You Girls Are Way Too Obsessed With A Lone Wolf Like Me - Volume 1 Chapter 2: Hatori Erena’s Machine Gun Talk

Volume 1 Chapter 2: Hatori Erena’s Machine Gun Talk

The next morning, on the way to school.

As always, I was walking the familiar path, earbuds in, tuning into my daily ritual—listening to the radio.

The station of choice? FM802, the beloved Kansai-local broadcast. Each time slot hosted by a different personality, spinning everything from the newest hits to nostalgic classics, chatting casually with listener messages. With just a tap on the app, it’s the perfect companion—not just for commuting, but also for after-school reading or homework sessions. The ultimate background noise.

“—Oh.”

Couldn’t help the sound that slipped out.

My absolute favorite band’s new track had just started playing. Sure, I’d already looped the PV on YouTube a dozen times, but this catchy, uptempo banger just never gets old.

As I was sinking into that sweet soundscape, I suddenly noticed something… off.

The students around me—also on their way to school—had all stopped and were turning to look behind me.

“───kuuun!”

Even through my earbuds, I could still hear that voice. Yeah… definitely familiar.

I popped one earbud out and glanced back.

“Ah. Finally noticed me. Oii, Himemiya-kun!”

Standing on the sidewalk up ahead, bouncing up and down while waving both arms like crazy, was Misaki. She looked like she was about to launch into orbit.

Same as that time in the rain… Seriously, how does she even recognize people just from their backs? We only met like, what, a few days ago?

The students around us seemed totally delighted to catch sight of her this early in the morning—smiles blooming across their faces like it was a blessing. And Misaki, noticing their stares, responded with her usual high-energy greetings, that signature charming smile of hers on full display.

“Morning, everyone!”

“Good morning, Karin-sama!”

“Karin-chan, ohayooo!”

“Yo, Misaki-san!”

What are you, some kind of goddess who descended from the heavens!?

Misaki, it turned out, was stuck on the other side of a red light.

Looking just a tiny bit apologetic, she clapped her hands together and gestured at me from across the street.

“Sorry, Himemiya-kun! Can you wait a lit──”

“Yo.”

I gave her a quicker-than-usual wave from afar, reinserted my earbud, and resumed walking toward school.

Tch… missed the chorus…

I tried to reimmerse myself in the music.

Tried.

But just a few seconds later—

“UWAH!?”

A blast of energy came rushing at me—aka Misaki, who’d sprinted at Mach speed to block my path.

And without missing a beat, she yanked my earbud clean out.

“Why’d you go ahead without me!?”

“…I mean, we didn’t exactly agree to walk together. Besides, I was in the middle of listening to the radi──”

“NO. YOU. MAY. NOT!!”

I wonder… in this scenario, which one of us is being more unreasonable?

Let’s rewind a bit.

I never asked to be friends. I like spending time alone.

Walking with someone who’s trying to force that on me? Zero appeal.

Also—I just wanna listen to my radio.

Misaki, still apparently dissatisfied, whipped out her phone like a duel was about to start.

“AND! ANOTHER THING!”

She shoved the screen in my face. It was a LINE chat window. I read the messages in silence.

[Karin] I added you~

[Karin] Looking forward to more days together!

[Karin] Wait… did my messages not go through to Himemiya-kun…?

…and a bunch of bunny stamps to go with them.

“I saw those yesterday.”

“Then don’t just read and ignore them! I waited forever for a reply!”

Would she have been less mad if I’d just left them unread…?

I seriously have no idea. I’ve never had friends before, so…

With tears brimming in her eyes, Misaki looked genuinely hurt—like her soul had been airbrushed out of existence.

The emotional breakdown ratio seemed to be:

Anger: 1

Sadness: 6

Embarrassment: 3

Meanwhile, the students around us were having a field day.

“Did you see that? He just ignored Karin-sama and kept walking… I think I even heard him click his tongue.”

“He left Karin-sama’s message on read!? Nah, no way—gotta be a mistake. Has to be unread.”

“If it were me, I’d reply in ten seconds flat, screenshot the convo, and set it as my lock screen! WHY is that stone-faced bastard the one getting her attention!?”

…Seriously, shut up.

You’re all so loud. What a pain.

Okay yes, I gave a short greeting. Yes, I didn’t reply, but I did read it. That counts, right? Even if I’ve got a grumpy face, I’ve at least got basic manners.

And yet, standing in front of the local angel, everyone’s looking at me like I’m some kind of heretic.

But hey.

If I’m a heretic in this little drama?

So be it.

In fact… being the one who walks alone might just be something to be proud of.

Muuu…! Misaki pouted, her lips sealed tight in displeasure.

“I just wanted to talk to Himemiya-kun…!”

No matter how cute her words or expression are, I won’t be fooled.

We see each other every single day at school—what on earth do you even have left to talk about every night? The “glory of friendship”? Lol. If that’s all you’re gonna feed me, I’d rather read Imouto Nakayoshi April issue.

“By the way, Misaki. I read on a news site that over 40% of teenage girls have experienced being left on read.”

In an instant, her sour expression turned into one of surprise.

“E-Eh, really? That many…?”

“Which means, being left on read isn’t exactly a rare case for someone like you, right?”

“! You’re right…”

Bullseye. That totally hit home, because now Misaki’s drawn into the conversation. It’s probably this honest side of hers that makes everyone love her.

“Don’t make a fuss over someone reading your message and not replying. You damn riajuu get way too obsessed with LINE. That’s why psychos who start group-blocking people for not replying right away are born in the first place.”

“Ugh…” Misaki swallowed her words, casting her eyes downward.

“…You’re not wrong.”

“Right? The people who check the message from the home screen just to keep it as ‘unread’ are also just feeling pressure and choosing to ignore it for their own peace of mind. Honestly, you’d feel way more relaxed just leaving the group. Expecting instant replies 24/7? What is this, Japanet Takata?”

“…Can’t argue with that.”

Being overly sensitive about read receipts is one of the toxic habits plaguing today’s youth—feeding into this whole fake friendship circus. That’s how I see it.

“Therefore, I humbly ask that you cease complaining about being left on read.”

“I’ll be more careful from now on…”

“Good. As long as you understand.”

With her shoulders slumping, Misaki looked genuinely remorseful.

“Well then,” I said, slipping my earphones back on.

Or I tried to—but then Misaki came after me and pushed my arms down. Damn it.

“B-But! Himemiya-kun!”

“…Yeah?”

“If it’s a message with meaning or something important to confirm, just leaving it on read—don’t you think that’s kinda rude!?”

“Yeah, I think that’s pretty disrespectful.”

“You admitted it without hesitation!?”

“Don’t get the wrong idea, Misaki.”

“?”

“I’m not like those other guys who leave people on read out of guilt.”

“Then what are you thinking…?”

“…Just that it’s super bothersome.”

“That’s even worse!! Ah! Don’t you dare walk awa──it!!”

Trying to reinsert my earphones as I walked away, but of course, Misaki chased after me and ruined it.

※ ※ ※

Lunchtime. I headed for the cafeteria, embracing my Kodoku no Gourmet solo vibes.

Carrying a tray with a ramen set and a glass of water, I glanced around. Naturally, it’s packed. Wall-to-wall people.

I preferred counter seats, but with fourth period being P.E., I couldn’t pull off a fast start. Every spot was already taken. Bit of a letdown, sure—but it’s also proof that solo diners are on the rise. I can live with that.

Resigned, I sat at a table seat. A nearby group gave me that “ugh, why’s he sitting alone here” look, but who cares? It’s not like I’m hogging the whole table. If they’re that against eating apart, they should go lay out a picnic sheet and eat in the courtyard.

I wish the entire cafeteria was counter seating. That’d weed out the lazy group chatters and seriously boost turnover rates. Heck, I’d even settle for standing-only.

Yeah. Not bad, me. That idea’s solid enough to toss into the student council’s suggestion box.

“Oh myy~? Waa~ It’s Himemiya-kun~!”

“…”

My chopsticks froze mid-air, and I looked up at the girl in front of me.

There stood Misaki, holding a bento box and a water bottle.

“Such a crazy coincidence~”

Wow. The fakest monotone ever. Her obvious little scheme is crystal clear.

I gave her the most annoyed look I could manage—watching the facade peel off like cheap paint.

“I-I didn’t follow you or anything, okay!? I just also happened to come to the cafeteria today, and I was like, ‘I wonder if Himemiya-kun’s here?’ and then boom! You were! That’s all!”

“Don’t let your thoughts leak all over the place…”

“Ahem… Mind if I sit next to you?”

Jeez… you’re terrible at switching gears, huh.

After slurping down the last of my noodles, I glanced around the cafeteria—just in case. But yep, every seat was still packed. Nowhere for a lone wolf like me to migrate to.

Sigh. Guess I’ve got no choice.

“…Go ahead.”

“You so didn’t need to throw in that little pause just now, right…?”

“Don’t worry about it. I needed that.”

Misaki gave me a classic dead-eyed stare, but I paid it no mind and resumed eating. Meanwhile, she was already waving someone over.

“Erena-naa, Rurii~! Over here, over here!”

“Oh! Himemiya, huh? I think this is the first time we’ve actually talked!”

“Same here. First time for me too.”

The two girls Misaki called over sat down across from us like it was the most natural thing ever.

And just like that, the already dazzling aura around our table bloomed into full-on hanami festival vibes.

“Himemiya-kun, even if I don’t introduce them, you know who they are, right?”

“Well yeah. We’re classmates.”

