The morning sunlight spilled onto the path leading to Itan High School, a gentle breeze carrying the crisp coolness of early autumn. Komi Shouko walked cautiously, her backpack slung over her shoulders, her long, straight black hair cascading like a waterfall over her sides. Her navy-blue school uniform hugged her slender yet strikingly curvaceous figure, accentuating her graceful silhouette. Her steps were light, as if afraid to disturb the surrounding air, her fingers clutching the straps of her backpack, fingertips slightly pale, betraying her usual nervous tension.

Komi Shouko, a second-year student at Itan High School, was the embodiment of a perfect heroine straight out of a manga. Yet, her severe communication disorder made speaking effortlessly an impossible feat. She was the "goddess" admired yet distanced by the entire school, her silence not born of aloofness but of a tangled mix of yearning and fear when it came to connecting with others. Her goal was to make 100 friends in high school, but every step toward that dream felt like scaling a mountain.

By her side, as always, was Tadano Hitohito, his warm smile ever-present. This ordinary yet kind-hearted boy was the first to truly understand Komi, her most trusted friend, and perhaps... someone a little more special.

Tadano had a knack for reading the emotions hidden behind her silence, using his patience and sincerity to gradually help her open up. Today, he carried his backpack with a spring in his step, humming a tuneless melody, clearly in high spirits.

"Komi-san, the weather’s great today, isn’t it?" Tadano said with a smile, trying to ease her tension. Komi nodded, her cheeks faintly flushed, pulling out her small notebook and writing, "Yes, it is." Her handwriting was neat but carried a hint of shyness, as if she worried her response wasn’t interesting enough.

Just then, a burst of bright laughter cut through the morning’s calm, sharp and radiant like sunlight. Komi looked up, her gaze instinctively drawn to the sound—a blonde girl stood at the intersection, chatting animatedly with a group of friends.

Kitagawa Marin, a second-year from nearby Soya High School, was a vibrant, cosplay-loving gyaru. Her golden hair gleamed under the sun, a pink butterfly clip dancing in her locks. Her white shirt was casually knotted, revealing a glimpse of her slim waist, and her plaid skirt showcased her long, youthful legs, exuding an effortless charm. Her laughter was unrestrained, her lips curving into an exaggerated smile, and the people around her seemed infected by her radiance, their laughter echoing in response.

Komi’s steps faltered, her eyes fixed on Marin. Her heart raced, her fingers tightening on her backpack straps, as if struck by an invisible force. Marin’s smile was so dazzling, so natural, as if she were born to stand at the center of any crowd, effortlessly drawing every gaze. In Komi’s mind, flashes of her own countless failed attempts at speaking surfaced—how she longed to be like Marin, to speak freely, laugh openly, and ignite the air around her with vitality.

"Wow, that’s gotta be the famous model! Kitagawa-san from the school next door. She’s so lively!" Tadano’s voice rang in her ears, tinged with admiration. "I’ve seen her in magazines. She’s like, naturally likable, probably has tons of friends. Komi-san, you’ll definitely be like that someday, making tons of friends!" He turned to her, his tone full of encouragement.

Komi’s pen hesitated over her notebook, initially intending to write "Really?" but stopped. Her chest tightened, as if pricked by something small but sharp—Tadano’s voice was so warm, but why did his eyes light up when he spoke of Marin? He praised her liveliness, her popularity... Did he prefer girls like that? Komi’s cheeks grew warmer, her gaze dimming with a flicker of complex emotions. She envied Marin—her smile, her confidence, her radiance—but deeper still, a subtle unease coiled around her heart.

That radiance was something Komi could never reach, no matter how hard she tried. Marin was like a version of her from another world, possessing everything Komi dreamed of.

She lowered her head, scribbling in her notebook: "She’s amazing." The words trembled slightly, as if she were forcing herself to stay composed. When she looked up, her eyes flicked toward Marin again, catching the girl’s casual glance. Marin winked at her, flashing a bold, friendly smile, as if saying, "Hey, hi there!" Komi’s face flushed crimson instantly, her hands fumbling as she ducked her head, her heart pounding like a drum. Why was her smile so captivating? Why was she so effortlessly natural?

"By the way, Komi-san!" Tadano’s voice broke through her thoughts. "Next week, our school’s holding a joint cultural festival with the school next door. It’s gonna be super lively, and Kitagawa-san will probably be there. You might get to talk to her, maybe even become friends!" His smile was genuine, oblivious to the storm swirling in Komi’s heart. Then, as if struck by a sudden idea, he added, "Oh, right, Komi-san, how about we do some friend-making practice tonight? I found a game that’ll definitely help you make friends!"

