Volume 12.5, Me, Kindred Souls and Flipping of Skirts(1/3)
"I think it's very unfair."
On a certain day, after school.
I'm in the classroom, saying this to Yuuji and Muttsurini,
"..The structure of your brain?"
"That's the rudest words you said right from the get-go, Muttsurini."
"For a human, it should be your entire body functions."
"Are you cursed to not talk without insulting others or something?"
Besides, aren't you two like double that of scumbags and trash or something?
"So, what's the unfair thing about?"
Yuuji, who uses an insult as a greeting, enters the main point.
"Well, to put it, how we're treated."
"What is it this time?"
"..We're already used to it."
"What's with you two being so weak?"
"Or rather, I don't know what you're talking about this time."
"..Same."
Both Yuuji and Muttsurni are looking at me as though I'm saying something weird here. These damned champion failures!
"Now then, think of the school festivals, seaside trips, summer festivals and all sorts of scenes in TV dramas."
""..?""
Yuuji and Muttsurini look confused, but they proceed to do so anyway.
"Opening a cafe with cute girls wearing maid outfits, classmates who are shy because they're wearing swimsuits, cute girls who're embarrassed because they're praised for wearing a yukata. Do you have such scenes in your minds now?"
"Yeah."
"..Really great."
Good good. Then.
"Now how about you compare that with what we experienced over the past year doing the same things?"
Me dressed in a maid outfit.
Muttsurini who was forced into a female swimsuit to lure Yuuji and me out.
Yuuji who's dressed in an unsuitable yukata and forced to sit on the pageant stage.
"--Don't you find it weird?"
""It's weird!""
Both Yuuji and Muttsurini exclaim as they widen their eyes in unison.
"Why is it that we're the center of all the embarrassing things here?"
"....Swimsuits are supposed to be centered around girls..!"
"Yeah! That's what I want to talk about!"
No matter what it was, it was embarrassing to keep thinking about it. It was the same when we're playing strip poker. The girls should be shyly stripping and giving both Yuuji and me eye candy, so why is it that us guys have to be the ones naked and clinging onto Ironman!?
"Now that you mention it, it's weird..why were we so willing to accept that treatment..!"
"..We're blind..!"
Both of them are shivering in rage. Right right. I'm happy that they understand that.
""This is--basically us being treated like Akihisa!""
"Wait a sec!"
It looks like these two really have a tendency to look down on me. I guess they're basically F class students given how they don't know that I'm better off than them.
"Anyway, this is what I mean by being unfair."
"I think I get the gist of it. You do make some sense from time to time."
"..These are the finest words you have ever said in this century, Akihisa."
"It's really great that you two can understand."
I shall pretend that I don't know that there's another 80 years and more in this century then.
"Now then, what will you do?"
"Hm?"
"Now that you said this much, you probably thought of doing something now, right?"
Yuuji stares at my face. Hm. That's a good question. In fact--
"Flipping skirts."
"..Let's do it right now."
"Sit down Muttsurini, I haven't explained anything yet."
As to be expected of Muttsurini. He already prepared 4 cameras in two hands the moment he heard those words.
"Akihisa, what about flipping skirts now?"
"Hm, well, the reason why we're being treated so unfairly is because we're cornered by the girls most of the time."
"..So we're flipping their skirts. Leave it to me."
"Wait. Anyway, let me finish what I want to say first.
I manage to get Muttsurini to chill. There's a high chance this guy has already given up on our premises a long time back.
"Maybe the reason why we're forced to wear female clothing or stripped is because they forgot how embarrassing it is."
"I see..so in other words, there's a need for those girls to physically understand how embarrassing that can be, I guess."
"That's how it is."
It's unexpectedly hard to make one embarrassed. However, they're girls wearing skirts, so there should be an easy way to do this, and that's to flip their skirts.
"..Akihisa, you just came up with the best idea--"
"Hah. How stupid."
"..!?"
Muttsurini's stunned by Yuuji's denial.
"We want to flip their skirts because of that? How stupid. I'm not doing it."
Yuuji puts on his backpack, and prepares to turn and leave.
"You loser."
I said it right at Yuuji's back, and at that moment, he stops, and turns around.
"What did you say, you punk?"
And then he gives me a dangerous glare.
But even so, I show no intention of backing down, saying,
"Isn't this the case? We're wearing pants, and they're wearing skirts. We're the ones with the advantage here, and you gave up on this sure-win battle! If this isn't the attitude of a loser, I don't know what else is!"
