Chapter 3 | The First Game

“Negoro-kun’s gone delinquent!?”

Kumada-sensei’s voice rang out, sharp with disbelief, cutting through the quiet of the staff room. I flinched, shrinking into myself.

“I thought he was just a bit eccentric from all that studying. But has he finally hit the age where he’s straying from the path!?”

That’s a bit much, Sensei.

The other teachers in the room flicked their eyes toward me, their glances prickling my skin. I leaned forward, voice low and urgent. “P-Please, calm down.”

“I’m not attending summer classes starting today,” I’d told her moments ago, and this was her reaction.

“No, no, it’s not like that…” I scrambled to explain, my words tripping over each other. “I tried a few days, but the classes felt a bit… off-level for me. So I figured I’d study at home or in the cram school’s study room instead. I’ll still come by to pick up Makura’s handouts, though.”

It was a half-truth, thrown together in a panic. I couldn’t exactly admit I was heading to Makura’s place to… well, not exactly fall into depravity, but it wasn’t entirely innocent either. Delinquent? Hardly. But it’s definitely a gray area.

Sensei’s eyes narrowed, searching my face for cracks in my story. “Did you talk about anything with Koiro-chan?”

“Yeah, a bit.”

“I asked before, but does she seem okay? She’s bright, isn’t she? Easy to talk to?”

If she’s okay? Makura’s fine—bursting with energy, even while lazing around. But her brightness sometimes feels like a mask, a performance that doesn’t quite sit right. That blend of casual and polite speech—does she always talk like that? And she seemed uneasy about anyone reporting her situation, so I figured it was best to keep things vague.

“We talked, but I can’t really say if she’s okay. She seems to live in pajamas, though.”

For some reason, my words made Kumada-sensei’s eyes spark with curiosity. “Pajamas, huh?”

“Uh, yeah.”

“…Hmm… interesting. So you found that out…” She let out a knowing murmur, her lips curling into a grin as she studied me. What’s that supposed to mean?

I narrowed my eyes, suspicion creeping in, but she pressed on. “Oh, Negoro-kun, you said you’d study at home, but is that home maybe Koiro-chan’s place?”

My heart lurched. Stay calm. It’s not like I’m doing anything wrong.

But Kumada-sensei’s grin only widened, as if she’d caught some fleeting shift in my expression. “I see, I see! Getting along even better than I thought! Wow, who would’ve guessed? That’s great, really great! Looks like I don’t need to meddle after all!”

“We’re not exactly getting along,” I muttered, trying to deflect. “We just talked about studying together at her place.”

“Ohh, hmm, I see!”

Do you, though? Her tone didn’t sound convinced.

Desperate to shift the conversation, I raised my voice slightly. “I’ll come by the school for the handouts, so just let me know when there are assignments!”

Not sure if she heard me, Sensei pressed her index finger to her lips, lost in thought for a moment. Then she looked up, her smile bright as she clapped her hands. “Got it! I’ll handle making excuses to the summer class teachers for you.”

“Is that okay?”

“Yup. As long as you’re getting along with Koiro-chan. Oh, and make sure you come back for the second semester as the pure Negoro-kun we know. Don’t get carried away just because you’re alone with her and make Koiro-chan cry, okay?”

“You don’t have to worry about that, I swear!”

Absolutely, probably, most likely… No, I’m not expecting anything like what you’re implying, Sensei.

Still, I couldn’t help but think about it. I’m going to her place because I want to shake up the “pure” life I’ve led so far. By the end of summer break, maybe I’ll be a little less innocent. The thought lingered, fleeting but heavy.

＊

Looking back, it hit me again—when, where, or why did Makura take a liking to me enough to let me into her room?

“I want to tidy up a bit, so your lazy life starts tomorrow, okay, Manamichi-kun?”

That’s what she’d said yesterday, so I handed over the assignments and left. But why would she bother cleaning just to let me in? I’m the type to weigh benefits and losses before acting, so when someone’s motives are unclear, it gnaws at me.

Makura Koiro. I still don’t quite get her.

—Wait, if I’m overthinking this, what about all the studying I’m supposed to be doing?

After picking up the assignments from Kumada-sensei at school, I headed straight to Makura’s place. When I rang the bell and gave my name, the door swung open almost instantly, unlike her usual sluggish pace.

Makura poked her head out, clad in pajamas dotted with tiny teddy bears. Guess she didn’t bother changing today. “Hey, hey, welcome… Fuwaa.”

Her greeting came with a yawn, her sleepy eyes barely half-open. She gestured for me to come in, and I mumbled, “Sorry for the intrusion,” as I stepped into the entrance. The hallway, with its small kitchen, stretched about two meters before opening into the room beyond.

