Shurabara!:Volume 1 Chapter 1

Chapter 1: It's Not My Popular Period

Part 1

Learning in the classroom alone. The proper learning attitude. Test scores that are above average. Did not join any club or the student council, belongs to the "go home club" after school.

That's the kind of girl Hoshikawa Saotome is.

Although she doesn't have many friends, that doesn't mean she is isolated. It's just that she gives others an impression that she maintains a certain distance from her classmates.

"Kazuhiro-kun? Wi...will you be my...boyfriend?"

Her two pupils, which were concealed by the thick lens glasses until just now, stared up at me from slightly below.

This is totally against the rules. It's too dangerous.

I have been asked many times for "help" with girls' love then end up with only their "thanks". This situation is a first.

"Um, mmhmm! Gladly! In fact I'm happy!"

Head nodded continuously.

I could not smile calmly as usual. My face started to twitch.

"Really... it's okay?"

"Not taking back those words!"

I replied to Saotome's constant confirmation.

"It's a deal? Can't break the promise?"

"Certainly. Sa, Saotome!"

Called out the name offhandedly while thinking about it.

This is a development I had longed for. There are many girls who are relaxed when they’re talking to me, but we were only using our surnames, and using my given name directly, there is only one girl, and she happens to be my childhood friend.

Ahh, a girlfriend.

A girlfriend that can only be met in a dream.

Even now, it doesn't feel real.

Till now, I’ve been trying hard to be "everyone's good guy" and it has finally paid off.

And it's this kind of unexpectedly beautiful girl.

Just that —

From the corner of this beautiful girl's mouth, appeared an malicious smile.

This smile isn't one of happiness, nor is it one of joy.

This is less like a soft smile. Instead it gives one an ominous premonition.

"So, it's agreed. Better give me some proof."

Saotome, who changed her tone in a flash, loosened her arms that were in front of her chest.

She took out a small recording pen that had been hidden without my knowledge. She pressed the switch, the red light indicating recording mode disappeared accordingly.

"Eh...? Eheh?"

The thing happening before my eyes, made my thoughts confused.

"Kazuhiro-kun, will pretend to be my lover, complete."

To the recording pen, she was fiddling with it in her hand, Saotome affirmed so.

"Pre, pretend? You mean that previous love declaration?"

Looking at the panicking Kazuhiro, Saotome passed the earphone to him without uttering a word, motioned for him to wear it, and played the previously recorded conversation.

"Can you be my (fake) boyfriend?"

Although at that time it wasn't heard, but indeed she said "fake".

The voice that said this word was soft but clear.

"As if I could hear that!"

I blurted out furious words due to being deceived.

Even I, who had never used abusive remarks on girls, could not remain calm now.

"Kazuhiro-kun, will not refuse girl’s requests. You will not break an agreement with a girl. This is so."

"Of course!"

"Kazuhiro-kun? Can't be my (fake) boyfriend?"

"Um, mmhmm! Gladly! In fact I'm happy!"

"Really, (to pretend), it's okay?"

"No taking back those words!"

This dialogue sequence that makes one feel embarrassed, were all emphasized using a soft "fake".

Isn't this equal to printing a sand-sized textbook onto an agreement booklet?

What an appalling profiteer.

Isn't there a cooling-off period?

"There's more."

She replaced the recording pen with a cellphone. Of course it was the kind with camera functions.

Displayed on the small screen was, the posture of Kazuhiro rolling on the ground.

“Aaaaaaaah! Really want! Really want a girlfriend!"

"Butsu!"

Looking at Kazuhiro's ugly situation, she giggled.

"I said it before. I witnessed everything."

There's no turning back now.

"And, and anyway what is pretend love?"

"Just as it means literally, being a fake lover. You don't get it?"

"That, that I know... Why do you want to do this?"

"For me, there's an important reason for me to do this."

Saotome said resolutely.

This guy, is she a tomboy?

In class — rather, till just now, she was still using the normal "me" to refer to herself.

Unless she had always been acting as an obedient girl, and only now it is considered her true nature?

"There is indeed a reason for doing this. What is love, what feelings it will give me, to be clear about these, I have to find a boyfriend."

Pressing on the glasses in her right palm, Saotome said in a firm tone.

