Chapter 2 - I Should Think About Getting Involved in School (Earnestly) (Part 1)
I have a fiancée. What's more, she is a gyaru named Miran Hanatsuki.
***
The next morning, after the day I was told that shocking fact. When I woke up in bed, I couldn't help but laugh to myself.
"I seem to be having a strange dream, Hanatsuki-san is my fiancée...," I muttered to myself.
It was so unbelievable that it occurred to me that it was just a dream. The incident where my parents were dressed so neatly, and then I hurriedly changed and got ready. Later, Miran Hanatsuki, who was my fiancée, came to say hello. Thinking that it was all a dream, I remembered the incident in a semi-conscious state. However—
"No, it feels so real..."
Usually in a dream there are some obscure or ambiguous passages, but I can remember the atmosphere and content of the conversation quite clearly. I woke up in a cold sweat and looked at my clothes and was shocked.
"These are yesterday's clothes!"
In my dream, these were the clothes I wore to greet Hanatsuki-san and her parents. I fell asleep without having time to change, and my memory of the dream was cut off right then and there.
"W-What, this isn't a dream? No, or is this a dream now?"
I slapped my cheek, but the pain was real. As the pain woke me from a half-sleep state, the realistic impression of my memory rose.
"What happened yesterday was... real?"
I was shocked to realize that the memories of yesterday were not a dream, but reality. I've only ever seen people confirm whether something is a dream or reality in manga and anime, but I didn't expect to experience it. Sitting on the bed, I remembered what happened yesterday.
"Miran Hanatsuki... is my fiancée."
An extroverted gyaru who I thought lived in another world. Popular with both boys and girls, always surrounded by many people, and at the top of the school caste. It's people like her who get engaged to introverted otaku like me. Even though it was not a dream, it still felt unreal to me.
"See you at school tomorrow—“, Hanatsuki-san said as she went home. Suddenly I remember, I'm getting so panic right now.
"Before that..."
I forgot to confirm something important. Since I am in the same school and class as Hanatsuki-san, we will definitely see each other.
"What should I do... at school?"
What kind of face should I show her? How should I interact with her? What kind of action should I take? I don't know how to behave as a fiancée. Should I talk casually or something? No, it was a big hurdle for an introvert like me, and even harder because she was always surrounded by extroverts.
In fact, just by interacting with Hanatsuki-san alone, I attracted attention. So how will they look at me if I'm friendly with her?
Come to think of it—
"It's better to keep our relationship a secret at school, right?"
We need to discuss this more seriously. Right now, I don't even know what Hanatsuki-san thinks of me, and as her fiancé, I don't know how to treat her. As a result,
"For now, I think it's safe to act as usual."
By the time the content of the strategy meeting was completed in my mind, it was almost time to go to school, and I had also heard my mother's voice waking me up.
"Anyway, let's get ready first..."
I got out of bed again and finally opened the curtains of my room. The sunlight was so bright and I started to get ready for school while thinking about my engagement with the gyaru.
***
Then I walked to the school, through the gates, into the building, and down the hallways like the students used to do. I am a sophomore now and have grown accustomed to this scene. It should have been a sight I'd grown tired of passing by, but today it inexplicably felt like something new. It was as if I were a freshman and all sorts of things caught my eye.
Arriving in front of the classroom, I took a look inside.
"It seems... she hasn't come yet...," I muttered.
After making sure that the dazzling sun was not there, I behaved as usual, immediately walking in without attracting attention and taking a seat. I had mastered introverted skills when I came to school, so no one noticed that I had arrived there. Perfect. In front of me, I could see the same scene of the classroom as usual, with the extroverted students joking around and some rushing to copy their homework.
"............"
The same school as usual, as well as the classrooms. However, even though I can camouflage myself as usual without attracting attention, there is still a feeling of restlessness, as if I am traveling to another world. Of course, I know why.
"Good morning", someone suddenly greeted me.
The loud and cheerful voice echoed throughout the classroom, making my heart beat faster. The owner of the voice is an extroverted gyaru who is my classmate—Miran Hanatsuki. She is the girl who came to say hello yesterday as my fiancée. When she came to school so cheerfully, her girl friends and the boys greeted her, and it didn't take long for a circle of people to form. A familiar sight in this classroom. A scene I had never paid much attention to before, but somehow, I paid so much attention to it today. Not to mention that I was accidentally watching Hanatsuki-san's every move.
"............"
I feel like Hanatsuki-san, who is surrounded by a lot of people, really feels like a popular person, and the really amazing thing is that she responds to everything. Later, I also felt that she looked a little different wearing her school uniform compared to her usual clothes when she visited my house yesterday.
"----!"