The moment I said that, I locked eyes with the more upbeat one sitting across from me.

Of the three, she was a size smaller, hair tied into twin ponytails with soft curls at the ends, wearing natural makeup that made her features pop. Her oversized cream cardigan and bright red sneakers gave off a bubbly, pop-idol kind of energy.

With a cheeky grin, she pointed to her face and went, “C’mon, say my name~ Say it~!”

“Kurashiki Ruri.”

“Whoaa! You even remembered my full name? That’s so sweet of you! Man~ am I just that memorable? I’m gonna blush!”

“I just memorized most of the names when we got the class contact sheet.”

“Geez, no need to say it with a straight face! Let me dream a little!”

She puffed her cheeks in mock offense but was immediately distracted, holding up a piece of fried chicken like it was a philosophical debate.

“Hey Karin, what would you put on tatsuta-age?”

“Hmm… I’d say just sauce, keep it simple.”

“Boooring! I’m going with shichimi mayo~”

“Then why did you ask me?!”

“Duh, because I wanted to see that reaction!”

Kurashiki flashed a mischievous grin, showing off a small fang as Misaki glared at her, fuming.

“Pass me the mayo and shichimi~” Kurashiki said. I handed them over, only to catch the gaze of the girl sitting diagonally in front of me.

Her long, perfectly straight black hair had that yamato nadeshiko feel to it. The way she wore her uniform—just enough to not break dress code—had none of Kurashiki’s poppy flair, but instead gave off a calm and graceful vibe that totally suited her. She was tall, well-proportioned, and mature-looking—more refined than your average high school girl. And even through her blazer, it was… obvious that certain features of hers had gravure potential, not just model-tier.

“Hatori Erena, right?”

“Yeah. Nice to meet you.”

She gave a soft, elegant smile—just for a moment—then turned her gaze away from me.

“Itadakimasu,” she said with a small bow before beginning to eat.

And with that cool, calm air next to the high-energy Kurashiki, her graceful presence stood out even more.

From what I’ve seen, Misaki, Kurashiki, and Hatori are one of the more popular trios in our class. They’re always hanging out during breaks or after school—but they’re not a closed-off clique either. I’ve seen them mingling with all kinds of groups, guys and girls alike. If I had to label them among the riajuu squads, they’d be the “chill and wholesome” type or maybe the “just here for good vibes” crew.

…Not that any of that matters to me, of course. I’m flying solo.

So you thought bringing along a cute girl and a beautiful girl would shake my ‘loner’ identity, huh? Big mistake.

I gave Misaki a pointed glare, as if to say, “I’m not the type of guy who’s that easy.” But Misaki? She was too busy chomping down on a rolled omelette, completely unfazed, moving her mouth like she was in her own world.

When she noticed my gaze, she casually grabbed the remaining rolled omelette from her bento with her chopsticks and placed it on my plate. I wasn’t staring at it because I wanted it, you know…

I thanked her in my head and tossed the omelette in my mouth. Even cold, it was fluffy, and every bite was packed with the rich, savory flavor of dashi. My resistance softened.

“Mmm, it’s good.”

Misaki smiled shyly, the kind of smile that was so sweet it made her seem almost too adorable.

“I like cooking. I made it with some noodle soup base.”

Looks like her bento was homemade.

As I mentally applauded her newfound skill, Kurashiki smirked and teased, “What’s this? A bakappuru situation, huh?” She stretched out her chopsticks toward Misaki’s bento. Misaki lifted her bento to block her. 

(T/N: Not sure how to tl it in english while keeping the meaning. It’s a combination of Baka(stupid) and Kappuru(Couple). Basically a silly couple.)

“No food for anyone who calls us that.”

“Then you’re not a bakappuru, but a real couple, huh? How nice, Himemiya. Karin officially approves.”

“Kurashiki, you know, even I can get hurt too.”

“I’m the one hurt by what you just said!”

“Nyahahahaha! So now you’re married, huh?!”

Laughing, Kurashiki swiftly snatched a spring roll from Misaki’s bento when she wasn’t looking, popping it straight into her mouth with a victorious grin. Misaki, lips pursed in frustration, silently fumed at her. Meanwhile, Hatori simply observed their banter with a warm, amused smile, sipping her tea slowly.

Kurashiki, looking like she was changing the topic, asked casually, “By the way, you two. How’s the progress on the friendship event coming along?”

“It’s going well. Himemiya-kun’s been doing his part, so things are moving smoothly. I think the only big decision left is where to pick for the venue.”

“Avenue?” Hatori tilted her head, curious.

“Well, we’re thinking of somewhere near the school, maybe around Sannomiya, where everyone can easily gather. But it’s still up in the air. Do you have any preferences?”

“Oh, oh, oh! Somewhere we can have delicious cake!”

“How about you, Erena?”

“Somewhere with a nice atmosphere, I guess…”

Kurashiki leaned closer to Hatori with a teasing grin.

“As expected of Erena, all mature. Now I feel like I’m the childish one for suggesting cake.”

Hatori turned her face away slightly.

“…I think it’s fine to be seen as cute.”

“Gahh! You just had to deflect it like an adult, huh? I wanna be an adult too!”

Kurashiki gave Hatori’s chest a playful pat with a “peshi peshi” sound. Even Hatori, who was usually composed, jumped slightly, her shoulders lifting in surprise at the overly familiar touch.

When it comes to sexual harassment, I guess Kurashiki’s a full-fledged adult too. A true-born old man in that regard though.

“Lucky… Your chest is so impressive, you could probably balance a spoon on it.”

“Don’t even try it…”

“Hey, Ruri! Don’t do weird stuffs in front of a boy!

“Then, Himemiya, close your eyes!”

“You cheeky little brat!”

Kurashiki laughed it off like it was just a joke, then plunged her spoon into the bowl of egg soup she was about to eat and stirred it around.

“Seriously, Ruri… Erena, if you don’t like something, you gotta say it clearly, okay?”

“Yeah. Thanks,” Hatori replied with a wry smile, showing no signs of being angry with Kurashiki as she resumed eating.

They were a well-balanced trio. The free-spirited Kurashiki was anchored by the mature Hatori, while Misaki, who was good at handling people, smoothed things over between them. In less than two weeks, they’d already given off the vibe of a close-knit trio.

Trying to get back on track, Misaki pulled out her student handbook and pen from her chest pocket. “Let’s see… somewhere with a good vibe and delicious cake…” she murmured, jotting down the two’s requests.

Once she finished writing, Misaki seemed to be racking her brain for a good spot, but nothing came to mind right away.

“Himemiya-kun, do you know any good places?”

Somewhere stylish and tasty near school or the station, huh…

“Saize or Royal Host?”

“Were you even listening!?”

“Pffft—!”

“……”

Misaki stared at me in shock, Kurashiki burst out laughing, and Hatori… just kinda pulled back, her expression unreadable.

“Himemiya-kun! You volunteered to be the organizer, right? So let’s pick a place that’ll make the whole class look up to you! This is about hospitality, got it? H-O-S-P-I-T-A-L-I-T-Y!”

“Nyahahaha! I mean yeah, they do look kinda fancy at first glance, and they do have cake, but still! Himemiya, you’re a genius! But we can go there any ol’ time after school! We literally even went yesterday!”

“…I really think you should give it a bit more thought.”

…What is wrong with these people? Did a family restaurant kill their parents or something? Hatori, the one who usually speaks the least, just hit me with the most cutting remark of all.

But still. If even the “class rep” types are this strongly against it, then it’s pretty obvious most of the class will be too. I guess I just have to admit—my sense of taste is dead.

“Haah… I thought I was gonna laugh myself to death… I didn’t know you were this funny, Himemiya. I pegged you as the quiet type, but turns out you’re a total natural airhead. Ultimate surprise impact.”

I was just about to complain to Kurashiki, but then Misaki’s eyes sparkled out of nowhere, her energy spiking to max.

“Right!? Himemiya-kun’s, like, kinda weird, or rather, really unique and funny! I always think it’s such a waste he doesn’t get closer with everyone! Erena, you think so too, right!?”

“Maybe,” Hatori replied ambiguously.

…Ugh. This whole vibe’s turning into a hassle.

And trouble loves company.

“Oh, it’s Karin and the gang.”

I turned toward the voice. There was Namikawa at the front of the group, greeting us with a breezy “Yo.” I recognized the group of guys and girls approaching us—they were the usual clique I’d seen hanging around the lockers. Real social butterflies.

I guess they’d been wandering around looking for a place to sit and spotted us—or rather, Misaki and the others.

Among them, Ikari, one of Namikawa’s cronies, noticed me slurping my noodles quietly and stared with a face full of question marks. Even without saying a word, his expression screamed, “Why the hell are you sitting with Karin and the others?” Impressive, in a dumb sort of way. His look was more puzzled than hostile—kind of like the face my little sister Yuzu makes when she’s struggling with math drills. Straight-up dumb-looking.

Don’t stare so hard. What did I even do? If you’re gonna gawk, at least do it with the kind of awe you’d have if you just spotted that mouse from the magical theme park. …Wait, no, that’d be creepy too.

Look, I’ll let you gawk if I have to, but at least wear deodorant with no scent, okay? This salty soup mixed with your intense citrus-mint freshness is a full-on flavor clash.

“Namikawa-kun, you’re having lunch pretty late, huh?”

“Hinaga was slow coming back from P.E.”

Namikawa gave a strained smile and turned his head.

“My hair just would not cooperate, okay? I even hurried, believe it or not!”

That was Endou Hina, speaking in her whiny-cat voice as she playfully poked at Namikawa.

