All Beautiful Girls Want to Stick with Me

After agreeing, Izumi Kotomi didn’t waste any time and immediately led Shiina Mashiro out of the classroom, like she was helping her escape from the barrage of questions.

”Are Kotomi and Mashiro really meeting for the first time? It feels like they’ve known each other for a long time, like they’re already close.”

”Maybe it’s because they both draw.”

”Oh, I’ve heard that artists often feel lonely, so when they meet someone of equal skill, they might become inseparable companions who understand each other deeply, even in competition.”

”Hearing that makes me want to start drawing too.”

”Forget it. Most people start learning to draw when they’re young, and it costs a lot for art supplies every year.”

”Really? Aren’t the materials just a few basic items? How expensive could it be?”

”It’s more than you’d think... and it’s not a one-time expense. Art supplies get used up and need replacing regularly.”

”That much? Uh, never mind...”

After Kotomi and Mashiro left the classroom, the students who had crowded around Mashiro’s desk dispersed. Meanwhile, Kato Megumi glanced over at Kotomi’s seat, her gaze becoming increasingly thoughtful...

During the break, Kotomi took Mashiro on a brief tour of the main building at Sobu High School, helping her familiarize herself with the various floors. She decided to save the rest of the campus for lunchtime, after they finished eating.

”This is the art club. After school every day, we meet here for an hour of club activities. During lunch, I’ll introduce you to the club president, Naegi-senpai from Class 2-B.”

As Kotomi spoke, she opened the door to the art room, leading Mashiro inside to look around.

The scent of oil paint and turpentine seemed to calm and relax Mashiro. She wandered quietly around the room, exploring every corner.

”So this is what the art club looks like... I’ve only ever heard my cousin talk about it,” Mashiro said.

”Your cousin?” Kotomi caught the word and raised an eyebrow. Could someone Mashiro knew be part of the art club?

”Yes.” Mashiro nodded and continued, ”My cousin is Sengoku Chihiro. She said she’s the art club’s advisor.”

Realization dawned on Kotomi. So Chihiro-sensei was Mashiro’s cousin.

”Oh, so Sengoku-sensei is your cousin? That explains why your hair colors are so similar! I didn’t notice because your last names are different.”

Come to think of it, Kotomi had been a member of the art club for a week now, but she hadn’t seen Sengoku-sensei once. As Naegi-senpai had mentioned, Sengoku-sensei had a very hands-off approach to advising. Unless there was something urgent, she rarely showed up, earning herself the nickname ”the phantom advisor” among the older club members.

”I used to live in England most of the time, so I didn’t see my cousin often. Now that I’m in Japan, I’m living with her,” Mashiro explained.

”Where do you live, Mashiro?”

”In Tokyo. My cousin says we have to take the train home after school. But I never really understand how to use the trains, so I wait for her to take me. Do you know how to read the train maps, Kotomi?”

”Of course I do,” Kotomi replied confidently.

What she thought was a simple response earned her a look of admiration from Mashiro.

”That’s amazing! I’ve never been able to take the train by myself! Kotomi, you’re so cool!”

”Uh... it’s really not that big of a deal. I was nervous the first time I took the train too. I was worried I’d get off at the wrong stop. But as long as you pay attention to the announcements and remember which train you need, it’s easy.”

Kotomi continued showing Mashiro around the school, paying special attention to where the cafeteria and school shop were located.

After all, Mashiro wasn’t someone who brought her own lunch.

”Can I get lunch from here?” Mashiro asked, eyeing the school shop with curiosity.

”Yes, if you don’t have a packed lunch, you can buy food here. I buy my lunch from the shop every day. I especially recommend the yakisoba bread and tuna-mayo rice balls.”

Seeing that class was about to start, Kotomi quickly led Mashiro back to the classroom, just barely making it in time.

That was close, Kotomi thought, while Megumi Kato echoed her aloud: ”That was close.”

Kotomi glanced over at Megumi, who had been watching her closely since she came back.

Kotomi scratched her head awkwardly and smiled. ”Yeah, I almost lost track of time.”

”Did you show Mashiro around many places?”

”Not that many—we only had time to see the main building.”

The second period was English class. As soon as the teacher entered, the classroom quieted down, and Megumi didn’t say anything further. However, her gaze lingered on Kotomi throughout the class.

Time at school seemed to pass both quickly and slowly—slow during class and fast during breaks. As time flowed through these contrasting rhythms, the morning lessons finally ended, and lunchtime arrived.

”Let’s go, Mashiro! If we don’t hurry, we won’t get any yakisoba bread!” Kotomi jumped up as soon as the bell rang to end fourth period.

”Don’t forget the tuna-mayo rice balls! Let’s go!” Yui Yukihama also sprang up from her seat.

If they hadn’t been in the classroom, they might have flipped over their desks in their rush.

Mashiro didn’t quite understand their excitement, but she still raised her hands and shouted along with them, ”Let’s go, let’s go!”

With Kotomi and Yui each grabbing one of Mashiro’s hands, they dashed off toward the school shop.

As usual, Kotomi and Yui ordered their staple choices—yakisoba bread and tuna-mayo rice balls—along with a drink of their choice.

Mashiro, however, stood aside, still unsure of what to pick.

”Mashiro, haven’t decided yet? Just get the yakisoba bread and tuna-mayo rice balls! I promise you won’t regret it! Oh, and the chocolate pies are great too, though Kotomi didn’t mention them since she doesn’t like chocolate,” Yui suggested.

”Chocolate pie... is it good?” Kotomi asked skeptically.

Since she’d always disliked chocolate, she couldn’t understand the appeal of chocolate pies.

Mashiro stared at the display for a while, then suddenly lit up as if she’d found what she was looking for. She reached out, grabbed a packaged baumkuchen, tore it open, and took a bite.

”This is delicious,” she said, her normally expressionless face softening into a look of contentment.

”Hey, little girl! You haven’t paid for that yet!” the shop owner called out.

”Sorry about that, she was just really hungry since she didn’t eat breakfast. I’ll pay for it all together.” Kotomi quickly paid for both her own food and Mashiro’s baumkuchen.

Worried that Mashiro might still be hungry with just one baumkuchen, Kotomi bought her an extra one, along with a tuna-mayo rice ball and a bottle of yogurt.