Just what is the situation — even if I ask that, it would only make her more troubled.

But it would be bad if I were used to do weird things.

For example if that previous recording was passed on to the girls, gossip like "Kazuhiro-kun is one who has gone too far and trampled over the feelings of girls" will definitely appear.

A girl recording in secret. There are actually people who take it to this level.

A guy who wants to be a good guy till he graduates, there's no reason for him to be taken as one who has gone too far.

So the rolling video is the best evidence, a one-hit-KO.

Regretted the gratitude just now.

There's no such thing as God in this world. No, if there isn't then there's should be more equality in one's fate.

God does exist, and He treats me as a thorn in his eye. I'd rather He was blown away.

"Have you thought it through? Kazuhiro-kun?"

Saotome came closer continuously.

Not good. This is different from the previous kind of "bad".

When she took off her glasses I found that her personality was cute.

Not just in the classroom but in the school she is also number one in appearance.

Wrong. Even if Saotome's level were to be put into showbiz, she would still be outstanding.

Actually it feels like there's an illusion that I'm looking at a television idol.

This kind of beautiful girl, could use her two pupils to shine her distance, stared at me directly.

"Err, err... Why must it be me?"

"A conclusion after some observation, hm?"

Saotome smiled as she continued to approach me.

This time it wasn't a yandere smile, but a soft smile.

But above the lips, was a serious expression in her eyes.

"Last year, since becoming classmates with Kazuhiro-kun I've always been paying close attention to you."

If I wasn't told that this was all pretense, I should somehow have a palpitating feeling.

"Firstly, you who does not want to be exposed and hated by girls, forced yourself to show them your acts and intellect. Of course, your desire for a girlfriend is very strong."

"Don't call that a desire! Isn't that a wish that every man... man has!"

"Don't worry. Only I have noticed your true nature."

Kazuhiro idled for a moment, and started pondering over the matter immediately again.

Put in another way, it's okay as long the fact that I was caught red-handed isn't revealed to the public.

"The true you is very concerned about love. Which means, you can help me understand what love is. Although I'm not interested in things like love, a bit different from normal people, but I can cooperate with you."

Her fist was held in front of Kazuhiro, one by one the fingers were held up.

"You never refuse girls' requests, for them, you'll even rush to pop stores to inquire for information right?"

Mm, indeed that's true.

Because once some girls get a boyfriend, they have a tendency to prefer their lovers to their friends, and may be secretly defamed by the other girls.

So as a boyfriend, one must have a sense of responsibility and friendliness.

While inquiring DATE COURSE also gave some ideas. Thanks to them I acquired powerful information.

Even if it's a boyfriend, he's both a friend and a classmate.

Continuing based on this idea, it created the current super-good guy Kazuhiro.

Just that he recently started to suspect "this road probably doesn't work".

"And also you seem to be living alone. In a normal case, if you have a girlfriend then the people in your household would know right? That's also a nuisance to fake lovers."

Strictly speaking it isn't really something that needs to be secretive, but the plan would be foiled if family members don't agree.

This kind of stalker-like ability made Kazuhiro fearful, even when he was surveying for information about the girls he did not take it so far.

Even till now, he still doesn't know anything about Saotome who does not have many friends.

"Well, because of many factors I determined that Kazuhiro-kun would be the best partner."

Saotome spun the recording pen, and put it in her breast pocket.

Not good.

I could only consider the last resort of snatching the recording pen, but the other party was a girl, doing that would be too rude, and doing it hastily could end up in me molesting her chest.

Of course it would be best if I touched it, anyway it's better to mute my own thoughts first.

Actually, no matter how I look at Saotome's chest — it's unexpectedly big.

But it isn't huge or enormous, but —

I should say that its size is just right. And there's a perfect well-developed feeling. And from how I look at it, it seems soft.

I actually only just noticed, looks like old-fashioned glasses have a scary masking effect.

American forces, you must use old-fashioned glasses on stealth planes.

"Where are you looking at... Pervert☆"

Saotome turned her body away, both her arms tightening around her chest.

And once again used a looking-up expression to stare at me.

"Wa, Whoaaaaa!"

Without enough time to think, Kazuhiro had already shouted.

That's against the rules.

This expression, this posture, and a sweet voice that was better than anything, could really trigger a red card.

