The sun's rays light up my room.
What time is it?
I get up and look at the different posters around my bed.
Whether it's the president, or Anzu, no one comes close to you, Yui. You're the most endearing girl I've ever met.
—Stop fantasising about your posters and come to eat!
You'll never understand my passion, Sis.
—Yeah, yeah, I'm coming.
This sister is adorable, since the beginning of the school year she prepares my bento, my breakfast. And each of her dishes tastes like Sôma Yukihira's.
What a treat!
—You're still wearing that shirt, seriously?
Leave me alone…
I look down and admire my pyjamas.
—What's wrong with my lucky charm?
—You're outrunning me, big brother. Go to school or you'll be late.
Is that so problematic? My Oregairu t-shirt is a staple for any self-respecting otaku.
I put on my uniform and go to the gate of my school.
— Yamazaki-kun!
I turn around in the direction of the voice I heard.
Shimizu? What does she want from me?
—Sorry about last week, our private lesson didn't go well because of me.
Because of you? You didn't…
A flash hits me.
The softness of her hand.
—It's okay, Shimizu-chan.
—Today is the club event! Do you remember that?
What's her telling me?
—Nope.
—We've been with Ota-senpai for two weeks now, so the teachers asked us to stay at our clubs all day long.
What a pain in the ass.
—What are we going to do?
—I don't know, Ôta-senpai is in charge of the activities, I think.
We join our room, and we settle down.
—Our president is late, she sighs.
Why are you trying to convers with me? I'm lazy.
—What's that, Yamazaki-kun?' she asks, pointing at my bag.
I look at my bag and spot my treasure.
—This? This is the sixteenth volume of Domestic na kanojo! Nothing is better than this book! I love this manga so much! The feelings that each character expresses, the plot, the drawing, everything is amazing!
—Ya… Yama…
—The story around Rui Tachibana is excellent, I am completely…
It cuts me.
- Yamazaki-kun! she exclaims, laughing.
I got carried away, what an idiot.
—I didn't know you liked manga so much! I almost never read.
The door slides open.
—Gentlemen, ladies, good morning! Sorry for the delay.
What's with the smile? And what's with the entrance? This isn't a television program.
I sit on the window sill, admire the clouds and try to imagine the different images they reflect.
What does this one look like?
—Today is the club event! I hope you all got my message on LINE!
What message?
—Yes!
— Great Shimizu-chan, how about you, Yamazaki-kun?
—I don't have your LINE…
—Oh, right, sorry.
Isn't she supposed to be first in her class? Maybe it concern nothing to do with that after all.
By the way, why did Shimizu sign up here? She doesn't read books, I don't really understand the point…
—Do you have any books you like, Yamazaki-kun?
—He has a lot of them in his bag!
Don't answer for me, seriously…
—I asked you to bring some so that we could discuss together which books we like best!
Despite your complex words, it's still much more fascinating than the clouds.
I look back at my classmates.
—What … what's with the scary smile Yamazaki-kun?
—You're arousing my curiosity, president. Talking about such a serious subject makes me happy.
I was right to join this club.
—Show him your books, Yamazaki-kun
I open my bag, and take out my manga.
—So the rumours are true, you're a pure otaku, Yamazaki-kun, sighs Shimizu.
I can hear you, huh.
—OreGairu, Domestic na Kanojo, Kimi no Uso, Toradora, Monster Musume, you only devour shōjos, Yamazaki-kun?
Does she know these works?
—That's my favourite, yeah.
—You must have a big heart then!
What's this president saying?
—I like shōjos too! Have you ever read Kishuku Gakkou no Juliet?
I look up at the ceiling and answer.
—Of course you have.
—Juliet Persa's charisma is to die for!
—You're right!
—Even if Kumai Husaki made me sad.
—Do you think so? She reminds me a lot of Yui Yuigahama!
—It's true that they both have a similar story.
I met someone who loves shōjos in this pathetic high school, what a joy.
— Look, Yamazaki-kun! I brought Koe no Katachi too!
This president is great, is her reading this manga too?
—Did you read it all, Yamazaki-kun?
—Yes, I did!
—Remember the scene with Shouko Nishimiya and Shoya Ishida on the bridge?
—Yeah, I do.
—I wonder if she wanted to say I love you, or the moon.
(In Japan, I love you is called 'daisuki', it can be confused with 'Tsuki' which means the moon.)
—I love you, I think.
—You are probably right, Yamazaki-kun.
This ease in my words. Finally, can I hold a conversation with someone other than my sister? Is it possible?
I love this club.
Anzu stands up, crosses her arms and declares.
