I, Aki Tomoya, will not be a simp.

Alone and alone, Yoshihiko Uego lay slumped on the table, looking ashen-faced, as if he had lost his soul.

Not only were his comrades gone, but his game console was also confiscated. Yoshihiko Uego was heartbroken and was starting to give up on himself.

He couldn't help but shift his gaze to Aki Tomoya's side, but that seat was empty.

From the start of his first year at this private high school, Yoshihiko Uago and Tomoya Aki became classmates and friends because they both loved otaku culture.

That Aki Tomoya is an otaku who never cares about other people's opinions. You can tell from the fact that he was able to put anime at the school festival last year. Not only that, but the school library still has the light novels that he put there last year.

Yoshihiko Uego was well aware of Tomoya Aki's extraordinary passion for anime and manga.

But this same person turned around and focused on preparing for the exam the following year, making the ruthless decision to quit being a homebody.

After a spring break, Aki Tomoya has transformed into one of those "normies" that Uago Yoshihiko used to dislike. This contrast almost made Uago Yoshihiko, who was once his comrade-in-arms, think that the world was about to end.

"That guy went to the library again, huh? He's such a strange person..."

Uesugi Yoshihiko slumped listlessly on his desk, wondering if he should try to integrate into the other otaku circles at school. He felt like he'd been abandoned.

"I'm really sorry I'm a strange person."

Just as Yoshihiko Uego was complaining in his heart, a calm voice came from beside him.

The familiar voice made Yoshihiko Uego's body stiffen.

not good!

He turned his head awkwardly and found that Aki Tomoya was standing next to him at some point.

"Your game console was confiscated, right? When you came back from the office, did the teacher say when it would be returned to you?"

Aki Tomo didn't pay attention to Uesugi Yoshihiko's awkward expression, but instead asked about the incident of his game console being confiscated.

The incident happened in the morning. This guy was unlucky; he was caught playing video games in a corner and was caught red-handed. As a result, the evidence was confiscated.

After returning from the teacher's office at noon, Yoshihiko Uego looked like he had given up on himself.

When asked about this, Yoshihiko Uego scratched his cheek, somewhat avoiding eye contact with Tomoya Aki.

Are you trying to mock him by asking him about this now?

I'm already miserable enough, and now I have to be mocked by my former comrades?!

This guy, who's already on his way to becoming a "real-life person," will definitely laugh at him!

"Xi Yan, are you listening?"

Aki Tomoya frowned and asked again.

His frown seemed to startle Yoshihiko Uago, who had been lying on the table, and he suddenly jumped up.

"I'm here!"

He suddenly shouted loudly, drawing all eyes to him in the classroom, making Yoshihiko Uego feel even more embarrassed.

Will the teacher return your game console?

Ignoring the stares of others, Aki Tomoya asked again.

"Well..." Uego Yoshihiko looked at Aki Tomoya with a hesitant expression, a wry smile gradually appearing on his face, "Probably at the end of the semester..."

After he finished speaking, Yoshihiko Uego's head drooped down.

By this point, he had resigned himself to the fact that if people wanted to laugh at him, they should laugh at him all they wanted, since nothing could be worse than this.

"Really? If you don't mind, you can have my game console. I don't need it anymore anyway."

However, Aki Tomoya's attitude was completely different from what Kamigo Yoshihiko had imagined.

"Yes, yes, I knew it! Wait, what?!"

It took Yoshihiko Uego several seconds to realize what Tomoya Aki had said, and then he looked up in astonishment at his former comrade-in-arms.

If I heard correctly, it seemed like the other person was saying they wanted to give me their game console...

Yoshihiko Uego: "Huh?"

Aki Tomoya: "Huh?"

The atmosphere was slightly awkward. Not only did Yoshihiko Uesugi have a question mark on his face, but Tomoya Aki was also somewhat puzzled.

Did he say something strange?

He's just generously giving away his friend's game console, which he no longer needs, after seeing it confiscated and unable to get back anytime soon.

Is that strange?

Aki Tomoya once believed that the human touch in Japanese society had fallen to an appalling level.

"Wait, Aki-kun, no, Tomoya, why?!"

Yoshihiko Uego was so excited that he was almost incoherent. He looked at Tomoya Aki in astonishment, not understanding why the other was doing this.

Didn't this guy already abandon his comrade?!

"Why?" Aki Tomoya looked at Uego Yoshihiko with a strange expression. "If you really have to give a reason, does it count as it not being sold yet?"

I still haven't sold all the otaku culture-related items I bought in the past, including a game console. Now that Yoshihiko Kamigo's game console has been confiscated, and he looks so pitiful, what's wrong with giving it to him?

Anyway, Aki Tomo didn't understand why this action could excite Uego Yoshihiko so much.

"Wait, Tomoya, haven't you already stopped being an otaku?!"

That's not what Yoshihiko Uego was talking about; he was saying that they were no longer comrades-in-arms!

His words made Aki Tomoya smile: "What does this have to do with me leaving my otaku lifestyle? Aren't we friends?"

It's a really strange reaction, but Aki Tomoya probably understands why Uago Yoshihiko has become increasingly self-destructive lately. In this prejudiced environment, Uago Yoshihiko, who is all alone and hasn't found his organization, is probably very lonely.

"We're still friends?!"

Uego Yoshihiko seemed to have heard some astonishing truth.

He jumped to his feet, almost reaching out to press Aki Tomoya's shoulder and ask again.

"Yoshihiko, I'm preparing for exams right now, aren't I?"

Aki Tomoya replied listlessly.

Being a homebody and being friends are two completely different things.

This simple reason made Yoshihiko Uego instantly understand something, and he lowered his head in shame.

"Feel sorry……"

Yoshihiko Uego suddenly understood why he had grown increasingly distant from his former comrade-in-arms, Tomoya Aki.

The other person also has goals to strive for, while he is still going around in circles.

During this period after the start of the school term, Aki Tomoya was indeed a bit unapproachable, but this was not something he deliberately showed; rather, he was genuinely very busy.

Even when facing his comrade-in-arms Yoshihiko Uego, Tomoya Aki had no free time.

In Aki Tomoya's heart, Uesugi Yoshihiko is still his friend, but conversely, from his perspective, as Uesugi's friend, he doesn't have many obligations to fulfill as a friend.

Isn't it strange that you're apologizing to me?

Aki Tomoya chuckled to himself, realizing that the other party had absolutely no reason or need to apologize to him.

Moreover, as a comrade-in-arms, he was the first to return to reality.

Uesugi Yoshihiko shook his head. He just felt that it was a bit late to understand Aki Tomoya now. Before, he thought he had really been betrayed, but it turned out he was wrong.

As a comrade-in-arms, Aki Tomoya suddenly stepped into a very far place, leaving him no time to react.

but……

So they can still be friends!

"...Are you really going to apply to a place like the University of Tokyo?"

Yoshihiko Uego scratched his head, still looking a little embarrassed.

"Can't you?"

Aki Tomoya countered with a question.

No matter who asks, Aki Tomoya will not waver in this decision.

"No, if you fail the exam, I will definitely kick you when you're down. You'd better be careful. You haven't seen how vicious Lord Uesugi Yoshihiko is yet!"

Yoshihiko Uego raised his fist and placed it in front of Tomoya Aki.

The latter couldn't help but chuckle, raising his fist to lightly bump it with his; the friendship between men is stronger than gold.

"Don't come looking for me again after this, unless you beg me. Maybe then I'll take pity on you and take you to the world of anime for refuge! Do you understand, you traitor!"

"Then we don't need the game console anymore."

"Hey, wait a minute, Tomoya-kun, can we discuss this matter again properly?!"

……