"Guh..!Th-that's..!"
Yuuji's hit in his sore point, unable to say anything.
"And furthermore, you didn't realize you're treated unfairly until I pointed it out! You're already a loser to the core!"
"Guh..ugh..!"
Now Yuuji's putting his hand at his chest, groaning in pain.
And to give Yuuji a further nudge, I stare at him right in the eyes, saying,
“Think about how strong you used to be, Yuuji. Earn you pride as a man back!”
“Earn back..my pride as a man..”
There seems to be something lighting up deep within Yuuji's eyes. I just need a little more push.
“Or are you going to be like that? Are you going to say that you can't do what I can do?”
“Th-that's impossible! I-I-I'll do it! Who's scared here!”
Yuuji gets up on his feet with enthusiasm. Alright! This is Yuuji!
“That's how motivated we need to be, Yuuji! Let's teach Himeji-san and the others the meaning of the word embarrassed!”
I too stand up.
But.
“..You two can go first.”
Muttsurini, who's supposed to be the most pumped up about this, lets out these unexpected words.
“Eh? Why? Muttsurini?”
“A man like you's going to back away right now?”
“..No.”
“Then why”
“..I have, insufficient blood.”
Upon looking, Muttsurini already has a pool of blood at his feet.
“Muttsurini..you're already like this just by imagining it..”
“How much were you looking forward to it..”
“..(Shakes head)”
It's pitiful and awkward to see a pale Muttsurini shaking his head furiously here.
☆
"Sorry to make you work, Himeji. You've been a great help."
"This little is fine for me."
"Seriously..that Yoshii and Sakamoto..really will only do their best when they're trying avoid doing all the chores."
"Ahaha..I'll be going then, Nishimura-sensei."
"Okay, thanks."
This conversation can be heard from the staff, and soon after, Himeji-san opens the door and arrives on the corridor.
"Hey, she's here, Akihisa. It's Himeji."
"There's nobody around us. She's completely alone. How convenient."
"Shall we go?"
"Yeah. It's a rare chance after all."
"Understood. Hope you start off with a win.
Yuuji and I exchange fist bumps, and I move towards Himeji-san while feeling pumped up.
Himeji-san notices me, and greets me.
"Ah, Akihisa-kun, you didn't go back yet?"
"Well, I was chatting with Yuuji in the classroom."
"I see."
While we're chatting away while strolling down the corridor.
I focus all my attention on Himeji-san's skirt.
"It looks like Minami-chan is still in school too. She says she has something to do in the library."
"Eh~ is that so?"
The girls in Fumitzuki Gakuen wear wine-red skirts. Even though the obedient Himeji-san is wearing the proper attire, the skirt is somewhat short. If I'm to flip it up at once, I'll probably have a sight underneath it. This act itself can be said to be very easy to pull off.
The problem is--
"? What's the matter, Akihisa-kun?"
".."
The problem is that standing in front of that person is causing me to feel guilty.
"Oh, yes, I just got some snacks from Nishimura-sensei. Since everyone hasn't returned home yet, shall we eat them together?"
"No, erm, well.."
"???"
Right in front of me as I look at the skirt is a confused looking Himeji-san. This is bad..! I'll definitely be suspected--or rather, I'll just be treated as a pervert..!
But even so, I"m still hesitant on doing it, and I can't take action. While I'm like this, Himeji-san asks with a gentle voice,
"Erm, Akihisa-kun?"
"Hyaa!?"
"I don't really know what's going on, but please calm down and walk at your own pace. If you need to say anything, I'll be waiting here."
Himeji-san's giving me a smile. That's impossible! Is she an angel!?
(No..I can't do it..)
While I'm mentally prepared to think that the operation has failed.
"What are you thinking now, Akihisa? Just get down there and flip it."
The devil inside me starts whispering to me. Wh-what is this devil saying now?
"Guilt? Can it be eaten? Do you know how much humiliation you suffered? This is an eye for an eye. Now that you're standing here, there's no need to be troubled."
And on the other side, the angel in my heart says,
"No objections."
A long time ago, I've been thinking that this guy isn't an angel.
But if I'm going to run with my tail between my legs, I'll be scolded by Yuuji "Is your resolve just this much, you trash?" It's payback for the usual, so let's do this!
"H-Himeji-san!"
"Hm?"
"Sorry!!"
And then, I grab the hem of her skirt as I attempt to flip it.
"???"
