After arriving at StoreBucks, Senko found a table for us to share, where we both placed our bags under the tables.

We decided, I will be the one to order while Senko watched over our belongings

“So what do I buy for you?”

“Let's see… I want the turkey, provolone & pesto on Ciabatta, if it's not available buy me the tomato & mozzarella on Focaccia”

“Uh huh, what else?” I wrote his lunch order on a sticky note.

“For drinks, go buy me the Strawberry Crème Cappuccino, or the Matcha Crème Cappuccino.”

“Alright, I'll be back in a moment.”

After I finished writing down his order I headed to the counter and waited for a moment to buy our snacks, I bought Senko the Matcha Crème and the turkey, provolone & pesto on Ciabatta.

Meanwhile I ordered the Cheese & Fruit Protein Box, The crispy grilled cheese on sourdough and for a drink I just bought the Cinnamon Caramel Cream Cold Brew.

It took me about 10 minutes to finish buying our order and bringing them back to our spot.

Senko and I started doing our homework alongside enjoying the lunch we ordered. At least until:

“Yuuki, I have a question to ask you.”

“If you're gonna ask me when I'll ask Kana out for the culture festival, it's a no so give it up.”

“That wasn't the question.”

“Then what is it?”

“Why did you design your Kyoryu online Avatar to Look exactly like how you are in real life?”

“That's a good question, I did it because I didn't wanna play someone that wasn't me or at least didn't have a resemblance to me in any way.”

“That's understandable I guess.”

“Kana's Avatar Looks a bit similar to how Haruka does in real life with the brunette hair, but she kept it short, and kept the lavender eyes You're father had, while you kept your avatar similar to your real life self too but you made your hair brighter shade of orange and the lavender eyes are more saturated.”

“You pay attention to that many details huh?”

“Of course I do, lastly Haruka's avatar is completely different from her real self, She lengthened her hair, made the eyes a beautiful shade of purple, she made herself a bit taller and lastly-” I tried to explain until I got interrupted

“She made her Avatar's breasts larger.” Senko butted in.

“That wasn't my point.”

“It's exactly your point Yuuki.”

“It wasn't.”

“Whatever you say Mr I have a crush on the popular girl out of my league.”

This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

I was gonna say she made her ears similar to that of an elves… hold on did he just say “Have a crush out of my league?”

“Eh?”

“You thought I hadn't noticed huh?” Senko rested his elbow on the table and His chin on his palm.

“How did you-”

“You kept glancing at photos you guys shared together in the cafeteria earlier.”

Was I really that obvious?

“Don't you dare tell anyone!” I whispered hurriedly.

“Relax, It's not like Haruka is the type to notice.”

“Nah, she's definitely the observant type.”

“Well it's not like we're even in the same grade as her anyway.”

“Apart from earlier, how else did you find out?” I started interrogating Senko.

“You subtly wrote “Haruka + Yuuki inside a heart” in your notebook last week.”

“Don't you tell her about this okay?”

“Relax there, it's none of my business anyway.”

I wonder if he actually means what he said.

“Well you did say she's out of my league, so getting together with her is out of the question to begin with.”

“I wouldn't be so sure about that.” Senko proudly whispered.

“And why is that the case?”

“You know how she's part of the friend group that included some of the most popular girls on campus?”

“So you mean, Ichika, Kotoha, Mizuki, Nagisa, Mako, Ayaka, and Miku right?” I questioned.

“It's exactly them!”

“Yes? What about them?”

“Well while I was walking past them a couple of days ago, I heard one of them mentioned they found their “Kohai: Yuuki-Kun” pretty cute.” Senko mentioned while he copied my homework.

“You're kidding right?”

“Do you lack self confidence that much?”

“I mean… kinda, I never really had a girlfriend before, I only had a crush here and there and that's it.”

“What a hopeless romantic.”

“Senko, we both know you're not one to talk about self confidence when you struggled deciding To ask Chika-Chan out on a date last year.”

