"Okay, okay~"
With a voice that was both lighthearted and pleasant, a girl with a brown ponytail stood up gracefully from her seat and naturally joined the group. She had a delicate, doll-like face, but what was most striking was her unique honey-toned skin—as if she had just returned from a vacation in Hawaii, or perhaps was just naturally sun-kissed.
Kei Karuizawa, the central figure of Class D's gyaru group. She casually fiddled with the ends of her hair, the hem of her uniform skirt swaying with her steps, exuding an aura that was both flamboyant and sweet.
(That tanned skin... did she get it on purpose?)
But Kiyomizu's gaze shifted to the third piece of intel he had received.
[Intel 3: First-year Class D student Kei Karuizawa is currently looking for a "fake boyfriend" to act as her protector.]
(Wait... could it be that Karuizawa has her eyes on Hirata?)
Kiyomizu suddenly realized something, his gaze shifting back and forth between the two. Thinking about it, it made perfect sense. In every class so far, Hirata had actively raised his hand to answer questions, showcasing his impressive knowledge.
(He's like an all-rounder...)
From his looks to his abilities, he was flawless. Yosuke Hirata was like the perfect male protagonist straight out of a school manga—handsome appearance, excellent grades, a gentle personality. Even yesterday, after Kiyomizu left, it was Hirata who had stepped up to organize the self-introduction session. Yosuke Hirata was a true hexagonal warrior!
(No wonder even the leader of the gyaru group would take a special interest in him.)
(But Karuizawa's motives don't seem so pure.)
Honestly, he had trouble understanding the logic behind this piece of intel. In the class ecosystem, gyaru groups were usually "top-tier" existences, on par with delinquents. You'd be thankful if they weren't the ones doing the bullying. Why would they need protection?
(Unless... Karuizawa has gotten into some kind of trouble?)
(But that's none of my business.)
Although he wasn't sure what his classmates thought of him, Kiyomizu knew one thing for certain—based on his actions in class so far, he was just an ordinary student.
...
(Akira Kiyomizu... is definitely not an ordinary student.)
Pretending to fix her hair, Kei Karuizawa once again glanced at Kiyomizu in the corner of the classroom. She quickly looked away, a playful smile on her lips, and continued discussing lunch options with Yosuke Hirata. "I hear the ramen set in the cafeteria is really good," she said cheerfully.
In fact, the boy named Kiyomizu had caught her attention since the first day of school yesterday. While everyone else was busy making new friends, he was the only one who had chased after their homeroom teacher, Sae Chabashira, out of the classroom.
(Teacher Chabashira's attitude towards him... was far too intriguing.)
Kei's thoughts drifted back to the opening ceremony yesterday morning. She clearly remembered that before Kiyomizu arrived late, another boy had also run into the formation in a panic. Teacher Chabashira had merely given him a cold glance, not even bothering to scold him. But when Kiyomizu showed up just in time, everything was different. Chabashira's attitude towards him wasn't strict; it even held a hint of imperceptible compromise. Even more unusually, she had gestured for Kiyomizu to stand at the very front of the line—a conspicuous spot that should have belonged to the class representative or an honor student.
(You ignore someone you dislike, but paying special attention... often implies more complex reasons.)
Kei's grades and athletic ability might have been average, but when it came to "interpersonal relationships," she was exceptionally observant, a trait born from a traumatic experience in middle school. Because of that, she watched people more closely when she spoke to them. If she didn't, she worried she might lose her "gyaru" status entirely. Overall, in her eyes, Kiyomizu was already on the same level as Yosuke Hirata.
"Karuizawa-san? Are you listening?" Hirata's gentle voice pulled her back to reality.
"Ah, sorry," she blinked. "I was just thinking about something."
"By the way, if a conflict happened between classmates, and one of them was someone you knew, Hirata-kun, how would you handle it?" Kei asked, feigning casualness.
"Well..." Hirata thought for a moment, then gave a gentle smile. "I would handle it fairly. After all, we're all classmates. I wouldn't take anyone's side."
"As expected of you, Hirata-kun! So just!" a boy next to them immediately chimed in.
"Yeah, you really are so kind," Kei agreed with a light laugh.
But inside, a ripple of disappointment spread through her. A nice guy who doesn't take sides? The answer left her feeling strangely let down. Although Hirata's impartial nature was indeed perfect, her personality made her wish for a friend who would stand by her side in critical moments. In a romantic relationship, she also hoped her future boyfriend would be "selfish." She longed for an exclusive kind of gentleness, something that would make her feel unique and special. Because at her core, Kei Karuizawa was a girl who was desperately insecure.
