Chapter 1 - When You Help Your Online Friends
[IORI, I've arrived at the meeting place!]
[I'll be there soon, too.]
[I feel a bit nervous. This is the first time we're meeting in the real world. Today, September 15th, will be an unforgettable day for us! I even have a list of things I want to do with you!]
[A list?]
[① Hug IORI!]
Have a meal with IORI!
Sleep with IORI!]
[Hahaha, the last one might be a bit difficult, right?]
[Is it?]
[Really?] [Although the third one is quite challenging, hugging and eating together are still doable. But hey, are you sure that living with me is the right choice?]
[Hmm? Why?]
[Well, you once said that you couldn't imagine living with someone before, right?]
[Oh, I'm used to living completely alone. It's hard for me to sleep in someone else's house. At least I have to feel safe or extremely comfortable...]
[I can understand that feeling].
[And I feel comfortable with you, IORI! And besides, we are the same sex! That makes it even safer.]
[I'm glad to hear that. I feel safe with you too.]
[Wow, we really fit together! How about a date?]
[Ugh... That's not possible because we're the same gender.]
[Hahaha, just kidding. But honestly, if we were different genders, I'm sure we'd make a great couple! IORI is such a nice person! I bet you've never been disliked by anyone in the real world, right?]
[It is impossible for no one to dislike you at all.]
[Hm? Is there anyone who doesn't like IORI?]
[Well, there is one at school. They said "don't like" to my face... huh?]
[Is something wrong?]
[Could it be that Sabatora is carrying a silver baby bag?]
[Wait, can you see me?]
[Are you looking around right now?]
[Yeah, yeah~!]
[Huh? IORI?]
[IORI----- Heyyyy, what's going on? Why didn't you read my message? Is there a problem?]
Yes, that's right, and it's an unexpected situation.
I, Machikawa Iori, have an online girlfriend.
Her name is Sabatora-san.
We met through social media.
For the past year, we have been working together to create a web-based manga.
I write the scenarios and Sabatora-san illustrates them.
Sabatora-san is an illustrator who uploads his work on the Internet as a hobby, and he has over 500,000 followers, and is known as a professional artist.
They are really amazing because they were willing to work with me, who has less than 1/50th of their follower count.
Thanks to our collaboration, our web manga has gained a good reputation over time.
In the process of creating the manga together, our friendship has also grown stronger.
Every day, we talk about games, anime, and Vocaloid songs through direct messages (DMs).
We also share our problems and give each other advice.
Last Christmas, we even played an MMORPG together all night.
Even though Sabatora-san is uncomfortable with direct conversation, we only communicate through DMs. Even with this limitation, I'm happy to have a friend my own age outside of school.
However, three days ago, on September 12th, Sabatora-san had a problem.
He discovered a significant water leak in their apartment, right above their room.
As a result, he had to leave her apartment until the repairs were completed, which would take about a month.
Also, Sabatora-san couldn't go back to her parents' house for family reasons.
When I heard this, I took the initiative to help my friend and sent a DM saying, "How about staying with me until your apartment is fixed?"
My home is a three-bedroom apartment with a living room.
My parents divorced four years ago, and my mother, who is now my guardian, is currently on a long-term journalistic trip in Italy.
The rooms are empty, so it shouldn't be a problem if I put up a friend of the same gender for a month... but...
"I-it's just a joke, right?"
About 20 meters in front of me, right in front of the Shin-Himegaoka station exit in Kanagawa Prefecture, at the meeting place for today.
I see a girl standing there, wearing the same uniform as me, with long hair dyed in bright colors that suit her well.
Every person coming out of the station is inevitably drawn to her.
Her captivating appearance attracts the attention of the people around her.
Since my school is a private institution, if you do well academically, you are free to dress as you please.
Perhaps taking full advantage of the school's policy, she wears pearl earrings in both ears and sky-blue headphones around her neck, making her look incredibly fashionable.
Her full bosom is clearly visible even over her uniform, accentuating her beautiful waist and long, slender legs, showing an extraordinary beauty uncommon among Japanese people.
Her smooth white skin resembles snow with a striking impression.
With a distinctive sharp nose, soft pink lips, gem-like eyes with hidden clarity, and a seductive mole around her mouth, she adds to the charm of her petite, model-like face.
