You Girls Are Way Too Obsessed With A Lone Wolf Like Me - Volume 3 Chapter 1: Himemiya Haruichi's Lone Wolf Summer Vacation

Volume 3 Chapter 1: Himemiya Haruichi’s Lone Wolf Summer Vacation

Lone Wolf Summer Vacation

Meaning: Spending a blissfully comfortable summer break all on your own.

…A phrase too cheap and shallow to ever make it into an encyclopedia, but I still gotta say—I’m impressed with myself for coming up with such a sweet turn of phrase. It’s only just the start of the second half of the year, but this one’s a top contender for My Personal Buzzword of the Year Award.

And hey, I’m the only judge on the committee, so no objections allowed. Not that there’d be any anyway, since I’ve got zero intention of telling anyone else.

I open up my phone and look over the list I made of things I want to try or enjoy during summer break.

One night, two days Kyoto sightseeing trip

Day camp (bonus points if it’s got fishing and hiking)

Learn how to brew really good coffee

Solo pool debut

Binge-watch my favorite game streamer’s archives

Binge-watch that movie/drama series I’ve been curious about

Plow through my growing tower of unread books

Go to a comedy live show

Sit in on a public radio show recording

…and so on and so forth.

Basically, the list is endless—summer break’s way too short.

Just like the so-called riajuu (people with fulfilling social lives) have all sorts of stuff they wanna do, us sorajuu (solo-life enjoyers) have our own share of exciting plans too.

And thus, expectations bloom like fireworks on the final day of the first semester, as I wonder what I’ll do with my summer vacation.

Right now, in the classroom, we’re in the middle of receiving our report cards.

Since it’s the big seiseki happyou (report card reveal), the classroom is alive with noise—way too alive.

You’ve got people shouting stuff like:

“Fufufufu! Whoa…! Takechi, your Math I score is tragic…”

“Haaah!? Like I wanna hear that from you—your humanities grades are dead across the board, Ameya! I’ll headshot you!”

““Aaaahn!?””

Yeah. Stuff like that.

Not like I care about other people’s grades at all, so all this noise is just a nuisance. Like, seriously, shinkon-meiwaku level.

Instead of comparing grades and getting into petty squabbles, I’d much rather gaze out from my seat—at the view I won’t get to see again until September rolls around, or at the vast summer sky.

Looking up from the window, it’s late July—the peak of summer—and the sun is dazzlingly bright. The sky, impossibly blue.

Why does the summer sky always feel bluer than the winter one?

I don’t look it up on Chiebukuro or ask Professor Google. Instead, I let the idle thought wander. That kind of quiet, aimless pondering is valuable to me.

To me. That’s the key part.

Who cares what anyone else thinks—as long as I’m satisfied, that’s enough.

“Himemiya-kun! How’d your grades turn out?”

…Attacked by a humanitarian. Social recluse, dead.

Okay, that might just be my real Buzzword of the Year.

That bright, spirited voice—if human voices had intros, this one would be the obvious answer to a quiz question. It’s a voice that’s familiar to everyone in the class, the entire school, heck, probably the whole neighborhood.

Even me, a loner just zoning out while staring at the scenery—I can instantly tell who it is. Whether I answer or not, though? That’s up to me.

So yeah. Pleading the fifth.

Aah~ the weather’s great today…

As I leisurely soak in the moment… suddenly, a shadow passes over the sky. No, more like—the sun itself is approaching me.

“Ignoring me? Rude, you know!”

She might as well be saying, “Don’t look at the sky, look at me.” The sun goddess herself—Misaki Karin—swings into my field of vision, glowing bright.

She’s all smiles, but… is it just me, or is that smile a little too fixed?

Yeah, probably just me.

“My bad. I was staring at the cloudless sky and kinda stopped caring about everything else.”

“Don’t just casually treat me like a disposable background object…”

Hmph. Misaki’s really matured. The old her would’ve stormed in with a full-on punskapun! Now she just sighs in exasperation.

When exactly is she going to get fed up of me?

“Anyway,” she says, smoothly dodging my verbal feint with practiced ease, her cheerful smile returning to default.

“How’d your grades turn out? Just a rough idea’s fine—come on, tell me!”

“Futsuu.” (Normal.)

“That’s way too vague! Ugh, come on! Let’s at least share a little info and have fun with it!”

…I take it back. Punskapun alert. Noisy as ever.

But I know she doesn’t really care about my grades. She’s just using the report cards as a way to start a conversation. Social lubricant, basically.

So I point to the report card that’s been sitting on my desk. “Here.”

“Eh? You sure I can see the whole thing?”

“It’s not like I lose anything. If you’ll give it back, I don’t care if you take it home.”

“You’ve got this weird mix of manly generosity and total lack of shame, Himemiya-kun…”

It’s not that I don’t have emotions. They’re just… thinner than most.

Misaki thanks me politely, then goes, “Then let’s trade,” and hands me her own report card. Geez, what a hopelessly rule-abiding girl.

I glance over hers with the same detachment I’d have flipping through real estate flyers stuffed in the mailbox.

Ten out of ten across the board. Top ten in the entire grade. She once said she wasn’t great at P.E., so that’s not a perfect score—but still better than average.

Overall Impression: Admin, we’ve got a cheater over here.

Misaki was smiling up at me with a look that practically screamed, “I did great, didn’t I?”