(So... should I really ask that Kiyomizu guy to be my "fake boyfriend"?)
(But if I choose Hirata...)
With his "nice guy" personality, if he knew about what she went through in middle school, he would surely agree to be her "fake boyfriend" without hesitation, right? After all, he was the type who would protect others unconditionally.
But—
(If it were Kiyomizu...)
Her throat felt tight, and a sense of uncertain anxiety spread in her chest.
(Would he really be willing?)
At the end of the day, they were just ordinary classmates, not even friends. They had never spoken a single word to each other. Even if she laid all her weaknesses and vulnerabilities bare before him, why would he take on such a troublesome burden for her? Out of pity? Sympathy? Or...
(Would he just not care at all?)
The image of Kiyomizu decisively dealing with Yamauchi flashed in her mind. His unhesitating action was a stark contrast to Yosuke Hirata's perpetually gentle and restrained demeanor.
(If it were him...)
She could almost picture the scene: if she were "fake dating" Hirata and got into a conflict with another student one day, Hirata would still be wearing that perfect smile, saying, "Everyone should get along." The mere thought of it made her chest feel tight.
(That kind of one-size-fits-all gentleness... no, I can't.)
Kei Karuizawa took a deep breath.
(It's decided—)
(I'll choose Kiyomizu.)
Then, Kei suddenly realized a more practical problem.
(So... what is it about me... that could possibly attract him?)
-------
Enjoying the story? Support the author and get access to early chapters by joining my Patreon!
Find me at My : pat*eon*com/RuneA
I, Herta's Fiancé, the Universe's Number One Male Fist (114 Chapter (Simulpub-Full) )
Zenless Zone Zero: I'm a Succubus in Sixth Street (320 Chapter)
Reborn in Type-Moon, My Sister is Aoko Aozaki (250 Chapter)
MyGO!! A Story Voiced by Me (120 Chapter)
BLEACH: Blade of Purification (130 Chapter)
Konoha: Starting the Game as Yoriichi (320 Chapter)
My Real Job is Spying on Konoha, but I'm Also its Hokage (130 Chapter)
The Pinnacle of the Navy! Starting from Being Captured by Garp (150 Chapter)
Watching Yu-Gi-Oh! short videos is making the veteran players lose...(75 Chapter)
Uma Musume : The Trainer Who Just Wants to Live (196 Chapter)
Zenless Zone Zero The Random Kamen Rider (160 Chapter)
Genshin Impact: It All Began With Me Being Stepped On by Arlecchino (110 Chapter)
Naruto: I Can Synthesize Summoning Beasts (80 Chapter)
Demon Slayer: The Great Swordsman's System, Disciple of Yoriichi (120 Chapter)
My Wife is a General, but I'm an Emanator of Abundance! (130 Chapter)
Type-Moon: My Nine-Fold Path (130 Chapter)
Uma Musume: They're Peeking at My Diary, and All of Tracen is Panickin (87 Chapter)
The Wild History of Type-Moon world (60 Chapter)
Reborn in Conan, But I Refuse to Be the Bad Guy (70 Chapter)
Ruan Mei is begging me to go back? But there's no going back anymore (130 Chapter)
Just a Slacker at Tracen Academy (130 Chapter)
Survival in Blue Archive (60 Chapter)
Kimetsu no Yaiba: Doma Wasn't Hated Today, Either (90 Chapter)
The Vibe of This Chat Group is a Little Off (90 Chapter)
Heartbreak Simulator: I Broke Them and Made Them Cry (70 Chapter)
The Talentless Trainer Doesn't Want to Restart (70 Chapter)
A Journey Starting as a Quincy (70 Chapter)
Uma Musume: The Master of Romance Obstruction (70 Chapter)
Uma Musume: You Can't Be a Hero Without a Little Chemical Enhancement (30 Chapter)
Honkai Impact 3rd Your Boyfriend is Really Amazing (30 Chapter)
Warhammer 40K: My Fiancée, Fulgrim (60 Chapter)
Classroom of the Elite: Trying to Capture Me! (60 Chapter)
Genshin Impact My Named Senji Muramas (60 Chapter)
If there's a particular novel you're enjoying on Patron, please give it a 'like' so I know to focus on it.