Chapter 2
—Never in a million years did I think I’d end up going home with Yukikawa-san…
A quick glance to my side confirms it—there she is, Yukikawa Tsukino, sitting right next to me.
Worried that other classmates might spot us if we kept talking there, we decided to hop on a train to continue our conversation.
It’s not like we’re discussing anything shady, and it shouldn’t matter if anyone sees us, but chatting about anime would definitely get trickier.
“So, you know that scene in TwentyKnights? The one in episode six where the protagonist says something to the seventh knight…”
“You mean, ‘Get your heart fired up’?” I reply. “It was so out of place, I couldn’t help but laugh.”
“Right? And the animation was weirdly good just for that part, which made it even funnier.”
“Probably because they were so dead serious about it.”
We both crack up, picturing the scene.
Yukikawa-san is way more of a TwentyKnights fan than I expected.
Knowing that trash anime at all already makes someone a rare breed, but she’s apparently watched it multiple times.
You don’t meet people this obsessed very often.
“Do you watch a lot of anime, Nagai-kun?” she asks.
“Yeah, it’s my hobby,” I say.
“Hmm… same as me, then.”
“Huh?”
“What’s with that ‘no way’ look?”
“I mean… come on, it’s surprising.”
I’ll say it as many times as it takes—Yukikawa-san is the queen bee of the class’s popular crowd.
No matter what anyone says, that’s how I saw her, and I’m sure every other classmate feels the same.
After school or on weekends, she’s probably out having a blast with her friends.
Her hobby must be posting aesthetic pics on social media—that’s the vibe I got.
“Nah, I don’t care about aesthetic photos,” she says. “If anything, I’m more of a ‘tweeting’ type.”
“Oh… uh, sorry for assuming,” I mumble.
“It’s fine… but why’s that the only image people have of me?”
“Well, you hang out with flashy types like Momoki-san and Onijima-kun, and it feels like friends just flock to you naturally… I figured your hobby was chilling with them.”
At that, Yukikawa-san puffs out her cheeks, looking annoyed.
She can make faces like this too?
The contrast with her usual cool demeanor makes her seem oddly adorable.
“…It’s not like hanging out is my hobby or anything,” she says. “Honestly, I wanted to go home today and read manga or watch anime… but my dad always says relationships are important.”
She lets out a sigh, her expression troubled.
“Playing with Haru and Onijima-kun is fun and all… but they’re not into anime or manga, you know? Not being able to talk about what you love… it’s kind of suffocating.”
“…I get that.”
I thought she was living it up, surrounded by friends, but maybe her high school life isn’t as perfect as it seems.
“…You’re kind of impressive, Yukikawa-san,” I say.
“Huh?”
“I know I’m the last person to talk, being a total loner, but relationships are important. Prioritizing that over your hobbies, even when it’s tough—that’s honestly amazing.”
It’s something I could never do.
I’ve spent my life running from socializing, escaping into otaku stuff.
If I could live like Yukikawa-san, maybe my high school life would’ve been different.
“No one’s ever said that to me before…” she murmurs.
“…Are you blushing?”
“What? No way!”
She turns her face away as she says it.
I used to think she was from another world entirely, but seeing her like this, she’s just another high schooler like me. Prejudice really does blind you.
I deeply regret my warped assumptions.
“…So, what’s the plan now? My station’s coming up,” I say.
“Is there, like, a café or something near your place? I wanna keep talking, so that’d work.”
“There’s a family restaurant.”
“That’ll do.”
What is this feeling?
Just her saying she wants to keep talking makes my chest flutter strangely.
—Don’t get the wrong idea, idiot.
I mentally slap myself for getting carried away.
Don’t assume she’s into you.
That kind of arrogance is what makes people act foolish.
“What other anime do you watch, Yukikawa-san?” I ask, refocusing.
“Hmm… not much recent stuff, honestly. I mostly stick to older anime.”
“You prefer those?”
“Not exactly… It’s just, there’s so much new anime these days, I don’t know where to start. I kinda avoid it without thinking.”
“I get the overwhelming part, but you’re missing out.”
“Right? …Hey, could you recommend some stuff later?”
“Sure, I guess…”
Recommendations, huh.
I’ve never had anyone to talk hobbies with, so nothing comes to mind right away.
I should probably figure out what she likes first.
“Any recent anime catch your eye?” I ask.
“…I only know the name, but Time-Traveling Delivery sounded kinda cool.”
“Oh, that one.”
Time-Traveling Delivery is an SF story about a guy who becomes a deliveryman, transporting packages to the past.
The protagonist works for “TimeCross Transport,” taking orders from modern clients to deliver to people in specific eras.
Its charm lies in the warmth and ugliness of human nature shown through the deliveries, plus the comedic banter with quirky characters.
