At the School Gate
Most of the students had already left.
Eriri stood on her toes, her head lowered as she waited impatiently.
"Eri."
Nanashi approached and gently patted her shoulder.
She looked up, pouting, and muttered in a soft, complaining tone.
"What took you so long? I've been standing here like an idiot waiting for you."
"Sorry, I had to check on the club as president. How about I make it up to you with a meal when we go out this weekend?"
Eriri huffed, crossing her arms, but a smug smile played on her lips.
"Hmph, that's more like it."
As they walked side by side, Eriri glanced at him curiously.
"So? What did you want to talk about?"
Nanashi didn't answer right away, instead drawing out the moment.
"Well, I'm still short one member in my club, and I was hoping you could sign up."
Eriri blinked.
"That's it? No problem. It's just a name, right? I thought it was something serious."
Nanashi grinned.
"Great. Consider yourself officially recruited. I'll treat you to something nice next time."
—
After a moment of silence, Eriri's curiosity got the better of her.
"By the way… what club is this, exactly?"
Being a member in name was one thing, but she was more interested in what kind of club Nanashi was running.
Nanashi answered without hesitation.
"The Paranormal Research Club."
"Hah?"
Her big, round eyes blinked, clearly questioning if he was joking.
"Yep, it's exactly what you're thinking. We research supernatural phenomena and take on investigations related to the paranormal."
"…"
Eriri let out a dramatic sigh.
Then, without warning, she took a small step away from him, her face contorting in mock disgust.
Of course, this was just one of her little antics.
"Hey, hey, hey! Cut it out with the exaggerated reaction!"
Nanashi frowned, unimpressed by her theatrics.
Without warning, he reached out and grabbed her cheeks, lightly squishing them.
"Wahh! My face! I need to apply some toner after this!"
Eriri's words came out slurred as she struggled in his grasp.
Then—
Suddenly, Nanashi pulled her into his arms, stepping back just in time.
"Hngh—!"
Eriri found herself pressed against his chest, her entire body stiffening. Her face turned a deep shade of red as she looked up at him, dazed.
Her mind blanked for a moment.
And then—
Oh my god, what just happened?!
Her heart pounded wildly. She felt so flustered she almost wanted to scream.
Just then, a bicycle sped past the exact spot where she had been standing just moments ago.
Nanashi loosened his hold.
Eriri, however, hesitated—reluctant to step away from his warmth.
But when she looked up, she saw his expression darken. His gaze was fixed on the cyclist who had nearly run her over.
It wasn't just irritation.
It was recognition.
Nanashi knew that person.
Meanwhile, realization dawned on Eriri.
If Nanashi hadn't pulled her back just now…
She would have been hit.
Anger flared up inside her.
"Who the hell was that?! Doesn't he know how to watch the road?! And why the hell was he riding so fast?!"
Nanashi turned his head, placing a gentle hand on her head.
His touch was warm, his voice soft.
"Forget it. The important thing is that you're okay."
Eriri's lips parted slightly.
That warm, gentle tone—
Just like that, her anger melted away.
She nodded obediently.
"Mm… yeah."
—
Meanwhile, up ahead, the cyclist glanced back.
His eyes widened as he saw the scene unfold.
His grip tightened on the handlebars.
His teeth clenched.
His mind seethed.
"Traitors! Bastards! Those two…!"
He had done it on purpose.
He had ridden recklessly on purpose.
And he had deliberately tried to bump into Eriri.
Because he was angry.
Because he was very unhappy.
—
My Name is Tomoya Aki.
I'm a hardcore otaku.
I live for anime, manga, and everything in between.
And back in elementary school—
I had a childhood friend.
Her name was Eriri.
She was just like me.
We both loved otaku culture.
We had always been close.
Until that day.
The day she betrayed me.
Back then, otakus were ridiculed.
Our classmates made fun of us, ostracized us.
But I stood my ground.
I fought back.
I tried to make them understand—tried to show them that otaku culture wasn't something to be ashamed of.
But Eriri…
She ran away.
She turned her back on me.
She pretended she wasn't an otaku.
She asked me to stop talking to her at school.
—
Then, in junior high—
We ended up in the same class again.
But this time, she wasn't alone.
She had found someone else.
A boy I barely noticed in elementary school.
Nanashi.
She laughed with him. She talked to him.
Every single day.
And yet, I didn't get jealous.
I didn't confront her.
I simply stopped talking to her at school altogether.
Because I knew her secret.
The truth behind Kashiwagi Eri.
I thought—
Nanashi couldn't possibly know.
That's what I believed.
Until one day, Eriri told me the truth.
Nanashi did know.
Not only that—he liked otaku culture too.
And that was the final betrayal.
That was when I snapped.
"Why?!"
"Why is it okay for him, but not for me?! We're both otakus, aren't we?!"
And all she said was—
"Because I want to have a normal school life."
"Because Nanashi doesn't bring it up at school."
"You may not care about what others think—but I do."
—
Tomoya's hands trembled as he gripped the bike.
His heart burned with resentment.
It wasn't fair!