I was still lost in my mind as I was contemplating about those douches. As I was walking at a steadfast pace, my heart skipped a beat if not two as I almost bumped into a certain girl. This certain girl is the girl who completely stole my heart from the depths within. This special girl 'who doesn't know I exist' but she's still special to me makes me lose my mind every time I see her, Ichinose Shizuki.

That's her alright.

Just looking at her made all the bad energy go away I had about those people and I forgot why I was mad in the first place.

I made sure to avoid the bump at the last moment as I was busy staring at her without as much as a blink which made me look like a creep by the way but I'm glad she didn't notice my awestruck gaze.

"Sorry."

But I did not have the time to turn back or more like I couldn't. my heart would burst.

I made sure to quicken my pace as I could tell my face was a deep shade of crimson. Even my ears were getting hot too.

I glanced back only to find out that she was staring at me along with her friends with flabbergasted expressions, I mean, who could blame them. I almost bumped into their friend and made myself look like a chicken.

But still, I was thankful enough I almost bumped into her although I knew if I did, it would be called harassment or sexual abuse. Not that I particularly care or anything. What matters is actually the enjoyment of physical contact, if not only for a mere second. But don't worry, I haven't sunk in that low yet.

As I reached the cafeteria I found that Senki and Mitsuki were already eating their lunch. Now that I think about it, I did tell them I was gonna eat my home made lunch in the classroom. I purchased a very cheap bento at the counter and went to join my friends.

"Fancy meeting you here!" Senki was the first to talk.

" Oh yeah, I thought you were gonna eat your SPECIAL homemade lunch in the classroom." Mitsuki continued.

"I.... forgot it back at home."

When I said that, the two of them broke into a laughter. I pledge to never brag again. I also swear today I'm attracting a lot of attention today too. This is unusual. Or maybe its just me.

Shut up you two! Everyone is wondering what's going on here. Man, I'm tired of these sick gazes being thrown at me today. Or at least that's what I wanted to say to them as I took my seat and began stuffing the bento I bought in my mouth.

'Urgh, so much for buying things at a discount.'

Its still good though.

I thought to myself.

"So…", Mitsuki continued, "Wise your face sho red?" he asked as he stuffed food into his mouth.

"Oh, really, today is just a little hot.", I literally dodged the question. Can't have them finding about the truth.

" Mmmmhhhh!!!!" Mitsuki made that sound with he leaned his face closer.

'Dude! You're scaring the shit outta me right now.'

"Go away. Personal space, man. Personal space."

"Not until you tell us the truth." He answered back.

" I am telling the truth. The heatwaves are probably abnormal."

" So as you too. You are probably acting abnormal. Let me guess, it's a girl."

"...…!", I remained silent as I ate my substandard bento.

"I thought so."

"What girl, don't be hilarious, you both know I was cucked once."

They both laughed again. Every time I mention this to them they always laugh. Maybe its just my willingness to admit it openly but there are quite a few people who know about this.

"Man, you really are unlucky."

"If I were you, I would have committed suicide already." Gorilla said.

"Shut up!"

"And also, I've been rejected twice so I gave up on thing such as love a long time ago."

" You mean about that time you were rejected by Akari which turned into a school scandal ." Mitsuki said.

'Yes! He bought it!'

"Aaaaaaargh! Please don't make me remember about my shameful past."

I said as I clutched my head, remembering the horrors of that day as if it were yesterday. I think that's the day when people viewed me as 'THAT GUY!'.

This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

And THAT GUY refers to 'SKIRT CHASER', 'PERVERT', 'PANTY ASSAULT', 'DEGENERATE IDIOT' and the like.

It's also the same day my reputation plummeted rock-bottom but I don't wanna talk about it.

" I really have to admit, you were pathetic to the point where you skipped school for a whole month. That was funny." He chuckled.

"What exactly did you find funny about that incident, huh! I was fricking traumatized to even appear before people after that."

"Well, I'm just glad you learned your lesson and never catch the bigger fish unless you learn how to handle the smaller one."

" You're completely making fun of me, aren't you?"

"Speaking of making fun of, I'll pay you back gladly for what you did to me this morning."

"EEEKKK!!!" I let out a shriek.

"I don't even want to think about what it feels like to be pounded by a gorilla." I said sarcastically.

'Well, they say out of the frying pan into the fire!'

"WHAT DID YOU SAY!!!" He bellowed to the point that the cafeteria felt like it was empty.

I looked away.

"Fuck school regulations, I'm getting you now!!!!" he said as he clenched his fists, approaching me.

'Help Senki! Help!'

I looked to Senki for help to get out of this mess. But the guy didn't even bat an eye to my doom!

'Oh boy! What am I gonna do now, I'm gonna get killed for real. Thank you Sakurai for my short-lived life. It was fun whilst I was at it. Or maybe not.'

" Its Shizuki, isn't it?", Senki finally intercepted.

" wah, what the---…."I let out a confused sound unintentionally.

'Thank you! My her-!'

'Hey wah!'

"Its Ichinose Shizuki isn't it, the girl you now head over heels for." Senki replied calm as he sipped his orange juice as if he was sipping a cup of coffee whilst directing his stern gaze at me.

How noble.

