Yumemiru Danshi wa Genjitsushugisha Alternate Titles: 夢⾒る男⼦は現実主義者 Dreaming Boy Turned Realist Author: Okemaru Illustrator: Sabamizore Synopsis: Sajou Wataru is infatuated with his classmate Natsukawa Aika to the point of him living in daydreams about their mutual love and relationship, relentlessly approaching her at every chance. However, one day, Wataru sobers up, and has to face reality. “There’s no way I’d be a good fit for an unattainable flower like her, right…?”
After starting to see reality as it was, Wataru proceeded to keep a certain distance to Aika, which left her in turmoil. “Does he…hate me now…?” Resulting from this misunderstanding is awakening of subconscious feelings that come and go!? Thus begins the romcom of mutual onesided feelings, plagued by misunderstandings! Translator: CClaw Translations ePUB Creator: Miracutor Font used: PT Sans (Google Fonts) For any suggestions or errors about the ePUB, please send it to [email protected]. Check out other ePUBs too that created by Miracutor at here. Please support the authors and publishers by purchasing the books in original language. And also please don't forget to support CClaw too :)
Illustrations
Table of Contents 1. Intro 2. Illustrations 3. Chapter 1 4. Chapter 2 5. Chapter 3 6. Chapter 4 7. Chapter 5 8. Chapter 6 9. Chapter 7 10. Chapter 8 11. Chapter 9 12. Chapter 9.5 13. Afterword 14. Links
Chapter 1 Knowing of those feelings The first time you realize and go “It’s fall, eh?” happens around the latter half of October. Not knowing this back in middle school during my first year had me going to school in my summer uniform and freezing my butt off as I just kept shaking like a lamb. The cold breeze tickled my body hair that stood on edge. Even the boy who’d head to elementary school mid-winter with short pants to play dodgeball would start realizing around then. On a different note, being dragged around by Sasaki’s little sister Yuki-chan, only to be forced to give him genuine love advice was one hell of a day. Just what is wrong with those siblings, I swear. But today, I’m gonna enjoy myself. “Oh, Sajou! Empty-handed, eh?” “Because I don’t need anything, duh.” “Must be nice being in the go-home club.” “Shut yer trap.” As a beautiful turn-around to the warm and comfy season, the winter uniforms carried a black color. Gazing at the whole school full of them, I entered the classroom, only to get a jab to my side instead of a regular greeting. I guess I was a bit too relaxed on my way because the clock hanging above the blackboard told me I got here pretty late. Then again, the cultural festival’s still in full bloom, so a few minutes aren’t going to ruin the experience. Though, it was pretty exciting to come to school without my school bag or anything else.
“Sup, sup.” “Ah, Sajocchi. Wassup?” “I just came to school…?” “Good, good.” “?” 1: Came to school. 2: Headed to my classroom. Pretty sure that’s a standard routine for a student like me, so why’s she so dubious about it? But when I looked over at Ashida, leaning against the wall at the window side, she just nodded to herself like she accepted something. I feel like her words and gaze are sticking to me like glue or honey, and I don’t like it. What’s this? Did she learn the “Normie from a distance” skill while I wasn’t looking? One more step’s left and then she’ll have perfected it. “…M-Morning.” “Hm? Ah, yeah, morning…” And going with the usual order, it didn’t take long for Natsukawa to look over at me, giving me a somewhat awkward greeting. As a result of that, I even started feeling insecure. Is this what I think it is? The typical “Don’t think we’re friends who talk normally” threat? Oh man, the window’s open, I might just jump out right now. —Yeah, all jokes aside, I know how kind Natsukawa is. She’d never think something like that. It’s probably some girl problem like not feeling well, being tired, or anything along those lines. I’ll just pretend like I didn’t realize—because I…have tact and consideration! “…”
“…Hm?” W-Wait…was I off? I mean, it’s evident that she’s acting restless. Even the people around us should realize that. And yet, in my eyes, she looked graceful. Her gestures and movement overflowing with dignity made it seem like she would step on an invisible stage here inside the classroom…Wait, maybe something’s wrong with me instead? “Where should we check first?” “The stalls! Sweets!” “First thing in the morning?” “First thing in the morning!” I grabbed the cultural festival’s pamphlet from my blazer’s back pocket and asked the two, when Ashida jumped up with a raised fist, voicing her desires. It seems like the ace of the basketball club has little to no concern regarding her weight. Despite being the same age, she just made me think “Ah, youth,” and I don’t know how I feel about that. Even a boy like me realized the gravity of this problem…Then again, it’s not part of my world since I’m in the go-home club. “You good with that, Natsukawa?” “Y-Yeah…” “Oh. Now that I get a good look at ya, did you cut your hair?” “What…? I didn’t, though.” “You just randomly said that, didn’t you?” Grumbled Ashida behind us. But of course, my Natsukawa sensors would never miss anything when it comes to her. I knew from the very start that she hadn’t cut her hair. That being said, I wouldn’t want to miss out on her charm just
because my sensors had dulled…so I made sure. Then again, there’s no way my sensors would ever become dull, to begin with. “D-Do I look weird or something?” “Actually…” “Why are you searching for something now?” Ashida jumped in yet again. Well…Because this is a legal chance for me to stare at Natsukawa! And I cannot let that go to waste! Lately, my eyes have been longing for a good look at her because we don’t sit in the same line of seats anymore. But of course, I’m still more than happy that I get to sit this close to her. Especially considering my past practices…God, gross. I looked her in the eyes, as she stopped with her graceful mannerism and instead looked away as if she wanted to escape my gaze. It seems like she suffers severe damage by just looking into my eyes…Yeah, I should stop. I’m just gonna start crying. “…Hm?” “Huh?” “Ah, no, it’s nothing.” “Wait, what? Come on, now I’m curious…” “No seriously, forget about it.” I could pick up a faint radiance from Natsukawa’s lips. They looked glossier than usual. I guess she started using lip gloss. Just realizing this at a single glance is pretty gross already, but that’s why I can’t just say “Oh, you using lip gloss?” What if she responded with “Gross…!” in return…?! “I…I don’t look weird, right?”
