Volume 1 - CH 2.2

Chapter 2 - I Should Think About Getting Involved in School (Earnestly) (Final Part)

And that's how it is, and we've just finished lunch.

"Shuuji... What do you think about me being your fiancée? Is it a nuisance to you?"

Suddenly, the person next to me asked me a question. When I turned my head, I saw the look on Hanatsuki-san's face—or I could just call it Miran's, who seems a little worried.

Although I am bad at communicating, I take this as a serious question and try to say seriously and honestly what I feel.

"Honestly, I'm a little confused... but it doesn't bother me, really."

Unlike me, Miran is an extroverted gyaru. Nevertheless, she is a beautiful and considerate girl. To say that our engagement was a nuisance was a very presumptuous thing to say. On the contrary, I thought it would be me who would bother her, not her as a fiancée. Thinking back to what had just happened in the classroom, I continued my sentence,

"But it would be nice if you didn't tell anyone at school about our engagement."

I know exactly what I'm talking about after observing the school situation for half a day. Miran is very popular with both boys and girls—if people knew she was engaged to a loner introvert like me, her good reputation would definitely fall. I don't want clouds like me to shade her, who likes the sun that shine on everyone.

"Ah, I see," Miran muttered as if sighing.

A few moments later, "Then!" she said, clapping her hands, then fumbling in her pocket to pull out her smartphone.

"Let's exchange contacts. Give me your REIN ID ♪"

"REIN?!"

I knew it was an application for sending messages, but I, being a loner introvert, was unlikely to use such an application; in fact, I had not downloaded it myself. Besides, my parents were already using REIN and asked me to download it, but I wasn't interested and haven't done so until now.

In my opinion it's time to use REIN. I also felt a bit outdated for not using a trending app, but that's over today. Under the watchful eyes of my fiancée, I quickly downloaded the app. Then, with Miran's help, we exchanged REIN IDs.

"Look, you can send stickers and stuff, you know. You can also call someone."

A cute cat sticker was sent to me.

"I've heard this before, but it's unbelievable. A feature that can tell if a message has been read is also very useful," I said.

"But sometimes it's a little tiring, though."

"Seriously?"

Perhaps because Miran has many friends, she has her own difficulties with the advantages of these features. While thinking about it, Miran lifted her face from the smartphone and smiled at me.

"Now I can contact Shuuji anytime, right?"

"Y-Yes, that's right—" I nodded my head nervously. However, I don't know what topic I should discuss in this chat with REIN. Maybe I should read something from a conversation guide book.

At this thought Miran's smartphone rang. It seemed to be a message from REIN.

"My friend forgot to do her homework and she wanted to copy the one I got. So I'll go back to the class first, okay?"

Miran smiled, put the newly wrapped lunch box in a paper bag, and got ready to go back to the classroom. I thanked her again, "Um, thanks for the bento, and thanks for the food."

"I'm glad you like it. I'll make it again!"

"Oh no, you don't have to do that! It must be troublesome to make it!"

"No, really, it's not troublesome. In fact, it makes me happy" Miran smiled and said shyly. "Let's have another meal together," she continued.

I was so fascinated by her face that I only answered in agreement after a while, and at that moment I unconsciously watched Miran's back go back to the classroom.

***

Later, I also returned to the classroom at the end of the lunch break. It was like a dream. I walked down the hallway with my heart pounding.

"Oi! Wait!" came a loud male voice from somewhere.

"Wait!"

Who was he calling?

In my opinion, he was in a bad mood, so I was careful not to attract attention as I walked down the corridor.

"Don't ignore me!" the owner of the voice grabbed my shoulder.  It seems that I am indeed the one being called.

"Um, what's up?"

When I turned around with a shocked expression on my face, I saw a tall, handsome, and flashy guy staring at me. From the color of his uniform tie, he was a senpai one year older than me, and I felt like I had seen him somewhere before.

"Don't get it wrong, just because Miran-chan is nice to you!"

