My Popular-as-Hell Best Friend Is Annoying, So I Want to Get Him a Girlfriend and Shut Him Up - Chapter 186 & 187 & 188

Chapter 186: Maidens’ Chat 10

“Ugh, I’m exhausted…!”

The first night of the study camp, already so late it’s nearly midnight.

Kamishiro Haruka, thrown off by the sudden study session, dives into a pile of futons the moment she enters the guest room.

“Ahh, this feels so good…”

“Hey, Kamishiro, at least spread the futon before you collapse.”

Natori Mayoi, her roommate, peels Haruka off the futon with clear annoyance. She gets wanting to flop down, but hogging the bedding means no one else can sleep.

“You two, good work. I made tea.”

Their other roommate, Tsukikage Miharu, has brewed tea for the worn-out duo.

Haruka perks up at the words. She was sprawled on the futon, but she bolts up and heads toward Miharu.

“As expected of Miha-chan! So thoughtful!”

“Sorry it’s hot tea in this season.”

“No worries, just making it is enough!”

Haruka sips the tea slowly, holding the cup with both hands. It’s steaming, but Miharu adjusted it to a drinkable temperature.

“How’re you so chill, Tsukikage? You studied with us the whole time.”

Mayoi, sipping her tea, grumbles at Miharu’s calm smile. Wiped out herself, she’s curious why Miharu still has energy.

“Maybe I’m used to long study sessions?”

“Does that matter?”

“Totally. Think of it like exercise. If I kept up with you two in a workout, I’d be done in no time.”

“Oh…”

Mayoi nods at the clear analogy. She’s confident she’d outlast others in exercise. It makes sense Miharu’s fine in her element.

“Man, I had so many plans…”

Finishing her tea, Haruka lies on the futon Miharu laid out. She’s bummed the night study session derailed everything.

“Well, it is a study camp.”

“I know, but still.”

“Word Werewolf was fun, right?”

“Totally! I wanted to do more of that.”

Recalling the daytime break, Haruka buries her face in the fluffy pillow. She was hoping to get rowdy in the freeing nighttime vibe.

“No way, we can still have fun with this group.”

“Huh?”

Haruka, thinking it’s just sleep time, gets a boost from Mayoi’s words. Mayoi crosses her arms, grinning.

“Camp nights mean love talk.”

“Ugh…”

Haruka grimaces at Mayoi’s suggestion, her side ponytail bobbing.

“Also, how long are you keeping your hair up?”

“Huh? I’m sleeping like this. It’s embarrassing to let it down in front of everyone.”

“But it’s gotta be uncomfortable.”

“I’m used to it!”

“Whatever.”

Not that interested, Mayoi steers back.

“So, love talk it is.”

“Seriously?”

“You’re such a buzzkill. I wanna hear about you and your boyfriend.”

“See, I knew it’d come to this!”

Haruka protests weakly, but it’s Mayoi she’s up against—no easy escape.

“So, how’s it going?”

“Normal, just normal.”

“What’s normal?”

“It means widely accepted.”

“Tsukikage, shut it.”

“But it’s love talk…”

Miharu tries to help Haruka but gets shot down by Mayoi. Told to be quiet, she decides to stay silent for now.

“Fine, I’ll rephrase. How far have you gone?”

“How far?”

“The ABCs of love.”

“The ABCs?”

“How clueless are you? Tsukikage, you get it, right?”

“…”

“Hey, staying quiet kills the love talk!”

“Ugh…”

Miharu makes a rare flustered sound but remembers it’s Mayoi, who’s even more headstrong than Haruka.

“Forget it, I’ll be blunt.”

“Blunt?”

“Have you had sex with your boyfriend?”

“S-Sex!?”

Haruka’s face, relaxed until now, turns beet red.

“What’s that reaction? So you did?”

“No way! Of course not!”

“Of course not? Haven’t you been together for, like, six months?”

“Y-Yeah, but we’ve never talked about that…”

“Really? Sounds like your boyfriend’s got no drive.”

“~~!! That’s it! My turn’s over!”

Unable to handle the embarrassment, Haruka shuts down her part.

“You started this, Mayo-nee, so you talk!”

“Ugh, I wanted more of your story.”

“You first!!”

“Fine, fine.”

Seeing Haruka won’t budge, Mayoi gives up and starts her own story.