Although her uniform is slightly loose and gives off a "gyaru" (girl) vibe, her usually cheerful aura is completely absent, leaving a mysterious impression with an unreadable cold expression.
All these impressions make her look like a displayed doll, a doll with a precious and luxurious presence like a priceless Barbie statue.
The peculiar cold atmosphere strangely complements her own fashion style, which resembles that of a girl.
Her name is Suzuhara Ayana.
She is in the same year as me at Ayasaka High School, Class 1-A, and her nickname is 'Solo Gal'.
If I had to describe her in one word, it would be her loneliness. I have never seen her talk to her classmates at school.
Many people are captivated by her perfect artistic appearance and try to get close to her, but they never get a chance to talk to her and only experience failure.
It is said that there are quite a few students who have become her fans, captivated by her appearance and enigmatic impression.
But they can only watch her from a distance in the classroom.
(Of course, I have never talked to her myself. More precisely...)
As it turned out, the person I described to Sabatora was her.
"Never come near me."
At the beginning of June this year, when I greeted Suzuhara sitting next to me after changing seats, I immediately received a sharp retaliatory attack.
"I despise otaku like you, you know."
[IORI? What's going on? Is something wrong?]
Sabatora looks worried in her DM.
At the same time, Suzuhara also seems to be staring carefully at her phone screen.
Next to her is a silver bag.
[Eh... So Sabatora is a girl?]
[Why are you asking that now?]
[But your use of first-person pronouns was 'boku'...]
[It's to avoid the impression that I'm a girl in the online world. I thought that if I were known as a high school girl, weird people with ulterior motives would approach me. That's happened before, right?]
[That's true, but...]
[Actually, I've wanted to say this for a long time, but I think it's better if IORI does it, right? Your use of self-reference is "watashi. It clearly indicates that you're a girl, and that can be dangerous, you know...]
But hey, I'm a guy!
It's true that in the online world I use 'watashi' as my pronoun and always speak in polite language, but there's a reason for that.
Like a farmer's child who helps with farm work at home, I have been helping my mother, who is a shoujo manga artist, for three years since 7th grade.
My main job is to act as a substitute in sending emails to editors and clients.
When dealing with adults, it is normal to use the first-person pronoun 'watashi' and to speak in polite language.
So I did the same on Twitter.
(Although I am often misunderstood as a female writer in the online world, it makes my writing style easier).
Maybe if we talked more about our real lives, we could see the misconceptions about gender.
But Sabatora isn't very interested in discussing realities like "I'm a loner at school" or "I have a boring school life".
(So I don't really talk about reality with her either... Wait a minute!)
I told Sabatora that I'm a guy, right?
The answer at that time, if I remember correctly, should have been "I knew it from the beginning!"
[Hey, do you remember our conversation when we first formed a team in the online game?]
[Of course! I remember everything about the conversation with IORI!]
[I said, "I may look like this, but I'm really a guy," right?]
[Yeah, that was about the avatar, right?]
[Huh?]
[So, IORI's online game avatar, it has a feminine appearance, but is actually gender neutral, so the gender is male.]
[My avatar is actually male...!]
[I figured it out before you even said it! So I didn't say that? I knew it from the beginning!]
You don't understand at all!
[That was a pleasant memory. I also explained about my avatar. Its gender is as it seems, male!']
Your avatar is a really cool humanoid tiger, right?
[Uh, not quite...]
Maybe I have to admit that the unfortunate misunderstanding happened because she thought IORI = female.
But is Sabatora really Suzuhara?
The one who always acts cold and keeps her distance from everyone?
That's impossible. And how could we have talked about eroge games several times?
Besides, at the DM two days ago...
That' conversation happened...
[If it's for a high school student, it's normal, right?]
Wait a minute.
My underwear is a simple and thin black boxer with an emphasis on airflow. So, I answered like this in the DM two days ago...
[By the way! I bought the underwear IORI mentioned!]
"!?"
I just received a selfie photo via DM. In it, Suzuhara Ayana is smiling gently with a shy expression on her face.
The problem is her pose, as she shows off her bra by lifting her shirt.
A small and cute belly button.
