Chapter 1

"Alright, Nanami, you lose. The punishment game is for you to confess!"

"Punishment game!! Punishment game!! Yay, I'm glad it's not me!"

"Wh-What? Me?"

In the midst of cherry blossoms dancing in the wind, the top-tier popular girls, who looked stunningly beautiful and cute, were playing a card game in the classroom after school.

They weren't betting money; they simply had set up a punishment game. Despite their flashy appearances, I was impressed by their wholesome side.

I, Ruma Youshin, was just a classmate who happened to stumble upon this scene. We had no connection.

To be precise, I had come to retrieve something I forgot, and I encountered them still in the classroom... Usually, I'm a recluse, and they didn't notice me at all.

Even though my name contains the character for 'sun,' I'm a recluse. It's a bit of a misnomer, but I don't really mind.

Anyway, the thing I forgot... it wasn't much. Just a pencil case. I picked it up, put it in my bag, and was about to leave the classroom. They continued talking without noticing me.

Well, my seat is at the back, and the classroom door was left open, so it didn't make any sound. Given their loud voices, the door's sound was probably drowned out, right?

"Alright, the content of the punishment game... let's make it a confession! Tomorrow after school, confess to a boy you usually don't interact with!"

"Ooh, that's a good one!! Confessing as a punishment game is a classic!!"

"Eh...? A confession as a punishment game...?"

The girl who was assigned the punishment, Itsuto Nanami, responded with a reluctant tone and sat cross-legged on the desk, despite her very short skirt.

If viewed from the front, her private parts would be completely visible. I had to resist the urge to move to the front.

Even recluses have sexual desires.

"Confessing as a punishment game is the worst! It's a way of toying with people's feelings!! Confessing should be done seriously... only to someone you truly like!!"

"You've been saying that all along, but you're the only one among us who doesn't have a boyfriend."

"Right, right. You're the cutest, yet you reject every confession you receive, don't you?"

"Ugh... because... boys are a bit scary... and when they confess while staring at my body... it's just..."

Nanami, who was surprisingly making a reasonable point, was interrupted by her two friends, whose names I've forgotten, with a worried tone, leaving her speechless.

Don't give up, Nanami. You're right. Don't lose, keep going.

I silently cheered for her in my heart but didn't say anything out loud.

"Since Nanami isn't used to boys at all, she should confess to a harmless boy and stay with him for at least a month! That's the punishment game."

"Eh...? A whole month...?"

"Anything can be a starting point. First, you need to get used to boys. We're worried... if you keep this up, you might get attacked by some weirdo."

They seemed to genuinely care about Nanami, though their approach seemed a bit off... I was eavesdropping, but I couldn't help but stay and listen, curious about what would happen next. Fortunately, they still hadn't noticed me... What should I do?

"Right, it should be a boy who is either a herbivore or a vegetarian, someone who won't suddenly attack you even if you're alone together..."

"Basically, it's a punishment game, so you don't have to force yourself to stay with him, but if you end up continuing the relationship, that's fine too. Even if you break up, he won't be hurt too much if he doesn't know it was a punishment game. He'll definitely be happy to be able to date Nanami, even for a month!! We won't tell him it was a punishment game!!"

The two friends were enthusiastically encouraging Nanami. If she could date someone for a month without them knowing it was a punishment game, he would likely not be hurt. It might even be a reward.

However, did they realize how the boys who received Nanami's confessions would be viewed by others?

Nanami had sunk many handsome boys... If someone dated her, they would undoubtedly be looked at with envy, jealousy, and other mixed emotions from those handsome boys.

I wouldn't be able to handle it.

I would probably develop so many ulcers that my body would turn into a beehive, and digestive fluids would pour out of my pores, melting me away.

The man who would experience both heaven and hell, who I feel both envy and pity for, is unknown to me... But it's not my problem.

I hope he does his best. Both with the punishment game confession and the one-month relationship. I'll keep the fact that it's a punishment game to myself.

With that resolve, I was about to leave when I froze, hearing their words.

"Then, tomorrow... confess to Ruma Youshin, the quietest boy in the class!!"

"Ruma... Yeah, he's a good choice... Okay, I'll try it."

So, the boy who will be both envied and pitied is Ruma Youshin. I know that name. Yes, Ruma Youshin... a very familiar and friendly name.

Eh? Ruma Youshin? ...Is there someone else with the same name in this class, or even in this school?

...Um... I'm right here. I heard everything...

Eh? Tomorrow, I'm going to be confessed to as a punishment game? By Nanami?

...I should prepare myself mentally.

Interlude: Nanami Afterward

"...But... how do you confess?"

"Hmm? Just call him to the back of the school and tell him you like him, and it's a done deal, right?"

"Sounds like a shoujo manga! Go for it, Nanami♪"

"...By the way, how did you two confess to your boyfriends?"

Afterward, as Nanami listened to their methods of confessing to their boyfriends, she realized they were not helpful and blushed deeply.