Himeji-san stares at me, not knowing what's going on.
"What's the matter, Akihisa-kun?"
It looks like she doesn't know what I'm doing as she asks this.
"Eh? Ah, erm.."
"Ah, is there a loose thread on it or something? Thank you."
And she shows no intention of shaking off my hand that's grabbing at the skirt.
"Ahem!!"
I hear Yuuji's deliberate cough from the corridor. This is the signal 'get back here' we decided on beforehand.
"I-I'll be going then, Himeji-san. I just thought of something!"
"? Oh, yes.."
"See you later then!"
I wave my hand at Himeji-san, and quickly retreat.
""Tch, this guy's so spineless.""
The devil and angel inside my heart noted in unison.
☆
"Is your resolve that much, you bastard?"
"I have nothing to say to that.."
We're at the stairway corner, continuing with our strategy Since I was the one who said this, I should be willing to suffer this scolding.
"But even so, I guess it's pointless if Himeji's being like that now."
"Eh? What do you mean?"
"Have you forgotten our aim, you dolt? Aren't we doing these things to have Himeji and Shouko recall those embarrassing things?"
"Ah.."
Speaking of which, that's really the case. Our aim isn't really to flip the skirt, but to do that.
"It's true that when I look at Himeji-san, she doesn't seem embarrassed in the slightest."
"Yeah. It's the dull Himeji after all. I'm guessing that even if you did flip the entire skirt, she'll be more surprised than embarrassed."
That'll be troublesome. We're just trying to make her experience the feeling of being 'embarrassed'. It's completely meaningless to shock them completely.
"But I can't think of any way that'll make Himeji embarrassed without shocking her."
"Yeah."
"So let's leave Himeji aside."
"Erm, that's."
"We'll switch targets to Shouko."
Does this mean Yuuji wants to aim for the other target, Kirishima-san? I can't think of any good plan against Himeji-san, so I guess this is fine too.
"You're right. Let's do this."
"It's decided that. --oho, speak of the devil. Shouko's here."
Yuuji too surges towards the corridor with momentum. Alright, show me your ability.
"Yo, Shouko."
"..Yuuji."
"Are you going back now?"
"..No."
Kirishima-san shakes her head.
"..There's the scent of Yuuji lingering in the school, so I want to catch you before I go home."
"....(turns)."
"Hey, don't run away, Yuuji!"
I whisper to Yuuji to cheer him on right when he's about to slip away.
And then, Yuuji seems to have thought of something as he turns towards Kirishima-san again.
"Ahahaha. Leaving that joke aside for now."
"..Ah."
Gacha. The handcuffs Kirishima-san has hidden on her falls onto the linoleum floor, causing a sound.
".."
"You're fine! Don't be scared now, Yuuji! Get back your pride as a man!"
The hunter vs the skirt flipper man. Looking at the words themselves, it's hard to determine who'll win. This is tough.
"O-okay! I'll teach you who's faster now! Your restraining skills vs my hands!"
"..What are you saying?"
Yuuji, who'll normally run away immediately at this time, is actually facing Kirishima-san, and Kirishima-san blinks her eyes in surprise.
And right when this happens, Yuuji seizes the opportunity to reach for her skirt.
"..Ah.."
The calm Kirishima-san has great reflexes, and she understands Yuuji's intentions immediately.
And this Kirishima-san--
"..I'm somewhat confident of my underwear."
Having understood that, 'fufu' she puffs her chest confidently.
".."
".."
"..What's the matter, Yuuji?"
"..Nothing..at all.."
The way Yuuji looks as he returns back is clearly that of a loser.
☆
"Isn't this weird? Why aren't those girls embarrassed at all?"
We entered an empty classroom for our strategy planning, and Yuuji got agitated. This really is a weird problem.
"Are we wrong with how we're doing this..?"
"No, not at all, I guess."
"Yeah."
If we go ask some passers-by, most will agree with what we're doing.
"Just an idea, I guess."
"Hm?"
"Do those girls not really understand how they are being treated here?"
"In other words?"
"There's a chance that they forgot that their underwear isn't meant to be shown in front of others, no matter how embarrassing flipping their skirts is."
"I see.."
It's impossible to suggest that they're ordinary girls. I can't understand--but those two may be like that. They didn't hesitate to strip during that strip doubt game after all.
"In Himeji's case, I'm guessing that she never thought of a possibility of you flipping her skirt. In other words--"
"I see. I know what to do."
"You got this quick."
