< School Commute >

I ended up walking home with Otowa, who had the same route as me for part of the way. She was in a bit of a huff.

"Ugh… I wish I could be as popular and perfect as Reina-senpai," she sighed, dragging her feet. Even her twintails seemed droopy.

"She's beautiful, smart, and surrounded by handsome boys… she's just too perfect."

"Did you join the kendo club because you admire Mahima-senpai, Otowa?"

"Of course! If I'm near Reina-senpai, maybe I can become like her too. I've always admired cool and beautiful girls!"

"Oh, I see."

I couldn't imagine Otowa as a cool beauty.

"Kasugai-senpai, do you realize? I'm actually… pretty cute, too, right?"

"Uh… yeah."

She really is cute. Despite her grumbling, Otowa probably gets her fair share of attention from guys in our year. She's cute and cheerful.

"But, this school is messed up! There are just too many beautiful and cute girls. Reina-senpai, of course, and then there's Sakuraza-senpai, the model in our second year, and even the new transfer student, Takarai-senpai."

"Y, yeah..."

"With girls like that around, my dream of a heart-fluttering, popular school life is impossible. All the guys I like are already smitten with one of those three... it's so unfair!!"

Otowa shouted out loud.

Mahima-senpai, Sakuraza-senpai, Takarai-senpai… It's true, all three of them are on a whole different level of popularity. Rumor has it that the total number of confessions they've received is more than the number of boys in the entire school…

Otowa continued to rant about class and club activities, and I could only manage to nod along.

"I still haven't finished complaining, but I need to turn here. This is where I part ways with you, Kasugai-senpai."

"O, okay."

…Good. I’m exhausted just from listening to her complaints.

"Well then, Kasugai-senpai, let's walk home together again tomorrow!"

"Yeah, see you later."