There, on a white rug, sat that posture-ruining bean bag. The TV flickered with a game screen, a controller and a plastic bottle of juice resting on the low table nearby. Same scene as before. But the rest of the place was strikingly tidy, giving off a crisp, clean impression.

“It’s nice and clean,” I said, sharing my honest thoughts as Makura caught me glancing around.

“Really? Thanks!” Her face lit up with a happy smile.

“Was there even anything to tidy up?”

“Well, I shuffled some stuff out of the messy spots. Took a shower this morning, so I put away the clothes I was wearing. But it’s usually pretty tidy anyway. Comfy depravity starts with a clean home, right?”

“Uh, news to me.”

I’d never heard that saying, but it seemed Makura had her own philosophy about slacking off. The room was about six tatami mats in size, furnished simply with a TV, TV stand, low table, that oversized bean bag, and a bed. A storage box by the bed overflowed with manga, but everything else was neatly arranged.

“Oh, just sit on the bed wherever,” she said casually, waving a hand.

“Wherever, huh…”

I eased onto the edge of the bed, the springs giving a faint creak under my weight. The sheets, cool from the air conditioning, felt smooth against my hands—a small comfort that did little to calm the sudden flutter of nerves in my chest.

“Hang on a sec, I’ll grab some drinks,” Makura said, padding back toward the hallway.

Left alone, I rested my hands on the bed and let out a quiet sigh. This was my first time in a girl’s room. Every small movement stirred a faint scent, like fabric softener, soft and lingering. And here I was, sitting on her bed. The thought hit me hard: this was thrilling in a way I hadn’t expected.

Then something caught my eye, wedged between my bag and the floor. I must’ve stepped on it when I set my bag down. A thin strip of fabric, pale yellow—maybe lime green? Squinting, I couldn’t quite make it out, so I reached for it. It was impossibly soft, almost weightless in my hand. As I started to pull it free—

“Ah, wait, stop!”

Makura’s voice shot through the room, sharp with panic. She was back from the hallway, her eyes wide.

“Huh?”

Before I could react, I’d already tugged the fabric free. Makura lunged forward, snatching it from my fingers and shoving it under her pajama top, pressing it against her stomach to hide it.

But I’d seen it clearly. Panties. No mistaking it.

“Did you… see?” Her voice was small, hesitant.

“In this situation, is there any way I could convincingly claim I didn’t?”

“R-right…” Makura looked away, her cheeks tinged with a faint flush.

“That was my bad,” she mumbled. “Yup. But next time you see, there’s gonna be a fine!”

“A fine? That’s practically a trap!” Was I already doomed the moment I stepped into this room? My eyes darted around, half-expecting more surprises.

“Ugh, is this gap in my defenses the price of depravity?” Makura groaned, still clutching the fabric under her pajamas. She stood, slightly hunched, and shuffled back toward the hallway. “I’m gonna go seal this away for now.”

“…So this is a girl’s room, huh?” I muttered after her figure disappeared. That was intense right from the start. Being alone with a girl in pajamas, still in my school uniform, felt surreal. The image of those panties flickered in my mind, and I couldn’t help but wonder: Can I actually handle being here?

＊

Makura returned from the kitchen, holding a paper cup. “Here, tea. Sorry for the chaos right off the bat.”

“Nah, I’m the one intruding, so don’t worry about it,” I said, taking the tea. She plopped onto the floor, grabbing the plastic bottle of juice from the low table. We both sipped our drinks, letting out a synchronized “phew.”

Alright, time to get to business. I reached for my school bag on the floor. “Here’s today’s assignments.” I pulled out three sheets and handed them to her.

“Thanks!” Makura took them with both hands, as if receiving an award, and placed them carefully on the low table. Then, with another small “phew,” she turned back to the TV, where the game screen still flickered.

……That’s not a “phew” moment.

“How far have you gotten with the assignments?” I asked, trying to steer her back on track. “I can help with anything you don’t get.”

She blinked at me, her expression a mix of surprise and dismay. “Eh? The assignments… they can wait!”

“No way, that’s not okay. If you don’t turn them in, you’ll get expelled.”

I glanced around. No study desk in sight. Where does she even do her work?

“That’s not what we agreed on!” Makura protested, her voice rising. “Manamichi-kun, you came here to slack off…”

She really doesn’t want to study. Forcing her didn’t feel right, but still…

As my silence stretched, Makura seized the moment, her eyes lighting up. “C’mon, it’s fine! Let’s just be lazy today! Here, relax those shoulders!” She took a deep breath and let it out with a long, exaggerated “phew.”

Her words were tempting, pulling me in. Maybe I could set studying aside for now and follow her lead. I stayed quiet, taking a deep breath of my own. Makura’s face broke into a delighted grin.

“Alright, daraaan!”

“……”

“Repeat after me!”

“W-Wait, I have to say it too? Da-daraaan.”