It’s not flashy, but it’s perfect for anyone craving a cozy story.
“I’ve got the manga for it. Wanna borrow it when we get off? If you like it, you could check out the anime too.”
“You have the original manga?”
“Yup, the full set. Collecting manga’s another hobby of mine.”
“…Can I make a selfish request, then?”
“What’s that?”
“How about we go to your place and talk there?”
“Uh, that’s—”
Whoa, I almost yelled on the train.
No way. Her coming to my place? Absolutely not.
I haven’t even considered having someone over.
“…No can do. I live alone,” I say.
“You live alone? As a high schooler?”
“Y-Yeah… family circumstances.”
“Then that makes it even easier!”
“How does that logic work…?”
“What, you don’t want me there?”
“It’s not that I don’t want you… Shouldn’t you be the one worried?”
A girl visiting a guy’s place alone—most people would be cautious about that, right?
“I don’t mind at all. Plus, it saves me the cost of the family restaurant,” she says.
“…Fair point.”
The price of a meal could buy a manga volume.
For a high schooler, that’s no small amount.
“Also, I’m kinda bad at borrowing stuff. What if I mess it up? That’d suck.”
“Ugh…”
I get it. I hate borrowing things too.
“…Fine, my place it is.”
“That’s the spirit!”
—Hope I cleaned up properly…
I’m suddenly nervous.
“Wow… this place is huge!” Yukikawa-san exclaims.
Ten minutes’ walk from the station, and we’re at my apartment.
Her eyes sparkle as she steps inside.
For a high schooler living alone, it’s pretty spacious, I’ll admit.
A ten-mat living room and a six-mat bedroom make up my 1LDK.
The smaller room’s for sleeping, while the living room has a big TV and a three-seater sofa.
The rest of the space is mostly taken up by bookshelves.
“It’s a place my dad happened to own… but never mind the boring stuff,” I say, loosening my tie and gesturing to the sofa. “Make yourself at home. Want something to drink? Instant coffee okay?”
“Yeah, thanks,” she says.
I boil water in the kitchen and prep the coffee.
Glancing into the living room, I see Yukikawa-san already sprawled out on the sofa, totally relaxed.
For a girl alone at a guy’s place, she’s awfully chill.
—Not that I’m complaining…
If she were tense, I’d probably get self-conscious too.
Her being this laid-back actually makes things easier for me.
“…Here’s your coffee. Add sugar or milk yourself,” I say, handing it over.
“Thanks. Sorry for lounging already,” she says.
“No big deal.”
“This place just feels… calming, you know? It smells nice too.”
She makes a show of sniffing the air.
Honestly, it’s kind of embarrassing.
“Ahem… Wanna throw on TwentyKnights?” I suggest.
“Yeah, sounds good!”
I open a streaming app on the TV and start TwentyKnights from episode one.
“Every time I watch this, I’m like… too many characters, right?” she says.
“Totally agree.”
Trying to flesh out all twenty knights’ backstories in episode one already feels like a mistake.
It’s supposed to be about knights killing each other for their goals, but with only twelve episodes, everything’s crammed in.
Even serious fight scenes turn into fast-talking gags because of the rushed pacing.
“…As surreal comedy, it’s kinda perfect,” I say.
“Apparently the director was pissed, saying that wasn’t the intent.”
“Oh? You read interviews and stuff? I’m not into that at all,” she says.
“If I’m into a show, I can’t help but dig into everything about it.”
Unknown terms or random details—I look them up on instinct. If you ask me why, I don’t have a clear answer.
It’s just a habit.
But I don’t hate the pile of obscure trivia I end up with.
“So… is TwentyKnights being like this the director’s fault?” she asks.
“Hmm… not sure. The same director made Marionette Harem, and that was amazing.”
“Wait, same director? MariHare was awesome!”
“It’s a bit old, but the characters don’t feel dated at all. So good.”
Marionette Harem, or MariHare for short, is a school harem rom-com about an ordinary high school guy and four sentient puppets left by his puppeteer grandfather.
The puppets look human but struggle with their not-quite-human nature, creating poignant moments amidst the slapstick comedy.
Its balance of humor and heart earned it praise, and it’s still hailed online as a masterpiece.
“…I’ve never read the MariHare manga, though. Is it manga or a light novel?” she asks.
“Manga. Hang on.”
I get up from the sofa and grab the MariHare manga from a nearby shelf.
It’s fifteen volumes total.
No dragged-out arcs, wrapping up neatly in the final volume.
The anime’s quality owes a lot to the manga’s strength.
No wonder it still has diehard fans.
“Can I read it?” she asks.
“Go for it. The anime cut some stuff for time, so even knowing the story, it’s still fun.”
