Dullard Buddy-kun: Heading Reluctantly to School Again Today - Episode 63

A few days had passed since the school trip ended.

As always, I, Kento Mamiya, continued my unchanged daily routine—pretending to sleep at my desk, eating lunch alone, and making a quick escape the moment the bell rang.

Day after day, enduring the loneliness.

No, the loneliness itself isn’t the problem. It’s the constant weight of the stares from others, judging my solitude, that I have to endure.

This routine is set to continue until graduation—an endless cycle of monotony.

Or at least, that’s what I thought…

Even though this doesn’t really have anything to do with me…

“Hello, everyone. My name is Lee Hani. Hehe, please feel free to call me Hani!”

Wait… she actually transferred to our school?!

The Hani-sama…

And she’s… in my class?!

There she was, standing in front of the classroom, smiling as she waved at everyone, making sure to meet each person’s gaze.

I’ve often heard people say that celebrities look even more stunning in person than they do on TV.

Right now, I’m experiencing exactly that.

She has… an aura.

Just like in the videos I had seen before, she’s an absolute beauty—slender, elegant, and easily capable of dominating the modeling industry. Her long, silky brown hair sways gracefully as she stands confidently before the class.

But maybe because she’s wearing the same school uniform as the rest of us, she seems even more approachable than she did in the videos.

Yeah… overall, she’s much more cheerful and lively than I expected, in a good way.

In this moment, I find myself thinking—she actually seems like a normal, bubbly high school girl.

However, from a more cynical perspective, it almost felt like the kind of business-like friendliness that a K-pop idol might show to their fans when visiting Japan.

Maybe it just seemed that way because of how ridiculously excited everyone around me was…

“I’d really love to get to know each and every one of you!”

So, does that mean the public persona people see is just an act, and this is the real her?

“Alright then, since it looks like many of you already know who she is, we’ll use first period for homeroom. We have some time, so let’s go around and have everyone introduce themselves one by one.”

Well, whatever… but seriously?

We’re actually doing introductions for her? Usually, it’s the other way around.

This is going to be a pain.

“Okay, let’s start from the front right seat… Oh, wait, that’s Tanaka’s seat. He’s out with a broken leg, so we’ll begin from the seat behind him.”

Ah, right. Poor Tanaka-kun.

During soccer class two days ago, he tried to kick the ball but ended up kicking the ground instead—hard. He ended up with a massive fracture in his right ankle.

He definitely won’t be back this week. Maybe not even early next week.

Hope he’s okay.

Anyway, in my line of sight, I could see the introductions beginning.

Hani was intently listening, her large, striking eyes locked onto each person as they spoke, taking in every word with a serious expression.

And before I realized it…

The atmosphere in the classroom had shifted.

She still maintained her composed and sincere demeanor, but that lively, bubbly energy from earlier had suddenly…

So, she was casually throwing in some quick questions during everyone’s introductions…

Uh, is this some kind of interview?

She was listening so seriously that even the people waiting for their turn started to feel tense…

“Alright! I’m Taiki Sakaki, 17 years old! Currently looking for a girlfriend! Hani-san, do you have a boyfriend?”

“I do not. Next.”

…Well, of course, there’s always one guy who can’t read the room.

But what was that just now?

Up until a second ago, even though she had been listening seriously, she still made sure to give a polite smile and say, “I look forward to being in class with you all” to each person after they finished.

But now…

She was looking at Sakaki as if he were literal garbage.

I mean, it’s Sakaki, so whatever, but maybe show a little more interest in him?

Wait… did he just screw up already?

Now that I think about it, yeah, his question was absolute trash.

She’s famous. It makes sense if she doesn’t want people prying into that kind of stuff.

Classic Number One Most Tactless Guy, Taiki Sakaki.

Sometimes that kind of boldness works in his favor, but this time, he crashed and burned.

Anyway… was that reaction just now the real her?

If so, she’s actually kinda terrifying.

While I was lost in thought, before I knew it, it was my turn.

I’ll just keep it simple.

“I’m Kento Mamiya. Nice to meet you…”

“Fufu, yes. Nice to meet you too!”

Phew…

Even though I’m usually treated like trash as a loner, at least for this introduction, I got the same standard smile as everyone else.

Even if it was just a professional smile, the impact of Hani-sama’s smile was unreal…

Seeing her in person, her gaze was just as intense as in the videos. The moment she looked at me, I reflexively looked away like some kind of creep.

But honestly, with those already huge eyes of hers widening even more as she smiled at me like that, anyone would react the same way… It was out of my control.

Still, she’s pretty sharp.

Maybe she noticed I wasn’t really revealing anything about myself and decided not to ask me anything.

No, she probably just has zero interest in me.

Well, whatever. That’ll probably be the first and last time I ever talk to her.

She seems like the type who can read people well, so she’ll figure out I’m the class loner soon enough—if she hasn’t already.

No matter how famous she is or how much my little sister freaked out over her, she has nothing to do with me.

As I zoned out, staring out the window, the homeroom teacher’s voice rang out again from the front of the classroom.

“Alright, now that everyone’s introduced themselves, let’s do a seat shuffle! It’s a good chance, so each of you, draw a number!”

With that announcement, the classroom buzzed with excitement.

A seat change, huh…

I don’t really care, but please, please, let me get the very back corner by the window.

The ultimate throne for a loner.

I’m begging you…

God, please.

Come on, the best seat…