My name is Ayanokouji Kiyotaka, and I'm currently trying to live out my new life as a high school student as normally as possible.
You can guess how that's going---spoiler: it's not going well.
Like a row of dominoes, one after another, people keep...
A/N: It's time to introduce another losing heroine😔
The three heroines—Yanami, Yakishio, and Komari—are all certain to take on the roles of "losing heroines" for Ayanokouji to win over (or them trying to win over him).
I'm still working out Ayanokouji's relationship with Shikiya, and I think I have a good idea of how I want to portray her. As for Basori, I honestly haven't settled on a solid concept yet. And Hokobaru hasn't even made an appearance so far.
For now, these six are my focus. As for Shiratama, that's way down the line, so I'm holding off on developing that for later... assuming I even get that far in writing, lol.
***
The morning air felt unusually crisp as I walked down the empty sidewalk, hands in my pockets, listening to the rhythmic crunch of my footsteps against the gravel. Around me, the town was gradually waking up—people heading to work, kids reluctantly dragging themselves toward school. Just another ordinary day.
"Ayanokouji!"
"Hm?"
I was nearly at the school gates when someone called my name. For the record, this was a first. Definitely something to log.
I glanced over my shoulder. "Ah, Hakamada, huh? It's rare for you to call me."
He laughed. "Yeah, I know. Just thought I'd say hi."
(Hakamada Sosuke and Himemiya Karen)
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I realized that our routes to and from school ran parallel until a certain point, and it's not like I hadn't noticed him on this road before. Still, I wasn't going to mention how he had apparently managed to greet every other classmate but me all this time.
"Oh. Morning, I guess."
He chuckled. "Hey, liven up a little. It's still early, y'know?"
"Unfortunately, this is my default setting."
"Default setting? What's that even mean?" he laughed again.
I thought about continuing the conversation to avoid awkward silence, but I couldn't come up with a good enough reason. Besides, if I was right, he'd start talking on his own.
"So—"
I was right.
He looked at me with that curious expression.
"What's your deal with Anna? Not gonna lie—I was curious when I saw you two hanging out yesterday. You usually come across as... well, not to be rude, but kind of scary. Or like someone who prefers to keep to himself."
Scary, huh?
I sighed.
"She owes me. Last week, when you were discussing things with Yanami at the family restaurant, she roped me into covering her order. I was fine letting it go, but she insisted on paying me back. Only, she refused to do it all at once. So after some back and forth, she proposed something—which was to be my 'personal food guide.' Said she knows every place worth eating around here."
