The social phobia substitute will not dream of the band girl

The first ball of paper flew out.

"...call out--"

The second paper ball flew out.

“Whoosh—whoosh—whoosh—whoosh—”

Paper balls flew out one after another.

"..."

Okay, what to do now?

Kadodashi Karin was lost in thought as she stared at the torn notebook in her hand and the boy who remained unawakened no matter how many paper balls she threw at him. What would Asuna do at this moment...

"Ding-ling-ling-ling~~"

“…Hmm? Ah…Ah?!”

Hearing the bell, Asuka Maheishin looked up to see if they could just leave school so they wouldn't miss out. He hadn't anticipated the cascading consequences that would soon ripple through his entire structure. He casually picked up a crumpled piece of paper that had fallen on the floor and opened it. The handwriting inside wasn't exactly beautiful, elegant, or lively, but he could sense the meticulous attention paid to each stroke.

Whether it's a prank or a hidden message, as long as the other party takes it seriously, I will respond seriously in return.

"Let me see... 'Wake up, you lazy idiot!'"

? !

This seems... different from what he imagined?

There are pictures here, which can be viewed after the updated version

Chapter 9 Let’s be friends!

During the first afternoon class, many students, feeling the effects of spring fatigue, were nodding off, taking the opportunity to rest immediately. Newly arrived high school students are generally fascinated by everything. Adolescent boys and girls + spring =?

In the classroom of Seijo Junior High School 1-A, there was only one person who didn't rely on sleep for recovery, avoided socializing, or interact with anyone. At that moment, Asuka Maheishin was enthusiastically collecting and sorting the scattered paper balls on the floor. His eyes held a hint of enthusiasm, his expression unreadable due to the mask on his face. He probably looked like some lunatic mystery solver faced with a difficult case.

"..."

First of all, it can be confirmed that all of them were done by the same person. The paper and handwriting used to make the paper balls all came from the same notebook and the same pen. The contents of all the paper balls can probably reflect the mental changes of a certain girl: from well-intentioned reminders to madness of impotence and rage, from madness to writing down the content casually like a gambler who has drawn cards with red eyes and then throwing out "ammunition", and finally, to writing down the true feelings because she thought that he would definitely not read the ordinary letter.

But I'm really sorry, but some people can be so idle~

Although his sudden rise had somewhat disrupted the scene, the various details and the contents of the paper ball could still be used to identify the "culprit" as the women surrounding him... well, why were they all women? But first, the person in front had to rule out the possibility of turning back, and then, based on the trajectory and the most important "motive"—

"stare......"

"...yaho~ Are you looking at Karin? What happened? Let me join in!"

"...!"

Appeared?! Wasn’t it an illusion as promised? I really can’t tell the difference with you doing this!!!

The appearance of the single-eyed girl named Asuna was like a rallying cry. With the appearance of the black-haired and brown-skinned girl Kakudate Karin and the gentle and elegant girl with glasses Murokasa Akane, the familiar hot girl trio gathered again.

*Girls who are fashionable and keen on dressing up can be categorized as "gals"

"Hey, your last name is so unique, I've never seen it before..."

"Hey, is it really hay fever underneath your mask..."

"Hey, do you know ninjutsu? Can you show me..."

Hey hey! Hey hey! Hey hey! Where are you from?

Despite being surrounded by three beautiful girls, Asuka Maheishin felt like a poor man suffering from stomach discomfort after eating milk and unable to go to the bathroom. He couldn't move, and even if he wanted to, he didn't dare to move, and he put on a mask of pain.

Trying to answer all the questions with evasive tactics didn't dampen Asuna's enthusiasm at all. The man didn't realize that it was precisely this unwilling but determined attitude that led to him being chased, teased, and ultimately reduced to a toy for the women.

*Like some "only god"

Hirayukoshi thought he was just a tool chosen by the hot girls for their entertainment, but in reality, the girl named Ichinose Asuna, whether it was getting her hair and nails done or her clothes dressed up, was just doing it for "fun." She was actually just hanging around him because she found him interesting. Asuna's "luck" was always good, really good. Most people wouldn't imagine becoming a billionaire just by buying lottery tickets and playing solo. Asuna's "intuition" always led her to the desired outcome.

