I liked gazing at stars.
Gazing at the distant stars
made it feel like my problems were tiny and insignificant.
One day, I found a star shining at ground level.
The star was named Shoma Akiyama.
A person to whom I owe a debt of gratitude.
A first-magnitude star, shining brightly, visible only to me.
"Hensuki: Are you willing to fall in love with a pervert, as long as she's a cutie?"
Previously, on Hensuki .
With Ayano Fujimoto, I thought I finally found my elusive Cinderella.
But no. She, too, was a pervert.
I, love-seeker Keiki Kiryu, must continue on my Panty Quest.
But I cannot devote all of my attention to the panties.
I have another, equally important mission.
Wow, you have a lot on your plate, brother.
Akiyama- senpai , you have sauce on your cheek.
"Operation: Koharu is a first-year student - Conclusion"
Really?
Hold still, please.
There, all clean.
Thank you, Koharu- chan . You're kind.
They've completely forgotten about me...
Oh, no, I'm not!
I'm at a fast food place as part of "Operation: Koharu is a first-year student."
So about the tennis world tournament...
The third-place playoff, right? That was a very close match.
They seem to be getting closer, so this operation seems to be going well.
But this is based on the fact that Otori- senpai is hiding her age.
When Shoma finds out, his lolicon might take over and make him lose interest.
My role is to play cupid and get them into a lasting relationship.
To realize that, I probably need one more push right around now...
In that case...
A double date?!
Yes, that seems like a good small step forward.
Oh, ah, I see.
I knew you had good insight in this matter, dating-master Kiryu- kun .
Yes... I have been on many dates in my daydreams.
I didn't know you had chicken nuggets, so I made fried chicken.
Yeah...
Now who should be the date by my side?
Yuika- chan would be...
La, la, la!
Oh, Yuika- chan , you're so cute like always!
What? Oh, thank you, Akiyama- senpai !
That could be risky.
How about Fujimoto- san ...?
Kiryu- kun is good, but I can't say no to post-exercise Akiyama- kun's scent either.
Not impossible.
Nanjo...
Huh?! Shouto can't be straight!
Nope, no good.
So the only remaining one is...
Brother.
Please at least pretend to be sneaky if you're going to steal the food.
Keiki- kun , thank you for inviting me.
Process of elimination...
Otori- senpai , are you nervous?
Is there any doubt?
You most definitely look nervous. Even your voice is shaking.
Relax, relax.
I was surprised to see Otori- san .
Sayuki- senpai , do you know Otori- senpai ?
We were in the same first-year class.
Good to see you, Koharu- chan .
The pleasure is mine, Akiyama- senpai !
"Senpai"? But Otori- san is a third--
Whoa!
What's wrong, Keiki?
Nothing! I stopped Sayuki- senpai from saying a really bad joke!
You two are very close, as always.
To summarize, Otori- san is hiding the fact that she's older,
to get with Akiyama- kun , who likes little girls.
Yes.
And Akiyama- kun thinks Otori- san is younger?
That's correct.
Understood. I will accept this taiyaki as payment for keeping your secret.
Thank you for your understanding.
Hey, Keiki- kun .
I hate to bring this up after coming all the way out here,
but this is my first bowling experience.
This is quite a startling development.
I don't like physical activities.
Oh, were you bad at sports?
So why did you accept my invitation today?
That's... Well...
Because you invited me...
Huh? Do you mean...
A loyal dog would fight a bear if their owner commanded it to.
Bowling is not as hard as fighting a bear.
Also, I'm not your master.
I know. It would be boring to just play normally.
Why don't we set a penalty for the lowest scoring player?
It might be exciting, but are you sure?
This is your first time, right?
I don't mind. All I need to do is win.
She's hopeless... She's playing on all of the tropes to ensure her own demise.
There won't be any plot twists here.
Hmph, we'll see about that.
Sure, I am quite the broken robot when it comes to sports.
But today, Otori- san is here, too!
Huh? Me?
She can't be very good at this, either.
Can you even hold a ball with such a tiny body?