Suddenly, my eyes met Hanatsuki-san's, and I hastily turned my face away. Nothing bad, just spontaneous. Did I make a bad impression? I'm sorry... but I turned my face away from her because I didn't know what kind of expression to make. Although I was fine last weekend, I felt strange at school and could not stop my heart from beating. I'm curious, has Hanatsuki-san felt this kind of feeling before?
"How to say it... Um... I was embarrassed... when I realized that I was your fiancee, you know?" Hanatsuki-san said yesterday.
I guess I understood that. However, I do not know if I can go on like this.
Confused by this change in my mind, I lay down on the table with troubled feelings—and could only hear Hanatsuki-san's voice.
***
The lesson went on as usual and the break ended without any problems. I was confused as to how to react when Hanatsuki-san spoke to me even though she hadn't approached me yet. Because of her, I feel relieved and can act casual. But instead—
"Hey, Miran, are you listening to me?"
"Huh? Yes, I hear you."
I often made eye contact with Hanatsuki-san who was chatting with her gyaru friends.
"............"
No, that's wrong. I was the only one staring at her. During break, I usually spend my time leaning over the table and pretending to be asleep, or opening a book without reading it, or just staring blankly at the scenery outside. But today I found myself paying attention to the most popular gyaru in the class. The same was true during class, I felt like I was looking at her. Since I always looked in that direction, it was obvious that my eyes were about to cross with hers.
"----!"
I kept repeating stupid mistakes by hastily looking away. It was a disrespectful act that I did not want to do. However, when our eyes met, a nervous feeling took over and made me look away. Every time I in class or a break, the frequency of eye contact with Hanatsuki-san increased. On one occasion, she began to show a mischievous expression, as if she was amused by my reaction and deliberately targeted me.
"............"
Look, when I think about it calmly, I feel very bad now. From the outside, this introverted me is like a playboy who deliberately looks at gyaru and then looks away. Even though I felt like that, I still looked at Hanatsuki-san strangely, and when our eyes met, I looked away with a feeling of resentment towards myself.
"............"
On the other hand, Hanatsuki-san just looks normal, except when she deliberately looks at me to amuse herself. She also went to class normally, talked happily with her friends, and didn't act weird at all. I began to feel ashamed of myself for being so sensitive to my fiancée.
"Haaa...."
All in all, from the point of view of a gyaru who is at the top of the school caste—I don't think she wants people to know that she has a fiancé who is a loner and an introvert like me.
"Calm down, myself...."
What am I so upset about? Calm down. Even though Hanatsuki-san is my fiancée, nothing will change at school, and there really shouldn't be any need to change. I just have to go about my days with introverted steps as usual.
Calm your mind, myself!
***
During the lunch break, I finally began to sort out my thoughts and attitudes about the current situation. Then something happened that destroyed everything at once.
Lunchtime is the most difficult time for a lonely introvert. Why is that? Because I have to go to my lunch spot without anyone noticing.
As soon as the lunch break began, the students in the class formed groups of various sizes, a kind of lunch community. In such a situation, eating lunch alone is an act that shows "I have no friends!", like showing the misery of being a loner. In other words, it is very conspicuous in a strange way. So when the lunch break started, I always left the classroom without anyone noticing.
"Shuuji, wait!!", there was a voice from the classroom. It was a cheerful, cool, and familiar voice. I turned around to see a smiling Hanatsuki-san approaching me.
"Eh... me?!"
It's been a long time since I've been called by my first name at school, so there was a long pause before I answered. I also didn't expect to be addressed by Hanatsuki-san, so I fell silent in surprise.
"Let's have lunch together!" Hanatsuki-san took me for granted with her innocent smile.
I was invited to lunch by the most popular gyaru in the school. Normally, it would be a happy and fun thing that would make you feel superior. However, looking at the atmosphere in the classroom, I can't honestly feel happy.
"Eh, Miran, are you serious?"
The female friends who always had lunch with Hanatsuki-san were very surprised. The flashy guys who always hung around nearby also looked at each other. It was as if time had stood still in the classroom. Of course, it would be like that if someone from the upper caste of the school suddenly invited the introvert from the lower caste to lunch.
Their gaze was painful!
"Miran-chan, are you serious?", after a moment of silence, one of the flashy guys spoke up with a wry smile.
"Huh? Yes, is there a problem?"
Hanatsuki-san smiled when she was asked back, but I felt a slight aura of tension. The boy felt it too and said, "Nah, it's okay."
"............" For some reason, the classroom was filled with a tense atmosphere.
This is bad! I turned my head when I felt this. Introverts are sensitive to this kind of atmosphere. I don't care what they think of me. But it's not good for Hanatsuki-san to be the subject of other people's attention because of me! Definitely not good!
