2 Off To The Dungeon - Part 1

Despite being an ordinary person, Haruto longed to relish his school life fully by making friends, socializing at places like karaoke, and exploring Akihabara's arcade games. But above all, his heart's desire was to have a girlfriend; with her by his side, he believed he could nearly achieve his dream of experiencing a proper school life.

In his eyes, the school right now is colorless. The days he spends in this lackluster world have stirred thoughts of taking an extended leave from school—the longest, to be exact—and leaving this place for an extended period.

As if to knock me off my pedestal, a girl suddenly appeared before me. She was precisely the type of girl I would prefer to avoid any contact with. With her silver shiny hair cascading down her back and amber-colored eyes, she appeared somewhat indifferent to others yet lively and friendly towards her friends. She exuded an aura of being at the center of everything, as if she could effortlessly excel in any field she took a slight interest in. One thing she particularly enjoyed was eating Pocky sticks, her favorite snack.

I wonder what she is doing at the moment? I suddenly thought of her while I was busy playing games.

After she appeared, a hint of color was cast upon me from her vibrant world... I felt relieved... but why? I mulled it over many times and arrived at a difficult conclusion... I was starting to like her. I thought it was impossible for someone like me, who had always desired and imagined a simple and ordinary life, to be drawn to a girl so dazzling. However, my high school life became a little more colorful as I started to pay attention to her.

But then she completely shattered my understanding of relationships, which I had always dismissed as unrealistic. I mean, could a beautiful girl and a plain, simple guy really form a genuine friendship? I thought it was impossible, yet she approached me with a smile and introduced herself, saying, "My name is Nakaya Mio... I've been observing you for a while now Yoshikawa-san... and if it's not too much to ask, could we possibly become friends? You strike me as a good person, and I'm seeking a sincere friendship, if that would be acceptable to you..." Mio spoke with a hint of difficulty and shyness that was unmistakable to anyone.

I could only stare at her, my eyes widening before narrowing into slits. It was the only expression I could manage; her sudden proposal had caught me completely off-guard.

Standing behind Nakaya Mio was her best friend, Nishikawa Ichika, a poised beauty with a single ponytail cascading down to her waist, her glossy black hair shining in the light. She stood a little taller than Nakaya Mio. With a sigh, she tapped her forehead with her right hand in frustration and glanced at her friend with eyes that seemed to regard her like a daughter, observing the signs of budding love within her.

Advancing, she took her place beside Mio and called out to Haruto. Her bestfriend had consistently spoken of him with a delightful smile. As she listened to Mio's frequent discussions about Haruto, it felt as though her ears were on the verge of ascending into outer space. Intriguingly, she began to feel a growing interest in him. Contemplating what could engender such strong attachment from her friend, she initiated her introduction

"Well, helloooo~ I'm Nishikawa Ichika, delighted to make your acquaintance! And this lovely lady beside me is Nakaya Mio... Now, Mio here may seem a tad shy, but trust me, she's been secretly dying to be your friend. You see, with all those girl meet-ups and school events filling up her schedule, she's been itching for a chance to break free. And today, when she finally got the chance, she practically dashed over here because she's dead serious about wanting to befriend you. Like, super serious!" Ichika contemplated Mio's strong desire to befriend Haruto, then let out a light chuckle as she mischievously continued the rest of her sentence.

Haruto found himself flustered as events unfolded in a direction he hadn't anticipated. Upon hearing her best friend's words, Mio blushed profusely, the crimson hue rising to her ears as wisps of smoke began to curl from her head.

"Wha-What are you saying, Ichika?! Please, don't say things that might give the wrong impression to Haru—... I mean, Yoshikawa-san and I didn't rush off or anything... It just happened that I had some free time today and happened to run into Yoshikawa-san. So, um, even though I wanted to be friends with him, it doesn't mean I have any feelings for him!" Mio grabbed Ichika's shoulders, shaking her body in a frenzy as a blush crept up her face.