“Nope, not at all!” “…” “Okay, I’m sorry. Don’t worry, you’re as cute as always.” “Geez, you…!” After checking once with her folded mirror and then with Ashida’s assistance, Natsukawa then glared up at me. I guess trying to hide the truth was the wrong move to take there? But when I tried to salvage the situation with a bit of praise, she just complained and looked the other way. I must have sounded like some playboy…Well, I wasn’t lying, so whatever. “Anyway, let’s go take a picture with our sweets in one hand. Will blow up, I just know it.” “You’re gonna join?” “You can just cover my eyes with a black bar.” “You’re not a criminal.” Amidst our group, Ashida’s the one who is really involved with social media. She has 90% of all the followers our classmates have amassed, and I’m not allowed to appear on her timeline. And to be honest, I always think it’s better to leave these sorts of pictures to girls alone. Boys got nothing to do there. So, I’ll let her handle the camera. You’re gonna point the camera up from your belly, right? I know that. Since I already tried the crepe with Ichinose-san and Sasaki-san yesterday, I’m feeling some different sweetness today. Hm? Yuki-chan? I know no such person, sorry. And any sugary food is usually wrapped in paper, so maybe something in a cup would be better today. Though, I’d be fine with fried chicken, too. I’m not allowed on her timeline, after all.
“…” “…What now?” I ran my eyes through the pamphlet once more, when I realized that Ashida was still staring at me. Sometimes, she’s sending me this profound gaze that I sadly can’t decipher with my lack of ability. “I was just thinking that you seemed pretty excited. Even though you probably had a blast with Ichinose-chan and the others just yesterday, feel me?” “The heck? Doesn’t mean I can’t have fun today, right?” “Ah, right…Yeah, true.” “Hey, Key…” “…?” What is this about? Not only Ashida, now Natsukawa’s constantly looking at me…Maybe something’s wrong with me, after all? But, I’m pretty sure I checked my hair, both on my head and inside my nose. Always when I wash my face, too. Ah, I see. It’s my ugly face, right? Can’t do shit about that. When I touched my face to try and fix some parts like it was soft clay, I could hear a faint snickering voice. “Hee hee…Don’t worry, it’s nothing.” “…Huh?” Looking over, Natsukawa had one hand on her mouth as she faintly laughed. I guess my panicking over how I looked must have been a pretty funny sight. Must be her way of getting revenge…And now that I think about it, I was acting like an idiot. What good will this do anyway? I’m not gonna magically turn into a hottie. God, how
embarrassing…I averted my gaze to cope with this flash of bashfulness when I heard a voice that completely pulled in all my attention. ‘…S-Saitou-san.’ “!” Hearing a familiar voice from the noisy classroom made my body freeze up. Normally, I always resented the minutes I was forced to listen to that voice, but today, it kept me focused on it. It’s Sasaki, the rookie in love, and Saitou-san, who just confessed to him. The couple that was just one step from forming—If this was a manga, my ears probably would have grown three times the size just by hearing his voice. And could you blame me? But, I wouldn’t want to get scolded later, so I’ll just pretend I wasn’t looking— ‘Sasaki-kun…’ ‘Do you…have time later today?’ Because everything was so brightly lit around us, it was hard to see exactly what was going on inside the classroom. However, staring at Natsukawa from a distance trained my eyes, allowing me to recreate the scenery inside my head…Damn it! If it wasn’t for Natsukawa’s dazzling profile next to me! She’s pulling in my gaze! ‘Yeah…I do. Always.’ ‘Huh…?’ ‘I can make time…whenever…’ ‘S-Saitou-san…!’ But after listening for a while, I couldn’t keep looking for an entirely different reason. If I were to witness this scene directly, my eyes and chest might just burn up. If I had any candy or chocolate in my pocket,
it would have melted away by now. That being said, Saitou-san probably couldn’t just turn away. To the people around them, it might look sweet and wholesome, but she was still waiting for the response to his confession, and I can imagine how stressful that may be. And to her, all of this must be as bitter as a burnt potato…What a horrible example. I think I’m just hungry. That being said, I would be lying if I said I didn’t care how their relationship turned out. Normally, I wouldn’t give two cents about Sasaki’s romance and love life, but I kinda stuck my head right in there…Why did I even ramble on about that yesterday? Supporting Saitou-san’s love or not, it was the difference between being stabbed by Yuki-chan or getting trampled by a horse. Weird…Why is my life in danger because of their romance? And I just know it was Sasaki who pulled me into this whole mess… Wait, doesn’t this mean I have the right to watch how their romance unfolds? Because if they start dating, then it was thanks to my words that Saitou-san managed to grasp hold of Sasaki’s heart! That’s right, I don’t have to listen in secrecy like this! I should just watch it with my own eyes to then tease them about it. Because I’ve still got a few pentup feelings regarding Sasaki. So, come on, show the love master that I am your bristling youth— ‘Then…’ “Ah, my bad…Wait, why are you two standing around frozen like that?” “…” “…” “…” “Huh? Wait, why are you glaring at me now?! Why are you sighing?! And why is Natsukawa-san joining you?!”
