That morning at Tsugumi Institute, training sessions are underway in preparation for the annual competition among Japan's most prestigious high schools, and it's in that moment that Hakuto discovers Rika isn't just a globally desired genius—she's also an athlete with exceptional physical prowess. She's the captain of the school's volleyball team and a key member of the relay team, thanks to her near-superhuman speed.
~Now I get how Rika ended up with such a firm and athletic butt.~
The thought slips into Hakuto's mind almost involuntarily. It's Rika's butt that stirs something in him—an instinctive pull he struggles to suppress, at the expense of Yuzu's enormous boobs.
«Welcome to the club of those who suck at physical activities,Hakkoto» Itsu Thazreel says—the boy with carrot-colored hair.
He and Hakuto are sitting on the gym bleachers while the rest of the class is caught up in a volleyball training match against class 2-A's team.
«I've already told you a thousand times that my name is Hakuto, not Hakkoto... anyway, I just get bored playing volleyball, that's all,» Hakuto replies, his eyes never leaving the court—or more precisely, a certain player on it.
«You get bored playing it, but watching it seems to fascinate you a bit too much.»
Itsu pairs the comment with a few playful elbow nudges to Hakuto's arm.
«I don't know what you're talking about.»
Hakuto feigns disinterest, though lying has never been his strong suit.
«A guy really shouldn't be thinking that way about his own stepsister, you know?»
«I'm not thinking anything about Rika!» Hakuto snaps back.
«Maybe not, but...» A teasing grin spreads across Itsu's face. «...you haven't looked away from her butt for even a second. I'm not blind—but hey, can you really blame anyone?»
During the match, Rika wears the usual volleyball outfit: a snug white T-shirt that clearly outlines her breasts—not particularly large, but firm and compact—and equally tight black shorts that seem made to emphasize her butt. Her glutes are so full and round that the shorts act more like a thong, swallowed by her rear until they become a thin strip of black fabric.
The whole scene is made even more enticing by the constant jumps her role as a spiker demands. Each time Rika's feet hit the ground, her butt bounces up and down—tight and springy like a block of firm rubber—and Hakuto's eyes follow the same motion, perfectly in sync.
But he'd never admit such a thing—not even to himself. It's like his eyes have a will of their own. He even feels guilty when he realizes he's been staring at Rika's butt longer than he should—crossing that thin line between a quick, justified glance at a sculpted ass like hers and the full-on gaze of a true pervert.
«...anyway, I prefer Yuzu's boobs—those things have to be a divine blessing. We're definitely the minority—Rika's butt club has way more followers—but maybe that's for the best; fewer people to share our goddess with,» Itsu concludes with a touch of pride.
«What is this, some kind of gang war between the cults of Yuzu's boobs and Rika's butt...? Do you guys even offer human sacrifices in their honor, hoping for a quick grope as a reward? And to think I thought this was a serious, respectable school...»
Itsu rolls his eyes.
«In a way... Anyway, you live with them—you've probably already seen them in their underwear, if not completely naked, so there's no way you can understand what we mere mortals, who don't have the honor of sharing a roof with the divine Narkhalis sisters, feel.»
«Mister Tendo, watch out!»
The PE teacher's voice snaps Hakuto out of the trance brought on by Rika's butt—he was genuinely hypnotized.
Hakuto lifts his gaze slightly and...
—WOOOM!
The volleyball shoots toward him like a cannonball, but acting on pure instinct, Hakuto stretches out his arm—hand open—without even thinking.
Silence falls over the gym—everyone is in disbelief.
The ball is now locked between Hakuto's fingers—he stopped it, despite the insane speed, simply by catching it with his hand. No recoil, no tremor, not even the slightest bend in his outstretched arm. All in a split second.
«Mister Tendo...» the teacher finally breaks the surreal silence—even Rika looks visibly impressed. «...please get off the bleachers and join the game, right now!»
He then turns to Rika. «Maybe you've just found the final player your class was missing!»
«WOW, Hakkoto! That was insane! How the heck did you pull that off?! You'd be better off trying baseball than volleyball,» Itsu suggests, but Hakuto just sighs—baseball bores him even more.
«I told you already—my name's Hakuto...!»
Even Rika, judging by her expression, doesn't look too thrilled.
«The important thing is that he doesn't end up playing behind me...»