The Story of How I, a Guy Who Couldn’t Care Less About School Castes, Somehow Ended Up Making All the Five-Star Gals Fall for Me - Chapter 37 & Epilogue & Afterword [End of Vol. 01]

Chapter 37: Because Ikoi’s a Boyfriend Candidate, Obviously

“Sorry, I just got carried away ’cause I was so happy.”

“Koi-chan… do you not like me?”

“I do. I like you.”

“Then—”

“You’re a friend I deeply respect, and an artist I truly admired. My feelings for you go beyond something ordinary like ‘romantic love.’ It’s a purer kind of affection.”

That was the one thing I couldn’t compromise on—not as her oldest fan.

This wasn’t the sloppy “I like you” of a five-year-old.

I put it into clear words, the way a high schooler should, spelling out exactly what Hari Suitengu meant to me.

“Geez! I feel stupid for expecting more. I really thought you, Koi-chan…”

“What did you think I felt about you, Hari?”

“Forget it! I don’t care anymore!”

Hari’s face turned bright red as she spun away from me.

“So… maybe having a male friend is no good when you already have a boyfriend?”

Had we made up, or not? I honestly couldn’t tell—it felt half-baked.

“Wait—boyfriend…!? Ah, so that’s what you thought!”

Hari let out a cry that was practically a scream before slumping in despair.

I’d never seen her so shaken before, and it completely threw me off.

Meanwhile, the other three wore wry smiles, the mood sinking as heavy as a funeral.

Eh? Why did the whole group react like this? I couldn’t make sense of it.

Then, out of nowhere, Hari grabbed the mic—and with a sudden, furious outburst, she yelled:

“I don’t have a boyfriend, damnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn it!!!”

Her scream echoed through the room.

I just stood there, dumbfounded.

Hari yanked a handkerchief from her pocket and hurled it at me.

It was the one I’d lent her at the movie. Looked like she’d even washed it.

Hinawa immediately snatched up the mic and shouted in front of everyone:

“Yup! I don’t have a boyfriend eitherrrr! Ugh, keeping up that lie every time was exhausting!”

Miyu, swept up in the moment, grabbed the mic too.

“Actually… same here. I don’t have a boyfriend either!”

Of course, the mic ended up shoved into Platina’s hands as well.

“When I randomly lied about going on a date just to dodge the situation, the other three suddenly all said they had boyfriends too. Honestly, I was surprised.”

As the one who started the whole mess, Platina delivered her confession like it was somebody else’s problem.

Pretty damn cruel of her.

“““This is all your fault!!!”””

Hari, Hinawa, and Miyu closed in on Platina all at once.

“Platina! How can you tell such a big lie with a straight face!?”

“Damn, I totally believed you! Platina, your acting’s way too good!”

“Platina-chan! I was desperately trying to cover for myself—so mean!”

What started as a mass confession devolved into total chaos, with shouting and complaints flying everywhere.

At that point, I was completely forgotten.

“Kizuki-shi, throw me a lifeline here.”

“You made this mess yourself—your own rust. Just accept it and reflect.”

“Platinum as a metal doesn’t rust, you know.”

“Only when it’s pure. And you’re human.”

And so it came out—the truth that none of the Five-Star Gals had boyfriends.

No more lies, no more showing off.

“Hari, you should be grateful. Thanks to me, Ikoi finally came clean.”

“Hah? Please. No matter what, Koi-chan and I are still closer friends than anyone.”

“Friends-only, you mean. Wonder what you were actually hoping for.”

“Then what about you, Hinawa? Why were you patting his head earlier!?”

Hari and Hinawa traded barbs, provoking each other back and forth.

“Honestly, it was thanks to Hinawa that I was able to open up too. So… thanks.”

Instead of trying to break up their fight, I just admitted it honestly.

“…Wait, did you just casually call her Hinawa!?”

Hari trembled in shock.

“Come on, don’t fight, you two. Kizuki-kun, say something to stop them.”

Miyu tugged lightly at the hem of my uniform.

That small gesture, that closeness—it was enough to freeze Hari and Hinawa mid-argument.

“Kongouji, you help too.”

“Let them squabble as they like. Just don’t thrash around too much, or your makeup will smudge.”

Platina’s cool, offhand remark shifted the mood instantly.

Now that I thought about it, she really had dressed up today. No fake glasses, neatly styled hair, and natural makeup that suited school perfectly—showing off her beauty without holding anything back.

