April had come, and my first year of high school flew by like a breeze. One blink, and December had passed. Summer was creeping in fast.
When I first started high school, I met a third-year senior named Keiko Yamamoto. She was beautiful, kind, and, to my surprise, a fan of visual novels. Who wouldn't fall for a girl like that? A gorgeous, charming senpai who shares your hobbies? Jackpot!
Ever since then, we talked every lunch break, ate together, and even went to Kadokawa on weekends to buy games.
But today was her graduation day. And I knew… I wouldn't be seeing her again. So, I decided to do what every high schooler dreams of but rarely has the guts to pull off: confess my feelings! After all, who doesn't want a high school romance? And I—Otoko Doku—was not about to live my life full of regrets!
It was lunchtime. The summer heat was unbearable, and the wind didn't even bother to show up. I called Keiko-senpai to our usual lunch spot—the school rooftop—for one last farewell... and my confession.
Clank.
The door opened, and there she was, standing in her graduation gown.
"Jeez, Otoko-kun, was it really that urgent?" she huffed.
"Well, third-years get to go home after their graduation photos, but us first-years still have class, you know!"
"Yeah, yeah, I get it. So, what's up?"
I took a deep breath and looked her in the eyes with unwavering determination.
"Congratulations on graduating, Keiko-senpai! I'm really happy for you!"
"Aw, thanks! Not to brag, but I aced all my exams and got into a top university. Full marks, baby!" she beamed.
Seeing her all bright and confident, I knew—this was my moment! I bowed at a perfect 90-degree angle.
"Huh? W-Wait a sec—"
I cut her off.
"I LIKE YOU! Keiko-senpai, PLEASE GO OUT WITH ME!"
My confession echoed through the empty rooftop. It might not have been the smoothest delivery, but hey, I got it out. And then… I saw her face. The most confused expression I had ever seen.
"Otoko-kun… I'm really happy. Really. But… I'm afraid I have to turn you down."
"…Huh?"
My brain short-circuited. What…? Rejected?
"I do like you. But… as a little brother. Sorry, but that's just how I've always seen you. Still, thank you for everything these past months. Let's keep in touch, okay?"
And just like that, she walked away, leaving me frozen in place. My first ever love confession… and I got Brother-zoned. Damn. That hurt. That hurt bad.
Classes resumed, but the third-years were long gone. From my seat by the window, I watched Keiko-senpai leaving with her friends, fading into the distance like the heroine of a story I wasn't a part of.
And that was the moment I said to hell with writing in the style she taught me. Keiko-senpai had always encouraged me to write properly, to follow literary conventions, but screw that! She was gone, and so was my motivation to care.
By afternoon, my face was a mess of emotions—half dead, half depressed, fully miserable. That's when I heard a voice call out to me.
"Doku-kun, can you help out with some stuff? The teacher's lounge is a mess since all the senior homeroom teachers went out to celebrate. We need a student to lend a hand."
"Uh… Sure…"
"Great! Take these documents to the computer lab on the second floor and just leave them in the corner."
So, dragging my lifeless body along, I made my way to the third-year wing. Every step I took replayed memories of Keiko-senpai in my head. The place where we played visual novels together… Yeah, I still remember.
It was after we first exchanged contacts. She recognized my Himmedori keychain—the heroine from <My Dream Girl Is Not Human, Nor an Animal ~ What Even IS She?> A legendary game. Himmedori was an alien pretending to be human, and when the protagonist discovered her secret, he had to choose whether to protect her or turn her in. The good ending? Marrying her. And Keiko-senpai loved that route. The deep romance, the emotional payoff…
I wished my love story could've been like that.
After finishing my errand, I remembered I'd left my bag in class. Ugh. Just my luck.
Bam!
I opened the classroom door… and there she was. A girl with long, silky black hair and piercing green eyes, smirking like she knew something I didn't.
I quietly walked past her to grab my bag, but then—
"YOU… GOT REJECTED, DIDN'T YOU?!"
"…Huh?"
Oh great. A lunatic.
"Fear not! For I, Kuro Watanabe, understand your pain better than anyone!"
Watanabe…? That name rang a bell, but I couldn't quite place it.
"Uh, Watanabe-san—"
"Watanabe-sama."
"…Right. Watanabe-sama, I appreciate the sentiment, but why the hell are you—"
"DOING A HANDSTAND ON MY DESK?!"
Yeah. She was literally upside down. I mean, come on, I am a guy. Normally, I'd be thrilled about the chance to see something interesting. But nope. She was in her gym uniform. No chance.
"HAHA! Worry not, my unfortunate friend. This is just a habit of mine!"
She flipped off the desk and landed in front of me. Damn. She was tall. My male pride took a hit.
So now I was standing face-to-face with a chuunibyou weirdo who was staring at me like I was some ancient prophecy waiting to be fulfilled.
Then, her eyes sparkled with sudden realization.
"You… You're perfect! I approve! Come to the Paranormal Club room at lunch tomorrow. I have something to discuss with you! Muahaha!"
With that, she dramatically exited, slamming the door behind her. I stood there, utterly baffled. But weirdly enough… I wasn't thinking about Keiko-senpai anymore.
*
I went home, exhausted. My bus ride took forever, and by the time I got back, it was already past 7:30. Tossing my bag onto the couch, I sighed—
"Oi! You took your sweet time!"
CRACK! My spine nearly snapped as my bastard older brother, Yoshida Doku, jumped on me.
"OW! What the hell, Yoshida?!"
"Mi-chan said you stole her toy!"
Our little sister, Midori Doku, was a tiny demon wrapped in a cute package.
"What? No! That was your Gundam model's helmet! I was just putting it back!"
"Oh. My bad."
Despite being an annoying ass, Yoshida wasn't a bad guy. Ever since our parents passed, he'd worked his ass off to support us. And thanks to him, all three of us were huge visual novel nerds.
*
The next day at lunch, I found myself standing outside the Paranormal Club room. It had been disbanded last semester, so why was I even here? What the hell was I doing?
I turned to leave, but—
SLAM!
A hand yanked me into the dark room.
"HELP! I'M BEING KIDNAPPED!"
Light flickered on. A banner read: WELCOME TO THE ANTI-ROMCOM CLUB!
A party hat was on my head. A party horn was in my mouth.
And in front of me, munching on cake, Watanabe Kuro smirked.
"Ah! You're awake! Welcome, new member!"
…WHAT THE HELL WAS HAPPENING?!
--- End of Prologue