"M-Mio, stop... I'm getting di-dizzy. I think I can see my parents on the o-other side!" Ichika added, her face paling with each shake.

"Ichika... Are you messing with me right now? Your parents are alive and kicking, you know" Mio questioned with a raised eyebrow, her tone mixing amusement with mock sternness. It was as if she was playfully warning Ichika to tread carefully. Understanding the jest, Ichika relented, freeing herself from Mio's playful grip. Despite feeling a bit lightheaded, she steadied herself by placing a hand on Mio's shoulder

Haruto's image of them crumbled like a broken stone hitting a mirror, causing it to shatter into pieces. I... I was at a loss for words to describe my emotions in that moment. Both girls were individuals I wouldn't normally have the chance to interact with... They were usually surrounded by a group of students, like devoted fans waiting to get their autographs. This was because both Nakaya-san and Nishikawa-san were known as the Goddesses of Ice and Fire, reflecting their contrasting personalities.

Nakaya-san, with her indifferent personality, has turned down numerous confessions from boys, often leaving them in tears. She doesn't engage much with her classmates and typically focuses on her friends. Her most striking features include her silver hair and amber eyes. On the other hand, Nishikawa-san is known for her fiery attitude; when someone gets on her nerves, she doesn't hesitate to use her fists to make them understand reality. She also possesses a warrior-like spirit. They have been friends since childhood. You could often see them hanging out together.

Disregarding these thoughts for the moment, I finally spoke after Nakaya-san had initiated the conversation. "Are you certain...?" I inquired, scanning their expressions, before continuing, "What I'm trying to say is... Unlike Nakaya-san and Nishikawa-san, I don't really stand out in anything. I'm sorry if this sounds impolite... but is there a specific reason why Nakaya-san wishes to befriend me?" I expressed my thoughts and awaited their response.

"NO!"

Mio shouted in desperation and panicked for a moment. Knowing Haruto very well, she was sure he would not laugh at her, but still, she would not disclose the reason; it was embarrassing for her, a memory from their junior high school days. However, now that they had crossed paths again, she resolved not to squander this opportunity, deeming it a twist of fate.

"I just want us to be friends, and to be honest, I don't need a reason for it... I mean, I just admire the way you perceive things, you know? And the clarity in your gaze as you look at others... It's quite striking..." Mio rushed to explain, but halfway through her explanation, her expression became dazed.

"Huh?"

"Huh?"

Both Nishikawa-san and I were puzzled by her statement.

Ichika's temples throbbed as she watched Mio's idiotic expression, accustomed to seeing her in this state, she didn't say much. Haruto, having just met Mio, appeared visibly perplexed by her words, his confusion evident in his expression. He could only understand after getting an explanaation from Mio. After a brief moment of confusion, Mio collected herself and realized her error as she noticed the reactions of both Haruto and Ichika. Blushing with embarrassment, she quickly rectified her statement, aiming to explain herself more clearly.

Mio clarified, "Wh-What I meant is that Yoshikawa-san doesn't pass negative judgments on others. I've never seen him give disdainful looks to anyone." Then she remarked, "Most boys and girls tend to judge others hastily, forming opinions after just a few conversations or learning about their past deeds. They chase after others' glory without considering the environment they are in... I think you got what I'm trying to say, right?"

"I understand what you are trying to say... Nakaya-san."

As an observant individual, Haruto understood her. His brows furrowed as he recalled some unpleasant memories. He was also surprised at how perceptive Mio was. Not everyone possesses the same level of insight as him when it comes to understanding the depths of people's hearts. Haruto felt it was alright to establish some contact with her.

"If you're genuinely okay with me... Nakaya-san, then I appreciate your kindness. Let's be friends."

Haruto felt a bit nervous as he reached out, attempting to make a friend for the first time in his life.

Ichika silently gave a thumbs-up to praise her friend's sharp intellect.