Her light, fluffy permed short hair had so much volume and style, it almost made you forgive the delay. She wasn’t just about hair, either—her makeup was on point, clearly someone who knew how to present herself in the cutest way possible.

The two girls chatting behind her, Uragase and Watasumi, were dressed just as eye-catchingly. The whole group gave off major “We’re loving high school life!” energy. But honestly, they were so done-up, unless you were high up in the social ladder or really into gyaru types, it was hard to even approach them. I’ve never seen them talk to anyone from the bottom rungs like me, and from the way they look and act, it’s painfully obvious what they think of us.

They can go ahead and live their best gyaru life, but I really wish they’d go easy on the perfume. Salted soup and that cloying floral scent? It’s like a flavor war in my mouth.

Suddenly, the group sitting next to us stood up, having finished their meal.

And right on cue, Namikawa asked,

“Mind if we sit here?”

Such a smooth and smart way of speaking. If this guy ever said, “Ore’n toko konai ka?”—“Why don’t you come to my place?”—I swear, the song One Night Carnival would start playing in the background.

“Huh?”

What’s this now? The ikemen looks puzzled. Seems like no one in Misaki’s group is answering Namikawa’s question.

Are these three just into ugly people or something? Sometimes you come across couples like that… you know, the kind where the guy’s like a beast and the girl’s a beauty.

“Can you hear me? Oi, Himemiya.”

“Hm? Ah, me?”

…Apparently, he was talking to me.

Not Misaki and the girls he’s friendly with, but me. Looks like even his personality is ikemen-level.

Don’t look at me like that, Misaki, with those disappointed eyes. And don’t you dare laugh, Kurashiki.

Still, how long is Namikawa gonna keep flexing his ikemen aura at me before he’s satisfied? If it were me, I’d never get close to someone who comes out the gate showering themselves in self-praise.

As I tried to sneak a glance around the room, Misaki caught me and scolded me with a sharp, “Ah! Not this again!” Hey, it’s part of my co-dependency disorder, so cut me some slack.

When I gave the okay with a “Go ahead” to share our table, Namikawa replied with a casual “Thanks” and plopped down in the empty seat. His friends followed like synchronized swimmers. In the blink of an eye, we’d morphed into a full-blown ten-person group, counting me too.

With this many people, the dining table naturally became a chaotic mess—a lively one, though.

In the midst of the festive mood, I couldn’t help but think: Why am I even here? Am I the group’s official note-taker or something? Nope. Can’t even do that. I’m invisible.

That’s how little I fit in here—totally out of place among the members.

Right now, the hot topic of conversation is that school drama that started airing this spring. Since it’s based on a shoujo manga and aimed at teens, it’s the perfect subject for the riajuu crowd.

From the Endou squad, Watasumi and Urogase go:

“Tsubasa-kun played by Yamato is just too much! If I had to date someone, I’d definitely go for the salty-faced type!”

“I think sauced-faced guys are hotter. I’m team Tomu all the way.”

As I shove fried rice into my mouth, I ponder… what’s with this trend of comparing guys’ faces to condiments? If you’re gonna pick a boyfriend based on seasoning, why not just sprinkle some on random dudes’ faces and leave them in the fridge overnight to turn them into your type?

Also, would someone please do something about that sickeningly sweet perfume? My fried rice has turned into a literal treasure chest of flavors. I want to cry.

From Namikawa’s crew, Ikari and Natsugoshi chime in:

“Nina was still suuuper cute! That figure of hers should be illegal!”

“Ugh, not into Nina’s current hairstyle. You’re really into half-Japanese models, huh? You said Ameri was cute before, too.”

As I stuff a gyoza in my mouth, I think… just how many half-models and half-talent idols are there now? Nina, Ameri, Heidi… I can’t keep up anymore.

Also, seriously, what’s with that strong deodorant smell? My gyoza is about to go Super Saiyan.

And so, it hits me like a truck. The very fact that I’m thinking about dumb stuff like this proves it—I’m not cut out for the riajuu group. How could I fit in with people who care more about how the cast looks than the actual story? Not that I want to.

“Himemiya-kun, do you watch the drama?”

“Nah. I was watching a documentary.”

Sorry, but yeah, I didn’t watch that show at all. I was watching the documentary airing in the same time slot. Last night’s “The Counterattack of the Downtown Screw Factory” was peak entertainment.

Misaki probably keeps trying to include me so I won’t feel left out. She throws conversation my way every now and then or seeks my opinion. She’s too nice. She should just focus on the riajuu group and not worry about me.

I just want to get out of this space ASAP and chill alone.

“Erena, what type of guy’s face do you like~?”

From across the table, I see Hatori being roped into a conversation by Watasumi.

Maybe because it came out of nowhere, Hatori flutters her long lashes slightly.

“I don’t really have a type… I guess?”

While the rest of the group gets hyped over which face is hotter, she gives a cool, mature answer—totally fitting for her image.

Meanwhile, Kurashiki’s over there raising her hand like a kid desperate for attention.

“If he’s hot, I don’t care what type he is! If I can swing it, I want a college boyfriend!”

“Ruri, you dream way too big.”

“Say what!? Don’t get cocky just ‘cause you’re hotter than most, Shuntarou!”

“I’m not getting cocky!”

Kurashiki and Namikawa’s exchange sends the whole table into a burst of laughter.

However, Hatori was different. Her reactions were noticeably more subdued compared to the others. She was smiling, but it was clear she was forcing it.

Could it be that she’s bad with romantic talk? Or perhaps, when it was just the three of them, she was more reserved, and when it comes to group dynamics, that inclination becomes even more prominent?

While the group continued to laugh and watch the exchange between Kurashiki and Namikawa, Hatori stopped smiling first, then let out a small sigh, almost imperceptible to anyone else. That sigh… it felt like one of relief, as if she was just taking a breather.

After she composed herself, Hatori looked up, and our eyes met.

She looked mildly surprised that I had noticed her, and once again, she fluttered her long lashes, but quickly returned to a soft, serene expression, offering me a gentle, almost wistful smile as she subtly raised the corners of her mouth.

It felt like she was saying, “We’re both out of place here, aren’t we?”

Suddenly, I felt another gaze, and as I looked toward it, our eyes locked. I shouldn’t have looked.

“By the way, why is Himemiya here?”

That was definitely not just in my imagination; I had been asked about.

The one who spoke was Ikari, and his voice was loud enough that it echoed across the table. I’d expected this kind of question at some point, but hearing it said out loud was still a bit of a hassle.

It’s a cruel situation. From my perspective, the real question should be, “Why are you guys here?”

I couldn’t tell whether Ikari was speaking with malice or just genuinely curious. The one thing I did know for sure was that it wasn’t a confession of affection, and that he clearly thought I didn’t belong here.

For him, as long as it made for good conversation or a laugh, that was enough.

“Maybe it’s because Himemiya is the organizer of the same welcome committee as Karin? And then, by chance, he ended up eating with these three,” said Natsukoshi, offering her explanation.

Once Natsukoshi’s deduction hit, Ikari dramatically slapped his forehead and exaggeratedly exclaimed, “Ah! That’s why!”

“Karin is just too kind to everyone! She’s like a Nightingale or something!”

Ikari laughed loudly, and his laughter was quickly passed on to the other girls from Endou’s group, who started giggling too. Even though they usually ignored me, now, at this moment, I was clearly in their sight.

People thrive on others’ misfortunes. “Meals made better by someone else’s misery.” I wonder how good the lunch tastes when I’m the one being ridiculed. Am I the side dish here?

Naturally, I was the one who felt like the “meatless” dish in this group. My appetite, which was already low, plummeted even further. This kind of real-jou vibe was truly the worst.

“Wrong! You’re way off!”

A bright, lively voice cut through the uncomfortable atmosphere and lifted the mood instantly.

It was Misaki.

“The organizer stuff has nothing to do with it. I just wanted to eat with Himemiya-kun, so I sat here. It’s more fun to eat together with everyone!”

Her words were undeniably in the spirit of a humanitarian. She smiled constantly, trying to change the atmosphere. True to her words, she was sincerely trying to get along with everyone.

Kurashiki, too, followed Misaki’s lead and flashed a playful smile at Ikari.

It wasn’t really a smile—it was more of a mischievous grin.

“Ikari, are you jealous because Himemiya took Karin from you?”

“Huh?!”

Kurashiki exaggeratedly moved her mouth, shouting “Jealousy, o-tsu~♪” and before long, the target of the laughter shifted from me to Ikari. I couldn’t help but witness Misaki and Kurashiki’s flawless teamwork in action.

Ikari, as if he didn’t care about being laughed at, dramatically reacted again.

“Actually… I was jealous of Himemiya-kun!”

The group erupted in laughter. I don’t get what’s so funny.

I can’t deny that I felt like I had been left behind, but oddly enough, the fact that I could sense that meant I could just fade into the background again.

“Alright then,” said Namikawa, like a true storyteller, trying to smooth things over. “Like Karin said, let’s all just eat happily together, yeah?”

And with that, everyone returned to their discussion about the drama they had been talking about earlier.

Without regard for the caste system, everyone was having fun together, enjoying a delicious, delicious lunch.

And they all lived happily ever after.

Or at least, that’s what you thought, huh?

I’m already at my limit. In fact, I even think I did pretty well to last this long.

I quickly drank the water from my cup and tightened my legs.

Misaki noticed I stood up and looked up at me.

“Hime…miya…kun?”

“Sorry to interrupt the fun, but I’m feeling sick, so I’m leaving.”