"Sorta."
Both of us show grins on our faces as we leave the classroom together.
☆
"..Mizuki."
"Shouko-chan. You haven't returned home yet?"
"..Yes. Have you seen Yuuji?"
"Sakamoto-kun? I didn't see him, but maybe he's with Akihisa-kun."
historical
"..Is that so?"
Our targets are talking together in the corridor linking the new school building and the old school building.
"They're both there? How convenient."
"Yeah. Let's start."
Once we nod at each other to confirm, we proceed to stand in front of them
"Ah. The ones we're talking about."
"..Yuuji. What was that about?"
The two of them walk towards us in large steps, stopping at a distance where we can flip their skirts.
"Listen up, Shouko."
"..What?"
"Listen up, Himeji-san."
"? Yes?"
We take a deep breath--
"Look, Shouko. Underwear itself is meant to be kept hidden and not to be shown to anyone of the opposite gender so casually. As for why it is, that's because there is a possibility that it'll help something in the opposite gender get excited and also stimulate something that will make that person's body grow in some way."
"Look, Himeji-san, I'm a guy. Even if it's my classmates, I'm interested in erotic things as much as the next guy is, no, double of them. When I see a girl wearing skirt, I've an urge to flip it up, and the devil inside me will ruin my common sense. It's wrong to think that anyone who won't usually do anything will remain the same today."
"..What are you saying?"
"I don't understand what you mean.."
""What we're saying--""
Yuuji and I reach for the girls' skirt with rugged determination, and we yell in unison,
""We're saying that we're going to flip your skirts (now)!!""
""..""
Both of them are looking at us worriedly. No no no! Our minds aren't weird in any way.
I'm worried that they're lacking in their danger senses. There's a need to add fuel to the fire!
"L-look at this, Himeji-san! Your skirt is about to flip! It's very embarrassing to have this done to you! You're troubled, right!?"
"Y-yeah, Shouko! You're being watched by us with lewd eyes now! W-what color is it today? Wahahaha!"
"Ah, yes, I'm bothered I have have my skirt flipped.."
"..I don't mind, but more importantly."
""..You have a teacher behind you.""
"YOSHII! SAKAMOTO! HOW GUTSY OF YOU TWO!!"
""Scram!!""
With our refined reflexes and judgment, we scamper away from the remedial teacher standing right behind us.
"These idiots can really run! I shall educate you thorough the values of morality and the iron fists until you die!"
"Isn't teaching by a fatal punch just being beaten up here!?"
"I can't imagine that to be a line from a teacher!"
"Enough already, obey!"
""NOOO!!!""
"What was that about, Akihisa-kun and Sakamoto-kun?"
"Probably some sort of a punishment game, or something."
Our great escape continues on for another 30 minutes.
☆
"Haa, haa, haa..what..did we do wrong here..?"
We scamper around, and right now, we escaped to the archives of the library. Ironman probably never thought that we'll consider using the archives, so I guess we shook him off for now.
We collapse onto the floor, adjust our breathing, and carry out our third strategy meeting.
"What we did just now seems to have some effect on Himeji-san."
"I have the same thoughts."
Himeji-san just said 'I'm bothered if I have my skirt flipped'. If not for Ironman's interference, there's a high chance of it succeeding.
"The problem is Shouko."
"Yeah."
On the other hand, I can't see any embarrassment from Kirishima-san. She just said '..I don't mind', and that's really something worth being happy--no, troubled over. With that, our original objective can't be fulfilled.
"Let's think of it in another way, Yuuji."
"What do you mean?"
"Kirishima-san won't feel embarrassed even if she has her skirt flipped, so we just need to do something that'll make her embarrassed."
"Hm. Logically however.."
"Logically?"
"I can't think of any practical methods."
Kirishima-san typically only shows a poker face, and she's good at everything, so nobody has seen her fail due to embarrassment.
But--
"It's fine Yuuji, I got a plan."
"Ohh? Really?"
"Of course. I did see Kirishima-san looking embarrassed. If there's an actual incident, I can guarantee it proudly."
"I can't really trust what you're saying..but we got no other choice. I'll just pretend that I'm bluffed and try this out."
"Alright, it's decided."
And so, we begin to make our preparations in the shadows of the books archives.
☆
"Wait, Akihisa, I can assure you that this is completely wrong."
"Noo, that definitely can work. Didn't you say that such things are best left to a 3rd party before?"
"But..!"
"Okay, just go already!"
