Chapter 1 Gyaru Girls

 [Tsuchiya Bunta]

Maybe staying up late to watch anime and then going straight to my paper route really was too much for a weakling like me...!

At times like this, I need my Saintly Lady! Just one glimpse and my stamina will be fully restored!

Then I can take a nap and somehow survive the rest of the day.

Even though my little sister warned me—"Big bro, you’re not that strong, so don’t push yourself"—I still stayed up late cutting into my sleep just to catch the show live.

One word: stupid. Zero planning. It’s not like I have a strong body or anything.

Well then, maybe I should introduce myself a bit here.

There might be some lifeform watching from beyond the universe, after all.

I’m Tsuchiya Bunta, seventeen years old. Just your average high school guy.

If I had to describe myself in one word? Ordinary.

—The end!

If some cosmic observer is out there, let me say this:

You’re wasting your time watching me!

Nothing happens in my life, I promise.

Unlike me—completely unremarkable—the Saintly Lady is the opposite: she never fails to draw attention.

As for me, there’s really nothing more to say.

So, back to her.

I first saw her about six months ago.

It started when I took up a newspaper delivery job, which meant riding the train earlier than usual.

And the shock of seeing her for the first time?

It was like an angel had descended from heaven.

I seriously thought I had boarded a train bound for the afterlife.

The euphoria from just seeing her was unreal. Her appearance made you question whether she was even human. It was visual ecstasy. A weaponized form of beauty.

Honestly, I could say I’ve stuck with newspaper delivery just so I can keep seeing her—it wouldn’t be a lie.

The old saying really is true:

"The early bird gets the worm."

If I were a more delusional otaku, I’d probably start imagining a classic boy-meets-girl situation with her.

But unfortunately, I’m a realist.

I can tell the difference between reality and fiction.

That’s why I’m strict about only looking at her out of the corner of my eye.

She’s a complete stranger, after all.

If some random guy stares at a girl he doesn’t know, of course she’s going to feel scared or uncomfortable.

So, as usual, I got on the train, trying to casually catch a glimpse of my Saintly Lady...

—What... the... heck!?

She's not here today!? No way!

I pretended to be looking for a seat so I wouldn’t seem suspicious.

My eyes wandered around subtly. A technique I’d mastered over the last six months—pushing the limits of what’s allowed.

Had the gods abandoned me?

How could they do this!?

I already accept being plain and average—this was my one small joy in life, and now they’re taking that too!?

Unforgivable. The gods are cruel tyrants.

Realizing that I wouldn’t be seeing the Saintly Lady today hit me hard—I felt dizzy. Probably from anemia. Staying up late and then going straight to deliveries had finally caught up with me.

So weak...

Staggering around, I found an empty seat and plopped down.

Head drooping, completely dejected, I must’ve looked like I’d been burned to ashes.

“You look super down. Lemme guess—you didn’t get to see the one you were hoping for?”

“Yeah... My sweet angel wasn’t—HUUH!?!?”

I responded way too naturally, without thinking.

Just let the words slip out.

And then I became fully aware that someone had spoken to me.

That’s when I noticed a sweet scent drifting through the air.

My brain quickly registered it—a girl’s scent.

How do I even know what that smells like?

Of course—from my sister. She’s the only source of any female-related sensory data I have.

I heard the seat creak slightly beside me, felt a shift in the cushion.

Sensing someone next to me, I nervously turned my gaze in that direction.

And there sat—

A gyaru.

Someone who looked absolutely nothing like the Saintly Lady.

Straight, glossy blonde hair reaching down to her waist. She wore her school uniform in an oiran-inspired, sexy style, with a short skirt that boldly exposed her thighs.

Her long legs were crossed, which made the whole situation… well, a lot to take in (my vocabulary just disappeared—it looked like things were about to show).

Her makeup was subtle, yet it fully brought out her natural beauty, and her attention to detail extended all the way to her fingertips. Her nails were perfectly done.

She had a look and style that didn’t allow for compromise.

If the Saint could be described with the attribute “healing,” then the girl in front of me was definitely “thorny.”

