The Silent Me Who Talks on the Phone at Midnight with the Class’s Most Beautiful Honor Student - Chapter 1

Episode 2: The Girl I Admire

“Burger Jack’s new menu item was so good!”

“Oh, you mean that chili-lemon sauce one? It sounded kind of iffy, so I didn’t try it.”

“No, no, you’ve got it wrong. The trick is dipping your fries in that sauce—it’s perfect!”

Hearing them talk like this up close, I can’t help but admire it…

It’s not that I want to be the center of the conversation. I just wish that when I say something, people would listen properly, joke with me, maybe even ask me for advice sometimes. That kind of back-and-forth is all I want—nothing more.

I should be able to talk normally. But because of my environment, I ended up socially awkward—a farm-bred introvert, so to speak. Naturally, friends never came my way.

Ah… what was supposed to be a rosy high school life, shining thanks to my karaoke skills, has instead turned dull and gray because of my silent, loner position. Not that karaoke ever worked out either—I never got good at it. I was once told my voice sounded nice, but my actual singing is just average.

“Hey, Saginuma-san, did you try that Burger Jack thing?”

One of the girls in the group called out to Yoshino Saginuma as she happened to walk by. She turned her head, her light brown hair swaying softly. “Hm?”

“You know, that lemon one?”

“Yeah, I tried it! It had this Asian taste to it—really good! Kinda Thai, don’t you think?”

“Wait, Yoshino, have you ever been to Thailand?”

“Hehe, nope! But it’s number three on my list of countries I want to visit someday.”

“Whoa, now I’m curious about number one and two!”

Before I knew it, she had joined the group, and the conversation shifted into a ranking reveal.

Yeah… I wanted to be like her.

Just last week, Yoshino Saginuma was elected student council president. She’s among the top students academically, and in athletics she’s made it all the way to prefectural competitions for short-distance track. Truly the kind of all-rounder every high schooler should look up to.

On top of that, she’s tall and beautiful enough to work as an actress or a model. Her semi-long, light brown hair is permed, so it bounces playfully every time she moves. Her wide, sparkling eyes, perfectly shaped nose like a Hollywood star, and naturally pink lips that need no lipstick—all of it makes her stunning.

And her personality is just as bright. Always energetic, good at conversation, with the kind of cute smile that lights up a room. Just how many blessings did heaven give her?

Of course she’s popular with guys, but what’s really amazing is how much girls adore her too. Not just in our class, not just our year school-wide, she’s beloved. Everyone casually calls her “Sakura-san,” using her given name with affection.

Well, it doesn’t hurt that her name sounds beautiful. Written with the character for “cherry blossom” but read as “Yoshino” so elegant.

But when I think calmly about it, it feels ridiculous for someone like me, who’s average in both studies and sports and has no particular charisma, to say “I want to be like her.” Maybe I should just be satisfied with the luck of sharing a class with her.

No… at least I want to talk! I want to have conversations with everyone! If I suddenly started babbling away, though, people would probably react like, “Whoa, the doll in the closet started talking!”

Feeling suffocated listening to the chatter, I was about to step out into the hallway when someone hurried past me from behind.

“Hey, Rokuhisahara-kun.”

“Ah—uh, Sakura-san.”

Suddenly being addressed by her threw me completely off balance. Whether she knows I stay silent on purpose or not, she sometimes goes out of her way to talk to me.

Wait—could it be that our homeroom teacher told her, “That guy’s isolated, so keep an eye on him”?

“Rokuhisahara-kun, did you try that lemon-chili burger we were just talking about?”

Up close, her face is breathtaking. She gives off this floral scent—so fresh, it’s like she bathed in fabric softener instead of water. My heart starts pounding faster.

“N-no, not yet. I was thinking of going this weekend, though.”

“I see! It’s pretty good, so I recommend it. Oh, and try the seasonal summer-orange soda too!”

The way she said it, so cheerfully, made me want to go no matter what. And I’m grateful she talks to me without treating me like “the silent guy.”

Still, since I barely ever talk at school, my voice cracks embarrassingly whenever I do…

“Thanks. I’ll give it a try next time.”

When I said that, she flashed a bright smile and walked off down the hall.

Just the fact that I got to talk to Sakura-san leaves me floating. No—Rokuhisahara Chihiro, don’t fool yourself. You can’t call that “talking with Sakura-san.” Conversation is supposed to be a game of catch. In this one, she threw all the balls and you just stood there with the mitt.

“I really do want to talk properly at school…”

The faint wish slipped out in a whisper, bouncing off the pillar by the door. And that ended up being my last conversation of the day.