Skythewood Translations: Too Many Losing Heroines! V1 Prologue & Chapter 1 & Intermission

[20/12/2024: Chapter re-translated.]

Translator: Pingas

Editor: Suu

"Huh? Who's 'McCain' supposed to be?"

In the background of the classroom, I, Kazuhiko Nukumizu, witnessed a moment I never expected: the popular girl, Anna Yanami, getting rejected by a guy.

"He promised he would marry me! Isn't that awful!?"

"When exactly did he make this promise?"

"When we were, like, four or five years old."

Yeah, that doesn't count.

With this, the stage is set for a series of encounters with other girls like Remon Yakishio from the Track and Field Club and Chika Komari from the Literature Club, all radiating a certain losing aura.

"Nukumizu-kun. Girls can be divided into two categories: childhood friends or homewreckers."

"Wow, that's quite the bold classification."

Here's wishing good fortune to these girls who shine the brightest in defeat.

A mysterious high school tale intertwined with losing heroines, the "Makeines", is about to begin!

Prologue

The end-of-term exams for the first semester are finally over.

On a Friday afternoon, with less than ten days until summer vacation, I decided to escape school entirely and headed to a family restaurant in the neighboring town. I ordered a drink bar and a mountain of fries.

Wiping the sweat from my forehead with a handkerchief, I leisurely glanced around the restaurant.

The key here is not to rush. First, I will wait for the fries to arrive. Then, slowly, I will head to the drink bar.

"Alright, let's get started…"

After confirming there were no other uniforms from my school in sight, I pulled a paperback novel out of my bag.

It's the latest volume of <Is It Okay to be Spoiled by My Older Little Sister?> that I have just bought.

Cola, fries, and a light novel. Let the party begin-

Chapter 1: The Professional Childhood Friend, Anna Yanami's Defeat

"You did so well, onii-chan. It was hard, wasn't it? I know how much effort you put into everything, so you can lean on Kurumi as much as you want, okay?"

...I couldn't help but tear up at the words of Kurumi, the heroine and little sister.

The sheer tenderness of Kurumi-chan, who never fails to spoil the protagonist, gave me literal chills. After savoring the series' signature twenty-page-long pampering scene, I quietly closed the book.

I gazed fondly at Kurumi-chan on the cover.

Ah, I want to experience a love like this. A lap pillow on those soft, plush-looking thighs-

"Come on, Sosuke! You can't just be slacking off here!"

A sudden shout from the table next to me shattered my daydream. A couple seemed to be in the middle of an argument.

Good grief, this is why extroverts are so exhausting...

They could stand to learn a thing or two from the angel of indulgence herself, Kurumi Kashitani.

Alright, let's grab a melon soda and take another slow look at that illustration.

"Huh!?"

As I stood up to head for the drink bar, I hurriedly sat back down.

I had let my guard down. The couple at the table next to mine are not just any high school students- they are my classmates.

The one who shouted was Anna Yanami, the fluffy, cute, and popular girl in our class.

Sitting across from her was Sosuke Hakamada, the cheerful and eye-catching pretty boy. They are always together, so they really must be dating, huh?

But why on Earth are they having a lovers' quarrel in a place like this? While pretending to focus on my paperback, I quietly listened in.

"If you don't go pick her up soon, Karen-chan's going to leave for England! Is that really okay with you?"

"But she told me goodbye-"

"That obviously means she wants you to go after her!"

…What is this? A story I've definitely heard somewhere before? While I was finishing a single light novel, these two had apparently reached the climax of their own love drama.

That "Karen" they keep mentioning… Is it that girl who transferred into our class a while back? I think her name is Karen Himemiya or something.

On her first day, during introductions, didn't she immediately shout, "Ah! You're that pervert from before!" and start bickering with Hakamada?

Wait, is she transferring again? To England? Isn't this moving way too fast?

"How could you possibly know that?"

"I just know! Because…I've also always…"

Biting her lip, Yanami lowered her gaze.

"Anna, I-"

"No, it's fine."

Lifting her head with a brave smile, Yanami stood up, took her bike key, and placed it on the table.

"Go. Karen-chan is waiting for you."

"…Are you sure?"

"Karen-chan is a good girl. I won't forgive you if you don't make her happy."

"Thank you. I'm going to go tell Karen how I feel."

"Good luck. I'll at least listen to your woes if she rejects you."

"…Sorry, Anna."

With that, Hakamada dashed out, not even glancing back at Yanami.

After standing there for a while, Yanami sank weakly back into her chair and muttered quietly.

"…Don't apologize, you idiot."

What a scene I've stumbled across. Even if it's a world far removed from me, one inhabited by extroverts, some samurai compassion is in order here. I'll just pretend I didn't see anything.

I tried to hide behind the menu to ride out the awkwardness, but I couldn't believe my eyes.

Eek!? No way. No way. This can't be happening!

Anna Yanami, the girl who had just been rejected moments ago, was slowly reaching for a glass.

The glass that belonged to Sosuke Hakamada- the very guy who had just dumped her.

Stop! Please don't do something so pathetic!

My desperate prayers didn't reach her. Yanami clasped the glass with both hands, hesitating briefly, before wrapping her lips around the straw.

…Ah, she has done it.

Suddenly, her gaze seemed to lock onto something as if drawn in by a magnet. Her eyes were fixed- on me.

This is bad. Our eyes met.

My last hope was that she hadn't recognized me, but-

Oh no, Yanami's face turned bright red. And then-

Pfft! She spat out her drink in a spray of coffee, coughing violently and utterly flustered.

…This is why reality sucks.

At this point, my only option was to pretend I saw nothing at all. Whistling a tune I couldn't even carry, I feigned interest in the menu.

But my efforts to avoid the situation were in vain. Yanami came over and sat down across from me.

You've got to be kidding. Why can't she just leave me alone?

"You're Nukumizu-kun from my class, right?"

"Y-Yeah. Yanami-san, you were here? I totally didn't notice at all."

Crap, that came out super monotone.

Yanami's ears turned red as she glared up at me with teary eyes.

"P-Please don't tell anyone about this!"

"Ah, uh, yeah. I didn't see anything. You're fine."

"That's right! You didn't see anything, Nukumizu-kun!"

She averted her eyes awkwardly and stood up.

It felt like I was being treated as some kind of voyeur, but I was the one who got here first.

Oh well. I shrugged it off and headed for the drink bar. Maybe one more glass of cold juice would help me cool my head.

When I returned with my melon soda, Yanami was still standing by my table. She was fumbling nervously, counting coins from her wallet. Was she short on money?

I tried to just walk past her and sit down, but with her pacing around right in front of my table, it was impossible to ignore her.

…There's no other way. For the sake of protecting my peaceful after-school time, I counted to ten in my head before speaking up.

"Uh, are you short on money?"

"Huh?"

Half on the verge of tears, Yanami nodded repeatedly.

I took the bill from her hand. My my, just how much did they order?

Are you two serious? Hakamada had ordered a steak set. And Yanami, trying to keep up appearances, had only ordered a salad and soup… before adding a hamburger set and dessert when that wasn't enough. What kind of reckless spending is this?

"It's fine. I'll cover it for now. Just pay me back on Monday."

Ah, so much for splurging on a big light novel haul on the way home.

Still, I'm not heartless enough to abandon a classmate in trouble after hearing about her situation.

"Wait, really? You're okay with this? I barely even know you beyond your name."

It's fine. I just want you to leave already.

…And yet, why is she sitting down at my table again?

"Uh, why are you sitting down?"

"Thank you. And, um, sorry. I think I might have misunderstood you, Nukumizu-kun."

Isn't she casually saying something kind of rude? For the record, I'm already starting to regret helping her. Not that I would admit it.

"So, uh, why are you sitting down, though?"

This is important, so I asked twice.

But Yanami, ignoring me, clasped her hands together and stared off into the distance with a distant look in her eyes.

"Sosuke, you know, he's my childhood friend."

Did this girl just start monologuing?

"When we were kids, Sosuke put a clover ring on my finger and promised to marry me… To marry me…"

Tears began streaming down Yanami's face in a flood.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa! Yanami-san, are you okay?"

Seriously, what is with this girl? The stares from the other customers are unbearable.

I fled to the drink bar, grabbed a random teabag, and made her some tea.

"H-Here, just drink this and calm down already."

"Thank you. This is really good…"

"Glad you like it. It's rosehip tea, apparently."

Oh yeah, I think there was a sign listing its benefits. Let's see…

"It's supposed to improve your skin."

"…Skin improvement, huh."

Yanami let out a bitter, self-deprecating laugh.

"Not like there's anyone for me to show it to, though."

Stop. That's way too real. Now, please, drink that and go home.

As I was pondering how to send her away politely-

"Here's your large fries! Thank you for waiting!"

"Huh?"

A massive plate of fries was set on the table. And somehow, it was added to my tab.

"Uh, excuse me, but…what's this about?"

"Karen-chan is an important friend to me. But still, you know? She only transferred here in May. So tell me…what do the twelve years Sosuke and I spent together even mean?"

Sniff. Yanami blew her nose into a paper napkin, then started munching on the fries with determination.

"Let me ask again. Did you order these fries, Yanami-san?"

"Sosuke even promised to make me his bride. Isn't that awful? He's such a liar."

Isn't what I'm going through right now just as awful?

But, well, I was already roped into this mess. Stifling a sigh, I crossed my legs.

"When did this 'bride' promise happen?"