A gorgeous gyaru girl who, under normal circumstances, would never be involved with someone like me—a quiet, introverted guy.

My instincts were blaring a full-on red alert.

Beautiful flowers have thorns, and words like "honey trap" were running wild through my brain.

“Um, excuse me, who… who are you!?”

I blurted out in a voice that cracked awkwardly.

Wha—this kind of thing actually happens!?

“Nice to meet you. Do you have a minute? I’ve got something I want to ask.”

“Is this a shakedown!?”

“…Wow. So I look like that kind of girl to you?”

“I don’t have any money!”

“This guy! I swear, should I actually take something from you?”

“Eep!”

“…No, obviously I’m kidding. Don’t freak out like that. Anyway, sorry, but can we get to the point? You’re always watching that girl in this train car, right? What’s your deal?”

Her sharp gaze made my heart jump. I could feel her trying to size me up.

Gyaru girls are terrifying!

I was on the verge of shaking from fear. Normally, my mind would’ve gone completely blank.

But her words were more than enough to drag me back into reality.

There was no way I could ignore them.

—You’re always watching that girl in this train car, right?

Wha… she knows…!?

She knows I’ve always been keeping the Saint in my peripheral vision!?

No, it’s not like I was doing anything shady. Sure, I was looking, that’s true—but I was careful about it.

At the very least, I tried not to come across as a creep or a pervert.

I mean, how did this happen? Some complete stranger girl suddenly confronting me like this!?

What on earth is going on!?

Choking on my words as I tried to process this unexpected crisis, I chose my words carefully.

“When you say ‘that girl’…”

“Can’t you tell by looking at this?”

Following her cue, I took a closer look—and sure enough, I recognized the uniform.

“No way… that uniform…”

“Yep. I’m friends with her. Actually, she’s been telling me she’s felt like someone’s been watching her.”

As soon as she said that, I felt the blood drain from my entire body.

Even though I still didn’t understand everything, it was like all the dots suddenly connected.

She… talked to someone about it…?

That means… my gaze made her feel anxious or even scared…?

That’s—no. That’s not what I wanted. No, that’s something that should never happen.

The Saint is someone I see as a benefactor. You could say she gives me the energy to enjoy my everyday life, even a reason to live.

If I made her feel uncomfortable, that’s basically returning kindness with betrayal.

There’s no excuse for that.

That’s why I had to look this girl straight in the eye—and apologize, not just to her, but to the Saint behind her, sincerely and from the heart.

“I’m sorry.”

“…Huh. You admitted it pretty easily. Well, I guess it makes sense. She seems super kind, and it’s not surprising you’d end up fantasizing that even someone like you might have a chance.”

“Please wait! It’s true that I was watching her. I admit that. But I wasn’t looking at her with any kind of impure thoughts!”

“You were staring at a girl, but you’re saying you weren’t into her? Sounds kind of sketchy, don’t you think?”

“Guh…! I mean, yeah, you’re right. But that’s not it. It’s hard to put into words, but to me, she’s… she’s the Saint!”

“Wow. You actually call her that in your head? That’s kinda messed up.”

Aaaaagh! You’re right! That was a terrible slip! I’ve got to fix this—

“I admit I’m a creepy otaku. But I’m not a dangerous one! I just felt comforted seeing her!”

“Okay, okay. Calm down.”

If I’d been thinking clearly, I would’ve realized this just sounded like a pathetic excuse. But at the time, I was so desperate—afraid that someone I owed so much might be misunderstanding me.

“I never meant to scare her or make her feel uneasy. Please, let me apologize. I’m truly sorry.”

Yeah… this hurts.

To me, the Saint is someone who gives me hope, who makes every day better. To think I might have caused her distress—it’s a pain I’ve never felt before.

“So you weren’t into her as a girl?”

“I wasn’t.”

“Man, the way you answered that so fast is actually kinda annoying…”

“Uh, sorry… what was that?”

“Nothing, forget it.”

We probably won’t ever talk again. She’ll still have doubts and fears about me, I’m sure.

But if I could at least show some genuine remorse here and now—maybe I could lessen that fear, even a little.