Misaki’s expression dramatically changed, like she didn’t expect those words. I could feel the gaze of Hatori, who was looking at me, her eyes widening—caught out of the corner of my eye. And not to mention the surprised looks from the rest of the crowd.

At this point, I couldn’t care less about the stares. I wasn’t going to back down.

“See ya.”

As I headed toward the tray return station, the further I got away from the “riajuu” group, the lighter I felt.

※ ※ ※

I wasn’t in the mood to head straight back to the classroom. I climbed the emergency stairs attached to the main building and made my way to one of my favorite spots, the top floor—the dance hall.

The quiet space, where no one came, was just perfect for calming my mind.

Sitting on the top step, I took deep breaths, over and over again.

“Hime…miya kun!”

“Misaki?”

Had she chased me all the way here? I saw Misaki standing there, breathing heavily, her shoulders moving up and down.

Her posture was entirely different from the usual, almost like a haunted figure.

She didn’t have her usual smile. Her face looked full of sadness, as though she was hurt.

“I’m sorry…!”

“Why the heck are you apologizing?”

“If I hadn’t sat next to you, then… well, you wouldn’t have gotten upset…!”

So that’s why she ran after me with all her strength?

Still the same idealist, or whatever you’d call it.

“It might have been because of you, Misaki, but it’s not your fault. If anything, you were being considerate towards me. I’m not angry—”

“I wasn’t being considerate!!”

“!”

Misaki put a hand over her chest, and while her breath was still erratic, she shouted her words, eyes filled with determination.

“I only did what I wanted to! I just wanted to eat with you, Hime…miya kun! I just wanted to talk with you!”

Ah. I’d forgotten. She’s not your average do-gooder.

Misaki is the type of person who would say something like, “Other people’s happiness is my happiness.”

That’s why, if I don’t say it clearly, it won’t reach her open heart.

I have to be blunt. I can’t be gentle with her.

“I’ll say it clearly. I’m never eating lunch with those people again. It ruins the food.”

“! But…!”

“Because it’s just impossible!”

“!”

I couldn’t hold back my anger and my voice became harsh. Misaki fell silent, unable to respond, a little stunned by my outburst.

At this point, I didn’t hesitate. I didn’t have that kind of feeling anymore.

Looking straight into Misaki’s eyes, I poured out everything that had been bothering me since lunch.

“While we were eating, those guys’ perfume and deodorant were so strong! It was disgusting!”

“….Eh?”

Misaki froze. I knew this might not be the right time to vent my frustrations, but at this point, I couldn’t stop myself.

“You didn’t mind it since you were upwind, but I was right under the AC! I had to eat while being bombarded with the stink of their perfume and deodorant! Of course, I felt sick! …Ugh… just thinking about it makes me sick again…”

“….”

“You know, even housewives and office ladies can wear some really strong-smelling stuff. It’s not just perfume or hair mousse; it’s stuff like body creams or even laundry softeners with aromatherapy beads in their clothes. Are they zombies or something? Do they think they can cover up their rotten smell with nice scents?”

“….”

“I just don’t get how they think mixing nice smells will make it smell better. The only time that works is with curry spices, that’s it.”

“Hey… Hime… miya kun.”

“? Yeah, what is it?”

I had the feeling that, in her emotions, Misaki had a hint of “disbelief.”

Why?

“Isn’t the problem with Ikari-kun and the others…?”

“Huh? They’re the problem! I told you, they’re the ones who sprayed their perfume and deodorants all over, even after gym class, and made me sick. …Wait, Misaki?”

What was it? Misaki, standing in front of me, was biting her lip tightly, glaring at me?

With each step up the stairs, Misaki rapidly closed the distance to me. When she reached right in front of me, she quickly plopped down next to me and started opening the package of her bento, carelessly tearing through the wrapping as it rested on her lap.

“I! I haven’t had lunch yet because I chased after you, Himemiya-kun! I’m eating it here!”

“U-uh… well, take your time—”

“Himemiya-kun, you’re eating here too!”

“……”

What is she angry about?

Honestly, I just don’t get girls like her, or people who have a ‘full and happy life.’ It’s beyond me.

※ ※ ※

“Eh? You’re already heading home for the day?”

After school. As I was passing between the main building and the cultural building, I bumped into Amami-sensei. Holding a bath bucket with both hands, she looked just like an elementary school kid going to the public bath.

What Amami-sensei probably wants to ask is whether I’m not using the private room today.

“I actually wanted to use it…”

“?!”

A little while ago:

“Unauthorized entry is prohibited! Please go home for today!”

“…”

In front of the private room. Misaki, who was already inside, stood in front of me with both hands raised in the shape of a large “X,” blocking my way. For some reason, she was wearing gym clothes.

“Why?”

“I’m going to clean this room!”

“Huh?”

Misaki seemed like she couldn’t wait to clean, practically squirming in place.

“You can see how much dust there is, right? This room is covered in dirt! And look—there’s even mold in the cracks of the bookshelf! If we leave it like this, it’ll affect your health, Himemiya-kun! Please! Let me clean your secret base thoroughly today!”

“Secret base…? I don’t mind if I ask you to, but why are you asking me?”

“I love cleaning!!”

And then, that smile…

Flashback Ended.

A girl who loves cooking and cleaning. A high-spec, capable beauty who can do housework…

If cloning technology advances to the point where we can create humans, I’m totally endorsing her.

Well, it’s unfortunate that I can’t use the room, but if she’s going to clean it for me, I guess I can’t complain. Because of that, I was about to leave school and head to a quieter place.

When I explained the situation, Amami-sensei nodded understandingly. “Oho, so that’s why.”

Then, as if it were fate that we bumped into each other, she asked, “So, how’s everything going with the organizing committee for the social gathering event?”

“It’s progressing smoothly. I think it’s going well.”

“Well then, you’re getting along with your classmates, huh? ♪”

“Goodbye.”

“You’re not getting away!”

She grabbed my arm with a small hand, not letting me go. It would have been easy to shake off a little girl’s grip, but when she closed her eyes, trembling, and put all her strength into it, her grip tightened in a way that felt completely different.

That desperate posture of trying to stop me reminded me of Yuzu, who always comes to me asking for help whenever she gets herself into trouble. I think I saw Yuzu in the cafeteria during lunch, but maybe I was imagining it.

“I’ve come to realize once again that I’m really not good with people who are into that ‘perfect life’ stuff. Honestly, it almost made me want to throw up.”

I confessed, thinking about the cafeteria incident.

I thought she would be exasperated with me, but Amami-sensei released my arm and nodded thoughtfully, before smiling.

“I see, I see.”

“You’re not angry?”

“Well, if you say ‘I’m really not good with it,’ it means you’ve at least tried to communicate. There’s nothing to be mad about.”

“Is that so?”

“Exactly. I’m not telling you to be best friends with everyone in your class. I just want you to be able to get along with a variety of people.”

“Just that? Doesn’t that seem like a tough thing to do?”

“Of course, it’s not easy. But, that’s why you should try hard with Misaki-san.”

“With Misaki, huh…” I muttered to myself. My relationship with Misaki would only last until the end of April. For me, who prefers being alone, it’s still a business-like relationship.

“I think, you and Misaki-san have similar goals.”

“Me and Misaki?”

“Yes, because you’re both trying to learn communication skills. Misaki-san is doing it voluntarily, while you’re being forced to, but still…”

I might have been lured by the things around me, while Misaki was doing it for the love of something that can’t be explained. At this point, it seems like the way we live is a little different.

I guess, I prefer the way I live. Maybe it’s just my way of making excuses for myself.

But now that she says it, maybe we do have a similar goal.

It’s like we’re playing the same game, but in completely different ways. The image I have is that, while I’m leisurely progressing through the story in easy mode, Misaki is aiming for a full-on strategy, taking on monsters in hardest destruction mode, gathering all the companions, and trying to fully collect all the items and gear. Along the way, she’s also trying to collect me, the mob character.

She did say she wanted to get close to all the students, so I think it’s a generally accurate example.

While it might be an achievement for Misaki, for me, it seems like it would just lead to a sense of futility.

Of course, the opposite is probably true as well.

※ ※ ※

Later that evening, around 5:30 PM.

Not being able to use the private room, I decided to head home alone, having enjoyed a relaxing tea at my favorite café near the school.

I arrived at the train platform, and when I looked up at the digital sign, there were about 10 minutes until the next train.

I sat down on one of the five benches lined up and was about to watch something on YouTube when a shadow stopped near my feet.

“Ah… Himemiya.”

“Eh?”

I looked up instinctively when I heard my name.

Standing in front of me was Hatori. It seemed like she was heading in the same direction as me, heading home.

“Hey.”

“Yeah.”

We exchanged greetings. Neither of us is the type to think that friends of friends are automatically friends themselves, so this was about the extent of our conversation. After all, Hatori is Misaki’s friend, but I’m not Misaki’s friend.

“?”

Hatori, though keeping a little distance from me, sat down on the bench. It was unexpected because I thought she was just going to leave.

However…

“…”

“Himemiya, what were you doing until now?”

“I was reading a book at the café.”

“I see. I’m in the library committee.”

“Ah.”

“…”

“Ah. It looks like the next train’s going to be delayed a bit.”

“Yeah, looks like it.”

“…”

“Himemiya, where do you live?”

“Rokai.”

“Really? I live in Ashiya.”

“Ah.”

“…”

The conversation between us was really slow… It felt like an elderly couple before divorce.