“Not much to say. You both know who I like, right?”

“Ururun, yeah? You were grilling him today too—nice!”

“…”

The moment the tables turn, Haruka’s energy spikes. She doesn’t hate love talk, as long as she’s not the target.

“You knew, Haruka-chan?”

“There were rumors in first year. And lately, it’s obvious.”

“Uryu-kun’s cool, right?”

“He’s cool but cute too. Like when I call him Ururun, he always says, ‘It’s not Ururun!’”

“That part…?”

It’s supposed to be her turn, but Mayoi’s sidelined. She was excited to start, but now she’s oddly detached, like a bystander.

“Come on, Mayo-nee, talk!”

Urged by Haruka, Mayoi feels conflicted. She wanted to share but also probe Miharu, who shares her crush, but the mood’s gone.

“Kamishiro, Tsukikage.”

“Yes?”

“Love talk’s over!”

“What!?”

Despite starting it, Mayoi abruptly ends it and slips into her futon. If asked why, it just didn’t feel right.

“That’s unfair, Mayo-nee! You made me spill and now you bail!”

“Go ahead, talk as much as you want.”

“No way!”

Haruka shakes Mayoi, who’s in sleep mode, but she doesn’t budge, like a cocooned chrysalis.

“Miha-chan, Mayo-nee’s cheating…”

Defeated, Haruka turns to Miharu, as always.

“There, there. Next time, we’ll make Mayoi-chan talk first.”

“Yeah…”

Miharu pats Haruka’s head, calming her down. It’s not visible, but their exchange sounds like a parent and child.

“What now? Bedtime?”

“I wanna talk more…”

“How about that board game you’re into lately?”

“Really!? I’ve got, like, three I love—okay!?”

“Sure.”

From there, Haruka and Miharu chat happily. Miharu listens but keeps the conversation flowing for Haruka.

(This place is so awkward…)

Feeling like she’s overhearing love talk, Mayoi’s heartburn lingers until she falls asleep.

Chapter 187: Settling Accounts

Kirita Akari was more nervous than she’d ever been. Clutching the classroom door, left open for ventilation, she peeked inside.

In the back of Class 2-B, her target was there. Friends gathered around his desk, chatting lively. Approaching him now would definitely draw attention, maybe even spark rumors.

The thought made her legs freeze, but she had a reason she couldn’t back down from.

“Fine, I get it, but talk to Uryu properly. Like I said before, it’d be a mess if he fell for you.”

Those were the words of the person she’d hurt, who’d scolded her harshly earlier.

Honestly, she didn’t think her target, Aoyagi Uryu, would ever like her without her saying anything, but using that as an excuse to dodge the issue felt wrong. That’s why she came to his classroom.

“…Phew.”

Placing a hand on her chest, Akari took a deep breath. Her friend Misono Izumo was absent with a cold, so she couldn’t rely on her. The one person who’d gladly mediate, her crush Hirose Yukiya, wasn’t here either—he was sneaking out to visit Izumo.

Thinking of that gave her a bit of courage. Compared to ditching school, talking to a guy should be nothing.

“Hey, Aoyagi-kun!”

Summoning her resolve, Akari stepped into the classroom and quickly approached Uryu.

All eyes—Uryu’s, his friends’, and maybe the whole room’s—turned to her, sending her into a quiet panic.

“Hm? Something up?”

“Uh, um, well…”

Words wouldn’t come smoothly. If she could just explain casually, she wouldn’t feel so exposed, but her nerves were getting the better of her.

“How about we talk outside?”

Uryu stepped in, saving her. With a friendly smile, he said something to his friends and led her out of the classroom.

She remembered the first time she spoke to him. Despite her shy, reserved nature, he always looked her in the eye and talked to her properly.

It wasn’t just his looks, brains, or athleticism. His popularity came from this kind of thoughtfulness.

“T-Thanks…”

“No prob. Time’s tight, so let’s talk.”

“Y-Yes!”

In the hallway, a bit away from the classroom, Uryu faced her. In the past, she might’ve fled from a situation like this.

“So…”

Alone with him, it was easier to speak, but now she realized how harsh her message might sound.

Still, it was her fault for letting things stay vague. She had to tell him her feelings had changed, or it’d trouble both Uryu and Yukiya. That’s the last thing she wanted.

“I-I’m sorry!”

Akari bowed deeply in apology.

