Chapter 3
Birds chirped outside, and sunlight streamed through the gaps in the curtains.
It was seven in the morning.
Sitting on the sofa, I spoke to Yukikawa-san, who was seated beside me.
“Morning… huh,” I said.
“Yup… morning,” she replied.
“We pulled an all-nighter…”
“Yup…”
We both slumped forward in unison.
Let me explain how this happened.
Last night, we were each doing our own thing.
But around midnight, after Yukikawa-san finished reading Time-Traveling Delivery and we started swapping thoughts—
“Oh, this is SmaSis!” she said, picking up a game case by the TV.
Smash Sisters, or SmaSis for short.
It’s a crossover fighting game featuring female characters from various franchises.
It’s so popular now that it even has a pro league.
“Yeah, I bought it but haven’t touched it much. I brought it with me, though,” I said.
“What? Why not? Isn’t it fun?” she asked.
“Didn’t have anyone to play with…”
“…Oh.”
“Please, don’t pity me so openly. It makes it worse.”
“Then let’s play it together! I’ve always been curious,” she said.
“Fine, but… is the time okay? It’s past midnight. We should sleep soon or tomorrow’s gonna suck.”
“Hmm… a little won’t hurt, right?”
“…Guess not. Just a bit, then.”
Even if we tried sleeping now, I wouldn’t fall asleep right away.
I hooked up the barely-used console to the TV, grabbed the controllers, and started the game.
—That was my biggest mistake.
“Nagai-kun, don’t you have kinda few characters?” she asked.
“Like I said, I barely played. I think you unlock more by clearing story mode.”
“Can we do story mode co-op?”
“Looks… like we can.”
“Then let’s blast through it!”
Together, we tackled story mode.
As total beginners, we struggled hard against even basic enemies at first.
But we slowly got the hang of it, eventually taking down bosses.
We unlocked the character we wanted, but…
“Now that we’re this far, don’t you wanna finish it?” she said.
“…Yeah, I do.”
The character we unlocked was near the end of the story.
It had taken us about three hours to get there.
One more hour wouldn’t kill our sleep schedule… probably.
“Alright, let’s do this,” I said.
“Sweet, let’s go!”
—My memory gets hazy from there.
I remember the final boss being stupidly tough.
And the mid-bosses before it were no joke either.
We fought tooth and nail through every battle, and when we finally beat the last boss and the credits rolled, the clock read exactly seven in the morning.
“It was fun, but… we messed up, huh?” Yukikawa-san said.
“Got too into it… Didn’t think we’d lose that much,” I replied.
“Kids play this, right? Can they even win?” she asked.
“Kids these days are probably way better at games than us.”
“…That’s depressing.”
Yawning hugely, she rubbed her eyes.
“…Gotta get ready. Can I borrow your desk?” she asked.
“Go for it,” I said.
“Thanks. Gotta at least make my face look awake…”
She spread out her makeup supplies.
“Is all that for makeup?” I asked.
At a glance, I couldn’t tell what most of it was. I recognized the lip stuff, but the rest?
“Yup. This is primer, this is foundation. Then face powder, eyeshadow, eyeliner, mascara, eyebrow stuff. Oh, and toner and a hair iron,” she explained, naming each item.
She listed them off, but it went in one ear and out the other.
All this was in her school bag? No wonder it looked heavy.
“No way… you carry this every day?” I asked.
“Not everything. The primer and toner I bought at a convenience store on the way. The rest is for touch-ups, so I always have it,” she said.
“Seriously…?”
“Going to school bare-faced? No way. This is normal, right?”
“…I’m impressed.”
Is this really standard for girls?
—Man, guys have it so easy…
I just change into my uniform, fix my hair a bit, and I’m done.
That’s my morning routine, at least.
Her prep is worlds apart.
“Sounds like a lot of work… every day,” I said.
“You get used to it,” she replied. “Oh, crap, I just remembered—I’ve got primer and toner at home, but I bought more anyway.”
She made a face like she’d just bitten into something sour.
“You don’t usually reapply primer for touch-ups, so people don’t carry it… but you can’t do makeup without it, you know? Staying over at someone’s place leads to stuff like this. My bad.”
“…Can you use it all up?” I asked.
“No way. That’s the problem.”
“What’re you gonna do?”
“Hmm… oh, idea! Can I leave it here?”
“Huh?”
I tilted my head, caught off guard.
“I might stay over again, and buying new stuff’s a hassle. It’d really help if I could keep it here,” she said.
“Oh… sure, that’s fine.”
—Wait, hold up.
“You’re staying over again?” I asked.
“Yup. I didn’t get through all the manga, and I’d love to crash again… Is that okay?”
“It’s not… not okay.”
“Sweet! When can I come next?”