All three of us instantly stared at Matsuda, who appeared in the line behind us. Sadly, this is where a lot of goods and other objects get stored…so it’s not his fault. In fact, we are to be blamed for loitering around here. Ashida stepped aside with a pale face as I’d never seen before, but…Matsuda, it’s an honor to receive Natsukawa’s stare. “…?” Wait a second…The way the two are acting almost feels like…they know about Sasaki and Saitou-san. Natsukawa might have seen something before she went home yesterday…Well, girls are quick to share information, so even if Sasaki didn’t tell anybody but I, Saitousan might have spread the news. Though, she doesn’t look that loosetongued…Heaven forbid. * “All right, move your faces closer!” “Yeah…Ah, wait! Why are you crouching down?!” “They said on TV that this position would reflect your style better…” “Take a few steps back first!” “You lewd monster, Sajocchi.” We moved on to the center of the courtyard. Natsukawa and Ashida were stuffing their cheeks with crepe, so I attempted to take a picture of them while crouching down. However, Natsukawa angrily pulled her skirt down while complaining, and Ashida fired at me, too. Reflecting on my actions, I was no different than those creepy dudes taking sneaky pictures of cosplayers. That was close…My instincts were telling me to cross the line and peek under her skirt.
“K-Kei, this is embarrassing…” “Huh? But it’s hot, right?” “That’s exactly why!” The reason Natsukawa complained to Ashida now was also related to her skirt. Ashida attempted to make the picture blow up more by lifting their skirts a bit. Despite her initial complaint, Natsukawa eventually complied with a red face, making even me go “Wait, are you serious?” but I barely held myself back from saying it out loud. Sure, their bare legs were one hell of a sight, but seeing Natsukawa fidget awkwardly was far too destructive, I could never hope to win against my urges and turn around. That being said, happiness was only half of what filled me at that moment. Bewilderment and hesitation being the other. Natsukawa isn’t so straightforward, and as a member of the opposite sex, being able to watch this from so close left me conflicted. That’s why I ignored my desires and decided to support Natsukawa. “I don’t think you need a full-body one. Just snap a pic of your face with the crepe in front of you.” “Oh, you think so?” “I think that’d be better, yeah. Especially with how cute you are.” “Wueh?! R-Really…?” “Y-You’re saying nonsense like that again…” Ashida seemed satisfied with my proposition, but Natsukawa threw another complaint at me as she turned around to fix her skirt. Knowing that her protection had risen to secure levels allowed me to sigh in relief. Ashida did the same, so I proceeded to prepare for the picture.
I’ve been holding back way too much for a while now, so my heart is about to burst. “Then let me get a bit closer.” “Wha…?!” Since there was no need to take a full-body picture, I moved toward them with my smartphone in hand. And I didn’t bother much with the angle either. If anything, the only thing I cared about was the balance of the background. “W-Wait, Sajocchi…! Maybe we should take a quick break?” “But your crepe’s gonna melt.” “R-Right…” “Come on, Natsukawa. Get those faces together.” “Y-Yeah…Mmm!” “Mmm…!” They pressed their cheeks together, letting out bewitching sounds I could pick up from right next to them. It’s like I was listening to some feisty R18 ASMR. And as their cheeks were red, the crepe beginning to melt from the heat—I took the shot. “Wait, you weren’t smiling in the…Oooh…!” “…!” I checked the masterpiece of a picture I had taken and was left baffled. At first, I was just thinking of taking a cute picture with not much mind behind it, but the picture I had taken turned out to be a masterpiece, showing the sweetness and sourness of youth in all its glory. I don’t know if it’s just my imagination, but I think the two of
them were also staring at the picture in disbelief. From their poses, it may look like they were totally into it, but their expression showed clear embarrassment. The way they stared at the camera with all their might to hide their embarrassment showed a different vector of greatness. Leaving aside Natsukawa, seeing the normie Ashida this restless was what made it even better. If you were to print this and hang it up, it would deserve the name “A Kiss’s Determination.” It shows their mature expression as they were conscious of each other. “This is gonna blow up…!” ““Delete it!”” “Waaah, my phone…!” By the time I received the phone back, the picture I had taken was long gone. Since I really liked it, I asked for the reason why they decided to delete it, to which they both blushed and screamed “Because it’s bad!” Seriously, that’s no reason to get this angry. Though…having thousands of people see their faces online must be a scary thought, so I get it. “Anyway, let’s all take a picture together! You join us, Sajocchi!” “Huh? But I thought I was just in the way…” “It’s fine! Get your butt over here!” The cream of her crepe began to melt as she beckoned me over, still slightly bashful. Well, if this social media goddess Ashida says it’s fine, then I’ve got no reason to argue. Because of our differences in height and sex, I ended up standing behind them to not ruin the aesthetic. I pushed the phone forward and attempted to take a picture with my phone when Ashida quickly handed me hers. Don’t ask me why, the camera should be about the same in terms of quality. Ashida acted like my producer and told me to stuff my mouth with fried chicken, as the two of them moved closer together to take the same pose as before.