"Before we started elementary school, so when I was around four or five."

Yeah, that doesn't count.

"Doesn't this count as cheating, though? Switching to a cute transfer student with a big chest as soon as she shows up?"

Cheating? Huh. So even Hakamada, with his bright and breezy image, could do something like that.

To be fair, Karen Himemiya, the transfer student, is an undeniable beauty.

Yanami might not lose out in terms of cuteness, but she lacked that star quality- the kind of radiance that makes someone the main heroine in a game or anime. That kind of presence is something you're just born with.

Feeling a faint sense of sympathy for Yanami, I carefully asked in a gentle tone.

"So, you and Hakamada were dating, after all?"

"Huh? W-What? Did it look that way? People have always said we were suited for each other ever since we were little… I guess that's how it must've seemed from the outside. Ehehe."

Yanami blushed, pressing her hands to her reddening cheeks with an embarrassed smile.

Wait, so does that mean…?

"You weren't even dating? Then it's not cheating or anything, right?"

At my words, Yanami's expression shifted dramatically.

"What?! N-No! It's like we were half-dating! Things definitely would've worked out by now if that boob woman hadn't shown up!"

She's your precious friend, right?

"And besides, the game isn't over yet. Isn't there a chance Sosuke could change his mind at the last second?"

"…No, the game's completely over."

I've read my fair share of rom-coms. There's no path for a comeback here.

I sipped my melon soda, feeling a twinge of sadness.

"Actually, you know, this is a secret, but…I've even bathed with Sosuke before."

"That was when you were four or five, right?"

Brace yourself, because they will pass that milestone soon enough.

"And! And! The fact that both of our parents approve of us is huge, isn't it? Marriage is about families coming together, after all-"

Yanami kept rambling, but tears were now streaming down her face again in torrents.

"Whoa, what's wrong now?!"

"Wedding… bride… The dress I was supposed to wear… The dress I was supposed to wear… and now that boob woman will flaunt it…"

It seemed she had started imagining her romantic rival in a wedding dress. Sheesh, are all freshly rejected girls this emotionally unstable?

"…I know. If I had been braver sooner, things might have turned out differently."

"Y-Yeah, maybe. Want a refill? Mint tea's a good option, too."

"It tastes like toothpaste, so no thanks…"

After crying her heart out, she seemed to calm down. Wiping her tears, she gave me a small smile.

"Sorry for losing it like that."

"No, that's fine."

However, I feel like there's something else she should apologize for.

"I'll be okay. As long as Sosuke keeps smiling, I'll be happy. If I can just stay his closest friend, that's enough for me."

"I-I see…"

Still, what a spectacular way to get dumped. Yanami's theatrical heartbreak is something to behold.

As she kept talking, I reached for the fries, watching her with a mixture of sympathy and curiosity.

Come to think of it, there's a term for girls like her.

Anna Yanami. Yeah, she's exactly what you would call a losing heroine.

Three days later, on Monday.

I wiped my damp lips and turned off the tap.

People say city tap water tastes terrible, or lately, some argue it's actually pretty good. However, few understand the subtle differences between the taps in the same building.

I, Kazuhiko Nukumizu, a first-year in Class 1-C at Tsuwabuki High School, am someone who knows.

"There's no beating this faucet in the morning…"

The spot I had chosen during the break after the third period was the tap in front of the library on the first floor of the new building.

It's the closest to the rooftop water tank, meaning it has the least chlorine content. A thoughtful choice to minimize stomach strain before lunch.

Well then, it's time to head back to the classroom.

After drinking my fill of water, I calculated the remaining time and distance as I headed back to class. If I returned too early, I might have to deal with the annoying situation of someone sitting in my seat.

Strolling leisurely down the hallway, I found myself recalling last week's events.

Anna Yanami. She's one of the cutest girls in our grade, so I remember the boys making a big fuss about her during the entrance ceremony. Since she was way out of my league from the start, I had made it a point not even to let her into my field of vision.

Last week, though, I ended up keeping her company until she was satisfied. When was the last time I had talked with a girl that much?

Her expressions changed constantly- smiles, tears, all sorts- and I couldn't help but be a little mesmerized and also a bit nervous.

Well, we're from entirely different worlds. Once she pays me back the money, that tiny connection will be over. Thinking of it that way, I suppose it'll just be one of those small memories.

Checking my watch, I walked into the classroom 30 seconds before the bell. Perfect timing.

…Tck. I clicked my tongue softly. Someone's sitting in my seat.

It's Remon Yakishio, a member of the Track and Field Club. She's a sporty girl with a tan and an energetic vibe.

I've known her since middle school. She's cheerful, cute, and always surrounded by people. If I leave her alone, she probably won't move until the bell rings.

I walked past my seat, took a long way around, and tossed a receipt I'd saved just for moments like this into the trash. Right on cue, the bell rang.

Now, Yakishio should head back to her seat. Time for me to claim mine-

"...Huh?"

Something felt off, and I stopped in my tracks. Why isn't anyone moving back to their seats?

Could it be? I glanced at the blackboard.

<4th period World History delayed by 10 minutes. Self-study until then.>

…So that's it. Everyone must just see this as an extended break.

What to do? I wiped the sweat from my brow and walked over to the bulletin board.

…Oh, there's going to be a send-off ceremony for the inter-high tournament this month. Looks like the Archery Club has qualified for nationals three years in a row. That's impressive.

I cleared my mind and started reading through the tournament schedule from the top.

Opening ceremony: July 22. Girls' volleyball: July 22-25. Canoeing events: July 28-31…

"-Then let's all have lunch together, the three of us!"

A cheerful voice pierced through my concentration.

That voice belongs to Karen Himemiya.

Sneaking a glance, I saw her chatting and laughing with Yanami and Hakamada. With her dazzling beauty and bright personality, she exudes main-heroine energy. And yeah, she's…huge.

Yanami, meanwhile, wore a bright expression and laughed easily, her face radiating happiness.

…After last week's events, I had been a little worried about Yanami, but she seemed to be doing fine. I guess sticking together and drifting apart is just something extroverts do all the time.

"I think I'll pass. I don't want to be a third wheel for you two."

Yanami said with a teasing smile.

"Don't worry about it! We're friends, right?"

"Yeah, it's not like you to overthink things."

"Sosuke, you should try being a little more considerate of Karen-chan for once."

Yanami replied, lightly jabbing Hakamada with her elbow.

"Hey, Anna."

"What is it, Karen-chan-"

Before she could finish, Karen Himemiya hugged Yanami tightly.

"Eh? What's wrong?"

"Thank you. Anna, you really are my best friend."

Yeah, your best friend just called you a boob woman earlier.

"Come on, Karen-chan. We're in the classroom, you know?"

Yanami patted Karen Himemiya's shoulder gently as she spoke.

Well, if Yanami has really moved on, then that's good.

…Or so I was starting to think- until I noticed it.

Yanami's legs are trembling as Himemiya clings to her, and her hands, clasped tightly behind her back, have turned white from gripping so hard.

Good lord, this girl hasn't moved on at all.

"Then let's have lunch in the courtyard together-"

"U-Uh, well…"

Himemiya's cheerful persistence was met with Yanami's increasingly pale face.

Before I knew it, I found myself walking over to the three of them and speaking up.

"Hey, Yanami-san."

"Huh?" (x3)

The three of them turned to me with wide-eyed expressions.

There it is. That look. Sorry for bothering you, background character here.

I nearly lost my nerve, but I kept my composure and delivered the line I had prepared.

"Yanami-san, you're on duty today, right? Amanatsu-sensei said to come help in the print room."

"Eh? Ah, I see. Thanks, I'll head over right away."

Relieved, Yanami slipped out of Himemiya's grasp. As she made her way to the door, she stopped and turned back to me as if remembering something.

"Hey, Nukumizu-kun, could you come help out too?"

For some reason, I'm walking down the hallway alongside Yanami, unsure of what to say.

I glanced sideways, observing her.

Anna Yanami. With her soft, fluffy hairstyle and highly girly energy, she gave off a vibe that screamed femininity.

Her slightly droopy eyes, petite and youthful face- she's full of traits that guys would find attractive.

Honestly, she is cute. Why did Sosuke Hakamada reject her? She's his childhood friend, too. Wouldn't she have been perfect?

Sure, Karen Himemiya is cuter, with a bigger chest and a flashier vibe, but still-

"Hm? Is there something on my face?"

Yanami tilted her head and leaned in close, peering at me innocently.

"Huh? Oh, uh, no."

Not good. I had been thinking something a little rude just now.

Noticing my flustered state, she casually closed the distance between us and whispered in a voice only I could hear.

"Nukumizu-kun, did you maybe save me back there?"

"Well, you looked like you were in trouble. I might've been meddling, though."

"No, of course not. I was this close to grabbing Karen-chan's chest with both hands."

What is she even saying with such a serious face?

"Where are we headed? There wasn't really a request from our teacher, was there?"

"Amanatsu-sensei always forgets to print materials when she makes us do self-study. Figured I would help her out while we're at it."

Konami Amanatsu, she's our social studies teacher and homeroom teacher.

She's a regular at being late, though it's not out of laziness. She just frequently mixes up class times, forgets her teaching materials, or even goes to the wrong classroom.

And whenever she declares a self-study session, it's almost always because she forgot to print something.

I opened the door to the print room, and sure enough, there she was, but-

"Wow, what happened here?"