The captivating mounds of her breasts with beautiful contours that are usually hidden under the school uniform.
The delicate beauty of her fair skin and the seductive black lace lingerie tempt everyone who sees them.
[How about this? I won't feel embarrassed, will I?]
I'm sure you would be embarrassed if you knew the truth.
I can't say such things to a close friend who proudly sends such DMs.
[Oh, what can I do, IORI!?]
DM again.
Suzuhara Ayana looks in my direction. Her expression is as cold as usual, but...
[It's awful~! Someone popular in my class keeps looking at me!]
[Huh!?]
[Ugh... That person happens to have the same name as you, but he's completely different from you. Even though he's popular, he claims to be an otaku.]
[Oh, I see...]
[He's known as an "open otaku," but in my opinion, he's more of a fashion otaku! He only talks about popular works in class and never discusses eroge!]
Of course you can't discuss eroge in class!
[He's a member of the popular group in class! Rumor has it that the leader of that group is a guy who likes girls, so maybe he does too!]
I didn't choose to be a part of that group!
I only became a member because my closest friend is a central figure in this group!
I haven't even had any romantic experiences, let alone any 'embarrassing' experiences with women.
[It's terrible, right?! I'm afraid to even approach him! He could successfully convince girls with tickets to popular anime events and take them to a love hotel!]
I understand...
Now I understand why Suzuhara-san hates me.
Who would have thought that I would be seen as using otaku interests to steal girls' hearts?
(How could I face that?)
The obstacles to revealing the truth have increased drastically.
Sabatora-san's wish list includes "hugging," "eating together," and "sleeping together," but these are impossible to fulfill.
Knowing that the close friend she thought was the same as her is actually a boy she strongly dislikes and even sent a photo of herself in her underwear may end our original plan to live together.
Even our friendship is now in jeopardy...
"...!?"
I'm shocked and hold my breath.
Three casually dressed men approach Suzuhara-san and call out to her. They seem to be students.
(No doubt it's an attempt to woo her.)
Although Suzuhara-san continues to ignore them without even looking in their direction, the brown-haired man with a strong physique continues to smile and insistently talk to her.
It's not surprising that he can't ignore Suzuhara's extraordinary beauty.
Or perhaps, why does someone who dislikes popular people and identifies as an otaku dress like a gyaru in real life?
"Hey! Don't ignore us!"
Maybe because he's bothered by Suzuhara-san's silence, one of them approaches her.
"Even if you reject our advances, you should at least give us a little response!"
"Your attitude towards your elders is very disrespectful, you know?"
No, Sabatora-san is not silent because she likes it.
I'm really shy, you know. When someone I don't know talks to me in the real world, I get nervous and can't talk at all.
She expressed this to me through DM before. I was wondering why Suzuhara-san was so quiet at school, but it seems she's just shy around strangers.
"Please stop."
Homever, Suzuhara-san opens her mouth. With a little bit of courage, she grips her tartan skirt with her little hands.
"I can't play with you."
"Why?"
"I'm going to meet a friend."
"Could it be that your friend is also a woman?"
"That would be a good situation! Let her come too..."
"Don't you dare touch her! Never!"
She lifts her previously lowered face and declares firmly,
"To me, she is the only friend more precious than my own life!"
Her words are so powerful that they make me ignore things like "the most disliked person in the world" or "otaku fashion" as irrelevant.
(Oh...)
I should have known after living as her otaku friend for a year. Yes, Sabatora-san is very shy--
"She (IORI) has helped me so much! For the past year, we have been communicating via DM almost every day, laughing together and consulting each other about various problems!"
Anyway,
She is someone who is sincere, gentle and caring to a friend who has opened her heart.
She even said, "If we weren't of the same gender, we would be a couple for sure. Even now she is trying her best not to let 'IORI' bother her.
She uses all her strength to face the older men.
"She is so precious to me and I love her so much! That's why I don't have time to play with you!"
TL/N: Ahem, the meaning of "love" here is more of a fondness for her friend,
She is so afraid of popular people.
Of course, university students who have a stylish appearance like her must be more intimidating to her.
You can see this in Suzuhara-san's slightly trembling slender legs.
Seeing my friend like that...
"Hey...!"
