Dullard Buddy-kun: Heading Reluctantly to School Again Today - Episode 61

Ah, school has started again.

What a terrible morning.

Hey, I overheard something in the staff room just now. It looks like Hani-sama might really be coming to our school! And apparently, there’s another girl from a lower grade who’s also coming as an exchange student!!!”

Lying down and pretending to sleep as usual first thing in the morning, I—Kento Mamiya—could hear the loud voice of Takasago, a member of the Sakaki gang.

“Are you serious? Damn, this means she might find out about my existence!”

“Haha, good thing she didn’t recognize us from that video, right?”

“Hah? What the hell are you talking about? I swear, I’ll kill you.”

Ah, so Hani-sama, huh…

My little sister was making a big fuss about her, but is she really coming to our school?

“Wait, is Hani-sama really coming? I totally want to get close to her!”

“No way, I use Hani-sama’s cosmetics too!”

If that happens, the rumors will spread in no time.

I can already see Ruruka pestering me to get her an autograph.

Yeah, no way. There’s absolutely no chance—actually, not just zero, but a negative chance—that someone like me, at the bottom of the school caste system, would ever have anything to do with her.

But well, it’s Takasago we’re talking about. There’s a high chance he’s just jumping to conclusions or misunderstanding something.

When I lifted my head slightly to check, the entire class was buzzing with excitement.

Seriously, the guys around me should learn a thing or two from Tanaka-kun.

Yes. In my field of vision, there he is—Tanaka-kun, arms crossed, seemingly lost in thought about something else, his serious expression completely unfazed by the commotion in class.

Truly cool.

But still… Another person is coming besides her?

Could that person also be a celebrity?

If so, that would be even worse…

I don’t know exactly how influential she is, but from what I can see, Hani-sama is pretty popular, at least among our generation of students.

That means there’s a chance students from other schools might swarm our school just to catch a glimpse of her, right?

No, if that actually happens and some of my old classmates from middle school show up, they might unnecessarily find out that I’m a loner…

Well, if a friend would distance themselves over something like that, they weren’t really a friend to begin with. If that’s the case, then so be it…

Anyway.

Is this even true in the first place?

The whole class is making such a fuss about it. If it turns out to be false, Takasago, you’re screwed.

Does this idiot even realize that?

“Hey! You guys are way too noisy! I know it’s still break time, but you’re being too loud!!! What are you all so worked up about?!”

Exactly.

Standing at the classroom door—

Is the student guidance counselor, Gōda.

Well, your voice is loud enough too, but just this once, you did a good job.

Thanks to that scary face of yours, the classroom has gone completely silent.

It’s as if time itself has stopped.

Still…

It might just be my imagination, but hasn’t Gōda been hanging around outside this classroom way more than usual today?

No, maybe it’s just because we just got back from the school trip. He’s probably making rounds to check if the students are getting back into the right mindset.

I mean, the final exams are coming up in about a month.

And after that… the paradise of summer vacation where I don’t have to come to school.

For now, just another month and a half to endure.

I’ll have to brace myself…

And endure.

But really, now that I think about it, graduation is still a long way off.

Way too long…

Alright. For today, like always—time to shut off my thoughts…