“You’re the kind of guy who’s satisfied just looking from afar? Like, some sort of visual fasting thing? Never seen one in the wild before.”

“Wait, are you comparing me to a tsuchinoko or something?”

“Ha? Of course not.”

“Right. That would be—”

“Tsuchinoko sightings have million-yen rewards, though. You? You’re worth, like… five yen, tops.”

“Isn’t that way too low!?”

Crap. I responded on reflex. I shouldn’t have—

“…Huh. So you can talk back. Not bad, I guess.”

“Eh?”

“You’ve got it wrong, Otaku-kun. I never said that Yui-chan felt scared or creeped out.”

“Yui-chan?”

“Oh, that’s what I call my bestie. The girl you’ve been calling ‘the Saint.’”

“Then… she wasn’t feeling scared?”

“I mean, you’ve seen her. That girl looks absolutely insane, right?”

“Uh… yeah.”

“Wow, you actually agreed. So you did have some dirty thoughts, huh?”

She shot me a nasty glare.

“For the hundredth time, I was just—”

“—Being comforted by her presence, right? Yeah, yeah, I get it. All I’m saying is, with looks like hers, she naturally attracts a bunch of sketchy guys.”

“Sketchy guys, huh…”

Guh… even though she wasn’t specifically saying I was one of them, that still stung.

I thought I was used to being insulted thanks to my sister, but hearing it from someone else hit different.

“Anyway, way too many guys get the wrong idea. Always thinking they’ve got a chance. That’s why I came today—to scout you out. As her best friend, it’s my job to nip any potential threats in the bud.”

I see. So that’s the kind of relationship they have.

If the Saint really is as gentle as she looks, then I wouldn’t be surprised if she’s had guys obsess over her even after being turned down.

On the other hand, this girl in front of me is as blunt as they come.

If someone like me got an earful from this flashy gyaru, something like “you’re being a total nuisance, cut it out,” it would definitely send me running. And clearly—it worked like a charm.

“To be honest, she told me something felt different about the way someone was looking at her.”

Yeah… the gaze you give someone you admire and the one filled with lust—those feel totally different. Especially to a girl with sharp instincts.

Maybe that’s the one thing that saved me from being labeled a stalker.

“You admitted what you needed to. Didn’t try to make lame excuses. I can tell you weren’t lying, and your sincerity came through. Alright, investigation’s over. I know it wasn’t fun, but I hope you understand.”

With that, she stood up gracefully just as the station announcement came on.

Oh, she’s getting off at the same stop as the Saint. So maybe they are classmates.

But—more importantly!

“Wait, I’m not getting punished? Like, ‘never show yourself to the Saint again’ or ‘change your train schedule’?”

“You said you didn’t mean anything shady, right?”

“I swear I didn’t.”

“Then there’s no reason to force you to do anything. Do what you want.”

Eh? Ehhh!?

Seeing how confused I looked, she smiled slightly as the train doors opened.

“I’ll just tell Yui-chan one thing—that you didn’t seem dangerous. After that, it’s up to you what happens. See ya.”

“Um! Can I at least know your name?”

“Ah—hmm… it’s Urakawa. But seriously, no need to remember it.”

Waving her hand casually, Urakawa-san stepped off the train like nothing had happened.

Meanwhile, I felt like I’d just survived a natural disaster.

S-So… what does this mean? Did I survive this ordeal?

Am I… not guilty? A harmless bystander? Innocent?

Does that mean… I can still look at the Saint from afar as my little daily joy…?

Ugh, no. My brain’s not working anymore. I’m still shaking from the stress.

The physical exhaustion from delivering newspapers, and the mental exhaustion from Urakawa-san’s interrogation…

They both hit me all at once.

My school station was coming up, but I decided to close my eyes for a bit.

And just as I had a feeling it might—

I overslept all the way to the final stop and ended up being spectacularly late.

How predictable.

[Omotekawa Yui]

Thanks to my gifted education, I grew up excelling both academically and physically.

I inherited my mother’s beauty, so my looks aren’t bad either.

