Prologue

My name is Touma Yoshino.

I’m a 17-year-old high school sophomore at Sakurada High School.

I’m 175 cm tall and weigh 65 kg.

I am of medium height and medium build, and my appearance is quite ordinary…I think so myself.

My long black hair is casual.

The only feature I can say about myself is that I am athletic.

Usually, I wear wild glasses.

And, by my admission and others, I am a loner.

However, this is not an innate trait.

I did well in my first year and established myself as a loner.

I was not bullied, I was not played with, and of course, I was not popular.

The so-called low-presence.

Oh, I wonder if there was a guy like that…It’s an exquisite position.

In today’s schools, there is a tacit understanding of a caste system.

There is a riajuu group, a non-riajuu group, a normal group, and so on.

I’ve heard that there are natural riajuu, hard-working riajuu, and kyoro-riajuu among them, but I’m not sure.

TN

I do not belong to any of them.

I have the same hobbies as the so-called riajuu group in the world.

Manga, video games, and novels.

I won’t admit it myself, but most people despise me as an otaku.

But I don’t belong there either.

The reason is simple.

I don’t want to share it with anyone.

For me personally, a hobby is something to be enjoyed alone.

If I go to karaoke, I have to go along with my partner to some extent.

Let them sing whatever they want! That’s fine! Even if it’s a guy singing a female ani-song!

If it’s a game, they spoil it for you, or tell you what they recommend.

You’ve got to be kidding me!? I’ll kill you!? You call that a recommendation!? I’ll decide that for myself!

Even in manga and light novels, people say,「This guy is next…」or「This foreshadowing…」.

Ah!? You spoiling it!? I’m going to bury it!? I’m looking forward to it!

Hu…I guess I just got a little too hot…

Well, the definition of riajuu is questionable, to begin with…

If you have a lot of good-looking friends, are you riajuu?

If you have a good-looking girlfriend, are you riajuu?

If you are in a popular club, are you riajuu?

If you have a fashionable part-time job, are you riajuu?

If you have more money than your friends, are you riajuu?

If you studied better than everyone else, are you riajuu?

If you didn’t have a good-looking girlfriend, are you non-riajuu?

If you didn’t have many good-looking friends, are you non-riajuu?

If you didn’t participate in popular club activities, are you non-riajuu?

If you didn’t have a fashionable part-time job, are you non-riajuu?

If you don’t have more money than the rest of your friends, are you non-riajuu?

If you don’t study as hard as everyone else, are you non-riajuu?

Well, there are a lot of things.

But I want to say this.

I don’t give a shit――!!!

It’s not about what other people think of you!

If you think you’re riajuu, then you’re riajuu!!

I don’t give a shit about definitions determined by other people’s values――!!

Phew…got hot for a sec there…

This may sound contradictory, but I’m a riajuu. I think that’s good enough.

Everyone likes different things and is good at different things…

Why are we discriminated against because of our hobbies or what we are good at?

…Well, what I’m trying to say is that happiness comes in different forms for different people.

Some people want to have a boyfriend and girlfriend and make out with them.

Some may want to work hard at club activities.

Some people want to play comic books or video games.

It’s fine for everyone.

I have always wondered why we have to give preference.

I have rambled on for a long time, but it is important.

Let me tell you what makes me happy in my life.

First of all, I am alone.

Play games without being interrupted by anyone.

Reading manga or light novels at a quiet coffee shop.

Singing ani-songs or Johnny◯ at karaoke by myself.

Reading web novels during school breaks.

Playing online games while eating chips at home.

Well, there’s a lot more, but that’s about it for now.

But don’t get me wrong.

It’s not that I don’t want a girlfriend or a friend.

I’m a healthy high school boy, and I’d love to make out if I could.

…What is this guy? What he’s saying is wrong, isn’t it?

You may be thinking that right now.

But it’s not wrong.

I’m going to tell you something important right now…

I want a girlfriend or a friend…but what’s even more important is my time!

In other words…having friends, girlfriends, etc., takes up a lot of your time.

That leaves less time for my hobbies. I don’t like that.

I’ve already worked part-time for my hobby…

I’m also studying so that my father won’t say it’s because I play games all the time…!

I can’t devote any more time than that!

Phew…no good no good.

I just overflowed with passionate feelings…

Well, that’s why I like to be a loner.

But then, right now…I’m in the biggest pinch…!

I’m sitting in my seat in my classroom at school right now, looking at my web novel.

I’ve been talking to someone who’s been talking to me for a while now.

「Um…Yoshino-kun, are you listening to me…?」

Her name is Aya Shimizu.

She is about 165 centimeters tall and has a great style.

Her hips are plump and her breasts are said to be a D size.

She has long arms and legs and good looks.

She has a straight nose and large, round eyes.

She has small eyes and a small face.

Her mouth is well-shaped and she has a dimple on one side.

She has long, beautiful black hair that is completely smooth.

Her personality is bright and kind, and she is popular with everyone.

She is a famous beautiful girl in the prefecture.

I can’t count the number of times she has been approached or scouted.

I’m currently being followed around by this beautiful girl…

I’m feeling the shooting stares from the boys around me and I’m thinking…

How did this happen?

…No, I know what’s causing it…

Now, where do I begin…

That was the other Saturday…