“Dararaaan!”

“Dararaaan!”

As I echoed her, letting my body sink into the bed, a strange sense of release washed over me, like I was melting into the moment. Is this what slacking off feels like? After a few rounds of “Daraaan” together, Makura gave a satisfied nod. “Alright.”

“So, shall we?” She picked up a game controller from the floor and held it out to me.

“Nah, I’ve never played games before,” I said, waving it off.

Her eyes widened in genuine shock. “Huh… Manamichi-kun, are you human?”

“I’m aware that I’m a Homo sapiens, a member of the primate family Hominidae, but…”

“As expected, your comeback’s so academic!” she laughed.

“Not a line I get to use often.”

“Wait, am I at risk of being labeled non-human if I don’t play games?”

Makura’s eyes widened further, her surprise almost comical. “But how did you grow up without games?”

“Humans grow up just fine without them!” I shot back, then softened. “Well, I’ve been studying a lot since I was a kid.” My parents never bought me games, and I didn’t hang out with friends much, so the chance to play never came up. Honestly, I’d never cared about missing out before.

“I see,” Makura said, pulling the controller back to herself. Then, with a bright spark in her voice, she added, “Then just watch!”

“I don’t mind watching…” I mumbled.

“Yay! Thanks!” Her enthusiasm was infectious as she flopped onto the pink bean bag, stretching it out in front of the bed. That must be her slacking style. She patted the floor beside her, beckoning me to join. I settled down, leaning back against the cushion, the softness easing some of my lingering nerves.

Controller in hand, Makura unpaused her game, the screen flickering back to life.

“………”

For a while, I sat quietly, taking it in. But after a moment, I couldn’t help but steal a glance at her. So close. Closer than I’d ever been to a girl. Her face was right there—big, bright eyes framed by curled lashes, a sharp nose, and faintly colored lips. Her features were so perfectly pretty, I almost felt guilty staring. …Was it okay to look this closely…?

My heart raced, but Makura didn’t seem to notice—or care. “So, right now, I’m playing this action RPG full of puzzle-solving stuff,” she said, eyes locked on the screen, fingers deftly moving the controller. “And I kinda want you to watch, Manamichi-kun…”

No, focus. I forced my gaze to the TV. The game’s graphics were stunning—crisp, vivid. The fantasy setting, with its rocky cliffs and winding rivers, looked almost real. I found myself drawn in, staring longer than I meant to.

Makura’s character wandered through a valley-like map…… for about five minutes. Something felt off. “Didn’t you pass that spot before?” I asked.

“Oh, yeah, you’re right…” She tilted her head, brow furrowing. “Huh, that’s weird.”

“…Are you… lost?”

She scratched her cheek, eyes still glued to the screen. “Lost, well… it’s more like a maze. There’s gotta be a hint somewhere about which way to go…”

“Got it…” So that’s what she meant by puzzle-solving.

As her character moved again, I leaned in, scanning the screen. Then I spotted it. “That rock you just passed—didn’t it have some kind of mark?”

“Huh, where, where?” Makura’s voice lit up with curiosity.

We both zeroed in on the spot I’d pointed to. Sure enough, the rock bore a carved sun symbol, like an ancient hieroglyph. “The direction to go…” I mused. “Wait, can you move that rock?”

“You can push it, but heavy rocks like this don’t budge. See?” She demonstrated, her character straining uselessly.

“Try going to the left side and pushing from there.”

Makura followed my suggestion, and the rock slid forward with a low rumble. “Whoa, it moved! Wait, wait, how!?”

“It’s got a sun mark, right? So I figured if you push it in the direction the sun moves—or seems to move—it might work. Look, the path’s open!”

“Amazing! You’re amazing, Manamichi-kun!” Makura turned to me, her eyes sparkling, the sleepy haze from earlier completely gone. “I couldn’t get past this part yesterday either! I knew letting you in was the right call!”

“Wait a sec…” I narrowed my eyes. “Don’t tell me you let me in because you couldn’t beat this game on your own.”

“Eep!” she squeaked, actually squeaked.

“You’re also the first person I’ve met who says ‘eep’ out loud.”

“Ahaha, just kidding, just kidding!” She laughed, bright and carefree. “But seriously, you saved me. Thanks!”

Her smile was so genuine, it tugged at something in me. I’d always thought of Makura as this mysterious girl, hard to pin down. But here, playing games, she was just lively, cheerful—a normal girl with a bouncy tone that made the room feel lighter.

“Alright, let’s keep going!” she declared, turning back to the screen.

“What about the assignments…?”

“No, no, Manamichi-kun. Get lazy! We’re aiming to win the Ultimate Slacker Contest!”

“That’s a contest where winning is way too shameful…”

That day, I dipped my toes into my first-ever game—well, watching one—until it was time to head to cram school in the evening.