New Term (Second Year, Second Term)

(I can’t breathe…)

The next morning, Kent woke up because his nose and mouth were blocked, making it hard to breathe. As he focused his awareness, it seemed something soft was covering his face. When he barely managed to move his face, he secured a way to breathe.

Kent touched it with his hand, trying to figure out what it was. A soft, squishy sensation came through his hand.

“…Kent-saan. I can’t eat anymore…”

What had been covering his face was Marie’s chest. He seemed to have been held close just right, and his face had ended up buried in her cleavage. Kent carefully pulled away from Marie, who was pressed against him, trying not to wake her. Then Marie rolled over in her sleep and spread out like a starfish. Since no blanket or anything was covering her, and she was not wearing clothes either, all her important parts were completely visible.

For the time being, Kent decided to observe Marie. Her sleeping posture was as bad as ever, but Kent thought that was one of Marie’s charms too.

“Marie-sama really does have a nice body, doesn’t she? It is the Master’s ideal body type, after all… yes. If only she were a little youngerguh!”

Kent was startled by Al suddenly speaking from beside him, but what startled him even more was that just as Al tried to say something, Marie rolled over in her sleep, and Al, who happened to be there, was kicked away. Marie slept soundly as though nothing had happened, drooling from her mouth.

“I should have spent a pleasant time with Kent-san last night, but for some reason, I may be a little displeased.”

Marie said that while Kent, Marie, and Catherine were eating breakfast.

“Ahahaha…”

Al gave an awkward, forced laugh.

“Al-chan, isn’t your neck bent in a strange direction?”

Catherine said that after looking at Al. Al’s head was indeed facing in a strange direction. Kent thought it was probably because she had taken Marie’s kick.

“It is all right. See?”

Crack!

Al held her own head and forcefully turned it back. Kent was worried whether she was truly all right after the sound that came out. In that sort of mood, they finished breakfast, and the four of them headed toward the shop to prepare for opening.

“Good morning, Kent. And Marie-san, Catherine, Al.”

“Good morning.”

“Good morning.”

“Good morning. I’ll be counting on you again today, Elnette-san.”

When they entered the shop, Elnette, who had already changed clothes and begun preparations, greeted them. Emily was nowhere to be seen, but as usual, she seemed to have begun preparations earlier than anyone else.

“Then once we change as well, let’s begin preparing.”

“““Yes.”””

Furthermore, Josette and Caro arrived for work, and before opening, Patty also arrived.

“By the way, don’t you have to go to the second shop?”

Kent said that to Rachel, who was calmly preparing for opening with a composed face as though nothing was wrong.

“That? It’s fine. It should be about time.”

Rachel answered that.

“Excuse me. Manager, I have come to pick up the supplies needed for today’s purchasing.”

“Good work. Then they are prepared in the usual place, so be careful when you take them.”

“Understood.”

Kent was surprised by the unfamiliar young man who suddenly entered the shop.

“Basically, I’ve left the second shop to Laura. And I also increased the number of employees, so now I only need to handle the management. That way, I can have more time to play… cough, cough. I mean, I can use my time effectively, right? I do plan to show my face at the shop after school, though.”

According to Rachel, the second shop was being operated with separately hired employees. She insisted that it was because the number of noble customers had increased, and they could no longer handle everything with the initial number of people, but Kent thought she had probably wanted to make time for herself to play games and the like. With school starting, that system had apparently officially begun today.

“It’s about time for school. Kent-san and the others, you may stop here.”

“““““Yes.”””””

After opening time arrived and a little while had passed, Marie told them that, and Kent and the other students began preparing to go to school.

“Well then, we’re off.”

“Be careful.”

Seen off by Marie, Kent and the others began walking toward school.

Kent and Josette walked side by side, with Rachel and Caro behind them, and Patty following behind them.

“Kent-san, the new term begins today. There is the academy festival this term, so I am looking forward to it.”

“The academy festival… Ah, now that you mention it, there was that.”

In Otherworld School Story, there were no major school events in the first term besides tests, but in the second term, there was an event called the academy festival. Events for each route occurred during summer vacation, and intimacy increased at the academy festival. If one was aiming to clear a route, it was an important event. However, it had nothing to do with Kent, who was a background character. Just in case, he decided to ask Rachel, the game’s protagonist, as well.

“Hey, Rachel.”

“What is it, Big Brother?”

Josette and Caro, who knew the circumstances, remained calm, but Patty still seemed unable to understand why Rachel called him Big Brother.

“Did anything like an event happen during summer vacation?”

“Hmm. Nothing in particular.”

“I see.”

As expected, the answer that came from his younger sister, who had already given up on clearing the routes, was exactly what he had predicted. While they were talking about such things, they arrived at the academy.

“Well then, our classroom is different, so we’ll go.”

“Kent-san, there are no lessons, but please do your best.”

Rachel and Caro, who were first-years, headed to their classroom together.

“Then let’s go too.”

“Yes, let us.”

“Yes, let’s go.”

Josette and Patty lined up on either side of Kent as they headed for the classroom. Josette had a beautiful appearance that made people look at her without thinking, but Kent noticed that the male students’ gazes were also turning toward Patty in the same way.

When they arrived at the classroom, Kent and Patty sat side by side because their seats were next to each other, while Josette, whose seat was a little farther back, sat down at her own seat. However, there seemed to be a little time until homeroom began. When he noticed, Josette was beckoning to him in a way that the others could not see.

“Sorry for a moment.”

After speaking to Patty, Kent went over to Josette.

“Is something wrong?”

“Yes, I felt some unpleasant gazes, so I had you come over.”

“What do you mean?”

“So that was what it was.”

Josette said that as though she alone understood. When he noticed, many male students had gathered around Patty.

“Hey, hey, are you free next holiday? If you want…”

“Patty, you’re beautiful again today…”

“Won’t you go home with me today? I’ll treat you to a meal.”

“Huh? Huh, huh?”

In contrast to the male students, Patty was bewildered by the sudden turn of events.

“Since earlier, I have felt many gazes saying that Kent-san was in the way. Just as I thought, it seems they were aiming for Patty-san.”

“Josette-san, I’m impressed you could tell just from their gazes.”

“I am still a duke’s daughter, after all. If I could not notice even such small things, I would not be able to move through society well.”

“So that’s how it is.”

For Kent, who did not understand noble society well, it was a difficult topic.

“By the way, what happened to Patty-san?”

“It is Kent-san’s fault.”

“Huh?”

Kent was shocked.

“I have absolutely no idea what you mean…”

“Well, if you have been together with her all this time, it would become difficult to notice. She has become very beautiful recently. I believe the things Kent-san has been providing are influencing her.”

“Did I provide her with something?”

Kent had no idea.

“She uses the shower room before starting work, does she not?”

“Well, it is customer service, so I told her to shower before work.”

“Actually, Rachel-san’s personal cosmetics and such are placed in the shower room.”

“And you think it’s because she used those?”

“Yes. I also use them sometimes. Those are very good products.”

Josette revealed the trick to Kent.