The so-called self-study period saw hardly anyone actually studying—except for a rare few.

Most chatted quietly, seizing the chance to make new friends and build fresh connections.

Watching the scene, I yawned out of boredom, feeling drowsy.

"Hey~ bro!" Kosei Nishi turned around.

"Huh? What do you want?"

Slumped over my desk, I lacked energy.

"That girl earlier was pretty hot! You got a thing for her or something?" He elbowed me.

"Give me a break! You know I’ve never been popular with girls. Mocking me now?"

I snapped grumpily, rolling my dead-fish eyes. No way would I spill my game plan to him.

"Unpopular? You’re outright hated by every single girl!"

"Shut it!" I hissed under my breath. His words were as venomous as ever...

"Do I need you to tell me that?! Say something nice for once?!"

I turned my head away, gazing out the window, too lazy to argue. I glanced slightly at Umaru behind me—she held her new textbook firmly in front of her face, studying intently.

What a flawless high school girl... Though she was probably just avoiding distractions, not wanting to notice this guy she despised...

I kept staring out the window. Spring sunlight bathed me, warm and cozy, draining all my motivation.

"Yaaawn~~~"

I yawned deeply again.

When the bell rang, I stood up groggily and headed out of class.

But what happened next snapped me wide awake.

Chalk pieces flew from nowhere, shooting straight at me.

A shiver ran through me. My divine skill—100% dodge rate for incoming objects—kicked in on pure reflex.

I arched my back, hands balancing my body, dodging the incoming... chalk.

After dodging cleanly, I straightened up, smoothed my clothes, brushed my pants, and left.

Behind me, boys stared hotly at the chalk on the floor.

"...So cool!..."

"Seriously amazing!"

"What are you saying?! That gross guy—what’s cool about him?!" a girl shot back.

"These boys have zero taste. Can’t even sense how disgusting he is. They’re all cut from the same cloth."

"Who’s cut from the same cloth?! Say that again, girls?!"

"Yeah! So what? If you’re tough, go teach him a lesson!"

"Exactly! Arguing with girls like this—so unmanly! Shame on you, boys!"

The girls’ words choked the boys. They glanced awkwardly at the class’s pretty girls, then blustered defiantly.

"Fine, we’ll go!! It’s just some gross guy! I think he’s normal!"

Outside the door, I pushed up my glasses. I’d heard every word inside.

"Oh dear... Things are heading exactly where I dreaded. Even boys stirred up by girls who hate me... Such a headache."

Muttering, I hurried away.

Meanwhile, boys who couldn’t save face started leaving class to find me—to beat me up and win girls’ favor.

Nagisa Shiotani, sitting by the front window with his flowing blue hair, watched the chaotic class. He glanced questioningly at the empty back seat, then silently stood and followed the boys out.

"Huh? Chasing me already?"

Hearing footsteps behind me, I grasped their intent instantly.

These easily stirred boys were so stupid! Did they really think beating me up would win girls’ favor?

After countless failed strategies to win girls over, I knew this would only make me their tool—utterly ignored.

Winning girls over isn’t as simple as doing their dirty work.

Right now, I deeply worried about these kids’ IQs. Brains are great—but not everyone has one.

"He’s here! Quick!"

"...Heh heh..."

I ducked into the hallway restroom, locked myself in a stall, and sat on the toilet.

Chaotic footsteps echoed inside.

"He’s hiding here!"

"Door’s locked! What now?!"

A tall boy grabbed a cleaning bucket, filled it at the sink, then hurled the water fiercely into my stall.

Splash—

Water gushed out from under the door. Satisfied, the boys left—sure I’d be drenched like a drowned rat.

After they left, Nagisa remained. He stared worriedly at the dripping stall, then knocked gently.

"...Um... Kandou-kun... They’re gone... Are you okay...?"

Click—

The stall door swung open. I stood there, casually holding a black umbrella, smiling at the blue-haired boy whose gender was hard to place.

"Huh?" Nagisa’s worry instantly turned to utter bewilderment.

"You’re Nagisa Shiotani, right? Friends?"

"Eh?!... Me?"

——————

Walking back to class side by side, Nagisa spoke softly.

"...Um... Kandou-kun, why do girls hate you? They don’t even know you..."

"Just call me Chiyo," I said casually, eyeing his long blue hair. "As for the hate... Hard to explain. It’s innate—like an anime character’s trait. Get it?"

"...I see..."

"Good thing you’re not a girl..." I muttered under my breath.

"Chiyo-kun, what?"

"Nothing. If you were a girl, you’d hate me too."

"Really?..." Nagisa’s face softened with sympathy. "If so... you must be so pitiful, Chiyo-kun!"

"Eh, I’m used to it." I shrugged nonchalantly. We pushed open the classroom door together.

Everyone stared as I walked in—bone-dry and unharmed. The boys looked like they’d seen a ghost.

The girls’ gazes toward them turned icy.

Those lying boys—boasting they’d taught me a lesson when they did nothing!

The girls’ favor for all class boys plummeted sharply.

—Ah, youth is truly wonderful!!...

Watching the class split into factions, I couldn’t help but mutter sarcastically.