“I know you went out of your way to talk to me, but I’ve been so half-hearted! You invited me out, and I bailed—I need to apologize for that first…”

Once, Akari had planned to hang out with Uryu. But unable to handle being alone with her crush, she’d run off before they could go. She’d never apologized for it until now.

“And even though you’ve been so kind, I…”

Finally, Akari wanted to confess she liked Yukiya. But remembering Uryu’s kindness, she faltered again.

She felt guilty. She’d given him a letter, stirred things up, and now changed her heart—how selfish could she be? Disgusted by her own arrogance, Akari felt tears coming.

“You don’t need to say more.”

Once again, Uryu’s words calmed her jumbled heart.

“I already know how you feel, Kirita-san.”

His reassuring smile nearly overwhelmed her. How was he so perceptive? And why was he still so kind?

“You’re so dutiful, Kirita-san. You didn’t have to come tell me.”

He even praised her for facing him directly.

“I-I thought it’d be rude not to.”

Yukiya had prompted her, but deciding to talk was her choice. So, she didn’t mention his name.

“Not rude, but I’ll admit I’m a bit disappointed.”

“Huh…”

Uryu’s shocking words froze her.

He’d seemed unbothered by her change of heart, making her think he never cared. But his words suggested otherwise.

He continued, explaining.

“You talked to Yukiya to get closer to me, right?”

“Y-Yeah.”

“A lot of girls do that. It annoys Yukiya so much that he’s been helping me find a girlfriend to stop it.”

As Uryu said, several girls still went to Yukiya for help. But how did that tie to his disappointment?

“When I talk to those girls, they usually badmouth Yukiya.”

“Oh—”

“They say he’s tactless or rude, probably thinking it’s a shared topic, but it just leaves a bad taste.”

True, when Akari first talked to Yukiya, his headstrong attitude was overwhelming—enough to break her spirit.

But she was still grateful. He’d thought hard for her, a total stranger. She’d be lying if she said she never complained, but she’d never thought to bond over bashing him.

“So your letter made me happy. I thought I could have fun talking with someone like you. That’s why I’m a bit disappointed.”

Uryu’s words put a slight pressure on Akari.

If he didn’t care at all, her change of heart wouldn’t matter much. But knowing there was even a small chance with him made her feel pathetic for giving it up.

“I-I’m sorry.”

Akari apologized again. It was truly wrong not to show sincerity to someone who spoke to her like this.

“Haha, you’ve been apologizing non-stop, Kirita-san.”

“Ugh…”

Instead of getting mad, Uryu laughed, easing the mood. She couldn’t help but wonder if she’d have lingered on him if they’d had more talks like this—pointless as it was.

“Besides, I’ve got something to apologize for too.”

“Huh?”

His sudden words made her eyes widen. She couldn’t think of anything, but his playful tone clarified.

“I’m disappointed, but I can’t help with your love life.”

“Oh—”

“There’s this chaotic guy someone’s crazy about, and I’d get in trouble if I didn’t help her instead.”

“Hehe.”

Finally, a smile bloomed on Akari’s face.

Now it was about a new love story. A step toward happiness.

“I won’t lose either.”

“That’d help. It’ll mess with Yukiya in a good way.”

“Haha.”

They looked at each other and laughed.

Even if they didn’t become lovers, they could bond over Yukiya, Akari thought, smiling.

Chapter 188: The Story That Begins There

Born as the eldest son of the Aoyagi family, Aoyagi Uryu was raised strictly by his father from a young age. To put it kindly, high expectations were placed on him, but Uryu never saw it that warmly.

The strictness intensified when his older sister, Hisame, began rejecting their father’s traditionalist approach.

Even as a child, Hisame was critical of their father’s old-fashioned teachings. She wanted to live freely, which clashed with their conservative, discipline-heavy father.

So, their father shifted his focus from Hisame to Uryu, pouring his guidance into him. Uryu absorbed it all, rising to meet those expectations.

Uryu never found this life painful. His father was strict but not unreasonable, praising him thoroughly when he succeeded. So, Uryu embraced the teachings without resentment, eventually succeeding on his own without direct guidance.

To Uryu, this was normal, unquestioned. He was friendly, never looking down on others, and sought tips from those he admired, growing step by step.

As he became a well-rounded person, Uryu felt an emptiness deep inside. Despite a life free of hardship, he somehow felt confined.

