All Beautiful Girls Want to Stick with Me

Before leaving, Kotomi Izumi gave Eiren Kanagawa a call. Upon learning she was waiting for them in her car in the parking lot, she didn’t linger another second, fearing even a moment’s delay would risk catching a cold.

She herself wasn’t worried—with her Queen of All Females constitution, she was immune. But she worried about Mashiro Shiina. Even after giving Shiina her own coat, her delicate face was still pale from the cold. Kotomi instinctively held Shiina’s small hand, and the moment she felt that soft, slightly icy touch, she could tell just how much the outdoor closing ceremony had chilled her.

Seeing this, Kotomi had no intention of restraining her habit of instinctively holding Shiina’s hand. She just wanted to get her back to the car as soon as possible.

”Why didn’t you tell me you were cold?”

Kotomi kept her voice low as they walked, sounding like an angry little beast on the verge of lashing out—and anyone who dared provoke her might just lose a finger.

”Wouldn’t it be bad to leave halfway through? I didn’t want to cause trouble for you...”

Mashiro spoke softly. She herself would have been fine leaving halfway; no one in the art world dared to criticize a world-class genius painter. At most, they would whisper behind her back. But Kotomi was still just a regular student. If she left early, she’d definitely be criticized. Then Shiina lightly tugged at Kotomi’s sleeve.

”Please don’t be mad, okay?”

Her words worked like magic. Kotomi paused mid-step, turned around to look deeply at Mashiro, then squeezed her soft cheeks and threatened fiercely:

”If your hands ever get this cold again and you don’t tell me, I’m going to bite your cheeks!”

Kotomi tried to act all fierce, but with such a cute face, she just looked adorably feisty—not the least bit intimidating.

Oblivious to this, she let go of Mashiro’s cheeks, gave a proud little hum, and looked quite pleased with herself.

If she had nine tails behind her, they’d probably all be wagging like crazy right now.

Mashiro nodded obediently, though she didn’t say what she was really thinking: she loved it when Kotomi treated her like that.

Every time Kotomi was a bit rough with her, Mashiro felt an indescribable excitement.

It was a thrill that easily rivaled the twisted glee she felt seeing Kotomi hugged or kissed by other girls.

Back in the car, Kotomi finally released Mashiro’s hand and turned to Eiren Kanagawa.

”Kanagawa-sensei, please turn the heat up.”

Eiren didn’t say anything, just silently turned the heater up, knowing that Hibiki Naegi would be joining them shortly.

When Hibiki finally arrived, Kotomi playfully teased:

”Chief, have you abandoned us? Sneaking off to the museum all by yourself\\~”

She even wiped away an imaginary tear with her fingertip, so convincingly that one might think she belonged on a stage more than in a classroom.

”Sorry, sorry. But really, it’s kind of your fault, Kotomi. When I came down, the shuttle for the selected contestants heading to the Kyoto National Museum of Modern Art had just arrived. I waited and waited, but you never showed. I even tried calling you, but you didn’t answer. So I had no choice but to come alone.”

Everything Hibiki said was true. She just didn’t understand why she felt the need to hide the fact that she’d run into Eiren Kanagawa beforehand. It was such a simple, mundane thing—Kanagawa offering her a ride. So why did it feel like something she had to keep secret?

Or rather, it wasn’t that she couldn’t say it.

She just didn’t want the others to know.

Listening to the conversation between Hibiki Naegi and Kotomi Izumi, Eiren Kanagawa, sitting in the driver’s seat, couldn’t help but glance at Hibiki, who was sitting in the front passenger seat.

Then, the corners of her mouth lifted in a faint smile as she stepped on the gas and drove toward the hotel.

Kotomi, however, slightly furrowed her brows after hearing Hibiki’s explanation. This small gesture caught Hibiki’s attention and made her panic—did Kotomi notice some flaw in her story?

Knowing Kotomi’s sharp insight, Hibiki was filled with nervousness, like a student about to be caught by a teacher just before a storm.