Well, that’s to be expected. The only conversation I’ve had with Hatori was in the cafeteria, “You’re Hatori Erena, right?” “Yeah, nice to meet you.”

It’s obvious that Hatori is more of the listener than the speaker in a conversation. If she, the quiet type, and I, the loner type, were to go home together, it would probably end up feeling like a wake. The real issue is that I have absolutely zero desire to talk.

Suddenly, my phone in my pocket vibrates.

At the same time, I hear a notification sound I don’t recognize, and I tilt my head in confusion.

I wonder when I changed the notification sound to something so cute. But when I checked, it turns out the notification was from Hatori. It seems like we both just happened to get messages at the same time.

“That’s a coincidence,” Hatori says with a smile, so I respond with a polite smile, “Yeah, what a coincidence.”

Hatori looks at her phone first, and her expression brightens just a little. The corners of her mouth lift slightly, but since I’m sitting next to her, she doesn’t seem to fully enjoy it. I wish she’d just pretend I wasn’t there.

A message comes in and she’s happy—does that mean boyfriend?

Man, I’m just realizing how much of a happy-go-lucky high school girl I sound like, and it’s honestly a little sad.

I’m not the type to dig into other people’s business, but I try to guess what kind of message might come to my phone.

It’s probably something like “Pick up milk on your way home” from my mom. About 80% of my phone’s messages are like that.

I glance at the screen and can’t help but open my mouth in surprise. I may have lost that bet, but the news was actually good. It wasn’t a message, but a notification from YouTube, letting me know there was a new video from my favorite game streamer, “2SIS.”

So, I guess I’m going to enjoy some game streams now.

Honestly, Hatori would probably have more meaningful conversations if she chatted online or something. She’s been glancing over here, so I’m sure she wants to engage with me. No doubt about it.

I open the YouTube app, feeling a bit selfish, and set my phone down on the bench next to me while I take my bag and dig around for my headphones.

Then…

“No way…”

I hear a shocked, almost disgusted voice from the side.

“You’re really going to watch a video while your classmate is sitting right next to you?” she must be thinking.

Sorry, but yep, I’m watching it.

Though I thought I should let her enjoy herself over there, I finally got the earphones out of my bag. I reached for the smartphone that was lying next to me.

But then, I couldn’t help but stop my hand.

It was because Hatori was staring at my phone on the bench.

“U-um… Hatori?”

Is she thinking something like, “Game streaming? Total otaku, so gross!”?

That didn’t seem to be the case. Observing Hatori’s expression, there was no sign of any annoyance or anger.

“This video… Could it be a DBD game stream…?”

“? Uh, yeah…”

I was surprised. The title of the game, Dead by Daylight (DBD), a survival horror game, came out of Hatori’s mouth—she was the type of adult-ish girl who didn’t seem like she’d be into such things.

“Who’s game stream are you trying to watch…?”

“Uh… it’s from a game streamer called 2SIS…”

“…? …Whoa.”

“Whoa?!! W-what!?”

Hatori, gripping my phone tightly, suddenly lunged toward the empty bench, practically throwing herself into mine!?

“~~!! I love them too! I LOVE 2SIS!!”

Her character completely broke. The poised, grown-up Hatori who had been exuding maturity was nowhere to be found. Instead, she leaned forward, eyes sparkling with purity and her cheeks blooming with a wide smile. Her emotions exploded as she squeezed the phone tightly to her ample chest.

Her machine-gun talk didn’t stop.

“When I got the notification for a new video from 2SIS, I wanted to watch it right away, but you were here, so I couldn’t… Oh, but wait! You got the notification at the same time! Maybe… Could it be… Ah! You’re going to watch the DBD stream?! I was so surprised, I had to talk to you about it!”

“Uh, yeah…”

“I’m terrible at games, but I LOVE watching game streams! The younger sister in 2SIS has such amazing game sense, and the older sister is great at team play and being the perfect commander! Otsuyon-san’s thrill-seeking games make me feel all warm inside just by watching!”

“Y-yeah… I’ll be continuing it now so—”

“I was so happy when I found out the new PS4 version of the DBD series was starting after season 3 ended! I love the teamwork between Otsuyon-san and the younger sister, but I also love when the younger sister goes solo as the killer!”

“I-I got it, just give me back my phone for now—-”

“Yesterday’s live stream too…!”

This girl is seriously so noisy…

By the time we got on the train, Hatori’s excitement had calmed down compared to when we were on the platform. Actually, I made sure to tell her to calm down.

We were now sitting side by side, as usual, with Hatori quietly listening. She wasn’t in front of me anymore.

“You listen to FM802 too, huh, Himemiya? I do as well! I’ve been really into Unison lately, and I’m so excited for their new single!”

“Seriously? Unison’s my favorite band too!”

“Really!?!” Hatori exclaimed, realizing she had gotten more excited than she expected, then quickly covered her mouth, embarrassed.

Hatori and I shared a lot of common interests, not just in game streaming.

She was like a subculture girl.

A subculture girl: A girl who loves subcultures, such as movies, artists or bands, comedy, books, photography, game streaming, and other niche interests that are passionately supported by a small group of people. They talk intensely and obsessively about the things they love, and in that sense, they’re a lot like otaku, I think.

“Do you have other game streamers you like, Himemiya?”

“Other than 2SIS, I’ve subscribed to four others…”

“Oh, I know them! They sometimes collab with 2SIS, right?”

“Yeah, that’s right. I first started watching them when they did a collab with 2SIS. Now, those four are my go-to streamers.”

“They look like they have so much fun when they play games!”

“I really love their laid-back vibe. It’s like the cast of Water Boys doing a game stream!”

“No way!? You like Water Boys too, Himemiya? I love it too, I have the whole DVD collection! Which part do you like? I love the dice travel one!”

“Hmm… Maybe The West Japan Motorcycle Tour… I don’t have the DVDs, but I re-watch the recordings of the marathon broadcast on CS.”

“You have CS!? Do you, by any chance, watch Game Center CX too?”

“I watch it every time. I’ve rewatched the Donkey Kong 2 and Zelda 64 episodes more times than I can count.”

“~~!! What should I do! We have so much in common, I can’t believe we’re not running out of time!”

“Hatori, quiet down in the train.”

“! U-uh… Yeah… …♪”

After this, Hatori kept talking non-stop, getting more and more passionate about the things she liked, like she was returning to her childhood. Sometimes she’d ask for my opinions or ask about new things I liked. Since we shared so many interests, I found myself talking more than usual.

The announcement about my station came, and I stood up a step ahead of Hatori.

“‘I’ll be going from here.”

Hatori, even after talking so much, didn’t seem like she was done. She let out a soft, lonely-sounding “Ah…”

And just like that, as the train slowed down, the bright, excited Hatori from before deflated like a balloon.

“U-um… Himemiya…”

“Hmm?”

“Could you… keep this between us and not tell Karin or Ruri…?”

The meaning of this was easily understood—it was clear she was referring to the fact that she’s a “subculture girl.”

“Well, it’s fine, the two don’t know?”

“…Yeah.”

Hatori was still staring intently, perhaps worried that someone might talk about it.

“Don’t worry. I won’t tell anyone. Besides, I don’t even have any friends to tell.”

Was that a satisfactory answer? Hatori nodded once, smiling at me as if to say “thank you,” seemingly relieved. How much trust did she have in my statement about not having any friends?

As we approached the station, the door to the train car opened, so I stood up to leave my seat.

“Yeah. Today was fun and made me happy. See you tomorrow.”

Hatori waved her hand a little as she spoke, her mood already back to normal.

Though, I didn’t know if “normal” meant “before” or “school life.” Either way, it was her usual self.

※ ※ ※

The Next Morning.

I’m the one on duty today. I left home 20 minutes earlier than usual, and received the daily log and classroom keys from Amami-sensei in the staff room.

After that, I made my way to the classroom, to open the door.

“…”

Leaning against the wall, sitting in a crouch, was Hatori, breathing deeply in her sleep.

It seemed like the best spot. Right in front of a window where she could catch the morning sunlight, she looked like a black cat basking in the warmth, soundly sleeping in a comfortable position.

If she was waiting for her turn as class leader, I’d have to wake her up. But, the fact that Hatori got here so early without being class leader made me feel uneasy for some reason.

She seemed so peaceful sleeping there, and I thought I should just leave her be.

However,

“Flower pattern…”

Hatori’s panties were fully visible. Instead of her, the panties seemed to be greeting me with an enthusiastic “Good morning!” as they were now on full display. She was leaning against the wall, sitting in a crouched position, but it looked like her posture shifted slightly during sleep, and the skirt fell down due to gravity. The accident was the result of that. Moreover, given her position, not only could I see her panties, but also her delicate thighs and other areas.

It felt like a mix of pity and a bit of an awkward pleasure.

If I left it like this, as more students passed by, they’d see Hatori’s panties greeting them too. No high school boy could miss a chance like that. Her panties were incredibly cute, and any guy would definitely not overlook them.

What does “incredibly cute panties” even mean? Well, they are cute, though.

But, this wasn’t the time for such trivial thoughts. The situation was urgent.

While crouching down, I tapped Hatori on the shoulder.

“Hatori, wake up.”

“…Hmm… Hime… Miya? …! Hime… Miya!”

“Y-yeah…!”

It was as if the sleepiness was all a lie. Hatori’s eyes instantly sparkled, and her expression lit up with excitement.

The smile I saw yesterday after school was right in front of me now. She was full of energy, even in the morning.

“The four-person game video you showed me, Himemiya, it was sooo funny! It was so funny that I ended up staying up late watching it!”