“Don't you start with me.”

“Sigh… Whatever.”

“Still though, You gotta believe me that you're more popular than you think you are.”

Senko crossed his arms at me.

“I'll keep it in mind, thank you.”

“I'm more popular than I thought” I only hope that was true. If I get popular enough would that make Haruka see me as an equal and not as just a Kohai?

Senko and I continued working on our homework while enjoying the lunch we got and after some time passed we left the StoreBucks

“Senko, did our club plan anything for the culture festival?

Usually our clubs held a BBQ or mahjong tournament, but lately our senpais discussed trying out other new activities, so it was a fresh idea for me.

“I overheard Ayaka-Chan discussing a stage play with Kazuya-Senpai.”

“I didn't know about that, when did you hear that?”

“Shortly before we met up outside of class.”

“No wonder.”

Our club included Myself, Haruka, Senko, the aforementioned Kazuya and Ayaka, and several other students from our Grade and Haruka's grade.

Unfortunately Kana wasn't part of our Club since she joined the volleyball club, the basketball club, kendo club, boxing club, and Karate club. I respect her diligence.

“Anyway, is it confirmed they want to do a stage play or?” I interrogated

“As far as I heard there will be a meeting after class regarding the plans for the culture festival so we might hear about it tomorrow.”

I remained silent.

This stage play might be a blessing disguised as a curse or is it the other way around? Because I don't really mind doing stage plays, I'm quite fond of them since my older sister Akane and I did a lot of them back in middle school.

“Hey Yuuki.”

I don't mind doing main lead roles as long as the people who are also in the main leads are people I'm close to or comfortable with, and the only people I'm really close to on the club is Senko since I'm really not sure if Haruka would consider us close. We're definitely friends and close but it always felt distant.

“Yuuki can you hear me?”

So if they ever announced a romantic stage play, and if I randomly got chosen as main lead then the only person I preferred to play the main lead was Haruka. Not only because she would be the only one I'm comfortable with but it might be a way for us to actually get closer together.

“Yuuki?”

But knowing how clubs work they would probably choose someone they consider her equal or at least higher than her in status. A man could dream right…?”

“YUUKI!” Senko grabbed my shoulders and started shaking me.

“GRAAAGH! WHAT!?”

“We walked past your house, already.” Senko laughed.

“Oh, right… I'm sorry.”

“It's cool, just don't forget to log on to Kyoryu online later alright.”

“I won't forget that.”

“Well take care then.” Senko gave me a pat on the back.

While I was entering my house, my phone rang and it was a message from Senko saying:

“Don't forget that you're more popular than you think you are.”

“What a dummy.” I joked to myself.

I entered my home where I spotted Akane who was studying in the living room.

“I'm back.”

“Welcome back, Aunty said our food is in the fridge, heat them up in the air fryer or microwave if I wanted.” Akane answered

“Thanks.” I sat across from her and placed my bag under my chair.

“How was school today?”

“You gotta hear this.”

I told her what happened with Senko all day and how he found out about my thing for Haruka.

“Well Little brother, the best thing for you to do is just ask out Haruka-chan.”

“Does that even work?”

“Of course it does!” Akane nodded to herself.

“I'll keep that in mind.”

“Also better make it quick, we both know how popular she is among the boys in your school.”

“Right…”

Akane was completely right about that, Haruka usually did become the center of attention whenever she walked past boys.

A lot of the guys in both the freshmen and sophomores did have interest in Haruka, it was like men simply became allured by her.

“Need help Yuuki?”

“I can manage, and besides Senko and I are playing Kyoryu online later, so I'll probably have him help me.”

“Have some faith in Your Onee-chan.”

“I do have faith in you, I just don't like relying on your help

all the time, kinda feeling guilty about it.”

“Aww don't be like that!”

Akane sat on my lap and gave me several headpats like I was supposed to be a puppy.

“Are you teasing me?”

“Only a bit.”

How funny.