“Platina-chan, you even dressed up for school today. Why?”

Miyu asked with innocent curiosity.

“Kizuki-shi forced me.”

“Hey, don’t make it sound bad.”

“But it’s true that your words were the trigger.”

Her loaded, meaningful tone made the other three tense up in silence.

“Well, anyway—now that it’s clear none of you actually have boyfriends, this whole contest about whose boyfriend is the best ends here. Good work, everyone.”

If I didn’t wrap it up, it felt like some new fire would start burning, so I stepped in as the ex-judge to shut things down.

“Then how about this? Next we compete to see who gets a boyfriend first!”

Of course, Hinawa had to throw out another outrageous suggestion.

“I’m done being the judge, so leave me out!”

Before they could drag me in, I quickly put up a defensive wall.

“Relax. Ikoi won’t have to do that.”

“Good.”

“’Cause Ikoi’s a boyfriend candidate himself.”

Hinawa declared it loud enough for all three of the others to hear.

“…Hah?”

“Why are you so surprised? Any boy could be boyfriend material. And Ikoi’s our classmate, our friend—so he’s even more of a candidate.”

She said it with a bright smile, like it was the most obvious thing in the world.

But for some reason, I just couldn’t quite swallow it.

All four pairs of eyes fixed on me.

Then, like a gong signaling the end, the room’s phone rang loudly.

“So, what now?”

Hari stood up.

“Since we’re all here, let’s take a group purikura. A little memory for today.”

Hinawa brushed past the earlier topic as if it were already settled, pushing things forward.

“Then let’s grab dinner after. Last time, we ended up splitting without eating.”

Miyu happily agreed.

“No objections. Come Kizuki-shi, let’s go.”

Platina urged me toward the door.

“Me too?”

“Koi-chan, why do you think you’re allowed to leave?”

“Ikoi, don’t be such a buzzkill.”

“Kizuki-kun, do you have some big plans or something?”

“Kizuki-shi, read the room already.”

The Five-Star Gals had no intention of letting me slip away.

“…Are you sure it’s okay?”

““““We’re friends, aren’t we!!!!””””

Apparently, I was allowed to stay.

And the truth was… I felt relieved by that.

Epilogue: I’ll Never Tell You My True Favorite

The mix of the Five-Star Gals and the caste-indifferent boy felt almost too natural.

Ikoi Kizuki blended into the Fives so seamlessly that, at first, nobody even questioned it.

Just coincidence.

Just happening to bump into them and talk.

A fleeting moment.

That’s how it was brushed off, like scenery people had grown used to.

Even the sight of one boy among four dazzling girls—a total harem setup—passed without raising suspicion.

And that was thanks entirely to Ikoi’s role as “the boy who didn’t care about caste.” His quiet nature, and the trust he’d built by always being kind to those around him.

Not even the Great Hari Suitengu Crying Incident left a dent.

On the contrary, the fact that even after such a blunder he could still sit, eat, and chat comfortably with the Fives only proved how exceptional Ikoi Kizuki was.

If it had been any other guy in that enviable spot, the whole school would’ve turned on him. He would’ve been crushed under waves of anger, resentment, and jealousy until it blew up into a full-on scandal.

Meanwhile, in the Fives’ unofficial fan club, the Starwatchers, rumors ran wild.

Some of the more extreme fans, desperate to uncover the truth, even attempted direct “interviews” with the girls themselves.

“Hey, Suitengu-san. Why is Kizuki-kun always hanging around with you these days?”

“That’s none of your business. Or… are you interested in him?”

Hari glared straight at the questioner.

Overwhelmed by her beauty at close range, they froze, and their own question suddenly felt pointless.

“Hiwatari-san. Why is Kizuki-kun mixed in with you four?”

“Truth is—Ikoi’s actually Hari’s childhood friend. If anything, he’s the very first member of our five! So yeah, welcome him in!”

Hinawa put it bluntly, treating Ikoi like a brand-new member of the Five-Star Gals.

Her casual bombshell sent the fan club into an uproar.

“Hey, Chigira-san. I thought the Fives were girls-only?”

“Huh? We don’t pick friends by gender. If someone clicks with me, it doesn’t matter if they’re a boy or a girl.”

Miyu’s straightforward logic left no room for argument.

Anyone listening had to realize how small-minded they were being.

