A Popular Girl Confessed to Me, the Loner—Thinking It Was a Prank, I Tried to Scare Her Off... But She Was Actually Serious. - Chapter 1 - This Has to Be a Prank, Right?

My name is Masato Manabe.

I’m plain, forgettable, and practically invisible—just another second-year high school student blending into the background.

Even now, I’m sitting quietly in the corner of the classroom, staring out the window.

No one talks to me. I don’t talk to anyone either.

Actually, I probably don’t even exist enough for people to notice me in the first place.

You’ve heard of the whole “school caste” thing, right?

I’m at the bottom of that pyramid—

No, more like hiding in the shadow behind it.

I’ve always believed that the best I could do was crawl along the bottom, unnoticed and ignored…

Until Hiyori Amano, the queen bee of our class and the brightest of the bright, suddenly entered my life.

***

“Masato-kun!”

It took me way too long to realize that cheerful voice was calling out to me.
Class had ended a little while ago.

Since I wasn’t in any clubs, I was just slowly packing up my bag, messing around on my phone, and grinding out daily missions in a mobile game.

That’s when Hiyori Amano—yes, the Hiyori Amano, the apex of the extrovert food chain—walked right up and spoke to me.

To me.

As usual, I was quietly minding my own business, sitting in my seat like I was made of air.

But that bright voice cut through the background noise and hit me like a bullet.

I looked up.

Standing there was Hiyori Amano, her light brown—almost blonde—hair swaying slightly.

Her clear, sparkling eyes stared straight at me.

She was smiling.

Too close. Way too close.

And then she said it.

“I really like you! Please go out with me!”

…What?

………What??

What is this girl even saying????

No, wait, hang on. Calm down, Masato. Think.

This is obviously impossible. It makes zero sense.

I mean—it’s me we’re talking about!

It’s not just a gap between introvert and extrovert—this is a chasm the size of the ocean between a human and a water flea.

(This has gotta be… a punishment game… right…?)

Yeah. This is totally one of those extrovert pranks.

You confess to a nobody, get the class buzzing, and then later go:

“Just kidding! You fell for it? LOL!”

I’ve heard stories like this.

It tracks.

This kind of stuff happens.

I’m just the easy target at the bottom of the social food chain.

I’m used to it. I don’t even flinch anymore.

But still—

Even a loner has pride.

So fine.

If this is a joke, then I’ll play along.

I’ll show her the ultimate introvert cringe.

I’ll weird her out so badly that she’ll regret ever messing with me.

If this is her punishment game, I’ll turn it into hers.

“…You just asked me to go out with you, right?”

“Yep!”

She answered without hesitation.

Some of the class started murmuring.

Everyone’s probably just as shocked as I am.

Wait—those are her popular friends, her extrovert gang.

Yup, they’re watching us.

Figures. So, this is a setup.

Alright then. Bring it on.

“I’m not interesting. I don’t talk. I’m creepy. I’m boring.”

“…”

“You’re really okay with that? I’m just some gloomy, socially awkward guy, y’know?”

I didn’t even look her in the eye.

I kept my voice low, flat.

Activate: Cringe Loner Mode.

Now, let’s see how she reacts—

“…That’s exactly why I like you.”

“…Huh?”

That… was not the reaction I expected.

Why is she blushing?

Why does she look happy?

Hello? I’m trying to make you uncomfortable here.

“You’re quiet, serious, kind of mysterious… A little cat-like. I’ve always thought you were really cool.”

“…No no no no no.”

I couldn’t help but say it out loud.

She’s still smiling.

And it’s a real smile.

(She’s either a great actress… or this is legit.)

While I was trying to process it all, the rest of the class slowly went back to normal.

But the vibe had definitely shifted.

Everyone’s starting to think she’s serious.

One of the girls in her group—the flashy gyaru type—looked at me and smiled.

…Terrifying.

“You falling for someone like me that easily… Honestly, it kinda feels like you’re not taking this seriously.”

“…I’m not taking it lightly at all.”

Hiyori looked straight into my eyes.

No smile this time. No joke.

There wasn’t a hint of doubt in her gaze.

“If anything, I feel like I can’t stop liking you.”

“…………”

(Wait. For real?)

Just moments ago, the word “punishment game” was bouncing around my head like crazy.

But now…

That thought is starting to fade.

And that—more than anything—is what’s freaking me out the most.