Mio sighed in relief, her hand gently pressing against her chest, causing her bosom to sway subtly. Both Ichika and Haruto were momentarily captivated by this movement. Haruto, uncertain where to look, found himself drawn to Mio's swaying chest, feeling a sense of discomfort. Hastily, he averted his gaze, only to meet Ichika's eyes. Her smirk conveyed a clear message, leaving Haruto feeling embarrassed. He could only stare at her, hoping to divert his attention from the captivating sight.

"Yoshikawa-san... could we exchange Line IDs."

Unaware of what was going on, Mio turned to Haruto and requested his Line ID, her expression filled with anticipation. The anticipation in Mio's gaze prompted Haruto to feel a tingling sensation coursing through his body, accelerating his heartbeat. 

He handed his smartphone to Mio instinctively. "Here, take..." His words trailed off as Mio swiftly snatched the phone from his hand, leaving him momentarily surprised by her quick reflexes. As Mio reached into her bosom pocket to retrieve her phone, the subtle sway of her bosom caught Haruto's attention, leaving him momentarily captivated by the unexpected movement. After a few moments of appreciation, he shifted his gaze towards Ichika.

Noticing the attention on her, Ichika turned to Haruto with a smile, showing no sign of embarrassment. Instead, she winked, causing Haruto to feel downcast. As they continued their observation, Haruto began to sense something off about the situation, prompting him to glance at Ichika with confusion. Unaware of this, Mio remained oblivious to the fact that both her best friend and the person she considered "fated" were fixated on her swaying chest, their eyes narrowed in scrutiny.

"How does she appear... isn't she enticing?" Ichika blinked at Haruto.

Haruto, seemingly grasping her intent, responded with gestures and shifts in his gaze to convey his message to her.

"Yes... Her development in that area; it's tantalizingly jiggly at this age and feels irresistibly soft to the touch. I can't help but wonder how it will blossom as she matures."

"I know, right? I've indulged in playing with her bouncy assets, and it's incredibly pleasurable. The smooth, arousing sensation I experience when I squeeze them... I almost became addicted to it!"

"What?! So you've experienced that...? Gah!! I'm so envious of you!"

"Hehehe... I can indulge in playing with those bouncy delights whenever I please. You can only envy me!"

Kuh! I suffered a heavy defeat at the hands of a girl, a blow that landed heavily on my pride.

Ichika's expression shifted, filled with a blend of laughter and chuckles as she gazed at Haruto's expression, finding it hilarious. Her body trembled, finding it difficult to contain herself. However, Ichika was surprised by her own reaction; she didn't find discussing ecchi topics with Haruto repulsive. Instead, she felt they could develop a strong camaraderie. While Haruto and Ichika continued their conversation, Mio, who had Haruto's smartphone, decided to check his contact list. With only two IDs listed, she couldn't help but smile brightly. After adding her own ID to the list and sending a text message from her own account, she was about to return the phone. However, she caught sight of Ichika and Haruto making faces at each other. Mio couldn't help but twitch at their antics, almost bursting into laughter, but she managed to restrain herself, finding their behavior amusing. Finding them amusing, she thought of something as her eyes shined brightly. Swiftly, she grabbed her phone and began recording a video of their amusing interaction...

In the end, Mio couldn't contain her laughter.

"Ha ha hahaha... Oh, I'm sorry, it was just too funny, I couldn't help myself... ha... ha... So, what were you guys doing?"

Mio quickly saved the video on her social media account, ensuring that even if someone attempted to delete it from her phone, she could still retrieve it from there. After completing this task, she looked at them with a bright smile as she asked about their situation.

They had a feeling that something wasn't quite right...

However, unable to pinpoint what it was, they dismissed the feeling from their minds.

"Nothing, I was simply observing the person you've always wanted to befriend," Ichika replied with a faint smile.

"Ah... I was merely checking to see if she had muscles, given that she's a kendo player. Seeing her in person, one of the two Goddesses, I thought I was dreaming. But you, Nakaya-san, surprised me the most... Ha... Allow me to properly introduce myself. My name is Yoshikawa Haruto."

This marks the beginning of my "proper high school life."

It all unfolded just before the start of summer vacation.