COTE: Horikita Is My Childhood Sweetheart

Chapter 155: Rin, Don't Scratch It, It Itches

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Matsushita had noticed Rin's demeanor during lunch. The handsome boy was always focused and attentive while eating. No matter who gave him food, he never refused and always expressed his gratitude sincerely.

Hadn't Kushida once picked up a piece of tempura for him? Rin hadn't turned it down and had even thanked her warmly.

After returning their trays, Rin and Karuizawa left the student cafeteria. Karuizawa summoned her courage and clung to Rin's arm once again.

She stole a glance at his profile, and when she saw he showed no resistance, her face lit up. She hugged his arm even tighter.

A soft, gentle sensation followed.

As they strolled through the school corridor after lunch, Karuizawa spoke with a hint of distress in her voice. "Rin, the first class this afternoon is swimming. It's so annoying."

"Kei, do you hate swimming?" Rin turned to look at her, noting the troubled expression on her face.

"I don't hate it, but…" Kei whispered, her voice growing softer as she leaned closer to him. Taking his hand, she placed it on her left abdomen.

On the left side of her abdomen was a scar—a cruel reminder of the bullying she had endured in the past.

Every time Karuizawa touched that scar, a wave of fear and nausea would overwhelm her, a conditioned reflex stemming from the trauma she'd experienced.

But when Rin's palm pressed against the scar through her school uniform, the fear and nausea didn't come. Instead, she felt only a slight discomfort and… shyness.

Shyness from being touched by the opposite sex.

It seemed that the sense of security Rin gave her had temporarily suppressed the psychological shadow caused by the scar.

Rin glanced at Kei and noticed the faint blush spreading across her cheeks. A mischievous smile crept onto his face as he moved his fingers, lightly tickling her left abdomen.

His fingertips brushed against the scar through her uniform, sending a ticklish sensation that made Karuizawa's soft body tremble involuntarily.

Her face turned a deep rosy hue, her eyes growing hazy as she grabbed Rin's hand in protest.

"Rin, stop it! It's so ticklish," she pleaded, her voice tinged with embarrassment.

"Alright~"

Rin chuckled and stopped, withdrawing his hand from her abdomen.

Even from that brief tickle, Karuizawa's legs felt weak. She clung to Rin's arm tightly, leaning most of her weight on him for support.

"Kei, you don't want to attend swimming class because you don't want anyone to see the scar on your abdomen, right?" Rin asked, his tone gentle.

"Mm…" Karuizawa responded softly, her voice shy and delicate. She still seemed flustered from the tickling earlier.

"Then just make up an excuse to skip. Or sign up as an apprentice on the side," Rin suggested casually.

In Japan's swimming classes, apprentices typically took care of students who couldn't swim or girls who were unable to participate due to their menstrual cycle. These students didn't have to enter the pool; they could simply observe and assist from the sidelines.

"No way!" Karuizawa rejected the idea immediately. "I want to play in the pool with you!"

She didn't want to miss the chance to have fun and mess around with Rin in the swimming pool.

Rin rolled his eyes at her. "You don't want to wear a swimsuit, but you still want to go in the pool? You can't have it both ways."

"I can! I already bought the school-approved swimsuit," Kei replied confidently, a hint of mischief in her tone.

Japanese school swimsuits are typically navy blue and white, designed to be conservative and practical. They are generally one-piece and tight-fitting for girls, while boys wear navy blue boxer-style swimming trunks. The girls' swimsuits are low-cut with skirted designs, ensuring a modest appearance.

The one-piece swimsuit for girls tightly covers the upper body, naturally concealing Karuizawa's scar on her left abdomen.

Rin sighed and said helplessly, "You've already bought a suitable swimsuit, so why are you still worrying about it?"

"Because that kind of swimsuit isn't pretty," Karuizawa murmured shyly. Her voice was soft, but Rin heard her clearly. "I'm worried you won't like it, Rin."

Hearing this, Rin felt a bit conflicted. What could he say? Should he admit that he preferred bolder, cooler, and hotter bikinis over conservative swimsuits?

"Well, actually, I quite like conservative swimsuits," Rin coughed and replied, saying something that completely contradicted his actual thoughts.

"Really?"

"Of course."

"That's good~"

Karuizawa smiled brightly, believing Rin's words. Now, she was genuinely looking forward to the swimming class after lunch break.

Cherishing the time she got to spend with Rin, Karuizawa strolled leisurely around the school with him instead of heading straight back to Class D's classroom.

Rin didn't object, treating it as an after-lunch walk.

It wasn't until ten minutes before the end of the lunch break that Rin and Karuizawa finally returned to the classroom.

To their surprise, Ike and Yamauchi, who had skipped all morning classes, were already there. They were gathered with a group of boys, chatting loudly.

The boys' faces were lit with excitement, but the girls in the classroom wore expressions of confusion and disdain.

Whether it was the girls from Karuizawa's small group or those from Kushida's circle, they huddled together, their faces filled with annoyance and disgust as they glared at the boys.

Their expressions were as if they were looking at filth in a toilet.

The girls' unity in their disdain for the boys was almost palpable.

Rin called on the narration system in his mind, muttering, "Where's the narrator? Explain what's going on here."

The system didn't freeze this time and promptly responded.

[The next class is swimming, and the boys in Class D are betting on the sizes of the girls' breasts.]

[Ike even suggested that Sotomura take photos with his mobile phone during swimming lessons and use them to create a ranking list of the girls with the largest breasts in the class.]

Rin frowned deeply. While he understood teenage boys' curiosity and restlessness when it came to girls, this behavior was beyond acceptable.

Betting on the sizes of the girls' breasts was distasteful, albeit not illegal. However, secretly taking photos of girls during swimming class crossed a serious legal line.

In Japan, taking photos or videos of someone without their consent is a violation of the law. Secretly photographing girls in swimsuits is an even graver offense.

Given how openly the boys were discussing and betting on the girls' bodies, it was no wonder the girls were united in their disdain.

"Kei, come here!" Shinohara, visibly angry with the boys, waved toward Karuizawa, motioning for her to join them.

"Shinohara is calling me. Rin, let's go over there," Karuizawa said, glancing at him.