If I had to name one of my few weaknesses, it would be that I’m terrible at waking up early.

I know I might come off as stuck-up, but even from an objective point of view, I don’t think that’s an exaggeration.

The life I lead as the daughter of the Omotegawa Group is undeniably a part of who I am.

It’d be a lie to say that being in a position where everything I do and say carries weight isn’t exhausting.

Honestly, I do sometimes long for age-appropriate silly conversations and a normal life.

I can’t even remember the last time I had a carefree chat with someone who wasn’t family.

The reason I, as someone from a distinguished family, decided to approach a certain male student—the otaku guy who rides the same train as me—in my “hidden” persona came down to two things.

First, it was more appropriate given my position.

As a proper young lady, careless behavior is strictly forbidden. I never know who might see or hear something.

If I were to talk to a boy in my public persona, and on top of that, get caught up in rumors at school—

It’d definitely become a huge hassle.

But if I act as a completely different person, then there’s no risk of any misunderstandings.

Second, I was just plain bored. To put it bluntly, I was looking for some excitement.

Since I spend almost all of my days—and years—as the young lady of the Omotegawa family, the only people I can be myself around are older female attendants.

The “hidden” me, with a gyaru appearance, is the complete opposite of my usual refined self.

Honestly, I never thought I could pull off such a transformation so perfectly. I mean, it’s flawless. Not bad at all, right? I’ve always wanted to try dressing like this.

Everything’s in place. Alright, let’s start the investigation.

I peek over from near the door of the neighboring train car to check on him.

There he is—yep, found him. Haha, he’s looking around.

Too bad his “angel” is in a different car today.

Once I sit down, I’ll check his reaction—but wow, he looks devastated!

He’s got that “end of the world” look on his face! Is he really that down just because he couldn’t see her!?

If he cares that much, I can’t help but feel a little flattered.

“Wow, you look super down. Let me guess, didn’t get to see the girl you were hoping for?”

“Yeah… My sweet angel wasn’t there today—huh!?!?!? Wha—who are you!?”

My sweet angel!?

What kind of nickname is that!? Calm down, me…! Judging from his reaction, he hasn’t figured out who I am.

Haha, “who?” He probably has no clue the girl he sees every morning is standing right in front of him.

“Nice to meet you. Mind if I ask you something real quick?”

“Is this a shakedown!?”

Of course not! Wait, do I look like a delinquent or something!?

Is my look too much!? I’m just a regular gyaru, you know?

“…Huh. So that’s the kind of girl I come off as?”

“I don’t have any money!”

“Oh really? Maybe I should rob you then.”

“Eek!”

“…No, obviously I’m joking. Don’t freak out so much. Anyway, can we get to the point?

You always stare at a certain girl on this train, right? What’s your deal?”

I fix my gaze on him to analyze his reaction.

“The girl, you mean…”

“Don’t play dumb. Take a look.”

“Wait, that uniform… no way…”

“Yep. I’m friends with her. Actually, she told me she’s been feeling like someone’s watching her.”

Looks like he’s starting to understand what’s going on.

Now, let’s see how he reacts—will he panic or get defensive?

“…I’m sorry.”

Whoa, an apology right away!?

I thought he’d try to make some excuse for self-preservation or at least argue a bit!

No half-baked excuses, either. Doesn’t seem like he’s faking it. Maybe he’s actually a decent guy… at the very least, not a creep.

“…Huh, so you admit it just like that.

Well, I guess if someone looks that kind and approachable, it’s not crazy to imagine you could get along with her, even if it’s just wishful thinking.”

“Please wait! It’s true that I was watching her, I admit that. But I wasn’t doing it with bad intentions!”

“Following a girl with your eyes and saying you weren’t interested sounds pretty sketchy, don’t you think?”

“Ugh…! You’re not wrong. But I swear, that’s not how it was. It’s hard to put into words, but to me… she’s like a saint! A healing presence!”

Wha—whaaaat!? A saint!?

So, he wasn’t seeing me as a girl, but as some kind of divine figure?

“Wait, calling someone a saint in your head is kind of creepy, you know.”

