As we actually got down to studying, I kept a close eye on them. As expected, Takashiro and Shironami were desperately trying to close the distance (both physical and emotional) with Sakakibara, peppering him with questions and leaning in close. Apparently, Sakakibara is actually quite bright; he answered their questions almost instantly without breaking a sweat. As for the physical contact, he looked somewhere between “happy” and “embarrassed.”
Sasaki watched this with blatant jealousy while Umihara chided him into focusing on his work. However, I caught Umihara stealing glances at the group as well, so the probability of her joining the harem seems high. Score. I really hope she takes the “Little Devil” role (my personal label) to spice up the story.
While I played the rom-com observer, I breezed through my own workbook. For the record, my academic ability is probably “upper-middle.” I don’t have any particularly weak subjects. Phrasing it like that makes me sound smart, but the truth is that back in middle school, my grades stayed exactly the same whether I worked hard or didn’t try at all. It’s actually kind of depressing.
We managed to study for about two hours, but then Sasaki—who clearly hates studying—suggested we take a break and play some games. Sakakibara was all for it. It seems being in a “beautiful girl sandwich” was getting to be a bit much for a teenage boy’s nerves.
The game of choice was a fighting game. You know, the one where characters from various franchises engage in a “clash-and-bash brothers” type of brawl. Apparently, Sakakibara has been hooked on it lately. I bet he uses it to vent all his daily frustrations and worldly desires. Even Takashiro and Shironami, who had never played, showed interest, and Umihara and Sasaki (who had played before) agreed. Me? I never had friends to play with. To be precise, I didn’t have friends who played fighting games. My middle school friend, Ryuchi, and I usually just watched anime or dramas. We were the pinnacle of “indoor types.”
And, to skip to the conclusion: I made a massive blunder. I ended up utterly crushing everyone. Maybe it’s because I spend so much time observing them, but I just sort of figured out their habits and what moves would annoy them the most.
I lost the first round while I was still learning the controls, but by the second round, I kept it close. By the third, I eked out a narrow win. By the fourth… I was just winning normally. After some self-analysis, I realized I’m not actually good at fighting games; I’m just good at grasping people’s behavioral patterns.
Case in point: after I decimated Sasaki (who taught me the controls), I lost to Sakakibara initially, but started winning more frequently the more we played. When I switched to Takashiro, another beginner, I lost at first but eventually started winning consistently. If my opponent were a total stranger, I’d probably just lose. It’s a very niche talent.
But enough about me. Something much more “rom-com interesting” happened afterward. We finished gaming around 4:00 PM when the doorbell suddenly rang. The voice that answered was—you guessed it—the “Terrifying Yandere Heroine” (my personal label), Sakakibara’s older sister.
I asked Sakakibara if she wasn’t supposed to be away. “She was on a business trip! She wasn’t supposed to be here!” he replied, literally shaking. Meanwhile, watching him tremble, I couldn’t help but admire the perfect “flag trigger” execution. Truly, he is a rom-com protagonist.
Well, I couldn’t exactly let this place turn into a crime scene (metaphorically speaking), so after briefly explaining the situation to the group, I shared the strategy I’d come up with for our survival. The girls would use deodorizer to hide their scent and wait in hiding, while me, Sasaki, and Sakakibara would greet her to give the impression that it was just “the boys hanging out.” Simple, and not technically a lie.
We put it into action immediately. I acted as the primary spokesperson. If Sasaki or (especially) Sakakibara spoke, their trembling voices or fidgeting would give us away instantly. Yandere intuition is a terrifying thing.
As for the result of our encounter with Sakakibara-sister… well, we failed. Those eyes were haunting. Seriously. I mean, seriously scary. It wasn’t just “madness”—it was something much more visceral. Terrifying.
We almost pulled off the deception, but she suddenly said, “I just came back to pick up something I forgot,” and barged right in. I have no idea what she could have possibly “forgotten” in her younger brother’s apartment.