Papers are scattered all over the desks and floor, a complete disaster zone.

In the middle of the mess, battling it out with the copier is none other than Amanatsu-sensei. A petite, adorably youthful-looking teacher who could probably pass as a student in uniform. But, well…

"Ara, Yanami! What are you doing here during- eek!"

Slipping on a piece of paper, she sent a stack of printouts flying everywhere.

"Clumsy" might sound endearing, but Amanatsu-sensei is genuinely a handful.

"I thought maybe we could help with something."

"Oh, that would be great! Could you copy enough materials for the whole class?"

Papers are scattered all over the floor. So, uh, which ones are we supposed to copy…?

In the end, it took the three of us to dig through the mess and find the materials, and by the time we did, the ten-minute self-study period had long since ended.

"I really put a lot of effort into this handout, so look forward to it!"

Her materials are always impressively detailed, so out of curiosity, I glanced through them.

"Sensei, doesn't this content fall outside today's lesson? I thought we were starting Chinese history today."

"Come on, I don't know who you are, but please pay attention in class! July in the second year is all about the Byzantine Empire. I'm going to show you its moe points in depth!"

"Sensei, your next class is with 1-C, starting now."

"Ehhhhh!?"

Also, I'm one of your students.

With a loud whump, she dropped the stack of papers we had just gathered.

"It's fine! I've still got 40 minutes, so I'll finish preparing the materials by then! Just wait a sec!"

At this rate, won't the class be over by then?

After tripping over herself one more time, Amanatsu-sensei flapped her way out of the print room in a hurry.

…The storm has passed. The two of us, overwhelmed by her whirlwind energy, finally started to move.

"Well, let's start by tidying up the room."

"Yeah. Amanatsu-sensei hasn't changed a bit, huh?"

As we quietly cleaned, the atmosphere felt a little awkward. Just the two of us in an empty print room- should I say something?

…Right, there is something important I need to bring up. Clearing my throat, I spoke to Yanami.

"Uh, about the money I covered for you on Friday…"

"Oh, right. I don't have my wallet with me right now, so could you meet me by the old building's emergency stairs during lunch?"

"Huh? Oh, sure. As long as you're paying me back."

She probably doesn't want anyone in the class to see her talking with someone like me, especially not in front of the guy who rejected her.

Feeling a little sulky, I handed Yanami the stack of gathered materials.

Yanami aligned the papers with a neat thwack.

"…Nukumizu-kun, you noticed, didn't you? Those two… they're dating now."

She said that in an emotionless tone.

I glanced at Yanami, who had a vacant, almost lifeless look in her eyes, mechanically aligning the stack of papers over and over again.

"Uh, I mean, kind of, those papers are already aligned, aren't they…?"

"You heard them invite me to lunch, didn't you? Normally, would they even ask?"

The grip on the papers in her hands gradually tightened.

"…Hey, do you think they're doing it to spite me? Are they trying to rub it in my face?"

Finally, Yanami crushed the stack of papers in her hands.

"Uh, well, I've worked with Hakamada during group projects before, and he's honestly a great guy. He's not the type to do something like that."

"Right. Sosuke isn't like that, is he?"

"Yeah, exactly."

"Sosuke's practically an angel, you know? His childhood pictures are so cute. It's like, why is there an actual angel in these photos? They would totally go viral on social media. Ehehe."

With a dreamy smile, Yanami closed her eyes, lost in a nostalgic haze.

How much time had passed? When she opened her eyes again, they burned with a dark flame.

"…So it's Karen-chan. It's all Karen-chan's fault. She's the devil."

"Huh?"

"She's trying to break my spirit so I won't get close to her man."

"Uh, I think you might be overthinking this…"

"I thought she was my friend. But she's seducing Sosuke with that body of hers, grown out of control…"

I have been wondering for a while now- are you two even really friends?

"Inside those two massive bags of hers, they are filled with nothing but malice and venom. Don't you think so, too, Nukumizu-kun?"

Please don't drag me into this. To me, those are two bags of dreams and hope.

Ah, Amanatsu-sensei. Please come back already.

As if in response to my silent plea, the door swung open right on cue.

"Thank goodness, sensei-"

"Viva Byzantium!"

Amanatsu-sensei entered, brimming with an inexplicably high level of energy. This could only end badly.

"What's going on, sensei?"

"Well, you see, I realized I hadn't prepared anything for the first-year classes in the first place. So I thought I would just hide out in the staff room and wait it out."

Why are you smiling while saying that? Aren't you supposed to be a professional?

"But I realized I could convey the moe of the Byzantine Empire to those first-year kids even without materials! Let's head back to the classroom right away."

"…Sensei, please just teach the class properly."

Why did I even want this person to come back?

"I'm completely ready to teach the second-year material!"

"Let's just use the textbook for the lesson. You can do it, sensei."

"But can I really pull it off without any prep?"

"It's not about if you can, it's that you have to."

For some reason, my halfhearted pep talk struck a chord. Amanatsu-sensei clenched her tiny fists tightly.

"Alright, I'll give it a shot! Even though I forgot my textbook."

"Then let's go get it first."

"You're so kind. But class has already started, so why don't you head back to your own classroom?"

"I am in your class."

…Sensei. I'm too tired to keep this up. Can I just go back?

During lunch that day, I sat down at the agreed meeting spot by the emergency stairs.

I hadn't realized a place like this existed at school. Looking around, I admired the setup.

It's a private space, shielded from outside eyes and with no foot traffic. Four months into the school year, I have started to get bored with drinking tap water, so this seems like the perfect spot for a break.

Yanami could show up anytime, so I figured I would have some bread while I waited.

"Oh, Nukumizu-kun, there you are."

Coming down from the floor above, Yanami called out to me. I looked up absentmindedly- and was greeted by the sight of her white thighs. Panicking, I quickly turned my gaze away.

"Uh! No, I mean, I wasn't trying to-"

Ignoring my flustered reaction, Yanami plopped herself down next to me.

"Help me."

That's the first thing she said after sitting down.

"Karen-chan invited me to karaoke after school. The three of us."

…Karaoke. The extrovert's pastime of choice. If she's asking for help, I suppose there's no denying its reputation as a dangerous activity.

"Huh? Just go then."

At my completely reasonable response, Yanami clutched her head in despair, looking utterly defeated.

"They are going to duet! Do you know what that means? Nukumizu-kun, are you telling me to die!?"

Why would I know that sort of thing?

"I've never been to karaoke, so I don't really get it."

"Ah."

Yanami's expression clouded over.

"...Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't know that… I really didn't know. I'm so, so sorry. I don't even know how to apologize properly…"

Whoa, whoa, hold on. Don't apologize so much. Please stop. If you keep this up, I'll end up crying too.

"No, really, don't worry about it. Uh, so, about the money from the other day…"

"They told me not to worry about it and that things will just stay the way they've always been, but…"

Wait, is Yanami opening her lunchbox? Is she planning to eat here?

"Uh, well, just don't push yourself too hard, you know? So, uh, about that money…"

"That same night, after I borrowed your money, they officially told me they had started dating."

Stab, stab, stab. She violently speared a taro root with her chopsticks.

"…What were they even doing until then?"

"Uh, well, maybe they just didn't get around to contacting you?"

"That night, Sosuke's sister messaged me, asking if I was with him because she couldn't reach him."

"Oh…"

Somebody help me.

I fixed my gaze on the curry bread in front of me.

"Do you think they were doing something they couldn't talk about…? Hmm?"

The taro she stabbed crumbled into pieces.

"M-Maybe his phone ran out of battery or something? Happens to me all the time."

"Yeah, you're right. I should trust him, shouldn't I? Even though I don't know what to believe anymore..."

I don't know what to make of this situation either.

Yanami sat silently, her head lowered for a while before finally lifting her face.

"Sorry, I've just been rambling on my own."

"Oh, uh, it's fine. I don't mind listening."

"Thanks, Nukumizu-kun. I can't talk about stuff like this with my friends or acquaintances, so I'm glad you're here."

…So I'm not even an acquaintance?

"Lunch break's almost over. Let's eat."

The only topics we, who aren't even acquaintances, have in common are that lovey-dovey couple and the food in front of us. At my suggestion, Yanami gave me a tired smile.

"…Yeah, you're right. We should eat."

And so began a silent lunch.

Having finished my curry bread early, I glanced at Yanami. Why was I eating lunch next to a girl?

For those at the top of the social ladder, getting dumped or dumping someone must be a common occurrence.

Yanami is cute enough that she must have been the one doing the rejection at some point. But this time, she was the one who got rejected.

It's probably an inevitable part of her life, something that will happen again and again, unlike for someone like me.

"Uh, Yanami-san…"

I surprised myself by speaking up. Crap, I haven't thought about what to say next.

"Well, you're really popular with the guys. I mean, you probably have more fans than Himemiya-san. Yep."

Yanami looked at me with a puzzled expression for a moment. It's that look again. The one people probably have when their name is suddenly called on live TV.

"Are you trying to cheer me up or something?"

"Uh, yeah. Sorry, that was a weird thing to say. Just forget it."

Great. I've done it now. Should've just stayed in the background.

As I regretted speaking up, I heard the soft sound of laughter.

Yanami smiled faintly, her usual gentle expression returning. Embarrassed, I averted my gaze.

"Thanks. I think I've misunderstood you, Nukumizu-kun."

She said this as she popped one of the remaining intact taro roots into her mouth.

…Just how deep was this misunderstanding? What kind of impression did she even have of me?

