Living Normally In An Abnormal World

Chapter 5.2 Interlude: My Favorite Guy is Popular

My name is Rina Kimura, and I think I’m a pretty ordinary girl.

I have a crush on someone. His name is Yuuto Kinoshita.

The first time I saw him was at the entrance ceremony.

After everyone entered and took their seats, all eyes were on the teacher’s side of the room. I wondered what was going on, so I looked over and saw a boy sitting there. I couldn’t see his face clearly from a distance, but I could tell by his aura that he was a boy.

I couldn’t take my eyes off him. Before I knew it, the entrance ceremony was over, and it was time to move to the classroom.

I checked the class list, but no one knew his name. However, since “Kinoshita Yuuto” sounded like the most masculine name, I saw him to be in Class 3, so I headed there.

And when I entered the classroom,

There he was, the boy from before.

I couldn’t contain my excitement and blurted something. He noticed and I felt embarrassed, but…

I immediately approached the seat where he was sitting and greeted him. He looked up from his book and replied, and that was when I saw his face for the first time. He had a well-balanced, handsome face, clear skin without a single pimple, and a neat, stylish appearance.

At that moment, my heart was captured by him. He stole my heart. It was love at first sight. But as soon as he replied, he turned his attention back to his book. I quickly asked,

“Um, is this seat taken? Er… I mean, it’s fine if you don’t want me to sit here.”

My face was still red, but I had to ask to know the answer. My mother always said that men don’t like having women sit too close to them. So, I expected him to refuse.

But he said,

“It’s fine. I don’t mind.”

He allowed it. I quickly sat down in the seat. I had his word, so there shouldn’t be a problem.

“Then, excuse me.”

“Go ahead.”

“Um, I’m Rina Kimura. …Nice to meet you.”

“I’m Yuuto Kinoshita. Nice to meet you twou!”

…He stumbled over his words. He turned away and blushed, so it wasn’t intentional. Seeing that, I couldn’t help but smile a little.

“Fufu, nice to meet you too.”

I vowed to cherish this encounter.

Later, there was a seating change, but fortunately, I ended up next to him again. Before I knew it, I found myself always looking at him.

(Well, other girls are staring at him too.)

And as I watched him, I noticed something.

He is incredibly kind.

He always has a detached attitude and seems cold, but that’s not really the case. Deep down, he is a truly good person. Probably, other girls have noticed it too.

Of course, they all like him and are always watching him, so they must have realized it.

During the self-introductions, he said that he didn’t want to be disturbed while reading a book.

However, a girl from another class who didn’t know that started talking to him. But he didn’t get angry. He closed his book and gave her his full attention. He listened to her while looking into her eyes.

However, no one can keep talking while being stared at by a handsome guy like him, so the conversation soon stalled. But he was considerate enough to say, “Don’t force yourself.” He did this for many girls, and I was surprised that the number must have exceeded 50 by now.

He also often spends his breaks in the library. Since his hobby is reading books, it’s only natural, I think.

It became a daily routine for girls to compete over the books he borrowed.

He always sits in the corner. The sight of him sitting in the corner of the library, reading a book, is so picturesque. The light streaming in from the window enhances his charm, and he looks like an angel who has descended from heaven. Everyone is captivated by his presence. But I like being by his side the most, so I always sit next to him.

He doesn’t refuse. I’m happy because I feel that he doesn’t dislike me and trusts me. The reason I read books is that I want to be with him.

Also, when I fell down the stairs, he used his body to protect me. It should have been the other way around, but he ended up falling with me. I was lying on top of him, in a situation that could be called a “lucky pervert.” At that moment, my mind went blank.

All I could think about was… not wanting him to hate me.

But he carried me to the infirmary and even called it an accident, forgiving me. He really is kind.

However, unfortunately, he is not looking for a girlfriend. During the homeroom after the entrance ceremony, when asked if he had a girlfriend, he said,

“I don’t need one right now. Those kinds of relationships are troublesome.”

So, I think it’s not a good idea to confess my feelings to him now. But he does receive love letters from other girls.

Of course, he turns them down. However, he replies to each letter with a handwritten response, so many girls write to him just for that. The number of letters became so overwhelming that he muttered,

“There are too many. I wish you’d all get bored of me soon.”

I quietly said,

“That’s impossible. Yuuto-kun is so cool.”

“Stop flattering me.”

“It’s true though?”

“….I see.”

“Yes!”

“You’re cute too.”

“Huh!?”

Right now, I’m happy just having these conversations with him, but someday, I hope we can be together as a couple, sitting side by side.