Two outcasts who look down on each other share an innocent first kiss. - Chapter 2

A new family was moving in next door.

Oh yeah, Mom mentioned something about that.

But it had nothing to do with me.

Unless it was a handsome guy carrying the weight of some grand destiny or a stunning beauty, it didn’t matter.

Things like that only happen in fiction, not real life. So what if new neighbors were moving in?

I knew this.

I understood this.

And yet—

Why the hell is it Harrison?!

Of course, I knew about Edward Harrison.

No—if anything, it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say I knew him very well.

That pathetic loner who acts like he doesn’t care about being alone.

Just looking at him makes my skin crawl. What kind of person sits there eating lunch alone in the classroom like it’s normal?

Sure, he might think there’s nothing shameful about it, but watching him is painfully secondhand embarrassing!

Lurkers should stay in the shadows—away from the main stage of youth that is the classroom!

I’ve never had friends.

I’m terrible at talking. I get anxious and freeze up in conversations.

But I want friends. Even more than that, I want a boyfriend.

Preferably a handsome one, who understands otaku culture, is secretly gifted with supernatural powers, and protects me from all threats.

That’s the difference between me and him.

Unlike that loser who’s given up and pretends to be fine with it, I still have ambition.

That’s why today, I put on an expensive bra to lift my spirits.

Makeup is too intimidating for me, but when it comes to fashion that isn’t visible, all you need is money.

I had ordered it online, and after finally receiving it, I was grinning at my reflection in the mirror.

…Completely forgetting that the window right beside me faced the neighboring house.

“…Ugh… Ugh… Ugogogogo…!!”

I buried my face in my pillow and groaned like a gorilla in distress.

He saw me.

That loser saw me.

My purity was the only thing I had going for me… and now it had been tainted by that lame-ass loner!

Okay, fine. If I had to be seen, the event itself wasn’t the issue.

But come on, at least make it better!

Even if rom-com protagonists are supposed to be losers, there are limits!

And today, of all days, I just had to be wearing the cutest bra.

I’m literally a textbook example of a “lucky pervert” heroine!!

…That idiot is definitely going to use me to jerk off tonight.

He’s never seen a girl naked before.

My lingerie was adorable.

Despite being a tiny, scrawny twig, I actually had a decent chest.

I may be a C-cup now, but I’m on my way to a D-cup soon.

He’s definitely going to keep thinking about my b00bs, get turned on, and—

“……………………”

I squirmed, pulling my blanket over my head.

“……Ngh, …Ngh, …Ngh, —……Mmm!”

I waited for the sensation to fade before I peeked out from the blanket.

“…Haah…”

I want to die.

Am I seriously this desperate?

It’s pathetic.

But I can’t help it—this was without a doubt the most sexually charged moment of my entire life.

…And now, he’s my neighbor.

I’ll have to see him at school too.

How the hell am I supposed to face him?!

Wait.

Do I actually have to face him?

We don’t talk in class anyway.

We probably won’t even run into each other outside.

There’s no reason for any further incidents to happen.

…It’s a bit anticlimactic, but that’s reality.

Time to play some games.

“Mikage~? Are you awake?”

I flinched beneath the blanket.

Before I could even answer, the door swung open.

My mom peeked inside and spotted me in bed.

“Oh, taking a nap?”

“I-I’m up! I’m up! At least knock first!”

“Yeah, yeah, sorry, sorry.”

How many times do I have to tell this wannabe-young old hag?!

I seriously need a lock on my door.

“What do you want?”

I snapped, still hiding under my blanket.

Mom smiled, looking oddly pleased.

“The Harrison family just came by to introduce themselves. Come downstairs.”

“…What?”

“There’s a boy around your age too! Come on, hurry up!”

“Wait, no, hold on—”

I couldn’t even speak the words “Absolutely not!!!” before I was dragged downstairs.

The Most Awkward Introduction Ever

Mom practically shoved me into the doorway, forcing me to face the Harrison family.

Standing behind their shockingly youthful mother was a small girl—probably in elementary school—and…

Edward Harrison.

The girl immediately greeted us, saying, “I’m Kanata.”

But Edward stayed silent, awkwardly looking away—more like deliberately avoiding eye contact with me.

“Go on, Edward, say hello.”

“…Hey…”

At his mother’s prompting, Edward mumbled a half-hearted greeting, barely looking up.

Then I got a nudge from my mother.

“You too.”

“…Hey.”

Avoiding eye contact, I gave a slight nod.

This is so freaking awkward.

Of course, our parents had no idea, but just yesterday, this guy saw my b00bs.

And it wasn’t just that.

I had literally—no, never mind.

Nothing happened.

Nothing at all.

Mrs. Harrison laughed.

“Oh my, they’re so alike! I bet they’ll get along well! Right, Edward?”

“………………”

Getting elbowed by his mother, Edward made the most annoyed face I’d ever seen.

For once, I totally understood his pain.

“I agree! This could be fate! Maybe Mikage’s destined one has finally appeared~!”

“………………”

Shut up, Mom. You’re 41 years old. Cut it out.

“Why don’t you all come inside? No need to stand at the door.”

“Oh, thank you! We’re still moving things in, so this is perfect.”

Edward desperately looked like he wanted to leave, but he couldn’t go against his mother.

Which meant I needed to escape.

It was for both of our sakes.

But before I could slip away, my mom grabbed my arm.

She might be a giggly “Oh my, oh my” type, but she had a hell of a grip.

And so, the forced neighborly gathering began.

As expected, it was mostly the moms talking, with Kanata occasionally joining in.

Edward and I?

We were basically furniture.

Across the table, he kept sipping his tea, staring at an old wall calendar like it was the most fascinating thing in the world.

I sipped mine too, trying not to think about how badly I needed to pee.

“…Excuse me, I need to use the restroom.”

I used the chatter as cover and left.

And then—

I stepped out of the bathroom—

And Edward was standing there.

“Hyaah!?”

I let out a tiny yelp.

Why couldn’t that have been the noise I made when he saw me yesterday?!

Wait, hold on.

Why is he just standing here?

Did he seriously… wait outside the bathroom for me?!