You Girls Are Way Too Obsessed With A Lone Wolf Like Me - Volume 3 C - Prologue

Volume 3 C – Prologue

The moment I, Shirahoshi Arisu, met my destined prince… was on the day of my high school entrance exam, right after middle school ended.

It was early February, when every breath turned into a white puff in the cold air. I still remember it so clearly—the way not just my breath, but my mind went completely blank.

“A-ahh? Wait… this isn’t… my school?”

I had arrived at the high school where the entrance exams were being held, but I found myself frozen in place right at the school gate. Carved into the nameplate next to the entrance were the words: Hyōgo Prefectural Otozuka High School.

It wasn’t even close to the name of the school I was supposed to be taking the exam at. Not even if you turned it upside down and squinted.

In other words—I had come to the wrong exam site.

When it’s this big of a screw-up, it’s hard to even laugh it off. But since I couldn’t laugh, the word that floated up like a splash of ink across the white canvas of my now-empty mind was:

Despair.

And what comes after despair… are the eyes of everyone around me.

All the other examinees, probably my age, were walking past, giving me weird looks as I stood there like a statue, frozen and stunned. Some glanced at me with concern, sure, but still walked right by.

Can’t blame them. I mean, today’s the biggest event of our lives: the entrance exam.

I was the one who messed up. Nobody scolded me or anything.

But still, the more I felt their gazes, the more those negative feelings—anxiety, fear—just soaked into my body like cold rain.

All I could do at that point was at least try not to block people’s way.

I forced my legs to move—step by step—and quietly shuffled to the side.

Once I leaned against the wall, the tension left my body… and with it, my tear ducts loosened too.

Words escaped my mouth in a whisper, weak and hollow.

“My life is over…”

“…Oi, what’re you doing?”

“…Eh?”

I looked up from where my head hung low.

Standing there was a guy—probably a fellow examinee—with this laid-back aura around him, looking at me and actually talking to me.

It took me a moment to even register what was happening.

I mean, it’s not like I ever expected anyone to speak to me. Plus, I came from an all-girls middle school, so I hadn’t talked to a guy my age in ages…

“I said—why’re you acting like you already failed before the exam’s even started?”

“Ah, um… I… I think I came to the wrong school…”

“Huh?” His mouth literally dropped open, and he just stood there, stunned.

“You didn’t check the location beforehand or anything?”

“I was driven there by car last time, so…”

“Sounds like you didn’t prep enough.”

“Uuuhh…!”

“Ahh, hey, don’t cry. You’ll make it look like I made you cry.”

“S-sorry…”

This guy… he sure doesn’t pull any punches with his words.

“So, which school were you supposed to go to?”

“…Shinna Girls’ High.”

He pulled a smartphone out of his pocket and started fiddling with it effortlessly.

Back then, I didn’t even own a smartphone.

Just watching him use it like it was nothing made me feel like I was witnessing something new.

Not gonna lie… it looked kinda cool.

“It’s actually pretty close. If you catch a bus right now, you’ll make it.”

“R-really?!”

A glimmer of hope lit up my face, but only for a moment.

An “Ah…” slipped from my lips.

I didn’t even know which bus stop to head to.

“Hm? What’s wrong?”

“N-nothing! Really, nothing!”

There was no way I could tell him, “I don’t know what bus to take,” after he’d already helped me this much.

He looked at me—clearly not buying my fake pep—and muttered, “I see,” before turning to walk.

Back the way we came.

“If it’s nothing, then let’s go already.”

“Eh?”

“Eh, what? Don’t give me that look. From how you’re acting, I’m guessing you couldn’t even find the bus stop by yourself.”

“You’re… going to take me there?”

“Up to halfway, yeah. If it’s too much trouble, I’ll leave you here.”

“N-no! Of course not! Please! Thank you!”

With a little “what the hell is with her?” muttered under his breath, he started walking again.

I hurried to follow behind him.