"...I'm really not a ninja, is this okay?"

Asuna now was to Hirayukoshi what the sun was to a vampire. No matter how much he longed for her, the two shouldn't be connected. At least that was what he thought, and that was what he intended to do. Let's go, let's all go, you and me. And after we leave here, we'll never see each other again...

"Yeah...but I think you're definitely more interesting than any ninja! So let's be friends~"

Friends...ah.

How should I put it? It feels so close yet so strange—

He had many acquaintances, both in past and present lives. After all, humans are social creatures, and if you settle somewhere that borders society, you're bound to form connections. Someone who comes out to dinner when you ask them to, someone who plays an instrument with them, someone who knows each other intimately, but until they personally acknowledge the relationship, they're just "acquaintances" to him.

Can I... have friends too?

Whether in his past life or the first ten years of this life, he had lived well without friends. It was just that he sometimes wanted friends who could be called friends, but unfortunately now——

"...I'm sorry, but I don't have any intention of getting along with anyone right now."

After all, he'd only agreed to come to school for one day with his sister, and the most important thing for Pingxin right now was finishing "that book." Everything else in school seemed so insignificant compared to that, even he wasn't sure if he was just wasting time. For someone with social anxiety, saying no takes a lot of courage, but not all courage is actually bravery.

"Harin, Hanarin, he said the same thing as you did before. I feel that we can definitely become good friends!" Unexpectedly, after being rejected, Asuna showed a happy expression.

"..."

The girl whose name was called met Ping Xin's eyes, and then they both looked away at the same time and observed her with their peripheral vision. Only then did Ping Xin notice her presence.

This girl hadn't left. Her name seemed to be... Kadodatsu Karin? So, she was the person sitting next to me (on the right)? Just like his usual hobby of social anxiety, "observing people," Hirayuko's eyes moved quietly yet quickly, observing with his peripheral vision—

Their black hair, golden eyes, and perfectly tanned skin give off a panther-like, wild yet graceful beauty. Needless to say, the trio's looks and figures are all top-notch, so stunning that one might even question whether they're actually high school students. True to the saying, "birds of a feather flock together." If they have a friend, they're bound to be some cute, hot girl with a fantastic figure, right?

It's worth noting that during this period, dark-skinned people like these were practically nonexistent in Yan and Dong countries, so they were probably quite conspicuous. While it's unclear why the hair and eye colors of this world are so diverse, the composition and distribution of skin tones remain similar to those of the previous life, with only a subtler distinction between East and West. After all, the establishment of the Asian Tripartite Alliance made cross-Eastern travel more difficult, and thus, the triangular trade specialties didn't invade the East on a large scale.

* This book will not have alien aesthetic skin colors like the green-skinned Hulk and the purple-skinned sweet potato. All will be designed within the scope of human aesthetics. After all, I am not a dog-headed JK anchor.

He had seen many dark-skinned women during his early travels in the West, so he didn't find them particularly novel. He simply glanced at them briefly, satisfying his desire for beauty, and then looked away. Regardless of whether they shared the same social anxiety, Hei Xin didn't intend to initiate conversation, as "experience" told him that the more beautiful a woman was, the more likely she was to deceive.

There are pictures here, which can be viewed after the updated version

Chapter 10 Perhaps it was the arrangement of the goddess of fate

Unlike the chattering Ichinose Asuna and the taciturn Kakudate Karin, who silently observed Hiraishin, the bespectacled girl named Murokasa Akane spent most of her time simply observing. She had been the quietest of the conversations, having said virtually nothing except agreeing with the other two.

On the contrary, ever since Ping Xin said "I don't plan to make friends", he has been staring at Ping Xin non-stop, making him feel like a primary school student caught by the teacher for doing something wrong. This kind of look, even if it's just staring at you without saying anything, is enough to make people's scalp tingle.

*The self-deprecating and psychological descriptions of the film are the characteristics of social anxiety, which is a must-try.