I see. It seems like staying up late caused her to fall asleep here. Now that I looked closely, I noticed faint dark circles under her eyes.

“Shall we talk inside?”

“No, I was reading a book alone—“

“‘Hurry up!’”

She didn’t even listen to me.

Did Hatori really come to school early, cutting into her sleep, just to talk about game streams with me?

It was surprising that she remembered I was the one on duty today, but then I recalled that Hatori was the one on duty yesterday. Our attendance numbers were consecutive, so she must’ve known.

After placing her bag on her desk, Hatori immediately took a seat in the desk in front of mine. I vaguely remembered a similar situation with another person in the past.

However, this time, Hatori was really talkative. She kept talking nonstop.

“Other streamers made Psycho Break too scary to watch, but with the four-person format, I could watch it while laughing! I’m curious about Psycho Break 2, but today is Minecraft! Even though so many streamers do the same thing, I never get bored of Minecraft!”

“O-Oh…”

“Right?! So, back to Psycho Break…”

Her machine-gun style of talking left no room for a break. If Hatori were a boxer, she’d be swinging full-force through every round, delivering punches non-stop. Her fists kept raining down, and even though I was down on the mat, she kept attacking me, almost like a mixed martial arts match. Someone, please stop her!

I had thought the same thing yesterday—Hatori’s excited mannerisms were a bit of a quirk. She kept pressing her fists and arms to her chest, so much that her blazer fabric strained under the pressure. It was mesmerizing, but honestly, I had no idea where to look.

“By the way! Himemi—”

“Finally, you sent me a message, and I don’t think this is just right, is it, Himemiya-kun?!”

Just as I entered the classroom, Misaki, with teary eyes, immediately started complaining at me.

I remembered the content of yesterday’s LINE conversation.

[Karin] The secret base has become all shiny and clean!

[Himemiya Haruichi] Thanks for cleaning it up.

[Karin] No problem! Let’s use it together from tomorrow!

[Karin] By the way, this is my first message from Himemiya-kun!

[Karin] What are you doing right now? I’m watching a foreign drama! It’s my recent obsession!

One hour later.

[Karin] You’re ignoring me because you think it’s annoying, right…?

[Himemiya Haruichi] Yeah.

Finally, a stamp of five consecutive, crazy, wild rabbit emoji came through.

That was what happened last night.

She really wanted to say something, huh? She came to school first thing in the morning.

Why do you guys know so much about the day’s schedule?

“Huh…? Erena?”

Misaki’s anger and dissatisfaction with me disappeared in an instant.

Seeing that I was talking to Hatori, who had entered the classroom—Misaki’s eyes widened in surprise.

Hatori was like a bird that could knock down even the strongest of winds.

“Uh, good morning…”

The rapid-fire talk from earlier had completely vanished, and now, both her hands were resting on her knees. She looked like a borrowed cat.

From just that, it was clear that Misaki and the others didn’t know about Hatori’s tastes or that she hadn’t confessed anything about herself.

I must have been really happy talking to my friend, Hatori, because Misaki was overjoyed and said, “You two are getting along! Let me join in too!”

Misaki, holding a chair, sat down next to Hatori and asked, “What were you talking about?”

I didn’t want to say anything unnecessary and get Hatori investigated. Besides, it was just a hassle.

“Nothing.”

“Even if Himemiya-kun is being mean, it’s fine because Erena will tell me, right? Right, Erena?”

“Se-secret…”

“Huh…?”

My friend unexpectedly exercised her right to keep secrets, and Misaki’s expression froze while still smiling.

Hatori, you could be a bit more skilled at hiding things.

It seems like Hatori wasn’t that quick at switching gears.

Once Hatori’s rapid talk was stopped, and Misaki froze, the classroom became a silent space. It was a nice atmosphere.

With that, I decided to enjoy reading. The two girls could take their time.

I pulled a novel from my bag and was about to start reading. However, Misaki, now unfrozen, sulked and threw herself onto my desk. Then, she puffed her lips and glared at me with a pouty look.

“What’s wrong?”

“You talk to Erena, but you won’t talk to me… It’s so depressing.”

She wasn’t forgetting about the LINE incident.

“It’s not like that, Misaki.”

“Huh?”

“I’m ignoring you just because I don’t need to be conscious of you.”

“I’m not happy at all!”

※ ※ ※

The second period was a moving classroom. Everyone started gathering their texts and materials for the next class and left the room in their usual friend groups. Normally, I would leave early and kill time at the new classroom, but today was my turn as class monitor. I patiently waited for everyone to leave.

Before long, I was the only one left in the classroom—Himemiya Kingdom had been built.

Alone, at last.

I decided to enjoy the last moments of solitude, taking out a book from my drawer and opening it.

“Himemiya.”

“Huh?”

I looked up at the voice

“…You again…?”

and saw Hatori’s face peeking through the hallway entrance.

“No one’s left?”

“Yeah, everyone left except for you.”

“♪”

As soon as I finished speaking, Hatori entered the room with a displeased look, closed the door behind her, and then shut the one in the back as well. It was clear she wasn’t here to help with the class monitor duties.

Himemiya Kingdom, demolished in an instant. All the doors and windows were sealed, creating a semi-closed space.

Hatori, the culprit, approached me at a quick pace. I almost wanted to ask, “Am I going to get killed now?” But Hatori’s expression was far from angry or hateful—it was a beaming smile.

“Don’t you want to go with Misaki and Kurashiki?”

“I told them to go ahead. I was waiting in the hallway.”

Hatori borrowed the chair next to mine and set it right beside me, sitting down.

She took out her phone and earphones from her pocket, handing one earphone to me.

“Want to listen to Unison’s new coupling song together?”

“No… Wouldn’t it be better if we just listened on our own phones—”

“Quickly.”

Before I could finish speaking, she gently put the earphone into my right ear. It felt oddly ticklish to have someone touch my ear.

Hatori herself adjusted her long hair and plugged the earphone into her own ear. For a moment, her side hair disappeared, and I could see her face lighting up with an excited expression. For some reason, my heart started beating faster.

I straightened my back without thinking, and the earphone wire stretched tight. If it stretched any further, it would fall out, so Hatori got closer to me.

“Hey, you’re too close…”

We were basically sitting together now. Our bodies were touching, and our faces were close too. Her chest was against my right arm. She was so absorbed in the moment that she didn’t even notice.

“Let’s listen, okay?”

“Uh, sure…”

I couldn’t tell her that her chest was pressing against my arm, so I focused on listening, trying to shut out all my confusion.

Before I knew it, the song had ended.

“How was it?”

“…It was amazing.”

“Told you! What part did you like?”

“The soft parts…”

“Soft?”

“Ah! No, no, that’s not it! I meant delicate! Soft, in that way!”

A typical high school boy could never focus on music when you need to pick between chest and music.

This is bad. At this rate, I’ll just fall into becoming a perverted critic…!

Fortunately, I managed to listen to the same song yesterday already.

“Ahem… Since it’s a ballad with a different melody from usual, I might be a bit confused at first, but in the end, the unique lyrics are still in unison, just like always. By the time the chorus starts, I don’t even notice the difference anymore—actually, it feels like I’ve reached new territory, honestly.”

When you’re feeling guilty, you really feel it in your speech, don’t you? Like your tongue gets a bit more twisted than usual, as I’m quickly reminded of.

“The lyrics of Unison are so full of unique expressions and phrasing that it’s hard to understand them just by reading them alone, but once the rhythm and vocals are added in, it’s strangely easy to grasp.”

Nodding to myself as if agreeing with my own words, I take out my earbuds and hand them over to Hatori, since it’s already that time.

? Hatori was moving her lips a little.

“Hatori, what’s wrong?”

“…Ama.”

“Ama?”

“Amaaaaaa~zing!! I totally get it!!!”

Apparently, she was so happy that our thoughts matched that she not only grabbed the earbuds but also squeezed my right hand with both of hers.

But that wasn’t the end of it.

“!? Y-you…!”

Hatori’s habit kicked in. Without realizing it, my right hand was pressed into her chest, squeezed tightly against her soft, bountiful figure. 

The warmth of Hatori’s plump, soft fruit and her body temperature completely took over my right hand, spreading through my entire body and even my brain. Even someone as cold as me felt my face start to burn.

Maybe it was because my hand was giving off an unusually hot sensation…

“….F-fue…?”

It was only then that Hatori realized where my right hand had sunk—into her chest.

With a deep blush on her face, her glistening eyes looked up at me. And the distance? Super close.

“O-oi…”

“H-Himemiya…!!!”

The motion was MAXED OUT. Hatori’s grip loosened, and my right hand was finally freed from its “heavenly” prison.

“~~~Uuuh! I-I’m going to the next classroom now!!!”

Her words came in a rush, and she sprinted out of the classroom like she couldn’t take it anymore, fleeing from me.

I was left alone in the silent classroom. What remained was the lingering sensation of her chest still imprinted in my right hand.

“…I should go too…”

Next class was by roll call, so sitting next to each other was incredibly awkward.

※ ※ ※

Afterward:

Even after that, Hatori continued to stealthily engage me in discussions about subculture topics whenever she could sneak up on me.

It was almost like she was an assassin. Every time I was alone, she’d appear without fail. The one-on-one defense against a person who likes being alone? It’s basically bullying at this point.

During class, she’d talk to me in writing as if she’d completely forgotten about the earlier incident.

During the break between second and third periods, I’d find Hatori waiting for me after I came out of the bathroom. She’d lead me to some secluded spot, and, of course, force me into casual conversation.

