, holding it out to me.

"Oh, my jacket! I completely forgot!"

I stood up, placing my arms through it and adjusting it.

I paused afterwards, smelling something.

I took in a deep breath as I recognized it.

Does my jacket smell like… Komi?

I raised one collar and sniffed it.

It does!

I paused as I realized both Komi and Yokubo watched me blatantly smell my jacket that she returned.

I jumped and my face turned red. I bowed to Komi, "t-thank you for returning this to me! I-I'll make sure not to leave it in your home next time."

I straightened back up as Komi smiled, reaching forward and fixing my collar for me. She straightened my tie, tightening it slightly for me. I stared at her in shock as she held herself high with pride, glancing to the side at Yokubo.

She stepped back, sitting down with a confident expression. Upon meeting my surprised eyes, she froze.

Komi immediately covered her face with her notebook, just thinking about what she did.

I slowly sat down, unable to control my blush as I rubbed my hands nervously.

I took a moment to take a deep breath and dispel my blush. It wasn't quite working, so I decided conversation might help.

I saw a panicked look from Komi. She waved her hands, looking to stand up as she stared at Yokubo. I glanced over to follow her gaze.

The woman was leaning over my desk as she whispered to herself, "a lil peck on the cheek will be more than enough to win his attention."

I saw her lips pucker for a moment as I leaned away.

Placing my right hand onto her shoulder, I pushed her back slightly.

Her eyes shifted and met mine in surprise as I turned to her fully.

"What are you doing?" I asked, my blush immediately disappearing.

Yokubo slowly leaned back, "w-what do you mean? Don't you enjoy being surrounded by beautiful girls competing for your affection?"

I blinked several times and glanced to Komi who raised her notebook, glaring at Yokubo.

Where Komi's figurative cat ears usually perked up for excitement or determination, this time they were pointing backwards defensively.

Competing? Is that what they were doing?

I scratched my head, "I'm sorry but… were you flirting with me?"

Yokubo blinked and rubbed her hands, "well, yeah. Why do you think I waited by your locker?"

Am I… that dense? No, I've waited by Najimi's locker before.

… Najima is almost always an outlier.

Maybe I don't pick up on these types of cues very well.

I waved a hand, "I thought you wanted to make friends. Sorry, but no. You're pretty but I'm not attracted to you. Komi here won my affection long ago and she's my girlfriend."

Yokubo stared at me in surprise, slowly standing up from her chair.

"Oi oi! Im back from my extortio- oh uh -gambling!"

That's neither moral nor is the time.

Najimi strode back up to us and put his hands on his hips, "huh? What'd I miss?"

Komi stood up nervously and approached me as Yokubo just glared at me.

I don't like that look. Why's it familiar?

"Why you-!" She raised her right hand and brought it to the side. Suddenly, she swung it towards me.

Moments before her hand would've slapped me, Komi squeaked and shifted. It seems she was ready as she placed her notebook in between the slap and my face.

It connected and the pages pressed against the left side of my face softly, absorbing the blow. I stared, stunned, at Yokubo. She withdrew her hand and took in a breath to shout while Najimi backed away, fading into the background like a ghost.

You coward!

"You had a girlfriend this whole time?! You couldn't have told me?! All that conversation and you can't bother to bring that up within the first five topics?!"

Komi squeaked again and stood by my side as Yokubo squeezed both her hands, leaning back and preparing another slap.

Like a silent protector, Kishi, the knight girl, appeared behind the girl who had captured the attention of the class now.

Kishi swiftly grabbed both wrists of Yokubo and held them in her left hand.

"Let's go," Kishi commanded.

"Unhand me! I demand an apology from you, Tadano! You wasted my time with that boring conversation about your sister!"

"Let's go." Kishi started pulling Yokubo away.

The woman resisted at first but wasn't strong enough to break the grip on her arms. Her heels slid on the ground as Kishi started dragging her away.

"Tadanooooo! I bet you don't even like long legs! You're a liar!"

"Let's just go."

Yokubo didn't stop as she got to the classroom door, "no! I take it all back! I-It's Komi's fault, not mine!" Her voice continued as she was dragged through the hall, "I swear- oh hey, you're pretty strong. What's your name again? Kishi? Are you single?"

"Yes, but for you: no."

"TADANOOOOOOOOOO" Yokubo's voice slowly faded away as she was dragged back to class 3-4.

I rubbed my neck awkwardly as everyone stared at the doorway.

…

I bowed my head to Komi as my face turned red from embarrassment and the spotlight, "s-sorry for that…"

Komi crouched down slightly, shaking her head vigorously.

I gestured helplessly and tried to explain, "how was I supposed to know that's what she thought?! I was beside you and everything! I just… I'm sorry." I repeated my apology to her.

Komi shook her head again and reached forward, brushing her left hand onto my head and pat me. She didn't say or write anything, just sat back down and smiled. There was a silent mote of confidence to her that cried out "I win."

I couldn't help but return her smile.

Najimi bounded back up, "oi oi! Im back from my extor-"

"You're going to use the same line?"

Najimi shrugged to me, "I couldn't let it go to waste. Sooooooo, how was dealing with Yokubo?"

I sighed and rubbed my eyes, "unexpected? I was hoping to get another friend added onto Komi's book."

Najimi shot a finger gun towards me and blew the smoke off of it afterwards. "Not with your recently below-average luck." He stepped forward and sat on the front of my desk as the last of our classmates wandered in, whispering and discussing what just happened.

I could see Kishi walking back into our class behind Najimi, dusting off her hands. She gave a salute to me before returning to her seat.

Najimi brought my attention back to him as she smirked, "so… long legs, huh?"

I lowered my head into my hands, "no… you heard that?"

Najimi smiled and swung her legs in an alternating fashion off of my desk, "not from you. But from Yokubo? We ~all~ heard it. Say…" Najimi raised an eyebrow and hopped off my desk and leaned over Komi.

"How long are your legs, Komi?"

Komi blushed and shook her head, too embarrassed to say.

"Wait! Don't tell me! I only have 10 yen on me so… 10 YEN SAYS 90+ CENTIMETERS!"

I thought you won money through your swindling? Don't tell me you lost it all…

Komi pulled up her notebook nervously to cover her face before shaking her head.

Najimi fell to his knees with a cry of pain, as if being shot through the heart.

"Nooooooo! How could I have been so off?! You win this round Komi, but I'll get it next time!" Najimi strode away, massaging a shoulder confidently.

He didn't even give her my 10 yen…

I shook my head and glanced to the side at Komi who was too nervous to call out and ask for the coin.

"Hey, thanks for y'know… not letting her slap me."

Komi bowed her head before writing in her notebook. She lifted it to me and in beautiful cursive writing, no longer rushed, "I won't let any girl touch you."

She thought for a moment and erased part of her sentence. She showed it back to me.

"I won't let anyone touch you."

I smiled softly to her and bowed my head a moment in thanks. I was about to respond before our teacher walked in, prepared to begin class.

She stopped after placing her papers down, reading the room.

"W-What happened? What did I miss?!"

Ms Omojiri was beginning to get immersed in student gossip.