Did she seem disliked based on her behavior? It was a little baffling, but also understandable. After all, someone who didn't attend the opening ceremony completely missed out on a great opportunity to get to know their classmates; was late for most of the first day of school, only entering class at the end of lunch break; slept in class and entertained themselves playing detective games after class by looking at notes.

In short, from head to toe, she doesn't have any qualities worth dating or "wanting to date." If it were Hira Shin, he wouldn't want his friends to get to know such a person, but strangely, she didn't express any opinion at all. Is Asuna the true center of this "No Brain, Unhappy, and OMO" trio?

Although Ping Xin had a lot of thoughts in his mind, it only took a moment in the real world. He was probably the only one who used the ability of [Time Stop] to think. Such people were definitely rarer than those who could stop time to run, commentate, or move a steamroller (crazy)!

"Um...I don't want it!"

"...Asuna-san, what are you talking about?"

"Since you can 'not be friends with me', then I can also not 'not be friends with you'!"

Kadodashi Karin didn't show any special expression, just sighed slightly, her eyes seemed to be filled with reminiscence. Murokasa Akane just pushed her glasses and smiled a little dotingly without saying a word. Was this also expected by you?!

However, this feeling of "being trusted" makes Ping Xin very unhappy. After all, he is an ordinary... or perhaps not so ordinary new male high school student - the walking embodiment of sexual desire, the "yellow beast" with a head full of pornographic waste, and the ruthless picture machine who shouts "gkd" in the group every day.

Now you let a defenseless cute girl be friends with someone like this?

Karin, Akane, you're going to regret this!

*I...I am the Hokage?!

"......up to you."

Ping Xin sighed softly, then pulled out his phone and began scrolling through his messages. He realized there weren't any red dots, and instead of relief, he felt a slight dread. The scariest thing isn't when your parents pull out belts, feather dusters, or clotheslines; the scariest thing is when they stare at you silently, their faces thoughtful.

I'd clearly skipped our lunchtime meeting, but she hadn't sent me a single message. One possibility was that she was busy with something else, perhaps happily chatting with friends and too busy to bother with my cheap brother. Another possibility was that something big was about to happen! And all this was just the calm before the storm...

Knowing his position as the younger brother in the family, Asuka Ma Pingxin gave up struggling and chose to start directly!

Why not check out the latest funny videos on YouTube or listen to some music to find some inspiration and relax? It's a shame that if I pull out his super account now, it will definitely be broadcasted by "sunny and cheerful big girl", otherwise playing cards, playing a game of chess, or raising Pokémon would all be good ways to entertain myself.

At this thought, someone slumped over the desk, tilted his head toward the window, and started scrolling through his phone. Honestly, if he wasn't socially anxious, he'd definitely be considered a homosexual, right? Or a living Buddha from nowhere? But this obviously couldn't stop Asuna from getting excited—

*Karen T: Those who chant my true name will not be subjected to the punishment of the thunder or the creation of an indestructible golden body. Those who achieve great things should not be interested in women.

"Wow, are you listening to music? Let me listen too!"

"Wait--"

Without waiting for him to refuse, Asuna took off one of Hiraishin's wireless headphones and put it on her own ear.

"Hmm... Is it okay for this girl to scream so loudly? And isn't the rhythm a little too fast? Is she okay?"

Feeling the sudden increase in attention, Hira Nobu sighed. Even to avoid rumors, he had to speak. "...Rock music is the most free form of music. The only key is freedom and self-release, so exaggerated screams like this are very common in Western rock music... As for the fast and dense drum beats... it's just my personal preference for songs with a strong sense of rhythm."

The combination of an ordinary boy and ordinary answers naturally drew no attention, just as the buzz always leads to gossip and scandal, and that was exactly what Hirayuko wanted. Even when it came to music, he could talk like a geek being asked about his favorite music, but facing a hot, glamorous JK girl he'd just met and surrounded by so many completely unfamiliar classmates was too much for Hirayuko right now. At least ask him to wear a mask or livestream it!

