The first day of the new term after becoming co-ed was full of ups and downs, like getting close with the Prince of the all-girls school and saving a girl who was in trouble from being hit on, but somehow I managed to get through it.

And then, the next day.

Still not used to the packed train, I commuted while being surrounded on all sides by middle-aged businessmen.

Yeah… it’s going to take some time to get used to commuting by train.

Even just the train ride left me slightly tired, but after getting off, I headed to the school on foot.

As I walked beneath the row of cherry blossom trees connecting the station to the school, someone suddenly tapped my shoulder from behind.

“Hm?”

“Yo, Yuji. Long time no see.”

“Oh, Hayato?”

The guy who called out to me is Makabe Hayato.

He’s a hardcore extrovert in the soccer club, and while he was in the same class as me in our first year at the boys’ school, we ended up in different classes from second year onward due to our academic tracks.

“So, Yuji, how’s your dream co-ed life going?”

“Well… it’s so-so. I did manage to make a female friend at least.”

I said that with a bit of pride, but I’ll keep quiet about the fact that it’s Ayase Reiya, the Prince admired by all the girls.

“F-for real!? You, Yuji, made a female friend!?”

“How shocked are you? That’s pretty normal, isn’t it?”

“Well, yeah. If you polished yourself up a bit more, you’d probably be pretty popular. Right now, though, you’re just an extremely plain average-looking introvert.”

“Why do you sound like you’re complimenting me at first only to drag me down at the very end?”

As usual, Hayato teased me, and we laughed together as we walked to school.

At times like this, it feels just like the old boys’ school days, and that’s nice.

Yeah, that’s right. In the end, friends are what matter.

Instead of forcing myself to get a girlfriend, having close guy friends is enough.

Right, right. Same-gender friends are good enough.

“So anyway, what about you, Hayato? Have you talked to any girls yet?”

“Hm? Oh yeah, I exchanged lime contacts with every girl in my class.”

Ah… I take that back.

I will not forgive this guy!!

Absolutely will not forgive him!!

I’ll exchange contacts too! I swear I will!!

While going crazy with jealousy, I still made my way to school properly.

* * *

When I entered the classroom, just like yesterday, the girls were gathered around Ayase’s seat, chatting.

It was so crowded that you couldn’t even see Ayase unless you got close.

Come to think of it, yesterday Ayase was talking about going to the salon and cutting her hair shorter.

Yesterday she showed a more girlish side, but if she cut her hair neatly, her princely aura would only grow stronger.

And then, like a magnet attracting iron sand, countless girls would cling to her and never leave.

There’d be absolutely no trickle-down effect to us guys who came from the boys’ school… unfortunately.

“Huh? Reiya-sama, you decided not to cut it?”

Hm? Not cut it?

Hearing that from the girls, I glanced over at Ayase sitting next to me as I headed to my seat, and sure enough, her hairstyle was the same as yesterday.

Medium-short hair that reaches her ears, with no sign at all of having gone to the salon.

“Ah… Saijou-kun. Good morning.”

Even though she was surrounded by girls, Ayase turned toward me and gave a small wave as she greeted me.

H-hey, talking to me during girl talk… that’s a bad move!!

As expected, cold stares flew at me from the girls.

But among them, only Oguma-san was smiling brightly as she looked at me.

Well, after what happened yesterday, it makes sense she has a good impression of me, but from the other girls’ perspective, I’m definitely just a nuisance…

“G-good morning, Ayase.”

I nervously returned the greeting, sat down, and pretended to busy myself with preparations while avoiding eye contact with the girls.

For now, I’ll talk to Ayase after the girls leave.

After waiting for the girls to clear out and Ayase was alone, I spoke to her.

“Hey, Ayase? Are you done chatting with the girls?”

“Y-yeah. Sorry about earlier, I didn’t think it would get that awkward if I talked to you in front of everyone.”

This airheaded Prince… it was obviously a bad idea to talk to me in front of those girls.

Even so, I can’t help but think that’s part of why she’s so popular.

“More importantly, your hair. The girls told you to cut it shorter yesterday, but you didn’t, huh?”

“Huh? Um… yeah. I kind of felt like maybe I shouldn’t cut it after all.”

Felt like? So she didn’t really want to cut it after all?

“Well, your current hairstyle suits you too, Ayase, so I think it’s fine.”

“R-really?”

“Yeah. And if you grow it out, you might end up looking even cuter, you know? Just saying.”

“…”

“Huh, what’s wrong, Ayase?”

“N-no, it’s nothing.”

Looking surprised like a pigeon hit with a bean, Ayase’s cheeks gradually turned red.

It happened yesterday too, but she blushes a lot. What kind of emotion is that?

“Then maybe… I’ll try growing it out a bit.”

Muttering that, Ayase softened her expression slightly.

She looked like she was smiling a bit, but with a face that good, it didn’t really come across that way.

Until yesterday, she said she had to meet everyone’s expectations, but today she’s listening to my opinion a lot more.

“Um, I’m sorry to interrupt while you’re talking.”

While we were talking, Oguma-san came over and spoke to us.

“Oh, Oguma-san, good morning.”

“Good morning, Saijou-san. Thank you again for helping me yesterday. And about the ‘thank you’ I mentioned yesterday…”

A thank you? Oh right, now that I think about it!

She did say she’d give me and Ayase some kind of thanks later.

Personally, I’d be happiest if it’s contact info… but putting my desires aside, I wonder what she’s going to give.