She’d always do things like making me touch her embarrassing parts, sending me messages, waiting for me in the bathroom, and leading me to empty spots… It felt like we’d switched places. If the roles were reversed, I’d probably be in the detention room right now. Beautiful people are so unfair.

Sharing things you like is fun… but do I want to do it constantly? NO. Personally, I prefer quietly enjoying what I like on my own, rather than talking about it. I’m more of the input type, not the output type.

So, as long as this continues, I really don’t like being approached like this while I’m at school. If this keeps up, I’ll be stuck hanging out with her after school too. And that’ll probably lead to my secret hideout being discovered. I really don’t want two more noisy people around.

I need to solve this problem somehow…

Lunch break. I finished my lunch and enjoyed some alone time at my desk. I read through the novel I was planning to finish by the morning, taking my time.

Hatori was sitting near me, but thankfully, she didn’t approach me. Misaki and Kurashiki were sitting together, chatting as usual.

Thanks, Misaki. I’ve never meant it before, unlike now. I’d tell you, but I won’t.

The three of them were talking while flipping through a fashion magazine Kurashiki had brought. On the cover, in big bold letters, it said: “From Iron Plate to Trendy! Women’s Wear That Will Knock Him Off His Feet!”—it looked more like an assassination guide than a fashion magazine.

I wonder if they’re introducing a sniper rifle that’s recommended for early summer…

“This dress is so cute! The price is—… Ughh~…”

It seemed like the price was a bit too steep for Kurashiki, who let out a heavy sigh and slumped her shoulders.

Misaki and Hatori, who had peered in as well, also gave a bitter smile.

“Clothes and items featured in magazines are usually pretty expensive, so you end up having to buy something similar instead.”

“Yeah, that’s the truth… Huh?”

Suddenly, Kurashiki made a suspicious sound, glancing between Hatori’s feet and the magazine, back and forth.

“The loafers the model’s wearing… don’t they look just like the ones Erena’s wearing?”

“Really? Let me see!” Misaki exclaimed, her face lighting up as she compared the two.

Having been talking about prices, Hatori seemed a bit uncomfortable. She quickly raised her heels and hid her shoes in the blind spot under her seat.

“I think they’re just similar…”

Kurashiki wasn’t having it, though, and leaned in closer.

“Are you sure~?”

“Y-Yeah…”

It wasn’t going to be that easy.

“Doubt it! Karin, grab Erena!”

“Got it!”

“Kyah!”

Misaki, while apologizing, suddenly hugged Hatori from the side to restrain her. Usually, Misaki would be the one trying to stop things, but when it came to fashion, she was all in, teaming up with Kurashiki.

“Nice one!” Kurashiki cheered, squatting down at Hatori’s feet and firmly grabbing one of her legs. She immediately began checking the shoes.

She carefully examined every corner, and as expected, the result came back exactly as she had guessed.

“I knew it! They’re the same! And from a famous brand! This bourgeoisie!”

“Th-That’s not it… I just bought something a little better than usual since I use them every day…”

“A little!?!”

“Ugh… That’s not what I meant…”

Kurashiki had dug herself into a hole with that statement.

Kurashiki had clearly lost it. From the front of Hatori, she jumped at her as if she were pouncing. No, it was more like an assault. She wrapped her hands around Hatori’s waist and buried her face into Hatori’s large chest, looking like a total spoiled brat.

“Youu!? I’m just a poor little girl with cute legs, so sneakers are perfect for me! But Erena-sama, with her beautiful legs, looks amazing in classy loafers!”

“So embarrassing…”

“I don’t care! To make up for my hurt feelings, let me sink my face into your huge boobs!”

Kurashiki was showing no signs of letting go, continuing to cling onto Hatori. The more she pressed her face into Hatori’s chest, the more her expression melted into a satisfied, blissful look. It seemed like the healing effect of the chest was powerful.

“It’s so warm, soft, and fluffy… I can’t resist it~…”

I could understand how Kurashiki felt from experience.

Hatori, wanting to at least get Misaki to let go, stared intently at her. Misaki, noticing Hatori’s gaze, thought for a moment before flashing a smile.

“For payback, let me hug you more~♪”

Misaki, even closer now, tightly pressed her cheek against Hatori’s, making full contact.

“Even Karin…!? Nnn…! You two, stop! It’s so ticklish…!”

Misaki and Kurashiki weren’t angry at all; they were simply enjoying the skinship with Hatori. As they laughed happily, Hatori, though embarrassed, couldn’t help but smile along with them.

The scene of the three beautiful girls bonding and being all yuri-yuri was enough to have all the boys, including me, captivated by the sight.

“Seriously~?! Erena’s loafers are just like the ones in the magazine~!”

“Wow~!” they said, clapping their hands in excitement. It was none other than Queen Endou Hina, coming over with her two followers, still surrounded by her sweet perfume and syrupy voice.

After being approached by Endou’s group, the yuri-yuri time ended, and the boys reluctantly returned to reality.

Just like I thought during lunch, both groups, though different, were top-tier in the school hierarchy. Their appearances and personalities were clearly from different categories, but it seemed like they could get along.

Just as I thought the conversation would naturally shift to fashion, Endou suddenly clapped her hands and exclaimed, “Ah! This might be a great idea!”

“Hey, Erena, can you pick a place for our hangout?”

“…Me?”

“Erena?”

Not only Hatori, but even the organizer Misaki seemed unable to hide her surprise.

Anyone would be surprised. That had absolutely nothing to do with the conversation.

“Erena, you seem like the type who knows all the chic, stylish cafés, right? I’ve been really into café hopping lately~ So, take us to one of your recommended spots, Erena~♪”

Mature = knows trendy places. It’s a simplistic way of thinking, but I can’t deny it. High schoolers think like that.

“I only know as much as anyone else, I think…”

“That’s totally fine! Most people don’t even know that much♪”

Though Hatori was being humble, Endou didn’t seem to care at all. On the contrary, Urogase and Watasumi chimed in, saying, “I agree with Hina!” and “Agreeeeeed!” with all the force of a pushy power play.

Their audacity is almost admirable. Without even asking Misaki, the organizer, they’re trying to make Hatori choose the place. And Hatori has nothing to do with this.

“If everyone’s okay with it…”

After hesitating for a moment, Hatori agreed. Misaki, dropping her playful tone, asked seriously,

“If Erena helps, it’ll be a huge relief, but… are you sure?”

Hatori nodded, “Yeah,” then turned to me.

“Himemiya, is it okay with you?”

“Yeah, if you’re up for it.”

If she’s willing, it’s a win-win for me, so I had no reason to refuse.

“Yay! I’m so excited!”

Endou opened her hands, grabbed Hatori’s, and squealed with delight.

The scene was yuri-yuri, but it didn’t feel genuinely heartwarming.

Yuri built on someone else’s sacrifice doesn’t bring joy.

Besides, Hatori’s expression was completely different from before.

Alright. Time to focus on reading. With so many upper-caste JKs around, it’s impossible to concentrate.

I stood up, book in hand, and headed for a quieter place.

※※※

I arrived at my favorite spot: the landing at the top of the emergency stairs.

After stretching and settling in to read, I heard,

“Himemiya!”

“……”

I thought I’d escaped that chaos, so this caught me off guard.

Hatori had followed me, looking up from the stairs below.

A cute girl calling your name and approaching happily might be a heart-fluttering scenario, but for me, it was a danger signal. Cornered at the top floor, I felt trapped.

I considered fleeing back to the main building, but it was too late. She sat beside me and grabbed my sleeve.

Hatori seemed aware of her boldness, covering her mouth shyly.

“Now that we’re alone… let’s talk?”

“……Yeah.”

Escape attempt failed.

Hatori was in top form during this time too. As if her passionate speeches during breaks weren’t enough, she launched into a nonstop machine-gun talk about game streams and bands. Her eyes sparkled as usual, and her ample chest pressed against my arms—now a regular occurrence. It’s like a festival.

After finishing her monologue, Hatori took a breath.

“Sorry, Himemiya.”

“Hmm? What for?”

“For making you listen to my stories every break.”

She seemed aware she was imposing.

“Not just breaks—during class too.”

Hatori’s eyelashes fluttered at my sarcasm, and she puffed out her cheeks slightly.

“Don’t be so mean.”

For someone with a mature vibe, her childlike pout was unfairly adorable.

And then, the ultimate combo:

“Because…”

“Because?”

“……You’re the first person who can keep up with my stories……”

Most guys would fall for your charming, flirtatious line.

But you picked the wrong target, Hatori. I’m a solo enthusiast. I don’t need that kind of “first.”

“You don’t need me as your only listener. There must be plenty of people around you with similar tastes.”

More like, there definitely are.

“Yeah, there are, so from now on, you should hang out with them instead of me—

“No!”

Escape attempt failed. As I tried to descend the stairs, she grabbed my sleeve again.

She looked small, her voice timid.

“I want it to be you…”

“Why?”

“I don’t want anyone else to know about the things I like…”

“Am I some convenient guy or what?”

“N-No! That’s not it—

“I’m just joking.”

Finding it troublesome to retract her previous statement, she simply stopped talking.

“Is it because you’re embarrassed that you don’t want people to know?”

“Yeah. It doesn’t fit my character…”

“Hatori’s character?”

“Like, being mature or cool…”

Hugging her knees, Hatori murmured, looking down. Explaining her own image seemed to embarrass her. “You know, if you’re trying to act mature, worrying about others’ opinions is pretty immature, don’t you think?”

“But I am immature.”

