Volume 2
Chapter 1: Is the literary high school girl pure? (Part 2 of 3)
● A Literary JK Girl Dreams ●○●
Plain. Frumpy.
That’s the general impression people have of me. Not that I’ve ever really cared much about it. If anything, I’ve thought, Maybe that’s fine.
I’m in my second year of high school now.
Before starting high school, I had this fleeting hope that maybe, just maybe, I’d get a boyfriend or something. But that fantasy was quickly shattered. Our school is co-ed, and there are a decent number of boys. In my class, there are only six of them, split roughly into two groups of three. And the ones who get to chat and hang out with them? Naturally, it’s the two groups of girls in the upper caste of the class hierarchy. That’s just how it works. That’s the reality of a co-ed school.
There’s no chance for scraps to fall to someone as frumpy as me.
(Well… honestly, I don’t really care all that much.)
I glance around the classroom.
The boys in my class? If they’re even slightly good-looking, they’re either arrogant or condescending. The rest lack basic hygiene or are excessively overweight—hardly the type to spark any romantic interest. Yet, somehow, they still attract girls and go around smirking about it.
(If that’s the case, I’m fine without them.)
It’s not even bravado. That’s just how I feel.
Besides…
(I’ve got… this.)
I discreetly pull a hardcover book from my desk. It’s wrapped in a book cover, so no one can tell what it is. This is one of those books marketed toward women.
I’ve always loved fantasy. The characters in these stories all have pure, beautiful hearts. The heroes are dashing, and the heroines have clear reasons to be loved. The boys and girls in these tales are truly enchanting.
With a sigh, I let my thoughts drift to the characters in the story before glancing at the chattering groups in the classroom.
(Ugh… reality really sucks…)
As long as I have this, I’m fine.
While the classroom buzzes with excitement, I sit alone in the corner, blissfully lost in my story.
“I’m home~”
I’m basically a ghost member of my club, so I usually head straight home after school.
“Welcome back, Shiori,” my mom calls out.
I give her a quick greeting and head to my room. Today, besides reading, I’m in the mood to play a game—a visual novel, to be exact. Surrounded by cool, charming characters, I’m perfectly happy.
“Hold on a second, Shiori,” Mom says, stopping me.
“…What?”
I just want to get to my game…
“Have you made any friends? Or, you know, a boyfriend?”
“What? Why are you bringing this up? No, I haven’t.”
“You need to experience love while you’re still a student. At the very least, try to interact with some boys!”
Ugh, this conversation again. All that talk about how there are fewer guys these days and blah blah blah. I’m so over it.
“Yeah, yeah, I’ll think about it.”
“Honestly… Oh, right! You said you wanted to go to that national university, didn’t you?”
“…Yeah, I did. Why?”
College entrance exams. I’m only in my second year, so I haven’t thought too deeply about it, but I do have a university in mind. It’s got great facilities… and a huge library. The academic standards are high since it’s a national university, but it’s not impossible if I work hard.
“Well, through a connection of mine, I found someone who goes to that university. I was thinking of hiring them as a private tutor!”
“What? No way, I don’t need one…”
A private tutor? No thanks. I can study just fine on my own. It’s kind of depressing to admit, but I don’t have many friends, and I’m not active in any clubs, so I’ve got plenty of time. Plus, interacting with people is such a hassle…
“Come on, just give it a try! I’m having them come over on Saturday, so make sure you’re home!”
“Ugh, no way… I’ll just say no, you know.”
“Well, if you don’t like them, you can turn them down.”
“What’s with that creepy grin…?”
Fine, if I can say no, then whatever. I’ll just come up with some excuse to send the tutor packing. Ignoring Mom’s unsettling smile, I retreat to my room.
Saturday.
As usual, I’m in my room reading. It’s a romance novel with some slightly spicy scenes. Ugh, this hero is just too perfect…! Handsome, smart, strong, and ridiculously kind. A total god. Well, he’s fictional, so of course he is.
If only a guy like this existed in real life…
The only “guys” I can think of are the boys in my class or those over-the-top celebrities on TV. I’ve had enough of reality.
“Shiori! I brought the tutor! I’m coming in, okay?”
“…Yeah, fine.”
Ugh… I feel bad for the tutor, but I’m getting them out of here quick. I shove the book I was reading into my bookshelf.
I had school this morning, so I’m still in my uniform. Whatever, it’s fine. My room’s a bit messy with clothes and stuff, but it’s not that bad. It’s not like it’s unfit for company.
The door clicks open.
I let out a sigh and glance toward it—
And my eyes go wide.
“Uh, hi, Shiori-san.”
My brain freezes.
There’s… a super handsome guy standing there.
“What?”
I accidentally drop my smartphone.
Huh? What?