"Well, uh, can I get the money back now? Here's the receipt from that day."

"Yeah, thanks again for helping me out back then. It was-"

She froze mid-motion as she took the receipt.

"What's wrong?"

"Wait, hasn't the amount gone up…?"

"Yanami-san, you ordered that watermelon pancake with ice cream on top, didn't you?"

"Yes."

"And then you finished it off with that pork shabu-shabu salad udon."

"But salad doesn't make you fat."

That unshakable faith in salad. I kind of admire it.

Now that she seems convinced, I guess it's finally time to get my money back.

Yanami looked between my outstretched hand and the receipt in her hand several times before nodding firmly as if making some kind of decision.

"…For example, if you don't mind, Nukumizu-kun, how about I repay you with something else?"

"Something else?"

What is she trying to say?

Yanami fidgeted, her face reddening, as she picked up a piece of simmered chicken with her chopsticks, only to drop it again.

"I-I'm not very good at this, so I don't know if you'll be satisfied, but I don't have any money, so this is all I can offer. Sosuke used to be happy with it, too…"

"Huh?"

What is she getting at? I stared blankly at the glossy, glistening chicken held at the tip of her chopsticks.

Yanami looked down bashfully, her chopsticks gleaming with chicken-

Wait, wait, what!? Could she be talking about that kind of thing? Is this about to take a sharp turn in that direction!?

I shook my head vigorously.

"W-Wait, no, no, no! That's way out of line! This is school!"

"I mean, I'm not great at cooking, but I can at least make a bento…"

"…Huh? A bento?"

"Yeah. Um, is something wrong?"

Yanami tilted her head slightly, her clear eyes filled with innocence.

"Oh! A-A bento, right."

…What the hell was I just imagining? I quickly regained my composure and looked at the amount on the receipt.

"But a single bento won't cover this amount."

This was my hard-earned, carefully saved lunch money.

"That's why I'll make you one every day and keep a running total until it adds up to the amount on the receipt."

A homemade bento from a girl. That's not something I would ever get to experience otherwise. Plus, it would save me lunch money, so technically, I could recover my loss.

But still, it sounds like such a pain in the ass.

Having to avoid people while receiving the bentos and keeping track of the running total- felt like a lot of work.

"U-Uh, actually, I think I would rather…"

"Then I'll wait for you here starting tomorrow!"

Yanami's smile made it clear she considered the matter resolved. Watching her happily munch on her piece of chicken, I could only manage to say-

"…Yeah, I'm looking forward to it."

As the lunch bell rang, signaling the end of the break, I sank into my chair, completely drained.

I'm exhausted. Why did it take so much energy just to get back the money that was owed to me?

…And she hasn't actually paid me back.

For some reason, Yanami has decided to repay her debt with homemade bentos. Does that mean I'll be eating her lunches for the foreseeable future?

This is an unexpected twist beyond anything I could've imagined, and my brain is struggling to keep up.

It's already mid-July. Alright, it’s decided, I'll spend the rest of this semester living quietly, without thinking about anything. I visualized myself fading into the background.

…Good, now no one will bother me today. After all, this jujutsu technique has never failed me since the start of this school year-

"U-Uh, N-Nukumizu-kun, right?"

It broke instantly. A flustered-looking girl is now rushing up to me.

"I-I'm a f-first-year in, uh, the Literature Club!"

She barely managed to get the words out before breaking into a fit of coughing.

What's with this girl? Her nervousness makes me seem calm by comparison.

"Uh, who are you? Where are you from?"

"Ah! I-I'm Komari! From the Literature Club! Chika Komari!"

The girl, who introduced herself as Komari, tugged nervously at the oversized hem of her summer uniform, her large, tear-filled eyes fixed on me.

"Um, I-I wanted to talk to you about, uh, club activities!"

"Club activities? Why would someone from the Literature Club want to talk to me?"

"B-Because, Nukumizu-kun, y-you're in the Literature Club, right!?"

"Huh?"

Silence.

Hold on. Come to think of it, right after the start of the school year, I vaguely remember visiting the Literature Club out of curiosity. I think I wrote my name on something back then. Was that actually a club registration form?

"...Oh, yeah, I guess that must be true if you say so."

Chika Komari let out a sigh of relief, then began furiously typing on her phone. Once she finished, she shoved the screen in my face.

So I'm the problem. Komari's fingers started flying across her screen again.

<Anyway, please come to the club after school today.>

"Uh, okay, got it. I'll stop by."

I remembered now. Aside from the club president, all the members, plus the visitors like me, were girls. It was so awkward that I just stopped going.

As I watched Komari's retreating figure, I felt confident that my decision to distance myself from the Literature Club had been the right one.

…After all, the person they sent to represent them was her.

I already want to go home.

After school, I found myself in a quiet corner on the first floor of the west building- an area I almost never visited.

"So, this is the Literature Club's room…"

I stared gloomily at the door to the clubroom. Honestly, I have no interest in being here, but when someone says the club is barely holding on with the minimum number of members, I can't help but feel a little sympathetic. I know the struggles of being in the minority all too well.

Taking a deep breath, I turned the doorknob.

"Huh, it's locked."

If the door's locked even though I was called here, does that mean I can go home now?

Relieved, I turned to leave, only to be met with a smartphone screen thrust in front of my face.

<Hey, step aside. I'll unlock it.>

Standing there was Chika Komari. She pushed me aside and began unlocking the door. Seriously, you could've just said that out loud.

I followed her into the room. Komari headed straight to a chair, sat down, and opened a novel without sparing me a glance.

So, she's the quiet and unfriendly type, huh? Except she's not charmingly aloof- just plain unapproachable. That's not going to win you any fans, okay?

I sat down on a metal folding chair, away from her, and looked around the Literature Club room. One wall is lined with bookshelves that reach the ceiling, packed tightly with books.

I didn't notice much on my first visit since I was too nervous, but there are plenty of dusty hardcover collections, along with those distinctive blue-backed spines. Surprisingly, there seems to be a decent collection of light novels as well.

"Hey, Komari-san. Are all these books-"

"Eh? Uh, um…"

Komari flailed, fumbling to pull out her smartphone.

…I'm starting to feel sorry for her.

"It's fine. You can just keep reading your book."

Still, the atmosphere here is suffocating. Feeling restless, I grabbed a paperback of Dazai's works from the shelf.

I had read some of his more famous pieces before. Come to think of it, Dazai was ridiculously popular with women. Damn it, I hope he drowns in a river.

Absent-mindedly, I flipped through the book.

…Huh, since when did they start including modern-style illustrations in these? What scene is this supposed to be?

I didn't really understand, but apparently, it's <The Time for Sweet Punishment>. Uh, something about Takuya's raging honey rod meeting Haruta's tenderly ripe petals-

Huh? What is this? Is this really Dazai?

As I moved to remove the cover, the book was snatched away with lightning speed. Komari, her face pale as a sheet, clutched it tightly to her chest.

"N-N-No! Boys aren't allowed to r-read this!"

"But it's Dazai Osamu, right?"

"Y-Yes! That's why! No!"

Why, though? I have no idea what's going on.

"Oh, you're already getting along, I see!"

The cheerful voice belongs to a glasses-wearing girl who just entered the room. She has long hair tied into two low ponytails and an air of sophistication- definitely a mature beauty.

Komari quickly ducked behind the girl, glaring at me resentfully from the safety of her cover.

"Ara, maybe not quite."

The glasses-wearing girl said, patting Komari on the head as she smiled at me.

"You're Nukumizu-kun, right? It's been a while."

Her gentle expression was infectious, and I found myself smiling back. Finally, a normal person.

"Oh, uh, sorry about that. I've been a complete ghost member."

"Just having you here is a big help. Do you remember me? I'm Koto Tsukinoki, the vice president. Third year."

"Oh, yes, of course."

Of course, that's a lie.

Tsukinoki-senpai glanced at the novel Komari was holding and nodded in understanding.

"Ah, I forgot to mention. The Dazai and Mishima books on the shelf are off-limits for boys."

"Yukio Mishima and Dazai Osamu?"

Senpai's glasses glinted ominously the moment I said that.

Before I could instinctively back away, she gripped my shoulders firmly with both hands.

"…No. Dazai comes first. Dazai Osamu and Yukio Mishima. I don't acknowledge reversals. That's non-negotiable."

Her eyes were terrifying. I nodded cautiously, and her smile returned.

"I'm glad you understand. Take a seat. Want me to make you some tea?"

What the hell was that? Is there no one normal in this club?

As I sat in fear, staring down at the clasp of my bag, Komari tapped me on the shoulder. I looked up to see her holding out her phone.

I don't care about the order. Just leave me out of this.

"Nukumizu-kun, what kind of books do you usually read?"

Tsukinoki-senpai asked, handing me a cup of tea.

"Uh, mostly light novels recently."

"Oh, really? We've got quite a few light novels here, so feel free to borrow some."

Now that's helpful. Thanks to a certain someone, my plan to splurge on books had fallen through.

"By the way, what other members are there in the club?"

"Well, there's the president. He's a third-year. I think I introduced him to you back in April when you first visited."

Vaguely, I remembered someone like that. A friendly, tall guy with good looks, if I recall correctly.

…Wait. Tsukinoki-senpai had settled down and started drinking her tea.

"Hot green tea in hot weather really hits the spot, doesn't it?"

"Um, and besides him?"

"That's it."