Holding my hand diagonally up to the right, I managed to get all of us in frame…But, having these two so close sure makes me feel anxious. Ahhh, whatever! “Ofay! Feef (Cheese)!” “Pffft!” I took the picture with all my might, but when the girls heard me desperate to keep the fried chicken in my mouth, they burst out laughing. Okay, okay, I demand a redo! “No redo!” “Fwy (Why)?” “Because I said so!” First Ashida rejected my request, followed by Natsukawa, declaring my desire null without giving any proper reason. Even stole the phone from me before I could do anything…Um, Natsukawa-san? The way you’re shutting me down lately is beginning to sound like Airi-chan. Seeing them having fun is great and all, but Airi-chan won’t be happy. Whoops, the fried chicken in my mouth is making me drool. I chomped it down and saw that Ashida had sent the picture to our three-person group. Compared to the two of them giggling ahead, I looked almost desperate with my eyes shot wide open. And so lame, too…Oh well. “…You sure about this?” “Huh? Of course!” “…All right.” Leaving aside my pathetic appearance, the picture made it look like I was embracing them from behind. If this were to end up on social media, it’d probably cause a firestorm and cost Ashida a lot of
followers. Then again, everything’s alright as long as this doesn’t end up online. And as I was busy with my food, my phone told me I received another message. Swiping on the screen, I saw another selfie of Natsukawa and Ashida. Ah, they took one while I was eating…Yeah, I prefer this one a lot more. * We finished munchy time and took all the pictures, when Natsukawa raised her hand to voice her desired destination. Seems like she had a clear goal in mind. “Picture books?” “Yeah. Handled by volunteers amongst the students. Kei told me.” “Oh, huh. That’s not in the pamphlet.” Only the higher-ups and leaders had the lists for all the attractions done by clubs and committees. And the stuff that really matters isn’t even on the pamphlet. This will probably cause trouble at next year’s cultural festival. Though it probably won’t have anything to do with me. “The clubs get all jumbled together, after all. They should at least separate the stuff between cultural and sports attractions, you know.” “Gotcha. I’ll let Big Sis know.” “Wha…You better not! You better not, you hear me?!” Oh? Maybe she’s just pretending…or so I thought, but she held onto my arm with pressure enough to make the veins inside it pop. Unlike her usual jesting manner, she seemed dead serious for once. Big Sis just exists and is feared as the most terrifying vice student council president…if she’s that scared of her, then shouldn’t she be a bit nicer to me? I’m her brother after all. After I somehow managed to break free
from Ashida’s hold, Natsukawa came over and asked me, seeming somewhat reluctant. “Can…we?” “Sure, why not. What do you say, Ashida?” “I’m fine with it.” “I was just…thinking that maybe it wasn’t your thing.” “…Huh? You talking to me?” For some reason, Natsukawa went out of her way to check for my opinion. She even looked scared of my answer. But I had no idea why she would act this way, so all I could do was return the question. Why would she care? Granted, it’s not something I would go out of my way to check, but that doesn’t mean I will automatically find no fun with it. I get to witness Natsukawa picking out a picture book for Airi-chan, and since both Ashida and I liked Airi-chan, I wouldn’t mind picking out a present for her. That’s why I had no reason to decline, even if Natsukawa wasn’t a part of this. But what surprised me is the attitude that Natsukawa has toward me. Like she’s trying to be considerate of my feelings…Well, it might not be that huge in comparison, but being entertained in this way is making my body feel itchy. I can’t tell if we’ve gotten closer or not… Glancing over at Ashida, she also looked at me, waiting for my response. Is this just normal? Normally, Ashida would be the one to act all like “No worries, just tag along!” but now she’s on a hot iron, too. “You don’t have to worry about me. I’m interested in it, too.” “O-Okay…Thanks.” “R-Right.”
She seemed relieved as she smiled happily. The way she voiced her joy and gratitude left me bewildered. It’s not like I was just falling for her, but I could tell that my body temperature was rising. However, after I’ve caught these feelings two years ago, I’m not so naive to show my inner turmoil. I will let her take me along for the ride and enjoy it. “Then…let’s go?” “A-Aye.” Me follow Natsukawa, yes.
Chapter 2 A Woman’s Charm When thinking of a literature club, the first image popping up in my mind…would probably be a secluded and calm space with people reading books. Granted, I had heard of some clubs here and there, but as a member of the go-home club, I was never too involved with school life outside classes. I was told our school had such a literature club at one point, but because of the lack of proper club activities, it was eventually abolished. Right now, it’s more of a get-together than an actual club. And the people came together voluntarily to create these picture books. That’s how they managed to set up a whole event like this for the cultural festival. I dare say, that’s some massive progress. “Pretty lively here, isn’t it?” “Because it’s picture books.” This being different from a regular bookstore, both Ashida and Natsukawa were excited. The multipurpose hall was filled with mostly children, too, as they screamed and laughed about whatever they could find, almost making me feel nostalgic. I can understand why they had the library open just for today. Checking the members, I could see a third-year female student, a second-year boy and girl, and a first-year male student, which was a lot smaller than I expected. They didn’t seem to be from prestigious families known for their writing success or the like, more belonging to the artistic side, now answering questions from the parents or looking after the children. “Oh, there’s even a winner’s corner.” “Winner? Like, from our school?”
“Seems like it. Wait…I think I know this book.” “Ah! I’ve seen that before, too!” “Same here…” The title of the book was ‘The Dog Doing Paw.’ Explaining the summary in light novel flair, the story is about a dog who expresses himself using his fingers, and he then proceeds to play with a girl who felt lonely while she was alone at home. After they had a lot of fun, the girl suddenly woke up in her mother’s arms, realizing it was all a dream. However, the puppy she dreamed of actually waited for her in reality! And from then on, they had a new family member…and that’s how the story ends. “I think…I read this in kindergarten. I vaguely remember this being pretty popular.” “Me too. I’m pretty sure I went to ask Papa if we could keep a dog because of this.” “…I guess that’s why we didn’t have one at home.” I guess the reason a lot of families here in the area have a dog as a pet might be because of this picture book, too. Since I’m more of a manga reader, I always gravitated toward cats, though. And Big Sis said she’d probably keep a Persian cat, sounding like some rich person, so she’s probably more into cats, too—Especially since she loves to start catfights on the regular. “Does Airi-chan have a preference for this stuff?” “Well, she’s already five, so…Maybe she’d prefer something more intermediate.” “O-Oh…Intermediate?”