Why is there a guy here?
What?!
“This is Katari Masato-kun, the tutor I hired. Pretty cool, right? Come on, Shiori, say hi.”
…
It takes my brain a few seconds to process this. Then, I realize what I need to do.
“W-Wait—”
“Wait?”
“Just give me a moment, please!!!”
I shove Mom back and usher the tutor out of the room.
Hold on, hold on, hold on, HOLD ON!
Nobody told me! Nobody told me the tutor was a guy?!?!
“What are you doing, Shiori?” Mom says.
“Mom…! You’re so dead later…!”
I can tell she’s smirking. She knew and didn’t tell me, that scheming…! I’m telling Dad about her hanging out at that boys’ bar…!
First, I throw a white bath towel over my bookshelf to hide it. There are way too many books there that’d be embarrassing if seen! I hide my games, too. And my clothes. And the laundry.
I clean up at lightning speed, then stand in front of the mirror. My breathing’s heavy, and my heart’s pounding so loud it’s deafening.
And that guy…
(He’s way too good-looking?!)
I recall the gentle smile he gave me. He’s probably about 175 cm tall, with soft, wavy black hair that’s just perfect.
He’s like…
(A hero straight out of a story…!)
My face feels hot.
Nobody warned me about this.
I quickly fix my appearance, take a deep breath, and open the door.
“Sorry for the wait…”
And there he is—a guy. My heart skips a beat.
“No, I’m sorry. Seems like there was some miscommunication…”
“No, no, no, no! It’s my mom’s fault…”
I let him into the room.
What do I do, what do I do?
There’s a super handsome guy in my room.
“P-Please, have a seat.”
I gesture to the chair at my study desk. I sit on the edge of my bed.
“Sorry, and thanks,” he says.
“No problem…”
Calm down, Shiori. Sure, he’s good-looking, but you can’t let that fool you. Mom’s the one who brought him here. He could totally be arrogant or secretly manipulative. I’m not falling for it. I’m a girl who knows the difference between fiction and reality.
“So, uh, I’m not totally sure what’s going on either, but… for today, we’ll just talk a bit, and you can decide if you want me as your tutor. Sound okay?”
“Y-Yes, probably.”
I sound like a mosquito buzzing. There’s no way I can talk in my normal voice right now.
“Honestly, it was kind of a sudden request, so it’s totally fine if you want to say no. It might be awkward to tell me directly, so you can just let your mom know quietly after I leave. That’d be easier for you, right, Shiori-san?”
…
What—?!
He’s too nice?!
If this were one of those cocky guys from my class, they’d probably be like, “You should be grateful,” or something. But this…?
No, hold on, Shiori. Don’t fall for it yet. He might just be acting nice to get hired. But… didn’t he just say it’s okay to turn him down? Ugh, I’m so confused.
“Why do you want to go to my university, Shiori-san?”
“Uh, well… the facilities are nice, and the library’s big…”
“Oh, so you’re a book lover, huh, Shiori-san!”
S-Stop it! Don’t flash that dazzling smile at me!
What is this guy? His handsomeness is, like, level 100!
Even his smallest movements make my heart race.
“J-Just a little…”
“Nice! Our library’s huge. What kind of books do you read?”
…
Oh no. What do I do?
I didn’t think this through. If I say I’m into fantasy romance novels, he’ll 180% think I’m weird. I need something safe… something neutral…
“Literary fiction, mostly.”
“Wow, that’s impressive! I struggle with dense writing. I’ve read some famous stuff, but literary fiction’s a bit out of my league!”
Sorry, that was a total lie. I don’t read that stuff at all.
Crap, crap. If this keeps up, he’ll see through me! There’s got to be a flaw somewhere…
Right! If I do something annoying, even a guy like him will show his true colors!
I feel a little bad, but this is for my own good! For the future…!
Steeling myself, I deliberately say something mean.
“Why don’t you quit being my tutor, Katari-san?”
“…Huh? Why?”
“You don’t want to teach a frumpy girl like me, right? I bet you’d rather tutor some cute girl instead. Someone like you probably has tons of options.”
…
Wow, I sound like such a bitter, awful person. I’m making myself sad just saying this. But it’s for the future…!
I glance at him, feeling guilty.
But then…
Katari-san shakes his head, his smile unwavering.
“Nope, doesn’t matter at all. You’re working hard to get into my university, Shiori-san. That’s what counts, and there’s not a shred of superiority or inferiority in that. No matter who you are, if you decide to let me help, I’ll give it my all. And besides—”
“You’re really lovely, Shiori-san. When we first met earlier, I thought you were a beautiful girl.”
…
Um.
It seems like the hero from my favorite story just crossed dimensions to meet me.
In short, I’m totally smitten.
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