Chapter 2: My Morning Started with Milk Drama, Ended with a Café Date I Think?

The next day, I was awoken by the sound of my sister opening the fridge.

How do I know? Because it was followed by her usual rant—this time about how I forgot to buy her favorite milk brand.

“Sorry, Kaede,” I mumbled to myself. “Your brother’s just... forgetful.”

Wait—does that mean I’m getting old? Nah, I should just write this kind of stuff down.

I opened my bedroom door to find Kaede standing there with her arms crossed.

“Onii-chan, you forgot the milk again, didn’t you?” she said, her expression full of disappointment.

“Oh... yeah, I forgot,” I answered nonchalantly.

She sighed. “Okay then, don’t forget again today.” With that, she walked past me into her room—her own little fortress I call the Kaede Cave.

I began my usual morning routine: shower, uniform, breakfast.

“Good morning, Mamoru,” my mom said, placing some leftover curry on a plate.

“Morning, Mom. Wait—is this yesterday’s curry?” I asked as I sat at the table.

“Yeah, sorry. I haven’t had time to do any shopping. Work’s been busy.”

“No worries. Thanks for the meal,” I said, then scarfed down breakfast and headed back to my room.

As I grabbed my school bag, I passed Kaede’s room again. She was already asleep. Right—she’s enrolled in online classes. Guess she doesn’t need to wake up early.

I put on my shoes and stepped outside. The weather was cloudy—some might call it British weather. Honestly, it was perfect. The kind of mood-setting overcast that made a romcom MC bump into his future girlfriend.

As I walked to school, I passed the usual sights: elderly folks sweeping their porches, young couples holding hands, and occasionally, arguing—loudly. Thank God for noise-cancelling headphones.

I arrived at the school gates around 7:30 AM. The clouds had parted, and the sun was peeking through.

Suddenly, Shino ran past me.

Not sure why she was in such a hurry, but... I caught a glimpse of her... thighs.

A good morning indeed.

But then—

“Morning, Mamoru-san,” said a voice behind me as someone touched my back firmly.

I flinched. “O-Oh! Emilia-san, hi!” I replied nervously.

“Hehe, what a cute reaction. Hey, Mamoru-san...” she said, beckoning me closer. I started sweating. Curse her French charm.

“Y-Yeah, Emilia-san?” I stammered.

“Are you going to join the school festival committee?”

“Nah, I’ll be busy,” I said coolly, trying to sound impressive.

“Oh? And what’s keeping you so busy, Mamoru-san?” she asked, twirling her hair.

“Eh... gacha grinding. Gotta get my 2D waifu, of course.”

She gave me a disapproving pout. “Zut alors! Non non. Mamoru-san, I don’t approve.”

“Hey, I thought people say ‘do whatever you like as long as it doesn’t hurt anyone’?”

“Yeah, but I think it’s hurting you, Mamoru-san,” she said, looking genuinely concerned.

“Anyway... see you in class.” I walked past her, feeling her disappointed stare burning into the back of my head.

At my desk, I opened my gacha game. The character on screen kind of looked like Emilia. I sighed. Could a bottom of the class like me even talk to someone from Paris?

“Morning, Mamoru-san! You came early today,” said Shino.

“Oh, yeah... morning, Shino-san.” Whew. Barely remembered her name in time.

She peered over. “Are you still grinding that game? Mamoru, you do know 2D waifus aren’t real girlfriends, right?”

“I know. But at least they don’t ghost you.”

“Ghost you? What are you talking about?” she asked, confused.

Before I could answer, our homeroom teacher, Miss Subaru, entered the classroom.

“kiritsu (stand)” as Shino stand to condition my class.

“Rei (bow)” as everyone bow including me of course im not a bad boy that thing being a dick make them way cooler.

“Chokuseki (sit)” everyone sits back at their sit except obviously miss Subaru.

“Alright class,” Miss Subaru began. “The first school festival is coming up soon. If you want to join the committee, this is your last week to sign up.”

She checked her phone. “You’ve got about 20 minutes before class officially starts. Feel free to do whatever, just don’t be too noisy.”

She sat down and started scrolling through her phone.

Suddenly, I got a text notification—from Emilia!?

