I’m a Loner, Gloomy Guy Who Accidentally Witnessed the Moment the Top Girl in the Class Got Dumped. I Didn’t Know What to Say to Comfort Her, So I Just Gave Her a Cola and Somehow We Started Having Lunch Together~ - 3

Chapter 3: Sharing the Same Hobby

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The next day, during lunch break. As usual, I had come to the bench behind the gymnasium, fiddling with my smartphone while eating my boxed lunch.

“The release date is coming up soon.”

Displayed on my phone’s screen was information about the theatrical movie version of my favorite anime, That Time I Reincarnated as the Weakest Mage. There were about two months left until the movie’s release date. As a huge fan, I was of course planning to go see it on opening day.

I couldn’t help but look forward to going to the theater already.

“I’m really looking forward to the movie.”

“Yeah! …………Huh?”

I reflexively responded to the voice coming from right in front of me, but who was it? When I looked up…

“Hey, Murase-kun.”

Amamiya-san was standing there, smiling brightly. Just like yesterday, she was holding a convenience store bag stuffed to the brim.

“…Don’t tell me you’re eating here again today?”

“Yeah. It’s awkward in the classroom.”

No, it’s awkward for me too with you here.

Even though we had talked two days in a row, I still wasn’t used to being alone with the top girl in the class caste. I felt tense. I really wished she wouldn’t underestimate how poor my adaptability was. Besides, I hadn’t been able to enjoy my alone time yesterday, so today I had been determined—today for sure!—to savor it.

But I couldn’t refuse. As always, this place wasn’t my private property. When I resigned myself and scooted over to the edge, Amamiya-san sat down beside me.

“I like it too, you know.”

“Huh?”

“I’m talking about That Time I Reincarnated as the Weakest Mage. You were looking at it on your phone earlier.”

“Oh… Yeah.”

She watches anime, huh.

I had never seen Amamiya-san talk about anime before. I’d assumed she wasn’t interested in that sort of thing, so it was a bit surprising.

“The plot and the banter between the characters are really fun, right?”

“Yeah. The dialogue has great pacing. It’s really pleasant to listen to.”

“Right? Exactly! You get it, Murase-kun!!”

Raising her voice excitedly, Amamiya-san leaned in toward me. I could feel an incredible amount of enthusiasm coming from her.

“The original work is god-tier, obviously, but I really think it’s because the director is so talented! His previous work was great too!”

Talking about the director and all… She must be a pretty hardcore anime otaku. But when it came to otaku level, I wasn’t about to lose either. I understood exactly what she meant, and I completely agreed with her opinion.

Here we were, two anime otaku with the same tastes. At that point, getting fired up talking about anime was practically inevitable. In the end, the conversation continued nonstop until the warning bell rang.

“Thanks, Murase-kun.”

“…Uh, yeah.”

I hadn’t expected to be thanked at all. Not really knowing how to react, I gave a vague reply.

“There aren’t any anime fans around me, so I never get to talk about this stuff. That’s why I had so much fun! See you again tomorrow!”

Amamiya-san stood up with a beaming smile. With a light, springy step, she cheerfully headed back toward the school building.

“So she’s planning to come again.”

That meant my precious alone time would be taken away again tomorrow for sure. But… Why was that? What spread through my heart wasn’t an unpleasant feeling at all.

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