"Look, it's Hiroshi Takeda..."
"What's there to see? He is probably just delivering lunch to Sawamura again..."
"I mean, Sawamura is gorgeous and comes from a rich family; she's basically a noble lady herself..."
"Let me tell you something. Back in middle school, I was at the same school as Sawamura and Hiroshi Takeda."
"Starting from our second year, Hiroshi's been chasing after Sawamura. That was about two years ago, and he's still at it."
"Who knows how it'll turn out? Let's just sit back and watch the drama unfold."
"By the way, do you think Hiroshi's got a shot at winning her over?"
"Honestly, I doubt it. If he had a chance, he wouldn't still be trying after two years with nothing to show for it."
Amid the buzz of gossip, a boy with distinctive long black hair approached a girl with golden twin-tails, holding a pink lunch box in his hands.
"Here, Eriri, this is your lunch for today."
"Hmm... just leave it there."
Eriri better known as Eriri Spencer Sawamura, was busy scribbling on a sheet of paper, lost in her own world. She didn't even glance up at the boy standing before her.
But Hiroshi didn't seem to mind. He gently set the lunch box on the desk and lingered beside her, watching her work with quiet interest.
After more than ten minutes, perhaps feeling the weight of Hiroshi's unwavering stare, Eriri finally set her pen down. She turned her head and fixed him with a look.
"Is there something else?"
"Nope, just wanted to see what you were up to, Eriri."
"There's nothing worth watching. Go back to your own classroom already."
Hiroshi gave her a small smile and a nod, then turned and walked out of the classroom without a word.
The moment he was gone, the hushed whispers in the room exploded into lively chatter.
"I'd heard the rumors, but seeing it in person? Unreal..."
"Hiroshi's way too obedient. That level of simping is on another plane..."
"Let's hope he doesn't actually win her over..."
"Yeah, no way that's happening!"
Eriri glanced at the lunch box Hiroshi had left behind. With a slight hesitation, she reached out and opened it. Inside were tomatoes, ribbonfish, ham sausages; all her favorite foods. There was even a small, delicate chocolate cream cake tucked into one of the compartments for dessert.
"Sawamura, your lunches are always so fancy!"
"Ugh, I'm so jealous! I wish I had a guy like Hiroshi chasing after me!"
"Seriously, though Hiroshi's good-looking, gets top grades, has a great personality, and treats you like royalty, Sawamura. What's the holdup?"
"Why won't you just say yes to him?"
Eriri listened to the barrage of questions from her classmates, but she only shook her head lightly, offering no reply.
If she had to give an answer, it'd be simple: Hiroshi was just too much of a simp. And not even in a meaningful way, it felt like he was doing it for the sake of doing it. He followed her every word, showed up whenever she called, and even when she snapped at him, he'd just smile and tell her not to get mad.
Eriri shook her head again. How could she possibly fall for someone like that?
She stared at the lavish spread in the lunch box, scooped up a small bite with her spoon, and tasted it. It was delicious, perfectly tailored to her preferences, like something a professional chef had whipped up just for her. But for some reason, maybe because she'd gotten so used to it, she only took a couple of bites before setting the spoon down.
Noticing the eager stares from her classmates, she slid the lunch box toward them. "Want some?"
…..
Meanwhile, Hiroshi didn't head straight back to his own classroom after leaving Eriri's. Instead, he made a detour to the school store and picked up three fried noodle breads before returning to his seat.
Once there, he tossed one to his dozing desk mate and another to his seatmate. The bread jolted his desk mate awake. The guy gave Hiroshi a lazy glance before unwrapping his share.
Hiroshi's seatmate, sporting a pair of lifeless fish eyes, watched as Hiroshi munched on his bread with one hand and flipped through a novel with the other. "Back from Class F again?"
Hiroshi nodded. That seatmate was none other than Hikigaya Hachiman, the self-proclaimed master of life's harsh lessons. Class F was, of course, Eriri's class.
"I don't get why you bother going to Class F every day."
"You wouldn't understand. You're all about conserving energy."
Hikigaya Hachiman, a die-hard member of the "do-as-little-as-possible" club, wasn't one to waste effort on anything frivolous. Still, his mind was sharp as a tack; sharper than most. He studied his friend in silence, deciding not to press further. Everything he wanted to say, he'd already said ages ago. Repeating it now would be pointless.
Sometimes, he genuinely couldn't figure Hiroshi out. Was he a nobody like Hachiman, blending into the background? Or was he one of those popular types everyone secretly envied?
The guy had it all: a face that could stop traffic, grades that topped the charts, and skills in every sport imaginable. Yet somehow, Hiroshi had tanked his own hand. Two years of simping in middle school, and just a month into high school, his reputation was already in the gutter.
"It's such a hassle, and yet you've stuck with it for two years, Hiroshi."
"Two years? Feels like it's barely been long enough."
"Can't you pick a different target?"
"Sure. Komachi sounds nice..."
"Get lost!"
Hiroshi always pulled this move. Whenever Hachiman tried to talk sense into him, he'd dodge it with a jab about Hachiman's little sister. Even as a joke, it was a line Hachiman wouldn't let him cross.
Time passed quickly, and soon the school day was over. In Japan, classes wrapped up early, usually no later than 4 p.m. Hiroshi, Hachiman, and their third wheel were all proud members of the "going-home club," meaning they hadn't bothered joining any after-school activities. Normally, while the other two headed home, Hiroshi would stick around campus.
What for? To shamelessly seek out Eriri, of course.
But today was different. For once, Hiroshi broke his routine and left right after the bell. Come to think of it, he seemed to do this once a month or so.
It was spring, and the weather was perfect. Hiroshi strolled down the street alone, sunlight bathing his face, giving him the glow of a classic youthful heartthrob.
Hard to believe a guy like him had earned himself such a lousy rep at school; a simp who just wouldn't quit.
He stopped in front of a villa, pausing for a moment. He patted his cheeks, flashed a quick smile, and stepped forward to knock on the door.
A few seconds later, a beautiful woman with long black hair opened it. Recognizing Hiroshi, she smiled warmly and stepped aside to let him in.
"Long time no see, Sayuri-neesan."
"It's been too long, Hiroshi. Come on in."
With a faint smile, Hiroshi stepped inside.
There, in the villa's cozy living room, he settled onto the sofa, exchanging pleasant smiles with Sayuri Sawamura sitting beside him.