For some reason, the saint of our school drops her façade when she's with me (GL) - Chapter 27

“Huh… this is kind of unexpected.”

“What is?”

“I thought you two would be all over each other in class.”

My best friend, who knew everything, casually remarked while fiddling with her phone.

Apparently, her current partner was from out of town.

They were in a long-distance relationship and planned to meet on the next holiday, though I wasn’t sure how long it would last.

“You are dating, right?”

“There’s no room for doubt.”

“Hmmm… Hey.”

She suddenly grabbed my hand.

With a loud scrape, Karen, who had been surrounded by classmates, immediately stood up.

Looking satisfied, Mizuki grinned.

“Uh, Saint Karen?”

“Don’t mind me. There was a bug.”

The classmates accepted that explanation without question.

I sighed at how ridiculously well-maintained Karen’s saintly reputation was.

“A bug, huh?”

“Well, that one’s on you, Mizuki.”

Karen and I hadn’t openly announced our relationship to the class, but we communicated through glances even in the classroom.

There was no way no one had noticed, and her reaction now only confirmed it.

“I thought I was the Cupid in all this.”

“I’m grateful to you.”

“What about her?”

“No idea.”

I appreciated Mizuki’s help, but considering how well she knew me, it was only natural that Karen might have mixed feelings about her.

“Oh, the next period is self-study. Nice, an easy ride until lunch.”

“Yeah, that’s good.”

With the chime signaling the start of break, the classmates around Karen dispersed.

Of course, I wasn’t completely free of jealousy, but Karen was mine.

A generous heart was important, I reminded myself.

Though, that didn’t mean I wouldn’t get jealous from time to time.

The fourth period before lunch turned into a self-study session due to the teacher’s absence.

Mizuki was delighted to have time to call her girlfriend, and Karen and I were relieved as well.

As long as our classmates didn’t bother us, we could enjoy communicating through glances.

“Lunch is a special one today.”

“I’m looking forward to it.”

Without using messages or words, we conveyed our thoughts with just our eyes.

It seemed like our bond was deepening smoothly.

Karen seemed more than satisfied with the lunch I had made.

With that in mind, I was able to finish the afternoon classes in a good mood.

When I glanced toward the clubroom, Karen’s eyes met mine, and she subtly signaled, “Let’s go.”

Seeing that, we headed to the clubroom together.

Our classmates were already aware that Karen and I had joined the same club.

Apparently, it was part of Karen’s careful groundwork—to make sure our frequent interactions didn’t seem unnatural.

That was a long-term strategy if I ever saw one.

Honestly, whether our relationship was discovered or not wouldn’t change how we acted, so it didn’t really matter.

Still, being able to go to the clubroom together made me a little happy.

“Twice.”

Once we were inside, Karen locked the door after checking that no one had followed us.

She glanced briefly at the surveillance camera she had personally installed outside the clubroom.

“Twice today, the guy behind me, Seki, brushed my hand when passing papers.”

“You mean during the handout?”

I remembered our hands touching briefly while passing papers.

By the way, the auto-correct on the rubric was brutal.

“It was just an accident, so don’t kill him, okay?”

“…If Yukie says so, I’ll let it slide this time.”

Karen was easy when it came to me.

Then again, I was just as easy for her.

“In exchange, I want something.”

With that, she took my hand.

“Just holding hands?”

“I’m sitting on your lap.”

“Go ahead, my princess.”

As if it were the most natural thing, Karen sat on my lap.

She had a great figure, yet she was surprisingly light.

I used to feel a murderous envy toward women with great bodies, but—at least when it came to Karen—that feeling had subsided.

Still, looking at her stirred up other, more impure thoughts.

I wanted our relationship to remain pure, but reality was full of temptations.

Such is life.

“Yukie.”

“Oh, sorry.”

I was fairly tall, so even with Karen sitting on my lap, it was a comfortable fit.

Of course, moving like this was impossible, but I gently wrapped my arms around her and patted her head.

She accepted it with satisfaction, nestling against me like a pampered kitten.

To the world, she was a saint.

But in front of me, she was just Karen—pure, unfiltered Karen.

As I indulged in spoiling my adorable girlfriend, a thought crossed my mind.

Classmates, you’ll never get to see this side of her. But this is my Karen. Isn’t she the cutest?

Yes, I was bragging. What of it?

It was almost terrifying how happy I was, but I refused to let this happiness slip away.

I would protect it, no matter what.

The first semester was ending soon, and summer break was approaching.

Aside from my planned visit to my uncle’s place, I would likely be staying at Karen’s house for a summer job.

Though, calling it a “job” seemed inaccurate—I was basically going to be her personal maid.

But that was fine.

I’d get to dote on her and be around her all the time.

This was my true calling.

Oh, right, my journal’s title had changed recently.

It was now called “Karen’s Diary.”

Or more accurately, “Our Diary.”

I used to write it in a light novel style before…

Title?

“Our School’s Saint Somehow Acts Normal Only Around Me.”

Before I fully understood why, I needed to frame it that way—otherwise, I wouldn’t have been able to handle everything. So, forgive me for that.

Of course, Karen later read my diary and, with a perfectly straight face, said, “There’s no ‘somehow’ about it. It’s because I love you.”

She made me flustered in the most direct way possible.

Karen is seriously too unfair!

…But I love that about her too.

I wonder what the next diary title will be.

Maybe something like “Pampered Love Diary (Receiver’s Edition).”

Though, to be fair, I pamper her too, so it’s mutual.

I’ve never experienced this kind of joy in everyday life before.

But with Karen by my side, I feel like this happiness will become my new normal.

I want to stay with her forever, to walk this path together, no matter what.

Call it arrogance or a wish—I have no intention of changing my mind.

I’m a difficult, greedy woman.

And I will never let go of the person I love.

Karen feels the same way, so I guess that makes us a matching pair.

“Karen.”

“I love you.”

“I love you too.”

Before I could even echo the words back, she said it first—so naturally, so effortlessly.

But that’s just who she is.

The person I love is, as always, absolutely unstoppable.

And, of course… I love that about her too.