What a twist! The loser heroine!

My mom is urging me to make friends again, it's a bit annoying.

In this kind of weather, students are mostly indoors, where crowds are dense. They should be more careful in their daily activities and avoid conflicts with others.

Banami and Himegami have become friends, which makes one marvel at how quickly the young people make friends.

The student council posted the weekend's group activity plan on the bulletin board in the corridor. I leaned against the wall across the crowd and read the words on the bulletin board from a distance.

Since I started practicing self-protection in junior high school, I have been unwilling to participate in any group activities unless the school forces me to.

But when I saw the small print on the notice that read, "This event is jointly organized by the Student Union and the Arts and Literature Club, and all members of the Arts and Literature Club are required to participate," I suddenly had an inexplicable impulse.

Perhaps it was because I found a kindred spirit in Wen Shui that I developed unrealistic expectations.

Since he can communicate with so many people, wouldn't it be possible to imitate his approach?

I want to try observing more people.

During my lunch break, I went to the student union office and was surprised to find that I needed to have an interview.

The senior student in charge of the interview sometimes quietly observes Wen Shui, but today she did wear her uniform properly, probably because the girl next to her who looks very proper helped her.

When my name was called, they mistook me for the senior student at the back of the line, but fortunately I still passed the interview.

At the mobilization meeting in the afternoon, perhaps because I was so easily forgotten, I was assigned to the logistics group. My job will probably be miscellaneous tasks, haha, I hope someone will remember me.

I never expected that the girl from Class A was actually a writer, that's amazing... Although she was a bit timid, she ran away not long after going on stage.

Hmm, if it were me, I'd probably run away too, haha.

Observing the classmates and seniors around me, I did not find any people who were short-tempered or strange.

Why don't you try to get to know them?

Once the idea took hold, it was unstoppable. But in the end, my fear overcame my impulse.

On Saturday morning, I took the tram to school.

My mother was very happy when I went to an event over the weekend, thinking that I had finally made friends. She wished it were that easy.

When we were forming groups, I was observing the other people, so I didn't pay attention to who the members of the logistics group were. This small oversight made me feel a little uneasy.

"Ah, good morning, I'm Anna Yanami from Class C, and I'm also a member of the logistics team."

"Good morning, I'm Nonomura from Class C."

"Huh?! Nonomura-kun is a transfer student?? When??"

No, that's not true.

It's understandable that Hanami-kun would be surprised, since I'm just a "passerby." However, I was relieved to find out that Hanami-kun was also in the support team.

The potato chips that my classmate Hanami shared with me were really delicious.

While we were helping the props team make the star props, the student council president arrived with another member of the logistics team.

It was Wen Shui; it was quite a coincidence that three classmates were assigned to the same group.

I don't know why I felt a little nervous, maybe because I was worried that he had noticed my observation of him these past few days.

Since my classmate had forgotten my surname, I had to speak up myself.

"My name is Nonomura."

"Oh, I'm Kazuhiko Nukumizu, your classmate—"

Seeing his bewildered expression, I almost laughed; he hadn't even noticed me.

I handed a few sheets of cardstock and patterns to Wen Shui. Without any further communication, he took them and started making them on his own.

He really is one of us.

The weather has cleared up, and I'm in a good mood.

In the afternoon, due to new requirements, the logistics team had to go to the store to purchase new materials.

The student council senior, Shikiya, is very capable. She divided the items into three lists and asked us to buy them according to the list. The task was very simple, since I'm the one who usually buys things for my home.

Banami seemed a little down, but I wasn't her friend, so I had no reason to comfort her.

Seeing the downcast look in Banami's eyes, I felt a little troubled, but I was quite familiar with Nukumi...

So I quickly explained the situation and left the space to the two of them.

Unfortunately, I was hoping to have a chat with Wen Shui. If we were like-minded, he probably wouldn't reject me.

Most of the materials assigned to me were in the household goods section. I was very familiar with this supermarket, so I finished purchasing them in a very short time.

Wenshui and Banami arrived at the food section, which was not far away. Banami was in a much better mood than when they first arrived, so it seemed that giving them space was the right choice.

However, to ensure that the preparations could be completed smoothly, I still sent a message to Wen Shui.

So it turns out that Wen Shui can also make that kind of death-defying expression. How interesting.

◇

The book signing event on Sunday arrived as scheduled. I declined my mother's request to go with me and rode my bicycle to Toyohashi Park instead.

My mother's gaze as she left bothered me. Could she be planning to come and see me in person? Please, don't do that. It'll be too conspicuous.

Please don't come, please?

When I arrived at the booth, everyone had already arrived quite early and was making final preparations and adjustments. As usual, I went to help the props and decorations teams, adjusting some of the high-mounted ornaments and stickers.

My classmates and seniors expressed their gratitude to me, and I broke my own rules of survival by responding to their kindness, even though I didn't know why I did it.

Do I want to make friends?

Looking at the smiling faces of the students, I still couldn't help but shrink back.

After finally arranging the stars at the highest point of the tent into the shape of ghosts, the president suddenly announced that the members of the reception team would "play themselves," adding that they were currently short of people to do so.

Playing myself is kind of funny, but when the president suddenly walked up to me, I couldn't laugh anymore.

"You're Nonomura-kun, a first-year student, right?"

It's amazing that the president still remembers me.

"Yes."

"Want to come up to our booth and give it a try?"

I paused slightly, "Go to the exhibition stand? Does that mean I... should play myself?"

I avoided the president's somewhat sharp gaze and didn't dare to reply for a long time.