“Uh, anytime’s fine, as long as I’m here.”
“Got it… You said it, no takebacks,” she said, playfully nudging my shoulder.
◇◆◇
We left the house a bit early and boarded the train from my station.
“Fwaa…” Yukikawa-san yawned, covering her mouth.
Her yawn was contagious, and I followed suit.
“You got me,” she said.
“So sleepy…” I mumbled.
We yawned again, perfectly in sync.
Sleepy. So, so sleepy.
“Ugh… why do we have to drag ourselves to school when we’re this wrecked?” she groaned.
“Right…” I agreed.
“They should let us take days off whenever we want.”
“Right…”
“…Hey, your replies are all the same.”
I almost said “Right” again but clamped my mouth shut.
“No good… my brain’s fried,” I said.
“Same… Oh, wait,” she said, perking up and looking at me.
“Hey, can I borrow your shoulder?”
“My shoulder?”
“Yup, shoulder.”
“Uh… sure—”
Before I could finish, she rested her head on my shoulder.
It felt heavy yet light—a strangely comforting weight.
“Wha—!?”
My heart started pounding like crazy. The rush woke my brain, blowing away the sleepiness.
Her head was right by my nose, and a sweet scent tickled my senses.
We used the same shampoo, so why did it smell so different on her?
I needed to sleep a bit to survive class.
Closing my eyes, I tried hard to doze off.
But shutting my eyes only sharpened my senses, making me hyper-aware of her warmth and scent.
In the end, I stayed wide awake until we reached school.
The moment I got to class, I collapsed onto my desk.
—No way I’m surviving today’s classes.
The second I parted from Yukikawa-san, a wave of sleepiness hit me like a truck.
There’s no way I could keep up with lessons like this.
The biggest problem was fifth period—PE.
I think we’re playing basketball in the gym today. If I’m zoned out, I’ll get hurt.
I needed to use break times to nap and wake my brain up.
“Hey, Tsukino, you look super sleepy!” Momoki-san’s voice rang out.
I glanced back.
As usual, the popular crowd was gathered around Yukikawa-san, chatting with way too much energy for the morning.
But Yukikawa-san was her usual low-energy self.
No, she was quieter than usual.
After an all-nighter, it’s no surprise, but—
“What, did you pull an all-nighter? Oh, I know! Binge-watching a drama?” Momoki-san guessed.
“Drama…? Oh, yeah, drama… that’s it,” Yukikawa-san mumbled.
“No way! Which one? Tell me later!” Momoki-san pressed.
“Uh… I’ll pick one out.”
Drama, huh.
Does Yukikawa-san watch those?
I watch most live-action adaptations, at least.
My rule is to check out every version of a story I’m into.
—They’d never guess she’s an otaku…
That their first guess is drama, not games or anime, shows how different our worlds are.
I can’t relate to their vibe, but if I were in that circle, I’d probably feel suffocated.
No wonder she’s not hyped.
—Hm?
Just as I turned away to nap before class, my phone buzzed.
It was a message from Yukikawa-san.
“Sleepy,” it read.
Our chat, empty until now, had just those two words.
I almost laughed and typed back, “Same.”
—Never thought I’d be messaging Yukikawa-san like this…
I pocketed my phone and rested my head on the desk to sleep.
I thought high school would be just like middle school.
That prediction was already way off.
◇◆◇
—I ended up sleeping through most of the morning…
Sighing deeply, I munched on bread I bought from the school store.
The sleepiness was so intense, I barely remember first through fourth period.
First period? I was so deep in sleep, I don’t even know when it started.
My head’s clearer now, at least…
—I recorded the classes, so it should be fine.
Just in case, I recorded every lesson on my phone.
I don’t love studying, but I’ve got to do it.
I suck at socializing, and I’ve got no special talents.
To keep up my expensive otaku hobbies, I need to lean on diligence to land a decent job. Get into a good college, work at a solid company, earn a decent living.
I’ll do whatever it takes to keep engaging with my favorite stories.
—Now that I’m in high school, maybe I should get a part-time job…?
For living expenses, my parents gave me a lump sum when I started high school.
Since I don’t spend much outside of my hobbies, I haven’t touched it yet.
Honestly, I’d prefer to save it until graduation.
Starting adult life with no savings feels too risky.
My cautiousness comes from a middle school memory—blowing all my allowance and New Year’s money on a limited-edition anime Blu-ray with extras, only to get chewed out by my parents.
My parents’ issue wasn’t just that I spent the money—it was the lack of planning.
For a while after that, I couldn’t buy any manga, and looking back, I get why they were mad.
In this world, limited-edition merch can drop at any moment.
To be ready for anything, I need to live with a financial buffer.
As an otaku, having plenty of savings is a must.