“…Now I’m really curious.”
With that, she takes the manga from me.
…
For a while, the only sounds in the room are the anime playing and the rustle of Yukikawa-san turning pages.
Staring blankly at the screen, I glance over at her.
“…! …!”
—Her expressions are so lively.
Her face shifts with every page—smiling, frowning, wincing.
We’ve only been classmates for a week, but this is a side of her I’ve never seen in school.
Even when everyone around her was having fun, she kept that cool, detached look—
“This feels more approachable… for me, at least,” I mutter.
“Hm? Say something?” she asks.
“Nah. Need more coffee? It’s instant, but still.”
I stand up to brew another pot.
◇◆◇
“—That was so good,” Yukikawa-san says, closing the final volume of MariHare.
Setting the stack of manga aside, she grabs a tissue from the table to blow her nose.
The last chapters must’ve hit her hard—her sniffling was audible toward the end.
“I knew the story, but the ending still wrecked me… MariHare’s just that good,” she says.
“Right? No matter how many times I read it, I tear up,” I reply.
Her eyes widen in surprise.
“…You cry over stories, Nagai-kun? I pegged you as the stoic type.”
“What, like I’m heartless? I cry when it hits, same as anyone.”
“Hmm… guess we’re alike, then.”
Her playful smirk catches me off guard, my heart skipping a beat.
The gap between her usual icy vibe and this warmth is messing with me.
“…Oh, crap, sorry. I didn’t come here just to read MariHare, but it’s already this late,” she says.
“Yeah… oh well,” I reply.
The clock on my phone reads 9:30 PM.
Not exactly a great time for a high schooler to be heading home.
“My bad for not noticing. We can talk about other manga some other time—”
“Hey, Nagai-kun, one more favor,” she interrupts.
“Hm?”
She hesitates, then looks at me apologetically.
“Um… is it okay if I crash here tonight?”
“—Come again?”
Her words don’t compute, and I tilt my head.
Crash here? Yukikawa-san? At my place?
“…If it’s a no, that’s fine,” she says, her expression turning sad.
“It’s not… that I don’t want you to,” I stammer.
“So, it’s okay?”
“Ugh…”
Damn it, why’s she gotta ask such tricky questions?
That face makes it impossible to say no.
“…Alright, fine,” I say.
“Yes! Thanks, Nagai-kun!” she beams.
Her total lack of caution makes me want to clutch my head.
Does she not see me as a guy at all? If so… well, that’s a bit of a relief, I guess.
◇◆◇
…
The sound of the shower echoes from the bathroom.
Slumped on the sofa, I’m wrestling with the noise in my head.
—Of course she’d shower here if she’s staying over…
I agreed to let her stay without thinking, but now that I’m calming down, my heart’s racing.
I know. I know.
Nothing’s gonna happen with Yukikawa-san. I get that.
But I’m still a guy, you know?
There’s no way I can be totally chill in this situation.
“…”
The shower stops.
A little while later, Yukikawa-san steps back into the living room.
“Thanks for the shower. Feels refreshing,” she says.
“Yeah, no prob—pfft!”
I nearly choke when I see her.
I gave her a T-shirt and some sweatpants to change into.
I definitely gave her the pants… but—
“Why aren’t you wearing the bottoms!?” I blurt.
For some reason, she’s only in the T-shirt, the sweatpants nowhere in sight.
Thankfully, the oversized T-shirt covers just enough, reaching down to her thighs.
Still, it’s undeniably a bold look.
Before I could look away, my eyes caught a glimpse of her glossy bare legs peeking out from the hem.
It was only a split second, but the image sears into my brain, refusing to fade.
“Oh, sorry. The waist and length didn’t quite fit,” Yukikawa-san says.
“Right, my bad… I didn’t think it through,” I reply.
My sweatpants might indeed be too big for her.
I should’ve been more considerate.
“Wait, are you blushing?” she teases.
“Hey! Is this payback for the train?” I shoot back.
“Who knows? I’ll give the sweatpants back. I’m fine like this,” she says.
“You might be fine, but I’m not! Hang on a sec,” I say.
I’m pretty sure I still have my middle school gym clothes tucked away in the closet.
They were used until recently, so they shouldn’t be moth-eaten or anything.
I dig them out and hand them to her.
“Wear these. They’re clean, I promise.”
“Thanks,” she says.
“You seem… pretty chill about this, Yukikawa-san. Do you, like, stay over at people’s places a lot?” I ask.
She’s so relaxed, I can’t help but wonder—almost without thinking, the question slips out.
“Nope, first time,” she replies.
“Got it, I figured—wait, first time!?”
“Yup. I didn’t really have friends growing up,” she says with a wistful sigh.