“I admit I’m a cringy otaku. But I’m not a dangerous person! I was just… comforted by her presence, that’s all!”

“Okay, okay. Calm down.”

He’s practically begging me now, desperate to prove he’s harmless.

And with such intensity that it’s almost embarrassing to watch. Yeah, this guy’s the real deal.

“I never meant to scare or make anyone uncomfortable. Please let me apologize. I’m really, truly sorry.”

“So you weren’t romantically interested in her?”

“No, not at all.”

“That quick of an answer kinda ticks me off…”

“Wait, sorry—what was that?”

“Nothing, never mind.”

Having someone I barely know show romantic interest is annoying, but getting immediately rejected like that stings in a different way.

It almost feels like he’s saying I’m not attractive as a woman.

Still, not being seen romantically by a guy is kind of refreshing.

“You’re one of those ‘just looking from afar is enough’ types? This is my first time seeing one in real life. Didn’t think you actually existed.”

“Uh… are you comparing me to some kind of mythical creature?”

“Huh? Of course not.”

“Right? That’d be ridiculous—”

“I mean, a Tsuchinoko has a bounty on its head worth millions. You’d be worth, like, fifty yen tops.”

“That’s way too low!!”

Oh, not bad. So he can throw in a retort. That earns him a few points with me.

“…Hmm. So you can react like that. Not bad. I like it.”

“Huh?”

“You’ve got it all wrong, though. My friend never said she was scared or anything, you know?”

“Your friend?”

“Yeah. That girl you call your ‘saint’? She’s my bestie.”

“Then… she’s not actually feeling uneasy?”

“I mean, just look at her—she’s crazy gorgeous, right?”

“Well, yeah…”

“Oh, you admitted it. So you were interested after all?”

“I told you—I wasn’t! I just…”

“…felt healed, right? I got it already.

What I’m saying is, with someone who stands out that much, there are bound to be guys who get the wrong idea.”

“‘Wrong idea’…”

“There are so many creeps out there thinking they’ve got a shot. That’s why I came to check you out.

As her best friend, it’s my job to nip any potential trouble in the bud.”

I glance at him. He’s got a serious look on his face.

Looks like he totally bought what I said.

Man, he’s easy to read.

“You admitted what you needed to, didn’t make any excuses, and you seemed sincere.

Alright, interrogation over. I know it wasn’t pleasant, but I hope you understand.”

I had a good reason to do this, but yeah, it probably didn’t feel great.

So, to make up for it—

“Huh? You’re just letting me off the hook?

You’re not gonna tell me to never show my face in front of the saint again? Or to take a different train?”

“You didn’t do anything shady, right?”

“I swear I didn’t.”

“Then I’ve got no reason to tell you what to do. Do whatever you want.”

Haha, I bet he’s thinking “Wait, seriously?” or something like that.

I don’t mind the whole “saint” thing, and I guess I’ll allow him to say hi in the mornings.

You should be grateful for my generosity, Otaku-kun.

“I’ll just let her know one thing: that you didn’t seem like a threat.

So what happens next is up to you. Later.”

“Um! Before you go—can I ask your name?”

My name!? The hidden me’s name!?

Crap, I didn’t think he’d get interested in me!

“Uh… let’s say it’s ‘Urakawa.’

Not that you need to remember it or anything.”

Since my real name’s Yui, I just flipped it to Urakawa… pretty lazy, huh.

Well, it was on the spot, so whatever.

After getting off the train, I stretched and looked ahead, thinking:

“Maybe I’ll try waking up early tomorrow.”

[Tsuchiya Bunta]

There’s a commonality between real life and dating sims.

"Wait, didn’t you say you could tell fiction from reality? Are you going senile?"—that’s probably what people would say hearing me open with that, but please, let me explain.

So, what’s the common factor?

No, it’s not the cliché where an average male student somehow ends up being adored by an unbelievably beautiful girl.

It’s the choices. That’s right—those turning points in life that keep popping up before you.

Sure, in real life, options don’t literally appear on the screen like in a game, but what goes on in your brain isn’t all that different.

Enough talk—get to the point and tell us what your "life-choice moment" was?