“Hey! Boys are changing soon, so girls, clear out!” the PE teacher barked, stepping into the classroom.
Lunch break was almost over.
After changing, I headed straight to the gym.
◇◆◇
“Yo! Pass, pass!”
“…”
The basketball game was split into two teams.
With the ball in my hands, I passed it to a teammate wearing the same bib.
“Nice!”
The guy who caught it was Yamanaka, a popular kid who played basketball through middle school.
He dodged an opponent in front of him and nailed a slick layup.
Praised by everyone, Yamanaka jogged back to defend our side.
—Did I… actually help?
I’m not athletic.
But I don’t want to look like I’m slacking, so I try to contribute just enough to avoid being called useless.
“Nice pass, Nagai,” Onijima-kun said.
“Huh?”
I was doing the bare minimum, unnoticed by anyone—or so I thought—when Onijima-kun called out to me. He gave me a cool nod, slapped my back a couple times, and strode off.
I was more confused than happy.
Everyone was hyping up Yamanaka, so why’d he bother with me, someone he barely knows?
—Maybe that kind of awareness is why he’s got so many friends.
While I was lost in thought, the enemy team came charging.
No time for distractions.
I ran to block their passing lanes, trying to be as useful as possible.
—So… exhausting…
I kept running until I got subbed out, and now I’m slumped against the wall, totally wiped. Getting bossed around by the basketball pros did me in.
“…Yo, check that out.”
“Man, Yukikawa’s fine…”
Two guys nearby were ogling the girls’ court, whispering.
“She’s half, right? Her figure’s insane.”
“Ugh, I’d kill to be sandwiched—”
“Dude, that’s way too creepy… but yeah, I get it.”
“It’s every guy’s dream, right?”
It wasn’t just them.
Yukikawa-san, hustling with her teammates, was drawing tons of guys’ stares.
The reason? Every time she moved, her chest stole the show.
Unless you actively look away, your eyes just get pulled there.
Guys are such idiots. Truly.
—Including me…
I let out a massive sigh.
To think even my eyes, usually glued to 2D, get drawn in… Yukikawa Tsukino is something else.
“Tsukino! Shoot!” Momoki-san called, passing her the ball after stealing it from the other team.
From the three-point line, Yukikawa-san launched a shot.
The ball arced perfectly, slipping through the hoop without touching the rim.
Her teammates swarmed her, cheering the clean shot.
—She’s athletic too, huh?
A display like that’s only gonna make people fawn over her more.
But Yukikawa-san, surrounded by classmates, stayed as cool as ever.
Wiping sweat from her brow with a bored look, she even sighed. Hard to believe this is the same girl who bawled reading MariHare.
“Yo, I heard Katakura-senpai from the soccer team already confessed to her,” one of the guys said.
“No way! What happened!?”
“Shot down cold, apparently. Word spread from someone who saw it.”
“Katakura? That super hot ace guy? How do you turn him down? If I were a girl, I’d say yes in a heartbeat.”
“She’s that gorgeous, so her standards must be sky-high. Like, oil tycoon level.”
“That’s way too unrealistic…”
The two cracked up, laughing.
I don’t know Katakura-senpai, but if he’s famous even among first-years, he must be next-level handsome.
Getting rejected by someone like that does make her seem picky.
But knowing Yukikawa-san, she’d probably say something like, “Some rando liking me? Gross,” without batting an eye.
Either way, it’s got nothing to do with me.
◇◆◇
After classes ended, it was time to head home.
Just like yesterday, as I was packing up, the popular crowd behind me started making plans.
“What’s the vibe today? Tomorrow’s a day off, so let’s hit somewhere,” Yamanaka said, the guy who shined in PE.
The group’s eyes immediately turned to Yukikawa-san, nodding in agreement.
“…Today too? We did karaoke yesterday,” she said.
“Y-Yeah, but that wasn’t just us, right? Don’t you wanna hang with the usual crew?” Yamanaka stammered, sounding desperate.
Is it that important for her to come?
If she’s not into it, they could just go with whoever’s down.
“Plus, Tsukino-chan, you bailed early yesterday. Gotta watch that—it kills the mood,” another girl, Yuka, snapped.
I couldn’t help but grimace at how unfair that sounded.
Yukikawa-san’s face tightened too, clearly thinking the same.
“Huh? Why do I have to watch myself? The whole class was there—y’all could’ve had fun without me,” she shot back.
“That’s not what I meant! We’re, like, a group, so—” Yuka started.
Momoki-san jumped in, cutting her off.
“Okay, stop, stop! Tsukino, Yuka, chill. Fighting’s not gonna help, right?”
“But, Haru…!” Yuka protested.