We ended up telling her the truth, but I was so spooked by her gaze that I honestly don’t remember anything I said beyond the facts. She seemed satisfied for the moment and left with an envelope (the forgotten item), but not before whispering something into Sakakibara’s ear. He told me later she said, “If I ever catch you alone with a girl… fufufufu!” Creepy.
After that, the “fun” mood was dead and we were about to go home… but then a sudden storm with lightning hit, and the trains and buses stopped running. That is why I am currently writing this diary by the light of my phone in the middle of the night, praying nobody catches me. I’m just glad tomorrow is a day off.
The boys are sleeping in the living room, and the girls are locked in Sakakibara’s room. A sensible arrangement.
The classic rom-com trope—”Staying the night at the protagonist’s house”—has been achieved in an unexpected way. I’m exhausted. Time to sleep.
Month B, Day
When I woke up, the weather and the trains were back to normal, so I was able to head home without an issue. As we left, I noticed Takashiro and Shironami’s faces were quite red. I suspect something happened in the room of the boy they like. For the sake of their honor, it’s probably best I don’t know the details.
Now that I think about it, Umihara’s face was a bit red too when we spoke briefly on the way out. It seems she’s finally joined the Sakakibara Harem. All is well. Also, “don’t mind,” Sasaki. When I patted him on the shoulder to comfort him, he gave me a look of utter confusion.
On my way home, I did something rare for me: I took a detour. A ramen shop caught my eye, and I just sort of wandered in. Hunger is a powerful motivator.
Inside, I bumped into someone familiar—my homeroom teacher, Aoyagi-sensei. She’s beautiful and a good teacher, but definitely a “tomboy” type.
Despite the circumstances (the storm), I was a bit nervous since I was technically coming back from a co-ed sleepover, but I couldn’t resist the bait of a free bowl of ramen.
We were having some harmless small talk while slurping noodles when Aoyagi-sensei suddenly dropped a bombshell.
“Did something happen to you in the past? Like… were you bullied or something?” Apparently, my “poker face” is so constant that she was genuinely worried. If we’re talking about my past, other than having a beautiful girl as a childhood friend, I’ve only had a few “stimulating” experiences. I was never actually bullied. This face is just my natural disposition.
When I told her that, she gave me a look that suggested she wasn’t sure whether to believe me, then threw an arm around my shoulder and said she’d be there if I ever needed to talk. Honestly, the sensation of her… “ample assets” against me felt great. But please, Sensei, save that for Sakakibara.
Anyway, after that, I just spent the rest of the day lazing around. Nothing else happened, so I’ll end today’s entry here.
READ THE ORIGINAL TRANSLATION AT LOCALIZERMEERKAT.GITHUB.IO
Month B, Day δ
Today was the mid-term exam. Thanks to our regular study sessions, I think I did pretty well. The rest of the crew seemed to do okay, too. Sasaki was even dancing with joy, shouting, “I might not have any failing marks!” I honestly wonder how he even passed the entrance exam for this school. The results aren’t out yet, but this might be the first time I’ve actually looked forward to getting a test back.
After the test, we took Sasaki up on his suggestion to go to karaoke for a celebration. As for the seating in the karaoke room: the “Twin Castles” were on either side of Sakakibara. Umihara was next to Sasaki. And I was in the solo seat. Aoyagi-sensei… maybe I am being bullied? No, I know that’s not it, and honestly, this is more convenient for me anyway.
Sakakibara was an incredible singer, and all the girls sang with voices so beautiful they could be professional singers or voice actors. Sasaki and I put our arms around each other’s shoulders and sang high-energy “hype” songs. Everyone was cracking up while I sang my parts; I wonder why? I’ll have to ask on social media later.
Regardless, the “love song battle” between the Twin Castles was quite a sight to behold. Watching Sakakibara’s strained smile as the heat turned up was truly entertaining. I tried to join in the fun by selecting a love song for Sakakibara’s turn, but he just smacked me. Unfair. After a while, we called it a night and everyone headed home.
…I guess I’m actually living a “youthful” life. It’s fun, so no complaints, but I might be neglecting my rom-com observations a little. Summer is approaching. I need to put even more effort into my observations. This concludes this month’s diary, but please look forward to next month!
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