The flashy senpai said as if to warn me. Hearing his words, I remembered who he was. He was one of the flashy guys from the other class who used to visit our class to follow Miran and her friends. That means, after hearing about what happened during lunch, he deliberately went out of his way to show this polite displeasure, right?

"Let me tell you, she is only talking to you because you are a unique introvert, okay? Don't get it wrong by trying to get close to her!"

Well, since the beginning of my sophomore year, I've attracted a lot of attention, especially because of my interaction with Miran, and it seems like she can't take it anymore after hearing what happened today. Understanding this, certain words floated around in my mind.

——It's boring!

Those flashy people often say boring and annoying words, but today is the first time I understood the true meaning of the word. What's more, I think the fact that students from other classes come to our class just to see Miran and the others is much more annoying. But I'm not stupid enough to say it.

"Hey, are you listening to me?"

"Uh, yes. I'll be careful."

In this situation, it would be better to obey him and keep a low profile. After all, the basic ability of an introvert is not to be easily provoked by emotions. After that, he said a few more sentences, but I ignored him at all with an "Ah, yes". Although he was quite unhappy, he just sniffed and left. At that moment, I once again felt that the flashy guy was indeed annoying.

***

I returned to the classroom so that no one would notice me. When I looked inside, Miran apparently wasn't there, and there were only the extroverts doing their homework or those who looked sleepy. Quietly, I entered the classroom without anyone noticing, but—

"Hey, wait a minute—!"

This time a girl called me. Two gyaru people who often hang out with Miran call me and surround me.

"Do you have a relationship with Miran?" one of them asks.

"I've been thinking for a long time that there's something between you two...," the other one continued.

The two girls spoke to me one after the other. This time the problem cannot be solved by the skills of an introvert alone! Just when I was at a loss as to what to say, one of them gave me a look that woke me up.

"Oh yes, isn't this the first time we've chatted?"

"That's right, yes. Since I've seen Miran interacting with you so much, I was curious, you know."

Then the two laughing girls introduced themselves.

"I'm Hanako."

"I'm Adzuki. Hello~."

The gyaru who introduced herself as Hanako gave me the impression that she had aa onee-san aura, while the one who introduced herself as Adzuki gave me the impression of someone meek.

"Oh, I am... Shuuji Eizawa."

For the time being, I answer them with my own name, but this matter is not over yet.

"So, what is your relationship with Miran?" Hanako-san asked again, and I tried as hard as I could not to show any emotion when I answered her.

"We don't have any special relationship."

"Eh~ that's impossible, right!" Hanako-san looks at me suspiciously, while Adzuki-san also seems unconvinced.

"Miran's mood today is obviously different from last week. There must be something going on."

"Even if you say so, I don't have anything to do with it."

When I tried to play the role of an innocent person, they still looked at me with suspicion.

Then, what happened next—

"Ah, seriously!" Hanako-san and Adzuki-san looked in the direction of the entrance, then hurried away from me. They put on normal faces as if nothing had happened. I was confused for a while, but soon realized the reason.

Miran is back. She made eye contact with me for a moment and smiled, then went straight to Hanako-san and Adzuki-san. Perhaps because of their poor acting, they were a little awkward when they spoke to Miran, who looked confused.

"What is it?"

"Eh, what do you mean?", "Oh yeah, Miran-san—"

The two forced themselves to change the subject and started their usual conversation. I had the feeling that it was only a matter of time before they found out that Miran and I were engaged. Feeling the worry by the gyaru's gaze, I went to my seat. However, I felt that I was being noticed and looked around. That's when I noticed that the flashy guys were looking at me.

"............" I was forced to take this all. No matter what I do, those two gyaru will continue to chase me with questions.

If this continues, I might get involved with that senpai again. Therefore, I must be careful not to attract attention again. I strengthened my resolve and spent the rest of the afternoon concentrating on the lesson.

Engaged to Miran—was the day I felt the change in the people around me and myself.