Other examinees stared at us like what are those two doing? as we walked back the way we came.

But the guy didn’t care at all—he just kept walking with this quiet confidence, like nothing could faze him.

“Um…”

“What?”

“Why are you… being so nice to me?”

“Because I had the time.”

“…Because you had the time?”

“Yeah.”

His response was blunt—and honestly, kinda disappointing. I mean, I know it’s silly to expect something more heart-throbbing from the person who saved me, but still… a girl can dream, right? Just once, I wanted to hear something that would make my heart kyun~. Even if it was a fantasy, I wanted to believe in the whole prince-on-a-white-horse thing.

Almost like he could see right through my girlish delusions, he replied flatly:

“If I stuck my neck out for someone in trouble and ended up missing my entrance exams because of it, I wouldn’t be able to laugh it off. That’s not being nice—that’s just being stupid.”

He didn’t stop there.

“I’m not the kind of guy who’d go so far as to sacrifice himself just to help someone. I only helped you because you were in trouble and it wouldn’t cost me much to do it. That’s all.”

Yep. Harsh. Brutally honest. And definitely not the personality you’d find in some shoujo manga or drama prince.

But still…

“Fufufu…!”

“…What’s so funny?”

“Sorry. It’s just… your words might be sharp, but I realized you’re actually really kind.”

“…Haa?”

“Because you talk about helping someone right before entrance exams like it’s no big deal. That’s not something someone cold could ever do.”

He helps people as long as it doesn’t hurt him too badly. It might sound practical, even a little detached, but actually… it shows just how generous and warm his heart really is.

Most people wouldn’t even think of helping if there was a chance it might put them at a disadvantage.

But him? He helped like it was the most natural thing in the world. And not just that—he even answered my question honestly, with no sugarcoating.

“A normal person would’ve taken that time to memorize one more English word instead of helping me.”

“…Cramming last-minute doesn’t stick anyway.”

He muttered that, then turned his eyes forward again. I couldn’t tell if he was embarrassed… or just annoyed.

But for some reason, I didn’t care why. I just wanted to see his face. Really see it.

I picked up my pace so I could walk beside him instead of just staring at his back. I looked up, taking in his features from up close.

It was simple, really. That laid-back aura of his made him seem mature and cool. And those sleepy eyes? They looked like they could see through everything and everyone.

That’s when I knew for sure.

Ah… I’ve fallen in love.

He wasn’t exactly the prince I always dreamed of… but in terms of sheer coolness? He was way beyond anything I’d ever imagined.

“U-Um! Can you tell me your name?!”

“Nope.”

“Huh?”

“It’s not like I helped you out of some impure motive or anything. So there’s no reason to exchange names or contact info.”

“Th-That’s not fair! I won’t be satisfied if I don’t at least know your name!”

“Well I won’t be satisfied too,” he shot back, then pointed forward.

“See that bus stop? That’s the one. I’m headed off here.”

As he turned to leave, I couldn’t help but call out.

“W-Wait!”

“…What now?”

“Will we… will we meet again?”

“Who knows. But hey, if we both get into our first-choice schools, I guess there’s a chance we’ll run into each other on the way to and from school. We use the same station, after all.”

“R-Really?! Yes! Yes, you’re right♪”

All that despair I’d been drowning in just a little while ago? Gone. Vanished. Now, I had one burning thought in my mind:

I have to get into that school. No matter what it takes—so I can see him again!

The power of love really can blow away all the negative feelings in an instant.

“Good luck with the exam!”

“Yeah. You too.”

I wanted to keep watching until he disappeared from sight, but… my bus pulled up.

By the time I boarded, he was gone.

I didn’t even know his name. But I knew where he was aiming for school—and we shared the same station.

He seemed like the dependable type. I’m sure he’ll pass. The rest… is up to me.

Heart racing, I cracked open my study book.

Still dreaming of that nameless prince who stole my heart.