To put it simply: do I get on the same train at the same time as usual, or do I not?

Yesterday, I got involved with a beautiful gyaru named Urakawa-san.

If you take that scene alone, it might sound like something straight out of a dating sim, but in reality, it was more like an interrogation from someone suspecting me of being a future criminal—or close enough.

Yeah, I know. Even just saying that hurts a little.

Apparently, my glances hadn’t gone unnoticed, and she had been consulted by none other than the Saint herself’s best friend—Urakawa-san.

Even now, thinking back on it, it makes my chest ache.

I knew better than to let my feelings or delusions run wild, and thanks to desperately explaining myself, I somehow managed to walk away unscathed.

Just then, the train arrival announcement played.

If I get on this train, I can see the Saint again—just a glimpse, but still. Especially after what happened yesterday.

Maybe, just maybe, her opinion of me has gone from “creepy pervert sneakily peeking” to “harmlessly average high school boy.”

Then again, starting from negative status and just hoping to be seen as average? That’s like having a side-character's stat sheet. Yikes.

Anyway—

The school train arrives. With a hiss of air, the doors open wide.

That scene overlaps with what feels like a new beginning for me—Bunta Tsuchiya.

Literally taking a step forward would mark the start of a new journey.

Urakawa-san told me, “It’s up to you, Otaku-kun.”

If I take her words at face value, then all I need is the courage to board the train.

Even without romance, maybe I could at least greet her, make small talk, become someone vaguely familiar.

Yeah, I know. I shouldn’t get my hopes up.

Still, the option to “board” holds all kinds of potential for development.

It’s the branching path of a protagonist’s story—taking a more active role in life starting now.

That’s why, with a rare cheerful smile and the wind gently brushing against me like a blessing—

—I turned around and walked away without getting on the train.

My inner Tanjiro was screaming, "Don’t run away, coward! Don’t run away!!" but I had no intention of listening.

Because—I don’t want the Saint to hate me.

Sure, I was relieved to hear that she hadn’t felt scared or uncomfortable.

But if I’d made just one wrong move, she could’ve felt that way.

That’s not something I want to risk.

Basically, I don’t want to cause her any distress—but also, I selfishly don’t want to see her in distress. And most of all, I don’t want to accept that I was the cause of it.

Yeah, I know. I’m the textbook definition of a coward.

So this will be my final glance.

Goodbye, Saint.

These past six months felt long and short all at once, but I’m honestly grateful.

Thank you—for everything up until now.

[Omotekawa Yui]

Morning. As I woke up to head to school in full "Flawless Saint Mode," I couldn’t hide my surprise at an unexpected discovery.

Huh…? Wait a second—am I actually feeling better than usual today?

That usual awful, low blood pressure feeling when I wake up—it's not there!?

There are three things in life I absolutely can’t stand—things I’d erase from existence if I could. One of them is waking up.

Starting the day feeling sluggish and heavy? No thank you.

Even though I want to have a refreshing start to my mornings, my body just won’t cooperate.

You think I can get ready properly in that condition? Of course not, no way.

That’s exactly why I leave my morning prep to my personal attendant.

Changing clothes, doing my makeup, preparing breakfast—these days, I can just sit there and everything's magically ready for school before I know it.

Honestly? Pathetic. Total defeat. I want to do things myself as much as possible.

Maybe that’s why, when I actually woke up to the sound of an alarm for the first time in ten years—

“Young lady is awake!?”

“Can you not say it like ‘Clara stood up’? I do wake up by myself sometimes, okay?”

My maid, who takes care of me, was completely shook.

Well… I mean, to be fair, I was the most surprised.

Maybe it’s thanks to that Otaku-kun? Haha... not bad, huh?

Not like I’m suddenly seeing him as a guy or anything. It’s not some sweet, romantic thing like that.

I just enjoy watching his reaction when Saint Mode me makes her appearance.

Until now, I’d always let my maid handle everything, but today—

“Do we have any new lip gloss?”

I ended up spending more than three times longer than usual in front of the mirror until I was satisfied with how I looked.

