Chapter 2 - The Extroverted Otaku and the Solo Gal
I have a confession to make.
I, Ayana Suzuhara, don't particularly like someone who is a classmate of mine.
His name is Machikawa Iori, and he is 175 cm tall, slightly taller than the average height of high school freshmen. His brown hair is always neatly styled with wax.
According to the rude words of a girl in our class, his face is above average, but not extremely handsome. However, he is very good at smiling.
His smile is like a cold soda on a hot summer day, providing an indescribable freshness.
For someone like me who has difficulty communicating, such a smile is something I could never possess. He also has another weapon.
He is observant and adept at reading other people's expressions.
He is also known as an otaku who often discusses topics related to popular manga and games.
He is someone who excelled in both this spring's sports exam and the first semester's academic exam.
He even managed to rank third in his class in both academics and sports.
By using these weapons in his social interactions, Machikawa is constantly making friends and rapidly expanding his network of friends.
"Machikawa-kun seems to be a good listener and always has a smile on his face!"
"His mom is a shojo manga artist, right? He knows a lot about shojo manga, anime and popular video games."
"Although he narrowly lost to Matsuoka-kun in terms of grades, his efforts in both sports and studies are truly remarkable!"
"He has a handsome face, a great personality, and exceptional communication skills. He's really perfect!"
"Oh, maybe I'm starting to like Iori! Should I confess to him now?"
Ugh, you idiots, just go to hell!
This spring season, as I listened to the girls talking in the locker room before our gym class, my mind sank into extremely negative thoughts.
I won't be enchanted by such a smile.
I am sure that Machikawa Iori is just trying to show off his otaku interests to become popular with the girls.
He is a core member of class 1-A, led by Mitsuya Matsuoka, the class president. He is neither a troublemaker nor overly active.
But to me, someone who doesn't have any friends at school, he is clearly a creature who falls under the category of extroverts, a category of extroversion that I can't understand at all.
That's why.
"From now on, let's be friends, Suzuhara-san."
Early June this year.
When Machikawa-kun sat next to me and started talking, I refused his refreshing smile.
But...
In the depths of my heart, there was a touch of admiration for him as well...
Watching him enthusiastically discussing his otaku interests with his friends in class...
"Eh, did you confess your feelings to Machikawa-kun?"
"Yes. I was rejected, so I slapped him as hard as I could."
"What!? Why did you do that?"
"Because he was always nice to me, I thought he was interested in me, and I never thought I would be rejected...!"
"You fool. Iori is always nice to everyone."
"Yes! No one has ever seen him show any emotional feelings."
"That's why I slapped him! Don't pay attention to me if you're not interested! And don't say things that confuse me! That's what I told him!"
That was really too cruel, wasn't it?
This summer, as I listened to the girls talking in the locker room before our swimming lesson, I felt uncomfortable.
Even if he's a fashion otaku, it's too much to unilaterally declare love to someone, get rejected, and then slap him.
If I don't like being disturbed by other people's emotions, maybe it's better not to look for real friends.
"I just need a friend..."
I just need to have one person close to me.
That way I won't feel lonely... It's a faint whisper of my voice, unheard by anyone.
My only friend.
My online otaku friend and creative partner, IORI.
He is a real otaku who is different from Machikawa Iori.
Talking to him through DMs, he also seems to have strong communication skills, but there is a secret that makes me completely sympathize with him even though he is a lonely introvert.
[Only you, Sabatora-san, can I trust like this.]
He said it. A secret he has...
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