Chapter 1 | Alone with a Beautiful Girl in Gym Clothes on a Bed

It was the first time I’d ever thought a girl in gym clothes could look so adorable.

The gym uniform at Morinishi High School was a plain dark blue, cotton top and bottom with a single white stripe on the sleeves. Students mocked it as “eggplant cosplay” for its unflattering hue, a running joke that stuck. But on her, it was different. There was no hint of awkwardness, no trace of the eggplant stigma.

Makura Koiro’s presence transformed the outfit entirely. Her radiant face and shimmering hair drew every ounce of attention, making the clothes themselves irrelevant. It was like watching an actress slip into a student role for a drama—tacky uniform or not, you’d never notice the outfit, only her charm. That’s how it felt.

From her spot at the back of the first-floor infirmary in the south school building, Makura noticed my arrival and gave a gentle wave, her fingers peeking out from the oversized sleeve of her gym uniform.

“Hey! You came!”

“Yeah.”

“Welcome, welcome! Make yourself at home!”

“Is this your room or something…?”

Her soft giggle at my quip carried a warmth that felt both nostalgic and new. Trading words with her in the school infirmary was an oddly surreal moment, like stepping into a scene that didn’t quite belong.

“So, they let me claim this little corner behind the bed curtain as my own.”

“Oh?”

A desk sat by the window facing the hallway along the sports field, with a curtain draped around the bed to create a private nook. It was Makura’s designated space, thoughtfully arranged by the school nurse to shield her from the eyes of other students visiting the infirmary.

“Not bad. Gets some nice sunlight.”

It was 1:10 p.m., the lunch break casting soft rays into the room, bathing it in a gentle glow.

“Right? All warm and cozy, perfect for top-tier naps!”

“Hey, are you actually doing your assignments?”

“Huh? Uh—ahahahaha—”

“Your fake laugh is awful…”

Slacking off even here? That was Makura, the embodiment of sloth itself.

“No school nurse around?”

“She’s usually here, but she’s often busy with students or other tasks, so she doesn’t babysit me. Right now, she’s out for lunch.”

“Sounds like you’ve got free rein, then.”

“Yup! I sneak snacks in, and no one’s caught me yet!”

“You’re eating snacks in a place meant for sick people to rest…?”

It was practically her second bedroom. I couldn’t help but feel exasperated, though a part of me was relieved she seemed to be managing.

“Well, looks like you’re doing alright.”

“For now, I’m just glad I don’t have to share this infirmary setup with anyone else,” Makura said with a small laugh, a soft “Yahaha.”

She had a point. This secluded corner of the infirmary was what made her arrangement work. She’d mentioned before that she timed her bathroom trips during class hours to avoid crowded hallways, keeping contact with others to a minimum.

“Come on, sit already.”

Makura stood, parted the curtain, and perched on the edge of the bed that appeared, patting the crisp white sheets to invite me over.

She clearly meant for me to sit beside her.

“Nah, I’m good here.”

I hesitated. Unlike her room, the bed—with its spotless sheets, pillow, and blanket—felt strangely daunting, like I’d be intruding on something pristine.

“Ehh? It’s weird if you’re just standing there, Manamichi-kun. It’s bugging me!”

“Is it…?”

Her pout and pleading gaze left no room for argument. Sighing, I relented and approached the bed, sitting down carefully to avoid making it creak.

Even so, a faint gishi escaped the frame, and Makura’s shoulders twitched slightly.

“………”

“………”

Huh……

Did I sit too close?

Her face was right there, closer than I expected. Meeting her eyes at this distance felt oddly intimate, so I straightened up and faced forward. Was she feeling it too? Makura stayed quiet, staring ahead, though I caught her stealing quick glances my way.

We’d been this close plenty of times in her room, so I thought it’d be fine. But today, something felt different. Maybe it was the infirmary, a public space, or the fact that we were on this immaculate, shared bed meant for anyone to use. Not that we were doing anything sketchy, of course!

Lost in those thoughts, I froze when the infirmary door slid open with a sharp gara.

Makura’s shoulders jumped beside me, and my body tensed.

“Excuse meee… Oh, excuse meee… Is the teacher here?”

A girl’s voice. She’d come looking for the nurse and was peering inside.

This was bad.

I glanced at Makura. Her lips were pressed tight, head lowered, staying perfectly still, willing the girl to leave. We couldn’t let anyone know we were here—not just to keep Makura hidden, but because the sheer scandal of it, a guy and a beautiful girl in gym clothes alone on a bed, would end me socially.

Holding my breath, I waited. After a moment, the door slid shut.

“Phew.” We exhaled in unison.

“T-that scared me!” Makura said, hand on her chest as she turned to me, relief washing over her face.

“Seriously. That took years off my life.”

The words I casually chose were, “No way, how many years?”

“Probably at least a year from that scare.”

“A year!? Ughhh, and my goal is to live a long life! A year is huge!”

“Time’s something you can’t take back.”

“M-my slacking time…” she mourned, voice dripping with mock despair.

“All you were gonna do was laze around anyway!?”

Her bright “Ahaha” rang out, and I couldn’t help but crack a smile. Our usual banter had finally settled in, easing the tension. The rhythm we’d always shared was back, and my shoulders relaxed.

Summer break was over, and today marked the second day of the new semester. I’d popped by the infirmary that morning for a quick hello, but time had been short. This was our first real conversation of the day. After spending long hours together at her house over the break, seeing her only at lunch felt like ages had passed. Still, school was our normal routine—summer was the outlier. I’d probably get used to this soon enough.

