◆
After that, school ended without further incident.
Riran seemed to be going out with Ryuguin-san, so she left the classroom early. Ryuya and Neika were also nowhere to be found, apparently on a date.
Well, I have things to do myself, so it’s fine. I-I'm not lonely at all. Truly.
...Just saying it made me feel sad.
I pulled myself together and began walking toward a certain place. If it wasn't raining, it would be about a fifteen-minute bike ride... I really hate the rain.
Listening to the sound of raindrops hitting my umbrella, I reflected on recent events.
Truly, a lot has happened. I never thought I would have three girls showing interest in me... and all three of them are super-high-tier beauties.
If this were a world without the Red Thread of Fate, I wonder... I wonder who I would have ended up dating...
...No, better not think about it. The 'Red Thread of Fate' exists, and it connects me and Riran. That is reality. There's no point in thinking about anything else.
Because of the rain, I'm thinking about unnecessary things. Let's hurry.
I quickened my pace despite the rain. Fifteen minutes later, after turning into a back alley in front of the station and navigating a slightly complicated path, I arrived at a worn-down dojo.
Jissoji Dojo.
Yes, this is the gym I usually attend. Though it says 'Dojo,' it basically specializes in kickboxing. There are only two high school students including me, and the rest are a few working adults stopping by after work—it's a small dojo.
Anyway, I need to move my body and cast away these worldly desires. As the great Wakabayashi-sensei once said, it's not positivity that crushes negativity, it's immersion.
“Excuse me.”
“Oh. You've come, Boy.”
Entering the dojo, I saw a woman doing handstand push-ups. As acrobatic as ever. It's impressive.
The woman stood up, wiped her sweat with a towel, and quenched her thirst with a drink called EAA.
She wore a grey sports bra and black leggings. Her silk-like silver hair reached her shoulders, and her blue eyes were cool and refreshing. Her father is Japanese and her mother is Russian—a half-Russian beauty.
And above all, she’s big. Her height is 185 centimeters, nearly 10 centimeters taller than me, and everything else is proportionally large as well.
Since she’s been training since birth, she’s muscular, and contrary to her cool appearance, she has a very athletic personality.
Elizaveta Jissoji. Her nickname is Liza-san. She is the daughter of the previous master and is 21 years old this year. She took over as owner in place of her father, who passed away early.
Liza-san raised an eyebrow with a “Hm?” and then immediately broke into a grinning smile.
When a half-Russian beauty makes a face like that, it makes my heart skip a beat, so I wish she'd stop.
“What is it, what is it? Boy, you have the face of someone who has graduated from being a virgin.”
“What kind of face is that?”
“No, no, I'm serious. Did you do it with Riran-kun in a tangled mess?”
She nudged me with her elbow, going “uri-uri.”
Hey, please stop, you're unnecessarily strong. Also, women after exercise smell kind of nice, so it's really bad for my heart.
Moving a bit away from Liza-san, I let out a sigh... and then a question bubbled up.
...I've never talked to this person about Riran, have I? How does she know about Riran?
Sensing my confusion, Liza-san flashed a wicked grin.
“You have a face asking why I know Riran-kun. Fuffuffu... I'll let you in on a secret: Karura is my junior!”
......
“What?”
“Karura is my junior from university. Everything about you two has been leaked by her.”
What is that person doing?! What is she doing?! Does she not think about people's privacy when she speaks?!
“You're going out for a meal next Saturday, right? You're nervous about that. Am I wrong?”
“...Well, you're not wrong.”
“Mufufu. You're young, Boy! Pure, naive, and untainted by the filth of the world! It's good, it's good~”
“Annoying.”
“Hey, hey. What a way to speak to your master.”
Whether you're my master, older than me, or a woman, annoying things are annoying.
“Well, it’s not fair for only me to know your secrets. So, I’ll tell you two of my secrets.”
“Why two?”
“So that when I'm in trouble someday, you'll use this as a reason to help me, right?”
“You’re the first person I've met who forces a favor on someone.”
“But you won't abandon me.”
As expected, she knows my personality well.
“Even so, being forced like this doesn't make me hap—”
“Then, the first one.”
“Listen to me.”
This person really doesn't listen.
“The first secret. —My breasts became a J-cup.”
“Pfft?!”
What kind of thing is she telling me?!
“By the way, even my mother doesn't know this. How's that?”
“How's that, you say...”
I unintentionally looked at her chest. Not missing that opening, Liza-san leaned forward to emphasize them.
“Look, look. How's that?”
“Hey, seriously, please stop...!”
“You're as cute as ever.”
Shut up.
“And for the second one.”
“No, uh, really, that's enough...”
“Don't say that. In fact, this is the main event.”
Then what was the first one for?
Liza-san cleared her throat with a small cough. She then stroked her left ring finger with an affectionate gaze.
...No way?
“Actually, a Red Thread appeared on me too. ...It took three years, though.”
“—!”
I see... so that's it.
That's right, three years ago, Liza-san's Red Thread suddenly disappeared. That means only one thing.
Her fated partner had passed away.
Whether it was illness or an accident, I don't know. But back then, Liza-san was so grief-stricken and devastated that it was hard to watch.
I thought she had become more cheerful lately... I see, it was because a new fated person appeared.
“Congratulations, Liza-san.”
“...Yeah, thank you.”
Liza-san smiled brightly. Having seen her strength, kindness, and weakness, I could congratulate her from the bottom of my heart.
Congratulations, Liza-san. Please be happy.