“I lived overseas until middle school, so I didn’t have friends here… and I wasn’t exactly swimming in friends abroad either.”
“…You’re kinda low-key, huh, Yukikawa-san?”
“Hey, don’t call me a loner!”
“Sorry, my bad. Reserved, then?”
“That’s barely different!”
Our banter flows so naturally that we both end up smiling.
It’s been a while since I’ve felt this in sync with someone.
“Feels like it’s been forever since I’ve talked this much with anyone outside my family,” she says.
“…Speaking of family, are your parents cool with this? You know, staying over?”
“They leave stuff like this up to me, so it’s fine. They’re both off doing their own thing for work, so they’re hardly home anyway.”
“What kind of work is that?”
“My dad’s a photographer, traveling the world. My mom usually goes with him. They come home maybe a few times a month, so it’s mostly just me at the house.”
“Whoa…!”
A photographer? That’s rare. Sounds kinda cool.
“But… living alone like this, with your own space? I’m kinda jealous,” she says. “My situation’s not that different, but it’s not total freedom either.”
She glances around the room again.
“Hey, Nagai-kun, how long have you been living here?”
“About a month, I guess.”
“Did you bring all these books from home? They look kinda worn.”
“Yeah, I’ve been collecting them bit by bit forever. Most of the furniture’s hand-me-downs too, so it’s a bit old-looking. That’s the downside.”
“I think it’s got character. Like, it’s got charm?” she says.
She runs her hand along the sofa, grinning happily.
This expressive side of her, so different from her usual self, captivates me.
I can’t help but want to see more of her faces—there’s this magnetic pull to her.
Knowing that others haven’t seen this side of her yet gives me a tiny sense of superiority.
—I know. This is just a one-time thing.
I’m not in a position to hope for more.
I don’t want to hog Yukikawa-san to myself or dream of taking things further.
With her overwhelming charm, she’s meant to be surrounded by tons of people.
With looks like hers… she could easily end up a model or celebrity someday.
If I had one wish, it’d be to become friends who can geek out over our favorite stuff together.
For the first time in my life, I’m yearning to have an “otaku buddy.”
I stand up and pull a manga from the shelf.
The title: Time-Traveling Delivery.
“Here, this is what you came to read, right?” I say.
“Oh, yeah!” she replies.
“I’m gonna hop in the shower, so read at your own pace. If you’re thirsty, there’s tea in the fridge—help yourself.”
“Thanks. You’re, like, super accommodating.”
“First guest this place has ever had.”
“Hmm, I shall allow it,” she says grandly.
“What, you’re a princess now?”
“Princess… am I that cute?” she teases.
“Tch, that’s not what I meant…!”
She bursts out laughing at my flustered reaction.
Like her, it’s been ages since I’ve talked this much with anyone.
I’m getting way too excited, and it’s a little embarrassing.
Trying to play it cool, I head to the bathroom.
—Oh, wait, what about sleeping arrangements?
My bed’s a double, so it could technically fit two—
…No way.
My brain briefly went full rom-com, but I snap it back to reality.
I’ll take the sofa, and Yukikawa-san can have the bed. Done.
To be the ultimate otaku friend, my heart’s gotta stay pure.
—Banish impure thoughts… purge the worldly desires.
Chanting that mantra in my head, I make my way to the bathroom.
◇◆◇
Seeing Nagai-kun off to the bathroom, I let out a long breath.
—This place is so chill.
Sinking deeper into the sofa, I take another look around.
The bookshelves lining the walls are packed tight—manga, light novels, even regular books, all sorts.
In one corner, there’s a stack of anime DVDs. The faint scent of instant coffee and old paper lingers in the air—
I’m already hooked on this room.
“…Nagai-kun’s pretty cool too,” I mutter.
I don’t know much about the guy who lives here.
But talking to him feels… comfortable, somehow.
Probably because I can just be myself.
—Haru and Onijima-kun are one thing, but the rest of the group really seems to hate anime…
I hide my hobbies to avoid judgment.
It keeps me from getting too close to them.
This place, though—it embraces what I love. That’s why it’s so relaxing.
Still… I might’ve gone overboard, barging into his place like this on a whim. I’ve never had a boyfriend, and this is my first time in a guy’s room.
It’s not like I’m into him or anything.
And I’m pretty sure Nagai-kun isn’t into me either.
“…That kinda ticks me off, though,” I mumble.
I mean, I’m pretty popular, if I do say so myself.
My looks? Yeah, I’d say they’re decent.
Being noticed is a hassle, but being ignored stings too.
What’s with these mixed feelings?
“Ugh, whatever. Time to read,” I say.
Overthinking’s exhausting, and I’m not a fan.
For now, I’ll just kick back and enjoy this space.
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