After Distancing Myself From the Childhood Friend Couple Who Looked Down on Me, I Started Interacting With a Small Animal-Like Beautiful Girl - Chapter 1

As soon as I, Yoshizaki Yukito, arrived at school, I took out my smartphone and wireless earbuds.

I open the Photos app, where my photos and videos are stored, and select one video from there.

I put on my earphones and then played the video.

“Meow~”

The moment I heard that sound, the corners of my mouth almost fell.

But I can’t show a slovenly face here.

I quickly scan the surroundings with my gaze.

“Did you watch ‘It’s Me’ yesterday?”

“I saw it, I saw it. From that ending last time… it was super intense, right?”

“I found this influencer kid recently, but they’re a bit intense, so check it out.”

“Eh, no way. It’s super good visuals…!”

The various conversations can be heard through the earphones.

In the morning classroom, half of the class has already arrived. There were girls chatting right next to my seat.

I definitely don’t want to show a slack face in a place where there are people around.

Besides, my own smirk is definitely creepy.

–––Yuki’s laugh is kind of creepy. I can almost hear the sound effect “Nimaa~.”

–––When you are watching something you especially like. You look like an old man.

The words of my childhood friends who laughed at me come flooding back.

Even though I am away from them, the words they gave me still cling to my heart.

“Meow, meow~”

A cute sound reached my ears, which were starting to feel gloomy.

That’s right, isn’t this the perfect time for a cat video?

I should just be thoroughly healed by the adorable sight of my pet cat, Maru.

I should focus, focus…

“Good morning!”

“Good morning~”

The voices of the two people, which I was too familiar with, broke my concentration.

…They came earlier than usual today.

When I shifted my gaze, I saw two students entering the classroom.

A refreshing-looking guy with short, cropped hair and styled bangs, and a stylish girl with a bright brown bob and an outstanding figure.

“Daiki, good morning!”

“Good morning, Serika!”

Classmates are gathering around the two.

A scene that suggests they are superior beings.

This is the norm for the two of them–––Ootomo Daiki and Sasai Serika.

“Going to school together again today? I’m so jealous, hey.”

“Geez, stop teasing me.”

“Yeah, yeah. Because our houses are close, we would end up together whether we like it or not.”

“Like you said~ Weren’t you really holding hands and walking together?”

Even when teased, Daiki and Serika naturally continue their conversation as if it’s the most normal thing in the world.

Should I say, as expected of the couple who are always the center of attention in class?

The two of them headed to their seats, each surrounded by their friends.

I shifted my gaze away from the childhood friend couple and replayed Maru’s video from the beginning.

Without even realizing that I was being stared at from the left.

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I was prepared for the fact that the course content would be more difficult than in middle school.

After all, difficult things are difficult, and even now, a month after starting school, I’m still struggling to keep up with taking notes.

But the feeling that time seems long yet short hasn’t changed since middle school.

Before I knew it, the chime signaling the end of the fourth period had rung.

“Yoshizaki. Do you want to have lunch together?”

While I was putting away my textbooks and notebooks, my classmate Kubo Kouki called out to me.

Besides the childhood friend couple and their group, I have a decent amount of interaction with people at school.

When I nodded, Kubo sat down in the empty seat in front of me.

While spreading out my bento, I look at Kubo.

Today, his hair is sticking up wildly at the back again.

“What is it?”

“No, your bedhead is really something again today too.”

“Eh, it’s sticking up again?”

Placing his left hand that wasn’t holding chopsticks, on the back of his head, Kubo sighed.

“I thought today would be fine, but…”

“Didn’t you notice… It’s become like another kind of work of art.”

“Woah. So that’s why the girls were looking over here and laughing when I came to school today.”

“How about you just call it a charm point? It seems like there’s nothing you can do about it.”

“At the point where I’m being laughed at, it’s not a charm point anymore… And don’t encourage me to give up.”

Kubo eats his bento with a troubled expression.

With the gap between the serious face that looks like he wants to wear glasses, I think it’s great.

I won’t say it because I will definitely get glared at.

“Hey, that’s just not right!!”

“Seriously, this is hilarious~”

Laughter suddenly erupts from a corner of the classroom.

The source is diagonally to the left of where we are. A mixed-gender group was gathered.

At the center of the circle are Daiki and Serika.

It was a group I used to be part of.

“Shut up, you damn extroverts…”

Kubo clicked his tongue as he glared at the group of my childhood friends.

Even among other classmates and students from the neighboring class, there were those who looked at that group with annoyance.

Without noticing their surroundings, they raise their voices in laughter.

There are even those who stand up to get a laugh, and the classroom is filled with almost noise-like sounds.

Gya-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha!!

Hahaha!!

I remember the time when I was in a group of two.

Back then, just like now, it was noisy, and I didn’t even say, “Shall we be a little quieter?” Without even saying anything.

Pretending not to see, I was awkwardly laughing.

“…Sorry.”

It was almost simultaneous when I muttered to myself and the classroom door opened.

“––––Ah.”

Someone involuntarily let out a voice.

The laughter that had been so loud just a moment ago suddenly stopped, and all eyes in the classroom focused on one point.

The one being showered with gazes was the short girl who had opened the door.