I can't just stand there and watch.
I confront the three older men.
Among them, the brown-haired man with a muscular body looks at me with questioning eyes, as if to say, "Who is he?
Of course I was afraid, but what's even more terrifying is the thought of having to reveal the fact that I am IORI.
If Suzuhara-san found out the truth, she might end her relationship with me.
But...
"I apologize for keeping you waiting, Sabatora-san."
I just wanted to help her.
I wanted to protect this friend who was struggling to speak for herself.
"Huh? You mean you have that kind of relationship?"
I stand in front of her, shielding Suzuhara-san, and the brown-haired man looks confused.
This is my chance.
He seems to have misunderstood Suzuhara-san's earlier words.
"Yes, we have a date."
"Huh? She said she had a girlfriend, but now... her boyfriend?"
"I'm sorry. She's just really shy."
"Ah, so that's why she couldn't say it... But your friend is really sweet."
"Yes. She is precious to me."
"Ugh, I'm jealous! Enjoy your school days!"
The brown-haired man leaves determinedly.
His two followers reluctantly follow him.
As a university student, stealing a high school student's girlfriend is not very honorable.
I thought that if I pretended to be her boyfriend, they would leave peacefully. And it worked.
"Wait a minute!"
But it's too soon to feel relieved.
Her calm and cold demeanor disappears in an instant.
In a panic, I make the firm decision to reveal my true identity.
"Why do you call me Sabatora?"
"Hello, I'm IORI."
"-Ha!?"
"I have something to tell you, Sabatora-san. It seems that we both misunderstood that we are the same gender."
"!? T-That can't be, it's impossible─"
"I will do my best to completely forget about the photo you sent via DM earlier."
"Kyaah...!"
Did she finally understand that I am IORI?
Suzuhara-san covers her captivating, rosy lips like a ventriloquist's dummy.
Perhaps realizing that I saw her in lingerie, her beautiful face turns red all the way up to her ears.
(What will happen next?)
Maybe she will unleash her anger, which has no target.
Or maybe she will suspect that I have been lying about my gender all along.
If that happens, our friendship will end today.
"Thank you very much."
But her answer is not what I expected.
"Thanks for protecting me earlier. You were quick to pretend to be my friend, and that really helped me."
I thought she was going to blame me. But Suzuhara-san lowers her head and thanks me sincerely.
"I'm sorry. Although it's still hard to believe, are you really IORI? I'm sorry that I spoke badly about you at school and again at the recent DM... I..."
Her beautiful eyes filled with tears.
(Ahh...)
Sabatora really is a kind person.
She doesn't blame or suspect me; she focuses more on her own actions.
"I'm really sorry! I'm going home today, I don't want to bother you anymore."
She must be full of remorse. Crying, Suzuhara-san continues to bow her head in despair.
(Going home... where?)
Is she planning on staying in a hotel or a manga cafe?
She wouldn't want to spend the night in the park, would she? She must be thinking, "I said terrible things to my friend. I have to bear the consequences myself─ she must regret it all alone.
If IORI is in trouble, I will definitely help! Those were the words she said to me in a direct message six months ago, and they come back to me.
We consulted each other about various problems. I owe her a lot.
"Wait a minute."
That's why I stop her.
Even though she is a girl... no, it's because she is a girl.
"Will you stay with me as planned? I can't leave you alone."
"!? But! I said terrible things about you, Machikawa-kun..."
"That doesn't matter."
Not as Machikawa, but in IORI's style of speech. I convey my feelings.
"For me, Sabatora is the only friend who means more to me than my own life."
"..!?"
"Sabatora-san has helped me countless times. You are someone precious to me, 'I love you' in the sense of caring."
"W-Wait, Machikawa-kun! Now that I think about it, my words before were so embarrassing!"
"I'm really happy. You said that you love me--"
Suzuhara gently presses her small hand to my lips. Her snow-white skin turns slightly red with embarrassment. Besides, to be honest, her slightly pouty expression with her chubby cheeks looks quite adorable.
"I'll never say 'I love you' in real life again."
"That's a shame."
"But the way you spoke just now was very characteristic."
"Did you borrow my words?"
"No. You changed the atmosphere with words that felt so natural."