It wasn’t a smug grin—she wasn’t trying to brag. She just really wanted to be praised, and her expression said it all.

As a devoted follower of Karin-sama, this scene would be unbearably moe, surely enough to make one squirm in blissful agony.

But alas.

Sadly, I am not one of her followers. And I’d very much prefer not to die from it.

At some point, Kurashiki Ruri had ended up right next to me—probably feeling the same way.

“Hey, Himemiya. Karin’s grades… they’re kinda at the point where there’s nowhere to go but down, right? Isn’t that just tragic?”

“Don’t say it out loud. She looks so happy right now.”

“Could you at least talk about that in a whisper!?”

I hate backbiting.

Successfully teasing Misaki, Kurashiki broke into unrestrained laughter.

“Nya-ha-ha-ha-ha!”

Was teasing her the main goal, or just a bonus?

She didn’t stop there—Kurashiki now opened my report card instead and began flipping through it like it was her own.

After a while, she let out a big sigh.

“Ugh, c’mon. I was sure Himemiya would be in the same boat as me, but your grades are actually… kinda good?”

Apparently, Kurashiki’s grades are average at best—maybe even below.

Why is she trying to recruit comrades?

Yuzu, my little sister, does the same thing.

“It’s not just me! ○○-chan got a bad math score too! And ○○-kun did even worse!”

In the end, Dad just yells at her like, ‘What happens in other homes is their business. This is our home, and I make the rules. So it’s got nothing to do with it!’… and that’s the usual outcome anyway.

When I told Kurashiki, “Sorry for not being your fellow underachiever,” she immediately snapped back.

“What’d you say!?”

“It’s not like my grades are bad! Everyone else’s are just too good, that’s all!”

“Ruri… don’t turn your eyes away from reality. I’ll help you study, so how about we try our best together over summer break, yeah?”

“Mind your own business!”

“It’s totally my business!”

Even the loving kindness of a benevolent soul couldn’t get through to Kurashiki’s stormy heart.

“Come on, Himemiya-kun, say something to Ruri too!” Misaki looked at me like she was out of options and threw me the lifeline.

But from my perspective…

If Misaki couldn’t handle her, there’s nothing more I could say.

If I had to say something—

“Well… in web novels, failures in this world get reincarnated in another one and turn into ultra-high-spec beings without even trying.”

“…Are you telling me to die, you bastard!?”

“And I totally caught that subtle insult too! Minus 10 points!!”

She locked me in a deadly headlock, shaking my neck like a maraca.

I thought I chose my words carefully, but I guess she didn’t like it.

Maybe “underdog” or “inferior species” would’ve gone over better…

Too late now.

And once you’ve got Misaki and Kurashiki together, it’s only natural the final member of the trio would show up.

Here she comes—Hatori Erena.

Hatori watched us with a mature little smile, like Kuku…, clearly amused by the scene.

What’s so funny about someone’s neck getting whipped around like that?

She’d probably burst into laughter if it actually snapped.

Her eyes fell on my open report card, and her long lashes fluttered like she was surprised.

“Himemiya, you’re a bookworm, right? I figured Japanese would be one of your best subjects. That’s kinda unexpected.”

I scored a 7 out of 10 in Japanese. Not exactly brag-worthy, but not bad either.

“Just liking games doesn’t make you a pro gamer, right? Same with books.”

“…Huh. Yeah… I guess that makes sense.”

“Right? It’s like how people who love being alone can never actually get any alone time.”

“…Himemiya, was that a roundabout jab at us, by any chance?”

“Yep. Slow and steady wins the race.”

“…It didn’t sound roundabout at all, though. It went straight for the heart.”

Misaki glared at me with those half-lidded eyes, but yeah, I wasn’t sorry.

Kurashiki finally gave up on torturing me and buried her face in Hatori’s chest instead.

It was a full-on smothering hug, practically merging with her.

Hatori looked slightly embarrassed by the intensity.

“Erena~ That insensitive guy just told me to go die~”

“Himemiya, did you really say that to Ruri?”

“I never said ‘die.’ I just suggested reincarnation.”

“To me, there’s not much difference between direct and indirect, y’know…”

Japanese is a hard language.

Misaki tried to smooth things over. “Okay, okay, let’s all calm down.”

“Anyway,” she said, “let’s study together during summer break, all of us. We’ve got the secret base with the air conditioner now!”

“Thanks to me, by the way!!”

Kurashiki growled, her sharp canines barely peeking out like a warning.

There was no way I could say “Thanks for working that job without permission.”

But hey, I am genuinely grateful.

Because of Kurashiki’s sacrifice—I mean, efforts—we now have a private room to study in during summer break.

I might even let them use it.

…As long as they keep the talking-to-me part to a minimum.

“A-ah, um…!”

What happened? Hatori’s voice strained as she tried to speak to Misaki and Kurashiki.

“What’s wrong?” “What’s up?”

“How about having a study session while having a pajama party…?”

“Pajama party?”

“Yeah… I mean, I really want to do it…”

It seems like the pajama party was Hatori’s main objective, rather than the study session. Though still a little shy, she’s making significant progress in being able to express what she wants to say.

The two of them looked at each other and got excited over the idea of something so “charming.” There’s no way they’d argue against it.

“A pajama party sounds fun! Let’s do it! Let’s stay at each other’s houses and make it like a little trip!”

“Karin, that’s a great idea! Erena! Since you suggested it, get ready for a night full of love talk—remember that!”