—I'm here too!
—Have you been reading Shimizu-chan manga? asks our president.
—No, I haven't.
Then sit down and shut up.
—Have you read Kanojo Okarishimasu, Yamazaki-kun?
—Yes, I have!
—I'm a fan of the character Nanami Mami!
What did she just say?
—What the hell are you talking about! Mizuhara Chizuru is a much bigger waifu.
She puts her hands on the table, frowns, stands up, then shouts.
—The waifu? Nonsense, who cares about that!
I imitate her, and retort.
—They are the source of life of the otakus, stupid!
Anzu, discreet, declares.
—That … calm down friends.
We turn to her, and shout.
—Shut up normie!
I can't get along with someone who prefers Nanami Mami, it's inconceivable.
—Sorry, Yamazaki-kun, I didn't mean to upset you, says our president while sitting down again.
You are not a real otaku.
The bell rings.
—Shall we go eat, folks?
How could she read so many shōjos, and write off waifu?
—Yes.
—Are you coming, Yamazaki-kun?
Every otaku knows that a waifu is a 2D fantasy, it's the essence of manga.
She grabs my wrist, moves towards me, then whispers to me.
—If you don't answer, your existence will be identical to Ito Makoto's.
How does she know this character? Shimizu-chan, you're intriguing.
—Yeah, yeah, I'm coming.
We get our bentos and go back to our room.
The dish prepared by Chizu is in my hands, this meal will be delicious.
—Enjoy your meal, guys!
Shut up, the false otaku.
—Yamazaki-kun, you like tomatoes, right?
—Chizu forces me to eat them, because she says it's important.
—Your sister is adorable!
Don't confuse adorable and sticky…
A leaf falls from the bag of our president, Shimizu recovers it and exclaims.
—Qua … forty?
She adds.
—Forty on forty, but you are incredible Ôta-senpai!
—Thank you, thank you! I had studied a lot for this evaluation!
How can she get such a good grade?
—Which subject do you prefer, Ota-senpai?
—History!
History? A useless thing.
—Tell us about it!
She grabs a board, a pencil, and draws us a diagram.
I'm going to have a lesson?
—I love the Edo period! It started in 1603 and ended in 1868. Led by Tokugawa Leyasu, he founded a feudal military dictatorship in which Japan remained at peace for over two hundred years. It is this family that gave birth to the power of the rising sun!
It has so much knowledge? We even saw those lessons again.
—Besides that, some people think that the popular belief of kami comes from this period.
—The belief of kami? asks Shimizu-chan.
Didn't she learn that? We had a mandatory course on these deities five years ago.
—Yes, that's when we believe that the souls of the deceased turn into gods, or spirits called Kami. They reside in heaven, on earth, in waterfalls, rivers, forests. They possess extraordinary powers that made other peoples fear them.
She has knowledge that exceeds that of Jibril, Shiro or even Senku Ishigami.
The bell rang.
—It was great today, thank you, friends!
—Thank you, President!
It's finally over.
I pick up my bag, and notice that Shimizu came out first.
—Yamazaki-kun, take care of yourself next week.
Next week?
—The look on your face means you've forgotten.
—What are you talking about?
—Your school trip is on Monday!
What an ordeal!
She grabs my hands.
Why are you getting so close…
My cheeks are getting flushed.
Was her bun this cute when I met her? And … and this perfume? It smells so good!
—Yamazaki-kun, you'd better not leave me behind on your journey.
You're not Rita Ainsworth and I'm not Ryuunosuke Akasaka, right.
—Yeah, yeah, president.*Yui Yuigahama: Waifu from OreiGaru's love triangle.
*Sôma Yukihira: Great cook and main character of Food Wars.
*Kumai Husaki: Waifu of the work Kishuku Gakkou no Juliet.
*Juliet Persa: Main character of Kishuku Gakkou no Juliet.
*Shouko Nishimiya & Shoya Ishida: Main characters of Koe no Katachi.
*Nanami Mami: Waifu of Rent-a-girlfriend.
*Mizuhara Chizuru: Waifu of Rent-a-girlfriend.
*Ito Makoto: Character from School Days.
*Jibril: Character who knows all the languages and all the knowledge of Inboard. (Alternative world of No Game No Life)
*Shiro: intellectual genius with an almost supernatural intelligence with incredible abilities of scientific calculation and simulation (No Game No Life)
*Senku Ishigami: Science genius from the work Dr. Stone.
*Rita Ainsworth & Ryuunosuke Akasaka : Duo of close characters (Sakurasou no Pet na Kanojo)