Chapter 1: All I have left is cheapness

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Translator: Soafp

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It was love at first sight.

The entrance ceremony. One glance, and my heart was struck.

When I realized we were in the same class, my heart danced with joy.

[Ayano Kisaragi.]

The most beautiful girl in the class… no, the entire grade.

A stunning beauty. Her long black hair suited her, and she had flawless skin with a graceful face.

Her voice. Her gestures. I was captivated by everything.

I did my best to greet her.

There was even a time when our seats were next to each other… but I couldn't speak to her at all.

“――!”

And now.

In the blink of an eye, I'm a second-year high school student — it's May, during the Golden Week holiday.

By chance, I ran into her.

At the station platform.

Her figure, standing with her hair flowing in the wind, made most of the men around her turn their heads.

It was perfect. I was so glad to be alive.

I thought she was a gift from God.

The whole world was turning pink.

“Ah, uh! It's a coincidence, isn't it?”

Acting on impulse, I called out to her.

Without thinking about what would come next, or even what to say.

I thought it was fate.

“I'm sorry… who are you?”

“Eh, ah…”

――In my head, I heard the sound of glass shattering.

My body froze, and I couldn't speak.

Then I somehow understood.

She didn't even know my name.

Since the first year.

I thought I was trying hard.

But I was wrong.

“Um…”

“N-No, it's nothing, sorry for bothering you――!”

I had to at least apologize.

I somehow managed to squeeze out those words and walked away from her.

With each step I took, I started to assess myself more objectively.

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[Hajime Toumachi.]

A face that’s below average. Maybe even worse.

Average build, black hair, no notable features at all.

A typical socially awkward person who's bad at talking to others.

I failed to make friends right from the start, and the same remains true in my second year.

In the classroom, I'm practically invisible.

I'm not in any clubs, just the “going home” club. I have no hobbies or special skills.

On weekends, I sit at my desk without going out, scrolling through internet forums.

…Ah, how empty.

A man who is “empty” and “unattractive.”

That's who I am.

I only realize this now.

“Give me a break… There was never a chance for me, was there――”

I muttered that along with the inevitable heartbreak.

It was such a painfully ordinary voice.

Of course, I didn't conveniently have a good voice either.

This kind of guy likes that Kisaragi-san? Tried talking to her?

…How embarrassing.

What the hell was I doing?

Who am I even?

Who am I?

I'm nothing more than a background character, lower than trash.

Not only Kisaragi-san, but nobody takes any interest in me.

I'll never be in the spotlight.

I'll forever end up in the shadows.

“Damn it…”

I've had enough.

I hate myself for being so empty.

I hate myself for being incapable of doing anything.

――I want to change.

For the first time, I thought that strongly, deeply.

Ending up without ever being recognized by anyone, without ever having a friend.

Ending up with nothing. Ending up unable to do anything.

But what should I do?

What does it mean to change?

Ah. I don't know anything anymore.

So.

“――I have nothing left but ‘anka.'”

It won't be my own will.

I'll leave it to the opinions of the people on the message board.

That's what I decided.

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[Anka]

A slang term used on message boards to refer to a reply anchor (>>).

[Anka thread]

A thread where the thread starter designates a future thread number as an “anka,” and they follow the instructions given in the reply to advance the thread.

Example:

1: Username: Anonymous

>>2 decides tonight's curry ingredients.

2: Username: Anonymous
Onion

3: Username: Anonymous
Garlic

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TL: So onion will be tonight’s curry ingredients.