“Y-yeah! I’m glad…♪”

Was Hatori relieved that her idea was accepted, or was she just getting excited about the pajama party? Either way, with her usual habit, she pressed her chest, which was swelling with anticipation, tightly with both arms.

And so, the story ends on a happy note.

“Hmm?” Kurashiki grinned as she looked at me.

“What is it? You want to join the pajama party too, Himemi—-“

“No, not at all.”

The loudest one gets hammered down. My signature move: a quick and firm “No, thank you.”

However, this was Kurashiki we’re talking about. She countered with a subtle jab, poking me in the cheek with her finger.

“Are you not coming because it’s a pajama party? If we wore baby dolls or lingerie, would you come then?”

I could’ve gone along with it, but if I did, I’d definitely regret it later.

“What’s it gonna be, Erena? Himemiya’s a bit of a pervert, huh?”

“Ugh, Ruri… Don’t poke my chest with your finger… Sorry, Himemiya. I don’t even own something like that. And even if I did, I’d be too embarrassed to show it…”

“Don’t continue the conversation assuming I want to see it.”

As a man, I won’t deny the desire, but…

“Well, you can’t stay overnight, but Himemiya-kun, you should come study with us.”

“Sorry, Misaki. I’ve got plans that day.”

“We haven’t even decided on a date yet, though!?”

Is it like the ‘Every day is Christmas’ kind of thing? Or is it more like the ‘Every day is a holiday’ vibe?

My perfectly planned solo summer vacation is not something anyone’s going to ruin.

“By the way, Himemiya-kun, what are your plans for the summer vacation?”

“If you say it’s buried, then it’s buried. If you say it’s empty, then it’s empty.”

“Don’t talk in riddles. So, basically, it’s the usual Himemiya-kun, right?”

“Yeah. Busy with solo activities.”

“I’ve never heard the term ‘solo activities’ before…” Hatori fell silent, and Kurashiki, once again, looked up at me with a smirk. It seems the grudge over the air conditioning issue runs deep.

“Is that so, Himemiya?”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Aren’t you going to spend a sweet~ summer vacation with that cute girl?”

“That one?”

At my response, Kurashiki flipped out. “Aha~~! You’re pretending not to know, huh?!”

“The girl who talked to you after the extracurricular lesson! The one who confessed to you!”

Once I figured out who she was talking about, a deep sigh or just the sound of ‘Ah’ escaped my lips.

It was the girl I met again last week at the vocational training facility after the extracurricular lesson. The same girl who I helped on the high school entrance exam day.

Her name was Shirahoshi Arisu. I only learned her name the third time we met. Well, she told me.

Just remembering that day makes my shoulders feel heavy.

At the vocational training facility’s large hall, I accidentally ran into Shirahoshi.

“Do you… remember me?”

“…Honestly? Kinda blurry.”

Though I remembered she was familiar, I couldn’t recall much.

Then, to jog my memory, Shirahoshi dropped a bombshell.

“I’m… the one who confessed to you before, Himemiya-san! Don’t you remember!?”

“WHAT!?” Misaki and the nearby ‘normie’ group erupted in confusion, and with her bombshell statement, I finally remembered Shirahoshi.

“Ah, you’re the one who got the school wrong on the exam day.”

“Yes! Yes! I’m the one who got the school wrong!”

Shirahoshi was overjoyed that I remembered, and her intense gaze was filled with excitement. Everyone around us was equally interested.

I could tell from their stares what they wanted to know.

And because I could tell, it was difficult to act casual.

“Well then…”

“Himemiya-kun!?” ””””Himemiya!!?””””

“Please don’t go!”

I say no to troublesome things.

Ahh, my shoulders are heavy…

It was terrible even after that. On the way home, Shirahoshi kept relentlessly chasing after me, saying things like, “Would you like to have tea with me?” or “How about exchanging LINE?” or “How about a date together during summer break!?” No matter how many times I rejected her, she kept clinging to me with an unyielding fighting spirit.

In my past life, I was either a snapping turtle or some kind of wild beast.

Kurashiki is still in the midst of a mental breakdown.

“I wanted to have a summer vacation where I could make a boyfriend and be all lovey-dovey too!”

“Don’t say it like we’re dating. We’re more than strangers but less than acquaintances.”

Hatori stares at me with a melancholy expression.

“Himemiya, you won’t even hang out with us but…”

“Don’t get the wrong idea. I don’t plan to hang out with either of you.”

Misaki is grinning mischievously.

“If you keep saying lonely things like that, maybe I’ll start visiting your house every day, Himemiya-kun?”

“Tch.”

“Why is it just me that gets a tongue click?!”

Because you’re the one who can handle being teased the most.

“Reason! Can you tell me the reason!?” Misaki whines, but I ignore her and gaze absentmindedly at the outside scenery.

I’ll say it again, my solo summer vacation won’t be disturbed by anyone. Anyone who goes against me, even if they’re a humanitarian, I’ll smack them down.

I don’t want to waste even a single day of my freedom from this boxed-in school life. Recently, things have gotten even more complicated in terms of human relationships, so I want to make the most of it.

I’ll enjoy being alone efficiently and meaningfully.

“That’s the girl from last time! It’s definitely her!”

Stop yelling so much. And stop using so many demonstrative pronouns.

The person yelling with a ridiculously loud voice is Ikari, a loud and energetic guy from the “normie” group.