Intermediate…Oh no, because I was thinking about catfights and whatnot, I have the absolute wrong image in my mind right now. Specifically, a German suplex from Big Sis…But, I can fight back…! “Oh…so like adventures and whatnot?” “Surely, but I don’t think there’s going to be much of that with picture books here…Maybe something where a young child or a dog goes on an adventure…Something to get you excited?” Natsukawa suggested. “Yeah. I wonder if they have anything like that.” “Let’s check out the corner with those children over there.” “Wait, I should make my voice higher.” “Why are you trying to sound younger?” Natsukawa asked. We approached the corner overseen by one of the volunteer students, as a young girl turned around to look at me. She jumped ever so slightly and then walked away with a scared face. What…is this emotion? Am I feeling…sadness? “Guess you scared her.” Ashida snickered. “Well, three random students just appeared behind her. I can’t blame her for being scared,” Natsukawa commented. “Should I leave? The school, I mean.” “You don’t have to be this shocked.” But seeing her run away just because I came closer means that this isn’t just on the level of being bad with children. And each time Airichan sees me, she keeps attacking me and says “So you’ve come, evil monster!” so that tells me enough. Maybe my potent ability was (forcefully) drawn out by Big Sis whenever I appear in front of young
children. So…it’s gotten this bad already? But I decided to let that slide and talk to one of the male students looking after this place. “You’ve got a lot of variety here, huh?” “Indeed. Some we just made on a whim without even handing into a contest.” Unlike the prized winners we just went through, the rest of the picture books stood on the shelves or the vertical display. Some were placed on expensive-looking satin fabric cloth, making it look like a mountain of treasure. Maybe there’s even a legendary book here… “Wow…Oh, there’s something for boys.” “Ah, that’s…” Let’s see…’The Sword of Legend’: A long, long time ago, the ultimate evil, the Demon Lord, was reborn and planned to rule the world. Many people tried to fight against the Demon Lord, but nobody could defeat him. But then, a Brave from an isolated village appeared. Blessed with a heart for justice, he set out on a journey to find the Sword of Legend. Reaching the capital of the kingdom, he hears a girl’s scream as he passes through a nearby forest— “…This is…” “Yes. It was made back in 2003.” “Right…” So this is…the grandfather of fantasy, eh. Flipping through the pages, I saw illustrations in shonen manga style with an equally-fitting beautiful girl. Even just that touch made me feel incredibly nostalgic, filling me up. Even though I wasn’t even alive at the time. In a way, this is a treasure. It had the size of a regular picture book, thick unlike a picture book, and the writing is so basic that it makes it hard to fully
follow at times. And to uncover the secrets hidden, I started my journey deeper into the world. “…” Flipping over more of the pages, it turns out the that Sword of Legend’s name was actually “Excalibur.” It was made with dragon material, more solid than any material in the world, and a swing sent forth wave attacks. As a fellow man, I want to appreciate and treasure the courage of the person who left this masterpiece at this alma mater. I want this book to continue for the future so that the generations after me experience this rush. So after gently caressing the book, I placed it back on the fabric. “Look at this, Aichi, there’s a picture book about a love story between a five-year-old girl who gets called an ‘interesting woman’ by the hottie prince of a country.” “Put it back.” Picture books…sure can be deep. * “It’s really hard to tell which one’s a prize winner now.” “Guess writing something for all ages isn’t just enough, huh…” “That’s not good enough!” said Natsukawa as she swung around the adorable shopping bag in her hand. Inside were two picture books. The stories themselves seemed to be nothing groundbreaking, but the beautiful art and details in the drawings stood out especially, and she seemed confident that Airi-chan would like this. “Where do we go next?”
“There’s a fashion show from the textile arts and attire club happening at the gym hall that I’d like to check out.” “Sajocchi, you wanna ogle at other girls while being with us…?” “There’s a popularity vote, and one of my friends asked me to vote for her. That’s all.” On the first day of the cultural festival, meaning yesterday, I happened to run into my lady Shinonome Claudine Marika, who asked me about this. I managed to finally remember her name. Although she still uses the wrong one for me. But if a girl asks me for something, then I have to act. Because I…am a gentleman. “We’re here already, so we might as well. And you should probably use the QR code on the pamphlet to install the app so that you can vote.” “A friend asked you…Who is that girl? This sounds pretty rigged if you ask me. Oh yeah, was it some kind of contest?” “It’s not like there will be a Miss Kouetsu or anything like that.” Most participants are in their third year, no less. It’s basically like a final memory. But I have to praise Miss Shinonome’s nerves of steel to actually join this event as a meager first-year student. Then again, with her genes of foreign blood and her looks, there shouldn’t be anybody who could beat her. “But…we still have some time until then,” Natsukawa commented while checking through the pamphlet. The way she phrased that made it apparent that she wasn’t against the idea of checking out the fashion show, at the very least. “Then can we check out another art club?! I think it’s the ‘Handicrafts Project’ or something. They’ve gotta have accessories,
right?!” “I wonder. We can check it out.” “You come too, Sajocchi!” “What kind of system are you operating today? I’m your ally here, you don’t have to check the box each time.” What are you, the supporter of a party of solo players? I mean, we were in a different party yesterday…But, fine. Leave it to the tank. I’m confident that I can take a beating. Either way, Ashida waltzed on ahead, so Natsukawa and I had to follow after her. Honestly, she didn’t seem like she was particularly into wearing accessories and all that, but I guess you never know. Still…the handicrafts club, huh? Unlike the visual arts type from before, this one’s skilled at everything that involves fabric, as well as beyond. That’s probably why they split it up between handicraft and attire. And I bet the club members are all very feminine, too. Maybe they have some silver accessories? Well, I doubt they’d be too expensive considering the occasion. “H-Hey…” “Hm?” I felt someone poking their fingers at my arm, so I raised my head. I was greeted by Natsukawa walking right next to me…and her facial color looked about the same as before we headed off to check out the picture books. Because she moved close to with an upward gaze, I felt my heart naturally racing faster. Even more than feeling pure joy at this, it’s getting really heavy on my poor heart. “You just said…that girl asked you to vote for her, right?” “H-Hm? Oh, you mean the fashion show?”