“Um, Kongouji-san. With him spending so much time around you, isn’t there a chance one of you might fall in love with Kizuki-kun?”

“Think about it calmly. He’s the caste-indifferent boy. It’s exactly because he’s like that that he stays perfectly unfazed—even in a situation that looks like a harem.”

Platina, usually so listless, answered with a hint of irritation.

Her reasoning was so spot-on that nobody could really argue against it.

“Hey, Kizuki. Why were you able to fit in with the four of them?”

“They’re called the Five Stars, right? But there were only four. Add the moon in, and you’ve got all five shining together.”

It was a poetic answer—yet strangely convincing.

Now that he mentioned it, it did make sense. Monday through Friday, the stars lined up perfectly with the days of the week.

A guy who could mingle with any group… even the Five-Star Gals weren’t an exception.

No matter how loud the fan club got, the official word always carried the most weight.

By declaring it outright, they gave shape and definition to what had been vague until now.

That was the highest form of honesty they could offer.

And so, Ikoi Kizuki was officially added as a new member—transforming the Fives into a true five-person group, recognized throughout the school.

At Gingamine High, the missing star of the Grand Cross was finally filled, and the constellation was complete.

Ikoi had crossed a wall everyone thought was impossible—the barrier separating him from the Fives.

But Ikoi himself had no idea.

The feelings the Five-Star Gals held for him had already begun shifting—

From simple friendship… into love.

—The lies were cleared away, the stars were shining, and one by one, they were falling into the swamp of romance.

☆☆☆☆☆

Thank you for reading this far!

As for the afterword and the future plans, including book publication—please look forward to tomorrow’s update.

Afterword and What’s Next

Thank you so much for reading “The Story of How I, a Guy Who Couldn’t Care Less About School Castes, Somehow Ended Up Making All the Five-Star Gals Fall for Me.”

I’m Rakuto Haba, the author.

This was my very first serialization on Kakuyomu, and thanks to all of you, the series is now getting a book release!

I’ve been writing professionally for a number of years, but this was my first real attempt at diving into the web novel world on my own.

Honestly, I knew nothing about the “rules” or “strategies” of web fiction.

I didn’t have the flashy name recognition of authors doing media mixes.

I didn’t even think about chasing the ranking trends.

When I first started, my Kakuyomu follower count was in the single digits.

I was confident the story itself would be fun—but I also knew there were a lot of uncertainties, so I braced myself for the possibility it might never rank high.

But once I actually started posting, the page views grew steadily, day by day—and here we are now.

Having my work accepted by the sharp-eyed readers of Kakuyomu really made me happy.

Climbing the tough rankings on the strength of the story alone gave me a lot of courage.

It felt like I was being told: “It’s okay to just write the things you love.”

So once again—thank you, truly, from the bottom of my heart!!!!

☆☆☆☆☆

Alright, now for what’s coming next:

① Five-Star Gals will continue!

Originally, this was supposed to be the end of the series.

But with so many requests from readers—and with the book release confirmed—I’ll be writing more of their story.

Think of this as the end of Volume 01.

② To celebrate the completion of Volume 01, we’re holding a character popularity poll!

The gal who takes first place will get her very own brand-new short story.

Please feel free to vote!

Details are on my activity notes.

③ Latest book release info will be announced in late September.

Because of that, I’ll be switching from daily updates to posting every other day.

I hope you’ll keep enjoying the ride!

④ As for when Volume 02 will start—stay tuned.

Honestly, I still have to sit down and plan it, so give me a little time.

But I’ll do my best to restart as soon as possible.

Please look forward to what’s next for the Five-Star Gals and the caste-indifferent boy!

From here on, with book work and prep, the update pace might shift, and new info will keep coming out. So please don’t forget to follow both the story and the author!

Your comments and support mean the world to me—they’re a huge boost, and they’ll help pave the way for future volumes. I’d be grateful for all the encouragement you can give!

SS 01: Falling for the Moon, No Time to Breathe for Ikoi

First Popularity Poll #1 Commemoration Short Story

To everyone who joined the very first Five-Star Gals popularity poll on X—thank you so much!

The glorious first place goes to… Hari Suitengu!

And so, here’s a brand-new short story written just for the occasion:

“Falling for the Moon, No Time to Breathe for Ikoi.”

Please enjoy!

☆☆☆☆☆

Ikoi Kizuki’s true identity… was actually Koi-chan.