Back then, he dismissed it as imagination, refusing to take it seriously.

He believed fully that growing up under his father’s teachings left no room for doubt.

“Hey, Onii-chan, don’t you have any friends?”

One day, while playing a racing game with his younger sister Tsuyu in the living room, she asked him out of the blue.

“What? I brought some over before.”

Just recently, he’d brought home a basketball teammate after their final game. Tsuyu’s question made no sense to him.

“Huh? Those guys were friends? Not just club buddies?”

Her blunt words left Uryu speechless. Flustered, he veered slightly off the game’s track.

“Why’d you say that?”

“What, you don’t get it?”

Tsuyu sighed heavily, keeping her eyes on the game as she spoke.

“You didn’t look like you were having fun at all.”

Uryu fumbled the controls again. If Tsuyu’s words were off-base, they wouldn’t have rattled him this much.

“When you talk with me or Onee-chan, you seem more real, more relaxed. But with others, you’re like a fake salesman, sucking up.”

“…”

“Dad’s influence messed you up. You’re there but always holding back, watching yourself. Always thinking about what’s best, never really there. Nothing’s fun.”

Like Uryu, Tsuyu grew up under their father’s teachings, but hers weren’t as harsh.

To her, their father wasn’t an absolute authority. That’s why she pitied her brother, trapped by their father’s rules, unable to prioritize his own feelings.

“I’m not saying reading the room is bad, but you should find friends you can be yourself with. You’re starting high school next year.”

“…Shut it. Worry about yourself.”

“Pfft, I’ve already got two close friends!”

“Good for you.”

“So I’m fine. I’m worried about you.”

“Tsuyu, you just crashed into a wall.”

“Huh, what!?”

Uryu shifted her focus back to the game, dodging the topic.

He wasn’t clueless about what she said.

Indeed, even with classmates or teammates, he’d never fully let his guard down.

That stemmed from his father’s teachings: be equally friendly with everyone, don’t play favorites. Keep balance, flash smiles, nothing more.

But was that really okay?

“You didn’t look like you were having fun at all.”

Tsuyu’s words stuck with him.

Sure, Uryu smiled, hung out, laughed.

But was he really enjoying it? Truly, from the bottom of his heart?

Deep down, didn’t he crave a friend he could be himself with?

Staring at the game screen, Uryu pondered vaguely.

It was his life, yet he couldn’t clearly say what he wanted.

※

Even after entering Yourei High, Uryu’s life didn’t change much. Unlike middle school, a few standout students caught his eye, but his approach stayed the same: be equally friendly, seek nothing deeper. If someone wanted more, he’d step back to avoid conflict. So, even bringing basketball friends home didn’t ease Tsuyu’s concerns.

Part of him felt relieved by the routine, part of him felt unfulfilled. Never showing his emotions, he kept wearing a mask. Changing ingrained habits was never easy.

He thought high school would continue like this, but just as he was settling in, a major event shook him.

“…Again?”

Uryu was more rattled than ever.

It was the start of the second term, during the return of the post-summer break aptitude test. He muttered to himself.

As usual, after handing back tests, the teacher announced the average and highest scores. In the first term, Uryu would’ve sighed in relief, but now he was trembling.

Three subjects were returned, and he hadn’t scored the highest in any.

The aptitude test was noticeably tougher than regular exams, likely to snap students out of summer daze. The average score dropped by nearly ten points.

Yet, the highest score was 100—across all three subjects. If one person got all those perfect scores, they were already 18 points ahead of Uryu.

Who could it be? He talked to academic standouts like Misono Izumo and Tsukikage Miharu, but they had no clues. He couldn’t exactly interrogate everyone just to find out.

The mystery cleared up right after homeroom, when report cards were handed out.

“Take that, you old hag!!”

All eyes in the class snapped to one student, who struck a triumphant pose, unfazed by the attention.

Hirose Yukiya. A classmate. Uryu hadn’t interacted with him much, but he stood out in many ways.

First, he casually showed up late to class. Second, he broke his arm two months into school. Lastly, he aced physics in midterms and PE in finals.

He didn’t act flashy in class, but his results made him noticeable.

Now, he was boldly celebrating, practically dancing with joy.

Satisfied, Yukiya suddenly started packing to leave.

