I Won't Be a Loser

On Monday, Setsuna didn't take the day off.

Even though she still looked a little unwell in the morning, she insisted on going to school. When she met Sekai, the subtle change in her demeanor—her smile, the way she carried herself—was enough for Sekai to realize what had happened.

Complex emotions stirred within her, but she didn't dwell on them too much. She had already prepared herself for this possibility yesterday, so seeing it confirmed today only made her sigh at her own misfortune.

After greeting Setsuna, she asked with concern,

"Are you sure you're okay? Maybe you should stay home and rest today. It's just the start of the school year, and there aren't any important classes yet."

"I'm fine. It won't be a problem. I can go to school."

Setsuna responded to Sekai's concern with a soft smile. That smile—subtle yet undeniable—felt like the transition from a girl to a woman, making Sekai's emotions even more conflicted. With a quiet sigh, she chose to let Setsuna be.

She glanced toward Haruto's apartment before turning her gaze back to Setsuna.

"What about Miyamizu-kun? Hasn't he woken up yet?"

"He's already up. Probably just freshening up at home. He'll be heading to school soon, I suppose. Come on, we should get going."

Sekai watched as Setsuna walked ahead, her steps slightly unnatural, as if she was still adjusting. Sekai hesitated, wanting to say something but ultimately staying silent. With no other choice, she followed the girl toward school.

Haruto had woken up early but remained seated on his bed in silence. The sheets and covers had already been replaced with his own. As for Setsuna's bedding, she had taken it home with her, cradling it in her arms as if planning to store it as a keepsake in her room.

Haruto didn't fully understand Setsuna's attachment to such things. After a moment, he lifted the covers and got out of bed. Still dressed in his sleepwear, he made his way to the bathroom.

After about thirty minutes of getting ready, he changed into his Toyosaki school uniform, grabbed his bag, and left the apartment.

Seeing that time was running a bit tight, he stopped by a convenience store, picked up a rice ball and a bottle of water for breakfast, and then continued on his way to school.

"The final boss can't be beaten using Yuji's method. I told you already, we need to finish the side quests first."

"But if we clear the main quest first, won't that be fine? We're almost there anyway. Let's try again today—we'll definitely get through it."

"I keep telling you… Why does Yuji never listen to anyone's advice?!"

"Shut up! Akihisa, you're always nagging like an old lady!"

"Yuji!"

The moment Haruto stepped into the classroom, he was greeted by the familiar bickering of Yoshii Akihisa and Sakamoto Yuji. Despite their constant squabbling, they were actually good friends, always finding something to argue about.

"Morning, Akihisa. Morning, Yuji," Haruto greeted as he walked to his seat.

The two boys paused their argument and turned toward him.

"Morning, Haruto!"

"Morning."

As soon as Haruto sat down, Akihisa wasted no time bringing up the source of their latest disagreement—yesterday's co-op gaming session.

"Yuji was being way too reckless. If only you had been there, Haruto. Oh, right, were you home alone yesterday?"

"No, I was with my girlfriend."

"Oh, I see, so you were with your girlfrie—wait, what? G-girlfriend?!"

Akihisa nodded absentmindedly, going along with Haruto's words, but halfway through, his brain caught up with what had just been said. His entire body tensed up as if struck by lightning. Eyes wide, he turned toward Haruto, who was casually tidying up his desk. Yuji, catching on, exchanged a glance with Akihisa.

The two moved in unison, surrounding Haruto's desk like seasoned interrogators. Akihisa leaned forward, resting one hand on the desk, while Yuji placed a firm hand on Haruto's shoulder, effectively blocking any chance of escape. Their seemingly casual postures masked an undeniable air of intimidation.

"Heh~ So, Haruto already has a girlfriend, huh? What a surprise~"

Haruto looked up at the two boys looming over him. Akihisa wore a forced grin, while Yuji's smirk had a slightly sinister edge.

After a brief silence, Haruto sighed.

"No, I meant a female friend. You're misunderstanding."

"Oh? A female friend~" Yuji's smirk widened. "That's interesting. I remember you saying you lived in Itomori before moving to Tokyo, right? So, in just a few days, you've already made a fe-male friend?"

Yuji leaned in closer, his expression dark with exaggerated menace.

Haruto's gaze wavered. Seeing Akihisa's strained smile and Yuji's predatory look, he couldn't help but marvel at how terrifying teenage boys could be when driven by jealousy.

Just as he was trying to come up with a way to defuse the situation, another voice chimed in.

"Yo, morning, Haruto! Akihisa, Yuji, what's up? You guys seem to be having an interesting conversation."

Nakano Ichika had casually joined the group, her presence slightly dampening the flames of interrogation. However, upon hearing how she addressed them, Akihisa and Yuji both shot a glance at Haruto before flashing matching mischievous smiles.

"Oh, it's nothing," Yuji replied, his grin widening. "We were just asking our dear friend Haruto about his day yesterday. Apparently, he spent the entire time with his adorable female neighbor~"

Yuji deliberately raised his voice, making sure the entire class could hear.

"…"

Haruto's expression darkened. He glanced at Yuji's face, brimming with malicious glee, and felt an overwhelming sense of betrayal.

'This bastard…'

As Yuji's words echoed through the classroom, the atmosphere shifted. A heavy silence fell as every student turned to stare at Haruto.

Just as he was processing the weight of their gazes, Eriri—who had just arrived and taken her seat—froze in place. Her body stiffened as if she had just been struck by lightning.

Meanwhile, Akihisa, still nodding along, wasn't actually concerned about whether or not Haruto was dating his neighbor. He and Yuji only had one goal—to completely crush any chance Haruto might have with the girls in their class.

Locking eyes for a brief moment, Akihisa and Yuji grinned like devils.

"Eh? A female neighbor? What kind of girl is she?"

However, contrary to expectations, Ichika showed no reaction to the news. Instead, she looked intrigued, leaning in with genuine curiosity.

"…"

Akihisa and Yuji faltered, momentarily stunned. They turned back to Haruto.

"She's a really cute girl. Small, about 140 cm tall, shoulder-length hair… She usually ties it up with a red ribbon."

As Haruto absentmindedly described Setsuna, Eriri, sitting at her desk, clenched her hands tightly. Her knuckles turned white, and her lips pressed together in a firm line. She struggled to resist the urge to glare at Haruto.

For now, she simply lowered her head, keeping her complicated emotions to herself.