Komi bit her lip, silently repeating to herself: *Friends?* Could she really become friends with a girl that radiant? Did Tadano want her to become like Marin? Her fingers clenched, nails digging into her palms. Marin’s brilliance made her feel inadequate, yet it also sparked a tiny flame within her—she didn’t want to lose, at least not in Tadano’s eyes. She wanted to prove she could be just as "amazing," someone who could shine in his gaze.

She lifted her head, her eyes settling on Marin again. The blonde was waving goodbye to her friends, her silhouette in the morning light like a leaping flame. A hint of defiance flickered in Komi’s gaze as she wrote in her notebook: "I’ll try."

But deep in her heart, she whispered: *Keep going, keep going...*

---

In the dungeon, two girls stood in confrontation—

A faint mist hung in the dim light, the air thick with the scent of impending conflict, like gunpowder ready to ignite.

The elegant beauty stood on the left, her long black hair falling like a waterfall, slightly disheveled, hinting at suppressed emotions. Her navy-blue school uniform clung to her full chest, the buttons straining slightly against her breathtaking curves, accentuating her exaggerated yet sensual figure. Her red-and-white pleated skirt was just short enough to reveal her long, slender legs, the sheer black stockings trembling faintly over her plump thighs as the skirt swayed with her movements. Her cheeks flushed with a rosy hue, her eyes wavering with hesitation yet glinting with a spark of anger, the sharp upward tilt of her eyes betraying a barely contained fury, as if she might erupt at any moment.

Opposite her, the gyaru stood with a bolder stance, her golden hair cascading messily over her shoulders, small accessories glinting in the light. Her tight-lipped snarl was like that of a wildcat ready for battle, her fiery, untamed beauty practically spilling over. Her white shirt hugged her curves, the open collar revealing a tantalizing glimpse of deep cleavage, the hem knotted carelessly to emphasize her equally voluptuous figure. Her blue plaid skirt barely contained her rounded hips, the hem riding up slightly to hint at the soft, rippling curves beneath, exuding provocative sensuality.

Their flushed, angry faces were still some distance apart, but their ample breasts, constrained by their clothing, pressed fiercely against each other, the hidden peaks beneath the thin layers of fabric seeming to clash in a heated embrace.

The gyaru’s hands rested on her hips, her red-painted nails striking in the dim light, sweat beading on her face, her clenched lips betraying both fury and excitement.

"You wanna fight?"

The air crackled with a suppressed, almost erotic tension. Their locked gazes sparked with intensity, every curve of their bodies amplified in the charged atmosphere!

Without a doubt, this was the signal for war!

Two girls, so different yet equally stunning and sensual, locked in such a fierce, provocative standoff—ready to clash!

What would happen next? A flurry of delicate yet determined fists? Their voluptuous, sensual bodies pressing and grappling? Or even their bare breasts colliding, their intimate curves locked in a primal struggle?

In this clash of equally matched, breathtaking figures, would one emerge victorious, leaving the other broken and defeated? Or would both collapse together into the inferno of a deadly duel?

No man could resist wanting to witness such a fierce, sensual battle!

Here we go!

Raise your fists—

...?

The black-haired beauty pulled out... a gift box?

What was happening?

The gyaru across from her gasped, her eyes wide with surprise and delight, her hands flying to her mouth.

"Oh my gosh!"

She rushed forward, enveloping the other in a tight hug!

"Thank you! You’re so adorable! Wanna cosplay together? I *have* to introduce you to Gojo!"

The blonde gyaru was practically bubbling over with excitement, words tumbling out like a rapid-fire cannon. Meanwhile, the black-haired beauty seemed too nervous to utter a single word, her face flushed crimson, her only response conveyed through the overwhelming closeness of their embrace, their ample breasts pressed tightly together: *So big—*

"FRIENDSHIP ENDING!!!"

The game screen lit up, showing the two beautiful characters embracing in the dim dungeon, the gift box resting at their feet, a symbol of their newfound friendship. Tadano Hitohito set down the controller, wiping sweat from his brow, a relieved smile spreading across his face. He turned to Komi, his tone light and reassuring. "This game’s like that, huh? Kitagawa-san seems a bit... uh, overly energetic, but she’s really nice! You’ll definitely be fine, Komi-san! She’ll totally become your friend!"