“Sensei, I’m feeling sick, so I’m heading home. Bye.”

“Sure.”

Before getting a proper reply, Yukiya bolted out.

Left stunned, Class 1-B’s first to speak was the class rep, Izumo.

“W-Wait, Sensei! He looked totally fine!”

Protesting Yukiya’s blatant ditch, Izumo got only a lazy head-scratch from their teacher, Hasegawa.

“Eh, let him have today. The teachers were thrilled too.”

“Huh? About what?”

“I shouldn’t say, but it’ll be posted later anyway. I want you all to take it as an example, so I’ll spill now.”

Hasegawa glanced at Uryu, then leaned on the podium.

“This aptitude test, Hirose got perfect scores across the board and took first place. An unprecedented, runaway victory.”

※

The next day, Uryu spotted Hirose Yukiya at the grade bulletin board, arms crossed, nodding smugly at the posted report card.

When the rankings went up, the first-years buzzed with excitement. But since Yukiya wasn’t there, the hype faded fast. A day later, the board was much quieter.

“Hey, Hirose-kun.”

Uryu approached Yukiya. He’d always seemed peculiar, but yesterday confirmed it: this guy was worth knowing.

“You crushed me in the aptitude test. A 32-point gap leaves no excuses.”

Uryu extended his right hand.

“I won’t lose next midterms. Let’s sharpen each other and compete.”

He offered a handshake, signaling his desire to connect going forward.

But his hand was never met.

“Don’t people ever tell you you’re creepy?”

“Huh…?”

Yukiya’s words made Uryu look at him clearly for the first time.

Hirose Yukiya stared back, utterly bored.

“That fake smile’s hard to stomach. If I lost to someone, no way I’d make a face like that.”

“…”

“I don’t wanna shake hands with someone who’s fine with losing. Keep that hand to yourself forever.”

Uryu’s face twisted with panic. The unexpected words left him at a loss for a reply.

“Well, I don’t hate the hustle to snag a top guy early. But pointless stuff is just pointless, right?”

“…? What do you mean?”

“I’m done studying hard. The me who crushed you in tests? He’s not coming back.”

“What!?”

Yukiya’s bombshell stunned Uryu. His voice came out raw, but he didn’t notice.

“B-But why?”

Perfect scores in five subjects wasn’t just effort—it was raw talent. Why would someone so gifted in academics throw it away?

“What why? I got my laptop. No need to study anymore, right?”

Yukiya’s reasoning only deepened Uryu’s confusion. What was this guy even talking about?

“But man, I’m such an idiot. I could’ve just worked a job to get a laptop easy, but I took the long way. Twelve hours a day studying all summer for a 150,000-yen laptop? That’s 420 yen an hour—worst cost-performance ever.”

Yukiya rambled cheerfully, oblivious to Uryu’s shock. Slowly, Uryu pieced it together.

Yukiya must’ve made a deal with his parents: get first place, get a laptop. That’s why he outscored Uryu so wildly. Having achieved his goal, he saw no need to keep studying.

“But, even so…”

Uryu still couldn’t accept it. Someone who surpassed him, hailed as exceptional, was casually tossing it aside. He’d face disappointment from everyone who believed in him. How could Yukiya just quit?

“I don’t know what’s bugging you, but don’t lump me with normal people.”

Yukiya said it boldly, without a hint of shame.

“I’ll study when I feel like it. I don’t care what others think.”

In that moment, Uryu felt a shock unlike any before. Someone like him, overly conscious of others’ eyes, could never think that way.

No matter how much attention or expectation he got, Yukiya did things at his own pace. Uryu had found someone with a personality like his sister’s—or even stronger.

“Anyway, congrats on taking back first place. I’ll cheer you on, so leave me alone. It’s pointless.”

Waving lightly, Yukiya walked off, rejecting his classmate in a way that felt almost cruel.

“…Haha.”

But Uryu didn’t care. All he could think was not to let that small figure slip away.

“You should find friends you can be yourself with. You’re starting high school next year.”

Tsuyu’s words echoed. The arrival of this chance thrilled him more than he expected.

With him, Uryu could talk without holding back. Their brief exchange was proof enough.

Surely, they’d share fun times he could proudly show Tsuyu.

This was a beginning. A new story for Aoyagi Uryu to move forward.

To start it, Uryu chased that small figure and gave his back a hearty slap.