Placing the teacup on the desk with a firm clink, she gave a smug grin. Why the smug face?

"Lately, the student council has been keeping an eye on us. I'll need you to hang around the Literature Club for a while. Feel free to drink the tea."

The bookshelves are lined with light novels. Hmm, not bad at all.

"Well, if that's the case..."

Tsukinoki-senpai smiled warmly, then stood up with an almost restless energy.

"Well then, I'm off. Komari-chan, show him around the club and explain how things work, okay?"

"Ueh!?"

Komari, who had gotten absorbed in a book before anyone noticed, yelped in surprise.

"Shintaro forgot he's on duty today, and now he's stuck staying late. I need to go back him up."

Wait, so she has a boyfriend? High school students, man. Everyone seems to be wrapped up in romance.

Who was it that said love is an elective subject in middle school but a mandatory one in high school? Anyway, I'm sure I'm failing it.

"Oh, and one more thing- don't even think about touching the Dazai or Mishima books on the shelf. I'll say it again because it's important."

Waving her hand lightly, Tsukinoki-senpai left the room.

Just as I began to feel relieved, Komari suddenly shoved her smartphone in my face.

This girl here seems to be on the verge of failing this so-called mandatory subject as well.

"Got it. So, can you tell me about the club now?"

"E-Ehh…"

Komari's face twisted into a look of utter reluctance.

"We don't have much choice. The vice prez ran off to see her boyfriend."

"H-He's not her boyfriend! S-Shintaro is the president! Tamaki Shintaro! T-They are just childhood friends!"

Why does she sound so defensive?

As if about to type up a storm, Komari reached for her smartphone, only to let out a small yelp.

"B-Battery!"

She frantically rummaged through a bag- wait, that's my bag. Calm down, will you?

Knock, knock. The sound of knocking interrupted the chaos. Seriously, what now?

"...Excuse me. This is Shikiya from the student council. May I come in?"

"Uh, we're kind of in the middle of something-"

But my words trailed off as the student who entered caught my attention.

Her wavy, light brown hair is adorned with a flower accessory. On her wrist, a scrunchie. Flashy decorated nails. A loosely worn uniform paired with a short skirt.

Her makeup, though seemingly natural, is meticulously styled, and her hair is perfectly voluminous. And…those white-colored contact lenses? Terrifying.

This…is a gal. A creature from a world entirely unconnected to mine, now standing here.

The gal, who had introduced herself as Shikiya, scanned the clubroom before approaching me.

I swallowed hard.

I don't know what she wants, but she's a gal. Surely she's here to insult the shit out of me. Honestly, I can't really hide my excitement.

"You're…Nukumizu-kun from the Literature Club, right…?"

Huh? Why does she sound so low-energy? She's a gal, isn't she?

"Uh, yes, I'm Nukumizu…"

For some reason, my energy levels dropped, too. Not that I was disappointed. Definitely not.

"Sorry… I've been asked to investigate… something about the club's activities… What does the literature club usually do?"

Shikiya-san leaned heavily against the wall, looking utterly exhausted. Is she okay?

"Well, uh, I don't really know much about the activities…"

"Wait… you're a member of this club, right…?"

Her pale eyes fixed on me with a sharp glare. Shoot. Right, isn't this club on the verge of getting shut down because of me?

I glanced at Komari for help, only to find her trembling in the corner of the room with her dead phone in hand because of the gal. Ugh, she's useless.

"Uh, well, it's the Literature Club, so we, uh, read books and stuff…"

"Read…and that's it?"

Shikiya-san tilted her head slowly. Wait, is that not enough?

"…The club…doesn't…do anything…else?"

Swaying slightly, Shikiya-san started walking toward me. This is terrifying. She's like some kind of zombie girl.

"Uh, well, we also write! Sometimes, we write things!"

"Writing… huh… I see… so it's not…just reading…?"

Shikiya-san stared at the ceiling for a moment before scribbling something in her notebook without even looking at it.

"Got it… Thanks…"

She closed the notebook, spun on her heels, and walked out of the room.

That was seriously terrifying.

When I looked over at Komari, she was poking at her phone's dark screen like she was possessed. Honestly, she's kind of scary too.

I picked up a charging cable from the pile of scattered belongings on the floor and handed it to Komari.

"A-Ah, let me b-borrow that!"

Komari snatched the cable from my hand and, with trembling fingers, plugged it into the outlet. Watching her, I came to a realization.

I'm actually pretty normal, relatively speaking.

That night, I sat at my desk in my room, revising the plan written in my notebook. Using the lineup of light novels I'd seen in the clubroom as a reference, I was updating the purchase plan I'd had to alter, thanks to Yanami.

Leaning back in my chair, I mentally calculated the state of my wallet and next week's lunch budget.

Since my lunch expenses will be covered for a while, I can use that money to pick up new releases and complete the series I haven't read yet.

"First, I'll complete <Do You Like Close-Combat Big Sisters?>, the series that got me hooked with its anime."

Maybe it's time to finally start <Flat-Chested Senpai>. I've already cleared a shelf for the volumes, including the manga adaptations.

As I wrote this down on my plan, a small, pale hand suddenly pinned mine in place.

"You can't leave out <You, the Innocent Queen of the Dark>. You should start by buying up to Volume 5, where Kaju's favorite character gets their big moment."

"Kaju, why are you in my room?"

"Onii-sama, you may not notice it, but Kaju is usually here."

The one saying such troubling things is my younger sister, Kaju. Two years younger than me, she is undeniably cute, even from the biased perspective of an older brother.

On top of that, she recently joined the student council. How could two people from the same family end up so different?

"But I was thinking of collecting <Flat-Chested Senpai> first."

"That one's funny, but it's too lewd. It's not suitable for you, onii-sama. It's bad for your eyes."

"How do you even know that?"

"A friend lent it to Kaju. It was too lewd."

That's not fair. Lend it to me, too.

Just as I opened my mouth to complain, Kaju shoved a cookie into it. Delicious.

She followed up by sticking a straw for iced tea into my mouth. Is she just taking care of me now?

"I can drink by myself, you know."

"Onii-sama, have you made any friends at school yet?"

Kaju leaned in close, her tone oddly probing.

"Uh, no, not yet…"

"Kaju is worried about you, onii-sama. You're already in high school. Not having friends is only excusable during mandatory education."

So, I'm not excused anymore?

"For example, excluding teachers, how many people did you talk to today?"

Uh, let's see. Yanami, Komari, Vice President Tsukinoki-senpai, and Shikiya-san from the student council.

"Four, I guess."

"...Four?"

Kaju's eyes widened in astonishment. That's right, even your brother can manage this much when he's serious-

"Onii-sama, not having friends isn't something to be ashamed of."

"But it's not excusable, right?"

"However, lying to your beloved little sister is very shameful. Kaju is heartbroken."

"Huh? I wasn't lying or anything."

Does she really have so little faith in my social skills?

"And Kaju is heartbroken to think that Kaju pushed you so far that you felt the need to lie to your little sister."

Tearing up, Kaju began feeding me cookie after cookie.

"Hey, I told you, I can eat on my own."

"Don't worry, onii-sama. Kaju will make sure you make friends."

Wiping her tears, she wrapped her arms around my head and hugged me tightly. It's hot.

Kaju Nukumizu. Is she a brocon, or just overly worried about me? Either way, she's always finding excuses to fuss over me.

But is not having friends really such a bad thing? I don't feel particularly inconvenienced by it on a daily basis.

Sighing at how troublesome my life had become, I sipped my iced tea.

It's the next day's lunch break. I have come to the emergency stairs to pick up my bento, only for Yanami to greet me with this-

"Aren't you pretty mean?"

Why am I getting dragged into drama this early in the day?

"What do you mean?"

"You, of course. I asked for your help yesterday, didn't I? And I ended up having a horrible time at karaoke!"

And why exactly am I sitting here on the stairs next to Yanami? Honestly, I just want to be alone.

"What exactly did you expect me to do?"

"Girls just want someone to empathize with them, okay? Can't you at least understand how I felt listening to that <Frozen> duet?"

<Frozen>, huh? Let's see…

"You mean the 'Be yourself~' one or whatever?"

Wait, that doesn't sound right.

"No! It's the duet between Anna and the prince. The final back-and-forth was absolute torture for me to sit through."

Ahh, that one. The prince's line was something like-

"That's 'Marry me!' right?"

"And Anna answers, 'Of course!' Ahhhhhh!"

Yanami groaned, clutching her head. Why is she reopening the gates of her own personal hell?

"That girl really is trying to break me. She's an ice-cold witch…"

"W-Well, you know, couples are just like that when they first start dating. Anyway, where's my bento?"

To be honest, as much as I tried to play it cool, I couldn't deny a tiny spark of excitement. Having a classmate—a girl, no less—make me lunch felt kind of…special.

"...Here you go."

The bento box she handed over is made of colorful paper. Judging by the words "Chicken thighs, 98 yen" printed on it, it was clearly folded from a grocery flyer. I think I had seen this before at my grandma's house.

"Um, what exactly is this?"

"I tried to make your lunch alongside mine this morning, Nukumizu-kun."

"I see. And why did it end up like this?"

"When I was preparing two bentos, my mom said, 'I'm sure Sosuke will love this.'…"

…Stop. Just stop. Don't say words like mom or Sosuke. It's too heartbreaking.

Silently, I opened the bento box to find a sandwich wrapped in plastic.