What is this girl? She just declared herself a kid outright.

“Everyone says I’m mature, but I’m really not. I’m just quiet.”

Being mature and being quiet—they share the same kanji, so it’s a fine line, isn’t it? Because it’s such a fine line, I think they can be lumped together. But for Hatori, they seem to be different categories.

“Hina and the others think I know a lot about cafes, but I really don’t. I’m just like everyone else—I just started high school. I’ve never even been to a cafe alone.”

“That’s surprising. I totally thought you were a Starbucks girl, Hatori. …Huh? Wait, does that mean the venue for the social gathering…”

My fears were confirmed. Instead of her usual elegant smile, Hatori wore a melancholy one.

“Sorry, it feels like I’ve been deceiving everyone. I don’t know any trendy places.”

“Really…? Then you don’t have to force yourself to take it on.”

“It’s okay. I’ll look it up online or in magazines.”

“But you just said you’ve never been to a cafe…”

Hatori kept up her forced smile, trying to live up to everyone’s expectations of her being mature. It sounds noble, but it’s also a lie she’s clinging to. She’s tightening the noose around her own neck.

For Hatori, being seen as mature or cool is probably her way of navigating school life smoothly. That’s why she keeps her love for subculture hidden from everyone, even her close friends Misaki and Kurashiki.

Or maybe… it’s because they’re close that she can’t say it.

Seeing the three of them hugging each other in the classroom earlier, I can’t help but think that’s the case. Hatori must be afraid of disrupting their relationship.

“Whether Hatori is mature or not is beside the point. I think there are plenty of mature people who love subculture.”

“I think so too. But there are also quite a few people who dislike them just for being into subculture or being an otaku.”

“Can’t argue with that.”

“Right? With girls, if one person dislikes you, it feels like everyone dislikes you. It’s hard to talk about…”

Even someone like me, who doesn’t socialize with anyone regardless of gender, knows that girls’ friendships can be complicated. So I kinda get what Hatori’s saying. It feels like if a girl with strong influence says something is black, it becomes black, and if she says it’s white, it becomes white. Guys probably have something similar, but it seems more pronounced with girls.

The more I listen to Hatori, the more I think human relationships are just a hassle. I don’t see the point in blending into a group like that, or why anyone would suppress their individuality to that extent.

I couldn’t possibly understand. After all, I prefer being alone.

Even if Hatori confides in me, there’s no way I, a loner at the bottom of the social hierarchy, could give her any useful advice. To begin with, I’m not only a loner but also a complete nobody.

All I can do is mumble my thoughts.

“If you tell people about your hobbies and they stop being your friends, then cutting ties with them is the right move, in my opinion.”

“Huh?”

Hatori seemed completely confused by what I said.

“Why?”

“Why? Come on… If someone cuts ties with you just because they’re grossed out by your hobbies, or distances themselves because of what others say, that just shows what kind of person they are, right? You’re better off without them.”

Hatori blinked her long lashes in surprise.

“That’s… such a bold way of thinking!”

“No, no, it’s not bold at all. Imagine someone trashing your favorite game streamer, band, or variety show. Wouldn’t that piss you off?”

“It would… yeah, it would piss me off.”

She went from uncertainty to certainty, which shows Hatori isn’t half-hearted about her love for subculture.

“Right? The same people who say ‘ew, gamers are gross’ are probably playing Tsum Tsum on their phones or Mario Kart at the arcade. The ones who say ‘ew, anime fans are gross’ are probably watching dramas based on manga or crying over Your Name. People who judge others’ hobbies or just go with the crowd are the ones with loose rules for themselves and screws loose in their heads. You’re better off without friends like that.”

Hatori kept nodding along to my words, “Yeah… yeah…” In her eyes, I could see some kind of emotion stirring. It seemed like she realized she’d been too concerned about others and hadn’t faced herself at all.

The rest is up to Hatori. Whether she maintains the status quo or breaks out of her shell, it’s her life, so she should do what she wants.

There’s nothing more to say. Or rather, there never was.

As I stood up to finally head back to class, a familiar face appeared at the bottom of the stairs. It was Misaki.

“Himemiya-kun, were you brooding alone again? Wait, Erena’s here too!”

Is my behavior really that predictable…?

“Hey, seriously, when did you two become such good friends?” I ignored Misaki’s question.

“Misaki.”

“What?”

“I’ll be talking to you after school anyway, so leave me alone during lunch, okay?”

“Then I’ll make sure to talk to you plenty after school. And since nights are after school too, we’ll chat on the phone every day, okay?”

“My bad.”

“Just how much do you hate it!?”

Letting out a heavy sigh, I turned to Hatori, who was standing there nonchalantly.

“Life is full of things that don’t go your way… But if you don’t speak up, no one will know how you feel… I think I got that across to you…”

“……! Wait, did you go through all this just to teach me that…?”

Nope. I just did it for myself, to make a point.

But it seems like Hatori took the words of a fellow underdog to heart.

Taking a deep breath, Hatori stepped in front of Misaki.

Then she bowed deeply.

“I’m sorry…!”

Misaki was stunned by Hatori’s unexpected apology. “W-What’s going on!?”

“I don’t actually know any trendy cafes… I was just pretending to fit in and not let everyone down…”

Hatori’s voice trembled as she struggled to get the words out.

“And I’m not as mature as everyone thinks. I love YouTube gaming channels, up-and-coming bands, and late-night variety shows—I’m a total subculture girl! I’m sorry for hiding things and lying to seem more mature…”

“Wait, was this what you were keeping secret in the classroom this morning, Erena?”

“Y-Yeah…”

“Oh… That’s it? Thank goodness!”

“Huh?”

Misaki let out a sigh of relief, looking genuinely reassured.

Then, she smiled at Hatori, who had looked up.

“I was worried I might’ve done something to upset Erena.”

“N-No, not at all!”

“Okay. I’m glad we cleared that up.”

Seeing Misaki’s unchanged smile and reaction, Hatori cautiously asked,

“You’re not… grossed out or mad?”

“Why would I be? If anything, Erena doesn’t talk much about herself, so I’m really happy you opened up. Thanks for telling me!”

“……! Yeah…”

From my perspective, Misaki’s reaction was exactly as I’d expected.

After all, she’s the embodiment of universal love, Karin-sama.

“But I am a little jealous of Himemiya-kun. I thought I was closer to Erena, but he’s the one who knows your interests first.”

Hatori apologized, “Sorry,” but Misaki wasn’t upset in the slightest.

“Hey, Erena, can we look for a trendy cafe for the social gathering together?”

“……Can I really help?”

“Yeah♪ Let’s find a great place together!”

The two smiled at each other, clearly deepening their bond.

Yeah, yeah. What a wonderful friendship. Looks like my peaceful life will return soon.

As a gentleman, I tried to leave without disrupting their beautiful moment, but Misaki stopped me.

“Himemiya-kun, you’re coming with us to find the social gathering spot, right?”

“Huh…?”

※※※

Sixth period was homeroom, and the main event of the day was the seat change.

It was a completely standard method: each student drew a numbered slip of paper from a bucket, and then moved to the seat corresponding to the number on the blackboard.

Amami-sensei stirred the slips in the bucket, which was oddly shaped like a bathtub. Way too versatile for a bucket.

The most coveted seats were undoubtedly the last row. They’re out of the teacher’s direct line of sight, making it easier to chat or doze off without getting caught.

But the seat I wanted wasn’t there.

As soon as Amami-sensei finished mixing the slips, I spoke up.

“Sensei, I have bad eyesight, so I’d like a seat in the front.”

“Okay, Himemiya-kun, which seat do you want?”

“The leftmost one.”

Yes! I secured the front-row window seat.

This seat has been my favorite since middle school. It minimizes human interaction, gets great sunlight, and is a prime spot. Best of all, I can get it effortlessly just by saying I have bad eyesight.

My vision’s 2.0, but compared to the Maasai tribe, my eyes are bad.

I’ll keep using this line to secure the best seat in future seat changes.

“Sensei, I also have bad eyesight, so I’d like a seat in the front…!”

“Huh?”

I turned toward the voice. It was Hatori.

Hey… You’re not…

“Okay, Hatori-san, which seat do you want?”

“The one behind Himemiya.”

Seriously, that jerk…

The seat change was complete. When I turned around, there was Hatori, as expected.

I shot her a glare that said, “You chose that seat on purpose,” but she quickly looked away. She was wearing black-framed glasses, probably to emphasize her “bad eyesight,” but it was a futile effort. They made her look more intellectual and beautiful.

Talk about adding insult to injury.

When I turn to the right,

“Nice to have you as my neighbor, Himemiya-kun!”

“……Yeah.”

Misaki’s right there, though.

Why did this girl quietly pick the seat next to me? Your seat is a pretty bad draw for most people, so you should be more disappointed.

Misaki to my right, Hatori behind me. This is definitely going to be a noisy setup.

I guess it’s better than having loud, obnoxious couples around…

“Hmm?”

Suddenly, I feel a poke on my back. Turning around, I see Hatori handing me a small piece of paper?

It doesn’t seem like she’s telling me to “throw away the lottery slip trash,” but the paper is neatly and adorably folded.

I open it while facing forward.

Inside, there’s a message written in surprisingly round, cute letters: “Thank you for today. Please keep listening to me.” Below it, there’s also her LINE ID.

Keep listening, huh…

When I turn around again, Hatori notices my gaze and smiles at me.

Not just a smile, but a radiant, overflowing grin.

For that smile, I guess I can listen to her occasionally.

Occasionally, though.