"Guah!"
I kick a jittery Yuuji onto the corridor, right in front of Kirishima-san who's walking alone.
"..Yuuji?"
Kirishima-san stops once she sees Yuuji nearly trip over. Right, this is it!
"Take this!!"
From a blind spot, I pull off the haori draped on Yuuji like a mantle.
Appearing there is--a half-naked Yuuji with his shirt removed.
"..(poof)."
Kirishima-san's cheeks are reddening.
"Look, Yuuji! It's working!"
"Are you serious!?"
The one moment I saw Kirishima-san embarrassed was when we're playing that doubt game, the moment when Yuuji stripped.
In other words--
"Kirishima-san's embarrassed whenever you strip, Yuuji!"
"I didn't think it'll work..!"
"..(Gulps)"
"But Akihisa, Shouko's just watching me with glee right now."
"It's because you aren't stripping enough! Don't stop now, and take off your pants!"
"Wait, Akihisa! Isn't this very weird here!?"
"The weird ones are your heads!!"
""Retreat!""
It's probably because it's the second time Ironman appeared that this escape went unexpectedly smoothly.
☆
“Damn it! I'm an idiot for believing in your suggestions!”
“You idiot!”
“I'll kill you.”
We return to the library again. Looks like there's definitely something wrong with that operation just now. I was thinking that it was a good idea.
“And besides, why is it that I have to strip to make her embarrassed?”
“You're right?”
“What do you mean by that!?”
I guess I better admit that we're a little off from our main objective.
“Well, at least we're still in one piece.”
“Though I managed to embarrass myself out there.”
Despite Yuuji complaining out there, that's because he accepted my idea and did it, so he has nothing to complain about.
Instead, he's muttering to himself.
“But why is it..I can't think of any good idea.”
“I thought it was a good idea to flip their skirts at first..”
Even if we pretend that it never happened, we'll be the ones losing confidence if we continue to fail.
“Hey, Yuuji, are we mistaken on something?”
“Mistaken? What do you mean?”
“Well, to put it..is it that flipping a girl's skirt isn't something worth being embarrassed to them?”
“What nonsense are you talking about?”
“Are you sure?”
“..”
Yuuji can't answer. Even if he wants to deny it, he doesn't have the evidence.
“Himeji-san can't understand, Kirishima-san isn't embarrassed at all, and nee-san doesn't seem to mind about it.”
“Kudou will even flip it to show others, and Hideyoshi probably won't feel embarrassed about it..”
The common sense in our minds is starting to crack and break apart. So girls are like this after all?
“Yuuji, are we really mistaken here?'
“Wait, Akihisa! It's too early to make a conclusion now!”
“But..”
“We got to be confident in ourselves! Amongst us guys and them, who are the ones with common sense?”
“Now that you put it this way..!”
I forgot that everyone around us is a weirdo. Yeah..! I can't just let myself be swept along with everyone. Even amongst us, I'm the only one here with common sense..!
“No, sorry. It's too much to ask common sense out of you. I'm being too harsh here.”
“Why did you add me to that list too!?”
While I'm saying this,
“Eh? Aki, Sakamoto? What are you doing here?”
Minami, probably checking on stuff in the library, just so happens to pass by us.
Hm..
“Sorry Minami. Mind checking if there's common sense in my head?”
“Aki's common sense? I'm fine with that, but it doesn't seem to be something down there”
“No hard feelings there (flips)”
“Kyahh!!?”
Minami shrieks as she hurriedly presses down on the skirt I flip. Right! This is it! This is the reaction we want here!
“What are you doing here, Aki!?”
Minami's so embarrassed her face is all red. I guess I had the right thoughts!
“See, Yuuji? I'm the one with common sense here!”
“Hm..guess I got no choice. I can only agree with you on this then.”
“If you have common sense, at least move away hand away from my skirt!?”
“Ah, yeah.”
Well, the fact that I have common sense is proven, so I follow what she said, and let go.
“Sorry Minami.”
“..”
Minami adjusts her skirt, and it doesn't look like she noticed my apologies as she flattens the wrinkles.
But it's really thanks to Minami.
“Thanks, Minami. I'm starting to have confidence in my own thoughts.”
“..”
Minami remains silent.
“We're worried that our common sense is shattered or something, so really, you've been a great help.”
“..”
Minami continues to remain silent.
“Also, please allow me to say this.”
“..What?”
“I didn't flip your skirt out of lewd intentions.”
☆
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