"…This is from a convenience store, isn't it?"

"Weren't you listening to me? That's why I couldn't prepare two lunches!"

Can this really be called a homemade bento? Sure, the outside was handmade…

"How much do you think this comes to, Nukumizu-kun?"

"Uh, 268 yen."

"That cheap?"

It says so right on the package. Yanami sighed, then pulled a slice of tamagoyaki from her own bento and plopped it into mine.

"...Well, 300 yen."

I pulled the bento box away as Yanami tried to add another piece of karaage.

"More importantly, wouldn't it be better to put some distance between you and those two? You have plenty of other friends, don't you?"

The phrase "nickel-and-dime" flashed through my mind as I popped the tamagoyaki into my mouth. It was a little burnt but surprisingly tasty. Apparently, the Yanami family prefers sweet tamagoyaki.

"Everyone in our class is being overly considerate to me."

Yanami murmured, pulling apart her tamagoyaki piece by piece.

"You know how Sosuke and I were always together before Karen-chan transferred? Now there's this whole 'Oh, so Yanami got dumped, huh?' vibe."

"Uh, I'm not really sure what to say to that…"

Before I could figure out a response, a piece of karaage rolled into my bento box.

"How much does it come to now with the karaage?"

"...350 yen."

What was I even worried about? This girl's an idiot.

"Oh, by the way, Nukumizu-kun, where were you after school yesterday? I saw you heading away from the shoe lockers."

"You sure pay attention."

"Well, you always go straight to the shoe lockers alone, so it stands out."

…What is it about her comments that makes them all feel barbed?

That said, I have graduated from the going home club. Feeling slightly smug, I bit into my sandwich.

"Turns out I'm actually in the Literature Club, so I'll probably be spending some time there."

"Oh, really? I didn't know you were into that kind of thing."

Yanami said this absentmindedly while chewing on an octopus-shaped sausage, clearly uninterested.

"Maybe I'll stop by for a look. Can I come with you?"

"I don't mind, but…are you interested in that sort of thing?"

"Yeah, I like flowers and stuff."

"That's the Gardening Club. I'm in the Literature Club."

I'm starting to understand why she got dumped. She even has rice stuck to her face.

The day's classes are finally over.

I wanted to leave the classroom right away, but as the class's self-proclaimed "observer", here's a piece of advice.

-In situations like this, it's best to wait. The period right after homeroom is full of potential dangers.

First, look at the classroom door. A group of classmates is gathering over there. They are keeping an eye on everyone's movements to avoid being left out after school.

These people will not make way for someone like me, a background character.

…Yes, when you look into the background, the background also looks back at you. If you want to blend in with them, you must never acknowledge their existence.

I slowly tidied up my desk, all the while watching the flow of people out of the corner of my eye.

The crowd at the door is starting to thin.

But I can't let my guard down. The same group would soon shift their base of operations to the shoe lockers, crowding together as they meet up or linger over goodbyes.

The worst-case scenario would be them standing and chatting right in front of my locker. It's hard to pretend I've forgotten where my locker is while wandering around aimlessly when it's already July.

…Wait, I'm not supposed to go straight home today, aren't I? I need to chill in the Literature Club room for the time being-

Just then, a guy wandered into the classroom and made a beeline for my desk.

"Hey, Nukumizu. I heard you joined the Literature Club?"

"Eh…?"

The person speaking to me is Mitsuki Ayano from Class D. We have gone to the same middle school, though we aren't exactly friends. He only occasionally strikes up a conversation because we were in the same cram school.

By the way, even though we went to the same cram school, his grades are much better than mine. He even wears glasses, which make him look smarter.

"Uh, yeah. Sort of, I guess."

"I heard from a teacher that they have Abe Kobo's complete works there. Mind if I come by sometime to borrow them?"

Huh. I didn't know we had those. I have only checked out the light novel selection.

"Uh, yeah, sure. I'll ask the senpai in charge for you."

"Thanks, I owe you one."

With an amiable smile, he patted my shoulder and turned to leave.

At that moment, a tanned figure came into view.

It's Remon Yakishio, leaning her sun-kissed arms on my desk.

"Mitsuki! Wait up a sec."

Leaning toward him, a faint scent of 8×4 deodorant mixed with sweat wafted over.

…Too close. Also, you're in the way.

"Hey, I've got the day off from practice today. Wanna grab something to eat together?"

"Sorry, it's a cram school day for me."

Ayano put his hands together in a sorry gesture.

"Aw, come on, we're only first-years. If all you do is study, you'll turn into an idiot."

"You're the one who should study more, or you'll end up repeating the year."

…Why are they flirting on my desk?

"Mitsuki-san, you should better get going, or you'll be late for cram school~"

A tall girl peeked her head through the classroom door.

Huh, I remember this girl. She used to hang out with Ayano a lot at cram school. She's pretty and smart, so she's pretty well-known there. I didn't realize we went to the same school.

"Ah, Chihaya. I'm coming. See you, Remon."

"...Oh, yeah, bye-bye."

Yakishio waved weakly, making no effort to hide her disappointment.

I wanted to leave, but with Yakishio blocking the way, I couldn't grab my bag.

"Um… Yakishio-san… uh… my bag…"

"Hey, Nukumizu, are you friends with Mitsuki? You're in different classes, right?"

Her long eyelashes fluttered curiously as she leaned in to look at my face.

Remon Yakishio, ace of the track team's short-distance runners and one of the most noticeable girls in the class.

Her short hair frames a petite face, and her slender, toned limbs extend from her uniform, tanned a healthy bronze. I was momentarily taken aback but quickly composed myself before speaking.

"...Uh, we aren't really friends. We went to the same cram school, so we talk every now and then."

Yakishio's eyes suddenly lit up.

"You went to the same cram school? Then do you know that girl from earlier?"

She leaned in so close, her excitement catching me off guard.

"Uh, I think her name's Asagumo. She was in the same advanced course as Ayano, and I think their grades were about the same."

"R-Really? So Mitsuki likes smart girls, huh…"

She said this while looking anxiously in the direction Ayano and Asagumo-san had disappeared.

Wait a minute, could it be that Yakishio…

"Well, they were in the same advanced course, so they obviously spend some time together. But I think they’re just friends."

"Right!? They are just friends, right!?"

Yakishio's face lit up with a smile as bright as the blue sky.

Well, I don't really know what happened after cram school ended, though.

"Uh, so, about my bag…"

"Oh, sorry, Nukumizu. Alright, I think I'll go for a quick run to cheer myself up!"

With that, Yakishio began stretching right there, her long, tanned legs gleaming in the sunlight. After a brief warm-up, she headed out, her energy sky-high.

Once she was gone, I grabbed my bag and stood up.

There are all kinds of big and small dramas unfolding around me that I haven't noticed before. Probably has been for a long time.

…Ahh, what a hassle. If only I could live my life without getting caught in any of it.

"Done chatting, Mr. Popular?"

Yet another troublesome person appeared- Yanami stood behind me, holding her bag.

"Oh, Yanami-san. What's up?"

First Yakishio, and now Yanami. Having some of the top beauties in my grade lining up to talk to me- what on earth is happening? Surely she's not here to tell me she's short on money again, right?

Suspicious, I glanced at her, but Yanami smiled back at me, completely unguarded.

"You're heading to the clubroom now, right? You promised. Take me along for a tour."

Is she serious about this? Anna Yanami visiting the Literature Club- I can't quite picture it, but who am I to stop her if she wants to go?

I nodded silently.

On the way down the hallway to the clubroom, I decided to double-check with Yanami.

"Yanami-san, are you sure about this? I mean, it's kind of a low-key club. It might not be your thing."

I had only been there yesterday, but I could already sense the club's…unique vibe. Bringing one of the class's most extroverted students there might be a questionable idea.

"It's fine. I used to do needle felting back in the day, you know? The one where you poke wool into shapes."

"That's…the DIY Club. We're going to the Literature Club."

Yeah, let's stop worrying about her. I opened the door to the clubroom.

"Oh, hello there."

"Hello, Nukumizu-kun."

Tsukinoki-senpai raised her hand in greeting without looking up from her book, brushing her hair back as she spoke.

"…Huh?"

Komari raised her face reluctantly, freezing in place as her gaze landed on an unfamiliar girl.

"Uh, she's here as a visitor."

"Excuse me. I'm Yanami, from the same class as Nukumizu-kun."

"Ara, welcome. I'll brew some tea, so go ahead and have a seat."

Adjusting her glasses with a quick push, Tsukinoki-senpai brushed past me and gave me a light nudge.

"Nice going, Nukumizu-kun. Bringing such a cute girl along?"

"Huh? Uh, I mean…"

"Don't tell me- she's your girlfriend?"

What is this person even saying?

"N-No, I mean, it's not like that-"

"Oh, no, we're not like that. We're just in the same class."

Yanami's reaction was completely neutral. No blushing, no displeasure- just as if she were being asked about today's weather.

She curiously glanced around the clubroom.

"This club has a lot of books. What kind of activities do you do?"

"Huh?" (x2)

…For some reason, both senpai and Komari are staring at me. Hard. And with dead-serious expressions.

Before the awkward tension could suffocate me, the clubroom door swung open.

"Wow, it's lively in here today."

A tall guy stepped into the room. He's probably Tamaki-senpai, the club president, right? Honestly, his timing was a relief.

"Shintaro, what kind of club president acts like a ghost member?"