I looked over. She didn’t even glance my way. Probably got my number from the class group chat.

Emilia:
“Hey Mamoru-san, heard what the teacher said. So... are you going to join?”

Mamoru:
“Nah. Too bothersome. See ya.”
(Sent with a running sticker.)

she replies with an angry drum look like she plays taiko no tatsujin from the arcade.

Mamoru:

I reply with a light novel romance title I thought “I cannot believe the foreign student from French is an otaku?!”

Emilia:
“Shut up, nerd. Games are for everyone.”
(Followed by a tsundere pout sticker.)

We both laughed at the same time. I could feel people watching us. Shino, especially. Was she... jealous? Nah. Probably not. Why would anyone be jealous of me?

Our first class began. I hadn’t even checked the schedule. Hope I brought the right book.

Then walked in our next teacher—Miss Fukuyama. Old, sharp-eyed, terrifying. The kind of woman who can spot someone slacking from across a crowded classroom.

“Alright class,” she began. “Today, we’ll be working on a project about genetics and compatibility. You’ll need to pair up in groups of two.”

Everyone scrambled to find a partner. I waited until the chaos settled.

As expected—only I was left.

Well... me and Emilia.

I guess people avoided what they didn’t understand. But... working with Emilia made me extremely nervous.

“Uh, Emilia-san... do you have a partner?” Why did that feel like asking her out?

“Hehe, sure. Just don’t hold me back—and answer your messages this time, okay?” She smiled dangerously. Please don’t let her be a yandere.

Miss Fukuyama continued. “This project is worth 40% of your final grade. You’ll compare genetic traits like eye color, blood type, handedness... and analyze compatibility in things like sleep cycles, food preferences, and stress response.”

I zoned out a bit, then opened my phone to check SNS. Battery: 5%. Great. I powered it off.

“Any questions?” she asked.

“No, ma’am!” I said confidently, trying to impress Emilia.

The class went silent. Everyone stared.

“Oh? Then Mamoru-kun, why don’t you explain what you’re supposed to do?”

“Ehh... yeah, it’s... uh... comparing stuff. Like... genetics?”

Emilia jumped in to save me. “We need to compare genetic traits like eye color and blood type, and analyze compatibility like food preferences and stress patterns.”

“Excellent. Thank you, Emilia-san,” said Miss Fukuyama. “I hope everyone paid attention. Especially you, Mamoru-kun.”

“Y-Yes, ma’am...” I smiled awkwardly.

“Okay,” Emilia said, “When are we doing this? And don’t say you’re busy—because if you skip, I’m reporting it.”

“R-Right... I guess I’m free.”

“Today, then?” she asked, scribbling notes.

“Eh... I was going to grind. Got a dupe yesterday, need to max it.”

She pouted. “I was going to invite you to study at a café. But oh well...”

“Wait! I’m just kidding! Let’s totally study!”

She giggled. “That’s what I like to hear. Meet me at the school gate after class. DON’T BE LATE.”

“Y-Yes ma’am!”

“Now then... let’s start. Hold still, I’m checking your eye color.”

She leaned close—too close.

“Eh, Emilia-san...?”

“Hmm. Should I check other parts too?” Her eyes drifted downward.

“NO thank you! I-I’m not ready!” Wait—what did I just say?!

She laughed. “Hehe, you’re so fun to tease. Okay, okay, I’ll stop.”

The bell rang. Miss Fukuyama stood.

“Deadline is four weeks from now. Get it done. Or else... don’t come crying to me.”

She left, and our next teacher came in.

Lunchtime was uneventful. Emilia and Shino were eating together. I guess smart girls flock together. Meanwhile, I kept grinding—until my battery gave out. Tragic.

On my way to the bathroom, I saw the student council president, Saionji, talking to a nervous-looking girl.

“Oh, Saionji-san! Here’s the report for the festival!”

“Hmm... did you write it, or did you ask AI to do it?”

“Eh... well, I prompted it really carefully... so technically I did about 10%!”

“Unacceptable. You’re redoing it after school—with me supervising.”

And that is why I avoid the student council.

I returned to class, dreading—but also strangely excited—for after school.

A study session with Emilia at a café?

Maybe... just maybe...

This bottom-tier MC’s luck is starting to turn around.