I'll be fine. There are light balls, too.
Really?
So, Sayuki- senpai . What should the penalty be?
How about we let the first-place winner draw on the last-place player's face?
No washing it off until they get home, obviously.
I'd like to avoid that...
Also, the person in third place has to follow any one order from the winner.
Isn't that worse than the last-place penalty?
I'm okay with that. How about you, Koharu- chan ?
Yes, sounds fun.
It's settled then.
I did it!
Great job, Koharu- chan !
You've got to be kidding.
My father likes bowling. We come often as a family.
No wonder you're so good.
This can't be...
"Keiki" "Sayuki" "Koharu" "Shoma"
This can't be...
I didn't expect you to be worse than me.
I've always had a hard time with bowling.
Um... If you like, I can give you some tips.
Really? That would be wonderful! Could you do that?
Of course!
Like this?
Your center of balance is a bit off.
Try doing it like this...
Oh, it looks like they're getting closer.
Hmm?
Wow, she's totally filming this...
Is supporting this romance really the right thing to do...?
By the way, Koharu- chan .
Yes?
You said you wear your hoodie to prevent sunburn.
Why do you wear it indoors?
Uh, um...
I, uh...
I'm ashamed of how small my breasts are...
Did you hear that, Keiki?
Koharu- chan made my heart skip a beat!
Yes, yes, I heard. Everyone has their own reasons for things.
Let's not mention the hoodie again, okay?
I couldn't beat Keiki after all.
Maybe you can get Otori- san to teach you again?
Oh, that would be great. Would that be okay?
I would love to!
Well, Otori- san , you're the winner. You can decide what to do with Shoma.
Y-Yes...
Please be gentle with me.
Don't hold back.
Be as hilariously unreasonable as you can.
You don't get a say in this, you're dead last.
"I have big boobs"
Okay... Here is my order...
Starting from today...
...please let me call you "Shoma- kun "!
Keiki...
What?
I might be ready to release my soul.
You might as well.
Um... Is that a no?
No, I would be more than glad if you could do that.
Great!
Thank you, Shoma- kun !
Otori- senpai , did something good happen?
To tell you the truth,
Shoma- kun invited me to go out with him on the next holiday!
Wow, when did that happen?
We talk on the phone all the time now, too!
Wow, you're close!
Somewhere between friends and dating, I guess.
Seems like my services are no longer required.
Thank you, Kiryu- kun .
Hmm?
I'm sure I wouldn't have had a chance with Shoma- kun if I hadn't hidden this ribbon.
This is all thanks to you.
I've gotten closer to the person I love. I'm very happy right now.
It wasn't me at all...
I'm only helping to get you to delete that photo, anyway...
Hmm? Oh.
I already deleted it the day you promised to help me.
Huh? Why?
You didn't seem like a person who breaks promises.
After all, you're Shoma- kun 's friend.
Otori- senpai ...
I have to stop relying on you now.
Senpai?
I'm actually ready. I'm wearing pink underwear today.
Pink underwear?
It's a thing that's popular among the female students.
When confessing your love to a boy, wear pink underwear for better chances.
I see... Wait, so if you're wearing that underwear now, does that mean...
I want to be brave and say what I need to say.
The Koharu Otori that Shoma- kun is being so kind to isn't the real me.
Koharu- senpai ...
I'm going to tell Shoma- kun how I feel.
And I will be my real self this time.
Koharu- chan .
Shoma- kun , would you like to walk home with me?
It's like I'm the stalker now...
So about the movie we're going to, if there's anything you want to see...
Koharu- chan ? What's wrong?
Do you remember?
One year ago, I met you here.
Huh?
That day, you got the hat that the wind blew away from me.
Koharu- chan ... That color...
I'm sorry I lied to you.
I wanted to get as close to you as I could.
From the day that I saw you here, I...
I've always been in love with you!
I'm sorry, Koharu- chan .
I have a lolicon...
...so I can't date you.
Hey there, player.
How does it feel to dump a cute girl?
Were you watching?
Yeah.