Tsukinoki-senpai glared at him with a mock-serious expression, though the faint smile tugging at her lips betrayed her.

"Sorry, sorry. Been busy with entrance exam prep lately."

Prez casually tapped her shoulder.

"You? Studying? Yeah, right."

"I totally am. Oh, hey, Nukumizu! Long time no see. And…is she a new member?"

"Nice to meet you. I'm Yanami. I'm just here for a tour."

Prez flashed a friendly smile as he approached us, but Komari suddenly stood up, as if summoning her courage, and stepped between us.

"U-Uh, P-Prez! The book y-you lent me the other day was r-really interesting!"

"You already finished it? That's awesome. Koto here always mocks me for liking sci-fi and won't even give it a chance."

He shot a quick glance at Tsukinoki-senpai, who stared back at him as if daring him to continue.

"I don't mock it. You're the one who won't touch anything by Haruki." [TL: Haruki Murakami.]

"Wait, are you a Harukist?"

"Not exactly, but still. And you haven't even read that Usami Rin book I lent you the other day, have you?"

"I did, I did. Peak character. Absolute fire."

…Hmm, what's going on here? Are these two…together?

As I watched their exchange with mild exasperation, Komari fearlessly inserted herself into their conversation.

"Um, I, uh, I really like Egan! Even though, uh, I don't really get what he's writing about!"

"Really? Well, Komari-chan, you've got great taste!"

Prez beamed and gave Komari's head an affectionate ruffle.

"F-Fwah!"

Tsukinoki-senpai swatted Prez's hand away with a sharp smack.

"Hey, you. That's totally a #MeToo moment. Komari-chan, if you're uncomfortable, I'll make sure to tell him off for you."

"W-Wait, I…!"

Komari, startled by the sound of her own voice, quickly looked down.

"I-It's not that. I… um… don't dislike it… or anything…"

Her face turned bright red as she mumbled the words.

"You're so cute, Komari-chan. Koto, you should take a page from her book."

"Oh, please. Komari-chan, don't spoil him too much. He gets carried away so easily."

Prez glanced at his watch, and a hurried expression crossed his face.

"Crap, I've got a club presidents' meeting. I should get going. I can't wait to brag about how we had a visitor today."

"I'm coming with you. Otherwise, you'll just fall asleep halfway through."

"Then you can wake me up, Koto."

"Like I would bother. I'll just recommend you as the new errand boy instead."

The two left the room, still bickering playfully. Honestly, what was the president even here for?

"C-Cute… Prez said I'm…cute… hehe."

Komari muttered to herself, grinning from ear to ear. I hate to burst her bubble, but she has been used more as a foil than anything else.

Yanami tapped my shoulder and leaned in close, her face uncomfortably near. She smells kind of nice, though.

"So, the president and the vice president, huh? Are those two dating?"

"Who knows? They do seem like it, though."

Komari, who apparently has excellent hearing, shoved her smartphone toward us.

Yanami's eyes narrowed into slits.

"…Childhood friends?"

<Yes! Just childhood friends!>

Komari, her breathing heavy with conviction, didn't bother sticking around for further discussion. She plugged in her earbuds, which were leaking sound everywhere, and began reading a book as if nothing had happened. What incredible single-mindedness.

Yanami rattled her chair as she scooted closer.

"Hey, why does she use her smartphone to talk?"

I would like to know that too.

"Oh, by the way, Nukumizu-kun. So the president and the vice president are childhood friends, huh?"

"Huh? Ah, yeah, seems like it."

"…Why is there such a gap between childhood friends?"

Yanami muttered, her tone strained as if squeezing out the words.

"Uh, Yanami-san. The president and vice president haven't done anything wrong here, okay?"

"Hold on. That means…"

Yanami suddenly raised her head as if realizing something and fixed her gaze on Komari.

"…A homewrecker?"

She muttered in a low voice. Komari flinched as if startled.

"N-No, no, no! Prez and Vice Prez aren't even dating. There's no wrecking to speak of!"

"That's not the point. Any girl who shows up despite there being a childhood friend is automatically a homewrecker. Don't you get that?"

Oh. Is this like when a guy barges into a yuri story? I get it now. Die.

"I get what you're saying, but maybe let's not have this conversation here. Komari-san's still here."

"But she can't hear us with the music playing."

Feeling our stares, Komari hunched over like a frightened animal. Hmm. Something about this feels…off.

"...Wait a second, Komari-san might not actually be listening to any music."

"What? But she has her earphones on."

"She's wearing them but pretending not to hear us."

"Then what about earlier? She was leaking sound like crazy!"

"She isn't now. That was just a fake to throw us off."

Sweat began dripping down Komari's face as she read her book. Finally, she removed her earphones and glared at me while holding something out.

"Nukumizu, h-here. The c-clubroom key."

"Oh? Thanks."

"I-I-I-I'm heading out f-first!"

Komari stumbled as she hurried out of the room.

…The once-bustling clubroom fell completely silent. All that remains are an outsider and, well, someone who might as well be an outsider.

So, what am I supposed to do now? I don't even know much about this club to begin with.

"For now, I'll make some tea. Write your name in the guest log, okay?"

"Thanks. Oh, I'll have green tea."

"Wow, there have been quite a few visitors. Oh, look, Nukumizu-kun, your name's here. And the girl just now was Komari-san, right?"

Yanami, apparently already bored, stared absentmindedly at the bookshelf. It would be a hassle, so let's hope she doesn't touch the shelves with Dazai or Mishima.

"Here's your tea."

"Thanks. Hey, Nukumizu-kun."

Sipping her tea, Yanami looked at me with clear, earnest eyes.

"So, what exactly does this club do again?"

After returning home, I lay sprawled on the living room sofa and muttered to myself, deep in thought.

"I'm like a normal high school student for once…"

I stared at my LINE app, which was installed only to collect stamps of my favorite character but was otherwise untouched until now. Tsukinoki-senpai's "Welcome to the club!" message sat in the chat window.

Indeed, I have joined the Literature Club's LINE group.

This might just be the peak of my high school life. After this, I could live quietly, like a humble clam.

Oh, right. I have been asked to lend out a book. Riding the momentum, I decided to send my first-ever message.

As I typed, I found myself mumbling the words aloud. So this is what old men feel like when they do the same thing.

Now, would I actually get a reply? I have heard of people leaving messages on read, and worse, what if everyone just blocks me?

As I fretted over these possibilities, a reply came in from Tsukinoki-senpai. Ah, thank goodness. I haven't been blocked.

…Permission granted. Though seriously, can't senpai do something about her weird account name?

As I rolled lazily on the sofa, my sister Kaju quietly sat down across the table.

"You're such a wonderful person, onii-sama."

She suddenly said this out of nowhere.

"Uh, thanks…?"

"You always listen to Kaju's stories with a smile and never deny what Kaju says."

"I call you out constantly, though."

Like just now, for instance.

"You even patiently put up with Kaju's selfishness without ever making a fuss."

"If you know you're being selfish, maybe try fixing it."

Ignoring my retort, Kaju cleared her throat with an exaggerated "ahem".

"And that's why, onii-sama, you need to make a character bento."

She went way past the realm of logic with that one.

"...Uh, could you elaborate a bit?"

"Kaju is worried about you, onii-sama, grinning at your phone while staring at your favorite characters."

Ah, so that's where the character bento comes in.

"Sorry, I'm not following at all."

"Use the character bento to win everyone over and start conversations. Then you can bond over your shared love of manga and anime!"

"Why is this limited to manga and anime?"

"Onii-sama, that's the only topic you can talk about."

Rude, coming from my own sister. But she's not entirely wrong…

"But who would I even show it to if I had one?"

"Onii-sama, even if you don't have any friends, you're not eating lunch entirely alone, are you?"

"...Uh, I eat alone all the time, actually."

"Huh? How could that be?"

Kaju's eyes widened in shock, and she covered her mouth like she had just heard the most tragic news.

"But…all you have to do is ask someone to eat with you!"

I wouldn't be a loner in the first place if I could do that.

"Onii-sama, should Kaju come to your school? Kaju will ask everyone to eat lunch with you!"

"No, no, think about how that would make your older brother look."

"Then it has to be the character bento. Kaju already made a test version- please take a look."

She already made one? Kaju pulled out a bento box from somewhere.

"Onii-sama, consider this for your self-introduction, Kaju decided to make a portrait of you for the first attempt."

Wait, wait, wait, that's terrifying.

The design is hyper-realistic- more of a dramatic seaweed portrait than a cute character bento.

"Kaju even wrote your profile in black sesame seeds! This will let your classmates see your charm, onii-sama."

Classmates don't want to know my height, weight, or, heaven forbid, my first love.

"And why is my first love listed as you?"

"Well, onii-sama, ever since Kaju was old enough to remember, you've always said Kaju is cute!"

Well, that's because you're my little sister.

"Anyway, I don't even need a bento. Someone has already agreed to make me lunch for a while."

"…A bento? …Wait, what? What?"

Kaju froze, her brain seemingly refusing to process the information.

"Hey, Kaju? You okay?"

"Onii-sama! You have a girlfriend making lunch for you even though you don't have any friends? Without even consulting Kaju first!?"

"No, no, no! I don't have a girlfriend! No friends, no girlfriend, nothing like that!"

"Ah, of course. Someone without friends can't have a girlfriend, after all."

Why does my own little sister feel the need to constantly remind me that I have no friends?

