Shinovi Paradise

DISCLAIMER: All characters in this story are depicted as at least eighteen years of age. If it helps, pretend that high school begins at eighteen; or be like me and don’t think about it too hard, let your nether-regions do the thinking for you. I promise they won’t care as much as you do.

“Graaaahhh, I can’t take it anymore!” Takanashi yelled and stood up beside me. “Look, guys, this fanclub is dedicated to Katsuragi-chan! All we do all day is just talk about her and her perverted antics. Wouldn’t it be better if we were actually out there doing stuff in her name?”

I took a sip of my soda. He kind of had a point. My own reasons for joining the club weren’t because I admired what she did, I was more interested in why she did them. As a hopeful gravure photographer, I had a deep appreciation and love for the feminine form, one that I was pretty sure Katsuragi shared; not that I knew for certain. That being said, I was also a shameless pervert, and did enjoy her antics on that count.

I had to admit that I had somewhat personal reasons for being in this club, too. I had a pretty big crush on Katsuragi. I spent more time than I liked to admit imagining myself in an actual relationship with her. She was sort of the perfect woman to me. The kind of woman I wouldn’t have to hide my perverted nature from. Not to mention her huge boobs.

The room was silent for a moment. The four of us just looked back and forth between each other waiting for someone to speak up.

“Well,” our leader, Nomura broke the silence, “I suppose that getting up to no good ourselves might attract the attention of Katsuragi-san herself; however, it may also attract the wrong kind of attention.”

“Katsuragi-chan can get away with what she does because she, herself, is a woman. Anything perverted she does is labeled ‘skinship’.” Haru, our fourth member, voiced his opinion. “We could get in serious trouble if we tried even a fraction of the stuff she does.”

Takanashi slumped in frustration. “I just… guys, I’m bored. And honestly, sexually frustrated talking about this stuff. I need release!”

Nomura rubbed his chin, then turned to me. “Satoshi-san, what do you think?”

I shrugged. “I’m perfectly content with what we have going on now. But on the other hand, getting up to no good would give me a lot of photo opportunities.” I held up my prized camera for emphasis before dropping it back down so it could hang from my neck like it usually did. “I could go either way.”

“C’mon guys, let’s at least give it a try. If it ends up being a horrible idea, we’ll just stop and keep going like this I guess.” Takanashi bargained.

Nomura rubbed his portly chin again. “I suppose even if we got caught, it would be our first offense, so we wouldn’t get in too much trouble. I think this sounds reasonable.” He adjusted his thick glasses and nodded. Nomura was a second-year and the most diplomatic of the four of us and had by far the best grades as well. We looked up to him to make decisions on behalf of the club, and not just because he started it in the first place. In fact, his basement was where we held these meetings.

“All right, fine, but what do we do?” Haru asked. The second-year was perhaps the laziest of the group. He had an obsession with videogames that made sure he didn’t get out much, and generally loathed to do anything that wasn’t related to his hobby. It wasn’t a mystery why he wasn’t on board for this idea. Even still, he was a critical thinker and a really good debater.

Takanashi paused. “I dunno.” He admitted and then sat back down. Takanashi was a third-year like me and easily the most perverted, which was saying something given his present company. He collected figurines, especially ones that had nude variants or “cast-off” clothing, whatever that meant. He was passionate, energetic, and just a little stir-crazy. Unfortunately, he wasn’t very smart, so even though he had some great ideas, the rest of us usually had to iron out the kinks.

“Well, we all have our own strengths,” Nomura noted, “so I think it would be best if we all did our own projects. The meeting for today is already almost over, let’s all think about what each of us can do and then we’ll discuss it next week.”

That seemed like a reasonable idea to me, and the other two nodded along. I didn’t have any ideas off the top of my head, but with my love of photography I was sure it wouldn’t be difficult to figure something out if I really put my mind to it.

The rest of the meeting went by uneventfully, and I went home soon after.

“So, Satoshi-kun.” My father called to me across the dinner table. “It’s your final year of high school. Your youth is slipping through your fingers as we speak.”

I started blankly at him, I already knew where this was going.

“When are you going to get a girlfriend?” He asked.

“Ew.” Nanako, my half-sister, commented as she gulped down a clump of rice.

“Here we go again.” Rika, my other half-sister, said and leaned back in her chair like she was about to watch a show.

“When I’m ready.” I replied, flatly. I didn’t like having this conversation, and I especially didn’t like having it weekly like I currently did.

“You’re running out of time to be ready.” My father pointed out.

I waved my hand dismissively. “You know, studies have shown that you’re more likely to have a happy relationship if you don’t rush into it. Most successful relationships happen well after high school.”

“Bah, nonsense. Your mothers and I were high-school sweethearts. Isn’t that right?” He grinned victoriously as he addressed his three lovers.

They each responded affirmatively, in their own ways.

My family structure was unusual. My father was engaged in a polyamorous relationship with his three girlfriends. Though not in a legal sense, since Japan’s laws would never allow such a thing, he was spiritually married to all three, and often referred to them as his wives. He also had one child with each of them. As such, my sisters and I shared a father but had different mothers, and we were the same age. I was technically the oldest, but only by two months overall.

I didn’t make a habit of telling other people about my family, and if I did I would purposely remain vague about certain details. I wasn’t really ashamed, but I knew that there would be social consequences to letting that kind of thing get out. My father was certainly a lucky guy, but the fact that he didn’t realize how lucky he was meant that conversations like this one were especially frustrating.

“I would consider you an exception to the rule.” I replied. “Either way, I don’t have any lovers, and it’s none of your business anyway.” I was glad I finished my meal as I said that last bit, because I needed and easy escape. I set down my chopsticks and got up. “Thank you for the meal, mom.” I addressed my mother-by-blood as I said this. She was the one who did most of the cooking.

With that, I retreated up the stairs and into my room. I could almost feel my father’s disappointed stare on my back as I did.