Before I realized it, lunch break had dwindled to about ten minutes. Just as I opened my mouth to say something, Makura spoke up at the same moment.

“Hey, hey, Manamichi-kun, you’ve got cram school today, right?”

“Cram school? Oh, yeah. Why?”

It was Friday, one of my cram school days.

“Well, uh, I was just thinking…” Makura glanced away briefly, then met my eyes. “…Maybe we could walk home together?”

“Sure. It’s a nice detour before heading to cram school.”

“Yay!” Her face lit up with a grin.

Worst case, I could skip cram school, but blowing it off on a regular weekday felt like it’d unravel something in me. Knowing I could skip if I needed to—a lesson from the trip I’d taken with Makura—gave me an odd sense of calm.

Another thought crossed my mind, and I turned to her. “But, is it okay for us to walk home together?”

Before the second semester started, we’d agreed to keep things low-key at school, avoiding anything that might draw attention—like being seen as a guy and girl together. With someone as striking as Makura, people would whisper about some mystery couple. That wouldn’t be good for her. And for me… a plain guy like me with a gorgeous girl like her? I’d probably get obliterated by jealous glares. Either way, it was a terrifying thought.

Makura seemed to pick up on my concern. “Muu,” she huffed, her lower lip jutting out in a faint pout.

Seeing her expression, I paused, then offered a solution. “…Alright, how about this? Right after school, before the crowds start leaving, we slip out the gate and meet up somewhere a bit farther off. Then we take a quiet back road home. Sound good?”

Her eyes widened, and she nodded eagerly, her face breaking into a radiant smile. “Yes! Let’s do that!”

As expected, her smile was her best look. Making her happy sent a warm, uplifting feeling spreading through me.

＊

Even in our summer uniforms, the evening air didn’t leave me drenched in sweat. Maybe because it was cooler now? A gentle breeze brushed my cheeks, carrying a pleasant chill.

I remembered the first time I walked from school to Makura’s house, trudging through a brutal heatwave like a dried fish in a furnace. It hadn’t even been a few months, but it felt like a lifetime ago.

“If we go this way, it’s a bit of a detour, but hardly anyone from school uses it.”

“Wow, a secret route? As expected of Manamichi-kun!”

After meeting up with Makura, I veered off the main school path onto a side street. We passed through a block of houses and emerged into an open stretch of rice fields. Bathed in the golden glow of the evening sun, the stalks swayed softly in the breeze.

Makura spread her arms wide, taking a deep breath. “Fuuu.”

“Man, I’m exhausted. School’s just too much!” she groaned.

“You okay? It’s only the start of the semester. Next week’s a full five days, Monday to Friday.”

“That’s basically a full-time job! No way…” Her steps turned wobbly, as if all her energy had drained away.

“Real working adults would get mad at you for saying that.”

“Sorry!” she chirped, snapping upright with exaggerated remorse.

“But, like, you’re going to cram school on top of all that, right, Manamichi-kun? That’s insane.”

“Well, I’ve got a national mock exam coming up.”

Even as a first-year, I was preparing for a standardized mock exam meant for third-years and graduates, aimed at university entrance prep. I’d been studying for it daily.

I tried explaining it to Makura, but…

“Hello? …Hello, anyone there?”

It clearly wasn’t sinking in.

“It’s a tough test. It measures your level and pits you against others for scores.”

“Oh, got it! Well, good luck! Seriously!” She beamed, cheering me on despite not fully grasping it. I gave a wry smile. “Thanks.”

“Oh, but then tomorrow…” Makura turned to me, her voice trailing off.

“Nah, that’s fine. I need a break sometimes too.”

This Saturday, Makura had invited me to her house. “Wanna hang out at my place for a while? It’s been forever,” she’d said. Since I hadn’t been over since the semester started, it really did feel like ages. We’d made the plan a couple of days ago, and I was definitely going. I’d known about the mock exam for a while, but even with that looming, I hadn’t turned down her invitation.

“…Hm?”

I felt her gaze and glanced over. Makura was grinning at me, a mischievous glint in her eyes.

“Hmmm, I see, I see. So, Manamichi-kun’s totally hooked on slacking off, huh? Got addicted over summer break, didn’t you?”

“It’s not like that…”

“Oh? You can be honest, you know!” Makura teased, her voice light and prodding.

But I wasn’t dodging the truth. It wasn’t about wanting to slack off. It was just… her room, that tranquil haven—cutting it out completely after summer break left a quiet ache, like something was missing. Admitting that out loud, though, was too embarrassing, and my words faltered. Makura caught my hesitation and let out a mischievous “Nishishi.”

“Anyway, Kumada-sensei asked me to keep an eye on you. So you don’t tank your grades again and end up in remedial hell over winter break.”

Makura’s face drained of color. “W-what, those study-crammed torture days again!? That’s brutal!”

“What do you mean ‘those’? You barely cracked a book over the summer.”

“I put in tons of effort in my own way! Oh, please, just spare me for tomorrow, Saturday…”

“Well, tomorrow’s fine. Second semester just started, after all.”

“As expected! Manamichi-kun gets it!” Her face lit up, then softened as she glanced around. “Oh, I know this road. It really leads to my place!”

Before I realized it, we were nearly at Makura’s house. One more turn, and her two-story apartment building came into view.

“Alright, Manamichi-kun. Thanks for today!”

“Yeah.”

She flashed a playful salute, palm out, and grinned. “See you tomorrow!”

I watched her climb the apartment stairs and reach her door before turning toward my next stop. For some reason, my steps toward cram school felt lighter than usual today.