"Huuuuf—"" I took a deep breath and supported myself as I scratched my head and said,
"Ha, Hana-tsuki-san is kind, huh! You always worry about me when I am alone, and greet me too! Thank you!"
"Shuuji?"
A sad and worried expression appeared on her face. My speech sounded stiff, and I had doubts whether this voice sounded clear because I wasn't used to speaking in a loud voice. However, I was relieved to find that my words could be understood.
"I... will go to the store, so don't worry!" I said, as if to explain to the people around me, and walked slowly out of the classroom to make it look like "There is nothing to worry about".
"I'm so nervous!" I muttered.
Once I was out in the hallway and out of sight, I moved as fast as I could.
***
My lunch spot is in the back corner of the school building. I always eat my lunch by the fire exit, facing the bike parking lot. If you ignore the dreary sight of only bikes, I can say that I like it because basically no one comes except students who are late or go home early. By the way, I recommend the bike owner personality guessing game here.
"I've used up all my speaking skills for a year...," I muttered.
I had just left the classroom and was sitting in my lunch spot, still feeling my heart pounding. Normally I'd eat lunch here, but...
"............"
I didn't bring anything. At my school, some students bring their own lunches and some buy food at the cafeteria. In my freshman year, I asked for lunch to be made, but from my sophomore year, I started buying lunch from the store after considering the ease and difficulty of making lunch. However, I didn't buy anything for today because...
"My wallet, I left it in the classroom—"
Normally this would never happen! Maybe it's because I was too uncomfortable thinking about my fiancée just now.
"I can't go back now—"
After that incident, I didn't have the courage to go back to the classroom and get my wallet. In fact, sometimes things like this happen and I can't do anything about it. Having given up, I could only stare blankly at the sky and think about what Hanatsuki-san had just said and done.
"I never expected you to invite me..."
I have mixed feelings, feeling happy but also confused. But for me, it's the feeling of happiness that dominates. It's been a long time since someone invited me to have lunch at school. I also feel sorry when I refuse the invitation, for whatever reason.
"Can I afford to be a good fiancée for her?" I asked myself.
My mind kept spinning, thinking about the huge gap between the extroverted gyaru and the introverted otaku, while I looked back at the boring bicycle parking lot.
While I was hungry and brooding like that, a voice reached my ears, "I knew you were here!" and when I turned around,
"Hanatsuki-san!?"
A gyaru with light hair was running towards me, carrying a large paper bag.
"What are you doing here?" I said.
I was a little nervous because I felt inappropriate when a beautiful gyaru came to the back of a simple school building. When I panicked, Hanatsuki-san gave me the same smile she gave me when she invited me to lunch in the classroom earlier.
"Why? I was the one who asked you to have lunch with me."
"That's not it, I mean how do you know where I am?"
"Because I've seen Shuuji eat here before. At that time, you were staring at the bike and laughing when you guessed that the owner of the bike was a person who likes to party, right?"
"Uwaa...."
Seriously? She was actually watching me....
I was shocked and embarrassed because I didn't expect anyone to notice. When I twisted violently in my heart, Hanatsuki-san tilted her head.
"Huh? Where is your food? You didn't buy anything?"
"I forgot to... carry a purse," I said hesitantly.
While I was preparing to be mocked and laughed at, she actually gave an unexpected reaction.
"Thanks God!" she muttered in relief.
"Thanks...God?" I was confused.
In front of me, Hanatsuki-san took out a package with contemporary patterns from the paper bag she was carrying and offered it to me, saying, "Here".
"T-This is?"
When I accepted it with some hesitation, Hanatsuki-san replied with a slight blush on her cheeks.
"It's a bento, more or less."
"B-Bento, huh?" I was surprised to hear her unexpected words and raised my voice.
"Shuuji used to buy lunch at the cafeteria, right? That's why I made a portion for Shuuji today, too."
"Hanatsuki-san, made this for me..."
An introvert like me getting lunch?! From the gyaru, Miran Hanatsuki?!
"If you don't mind, will you eat it?"
"Uh, w-well! Thank you!" I said approvingly, holding the lunch box carefully, though I still couldn't shake the shock myself.
"Then I'll sit here, okay?" she said, pointing right next to where I usually sat.
There, Hanatsuki-san sat down and straightened her skirt, then took out another bento box from the paper bag she was carrying. Her attitude made me nervous, so I realized it was too late.
"Um..." This situation means that I am sitting next to Hanatsuki-san and eating lunch with her, right? With a homemade lunch, no less!
"What's wrong?"
"No, nothing. S-Sorry, I'm sitting a little to the side!"