That had me confused. For a second I was wondering what Natsukawa was talking about. Even though she asked me to choose and vote for her like I was the judge. She just loves playing with my heart, doesn’t she…But, I know. She’s not doing this out of ill will or spite, she’s just a genuinely good person. “Were you talking about…your sister?” “Nope, not her.” “Wha…” Big Sis would never dare to indulge in some fixed game, and she probably wouldn’t even expect me to vote for her. Plus, before working as the student council’s vice president, she was a yankee. Someone who stayed in the shadows. So stepping out into the light to gather attention probably isn’t her thing anyway. And even if she was, I wouldn’t go watch the show just for her. “Th-Then…is it Shinomiya-senpai? Maybe someone else from the public morals committee?” “Nope, not a senior either. She’s in the same year as us.” “The same year…” “C’mon, you met her before summer break started. The blondehaired rich lady who’s half-Japanese.” We’re talking about the same person who ranked second in the endof-term exams and then came rushing over to brag about it to Natsukawaw’s face. I remember how aggressive she was back then. And she even talked about wanting to become a member of the student council…That might be the reason she worked on her grades so much. “Blonde-haired…rich lady…half-Japanese…”
“She looks like a model, right? With her western facial features. Just her participation alone’s gonna make me feel like I’m watching the Fashion Week in Paris.” “Um…Who are you talking about again?” …What? * As expected, the handicrafts club was filled with nothing but girls, all seeming filled with nothing but pride. I guess they mostly belonged to the ‘West Side.’ Since the people from the student council, the ‘East Side’ had always been barked up by them, I was mentally preparing myself for trouble, but I couldn’t feel any difference…but for that reason, they kept on talking and talking. Especially their salesman talk toward Ashida grew even stronger the more accessories she tried on. ‘With your looks, something more on the offensive would probably fit you better. From your hairstyle and your figure, you’re probably part of a sports club, but that’s exactly why you have the perfect chance to show off that gap. Especially that faintly pink lips of yours have a much brighter charm than any high-class accessory. So, now is your chance to make that shine.’ Or so they gave advice that could come straight from a jewelry shop employee. This wins over Ashida immediately, so she buys an earring from the store. They even taught her the proper way to wear it. Are they professionals or something? That senior’s future surely will be bright and promising. “And? And? Do I look good?” “You’re very cute.” “Hee hee~”
“You’re in a good mood, eh?” “Because this is my earring debut, after all!” Ashida twirled around on the spot in sheer joy as she showed off her pearl earring. Though, it seems to be just a replica, smaller than an original pearl, the faint peachy color of it matched Ashida’s appearance and interest. “Aichi, take a pic! Take a pic!” “Yes, yes. Cheese.” “Hehe!” “…It’s a video, you know?” “Geez, you bully!” Ashida complained but still smiled nonetheless. Watching her this gleefully must have gotten Natsukawa just as happy, as she even teased Ashida a bit. Aw man, I wanna be teased by Natsukawa, too. That being said, the way she’s smiling like a blooming flower right now is probably wasted as just a single picture and should instead be recorded and preserved. That’s probably what Natsukawa’s true intention was. Taking a different pose, another picture followed. And as Natsukawa edited it, Ashida looked over at me. “Hee hee hee!” “Yeah, yeah, I get it. It looks great on you.” The way she’s giving me that confident grin is asking me to praise her. But it’s rare to see Ashida brag about her feminine charm this much. Especially since this looks to be like she’s doing it subconsciously…What a formidable opponent.
“That’s so weak! Praise me properly.”
“Your face is gonna blow up online.” “That’s not what I wanted to hear!” I can’t believe I would avert my gaze in the face of Ashida because I was feeling bashful, despite being in Natsukawa’s presence. But just as the student said, the earring Ashida wore emphasized the color of her peachy lips. My eyes just keep wandering toward them, making me feel even more bashful. “…Hey, Sajocchi.” As I regretted feeling this way despite it being Ashida and not Natsukawa, this sporty girl used this chance to move her face closer and whispered with a somewhat reproachful expression. “Shouldn’t you be buying something for Aichi?” “But you heard what that senior said.” “Sure, but still…” I understand where Ashida is coming from, but after hearing that professional’s advice for Natsukawa, an amateur like me had no confidence to choose something for her. Maybe if I had gotten a push on the back, but still… ‘I don’t think there is anything here that fits you. Your eyes, shining like gemstones, are overflowing with charm. That’s why you should not be trying to raise your stylish looks any more than this. It sounds cynical, but if you were to put on an accessory, you might as well cover your face in the dirt, because that would emphasize your beauty more.’ Or so she said, but of course, Natsukawa wasn’t some survivalist who would do that. At the very least, this advice made that senior a failure of a professional, telling the customer not to buy anything… Well, she was not a professional.