“I’m sure of it!” Ikari shouts, leaning out the window in high-energy mode, calling out to his buddy, Namikawa, who’s more of a laid-back type.

“Oh. You’re right. Is she meeting up with Himemiya?”

“That girl from before” and “Himemiya.” With just those two words, I can’t help but picture her face. The benefit of having few acquaintances is that it’s easy to narrow down who it could be.

But it’s not the time to be thinking like that.

Ikari and Namikawa’s gazes are fixed on the main gate, so Misaki and I also focus on the same area.

Because I was looking at the sky so much, I have to admit I neglected the ground.

There, standing as if she was waiting for us, was someone I recognized.

Misaki, having finished peeking, asks, “Hey, Himemiya-kun, is that her?”

“…”

This time, it wasn’t because I was ignoring her. I just didn’t want to admit it.

※ ※ ※

The bell signaling the end of the first term rang, more like an emergency call.

While everyone around me was excited that summer vacation had started, my expression was far from bright. Normally, I would be in high spirits too, but it barely showed on my face—just a tiny twitch, really.

It couldn’t have been a case of mistaken identity. With faint hope, I walked down the stairs and toward the main gate, focusing on the person standing there.

The closer I got to the gate, the clearer I saw the figure standing under the tree near the front gate.

Dressed in a pure white, dress-like uniform, holding a graceful parasol and a stylish handbag—there it was. A “Kobe-style” handbag.

The “Kobe handbag” is a well-known item, loved by private school girls in Kobe. It’s a fabric tote bag decorated with cute animal or child appliqués. It’s highly versatile and can be used either as a main bag or a secondary one depending on how much you have to carry.

If I had to compare it to a game, it’s like the M416 in a battle royale—something that’s simply everywhere.

Standing under the tree, carrying the stylish bag, was none other than Shirahoshi Arisu. There’s no way I could’ve mistaken her. There’s no one else as elegant as her wandering around the streets.

Her naturally champagne-gold hair shimmered in the faint sunlight peeking through the trees, sparkling brightly. Her perfectly arranged face, with a hint of innocence, looked as cute as a French doll.

It feels like if I touched her, she might break. Honestly, I’d rather not get any closer. Seriously.

“Who’s that cute girl?!”

“She looks like a talent or a model!”

“Waiting for a boyfriend? What kind of handsome guy is she expecting?!”

Everyone’s eyes are glued to her. I don’t want to get any closer. Not at all.

But I still haven’t given up. Even if Shirahoshi is standing by the gate, it doesn’t mean she’s definitely waiting for me. Maybe I’m just overthinking the whole thing.

The moment I pass through the gate, our eyes meet.

In that instant, Shirahoshi’s face lights up with a dazzling smile.

“Ah! Himemiya-san! Himemiya-sa~~n♪”

For a split second, my expression becomes completely blank.

With the beautiful girl, who had already attracted so much attention, waving at me without hesitation, the gazes of everyone else shoot toward me all at once. It’s suffocating.

“Himemiya-san! Himemiya Haruichi-saaaan♪”

I still haven’t given up. There must be someone with a name similar to mine. Shirahoshi must be meeting with someone like Haruichi Ichiou, the master of applying wet cloths. Shirahoshi probably has some back pain, that’s all.

Shirahoshi stands right in front of me.

“Hello, Himemiya-san!”

“Ah, you’ve got the wrong person.”

“It’s not a mistake!!”

I took a chance, but it failed. But every challenge is an important learning experience.

So, it turns out, the person Shirahoshi was waiting for… was me after all.

Still…

“Himemiya-san♪”

“You’re calling my name too much.”

You’re repeating my name like you’re a parrot or something. I almost want to say it out loud.

Shirahoshi puts her hands together and apologizes with a smile, though her smile doesn’t fade. If anything, it only grows even more relaxed.

“Ehehe…♪ I haven’t known your name since back then. I’m so happy I can finally call you by your name, Himemiya-san. I just couldn’t help myself, Himemiya-san♪”

Ugh, how cute—too cute.

But that’s not the issue. More than that, the “die, you idiot” looks from around me are seriously annoying.

“So, what’s going on? Did you mess up and come to the wrong school again? This isn’t your school, is it?”

“Don’t be so mean. I was waiting for Himemiya-san.”

“I see. Well, then—”

“Well then, shall we go♪?”

Hardcore mental defense. I try to bow and leave, but of course, Shirahoshi sticks to me like glue. Are we playing man-to-man defense? I feel like asking that.

“I’ll have you let me return the favor to you today.

“Try saying ‘thank you.'”

“Small thing. Thank you♪”

“Thanks for saying it. Well then—”

“Well then, shall we go to a cafe?”

“…”

Shirahoshi’s defense is rock solid. She’s practically clinging to me now. To say Shirahoshi has a reputation for defense is no joke.

“Since summer break starts tomorrow, let’s plan to hang out together!”

“I don’t want to.”

“Oh! How about coming to my vacation house? The beach is close, and we can invite some friends and have fun!”

“Nuh-uh. Also, I don’t have any friends.”

“Is that so? W-well then, it’s fine if it’s just the two of us…?”

“If I’m alone, I might think about it.”

“Do I have to stay home alone!?”

Honestly, I couldn’t just casually use someone else’s vacation house.

People who own vacation homes are just too rich. It’s kind of… overwhelming.