I, who had been silent on the spot because of the unprecedented situation, hurriedly moved further away from Hanatsuki-san's side. I sat a little more to the side than my usual position. Of course, our distance increased. However, within a reasonable distance and not too rude to the fiancée who made me lunch. That's my limit now.
"T-Thank you for the bento."
I thanked her again and unwrapped the package. In front of me is a lunch box with calm colors. Meanwhile, Hanatsuki-san's lunch box was pink and one size smaller than mine.
"It's new, so don't worry."
"Oh, okay—eh?" Does that mean she bought a new lunch box for me? I couldn't ask out of shame, assuming it was wrong, but there was a palpitating feeling in my chest.
On the other hand, I felt a look from beside me that wanted me to see the contents immediately, and when I put my hand on the lid of the lunch box and opened it - there were omelets, carrots, and octopus sausages. There are also small tomatoes with discarded stems, potato salad, and so on. The side dishes look more colorful and delicious than I imagined. In addition, all of these dishes are not ready-to-eat, but rather homemade and well prepared.
"Are these all... made by yourself?"
"That's right. But I don't know if it's delicious or not—" Hanatsuki-san said it casually, but her cheeks and ears were flushed. When I felt the gap between her usually striking and glamorous appearance and her unexpected side up close, I felt my heart beat wildly.
"Itadakimasu."
I clasped my hands together and immediately popped one of the side dishes from that lunch into my mouth. If she had gone that far, I would have praised her even if it didn't taste good. However, it is not worth worrying about because the dish is as delicious as it looks. Not too heavy and not too light, the taste is just right. Moreover, this is the first homemade lunch for me, who is used to ready-to-eat lunches from the store, and it makes me feel good at once.
"It's very, very delicious!"
"Really? Thanks God."
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Upon hearing my heartfelt compliment, Hanatsuki-san's eyes lit up and she stroked her chest at the same time. From her reaction, I felt that she had tried so hard to make the meal, so my appreciation of her lunch was doubled. Then the two of us began to eat lunch together. ....
"............"
After a while, a problem arose that puzzled me. That is, conversation. Eating in silence was tasteless, but on the other hand, I didn't have anything good to talk about. I kept looking for a topic, but the only thing I could think of was the knowledge of otaku. After all, it wouldn't be appropriate for me to talk to a gyaru about otaku stuff. However, just as I was about to open my mouth to talk about the weather, Hanatsuki-san said, "Ah! That's right!".
"I've been curious about this for so long!" she continued.
"Y-Yes?" I straightened my back while imagining what she would say, and Hanatsuki-san's cheeks turned slightly red.
"Shuuji, umm, you always use honorifics when you talk to me."
"Honorifics?!"
"Isn't that weird?"
"Not really, w-well, but still..."
My experience in talking to girls is sorely lacking, not to mention that Hanatsuki-san is a gyaru who is at the top of the school caste, so it is natural and a must for me to use honorifics with her.
"But back then, you treated me normally, you know..." Hanatsuki-san said in a sullen voice.
Back then? I tried to remember, but I don't know when I treated her normally. Did we interact normally before?
I tried to ask her, but before I could, Hanatsuki-san pointed at me and said,
"No honorifics from now on!"
"Ehh?"
"Because we are about the same age... and also engaged," she said, her cheeks flushed, adding those last words shyly.
"Also, you can really call me by my first name, not my last name, okay?"
"First name!?" I was surprised.
Calling a girl by her first name is a huge hurdle for an introvert like me. It can be more stressful than speaking the usual language.
"You don't like it?" she asked.
"It's not that I don't like it, but—"
"You're using formal language again, aren't you?"
"Uggh—"
Is this how the upper castes communicate to get closer to each other? What's more, this gyaru who is my fiancée smiled seductively when I was surprised and said,
"Hey, hey, if you don't mind, please call me now."
"Call you?"
"Yup, with my first name, that's it."
I took three deep breaths and rounded out my determination, "Mi, Miran, -san".
My remarks were as awkward as Artificial Intelligence, which Hanatsuki-san replied to with her chuckle.
"You're so stubborn, right. You don't need to add '-san', you know, call me more casually, okay? Let's try it again."
"Mi...Miran."
"Yes, Shuuji?"
"No, um—"
I didn't expect her to call me back, it made me so awkward. Shyness and awkwardness enveloped me all at once, and I felt my face heat up. Miran, who was my fiancée, smiled happily at my reaction, while I felt very uncomfortable inside. I could not imagine what would happen if I called her by her first name from now on. Especially the effect on me—.
TL: YouthTL (JP-ID), Retallia (ID-EN)
PF & ED: Retallia