“Plus…I’ve already got something prepared for Natsukawa…” “Huh? Ah…” Ashida looked worried for a moment, but quickly changed her expression. At the end of this month, on Halloween no less, is Natsukawa’s birthday. And I’ve only told Ashida about what I had prepared as a present. “Maybe I should not give her a ring after all…Even that senior said it’d be better if she didn’t wear any…” “Wait, that’s your reasoning? Isn’t there a more…fundamental problem?” “Because any more radiance for Natsukawa’s beauty will only be a burden…?” “I think she’ll feel an entirely different kind of burden.” She gave me a regretful gaze like I had missed something crucial. I could see the pearl shaking ever so slightly. And then, my gaze wandered toward her lips…I swear…what licentious lips she has! Granted, she still didn’t like the idea, but it was definitely better than the expensive brand present I got her last year. And the price is fitting for a regular birthday present, I just took more time to prepare it. It also just happened to be a ring of pure coincidence. “I don’t think that senior was talking about all and every type of accessory when she said Aichi wouldn’t need any more.” “Huh?” “Silver stuff or gemstones. I don’t think that’s the big issue.” “O-Oh? So basically…?” “…Kei, I sent you the picture.”
“Ah, really? “Wait, I’m not…” Called out by Natsukawa, Ashida quickly checked her phone. Man, I couldn’t even listen to the end. And as an average high school student, I have no idea what to make of this. And no sense to resolve this. I guess I have to reach this answer before Natsukawa’s birthday comes around. Well, I still have a bit of time, I should just ask during my next chance. And as I was thinking that, I checked my own phone. “…Wait, where’s the picture?” “I only sent it to Kei.” “Oh…Right.” “What’s this? You want a picture of me? Should I send it to you?” “Oh shut up…But gimme it. I’ll have Big Sis learn from it.” “No way! I can’t do something so rude!” “Why can’t you just show some respect for your older sister…” Ashida leaped at me with a screech, hitting me with her small fists, but even though I would be laughing at the cuteness of it all, her muscle power trained through her rigorous training made those attacks hurt quite a lot. The pearl on her earring shook aggressively, this mature equipment completely unbefitting Ashida’s usual behavior.
Chapter 3 Kouetsu Fashion Collection After we all basked in Ashida’s newly found charm, we decided to place the stuff we bought back in our classroom and then proceeded to head over to the gym hall for the fashion show that would soon begin. Or more accurately, it was a lot closer to a contest showing off all the various dresses. And considering the cost of it all, it’s no exaggeration to call this the main event of the festival. But, I wonder how it’ll play out… Entering the dimly lit gym hall, I could tell it was packed to the brim, with no difference in gender to be spotted. I spotted a bulky senior carrying a drum set off the stage. I’m guessing they did a small live performance before the main dish. Looking at the people around us, they were all still feeling the fever from it. “Would you have preferred to see this?” “Not desperately. I bet it would’ve been fun, but Aichi isn’t the type for this noisy business, right?” “Urk…Yeah, I guess so…” What I realized only recently is that Natsukawa’s principles when doing something boiled down to whether Airi-chan would enjoy it or not. A festival like this may be too much, but the noisiness of other amusement-type fun would probably be fine for her. We then moved through the rows, sitting down at the space for current students, with Ashida, followed by Natsukawa, and me next to her.
“You guys gonna be okay with the fashion show? It’s an event planned mostly for girls, after all,” I asked. “I’m looking forward to it! Especially because of all the accessory talk earlier!” Ashida responded. “Yeah, I think it might be exciting,” Natsukawa chimed in. Contradicting that, if I were to be asked about my excitement, I wouldn’t be too sure about my response. In the end, my main reason to be here is Lady Shinonome. Looking around, the ratio of girls was a bit higher than I expected, and I felt a bit embarrassed. Even though I was the one who invited both of them. And my only expectation is that I get to see cute girls wearing cute dresses. “Oh yeah, gotta get the app…” Ashida said. “Right. There’s some voting app, isn’t there?” “I think the QR code’s on the pamphlet.” Since I already had the app installed, I helped the girls fumble their way through it. Well, it was set up in a hurry so it’s extremely simple, and there’s not much I would need to teach them. I don’t even know who developed the app. Though I think it was originally developed a few years back. “I wonder if we get to see Rin-sama!” “I don’t think this type of event is her style…Though, I wouldn’t complain.” “…” Knowing Shinomiya-senpai and her uptight personality, the chances are slim. The only possibility I see this happening is if she had Inatomi-
senpai and Mita-senpai in her arms and on both sides, appearing as the public morals committee family. The girls would probably go crazy. “…What about your sister?” Natsukawa asked. “I don’t even want to imagine anything like that.” “You don’t have to look so terrified…” “Then let me ask you. What face should I make while watching my own older sister walk down the catwalk with some suggestive or adorable piece of clothing? Well, things would be different if this was a wrestling match.” “I bet she’d look good in a lot of dresses…” It deeply pains me that Natsukawa and I can’t see eye to eye on this, but my perception of Big Sis won’t change that easily. Then again, I would assume this is the normal emotion to have when dealing with a sibling. I wonder how the siblings of idols feel, watching them dance on TV or appear in shows. I bet it’d be a lot more complicated than whatever this is. “Whoa, crazy…” Raising my gaze, I saw pomp and showy dresses and attires lined up on the stage, changing color based on the lighting. The big object that looked like a banner hidden behind the stage was now put to the front and changed into a massive screen. Did we…always have something like this here? “I think it’s starting…!” Together with Ashida’s excited voice, American pop music started playing. I thought the music sounded familiar, when the pink lights on the stage started moving, the screen being pulled up.