"Why not be more proactive? They did a good job during previous events."

The president seemed to read my mind. She took my hand, which was very warm, but the feel of the band-aid bothered me a little.

"Are you afraid of something?"

I intended to refuse, but the words I was about to say changed my mind.

"No... I want to try."

What am I even saying?

"It's time to make some changes, Nonomura-kun. If you encounter any difficulties on campus, come find me."

The president left me, still in a daze, and departed alone.

Lost in thought, I sat down on the chair at the booth, where a stylist began to do my makeup and get me dressed.

Looking up, I saw Wen Shui and a cute girl beside him, probably his younger sister; she was really adorable. Recalling the president's words, "My kindred spirit," had Wen Shui also made any changes?

There's no answer; I still know too little about Wen Shui.

He went backstage, and the stylist finished my makeover. I lowered my head and took a picture of myself with my phone.

It feels the same as usual.

Hmm, why did Hanami bring Himegami over and even compliment my looks? Haha, it's probably just the social niceties of the guys, since Himegami didn't even remember my name.

Compared to yesterday, Hanami seemed to be in a much better mood today, but she still seemed to be constantly bothering Himegami, which was a bit of a concern.

After a while, the middle school girl, wearing Shi Lu's school uniform, came out from backstage, and her classmates and seniors immediately surrounded her. She said her name was Wen Shui Yoshiki, and she really was his sister.

I really like that girl named Yoshiki. But there are too many people around her, so I decided to stay in the background.

Just then, Wen Shui walked out of the shed, looking completely different; I didn't recognize her at first.

He seemed oblivious to his own changes. All you could hear him using words like "ordinary" to describe himself, even though Himegami-kun had already collapsed from a nosebleed.

Hmm... come to think of it, Wen Shui has changed so much...

Change, alteration...

For no apparent reason, I took out my phone and stared blankly at the photo I had just taken.

I always feel...

Ordinary, well, it's still pretty ordinary, haha.

While I was lost in thought, the student council president had already touched up her makeup and headed to the signing event's opening ceremony. Shikiya-senpai and Masato helped divide the performing students into two groups, placing them on either side of the path used for queuing readers.

Although I'm supposed to play myself, I don't have much confidence.

The booth space was limited, and no matter how hard I tried to hide, I couldn't escape the gaze of the readers in line. I thought I could just quietly prepare backstage, but it turns out I'll have to appear in public...

Some concerns.

But after seeing those readers who walked forward expressionlessly without communicating with anyone, or who wrapped themselves in coats, or who turned up their collars and wore masks, my confidence inexplicably returned.

As expected of "Love in the Shadows," its target audience is accurately defined.

Wenshui's younger sister and Banami were assigned to the same side as me. As if sensing my nervousness, Yoshiki came over to chat with me. Her voice was very clear and pleasant, which made me relax.

A familiar voice called out from the line. I looked up, and sure enough, Mom was there. Seeing me looking at her, she stood out awkwardly in the line of girls from the shadows, giving a thumbs-up, her lips seemingly saying "Go for it!"

Are you asking me to become friends with Yoshiki? That's way too difficult.

I glanced wryly at Yoshiki Nukumi, who was talking to the absent-minded Hachimi, then quietly waved to my mother as a farewell.

"Hanami-senpai, what's wrong? Are you feeling unwell?"

Yoshiki's voice sounded somewhat anxious.

I turned my head and saw that my classmate was trembling as she leaned against the bookshelf. She clenched her fists and stared intently at the scene on the other side.

What happened? I stood up curiously, stepped over the line of readers, and looked in the direction that Banami was looking.

At this point, my height actually became an advantage, allowing me to easily take control of the situation.

Hanami is looking at her childhood friend.

That must be that handsome boy named Hakamada Sosuke. He seems to be chatting with an upperclassman, and the two seem to be getting along very well. Logically speaking, there shouldn't be any problem, but they both seem to keep glancing at the bookshelf not far away.

I turned my gaze back to the bookshelf.

An unfamiliar senior student was holding a book and talking eloquently to the transfer student in our class, who just listened quietly with a smile.

Both women were renowned beauties in the reception group, and their pairing garnered even more attention from other students and some readers in line.

Feeling relieved that I hadn't been assigned to their group, I glanced back at my classmate, Hanami.

She's probably jealous; she sees her childhood sweetheart glancing at other people.

That's how teenage girls are, although I didn't have any longing for romance.

But speaking of which, Banami's face is really pale... Huh? Was it this pale in the classroom before? It feels about the same pale as that reader in the group.

Just as I was lost in thought, a gasp came from the quiet queue.

It seems someone in the group fainted, but thankfully, these readers, with their penchant for quirky personalities, didn't panic; perhaps they were just startled...

I had never encountered such an emergency before, so I had no choice but to stand still and wait. However, the members of the reception team had been trained by the school board on how to handle such situations.

The senior students worked with Hakamada to remove the railings that were originally used to restrict the group's movement, allowing the people in the group to spread out on the lawn and avoid a stampede.

The unfamiliar female student placed her book on the table, guided the crowd away from the fallen person, and dialed for emergency medical assistance.

The members of the hospitality team assigned to my side also began to dismantle the railings.

The senior student was referring to her; the one who fell to the ground must be a girl.

Himegami, who was the one I was most concerned about, quietly walked to the side of the person who had fallen, gently adjusted her to a safe position, and then began to determine the cause of her unconsciousness.

Himegami's movements were very skillful, as if she had specifically studied first aid and nursing knowledge.