"Kaju has heard that your circles sometimes have a thing called an imaginary girlfriend. However, an imaginary bento is calorie-free, so you would still need snacks to survive."

"Who do you even think I am? Don't worry- it's real food."

After all, it's just stuff from a convenience store.

"But normally, people who aren't friends or dating don't make each other lunch, do they?"

"She's being paid for it, okay?"

"Ah, so it's a professional service."

Kaju nodded as if she had figured it out, clapping her hands in understanding.

"Like a bento add-on service, right? Kaju has heard of those from my friends."

"Please get better friends."

As my gaze wandered, I accidentally locked eyes with the bento portrait of myself.

We're both going through a lot, aren't we?

The next day, Wednesday. As promised, Yanami showed up at the emergency staircase during lunch. It seems she's dead serious about repaying her debt through bento deliveries.

Sitting on a handkerchief she had spread out on the stairs, the girl, neither a girlfriend nor a friend, let out a heavy sigh next to me.

"They invited me again today. They want to study at Karen-chan's house together after school."

"Just say no."

My perfectly reasonable suggestion was met with a look of protest from Yanami.

"But they will be alone together if I don't go."

"They are already dating. Maybe it's time to let it go?"

All I was supposed to do was pick up the bento, but somehow, things spiraled into something bizarre again.

"…Of course, Karen-chan is out to crush me completely. She must have noticed how I've been looking at Sosuke in, you know, that way."

Yanami, keep those thoughts to yourself, okay?

"Maybe stop thinking about everything in the worst possible way. What if they are just still a little awkward being alone and want you there to help smooth things over?"

"…So basically, I'm just the bait to lure Sosuke into her house."

Wait, did I just say something really bad?

"N-No, I think you're reading too much into it…"

"She's lowering the psychological barriers to having him over. And eventually-"

Yanami suddenly turned to look at me, her tone abruptly shifting.

"...Oh no, Anna-chan suddenly can't make it today."

"Huh?"

There she goes, saying something weird again.

"It's a simulation. I'm imagining what would happen if Karen-chan and Sosuke ended up alone together."

"Uh-huh."

Can you run this simulation without involving me?

"Okay, let's try again from the beginning. Oh no, Anna-chan suddenly can't make it today. Nukumizu-kun, you play Sosuke. Come on, hurry!"

"Uh, okay… Oh, is that so? Then it's just the two of us."

What even is this skit?

"...What if I say I didn't invite her on purpose?"

Yanami continued, lowering her eyes slightly and leaning toward me.

What would a rom-com MC say at a time like this? Think.

"If I knew that and still came, what would you do?"

"Sosuke…"

"Karen…"

A fleeting moment of silence as we gazed into each other's eyes. Yanami suddenly pulled back, slapping her knee hard.

"See? That's it! That woman is totally after Sosuke's body!"

That's 100% just your imagination.

"More importantly, where's my bento?"

"…You know, Nukumizu-kun, maybe this is why you don't have any friends."

Mind your own business.

Yanami pulled out a single aluminum bento box. Wait, only one?

"Here, hold the lid for me."

Handing me the bento lid, Yanami stabbed her chopsticks into the rice.

"What are you doing?"

"I told you yesterday, didn't I? I can only use one bento box."

With her arm trembling, she hoisted up a chunk of rice and dropped it onto the lid with a plop.

It's heavy. On closer inspection, the rice grains are so compressed they look more like mochi.

"So, I crammed two portions into one bento box as tightly as I could. Okay, now for the side dishes."

Two more chunks dropped, one stir-fried and one stewed. Both are molded into the shape of the bento box, solid as bricks, and utterly unappetizing.

"Well, let's eat."

"…Uh, yeah. Let's eat."

Now, how am I supposed to tackle Yanami's masterpiece of a rice block? Despairing at how useless chopsticks were, I tried breaking it apart with the broth seeping from the stewed dish.

"So, is it good?"

Wait, does she seriously think this is the time to ask about flavor?

"Did you make the side dishes, too?"

"Of course! I worked really hard on them. How much do you think it's worth?"

Ah, I see. Thank goodness Yanami didn't grow up eating this stuff herself.

Oh, look- a frozen croquette hidden in the middle of the stir-fry block.

"...Uh, let's say 400 yen."

"Nice! Not bad."

Yanami happily bit into her own rice block. Just so you know, that price is pretty generous, considering the circumstances. Also, this bento is huge.

"At this rate, I might pay off my debt before summer vacation."

Right, once she's repaid what she owes, these lunches will end. Still, if it's only temporary, this isn't so bad. Of course, I'm making sure I get every yen back.

"Hey, wanna go upstairs? You can see the field from the fourth-floor landing."

By the time we finished eating, Yanami stood up, tucking the now-empty bento box away. I didn't really have a reason to refuse.

Under the clear July sky, the athletic field stretched out before us, with the track team hard at practice.

"Hey, isn't that Remon-chan over there?"

Leaning against the railing, Yanami stretched out her hand.

Even from a distance, the sun-bronzed figure is unmistakably Remon Yakishio. At the starter's signal, she shot off, leaving the others behind in the blink of an eye.

"Remon-chan is really fast, huh?"

Fifty minutes of lunch break- enough time to eat, change, practice, and change again. There's no way I could pull that off.

It's not envy or anything like that. It's more like the strange feeling of watching something dazzling and out of reach.

"She won the 100m in the city's rookie meet, right? And I think she placed in the prefectural prelims for the inter-highs, too."

"Wow, you really know a lot."

Leave it to me to absorb every piece of posted information.

"Remon-chan's amazing."

Just a casual comment. I was about to respond just as casually, but the words caught in my throat.

Yanami's eyes are brimming with tears.

The drops spilled over, glittering in the sunlight before being carried off by the wind.

Her profile still holds a trace of childlike innocence. Until recently, we hadn’t even exchanged words, and now here she is, beside me, showing her tears. This scene feels unreal as if it is slipping through my fingers.

"Uh, Yanami-san? Are you okay?"

"I've really been dumped, huh?"

You don't say.

"You're thinking, 'You don't say', aren't you?"

"Eh, how did you know that?"

Reading people's thoughts without permission is a bad habit.

"It's like…it's sinking in now."

"Sinking in…?"

"Watching Remon-chan running, I just thought, wow, she's amazing. And then it hit me- I've been dumped, huh?"

The tears on her lashes sparkled, catching the light.

"I mean, I knew it in my head. But, like, my body hadn't caught up yet."

On the field, Yakishio started her second run, this time with the boys. Under our watchful eyes, she was overtaken at the very end by a tall guy.

"Nukumizu-kun, maybe you'll understand once you've been dumped really hard."

"Is that how it works?"

"Getting dumped doesn't change anything. It doesn't even make you feel better."

Yanami stretched her arms wide as if trying to shake off the heaviness of her words.

"But you know, the world keeps moving forward anyway, so you don't have much choice but to go along with it."

Like a forced event in a video game, I suppose.

"I've never been dumped, so I wouldn't really know."

"Ohh, that's what a popular guy would say."

My desperate attempt at self-deprecating humor was met with a soft, relaxed smile from Yanami.

If I were the protagonist of a light novel, this would be the moment to say something clever and win her heart. But for me, this is as good as it gets.

Time marches on, even for a losing heroine. While couples carve out memories together, her everyday life continues.

Without exchanging a word, the two of us simply watched the running students, letting the wind carry our silence.

Intermission: No, Even When She's Hungry, She's Still as Good as a God

The soft beep of the rice cooker echoed through the dim kitchen. Dressed in her pajamas, Anna Yanami yawned as she peeked into the fridge.

"Hmm, looks like we've only got eggs…"

Opening the vegetable drawer, she found a wilted yellow bunch of mustard spinach and a half-used pack of ham. As for the freezer, it's packed with frozen pasta and Garigari-kun popsicles. Digging deeper, she finally unearthed an open bag of mixed vegetables.

"What can I even make with this…?"

Eggs, ham, mixed vegetables, and some yellowing mustard spinach.

As she munched on a Garigari-kun popsicle, Yanami gazed at her spoils laid out on the table.

Now, what to do about tomorrow's lunch? She wouldn't call herself a skilled cook, but something about his reaction today had gotten under her skin.

"It's like he's saying my cooking isn't good enough…"

On a sudden whim, she opened the cupboard. Inside, a haphazard pile of gift-packaged canned goods greeted her. From the very back, she pulled out a dusty can.

The label read: "Supervised by Imperial Hotel: Secret White Sauce Recipe".

Yes, perfect. This feels like something incredible. With this, he'll have no choice but to admit my cooking.

Smirking to herself, Yanami read the label carefully, only for her eyes to land on the printed expiration date.

Wait, what year is it now? Let's see… Reiwa started in 2019, so-

Yanami promptly stopped her train of thought and placed the can on the table.

She vaguely remembered hearing that canned food was invented or eaten by Napoleon. If people in such ancient times could eat it, surely a year or two past its expiration date is just a rounding error.

Satisfied with her internal logic, she took a big bite of her Garigari-kun popsicle with her front teeth.

(...Owwwww!)

She doubled over alone in the dim kitchen, clutching her mouth in pain.

Anna Yanami, 15 years old, suffers from sensitive teeth. And so, another summer night quietly passed.

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Friday, August 27, 2021

Too Many Losing Heroines! V1 Prologue & Chapter 1 & Intermission

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Friday, August 27, 2021

Too Many Losing Heroines! V1 Prologue & Chapter 1 & Intermission

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