“Wow…!” “Amazing!” On the screen, it said ‘Koetsu Fashion Collection’ in the shape of a logo. This must have cost half a fortune. And as someone who participated in the preparations of the festival, it terrifies me to think of what supporters they gathered up to make this possible. And with how genuine it all looked, it’s no surprise that both Natsukawa and Ashida were getting excited over this. Well…as long as everyone’s enjoying this, I’ve got no reason to complain. I have to recommend the club’s genuine efforts. From the side of the stage appeared a familiar girl wearing a butterfly necktie, carrying a microphone with sparkling decorations. What kind of concert is this? I think she’s part of the school broadcasting club, handling the announcements for the entrance and closing ceremonies. I can see her on TV on a talk show in a few years. The BGM changes into smaller beats, as the lights turned back to normal and focused on the senior on the stage. ‘All fashion sense begins with the face—But let’s put an end to this trope. Good day everyone, I will be the announcer of this event, Kurahashi from the Kouetsu High’s broadcasting club.’ Dang, that was cool. She’s got the total radio personality. And Kurahashi-paisen is completely rocking that party-goer outfit with no change of emotion. The reason for her popularity is probably that gap. Maybe they forced her to do this? But the way she’s holding that mic and the angle, it’s like she’s introducing the next song. I bet she’s super excited about this. ‘With the ever-changing state of fashion, our school’s attire club has been led around the nose many times. Even just turning on the TV this morning, the trends shown there entirely differed from what we had seen last year. But it’s us high school girls who form the trends of tomorrow. So, dear adults—can you keep up with us?!’
Yeah, this is like a rock concert. The entire hall roared in excitement. A girl who sat to the left of me, opposite Natsukawa and Ashida, jumped up and screamed “Yeaaaah!” which scared me shitless. Since this entire hall was dominated by girls, I just felt like the sore apple…I better just keep quiet. With Announcer Kurahashi’s call and response, the audience got even more excited, and the previous BGM returned after a brief explanation of the voting. Seems like the runway is finally opening up now. ‘We’re starting with our first contender—a third-year student of ours! Last year, she went with brown hair and a China dress—Takemoto Megumi-san! As a complete turn from last year, where she couldn’t even try to hide her height, she’s now gracing us with short black hair and an army uniform with a long coat! What a bewitching sight!’ It’s just cosplay! The senior that appeared showed no signs of being embarrassed and just smiled, showing off her appearance to the entire hall. That confident attitude showed that she was used to this, that she participated in last year’s festival all the same. The screen even played footage from said festival, showing off that senior in her China dress… Ooooh, China dress! Wooo! “S-So that’s how this works…” “Halloween’s close after all. Isn’t that right, Sajocchi?” “Y-Yeah, true.” Feeling some indescribable pressure from Ashida’s words made me fumble my response. Could you not throw surprise attacks at me while Natsukawa sits right by my side? Because of this, Natsukawa kept sneaking glances at me…But moving on, the show introduced more and more cosplayers, with the latter half changing its name to ‘Being ahead of the times – Casual University Girls Edition,’ which probably was the main part of the fashion show. This being a show created by
students, I imagined that the budget for the clothes and dresses would be the bare minimum…but to my surprise, all the outfits looked like genuine coordination you’d see in shops. “…” “…” Looking to my right, both Natsukawa and Ashida were staring up at the stage. Contrary to the cosplay part, they now seemed genuinely engrossed. I did see both of them in their casual clothes before, but this and that are completely different. I’m guessing they’re still learning about this stuff. Not like I, someone who just buys what’s trendy, is one to talk. But at the very least, I could use this chance to stare at Natsukawa’s face as much as I wanted, when Announcer Kurahashi introduced the next model. ‘Continued, we have first-year student Shinonome Claudine Marikasan! As her name suggests, she’s a half-Japanese beauty, using her French fashion knowledge to challenge her seniors today! But will that be enough to bring home the victory?!’ “Oh, there she is.” Hearing a familiar name pulled my attention back to the show. But man, that name sure is long. Does she have to write that whole name during exams? I don’t even want to imagine. And I knew that she was half-Japanese, but from France, no less? She spoke Japanese just fine, but she can even speak foreign languages, huh…Well, as the top spot of the student year, I expect as much. And she was probably born over there, too. “Is that the girl who asked you to vote for her, Sajocchi?” “Yeah. We’ve known each other for a while, so I dare say I’m looking forward to what she’s wearing.”
“…Hmph.” We met a few times, and right now, all I can see her as is a bit of a clumsy and good-for-nothing rich lady, but with her Western blood, she’s got the looks of a model. I don’t like the idea of making this a fixed game, but I highly doubt she’d need my vote to win. It’s time she shows her true ability. “Now, let’s see what—” “Huh?” Looking at the stage, I completely lost my train of thought. What first drew my gaze in was her sparkling blonde hair. Like a noble aura hanging over her shoulder, each confident step she took made it shake in a meticulous rhythm, leaving behind particles of light on her path. It might just be the dust in the air, but the charm she emitted allowed her to make even this her own. “Wow…” This might have been the first time I let out a sigh of appraisal like this. She wore a turtle-neck knitted and white top that revealed her shoulders, paired with long sleeves that reached down to her wrists. Her brown boots with their heels emphasized her slender and long legs even further. Adding to that, she wore loose short pants with a newsboy cap on her hat, the red color contradicting her white top. But more than anything, her golden hair, styled into waves, made her presence so much more stronger. It was the moment “cuteness” changed into “beauty,” and I witnessed this with my own eyes.
“Oh my…”