Fragrimake

Walking through the campus as it gradually filled with people, we entered the lecture building.

“Well then.”

“Yeah.”

With that brief exchange, Kasahara and I parted ways.

The lectures we were about to attend differed due to our different majors, and while we shared the same lecture building, our classrooms were separate. As she headed toward her second-floor classroom, I turned my back and continued climbing the stairs.

The classroom for the fluid dynamics lecture I was about to attend was on the fifth floor of this building.

Sure, there was an elevator in the lecture building, but as lecture time approached, it always got crowded, so I rarely used it.

Might as well get some exercise by taking the stairs.

That’s what I always thought, climbing the steps while getting slightly out of breath.

The classroom was still empty.

Well, for college students, skipping classes is pretty normal, so most people show up to the classroom right before the lecture starts.

Naturally, I claimed a seat right in front of the podium.

It’s one of the perks of getting to campus early, isn’t it?

That’s what I was thinking, smirking smugly to myself.

“Doesn’t sitting in the front row make you feel, like, super conspicuous?”

“Gah!”

Startled by the sudden voice, I let out a loud yelp.

Turning to look beside me while reeling back…

“Y-You’re…!”

Standing there was that Takeshita girl I’d met earlier.

Why was she here…?

Instinctively, I went on guard.

I’d made it clear earlier that I didn’t need her thanks. And yet, she followed me all the way to the classroom…

This… I’d have to be suspicious, wouldn’t I?

“…Um.”

“I’m not interested in multi-level marketing, just so you know.”

Huh?

That’s the look she gave me.

…Wait, was I wrong?

A cute girl luring a guy out like this—there’s no other reason for it except something like multi-level marketing, right?

“…Then, a new religion?”

“What are you even talking about?”

Takeshita tilted her head with a troubled expression.

“I just… saw you because we’re in the same major and taking the same lecture, so I thought I’d say hi.”

Same major?

Same lecture…?

“…Huh?”

Hmm…?

Wait a sec…

Now that she mentioned it, I did feel like I’d seen her somewhere before.

Where was it…?

Oh, right—same major, same lecture.

But wait, yesterday she was heading to a different lecture building than the one I was going to…

Oh, that must’ve been for an elective class.

“So, you’re the same year as me?”

“…Yeah.”

“Coming to the classroom this early—doing some prep work? That’s impressive.”

“…Sure.”

“Well then, let’s both do our best.”

“Um…!”

Alone together in the classroom.

Her voice echoed clearly.

…Personally, I thought our conversation was over, but why did she just call out to stop me?

…Well, I could kinda guess.

I remembered how she’d been so persistent about thanking me earlier.

That was… well, you know.

It’s the kind of tactic where someone says they want to thank you, but really, they’re trying to make you feel indebted so they can ask for a favor.

So, what favor did she want from me?

…I couldn’t think of anything.

I mean, I don’t have many friends, I’m kind of a troublemaker, and according to Kasahara, I’m a flag-crusher or something.

Would someone like me have anything to offer that’d benefit her?

Nope, nothing.

…It’s gotta be multi-level marketing, right?

Or maybe a new religion.

Or, like, a shady part-time job?

Whatever it is, it can’t be anything good.

“…Please.”

All of a sudden, Takeshita bowed her head to me.

…That desperate vibe.

Yep, she must be falling short of some quota.

So, in a last-ditch effort, she’s resorting to approaching even a guy like me…

How pitiful.

“Please teach me how to study.”

While I was getting all caught up in sympathizing with her, the request she made was…

“Study…?”

“…Y-Yes.”

“You mean, like, buy some shady study materials?”

“Why do you keep jumping to sketchy business deals?! No! I mean, I want you to help me with university studies!”

University studies…?

Me…?

…

“Why me?”

“Because, Yamamoto-kun, you’re the top student in our major!”

How did she even know that?

I wanted to press her on it, but…

“It’s common knowledge in our major.”

She answered before I could ask.

“Common knowledge in our major?”

“Yes.”

“…What?”

“You’re always the first to arrive at the classroom, you ask professors questions enthusiastically, and they often bring you up as an example to motivate other students. Plus, you always handle it so coolly.”

“No, I’m just staying quiet because it’s awkward…?”

“They even gave you a nickname: the Lone Hardworker.”

“That’s a painfully glorified nickname for something that’s taken on a life of its own.”

Besides, that nickname… the bleached-hair guy who dragged me to a group date never mentioned anything like that.

Well, I guess people wouldn’t normally say something like that to your face.

If they did, it’d probably only be to tease or mock you.

“…And rumor has it, the girls in our major are eyeing you like hawks.”

“They’ve got no taste, then.”

I mean, come on—I’ve got few friends, I’m a troublemaker, Kasahara says I’m a flag-crusher, and now I’m the Lone Hardworker (lol)?

Still, to think that after all the interpersonal drama I had in high school, just keeping my mouth shut in college would earn me a good reputation… Life’s unpredictable, huh?

“N-No, I’m not interested in you, Yamamoto-kun. I prefer guys with, like, more androgynous faces.”

“Can you stop running off with your own assumptions?”

“Anyway, please teach me how to study!”

Facing a girl who showed no signs of slowing down, I let out an audible sigh.

…I decided to think it over for a bit.

About how to turn down her request.

From the start, I had no intention of agreeing to her plea.

I thought it’d be a hassle.

That’s part of it.

But the main reason…

“I’m gonna pass. I’m super busy right now.”

“…”

“I just moved to the city for college and started living on my own. I’m swamped with housework and everything else. I don’t have time to help with someone else’s studies.”

“Then, what if I take care of your housework?”

No, that’s not okay.

I already have someone at home who acts like my mom.

“Besides, there’s gotta be other people you can ask, right?”

“…”

“Yeah, exactly. Why not ask those girls who gave me that fancy nickname? They’re probably way better at socializing than me and much more suited for this.”

“…There aren’t any.”

“Huh?”

“There aren’t any!”

I was momentarily stunned.

“I don’t have any friends!!!”

Takeshita’s desperate cry…

“Oh…”

I got it.

…I see.

You’re…

You’re a Lone Hardworker (lol) too, huh?

“Stop looking at me with that pitying expression!”

Takeshita’s eyes were brimming with tears, and for a while, I was genuinely flustered.

That bleached-hair guy might’ve brushed it off, but Kasahara’s girl friends seem to have their eyes on you…

Unlike high school, I think you’ve got some potential to be popular here.

But that nickname? Probably just a lie to butter up the protagonist.

Depending on the author’s mood, it might suddenly become true, so watch out.