Just when I was about to turn her down, Shirahoshi stubbornly declares, “I’ll come with you! Let me come!”

How can I make this person stop thinking and wander forever in outer space?

“It’ll definitely be more fun to spend time together than alone!”

“Ah…?”

Click. A switch went off in my mind.

“…More fun than being alone…?”

“Yes! It’s definitely more fun than being alone!!”

Once the switch flips, electricity runs from my head to my toes. In an instant, heat surges through my body, and my inner energy balloons up like a giant inflated balloon.

Finally, the commander in my brain starts the countdown to attack.

Ah… it’s been so long since I felt this. I can feel the blood rising to my head, boiling and bubbling.

There are things in the world you should never touch. For me, that’s being told that being alone is a bad thing. Being told that being alone is inferior to being in a group. Being looked down on as boring for being alone.

If someone dares to insult my pride… my identity… that’s the end of it. It wouldn’t be strange if my third eye awakened in a burst of rage.

Don’t underestimate the solo life.

Just three seconds before I, possessed by the grudge of every loner in existence, would erase Shirahoshi from this world—

3… 2… 1…

“Don’t you dare snap now.”

Right before I lost it, bonk, something poked my butt with a bag.

Turning around, I saw my classmate and living embodiment of the riajuu species—Urogase Yumeno—standing there.

She looked the same as ever: THE riajuu. Pale blue sweater tied around her waist to cover up her short skirt, perfectly trimmed, glossy nails, and sharp cat-like eyes outlined with a faint touch of eyeliner.

She still gave off an unapproachable aura… but the little charm dangling from her bag—clearly handmade by a kindergartener—totally killed the vibe. That gap moe is undeniable.

She’s just a good gyaru aiming to become a nursery school teacher.

Guess it takes one to know one. She must’ve sensed I was about to lightning-strike Shirahoshi from orbit.

“Cool it, will ya? She seems like a quiet kid—she’d never survive one of your verbal nukes. Might even end up crying, you know?”

“Relax. I can shut up even crying kids.”

“That’s not something to brag about.”

Urogase muttered, “Sheesh… guess I’ve got no choice,” then pointed at herself with a big grin.

“I’ve got a bit of time before my shift at the daycare, so how ’bout I listen to your grumbling instead? Better than wrecking the kid, yeah?”

“Are you trying to give me even more stress?”

“Hrrrgh…! You ungrateful little—!”

Can you please stop clenching your fists like you’re about to punch me?

I mean, I’m a solve-it-myself kinda guy. Can’t help that.

And then—

“U-Um!” Shirahoshi suddenly piped up, looking between us.

“What is it?”

“What’s up?”

“You two… you’re not lovers, right…?”

““Ha?””

And just like that, my ‘rage’ emotion got replaced by pure bafflement.

Urogase blinked a few times, stunned, before snapping back to reality. Judging by her reaction, she was just as dumbfounded.

“No no no, absolutely not,” she said, frantically waving her hands.

“Not even ‘no’—more like ‘absolutely impossible’.”

Shirahoshi looked at her seriously, eyes locked on Urogase’s. Even without knowing her well, this ojou-sama’s got guts.

“Think about it, will ya? Himemiya totally hates people, right? You’ve already got your answer.”

“Hey, Urogase. Don’t go sayin’ stuff that gives people the wrong idea.”

“But it’s true, isn’t it?”

“It’s not that I hate people. I’m just bad at dealing with them.”

“See? Told you. That’s the kind of guy Himemiya is. The type who goes his whole life without dating anyone, dies alone, and no one’s even there to see him off.”

…She knows me way too well. Props to the surprisingly-thoughtful gal archetype.

As I nodded along in agreement, Urogase leaned in with a scowl.

“Himemiya. You were definitely just making fun of me, weren’t you?”

“Not at all. I was just admiring how you act like you don’t think, but deep down you’ve got layers of hidden insight.”

“That’s half-insult, half-compliment!!”

Everyone has different values, okay?

While Urogase twisted her knuckles into my side in protest, Shirahoshi just stood there, fidgeting with her fingers and murmuring:

“I… I see. I feel kind of reassured… but also not?”

Seriously. Just give it up already and go home. Even a third party has now confirmed I’m a dyed-in-the-wool soloist.

But instead…

Shirahoshi suddenly started fidgeting harder. Her cheeks flushed red, and with glossy, watery eyes, she stared up at me and said:

“I-I’d be happy to stay with you forever, Himemiya-san. Even when you’re a wrinkly old man… I’ll take care of you…”

“……”

…Did she just… make a lifelong caregiver declaration? At age 16!?

Even Urogase threw her hands up in surrender.

“Y’know what, why don’t you just go out already?”

Like hell I’m gonna fall into romance over some low-effort setup like this.

Love is blind. Actually no—at this point, it’s just straight-up blindfolded.

“You sure are popular, Himemiya.”

As always, wrapped in that refreshing aura of his, the one cheerfully greeting me with a “Yossu!” is none other than the king of my class—Namikawa Shuntarou. Looks like he’s got club activities this afternoon; slung over his shoulder is a massive tennis bag, and flanking him like trusty sidekicks are Natsugoshi and Ikari.

Popular? Says the guy who’s already a walking ikemen.

Urogase, who’s tight with the Namikawa group, throws a jab—“You guys look like a bunch of sweaty dudes hangin’ out!”—but Namikawa and Natsugoshi just laugh it off with easy-going chuckles. They’re both good-looking in different ways, polished, and carry that air of composure.

