Vol. 1 Chapter 2 – Light and Dark, Popular and Gloomy

It happened on the bus after school, on my way home from my part-time job.

It’s a little over twenty minutes from the bus stop in front of the station where my job is to the one near my house.

A short time, but long enough to get in a bit of gaming.

Just as I took out my game console, wondering which title to play today, she suddenly appeared next to me.

“Kageyama-kun… right? From the same class.” (Asahi Hikaru)

Over my headphones, I heard the sound of the engine and a clear, pleasant voice.

Fluffy, light-colored medium-short hair.

A small face that made me question if we were the same species, and features so well-proportioned that even the phrase “beautiful” felt inadequate.

Her eyes shone like two embedded jewels.

She was a beautiful girl who would make a hundred out of a hundred people turn their heads if they passed her on the street.

Normally, she’d be the type of person I’d have absolutely no connection with, but I knew who she was.

Asahi Hikaru—Shuuyouin Private High School, Year 2, Class B, Attendance Number 1.

In other words, my classmate.

“Hellooo, can you hear me~…?” (Asahi Hikaru)

Asahi-san waved her hand in front of my face as if checking my consciousness.

My body and thoughts had frozen upon encountering this completely unexpected event.

If I had to compare it, I felt like a mob enemy that had suddenly run into the hero party on the field map.

“Asahi… san…?” (Kageyama Reiya)

“Yep, that’s me. It hasn’t even been a month since we became classmates, but you remembered.” (Asahi Hikaru)

“Well… yeah… If anything, that’s my line…” (Kageyama Reiya)

“Anyway, mind if I sit next to you?” (Asahi Hikaru)

“G-Go ahead…” (Kageyama Reiya)

When I somehow managed to squeeze out a reply, she nonchalantly sat down in the seat next to me.

I don’t know what I look like right now, but from an outsider’s perspective, I must surely seem like a weird, suspicious person.

But I hope you’ll forgive me for that.

I never imagined that the Asahi Hikaru would even be aware of my existence.

Because, although we’re classmates, the difference in our positions is truly like heaven and earth.

I’m just a gloomy-type game otaku inhabiting a corner of the classroom.

My grades have nothing worth mentioning, and my athletic ability is simply disastrous.

Asahi-san, on the other hand, is a popular-type normie who’s always at the center of the class… no, the school.

She’s talented and beautiful, popular with students regardless of gender, and deeply trusted by the teachers.

Outside of school, she’s known as a rising star in the women’s tennis world and also works as a model.

She’s truly someone blessed with two or three gifts from heaven.

Even if we appeared in the same game, it would be like comparing the ‘Hero’ to a ‘Giant Slug’—not even a contest.

“Kageyama-kun, you’re in your uniform at this hour… could it be you’re actually a delinquent?” (Asahi Hikaru)

“No, I’m on my way back from my part-time job…” (Kageyama Reiya)

“Oh, I see. Where do you work?” (Asahi Hikaru)

Asahi-san piled on the questions while I was still bewildered, unable to grasp the situation.

On top of a preemptive strike, she gets two actions per turn? Her specs are way too high.

“My cousin runs a Western-style restaurant in front of the station, and I work there… or rather, I help out…” (Kageyama Reiya)

“Wow~! Your cousin’s place!” (Asahi Hikaru)

Asahi-san nodded enthusiastically, seeming impressed by something.

“By the way, I’m heading home after finishing this… well, you can probably tell by looking.” (Asahi Hikaru)

She indicated the long, vertical bag slung over her left shoulder.

Every time the bus swayed, the clattering sound of hard objects colliding could be heard from inside.

“Is that for tennis?” (Kageyama Reiya)

“Yeah, usually my mom picks me up from the club by car. But today, various things happened, so I’m taking the bus home alone.” (Asahi Hikaru)

“I see…” (Kageyama Reiya)

Even as I said that, I still hadn’t grasped what this situation was all about.

“By the way. Kageyama-kun, you like games, right?” (Asahi Hikaru)

“Eh? Well, yeah, I like them, but…” (Kageyama Reiya)

“I thought so. You’re always playing during break time. And pretty core stuff, too.” (Asahi Hikaru)

Separate from the embarrassment of being recognized as that kind of presence, a certain suspicion began to grow.

…Is this really some kind of punishment game?

The common type where someone dares you to go talk to that gloomy kid…?

Thinking this, I quickly scanned the inside of the bus, but I couldn’t see anyone hiding and observing.

Besides, she shouldn’t have the kind of personality to tease people for fun.

Well, not that I know her that well…

As various suspicions swirled in my head, the next unexpected words she uttered blew them all away at once.

“Actually… I quite like them too. Games.” (Asahi Hikaru)

“…Like what?” (Kageyama Reiya)

I asked back, unable to comprehend the meaning of her words.

“Games, I said.” (Asahi Hikaru)

…Is it a trap?

The disconnect between Asahi Hikaru, the normie among normies, and the otaku hobby of gaming was so complete in my mind that my suspicion only intensified.

I couldn’t help but think someone was plotting against me.

Like the CIA, or the KGB, or MI6.

“O-Oh… is that so…” (Kageyama Reiya)

“Yeah… Although, with various things going on lately, I haven’t been able to play much.” (Asahi Hikaru)

No, wait, could this be that?

The type of thing where a gal says, ‘Like, I’m totally an otaku. I love stuff like One Piece’?

Yes. That must be it.

In that case, as the representative of the gloomy types, I have no choice but to intercept the enemy who has brazenly stepped into our territory.

“Specifically, what kind of games? Anything you played recently that was fun?” (Kageyama Reiya)

“Let’s see~… The most fun one recently was…” (Asahi Hikaru)

Asahi-san folded her arms and began to ponder.

It’s probably just some rhythm game or puzzle game on her phone, or at best, a trendy battle royale.

A popular type from the top of the hierarchy, stepping into our world like it’s just a fashion statement.

Alright, bring it on.

If you name some half-baked title, I’ll crush you head-on with my specialty fast-talking rant.

“Bio…” (Asahi Hikaru)

I see, that certain survival horror series that even got a Hollywood movie adaptation.

A slightly intense title for a sparkling high school girl to touch.

However, it’s a famous series domestically, so it’s entirely possible she played it a bit because a family member had it.

This much is totally within expecta—

“BioShocking!” (Asahi Hikaru)

…Hmph, not bad at all.

Faced with such an unexpected title, it was all I could do to maintain my condescending attitude.

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• BioShocking likely referring to BioShock