Seriously, how was that even possible?

I still couldn’t believe it.

After karaoke with the five of us, we went out for dinner, laughed and argued until it felt like things had settled.

—At least, that’s what I thought.

But once I was alone—on the train ride home, even after I got back to my room—my head just kept spinning with questions.

Because to me, Koi-chan had always been a girl friend.

And Ikoi Kizuki? He was a classmate, a boy, no matter how you looked at him.

Yet somehow… they were the same person.

“Why didn’t I realize it earlier?!”

I flung myself onto the bed, rolling around as memories of the past came rushing back.

Face buried in the pillow, I screamed into the fabric while kicking my legs like crazy.

I was so embarrassed I thought I’d die.

Every single interaction I’d had with him since starting second year now felt like a complete disaster.

“Sure, Kizuki tried to tell me the truth at the movie theater, but of course I thought he was joking!”

Regret always comes too late.

Breaking free from your own assumptions is seriously hard.

I just couldn’t wrap my head around it—Koi-chan, the girl I’d always thought of as my friend, was actually a boy?

He had grown and changed so much that the Koi-chan in my memories and the Ikoi standing before me now just didn’t line up. My head could accept it, but my heart was still in chaos.

Honestly, if he hadn’t confessed his true identity, I probably would’ve graduated without ever realizing it.

And then lived my whole life never knowing the truth until the day I died.

“That would’ve been the worst…”

Feeling suffocated, I lifted my face from the pillow and flopped onto my back.

Now, I could finally understand his side of things too. 

If it had been the other way around—if I’d recognized him at school but he hadn’t realized who I was—I doubt I could’ve spoken up either.

The pain of a dream you couldn’t reach.

The sadness of not being recognized.

The fear of overwriting precious memories.

All those feelings would have crushed me too. Instead of joy, fear would’ve won out—and I would’ve stayed silent.

And just like him, I would’ve kept my distance.

“…I really am glad we could be friends again.”

Knowing the truth was a million times better than never knowing at all.

Of course, the emotional damage was brutal, and right now my heart felt like it was strapped to a roller coaster that just wouldn’t stop.

It was scary—but not unpleasant.
I was anxious—but at the same time, filled with a strangely exhilarating thrill.

“You’re so unfair, Koi-chan. That reunion was totally against the rules.”

I’d wanted to see him for so long.

In my mind, the reunion I pictured was simple—hanging out with Koi-chan like Hinawa and the others, as fellow high school girls. Spending weekends together, talking about school, maybe even swapping love advice.

—Like, “Hey, there’s this boy in my class I kinda like.”

But who could have imagined that the boy I’d end up interested in… would turn out to be Koi-chan himself?

“Come on, tell me that doesn’t feel like fate. Of course I started thinking, maybe we could actually go out.”

After that group date, when Ikoi Kizuki suddenly started avoiding me, I just couldn’t forgive it. That’s why I stubbornly chased him around at school.

And then, when I overheard the truth from the karaoke room next door, my body moved on its own.

Fueled by the joy of reunion and the rush of the moment, I couldn’t help but get carried away—misreading it like maybe we could really be lovers.

Ughhh, just remembering it makes the embarrassment crash over me all over again. The damage is brutal. 

I squeezed my pillow tight.

“Koi-chan, you’re still as calm as ever…”

While I’d been leaping way ahead, he stayed steady and objective.

Even after he started hanging out with the Fives, he never changed in the ways that mattered.

He never flaunted it to others, never let it go to his head.

That unshakable attitude of his—not treating anyone as “special”—is exactly what we all value about him.

“…I really have to thank my friends.”

If I’d been on my own, I probably would’ve hit a wall and just given up.

That whole karaoke ambush—the plan to corner him and drag out the truth—never would’ve worked if even one of them hadn’t been there.

Platina came up with the plan.

Miyu agreed to it.

Hinawa carried it out.

Thanks to them, the bond between me and Koi-chan was saved.

And in the end, the Fives finally became a true group of five.

I’m sure there’ll be plenty of chances from here on.

This was only the beginning.

Will the relationship between me and him stay as friendship?

Or will it shift into something more—into love?

For now, I’ve decided to just enjoy this off-balance, fluttery feeling as much as I can.

☆☆☆☆☆

New details about the book release have been announced!

For more information, please check the latest author notes.

And don’t forget to hit follow so you won’t miss any updates.

Stay tuned!