Ikari, on the other hand… totally the opposite. He’s acting even more twitchy than usual.

It’s not so much that he took Urogase’s comment seriously—more like he’s sneakily glancing at Shirahoshi, then pretending he’s not. Man, this guy’s an open book.

Then, Ikari steps in front of Shirahoshi.

“You’re the one who was talking with Himemiya during that special class thing, right? Nice to meet ya! Ore(I’m) Ikari!”

Ossu! Ora Gokuu! That kinda vibe?

This kind of moment is where I gotta admit—party p—er, I mean, the upper social caste really are something. They can walk up to a girl they’ve barely even met and strike up a convo like it’s nothing.

Shirahoshi looks a little startled at Ikari’s booming voice, but she gives a gentle smile and says, “Nice to meet you. I’m Shirahoshi Arisu.” That small smile—barely even a jab—still nearly knocks Ikari out. His face is flushed bright red. Seriously, this guy… so easy to read.

Unable to meet her eyes, Ikari turns to me and Urogase instead.

“W-we’re heading to Maccas right now, wanna come with!?”

If you wanna eat with Shirahoshi, why not just say so, man.

“I’ve got plans to eat lunch with the kids at the daycare, so I’ll pass. Didn’t I tell you the same thing this morning?”

“I’m not going either.”

“H-HaHaHaHaHa…!” Ikari lets out a forced laugh.

“Himemiya, you’re still such a killjoy. You suck! A-anyway, Arisu-chan, how about you!?”

“I appreciate the kind offer, but if Himemiya-san isn’t going, I’ll have to decline as well.”

“B-but hey! Isn’t this, like, fate or something!?”

Ikari tries to hang in there, but Shirahoshi simply bows and says, “I’m sorry.”

Huh? When she raises her head after bowing, that smile of hers is gone. If anything, she looks… kinda displeased.

With her brows slightly furrowed, Shirahoshi speaks to Ikari.

“And also,”

“Also…?”

“I don’t want to talk with someone who calls someone important to me a ‘boring guy.’”

“……”

“Being called by my first name by a guy I just met… I really don’t like that either.”

“…Oh.”

Wipe your tears, Ikari.

Just because you can talk to girls you barely know doesn’t mean it’ll work out. And now we have proof—thanks to Ikari.

Still, I can’t say his effort or courage was wasted.

Because it bought me more than enough time to slip away.

“Alright then, Himemiya-san! Shall we head to the station toge— Wait, huh…?”

From behind me, I could hear the panicked cry: “W-where’s Himemiya-san!?”

Strategic withdrawal. Truly, a beautiful phrase.

Heading toward the station, a thought crosses my mind.

I still don’t get what’s driving Shirahoshi this much.

Sure, I did help her out when she was in trouble. But for that to instantly turn into romantic feelings? Feels way too convenient. Even giving her the benefit of the doubt—maybe as a friend—but jumping straight to seeing me as a love interest is kinda… out there. Honestly, it’s starting to feel shady.

Take better care of yourself, Shirahoshi.

I mean, I’d like to take better care of myself too.

People forget things quickly. Gossip lasts, what, seventy-five days? A crush like this should vanish by the end of summer break.

Alright then. Life’s all about switching gears. Besides, summer break is already in full swing.

The moment I shoved my earphones in, my head was flooded with thoughts of summer.

At least, for now.

※ ※ ※

A week into summer vacation.

A lone wolf’s morning starts early.

My day starts with waking up my little sister. It’s been part of my routine since the very first day of break—basically my job now. I shake Yuzu’s sleeping body, gently rising and falling as she breathes in her room.

“Yuzu, wake up.”

“Mnngh…?”

It’s less like a big brother waking up his little sister and more like a prison guard rousing a prisoner. When I rip open the blackout curtains instead of her eyelids, she squeals “Yaaah…!” and burrows deeper under the covers in one last act of resistance. To Misaki or Urogase, this’d probably be an aww-so-cute moment, but to me? She just looks like a pill bug trying to hide from the sun.

“If you’re late to radio calisthenics, the old lady giving out stamps is gonna laugh at you.”

“Doesn’t matter if people laugh at you, as long as you yourself can laugh—that’s what Haru-nii always says.”

“Don’t twist my words like that.”

…I did say that, though.

“If Haru-nii comes with me, I’ll get up.”

“Denied.”

“Why noooot?”

“Because I’m going running now.”

“Haru-nii, you’re so ethnic.”

“You mean stoic. And just so you know, I don’t like running either. But if we don’t have physical activity twice a week over summer break, we naturally lose the chance to get any exercise. That’s why I run.”

During summer vacation, I run twice a week in the mornings. It’s one of the duties I’ve assigned myself.

Spending summer break doing only the things you like is one way to enjoy it. But enduring a bit of hardship so you can fully savor your free time? That’s another kind of joy.

Hunger is the greatest spice. A beer after work tastes great for the same reason.

…Not that I’ve ever had beer.

“C’mon. I’m heading out already, so get up.”

Looks like the little miss couldn’t relate. Yuzu groaned and wriggled around under the blanket with a lazy “C’mon, it’s fine~.”

“Haru-nii, you should skip today too. You can use Yuzu’s bed, so let’s sleep together~”

“…”

“Haru-nii?”