'Oh wait! I know! Play dumb!'

"W-Whose Shizuki?" I panicked as I tried to play dumb.

'Not that dumb!'

"Don't try to play dumb. Anyone with good eyes can practically see through you! And who doesn't know Ichinose. We even talked about her a lot of times." Senki replied once again.

'Oh.'

"Ho-ho-ho!", Mitsuki chuckled as he showed the most evilest of grins his face could comprehend.

'Sigh! My efforts, where did they go to?'

'Why now of all times? Talk about bad timing. Gotta try to evade where this is going.'

"Fine. It's true that I know Ichinose. But what makes you think I'm head over heels for her?"

"My guy?" Senki answered.

"Its written all over your face. Even a dumbass like me can see that." Mitsuki continued for him.

At least you admit you are a dumbass.

" Lies, you are too dumb to even say that."

It took me a moment to realize I was blushing.

'How did my face get so bright red in a situation like this? Now they know!'

"My face doesn't have anything to do with all of this."

"Wanna bet?", Senki retorted.

'Guess what? I've come to hate geniuses too.'

"Ehh! What are we betting for!"

"If you have a normal conversation with her for ten minutes, I'll give you 1,000 yen. No, I'll make it 10,000." And he showed an expression for the first time today despite just laughing at me seconds ago.

'He's clearly mocking me, isn't he? But me? Chatting with Ichinose? No way that's impossible.'

" Why do I have to bet on something so ridiculous? That's BS. I hate people like her, not to mention talk to them!!!"

"No Senki, you've got it all wrong. Let me take care of this?" Mitsuki said as he came close to me whilst his knuckles made a crunch sound.

Nevertheless, I won't back down on this one…

Ever…

.

"Fine you win!"

"Whoa, so its true you've fallen in love with Shizuki. Since when?", Mitsuki was shocked at this revelation despite his being so confident a while ago.

"That's too much cringe. Don't you ever get tired?"

I nodded shyly.

"SINCE WHEN!!!" Mitsuki was so excited that he couldn't hide his excitement.

'Well, cats' out the bag. Guess there's no use hiding it.'

"Three months ago." I replied whilst scratching my cheek.

"It has already been that long and to think I didn't notice!" Mitsuki said.

"Isn't it around the same time when you came back from school after being rejected by Akari." Senki added.

'You really know how to hit where it hurts the most don't you, Senki?'

"Whoa, man. So its true you do fall in love that easily." Mitsuki said whilst sinking back into his chair.

And later on, he wasn't just the personification of a gorilla. He was now a true gorilla. Have you ever seen a gorilla smiling? Now think about how I feel right now when that smile is directed at me.

"Its not my fault!"

"So how did you even fall in love with her?" Senki asked.

Now that I think about it, how did it happen again?

"I forgot!!" I said flat out.

"This is why despite being in your second year at junior high, you have been rejected twice. Even I've never been rejected before". Mitsuki said.

"That's because you've never tried." Senki interjected again.

"So do you!" he replied back.

"That's because romance doesn't matter. School is the only thing that matters in life. You live once, you die once. And besides knowledge is power. Without knowledge you have no power and without power you are nothing in society. And when you're nothing in society…" Senki, now he's talking his nonsense too!?

" That's because you know no one is interested in you" He replied back.

'Phew! Thank you for not making me the topic of the day.'

" But more importantly, how can you forget?"

'Or not!'

Senki swiftly dodged the bickering with Mitsuki whilst re-pointing all the attention back at me.

"That's none of your business!"

"You never learn, do you?" Senki interjected.

"Learn what?"

"You should stop trying to get yourself involved with too many girls, no matter how many times you get hurt by them, You just don't know when to learn do you?"

"Well, what can I say, I love women."

"That's the whole problem, soon enough, I feel like you're going to do something stupid again which is going to hurt you in the process."

" C'mon, you know I'm human too. I too can learn."

"Someone who took three times the effort tells me that they can learn, what a joke."

"Senki, I think you're going a bit too far". Mitsuki interjected.

"Sakurai listen, I'm just trying to look out for you. Just look at your state right now. Your reputation is ruined, your class image is biggest pervert, people view you as some sort of skirt chaser which I believe as your friend you are not, you are literally one of the biggest idiots in most people's eyes and what is the cause of it all?"

"…"

"…"

"Girls. Yet once again, you go off and get yourself another crush as if it's the most normal thing to do. Its normal if maybe it is someone's first time but in your case being a victim of girls when you're just barely a teenager is not good for your health. Imagine what would happen to you when you turn twenty. I just hope that after DET, you will mature as a person and know how to handle yourself more. Because probably soon enough, you're going to showcase your stupidity and get turned…"

Senki stopped midway, stood up, picked up his tray and added…

"Sorry, I think I may have gotten a bit too far. I think I need some fresh air."

And left.

"…"

"…"

'What's his deal, that was a bit too out of character for him.'

"Sorry dude, are you okay?" Mitsuki asked me whilst still stuffing more food in his mouth.

"I'm all good."

Thinking about all he said, although rude, he was right. But what can I do about it, when nature calls, you answer, and I can't stop liking girls all because I was unfortunate a couple of times, right?

And as time went on, you wouldn't believe what happened to me.