Then Kotomi spoke:

”Rice crust? Where’s the rice crust? I want the salted flavor!”

Pfft—

Hibiki was glad she hadn’t taken a sip of water, or she would’ve spat it out.

Eiren Kanagawa nearly floored the gas pedal—if not for her quick reflexes, she might have run a red light right in front of a traffic officer.

Only Mashiro picked up on Kotomi’s train of thought and, also feeling peckish, added, ”I want rice crust too! I want the kind in clay pot rice!”

”Sigh... I don’t even know what to say about you two anymore. We’re heading to a banquet later. While there won’t be any clay pot rice, the menu is pretty lavish. Isn’t that the reason Kotomi decided to attend in the first place?” Eiren said.

At this moment, Kotomi began to put on airs. She cleared her throat, putting on an expression free of worldly desires, and said:

”I simply enjoy the atmosphere enriched with artistic vibes. Though I haven’t decided whether I’ll pursue art for university, since I’m already here, of course I should soak in more of the artistic ambiance.”

”I enjoy reading fantasy novels, and there’s a line that often appears: ’Absorb the essence of heaven, earth, sun, and moon.’”

”Attending this banquet of selected entrants might just allow me to absorb some of the genius spirit from others and suddenly gain inspiration for a world-shaking masterpiece.”

Kotomi did her best to maintain a composed act while explaining, not admitting she came simply because she was craving good food.

But both Hibiki and Mashiro smiled quietly in their hearts. Having known Kotomi for so long—especially Mashiro, who was practically glued to her every day—it wasn’t hard to see through her act.

Even Hibiki, who mostly saw her during after-school club activities, already had a pretty clear sense of Kotomi’s formidable appetite.

The car cruised at a steady pace, but due to the evening rush, traffic was heavy. By the time they arrived at the hotel entrance, they had spent over half an hour on the road.

Fortunately, they weren’t the only ones delayed—most students leaving the Kyoto National Museum of Modern Art also ran into traffic.

After Eiren Kanagawa showed her credentials, she led the three of them to the banquet hall on the fifth floor.

The banquet began, marking what was essentially the last day in Kyoto.

Although some had been quietly complaining in their hearts about the cold weather during the closing ceremony outside the Kyoto National Museum of Modern Art, once they entered the banquet hall, much of that discontent vanished.

Some may have been drawn in by the elegant and opulent decor of the banquet hall, but Kotomi’s spirits were instantly lifted by the rich aroma of meat that filled the air upon entering.

She swallowed a bit of saliva. Truth be told, even though she had eaten quite a bit at lunch, her appetite had returned with a vengeance, like a bottomless pit.

One of the perks of the post-exhibit banquet was that there were no opening speeches or mandatory waits for everyone to arrive. As soon as guests entered, they could start eating. The only downside was that there were no chairs placed around the lavishly set round tables. The trays, cutlery, and tongs beside each dish clearly indicated that this was a standing buffet.

This style was common in high society banquets, where guests rarely actually ate. They typically dressed in expensive outfits, holding cocktail glasses while mingling and networking.

Kotomi had attended such banquets with her grandparents when she was younger. Back then, all she cared about was eating. Held in her grandmother’s arms, she paid no attention to the flattering remarks adults made about her appearance while chatting with business partners.

If someone praised her looks now, she’d proudly raise her head in joy. But back then, little Kotomi only cared about the disposable plastic gloves meant for children—wearing them as she devoured an entire roast duck with gusto. She’d eaten the whole thing, leaving not a single bite!

It had been a joyful meal at the time. Now, though she still enjoyed eating, the memory of that moment among successful adults had become something of a dark past.

She couldn’t help but wonder if she had embarrassed her grandparents.

However, when she spotted the roast lamb chops, Kotomi immediately cast all thoughts of that black history aside. Without hesitation, she picked up a plate and used the tongs to select five pieces of tender, juicy, and perfectly marbled lamb chops.