Maybe my reaction caught her off guard. Yuzu peeked her head out from under the futon.

And no wonder— I’d laid myself down flat on her bed.

Was she really that happy to sleep together with me? Unraveling from her dango-like ball, Yuzu pulled the blanket over both of us and snuggled up to my arm like a hugging pillow, beaming:

“It smells like Haru-nii~♪ Good night!”

“Yuzu.”

“What is it~?”

“If I start slacking off like this and stop exercising altogether… what do you think’ll happen to me?”

“…Huh?”

The smile instantly vanished from Yuzu’s face.

“Say this is the turning point—if I don’t exercise for the whole summer, my routine’s gonna fall apart.”

“If… if it falls apart, what happens to Haru-nii…?”

“I might end up eating unhealthy food and ballooning up… or stay up so late I waste away into a twig.”

She opened her eyes wide, clearly realizing now wasn’t the time to be dozing off.

Kids are so pure sometimes.

“And that’s not all. Imagine graduating high school without ever picking up the habit. Even in college or as an adult, I won’t exercise. My body’ll just keep deteriorating.”

“W-Waahhhh…”

“Ever heard of lifestyle diseases? They say some people just drop dead suddenly from living unhealthily.”

“Waahhh…!”

“Picture it. I’m living alone in the future, and I collapse. No one’s there to call an ambulance. I could just poof, gone. No mystery to it.”

“Iyaaaaaaaaaaaaa~~!!”

“And the cause of death? Not a disease. It was ‘the time I skipped running during the summer of my first year in high school.’”

“Hyaaaaaaaa~~!! G-Good morning!! Yuzu is awake!!”

“Yep. Morning.”

Yuzu launched herself out of bed.

As she sprang up, she shouted, “I’m going to do some radio exercises! Haru-nii, run! Keep running forever!”, while ripping off her pajamas and going full birthday suit in a flash. That sleepy, drowsy look from earlier? Gone without a trace.

She really is adorable in her own simple, single-celled way… even if she’s my little sister.

※　※　※

From the afternoon, I headed to my favorite café, WELL.

Not as a customer today.

As a staff member.

“Order in. BLT set, iced apple for after.”

Wearing my apron, I called out the order. Behind the counter, the master with 30 years of experience nodded with a husky “Got it” and flashed a grin, already moving with precise, practiced hands.

The master is cool. I honestly admire him.

That pomade-slicked hairstyle, the neatly groomed mustache, the polished leather shoes— You can tell he has a strong sense of style just by looking. And someone like that making your coffee? Of course it’s gonna taste amazing.

It really hits me— Image and background matter so much. Even actresses who build a pure image get backlash if they’re caught smoking. A love song loses its emotional weight if the artist is outed for cheating.

One of the senior part-timers sorting the receipts speaks to me.

“How’s it going, Haruichi-kun? Getting used to the job?”

“Yeah. I’ve gotten to the point where I can do stuff while thinking about dumb things.”

“You can’t slack off, y’know~”

A light, gentle scolding came from Koino Kimika-san, the café’s poster girl.

Her signature hair bun looked great as always. The simple, natural makeup gave her a more mature and elegant vibe than most girls our age.

She’s actually the one who invited me to work here over the summer break.

Back then, just before break started, I was here as a customer, sipping coffee and flipping through a job magazine. That’s when Koino-san reached out to me. For me, it was a blessing—I accepted on the spot.

Just like running, this part-time job is one of the tasks I’ve assigned myself for the summer.

Needing money over break doesn’t change whether you’re living your best life or solo. Even loners need cash, so we work. Same goes for party people.

Today’s my third day on the job. My main duty is customer service—basically a hall staff role. Taking orders, delivering food and drinks, sometimes washing dishes. Pretty much your standard café part-time job.

While we’re sharing the dishwashing duties—one rinses, one dries—Koino-san asks:

“What are you planning to spend your pay on, Haruichi-kun?”

“I’m thinking I’ll go big.”

“Ooh~ Go big on what?”

“On subscriptions, I think I’ll buy the annual Amazon Prime subscription. It’s a better deal than the monthly one.”

“Ahaha!” Koino-san burst out laughing.

“That’s so you, Haruichi-kun. The way you spend your money is totally not high schooler-like!”

Being able to watch movies and dramas on your smartphone or tablet whenever you like, read magazines, listen to music… It’s a service that spoils you rotten. So even if someone says it’s not very high-schooler-ish, I’m dead set on locking in that annual contract.

But more than that—what really got to me was how I managed to make a onee-san smile. It kinda tickled inside, and also made me weirdly happy. Not that I’d ever say that out loud. Over my dead body.

The fact that something this simple could make me so happy… yeah, I’m still just a high schooler after all.

Should I feel reassured? Or should I seriously reflect on how much of a dumbass I am?

“What else do you spend money on? Or buy?”

“The main chunk goes into funding my solo trips. If I’ve got extra, maybe electronics and stuff.”

“Totally sounds like how an adult would use their money. By electronics, you mean stuff like smartphones?”

“The one thing I really want right now is a good pair of earphones. There are a lot of times I just wanna shut out the noise around me, so something with solid noise-canceling. Oh, and maybe an AI speaker.”

“Eh? AI speaker?”

“Think of it like the speaker version of Siri. You can connect it to the net, talk to it, and it’ll set alarms, tell you the weather or news, that sort of thing.”

“Woooow! Haruichi-kun, you’re so knowledgeable. Kids these days really are amazing.”