“Yuka, even if we’re friends, we don’t have to hang out every single day. Tsukino probably had her reasons,” Momoki-san said.
“Uh… yeah…” Yuka mumbled, backing down.
Momoki-san’s social skills are unreal—she defused that in seconds.
“Alright, I’m down for today! So, Tsukino, you’re out, right?” she asked.
“…Nah, I’m free till evening,” Yukikawa-san said.
“For real? Sweet!” Momoki-san cheered.
Momoki-san’s a pro at smoothing things over.
She might be the most socially adept person I know.
Still, Yukikawa-san’s super dutiful.
If it were me, I’d definitely skip, at least today.
“What about you, Onijima-kun?” Momoki-san asked.
“Nah, I’m good. Got gym tonight,” he said.
“Cool, then it’s the rest of us,” she said.
With plans set, the group filed out of the classroom.
I’d ended up eavesdropping again, so I waited a bit before leaving.
“Hm…?”
Halfway down the hall, my phone buzzed with a message from Yukikawa-san.
“Can I come over around 8 tonight?”
“…”
I typed back “OK” without hesitation.
◇◆◇
The school day dragged, my body still heavy from the all-nighter. By the time I got home, it was just past five. I had about three hours before Yukikawa-san showed up.
—Gotta tidy up a bit.
My place wasn’t messy, but it wasn’t guest-ready either. I straightened the bookshelves, vacuumed the floor, and wiped down the coffee table. The bathroom got a quick scrub too—just in case.
By the time I was done, it was nearly seven. I grabbed a quick shower to freshen up, then sank into the sofa with a can of tea from the fridge.
—What’s she gonna wanna do tonight?
More manga? Another gaming session? Hopefully not another all-nighter—I wasn’t sure my body could handle it.
As I sipped my tea, my mind wandered back to PE. Yukikawa-san’s effortless three-pointer, the way she shrugged off the crowd’s cheers… She was so different from the girl who geeked out over TwentyKnights or cried reading MariHare. It was like she had two modes: the untouchable queen bee and the secret otaku who vibed with me.
—Wonder which one I’ll get tonight.
The thought made my chest tighten. I shook it off, chugging the rest of my tea.
—Don’t be dumb. She’s just here to hang. That’s it.
The doorbell rang at exactly eight.
I opened the door, and there was Yukikawa-san, still in her uniform, a convenience store bag dangling from her hand.
“Hey. Made it,” she said, stepping inside like she owned the place.
“Yo. You’re right on time,” I replied, closing the door.
“Brought snacks,” she said, holding up the bag. “Chips and some soda. Figured we might need fuel.”
“Nice. Thanks,” I said, taking the bag to the kitchen.
She kicked off her shoes and flopped onto the sofa, already looking at home. “So, what’s the plan? More manga? Or you got something else in mind?”
“Dunno. Your call,” I said, sitting across from her. “You didn’t get to finish much last time.”
“True… but I’m kinda in the mood for something new. Got any anime you’re dying to show off?”
I grinned. She was speaking my language. “Oh, I’ve got a few. Ever heard of Starlight Odyssey?”
Her eyes lit up. “The space pirate one? I’ve seen the name online but never checked it out.”
“It’s a classic. Not too long—twelve episodes. Great mix of action, drama, and some solid laughs. Wanna give it a shot?”
“Heck yeah. Fire it up,” she said, grabbing a bag of chips.
I loaded the streaming app and started the first episode. As the opening theme blared, I glanced at her. She was already munching, totally locked in on the screen.
—This is gonna be a good night.
We binged three episodes before she paused to stretch. “Okay, this is way better than I expected. The captain’s such a dork, but I love him.”
“Right? He grows on you,” I said. “Want another soda?”
“Yeah, hit me.”
I grabbed two cans from the fridge and handed her one. “So, how was hanging with the crew today?”
She cracked the can open, taking a sip. “Eh, fine. Same old. They wanted to hit a café, but I bailed early. Wasn’t feeling it.”
“Figured. You looked kinda done in class,” I said.
She snorted. “Yeah, ‘cause someone kept me up all night.”
“Hey, you were the one who wanted to beat the game,” I shot back.
“Fair,” she said, smirking. “Still worth it.”
We fell quiet for a sec, the hum of the TV filling the room. Then she spoke up, her voice softer.
“Thanks for letting me crash here, by the way. It’s… nice having a place to just chill and be myself.”
My throat tightened. “No prob. It’s cool having someone to geek out with.”
She smiled—a real one, not her usual cool mask. “Guess we’re officially otaku buddies now, huh?”
“Guess so,” I said, my chest warmer than it should’ve been.
—Don’t read into it, idiot.
We went back to the anime, but her words stuck with me. Otaku buddies. Yeah, I could live with that.
For now.
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