Ranobe Mo Ore Mo Sukina Gyaru - Volume 1 Chapter 2.1

Gal and Break Time 1

A few days have passed by since I went to a light novel author’s autograph session with Tsumakawa-san (also known as Minacho-san).

“Yes, that’s all for today. Next, we’ll be working on the translation of page 36 from Japanese to English. Please have the English text for this page translated by next Wednesday’s class.”

Said the English teacher, leaving the classroom.

Simultaneously, the third-period bell chimed, marking the end of the third class.

Thus, as the break time began, the classroom was enveloped in noise.

Amidst this, one of my two male friends in this class, Koyama (a fat guy), approached my seat and spoke to me.

“I say, let us venture to the restroom together!”

“Why are you inviting me to the restroom in a samurai’s tone? Samurai guys would be the least likely to show off when they go to the restroom.”

“Should you choose to stay behind, I shall embark on this journey alone.”

“Why is this guy declaring he’ll go to the bathroom alone in such a poetic way…”

As I retorted to Koyama, my other male friend in this class, Iijima (a boy with a neutral face), entered our circle and said to Koyama,

“My companion, allow me to accompany you on a brief sojourn to the restroom!”

“I’m forever indebted. Let’s proceed in unison, my companion.”

“You two are unreasonably close… Instead of having poetic conversations, just get to the point and go to the restroom!”

Ignoring my comment, my friends, engaged in a poetic exchange of words, headed to the restroom.

Meanwhile, I remained in the classroom, taking out a light novel covered with a book cover from my student bag.

This light novel is one of those inspirational works that become a bit of an online sensation lately—and I personally rate it about 3 stars at the moment.

…I don’t know, why do otaku always rush to rate and review works?

And please, spare us the reviews like ‘The corner of the book was bent, so one star!’

Come on, don’t be so harsh on the author!

As I continued reading the half-finished light novel in silence, suddenly, someone lightly tapped my left shoulder twice.

“Whoa!?”

Since being touched by anyone other than my male friends was rare, I flinched for a moment and quickly turned to confirm the person who had tapped my shoulder.

And there she was… in a slightly disheveled uniform, with subtle makeup and an unexpectedly cheerful smile—It was the white gal Tsumakawa-san!

“…Wow, seriously, it’s really Nezumayo. Nezumayo is in my class. Yatta!”

“What do you mean it’s really Nezumayo… Seriously, Tsumakawa-san, you didn’t even know I was your classmate?”

“Hey, it’s not like I didn’t know! It’s just that I didn’t recognize Yoda? He’s so unnoticeable that I hardly register him in my memory…”

“If you’re going to make excuses, can you at least rehearse them properly before giving them?”

“I don’t know about Yoda, but I can always recognize Nezumayo! Yay!”

“W-Why are you separating me and Nezumayo in your thoughts, this gal… There’s no need to differentiate between Yoda and Nezumayo. They’re the same, okay?”

As I retorted like that, Tsumakawa-san laughed cheerfully, then pointed to the book I was reading and asked,

“Anyway, what are you reading?”

” …… “

“Hmm? Why are you silent? Hehe, that’s funny.”

With those words and a carefree smile, she spoke, but on the other hand, I hurriedly checked the situation around me.

Then, I realized that the gaze of several classmates was directed at us, it’s probably something like—why was that socially awkward introverted guy getting spoken to by the popular Tsumakawa-san? Their curious looks were pouring down on me.

Confirming that, I whispered to her in a small voice.

“…by the way, Tsumakawa-san? In a classroom with other people around, isn’t it better if someone like me, who’s kind of an introvert, doesn’t get approached by someone like you, who’s a shining star in the class?”

“Huh? Why?”

“Why, you ask… It’s because you might end up getting weird looks, and…”

“…Ah, I see. You mean in terms of the school caste or something like that?”

“Yeah, exactly! Since the caste is out of balance, isn’t it important to be separated?”

“Hmm-mmh. Separating interactions between members of the same class is important——Cut it out, I don’t really know about that, you idiot.”

Tsumakawa, who initially seemed to understand what I said, for some reason, responded with a somewhat offensive remark and lightly struck my shoulder.

Huh? Why did she show a reaction that seemed like she agreed with me for a moment…?

After that, she casually moved to the seat next to mine, Matsuda-kun’s seat—it’s a classic extrovert move, I thought—then rested her elbows on someone else’s desk and continued speaking while letting out a sigh.

“I’m a huge fan of light novels, you see? So I really love school caste rom-coms that deal with hierarchies too! But… do we really need to bring that into reality?”

“Huh? What do you mean…”

“I mean, in reality, there’s no such thing as a school caste or hierarchy.”

Saying that, she quickly scanned the entire classroom.

Tsumakawa was saying this, but in reality—there are groups like the otaku boys, the sports boys, the flashy second-unit girls, and the first-unit of mixed-gender group that Tsumakawa normally belonged to in this class——In fact, this class did have a clear caste-like structure.

Right after I reconfirmed that, Tsumakawa spoke with a nonchalant expression.

“What exists is just the division into groups, right? And you can say your group is just an another circle. There’s no ‘higher’ or ‘lower’ in that sense.”

” ….. “

“That’s why it’s okay to talk to Nezumayo like this, and it’s the same the other way around. Well, saying ‘it’s okay to talk’ doesn’t really sound nice. It’s more like, there’s no good or bad in either case.”

” …But I think you can say that precisely because you’re higher up in the caste…”

“No, seriously, I’m telling you, there’s no ‘higher’ or ‘lower’! Nezumayo is just assuming he’s beneath others on his own. You’re only pretending there’s some nonexistent caste and looking at it from a skewed perspective. Stop putting on airs. Are you some light novel protagonist or what?”

“Huh? Me, a light novel protagonist…?”

“Seems like you’re a bit happy to hear that.”

The series of statements from Tsumakawa just now used values I don’t possess, so actually, I couldn’t help but be slightly impressed.

To see oneself as equal to everyone else, not feeling superior or inferior to your classmates—this is something that can only be done by someone who truly ‘acknowledges their own worth.’

In other words, Tsumakawa might actually be someone who takes pride in the way she lives.

Her perspective is a bit too dazzling for me…