“You’re still only 20, right, Koino-san?”

“Doesn’t really work when a 16-year-old says that to me,” she puffed out her cheeks in a pout, making her lip—glossy with just a touch of gloss—look extra plump and, well… dangerously alluring.

Then those small lips parted, like she’d just had a flash of genius.

“Hey, Haruichi-kun. If you had to choose… me, or the speaker—which would you pick?”

“Huh?”

“I’ll wake you up every morning like a speaker. Just text me, and I’ll tell you the weather and news. If you tell me to sing, I’ll sing too.”

What the heck is that? Some kind of ultra high-tech speaker?

Koino-san set down the cup she was wiping, and with the flair of a commercial jingle, she hit me with her catchphrase:

“Kimika Onee-san Speaker! Now with free shipping and a special limited-time trial price of zero yen! So, Haruichi-kun, which speaker will you buy?”

“I’m Team AI Speaker, actually.”

“Ara ara~ Got beaten by a machine, huh…”

“No no. You lost because you’re not a machine.”

“…Huh?”

“If someone I know and appreciate did all that for me every day, I’d feel like I had to do something in return. And I don’t like that. What I want from a speaker is just plain convenience.”

If I didn’t get a wake-up call from her one morning, I’d start wondering if she overslept… or maybe got sick. I’d end up calling her out of worry. If she sang me a song right in my ear, I’d feel like I had to return the favor somehow. And that’s just not my thing.

I’m no good at picking up on people’s feelings—or having mine picked up on. I just wanna dive into my own little world during my alone time, not wear myself out worrying about what others think or feel.

The Kimika Onee-san Speaker might be super tempting, but it comes with some major drawbacks. For a single guy like me, it could turn into something I’d never be able to let go of. A dangerous, enchanting kind of item.

…Though, now that I think about it, AI speakers really are kind of like the “receiver” type of girl, huh? They just listen obediently to whatever you say, without complaints.

What if I actually started getting attached to my speaker…? Like, falling for her?

If I end up snuggling with my speaker at night, then yeah… that’s probably rock bottom.

At that point, I should just give up and marry the damn thing.

…Or maybe I’m already at rock bottom, just thinking about stuff like this.

“And that’s why,” I concluded, explaining my reasoning for siding with the AI speaker.

Koino-san gave a little nod, saying, “I seeee~” with a look of understanding.

And yet…

“You’re so kind, you know~♪ And more than anything, you’re soooo cute~♪”

From thoughtful nod to sudden mood swing, Koino-san started ruffling my hair like there was no tomorrow.

“Please don’t tease me…”

“Uri uri~♪”

She’s totally projecting her old cat onto me, isn’t she? But no matter how much you stroke my neck, I ain’t purring.

And since my hands were busy washing, I couldn’t escape. Guess I’ll count this as a little bonus.

“I’m really glad I took the plunge and invited you to work here. I just wanted to talk with you more, Haruichi-kun.”

“So that’s why you asked me.”

She never forced conversation when I was just a customer—that’s so Koino-san.

Urogase once said Koino-san and Misaki were alike, and now I can’t deny it. Maybe all popular girls are just naturally good at being considerate.

“Haruichi-kun, do you think this part-time job will be meaningful for you?”

“Definitely. I mean, learning things I can’t at school—that’s super valuable.”

It’s not that I hate people—I just happen to prefer my alone time. But if something can benefit me or spark my interest, I want to learn it. That’s the real me.

Listening to Master talk about his hobbies and stories from the past, learning how to brew delicious coffee, understanding bean types and where they come from… it’s all genuinely fun.

And getting advice from Koino-san about customer service, her college life, and practical tips—it’s all been useful too.

I’ll say it again: I might love solitude, but that doesn’t mean I dislike people.

Learning so much from Master and Koino-san and getting paid for it—how could I complain? I’m just grateful.

She must’ve sensed I was being completely honest, because Koino-san gave a happy, “Mm-hmm♪” and nodded.

“Let’s do our best together over summer break, okay!”

“Yeah, I’ll give it my all,” I said with a single nod… then nodded again, and again. Couldn’t help it.

What a meaningful summer break this is turning out to be.

Balancing health, part-time work, gaining knowledge from people I respect, and spending my free time enjoying my solitude to the fullest.

Ahh… my glorious summer vacation. Long live the one-man summer paradise.

This year’s summer… is gonna be amazing.

Clink clink—the entrance bell rang.

“Welcome──”

“I knew it was you, Himemiya-san!”

“…”

My hand almost slipped and dropped the glass I was washing.

The person who walked in… was Shirahoshi.

What the hell is she doing here?

“I saw someone from outside and thought, ‘Huh? That person kinda looks like Himemiya-san…’ So I came in to check. And yep! It’s you! Ah, I just came from club activities. I’m in the chorus club!”

…Thank you for the update. You really are in a club that fits your image.

What’s happening…? The perfect summer vacation I had envisioned in my mind… is being swept away in a sandstorm.

Blackout. Instantaneously.

My ideal summer… is vanishing…?

…No… way…

“Welcoooome…”

Please, at least praise me for swallowing the words “Please leave, ojou-sama,” back down before they left my lips.

And it goes without saying that from the next day onward, Shirahoshi started dropping by the café on a very frequent basis.

My one-man summer vacation plan… is already on the verge of crashing and burning—after just one week.