Be careful with the laid-back beauty who took a liking to me. Otherwise, it will be too late! - Chapter 1: Liked

Episode 1: Liked

At this school, there’s a smart, athletic, and elegant-looking beauty.

Her name is Sayo Koga. With her long, beautiful blonde hair and slender figure, she’s popular among both boys and girls.

I’ve known about her since my first year of high school, but since we were in different classes, we never talked.

However, in our second year of high school, we ended up in the same class due to a class change.

I, Hinata Kawai, was somewhat interested in her. Everyone talks about her being a beauty, so I wondered what kind of person she was.

Today, there was a class announcement, and as I entered the new classroom, I saw some familiar faces from last year and some I didn’t recognize at all.

I won’t feel left out since I’ll be in the same class as my close friends, but a new class still makes me nervous.

The seating chart was posted on the blackboard with magnets, so I checked it before heading to my seat.

(At the back of the corridor… huh?)

As I reached my seat and looked at the person next to me, I saw them lying on the desk, peacefully asleep.

Perhaps they were tired from the new school term. Since I forgot to check their name, I didn’t know who the person next to me was.

I sat down quietly without waking them up and glanced at them. To my surprise, the girl who was supposed to be sleeping was looking at me.

Her beautiful eyes seemed to draw me in. Then she slowly spoke.

“Are you my neighbor?”

(She spoke… well, she’s not a doll, so it’s natural)

It’s a bit sad, but I made a self-deprecating remark in my mind about what I was thinking.

“Yeah, I’m in the seat next to you. Nice to meet you.”

“Yeah, nice to meet you… let me know when the teacher comes…”

“Huh—why?”

I was about to agree without hesitation, but why should I be the one to wake up this girl I just met?

As I was about to suggest she wake up on her own, she fell back asleep.

Seeing her sleeping face, I felt like I had seen her somewhere before.

(Maybe this is Sayo Koga… no, wait)

I was surprised because the girl in front of me now was completely different from what I had imagined from the rumors.

After all, I was still wondering who she was when her friend-like person came to the seat next to her.

“Good morning, Sayo-chan!”

“… … …”

Even though it was a pretty loud voice, the person next to me didn’t wake up.

Impressed by how unfazed I was, her friend spoke to me.

“Oh, she’s not waking up. Hey, Sayo-chan… no, Sayo Koga, were you awake until just now?”

“Sayo Koga… yeah, until just now. But she fell asleep again right away.”

Thanks to her friend, I finally understood. Indeed, the girl next to me was Sayo Koga.

“I see, so she’s not waking up. Oh, sorry for talking to you out of nowhere without introducing myself. I’m Yuina Maruyama. And you?”

“I’m—”

“Sayo Koga… Nice to meet you.”

Maruyama introduced herself, and it was my turn to give my name, but Sayo Koga, who had just woken up, introduced herself instead.

“Oh, you’re awake. Good morning, Sayo-chan.”

“Good morning… so, what’s your name?”

“Hinata Kawai.”

“Hinata… that’s a nice name.”

(First meeting and she’s calling me by my first name!)

I was surprised by Sayo Koga’s sudden use of my first name and her cuteness.

“Sayo-chan, calling someone by their first name on the first meeting, that’s quite daring.”

“Huh, is it wrong to call you by your first name?… Then, is it okay if I call you Kawai-kun?”

“Y-Yeah, you can call me whatever you like.”

“Then, Kawai-kun.”

As she said that and smiled, Sayo Koga’s smile was truly angelic.

I heard about it in rumors, but this smile was truly touching.

—

Though Sayo Koga was different from what I expected, she turned out to be a more approachable person than I thought.

When she’s awake, she’s always surrounded by people, happily chatting away. And when no one’s around, she quietly falls asleep.

(Maybe she likes sleeping…?)

There’s still so much I don’t know about her. I hope to get to know her better from now on.

After the entrance ceremony, as everyone left the classroom, my close friend said they had club activities and left the classroom without me.

Left alone to go home, as I was preparing to leave, Sayo Koga called my name in a soft voice.

“Hinata-kun, Hinata-kun…”

Realizing I was being called, I looked next to me and saw Sayo holding onto the sleeve of my shirt, calling my name.

“What’s up?”

“Let’s go home together.”

“Huh?”

Since we just met and weren’t that close, I didn’t expect to be invited like this.

“What about Maruyama? Shouldn’t you go home with her, your friend?”

“Yuina had something to do, so she went home first… That’s why I don’t have anyone to go home with. Can I go home with you? I want to get to know Hinata-kun.”

“(!)”

Once again, her smile made my heart skip a beat.

How many times have I been captivated by this angelic smile today? It’s too powerful.

“Where do you live?”

“I take the train to the first platform and get off two stations ahead.”

I think it’s unnecessary information, but thanks for telling me about the platform. So, she’ll probably get off before me on the train in the same direction.

“Got it. Then let’s walk home together part of the way.”

“Yeah!”

She nodded with that angelic smile again, and I felt like my heart couldn’t take it anymore.

Come to think of it, I haven’t really thought about it, but wouldn’t weird rumors start circulating about me and Koga-san if I walked home with this popular girl?

“Just to be sure before we walk home together, does Koga-san have a boyfriend?”

“I don’t have a boyfriend, I’m single. So even if people misunderstand, it’s totally okay.”

“Huh, are you sure? There might be rumors about me and you going around like we’re dating.”

“If it’s okay with me. But if you don’t want weird rumors about us, then maybe walking home together is—”

Saying that, she lay her head on the desk, facing me.

There might be rumors. But if I worry about that, I won’t be able to talk to the people I want to talk to or become friends with the people I want to be friends with.

“I don’t mind.”

When I answered like that, her expression brightened up and she sat up.

“Hehe, Hinata-kun, I like you.”

“Like… what!?”

(What does she mean by “like”!?)

Confused by what Koga-san said to me, she hugged my arm tightly.

“Shall we go home quickly?”