I mean, if I’m going to see him on the train anyway, I want to show him the perfect version of me, right?

If Otaku-kun gets healed just from seeing me, that’s not a bad thing at all.

Seriously, what an unexpected bonus.

I get to soften my dreadful mornings. Otaku-kun gets a dose of healing. It’s a total win-win.

Alright—perfect! I might be radiating even more “Saint” energy than usual today!

Just you wait, Otaku-kun! Behold my full power in all its glory!

◯●◯

…Or so I used to be all fired up, once upon a time.

Huh? Huuuuuh!? You’ve got to be kidding me!

After all that talk about “Saint Mode this” and “Saint Mode that,” he changes trains and commute time like it’s nothing!? Unreal!

I showed up at the same time and on the same train car as usual—and what was waiting for me?

Otaku-kun had vanished.

The scene was the total opposite of how it used to be, when he was the one searching for me.

Now the flawless Saint herself was scanning the train for some random high school boy. This is a comedy sketch now!

Hmph. Hmph. Oh, I see. So this is how it’s gonna be, huh, Otaku-kun? You coward. Well then—I have my own plan.

If I remember correctly, the station where he usually gets off is...

[Tsuchiya Bunta]

Even though I disappeared the day after I made contact with Urakawa-san... I wonder what they think of me?

Probably relieved, right? I doubt anyone’s actually disappointed.

But that’s just me interpreting things in a way that’s too convenient for myself.

In any case, after changing up my schedule and the trains I took, there’s one thing I realized very clearly.

I was getting way more energy from the Saint than I ever thought.

I apparently fell asleep during class and shouted "Saint-sama!" in my sleep, causing a commotion.

During PE, I was as powerless as a soaked anpan, and at my part-time job after school, I kept messing up.

Worried looks, exasperated sighs, scolding voices—it was a full course.

I knew I wasn’t exactly the most competent guy to begin with, but to fall apart this much just because I couldn’t see the Saint... that’s just pathetic.

"...Haaah. I want to see the Saint-sama again."

"Then why’d you switch trains this morning?"

"Well, I didn’t want her to hate me—wait, who are you!?"

While I was leaning against the window feeling all sentimental, a voice came from above.

And once again, they entered the conversation so naturally that I just slipped up completely.

Wait, didn’t something like this happen before too!? Déjà vu!?

I hurriedly looked up and saw a familiar beautiful girl—Urakawa-san.

But she gave off a different vibe than before. It felt like there was a “rumble rumble” aura coming from behind her.

And yet, she was smiling.

So scary! Wait, why is she mad? Actually, why is she even here?

Before I could ask, Urakawa-san sat down next to me.

A two-seater, close enough that our upper arms were almost touching. She smelled good, as expected.

As a normal high school guy, I felt both happy and awkward in a way that felt out of place.

"Mind if I sit here?"

"You already sat down before asking..."

Right after sitting next to me, Urakawa-san crossed her legs.

Even though I knew I shouldn’t be staring, my gaze was drawn to the way her thigh pressed out slightly beneath her skirt.

It looked soft, but not overly so—well-toned in a really attractive way.

Wait, why am I analyzing this in detail!?

"What was your intention?"

She asked with a sharp glare, chin resting on her hand.

Is she mad about where I was looking just now!?

No, she was already in a bad mood when we met!

"Yui-chan’s been really worried, you know. She thought maybe she said something that made you feel uncomfortable since you suddenly disappeared."

"Seriously!?"

That shocking truth hit me like a truck.

I felt regret for acting without thinking of others.

Then came the happiness from knowing the Saint was worried about me—and panic, because it was a misunderstanding.

I try not to judge people by appearance, but if the Saint really is as kindhearted as she looks...

Then it’s no surprise she’d be worried if I suddenly vanished after being interrogated by her close friend.

Assuming she’d feel relieved just because I disappeared was pure self-centered thinking.

I never imagined I might be making her feel guilty.

That was a mistake caused by a careless, impulsive decision.

"I even went out of my way to give you a ‘harmless’ label, and you go and vanish the next day? Seriously, pathetic."

"Ugh...!"