Komi Shouko sat in front of the gaming console, her slender fingers still gripping the controller, her fingertips pale from the pressure. Her face was as red as a ripe apple, her navy-blue uniform rising and falling with her shallow breaths, as if overwhelmed by some intense emotion. Her mind was a whirlwind, Tadano’s words reaching her ears faintly, like they were muffled by a thin veil, yet they sent her heart racing.

"Friends..." she whispered the word to herself, her gaze lingering on the screen, on the blonde character—Kitagawa Marin. On the screen, Marin bounced with energy, her golden hair shining like sunlight, her lips curved in a bold, radiant smile, her eyes sparkling with unbridled vitality.

That smile... wasn’t it the same one she saw this morning on the way to school? The girl who stood at the intersection, her hair adorned with a bouncing butterfly clip, her white shirt knotted to reveal her slim waist, her plaid skirt accentuating her long, youthful legs. Her laughter was like clear, ringing bells, effortlessly igniting the air around her. And Komi could only stand silently by Tadano’s side, clutching her backpack straps, unable to muster even a simple "Hi." In that moment, Marin’s radiance was so blinding it almost hurt to look at her, like a version of Komi from another world—a perfect, unattainable version of herself.

Tadano had said, "Kitagawa-san’s so lively! She’s like, naturally likable, probably has tons of friends. Komi-san, you’ll definitely be like that someday, making tons of friends!" His warm tone made her heart ache. Her fingers froze on her notebook, the pen hesitating, as if stuck.

She wanted to write "Really?" but couldn’t bring herself to do it. Why did Tadano’s eyes light up when he mentioned Marin? He praised her liveliness, her popularity... Did he prefer girls like her?

A sour pang twisted in Komi’s chest, like drinking unsweetened lemonade. She’d spent her life practicing how to speak, how to smile, how to not seem so "strange," but no matter how hard she tried, she was still the Komi Shouko who rehearsed every greeting a hundred times in her mind. Her goal was to make 100 friends, but now, she didn’t even dare dream of befriending someone like Marin. Marin’s smile was something she could never learn—that bold, confident, world-igniting smile was a light she could never touch.

She looked down at her hands, her slender fingers trembling slightly, clutching the hem of her uniform, her nails nearly digging into her palms. In her mind, she wrote: *She must have 100 friends already... She can make friends so easily. And me? I can’t even say a full sentence.*

Her face burned hotter, as if all her blood had rushed to her head, Tadano’s words echoing in her ears: "She’s really nice... You’ll definitely be fine..."

"Tadano-kun," Komi’s voice was barely a whisper, almost drowned out by the console’s background music. She looked up, her dark eyes glinting with a mix of defiance and trembling shyness. Her throat felt blocked, but she mustered all her courage to say, "Can we... play a real match?"

"Huh?!" Tadano froze, nearly dropping the controller, his eyes wide with shock.

Komi bit her lip, her face so red it seemed to steam. She knew what she was saying, knew how unlike her it was. But she couldn’t help it—she wasn’t willing to give in. She wasn’t willing to let Marin’s radiance outshine her, wasn’t willing to see that admiration in Tadano’s eyes, wasn’t willing to stay the silent, passive Komi Shouko forever.

When selecting characters, her eyes had immediately locked onto Marin’s avatar. Among the crowded list of characters, Marin’s smile burned like a flame, searing into her heart. That smile she’d seen that morning, unforgettable. That golden hair, that vibrant energy, that slightly provocative, bold charm—she could never reach it.

*I want to talk that much too. I want to smile like that!* she screamed in her mind. *I want to be friends with Kitagawa Marin... No, not just friends!*

Her fingers tightened, as if about to tear the buttons off her uniform. *Does Tadano-kun want me to be like her? If he had to choose, would he pick Marin?* Komi thought back to Tadano mentioning the joint cultural festival, his tone when he said, "She’s really nice." Yes, compared to her, Marin was better.

Komi’s gaze darkened, like ripples spreading across a lake. She envied Marin—her confidence, her radiance—but deeper still, she was jealous. That jealousy was a small flame igniting in her heart, burning with both pain and longing.

*If I could beat her, even just once...*

Her mind flashed to the game’s confrontation scene, their chests pressed so close it made her heart race uncontrollably. *Hers are... so big...* Komi’s face flushed even redder, startled by her own thoughts, and she quickly shook her head.

*No, not just friends... I want to prove I’m not less than her!* A spark of defiance gleamed in Komi’s eyes, as if she’d made up her mind. She knew she was jealous of Kitagawa Marin, but she also longed to be a girl like her—at least, in Tadano’s eyes, she didn’t want to lose.

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