As I Know Anything About You, I'll Be The One To Your Girlfriend, Aren't I? - Volume 1 Chapter 3.1

Leave That Culture in the Heisei Era 1

Kujo’s PoV

Monday.

For many people heading to school or work, it represents the epitome of depression.

Only a few eccentrics look forward to this day, and I, Kujo Kurenai, have always found such individuals utterly incomprehensible.

…Or so I thought.

The classroom door swings open.

“Hey, Miyashiro, good morning~”

“Morning~”

Voices exchanging greetings around me and footsteps approaching, all of which I listen to intently but never turn to face, keeping my gaze fixed on the window.

Nearby, the sounds of a bag being hung and a chair being pulled out cease, signaling his presence next to me now.

“Hey, Yuuji, morning~”

“Morning! Hey, Kuuya, listen, …I gotta tell you this! So, actually––”

He begins conversing with a particularly close classmate who has arrived. They seem to be getting quite excited.

Quietly, I pull out my smartphone. Carefully, so as not to be noticed, I aim the camera slowly and stealthily toward my neighbor.

Using a silent camera app with the shutter sound turned off, I take a photo.

“––so that’s the deal! I’ll treat you, treat you! Anything you want! It’s all thanks to you, Kuuya!”

“Really? It’s nothing. But seriously, that’s awesome!”

While I’m engaged in this, he continues to chat and laugh with his friend, Yuuji Hatsuse.

From what I’ve overheard, it seems Yuuji Hatsuse has found himself a girlfriend.

“What do you mean what? You think we’re close or what?”

“We are close, idiot~”

“Exactly, idiot~”

As usual, the two of them have a lively conversation. Kuuya has a few male friends he’s close with in the class, but Yuuji Hatsuse seems to be a particularly intimate friend.

They always seem to have so much fun discussing various topics.

My only thought is…

…I’m so envious!!!

Suppressing the scream in my heart, I let out a small sigh.

Because, ah, I couldn’t even greet him today…!

Every morning, I manage to wake up early, a major struggle for me, and arrive at school early to sit at my desk and run through simulations and mental rehearsals of starting a conversation with him!

Not just in the morning, but constantly, I rack my brain for topics to prepare, aiming to strike up a conversation with him.

And how often do I actually manage to do so…?

On average, if I’m lucky, once every ten days.

Ugh…

Because initiating casual conversations with people isn’t a skill I’ve honed, especially when they’re not just anyone… but someone special to me.

Ah… how miserable.

Why must I be subjected to this?

Even as I think this, my eyes are drawn to my smartphone’s screen, where I can’t help but look at the photo I just took.

“!”

A rush of uncontrollable emotion tightens around my chest.

Biting my lip to keep any sound from escaping, I once again suppress my feelings.

…I often wonder how I ended up like this.

‘Human Haters’.

That nickname isn’t wrong. To me, most people don’t matter.

Yet.

“…Sigh”

A sigh escapes me before I can stop it.

Next to me, he continues his cheerful conversation with his friend.

“Planning to go anywhere during the summer break?”

“Nah, Nakabayashi asked me the same thing, but, you know, with club activities and all. What to do…”

“A tough decision. Nakabayashi isn’t in any clubs, right?”

“Right, she isn’t. Wonder what I should do…”

Boys’ talk about romance, something I could never intrude upon.

I wish…

…What I can do, though I shouldn’t, is…

While thinking, I navigate through my smartphone, tapping on the icon of a certain app. It’s not publicly available, something I crafted myself.

The app launches, displaying various menu options:

“Search Words,”

“Visited Websites,”

“Watched Videos,”

“Current Screen (Screenshot),”

and so on,

including “Current Location.”

Recently,

“Sleep Duration,”

“Heart Rate,”

and “Stress Levels” were added.

Carefully ensuring no one sees, I tap on “Search Words.”

Words like “cute cat images,” “how not to burn food,” “recommended famous ramen shops” appear.

Cats! Searching for cute cat pictures! How adorable!! And, a cat person, noted.

…

As you may have guessed…

All the data I’m viewing through the app are pulled without permission from his smartphone and smartwatch, a collection of his personal information and usage data.

“Sigh…”

…It’s not just “sigh.” Of course, this is a clear crime.

What I can do isn’t mingling with the conversation unfolding beside me but gazing at the illicitly obtained personal information of the person I like, a testament to my criminal act.

Kujo Kurenai.

Currently a second-year student at a prefectural high school, a freelance programmer, and… stalking her classmate sitting next to her—Miyashiro Kuuya.

Ah, but, not stalking in the physical sense (mostly).

Because I’ve thought—is that really the essence? Is chasing someone around truly what I want to do?

No. Chasing is merely a means to an end.

What I really want is to thoroughly collect information about the person I like. For that purpose, I would chase and take photos and whatnot.

But, Reiwa, right? (TLN : Reiwa era begins in 2019, before Reiwa era, it was Heisei era 1989 – 2018)

It’s already the Reiwa era, isn’t it?

Is it really stalking if you’re just physically chasing and taking photos or eavesdropping?

No, it’s not.

Humanity, leave such outdated notions behind in the Heisei era.

In this era, vast amounts of private information about each individual are stored within digital devices like smartphones.

Therefore, if you truly want to know everything about someone, why not target that information!

With such thoughts, I created this system, but I truly believe I’m the worst.

Ahhhhh…

I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’m sorry, truly sorry…

And yet, I can’t bring myself to stop…!

Miyashiro-kun is searching for [“how not to burn food” while cooking]. I knew he cooked for himself, but maybe he’s not that good at it?

Then there’s [“recommended famous ramen shops”]. He likes ramen, doesn’t he? Is that a thing with all guys?

…Like that, information about Miyashiro-kun keeps piling up at my fingertips.

I want to know. That feeling, I just can’t suppress it.

“Alright, let’s start the morning homeroom~. Anyone still standing, take your seats~”

The chime rings, and at the same time, our homeroom teacher enters.

“Kuuya, I’m heading back to my seat.”

“Sure.”

While listening to such conversations, I sneak a glance at him from the corner of my eye.

Praying he doesn’t notice my gaze, yet at the same time wishing he’d pay attention to me and look my way.

How foolish.

Caught in contradictions, losing logic, swayed by desires. I never intended to become like this.

And so, another day begins.

Me, Kujo Kurenai’s––a new-era, tech-specialized stalker living in the Reiwa era, starts her day.

A girl who lived hating humans, yet about half a year ago, fell for the boy now sitting next to her, starts her day.

But let me say this in advance, I’ll be breaking a lot of laws…