A direct hit from a gyaru’s blunt words!

Barely hanging on with 1 HP left, but I couldn’t collapse yet—not until I cleared up this misunderstanding with the Saint.

"Got any explanation?"

"I assumed disappearing would solve everything. I’m really, truly sorry."

"If saying sorry fixed everything, we wouldn’t need law enforcement, would we? Anyway—"

"Anyway?"

"Don’t you think you’re apologizing to the wrong person, Otaku-kun?"

Urakawa-san’s sharp stare pierced through me, like she could see and squeeze my heart.

My instincts screamed that this girl now held the power of life or death over me.

Her words made it clear: I needed to apologize directly.

"Well, I mean... I’ve never had a girlfriend in my life..."

"Okay, why’d you drop such a sad bomb all of a sudden? And?"

"Even talking to girls normally is hard for me, so approaching the Saint... it’s like trying to scale a cliff."

"Huh. So you’re saying, if you’re talking to me just fine, that means you don’t see me as a girl? Wow. That stings."

Somebody please just kill me now.

There’s no way out. I’m completely cornered!

"Of course I want to apologize in person. But when I see her, I panic, stutter, and end up acting like a complete otaku. Wouldn’t that be creepy?"

What I was most afraid of was becoming visibly awkward in front of the Saint, with her overwhelmingly stunning appearance.

I didn’t want to scare her off.

Urakawa-san sighed and said it like it was the most obvious thing ever.

"Do you really think Yui-chan’s the kind of girl who’d look down on a guy who mustered the courage to apologize?"

Her question hit me hard—like a slap to the face, snapping me out of my pathetic spiral.

"I don’t think that."

"Then maybe do the right thing for once?"

"...Yeah. You’re right. At the very least, I want to clear up the misunderstanding so she won’t worry anymore."

Thanks to Urakawa-san, I finally made up my mind.

She pursed her lips in a pout and said,

"Man up already. I’m heading out."

As she stood up, I knew I couldn’t let her go without saying something.

"Um!"

"Hm?"

"Thanks... for everything. You’re a lot kinder than you look, Urakawa-san!"

"...Huh? Kind? Me? What the hell are you talking about? Wait—don’t tell me you’re hitting on me?"

"N-no! Not at all! Please don’t misunderstand!"

"...?"

"Could you please not misunderstand...?"

"That’s not really a tone issue, you know."

"What I mean is, you really care about your friend. You went out of your way to explain things to me and scout me out. I know it’s for her sake, but... I appreciate it. I really do."

When I think about it,

She went out of her way to find me on my way home and deliver the message.

She probably isn’t that free herself.

And yet, she still gave me a push forward.

If that’s not being a good person, I don’t know what is.

Urakawa-san turned away like she was trying to hide something and muttered,

"...What the heck."

In a super small voice.

Wait—is she... embarrassed?

She looks like she’d be used to being complimented, so this is kind of unexpected.

As I was thinking that, she suddenly turned around and brought her beautiful face closer to mine.

W-wait, what!? I didn’t mean to flirt or anything!

D-did I just trigger a flag—OUCH!?

I couldn’t handle the sight of her beautiful face up close, so I shut my eyes...

And got flicked hard on the forehead.

When I opened my eyes, there she was with an evil-looking grin, her fashionable nails right in front of me.

Yep. She flicked me.

"For an otaku, you’ve got some nerve. Have you never seen yourself in the mirror or what?"

"That’s so mean!"

Though to be fair, my little sister says stuff like that all the time, so it barely fazes me.

Not that I’m happy about that...

"Save those words for after you’ve apologized to Yui-chan, okay?"

"Yes, ma’am."

"Well... I will be rooting for you. Do your best, Otaku-kun."

"I’ll try my best!"

"Later."

"Bye."

I watched her walk away after getting off the train.

This time was different from last time.

Now her reputation’s on the line. If I back out again, I’ll be dragging her name through the mud.

And that’s... something I, as a man, absolutely can’t allow myself to do.

Maybe...

There’s no such thing as a gyaru who’s kind to otaku,

but there are gyarus who are kind in their own way.

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