It doesn't feel natural at all.
Maybe you think I'm someone experienced in romance and a popular guy, but this is the first time I've said 'I love you' to a girl in my class.
I hide my embarrassment with a smile, even though I'm really embarrassed right now.
(But it's all worth it for the courage I've shown).
I managed to stop my friend from crying.
And also...
(If she wasn't the same sex as me, I would definitely be her boyfriend. I think I had the same thought).
Well, I'm embarrassed to say it openly.
"By the way, you mentioned 'going' earlier, were you planning to spend the night in the park?"
"That..."
"That would be detrimental to your health. There is a dangerous flu outbreak right now. And since you really don't have any survival skills, you can't live alone if you leave home, right?"
"That hurts. At least I could do something..."
"The food at home is usually ordered through Uber or fast food. Your utensils and cups are disposable, made of paper or plastic. Your high-rise apartment is a mess. Even the robotic vacuum cleaner you bought six months ago had an accident in the house."
"Why do you know so much personal information about me?"
"You consulted with me about DM, right? My friend?"
"Hmph."
"How can I live on my own as well as IORI? You said that. -- Let me take care of it? I enjoy doing household chores, and I can support your life. I've wanted to improve your eating habits for a long time.
"That is one of the reasons why I mistook you for a girl! Ordinary high school boys wouldn't say things like, 'I'm going to take care of you like a sweet new wife!
Yeah, that's true.
One of the reasons why I turned out like this is because of my mother's busy life as a manga artist.
Since I was in 7th grade, I've been responsible for about 80% of the cooking, cleaning, and laundry in the Machikawa household.
"Anyway, I want to live with you. Even though there are some serious problems."
"What are the problems?"
"We have been identified as high school students of different sexes."
No matter how cute you are, my friend, I won't try to make a pass at you.
But Suzuhara-san might still feel uncomfortable.
"You don't have to worry about that."
"You say that firmly."
"I believe that Machikawa-kun would never try to make advances on me. You may look like a popular figure, but you're still an inexperienced virgin who has never had any romantic experiences with women."
"How do you know so much personal information about me?"
"You consulted me about DM back then, didn't you? With your friend here."
"Hmph."
"First love, huh. It seems like everyone has experienced it, of course, but I'm sure I'll never experience it in my life', that's what you said."
"When I hear it again, it sounds like a problem from a shoujo manga!"
"No wonder I thought you were a girl. But don't worry. I have never experienced first love either, and even if you have experience with women, we can still live together."
"Eh?"
I replied in disbelief.
This was surprising,
Suzuhara-san, who was always seen as distant and never friendly--
"I trust IORI with all my heart. So starting today, I will stay with you, okay?"
In a Sabatora mode voice, she hugged me tightly.
With an overwhelming feeling of discomfort, it was an awkward hug that just happened spontaneously.
But her scent, her warm body temperature, and the softness of her ample breasts permeated my body.
"...Please, IORI, hug me too..."
"...!?"
"Earlier, you said, 'Hugs and food are very welcome,' right? I have always dreamed of hugging my true friend. So..."
With hesitation and shyness, she made a sweet request.
The innocent behavior of my closest friend was so adorable, and I unintentionally spoke in 'IORI' mode.
"Sabatora-san, even though you seem cool in the real world, you really like to make forceful requests, don't you?"
"Uh... It's not that I want to force anything, I just..."
"I understand."
It seemed as if she wanted to prove it by hugging me, who had previously been afraid to face reality.
Even though she knew the true identity of IORI as Machikawa Iori, she still stood by my side as my friend.
In response to these feelings, I hugged her slender and delicate body.
"Wow, you're so brave in front of the station!"
"This girl is so beautiful. Maybe she's a model? Her boyfriend is really handsome too, isn't he?"
"I'm so jealous, I wish I could be like her..."
I could hear the voices of passers-by, but I still wanted to hold her.
September 15th.
As my friend in the DM mentioned, today became an unforgettable memory.
Of course, there were worries in my heart, but I was sure it would be the most pleasant experience we would share in the future.
Suzuhara-san, who was said to be difficult to get close to.
At that moment, I, Machikawa Iori, could become her friend,
A girl they commonly referred to as 'Solo Gal'....
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