With one bite, the seasoning did not overpower the meat but instead elevated the lamb’s flavor to new heights. Each mouthful was rich but not greasy, the perfect harmony of spice and meatiness creating an irresistible combination.

Kotomi continued eating one piece after another. Normally, even someone with her considerable appetite would be full after five pieces. Whether her stomach had room or not wasn’t even the point; usually, the richness of lamb would make her stop halfway.

But being full could be a form of happiness, too.

Yet, these lamb chops were unexpectedly aligned with her taste. She had originally only taken five, assuming she wouldn’t want more. But by the time she was on her seventh, she still hadn’t had enough.

She even considered running to the kitchen to ask the chef how the lamb was prepared.

When she reached her eleventh piece, Kotomi finally put down the tongs. She considered that the appetizers were over, and it was time to move on to the main course.

Things got easier with the main course. There was a wider variety to choose from, and even some nearby desserts.

However, from the very beginning of the banquet, Kotomi hadn’t spared a single glance at vegetables, fruits, or desserts. It was as if her eyes could only see meat.

When dining out, many people feel embarrassed to eat too much—even if they’re still hungry, they hesitate to grab another helping for fear of being judged.

Not Kotomi.

Kotomi used to think that way too. But ever since living her second life, she came to understand something: life is nothing more than you laugh at me, I laugh at you. We come to restaurants to eat, and most of us are at the same spending level. Who truly has the right to look down on others?

She really just eats a lot. It’s not like she deliberately orders too much and wastes it. So what is there to feel embarrassed about?

Besides, when she was Ailun, she never dared to spend her parents’ inheritance recklessly. Her daily expenses came mostly from part-time work.

Because of that, she often skipped meals. Before payday, a single cup of instant noodles had to last the entire day. In the morning, she would eat the noodles and save the soup. At noon, she’d buy a few pieces of flatbread, tear them up, reheat the noodle soup, and soak the bread in it.

As for dinner... there was none. She would just go to bed early, hungry.

Back then, for either Kotomi or Ailun, simply being full was already an enormous happiness. There were even times when eating a hot meal with rice and stir-fried dishes made Ailun quietly cry tears of joy while eating, wiping them away with the back of her hand.

In that situation, who would even care if others were mocking her?

After reincarnating, Kotomi still kept that mindset. She simply ate a lot, and that was that. If you come to a restaurant, it’s to eat and get full, right? Who dares to laugh at her?

Just as she finished off her third garlic vermicelli lobster, Takamasa Hojou, Shun Takino, and Sakura Takino came over to toast with her.

Kotomi had to put down her plate and fork, and casually took a cocktail from a waiter’s tray, trying to appear a bit more adult.

”Izumi-san, we didn’t see you at the closing ceremony earlier. We thought you weren’t going to attend. Sakura was a little disappointed,” Shun Takino said with a laugh.

As expected, his sister Sakura responded with some playful punches and kicks.

”Don’t listen to my brother spouting nonsense, Izumi-san. He’s got something wrong with his head!”

Sakura said this with a flushed face. Even she didn’t understand why, ever since seeing Kotomi for the first time, something had shifted in her heart. She just knew that Kotomi’s voice had become more and more engraved in her mind—she really wanted to see her again.

Like a girl just beginning to understand love, facing her first crush.

”I’m just glad you came, Izumi-san. If I didn’t get to toast with you before we left, I would’ve regretted it for the rest of my life,” Takamasa Hojou added with a smile and nod.

Faced with their toast, Kotomi respectfully lifted her glass. ”These past three days in Kyoto, I’ve been very happy to meet all of you.”

”Not at all.”

”Likewise.”

”Let’s all stay in touch. No matter what happens, let’s look out for each other.”

With a soft clink of glasses, Kotomi downed her drink in one go. This cocktail was more like a lightly alcoholic fruit juice—no burn, no buzz, just pleasant.

After setting down the glass, Kotomi subconsciously glanced at the night sky outside.

She—missed home.

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