To tell you the truth, Koharu- senpai asked me to play the cupid role.
I see. So that's how it was.
She was crying, wasn't she?
Yeah...
Shoma, how serious do you think she was when she confessed her feelings to you?
She was very nervous every time she saw you.
In fact, it took her a whole year just to muster the courage to talk to you.
But then, after getting her to put so much courage into telling you how she feels,
your response is, "No, I have a lolicon"?
Do you think that stupid reason is really acceptable here?
You can like or love anyone you want, it's your right to choose.
But to decline someone just because she's just one year older than you...
Keiki, you're too kind.
Shoma?
I never forgot the girl I met on that street.
She was so cute, I was hoping I could ambush her again.
That's really creepy...
But I never saw her after that.
I see. At that time, Koharu- senpai was following Shoma around, so...
I didn't realize that girl was Koharu- chan . Her hair was a lot shorter.
I... When I made her cry, it broke my heart, too.
I've turned down girls a few times before...
...but it never hurt so much.
A first-magnitude star, shining brightly, visible only to me.
It was fun being around Koharu- senpai , wasn't it?
Yes.
That's probably not because of her age or her looks. It's because it's her.
I know.
I can't stay like this... I know that.
I knew you were here.
Despite your support, I was dumped.
You did everything you could.
Only Shoma is to blame for this.
I... I can't say...
I mean, just because you're older? That's absurd.
Well... Maybe.
He has a pretty face, but he's totally rotten on the inside.
He can say "tiny breasts are the best breasts" with a straight face!
I guess that is kind of insensitive.
I know, right?
After making a girl muster up all that courage to confess her feelings,
he responds with "my lolicon says no"? What kind of stupid answer is that?!
It's terrible, don't you think?!
I... agree.
That was really hurtful!
Shoma doesn't get it! There are so many benefits to having an older partner!
I know right?! The older wife is such a tried-and-true formula for success!
What's with his fascination with under-developed breasts anyway?!
Bigger is obviously better!
No! Small breasts are great, too, and the demand is higher than you think!
I've had it with this "lolicon" nonsense! Liking little girls is clearly unacceptable!
Yes! I believe it is a heavy crime!
Shoma- kun ?!
Could you stop now?
I'm starting to feel... You know...
Oh, um, this is just a temporary misunderstanding.
I wasn't trying to insult you or anything.
I was just letting out all of the things about you I didn't like that I held back...
Koharu- senpai , you're just being brutally honest...
Oh, no!
I really enjoyed the time I spent with you.
Huh...?
I like younger girls, but I was thinking, maybe with you, I could...
But I kind of need a rehabilitation period, so to speak, and...
Well, I'd like to ask for your help.
So, what do you mean?
So, um...
Can we start off as friends?
You're sounding like a rom-com protagonist.
Hmm?
Aren't you just saying
you're going to avoid clearly entering an exclusive relationship,
yet you won't properly shut me down, either?
You just want to keep me "on hold."
How does that not make you the worst person ever?!
You are the worst.
I'm the worst... The worst...
The worst... The worst... The worst... The worst...
Please don't laugh, Keiki.
Sorry, couldn't help it.
I'm kidding.
Huh?
After you were cruel enough to dump me because of your lolicon,
I think I'm entitled to getting back at you a little.
Yes... You are.
I truly am sorry about that.
I'm happy just to be by your side.
Yes, let's start off as friends.
Yes. Thank you, Koharu- chan .
Congratulations, Koharu- senpai .
Yes!
By the way, why is it so dark in this room?
Yeah, it's... Hmm?
No, wait, Shoma!
Huh?
This... All of this?
Yes! I took all of these myself!
I... I might not be able to...
...date someone older than me after all...
Yeah... I suppose so...
"To be continued"
Emergency family meeting!
I would call the police.
Call the police.
Police.
I've come to discipline Keiki- senpai .
Sayuki- senpai and Yuika- chan ...
One of them must be Cinderella.
Next on Hensuki , "The Prince lost his panties?!"
Are you willing to fall in love, as long as she's a cutie?