My extroverted girlfriend has zero sense of boundaries — Is It really wrong to take her home right after we meet? - Chapter 1 Part 2

“You’re late! Just how long do you plan on making me wait!?”

It was a typical morning walk to school.

Glancing briefly toward a classmate shouting into their phone—likely waiting for someone—Kyousuke turned his gaze away.

‘Must be rough for people with friends, having to wait for someone just to get to school.’

Muttering to himself in his heart, Kyousuke gave a small fuhn through his nose.

Not that he was jealous or anything. Absolutely not.

From the very start of his high school life this year, Kyousuke had resolved to blend into the background.

During the standard self-introductions, he rattled off the blandest, safest lines like a robot. When invited to join clubs, he dodged them with a rehearsed fake smile and the excuse of having a part-time job. And every spare moment he had, he spent pretending to sleep.

As a result, his classmates didn’t try to force him into their social circles. He had earned the prestigious title of 『that one quiet, reserved guy every class has』.

Being liked could lead to being hated. And being hated might spiral into bullying or harassment. If it meant avoiding unnecessary negativity, then living each day alone—without friends—was the better way to enjoy life.

Being a loner is the best. Repeating that to himself, Kyousuke walked along the path lined with falling petals, glancing up at the sky covered in dull gray clouds.

His attention was suddenly drawn to a girl walking ahead.

Long, glossy black hair down to her waist. Nearly 180 cm tall. With a straight back and a graceful gait that looked like it came straight out of a painting. It didn’t take long for him to recognize her as Sasagawa Ayano, one of his classmates.

“Come on, don’t lie about not having a phone.”

A blond-haired guy was clinging to Ayano’s side as they walked, grinning sleazily as he spoke.

Kyousuke didn’t know who he was but judging by the blond hair, his introvert instincts told him the guy was probably a delinquent. Judging from Ayano’s visibly annoyed demeanor, it was also clear he wasn’t her boyfriend or a friend.

‘Ahh, so this is what they call nampa. First time seeing it in person.’

Watching intently, Kyousuke stared at their backs with curiosity.

A girl with top-tier beauty even within the school, active as a model, and clearly among the highest in the social hierarchy. With looks like that, it was no surprise she got hit on from time to time.

“Come on, what’s the harm? Just give me your contact info.”

“I’m telling you, I really don’t have a phone!”

“But you were just on the phone with someone earlier.”

“Eh. Ahh. That…”

The blonde didn’t back down. Even from behind, Ayano’s flustered state was obvious.

“That! That was just me talking to myself!”

Bufu—Kyousuke let out a small snort. No way, not even close, he thought.

Even the blonde guy flinched for a second, but—

“My little sister, y’know—she really looks up to you, Ayano-chan.”

Given Ayano’s career, Kyousuke knew she had strong support from girls their age but that kind of line felt utterly empty in this context.

What a terrible lie, Kyousuke thought with a quiet laugh. If anyone actually fell for something like that, he’d love to meet them.

“R-Really!? You mean it!?”

“Buhoh!”

Ayano’s voice suddenly shifted tones and Kyousuke burst out laughing.

The blonde guy glanced back over his shoulder. Kyousuke quickly lowered his face and covered with a fake cough—gohon gohon—to play it off.

“Yeah, yeah. I’m serious. I mean, you’re amazing, really. It’s like, total respect, you know?”

“Aah, nfufu. W-Well, I do try my best in my own way?”

Flipping her long hair back with a casual gesture, she let out a smug little fuhn through her nose.

‘Was she… always this much of an airhead…?’

A dry chuckle slipped from Kyousuke’s mouth. He’d always thought of her as someone from a completely different world but maybe she wasn’t quite so far away after all.

“That’s why I want to introduce you to my little sister. Please, Ayano-chan, it’s not anything weird or shady, I swear.”

“Eh? Ehh?”

The blonde student suddenly grabbed Ayano’s wrist.

Startled by the unexpected contact, Ayano stopped walking, visibly flustered.

“I’m serious. Just give me your contact—no weird intentions, I promise.”

His words, spoken with a serious expression and backed by his large physique, carried a certain weight.

Ayano glanced behind her, seeking help from Kyousuke. But Kyousuke turned his eyes away, as if to reject her silent plea.

He did feel bad. He even wanted to help.

But if he had the kind of courage to pick a fight with a delinquent, he wouldn’t be living the introvert life in the first place.

Even as guilt filled his chest, he muttered inwardly, hang in there, and picked up his pace to walk past them.

“──Ah!”

In that moment, his right foot tangled with his left and he lost his balance.

He tried to recover but his body, dulled from lack of exercise, wasn’t up to the task.

“UwaaAAAH!!”

He needed to grab onto something—anything.

Driven by that impulse, the hand he thrust out grabbed hold of the blonde guy’s pants.

A direct hit to the face. The guy’s scream raining down from above. Pain, panic and the realization that he’d seriously messed up all surged at once and Kyousuke collapsed, unable to get back up.

“Y-You bastard! What the hell!?”

The blonde spat the words out and then ran off.

Dadadadadadada—the sound of hurried footsteps faded. Kyousuke slowly pushed himself up.

“Are you okay!?”

Ayano’s voice brought his attention to the nosebleed now streaming from his face. She hurriedly tore open a pack of pocket tissues and pressed a bundle against him.

“Ah, uh… thanks…”

Still looking downward, he accepted it.

Oh no, what do I do… Alongside his rising panic, bright red blood continued to flow.

Even if it was an accident…even if it was that sleazy pick-up guy… he’d forcibly pulled down another person’s pants. That had to count as a public indecency offense. There was no way this would be forgiven.

“Hey, hey…”

Ayano whispered gently beside his ear.

Drawn by her warm breath, he looked up—and there she was, close enough that a gust of wind would cause them to touch.

The scent of fresh pears—likely from her shampoo—tickled his nose and his heart leapt violently.

“Uu… oooh…”

What escaped his throat wasn’t a voice so much as a sound. Because up close, she looked even more beautiful than when admired from afar.

Her deep blue eyes, framed by long lashes, fluttered softly with a blink.

Because he always kept his face down at school, he had never noticed it before but just beneath the outer corner of her eye, she had a small beauty mark.

“His were floral patterned, huh.”

With a mischievous grin, Ayano laughed like a playful troublemaker.

She was probably talking about the guy’s underwear pattern, Kyousuke deduced. He hadn’t seen it himself, but judging from Ayano’s tone, it must have been incredibly lame.

“Thanks.”

A gentle pon landed on Kyousuke’s head as Ayano gave him a light pat, her healthy-colored cheeks tinged with a soft red.

Then she spun on her heel and turned her back to him, saying, 『I’ve got class duty today』.

“See you later, Fujimura.”

Leaving behind just that single line, Ayano dashed off.

Still holding his nose, Kyousuke stared at her back as it grew smaller in the distance.

“…She remembered my name?”

A warmth spread in his chest as he murmured softly.

No—that wasn’t the point.

The simple fact that he had helped her, in whatever way, and that she now acknowledged him—that alone blew away any lingering guilt he felt toward the blond guy. Even if it meant that trouble might find him now at school and shatter his peaceful days.

‘Wh-what do I do…’

Maybe he was just being overly self-conscious, but…

The world of the extroverts was unknown to him. He had no idea what they might do next. All he could do was hope this would end as nothing more than needless worry, while internally clutching his head in dread.