Dullard Buddy-kun: Heading Reluctantly to School Again Today - Episode 10

Right now, outside the school building, it’s a refreshingly clear day.

And in the midst of all that, during the 10-minute break between classes, I was in the dimly lit stall of the restroom taking care of business.

To be precise, I’ve already expressed everything I wanted to and feel relieved, but I still have no intention of leaving this place.

That’s right. The trick is to return to the classroom just in time.

There’s only one reason.

Basically, once you leave your solo seat open, there’s a high chance that the popular kids in class will take it over as a place to chat. And in that case, I won’t be able to sit in my own seat and will end up coming back to this restroom feeling utterly pathetic.

So, basically, I never leave my seat during break time.

I don’t have it, but this time, my stomach isn’t feeling well, so I’m here now…

Well, even loners live their lives thinking about various things. It would be a problem if we were grouped together with those lukewarm half-baked people who go through school life without a care in the world.

As I mutter to myself about such trivial matters, I can hear the voices of men who must be coming to use the restroom together from outside.

It’s a voice I don’t recognize. It’s probably someone from another class.

“Hey, have you already sold the tickets for Tom’s event?”

“Ah, that thing where you said if you invite a bunch of cute girls, you’d make sure we have a good time too?”

“Yeah, yeah. It seems like they’re introducing things like gravure idols! As expected of a popular influencer!”

“Yeah, I’m good. I mean, I haven’t really heard any good things about Tom-kun, you know? Like, he’s supposedly connected to some shady people or whatever.”

“Idiot, that’s just a rumor spread by jealous losers, right? What a waste of you.”

And, I wonder what it is.

I have no idea what you’re talking about.

No, I can hear it clearly, and I understand the meaning of the words.

Just, Tom-kun? Popular influencer? Event?

I can’t keep up with the conversation…

I don’t know anything at all. Well, since I’m not actually talking to them, there’s no need to keep up, but if this is what a normal conversation among high school students my age is like, it makes me sad to realize how little I know about such things.

Feeling empty sitting alone on the toilet seat like that, I suddenly hear the voices of different people, as if they have switched places.

“Hey, did you know? It seems that Sakaki from the class next door entered the National High School Boys’ Mister Contest. And also Moriya and Takasago.”

“Hahaha, Takasago, that’s just too different, don’t you think? Is this a joke?”

“Maybe I’ll join too. Who knows, I might actually do surprisingly well if I do.”

“Haha, stop it, stop it. You’ll end up just like Takasago, a mere joke character.”

Ah, that’s a relief.

This time, even I can understand the content of the conversation.

National High School Boys’ Mister Contest
Is it that contest from last year that went viral on the internet, the one that was mocked as the “festival of delusional handsome guys”?

It might just be that last year was like that by chance, but on the internet, men with smug expressions who looked like they were trying too hard were being made fun of.

Well, of course, I understand that I’m not in a position to judge people’s appearances, and there might be some people who are entering with a positive mindset to change something about themselves, so I have no intention of making fun of them…

If everyone were like Sakaki, there are times when I can’t help but wish they get thoroughly beaten up by those around them, revealing the dark and twisted side of myself.

Well, anyway. The conversations I hear from here are all trivial matters that have nothing to do with me.

Besides, for now, some time has passed nicely.

There are about 2 minutes left until the next class starts.

It’s about time…

Alright, let’s go back. To the classroom.