Chapter 1:

CHAPTER-01: LONER

"LONER" to "LOVER"

「Kuro-kun, hurry up and get your breakfast.」

「Haii」said Kuro.

Hi everyone!! I am Yamagi Kuro, a First-year-High school student. Average grades, above average at sports, and friendly(that's what I think). Going back to school after the summer break. * sigh * Summer break was like hell for me. I was busy with my make-up test because I was sick during the term exam and was busy with my part-time.

* * *

W...what is this atmosphere? It seems like spring though it's summer.

「Huh..? Everyone in the class expects me to hook up with someone during summer break...? What do you mean?」said Kuro.

「Well, in short, in this class,」

「Kuro, you're the only one who doesn't have a girlfriend.」said Souta and Ino

「HUUH!!??」said Kuro * confused *

「Soura's with Sasaki and Tachibana's with Takahashi from class 3... Yoshino's with... who was it again? Nanami! 」said Ino

「... ah ... Anna-chan's with the manager of the brass band and Adachi's with...」said Nanami

「E...enough... Ha, now I get why there is a strange mood in the classroom」

「But that's just weird. It didn't seem like before the summer break」said Kuro * sighing *

「Well, it's not at all weird. It's just the fruit of everyone's efforts to make sure not to regret our VERY first summer break as high school students. EVERYONE EXPECT YOU」Said Ino

(Tetsuya Ino, Igarashi Souta, and Miyoshi Nanami-san are friends whom I know since elementary school.)

「Ugh... rude, it's not like I don't do anything 」said Kuro

「Yeah, all you did the whole summer was work and attend the make-up classes.」said Souta

「I had make-up classes because I had a cold and couldn't take the exam. I had to work extra hours because the others couldn't come to work 」

「It's not like I don't try, I just..」said Kuro

「You're the one who blames your surroundings and doesn't even try to do anything. 」said Souta

「So? Who is your girlfriend?」said Kuro

「Nanami.」said Ino

「What is it, Ino-chan」said Nanami

「EeeH!? Miyoshi-san!? For REAL!?」* shock*

「But Ino's just a lecher hiding behind his class chairman title! and sports freak」said Ino

「Yeah, I know.」said Nanami * smiling *

「How rude. (not a sports freak like you though)」said Ino

(.........)

「Souta! I bet your girlfriend's just some character from an anime or a game, Right?」said Kuro

「Hm?」

「Nah, my 2D waifu and RL girlfriend are different. It's pitiful that you can't differentiate between reality and fantasy.」said Souta (* plane face * playing gacha game)

* ding dong dang dong ding *

「Good morning! SENSEI」said everyone

「Good morning! Let's start home-room!」said Sensei

「I have an important announcement for everyone today! Actually during summer break...」

「I finally tied the knot!!!」sais Sensei

「Sensei, congrats!!!!」

(............)

(WHAT'S GOING ON? I thought we all were in the same boat, but everyone left me behind during summer break. )

(It's not like I am jealous of someone's happiness but... I mean, if I could get a girlfriend then, of course, that'd be great but..... )

「Don't fret Kuro, you too will get a girlfriend」said Ino * pitying *

(Really, hearing from his mouth irritates me more. Just wait...)

「Sensei. Since It's the first day of the new term, why don't we all change seats?」said Ino

「That's a good idea. we'll draw lots, so I need to make... 」said Sensei

「Sensei, I have an idea can you leave this to me ?」

「Okay Ino-Kun. I leave you in charge, Class Chairman (I need to make plans for the wedding ceremony, so I'm busy~~ )」

....

「Now then! As class chairman, Nanami and I will decide on the seating arrangement」

「If there's someone you want to sit with, tell us. Of course, we'll take into consideration those who have poor eyesight」

「Just because you don't want to be separated... 」said Kuro

「Well, everyone in the class is in RELATIONSHIP, EXCEPT YOU.」 said Souta

[whole class nods]

(*slump* everything is backfiring.)

「Don't mind」said Ino and Nanami * pitying *

* * *

* ding dong dang dong ding *

(* sigh * FINALLllly, classes are over. Now I can relax from the awkward atmosphere)

「Hey guys, will you be coming today?」said Ino

(Well, at 6:00 pm we play volleyball with the locals near Ino's house {By the way, Ino and Nanami are childhood friends})

「I'm in though I will be late so..(even so my mood is off)」said Kuro *unwillingly*

「Nah, today the BIGGEST event will be launching in the RPG game 」said Souta

「Ummm ..hu and Nanami?」said Ino

「Sorry, I will not be available 」said Nanami

「Oh yeah. So then, Kuro doesn't make it too late.」said Ino

* * *

(Damn it, I'm late, it's already 7:00 pm. Ino will keep blabbering about it.)

「RIGHT! RIGHT! 」

「OKAY!!」

doon...

*clap clap clap *

「Nice spike!!」

*clap clap clap*

「Nice toss!!」

(Woow, that was a nice spike and a nice toss too. But who is that person? I've never seen her around this area before.)

*pi *

(The match is over. That was a satisfying match as a viewer. And that girl is not half bad though she messed with her sets in the end. * oh * here comes Ino )

「Nice game. There were some nice moves you got there.」said Kuro

「Thanks. But aren't you late, MISTER KURO?」 Said Ino * smirking *

(mmm.. he is as sharp as ever, even after an exhausting match.)

「I'm very sorry. Put that aside, who is she? Never seen her around?」said Kuro

「Me too. I haven't seen her before. Well, she asked to join so. Well, she is not bad at volleyball.」

「We can talk about it later. The match is starting. You are on the opposite team.」said Ino

* * *

* exhausted *

(That was quite refreshing. Winning 3 out of 3 matches is the best feeling ever.)

「Ino, you okay?」said Kuro * smiling *

「Seeing your smiling pisses me off 」

「How can I be alright after getting hit on my crouch by your spike?」said Ino * teary face *

「I'm so so sorry. It was not intentional.」said Kuro

(* smiling * It's the payback for trifling me in school.)

「Uum.. are you feeling better?」said the girl

(Oh, it's the setter girl.)

「Yeah. I'm feeling much better. Thanks for asking, uu..」

「Sorry, not for introducing. I'm Hayami Kiyoko.」

「I'm Tetsuya Ino and he is Yamagi Kuro.」

「Do you frequently play volleyball? Your sets aren't half bad.」

「Thanks for the praise. Well, I was on my middle school team.」said Hayami

「Your sets were clean at the start. But due to your lack of stamina, you messed up in the end. And your receive suck ouch....」said Kuro

「You fool. Don't be rude to people you meet the first time.」said Ino *glaring*

「Well, I'm not like someone whose every set is SECOND CLASS.」said Hayami * grinning *

* Pissed * 「Well, my sets are much better than your THIRD CLASS receives. And my spikes and receives are on point even at the final stage of the match.」

* nag nag nag nag nag *

(I always think it's Kuro who gets on everyone's nerves. But Hayami-san is quite a character.)[Ino] * laughing *

「Aren't you both in sync? Looking closely, it's like a lover's quarrel.」

「NO」said Kuro and Hayami * angrily *

「 Alright. Kuro, It's already 9:00 pm.」said Ino

「What? I'm leaving. Ino, meet you tomorrow at school. Goodbye.」said Kuro

「Bye. Sorry, Hayami-san. He's not a bad guy but a sports freak.」

「Well then, goodbye Hayami-san.」

「Goodbye.」

* * *

「Kuro, Ino told me you met a girl yesterday. Is she cute? Is she your type?」said Nanami

「Yeah, they both are on good terms」said Ino