Who cares whether it's pretense or anything, having this girl in front of you as your girlfriend does it not satisfy you?

Birururururu!

Suddenly, the phone in Kazuhiro's pocket started to vibrate.

"Yagimoto-kun, what happened to you? Caught a cold?"

"So, sorry! There's something urgent! I'm going there right now!"

Kazuhiro only answered that sentence, then ended the conversation with the sharp loli voice at the other side of the call.

Was careless. Today was a workday.

At first I was about to set off, because of speaking to Saotome it was already almost time.

"Ap, apologies! I still have work to do! Every week there's three days in which I have to work at a café. Today's a work day!"

I clasped both my hands together to apologise to Saotome.

"No! You can't go yet!"

Both Saotome's hands wrapped Kazuhiro's arm tightly.

Warm and soft.

If that previous expression could be said to be a red card, then this time her lethality of her line of vision would be as massive as a weapon.

Her helpless look could kill all men.

It was just like an attempt to urge a soldier not to go to war, tearfully looking at him.

"Unless you agree to be my fake boyfriend, or else I will not let go."

Unfortunately the words coming from Saotome, was an unreasonable request.

"I, I know! I agree! Agree to be your fake boyfriend!"

If this continues I'll be late, who cares about fake boyfriends or whatever, as long as it's a cute girl's boyfriend then it's okay.

I don't care whether you're acting suspicious or whatever anymore.

And so this awareness affected.

"OK. Then, make an effort in your work. Don't be late for work—☆"

Right after saying that, Saotome let go of Kazuhiro and ran away while waving her right hand.

For a moment she looked back at a corner, and waved farewell again.

Part 2

Kuhito City is located in the outskirts of Tokyo, since the past it has been a bustling area where wealthy nobles always built estates in. Affected by this, near the station is also a lively scene.

Beside a road was a commercial building, Kazuhiro’s workplace is a café on a specific storey of this building. Although he’s only kitchen staff but occasionally he has to come out of the building, therefore he has to change into a uniform that the shop prepared.

Kazuhiro sprinted towards the changing-room-cum-employee-lounge.

Pata!

Completely opened the unlocked door.

“Kyaa!”

What came was a girl’s lament.

So it was colleague Tenkyuuin Sanae changing clothes.

Her fair white skin and black hair contrasted strongly, and the light emitted from the white underwear was directly aiming at the eyes.

“Ah, sorry for being rude. I actually called out so loudly. No, before this it must be my fault because I didn’t lock properly…”

“This, let’s just forget about this…!”

Seeing Sanae, who instantaneously covered her mouth and straightened her body to bow and apologise, Kazuhiro put his left hand over his eyes – he was actually pretending – while waving his right hand in panic.

Originally he would be able to get away by just exiting the changing room, but he was so shocked that his legs were numb, and additionally his sprinting made himself out of breath.

“I’m really very sorry. Eh? Are you feeling unwell?”

From the gap between the fingers he could see – Sanae was nearing him with a worrying look.

A slender figure only wearing underwear.

“Clothes! Wear it quickly! I’m, going out now!”

Kazuhiro lay on the floor on two hands, and after going out of the room on all fours he closed the door. After the agitation in his heart subsided, the sound of door knocks came from behind.

“Yagimoto-sama, I’m done dressing. Can you open the door?”

“Eh? Ahh, sorry.”

Kazuhiro’s back was at the doorway which made the door unable to be opened. He straightened his body, and turned the doorknob.

“Kept you waiting.”

Sanae who had changed into her uniform walked out.

She wore a black dress with a white laced apron. On her arms were short-sleeve bands with ribbons. On her head was a katyusha.

The place two of them worked – “Sweet Drop” was a maid café.

Although the impression Sanae gave could be described as Yamato Nadeshiko, but this appearance also suits her.

After there was nobody in the room, Kazuhiro also started to change. What he had to wear was obviously not a maid costume. But it was a waiter costume with a white shirt and sleeveless garment, together with a pair of long and big suit pants.

After changing Kazuhiro walked towards the kitchen, and saw Sanae pressing the button of the automatic icemaker.

“Yagimoto-sama, are you okay? I was thinking of offering you some cold water.”

“Ah! Careful…!”

Kazuhiro called out to stop, but it was to no avail.