After the bell rang, Hira Nobu let out a long sigh and slumped down on his desk. For the first time, he felt that Dongguo's 15-minute break was too long—though it would be cool to be able to leave school directly after second period! True diversion should be like this, allowing people to choose their own paths, rather than being forced to take exams and then having some people treated as "losers" and doing "menial" work. After all, how can someone who has negative feelings about their work and future from the start possibly achieve their best?

But this has nothing to do with him. He only has one shackle (connection) left on him. Instead of worrying about how others will get into the factory, he might as well worry about whether he will be scolded by his sister with a cold face when he returns.

"Ha... Life is hopeless..."

Today, he was as pessimistic as ever. His occasional sighs and the creaking of his desk as he shifted around were like little goblins in Karin's ears, constantly drawing her attention away from her concentration. Perhaps it was the gloomy atmosphere, a resemblance to his past self, perhaps it was the "verification" from his friend Asuna, or perhaps it was simply their fate to connect, but at this moment, their eyes met—

"...Hello, Karin-san."

"...Hello, Fei...Ping Xin-kun."

"..."

"..."

Then there was another period of silent silence. It seemed that there was still a long way to go before the two of them could be together.

There are pictures here, which can be viewed after the updated version

Chapter 11 Sister

When I came to my senses, I was already fast asleep. At 2:45 pm, the bell for the second class rang on time. At the same time, the sleeping Asuka Ma Pingxin also slowly woke up.

"...Hmm...well...ah——so school is over already...huh——"

Speaking of which, Dongguk high school students are so lazy... they can actually get out of school before 3 p.m.? This deserves a serious critique of the relaxed education system. After all, just because they don't understand how to play doesn't stop them from barking like dogs. Putting aside those nagging topics, perhaps we should give the people of this world a little shock—like... how can you even sleep at your age!

I don't know why it's easier to fall asleep in the classroom than at home. It's really strange. But I really worked hard today. I slept for half the day and have no idea what I talked about. But what should I eat tonight? Ping Xin was about to leave with his bag and yawning, but someone called him back.

"Are you leaving now? Why don't you come with us? It'll be fun to hang out together on the first day of school!"

...Alas—troublesome woman.

"...Karin-san, remember to take your child with you when you leave, Sayonara~"

After finishing his jail term, Ping Xin felt that the existence called "freedom" was back in his own hands. It turned out that people who like rock music should be unrestrained and the freest people on earth!

"Hey, hey~ I get it! Let's go, Karin, Akane, where are we going to play on the first day of school?! Oh right! Why don't we go find our seniors... Oh, Hirashin-kun, see you tomorrow—"

Wait, so you know my name? You didn't even call me that before... So you weren't just using me for fun... Sure enough, lowering your expectations makes it easier to be pleasantly surprised. Being a pessimist sometimes has its benefits, right?

See you tomorrow...right? It feels like it's been ages since anyone said that to me...but unfortunately, I'm past the age where I'd start thinking of a good name for my child just because a cute girl calls me by that name, and...never mind, let's go—

I stood by the window and watched as the three of them walked out of the school gate, chatting and laughing. Only then did Hirayukoshi, wearing his headphones, turn the corner and leave. Wait, didn't she return one of the headphones to me?! This was giving me a headache... After a brief hesitation, Hirayukoshi placed the other earphone and the charging case on Kadodate Karin's desk.

If you can’t get it back, then forget it! This is how you can be a cool guy like the wind!!!

After doing all this, Ping Xin left on tiptoe. After all, secretly putting things in a girl's desk could easily lead to reputational damage. However, he didn't expect to be stopped by someone at this moment.

"...Did you find the treasure in that girl's desk, brother?"

"...Don't stand behind someone and talk suddenly. It's scary."

A familiar face appeared at the back door of Class 1-A. Though Hirayukoshi's body stiffened at the sudden sound of someone talking, he felt a surge of relief upon realizing it was his sister. For someone with a social anxiety disorder like him, family was probably the only reliable source of support, even if there was only one person left...

"It's okay, I only do this to my brother, bang~bang~."