Not today. Maybe I’ll try talking to her some other day, but not today. That seems doable.

  Some other day...

  5 - Subway Ride

  The subway ride to school wasn’t quite long enough for me to comfortably do my Meteor Witches dailies, so I usually took the time to read light novels instead. (Although I kept the titles with the more risqué cover art to the privacy of my home—I am not the kind of person who could shamelessly read something like Princess & Tentacles in public. Sure, I could use a book cover, but wouldn’t that make it obvious I have something to hide?)

  It is important to hide how much of a pervert you are.

  Princess & Tentacles is a niche hit from a debut author with illustrations by an erotic artist famous for drawing bondage art—not that I knew who he was before I read the series (I’m not into that kind of thing). It’s one of those series where it’s clear that the author has some particular tastes, but the world-building and characters are really well-done (I swear). The titular princess is a fascinating character, and there are some really creative monster designs (although they pretty much all have some kind of long noodly appendages). It really is good though (you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover)! The next volume is due to release early next year, and I’m going to pick it up day one (from a store far away from my home where, hopefully, no one from school will see me).

  But enough about that.

  I was currently reading Why Is My High School Romantic Comedy So Fricked Up and it had me thinking about something. It’s a typical romantic comedy story with an asocial protagonist, but what got me thinking is the appearance of a third heroine who shows up a good way into the story. I like her a lot, but I know that she has basically no chance of winning. I call this the “Later Heroine Problem.” A heroine who shows up that late into the story is typically just there to shake things up. Usually, there’s a pretty clear trajectory a story sets up in the first, or even first few, volumes. If that trajectory suddenly shifted and the main character started going out with some new character that showed up later in the story, fans who got invested in the initial relationships would be pissed. Not that you can’t tell this kind of story—it would just have to be properly foreshadowed, and you just don’t see it happen all that often. I usually feel bad for these hopeless heroines who arrive late to the party.

  Too late to really participate.

  Doomed to failure before they’ve even started.

  Cursed to a cruel fate.

  A love that will never come true.

  A desire that can never be fulfilled.

  A wish that can never be granted.

  Sounds a little like you.

  6 - Before School

  My school is only a few minute’s walk uphill from the station. I don’t know whose bright idea it was to build our school on top of a hill—did they just hate schoolchildren? Maybe the idea was to give arriving students a bit of wake-up exercise. Or perhaps, it was meant as some kind of metaphor for the struggle of growing up and entering society as an adult. In reality, there probably isn’t any deeper meaning to it at all.

  It isn’t actually that steep, though. It’s only a problem if you’re running late and trying to sprint up the hill to make it on time, or if you bike to school.

  But today is a normal day.

  The gentle slope provided little resistance, and I passed through the school gates without issue alongside a stream of other students. I entered the main building and climbed the stairs to the second floor, then stopped in front of classroom 2-B. I slid open the door as quietly as possible and entered the classroom.

  The only person in my class I was well acquainted with usually showed up later than me, so I never bothered with a greeting when entering the classroom.

  His name is Amano Shuusuke, and I wouldn’t go so far as to call him a friend even though we’ve known each other since middle school. We first became acquainted with one another because both of our given names started with the character for autumn, and we mostly just talk to each other at school because of proximity. At least, that’s my impression of our relationship. I can’t speak for how he thought of me.

  Maybe you’re just a piece of shit.

  “Good morning, Matsuda-san.”

  Oh yeah, I guess there is Izumi as well. All three of us were in the same class in middle school. She was always a bit of a stickler for the rules, so she would often get mad at Shuusuke for being a troublemaker, and I sometimes got dragged into it as well. She was famous throughout the school for appearing to be a sociable girl who could get along with anyone. She even bothered to be friendly to a social outcast like me. If things had been different, maybe we could have been closer—I think it’s too late for that now, though. I guess you could call us acquaintances, but I don’t know if that’s the best way to describe our relationship. How about just ‘people who know of each other.’ At least, that’s my impression of our relationship. I can’t speak for how she thought of me.

  Either way, Izumi is the class president and she greets every student, so I don’t prescribe any particular meaning to her greeting me in the mornings.

  I just gave a nod of acknowledgment and proceeded towards my seat in the back of the classroom.

  Time for another part of my morning routine.

  There’s one girl who’s always reading a different book every day, and on my way to my desk I sneak a peek at the cover. She seems to read pretty much anything, from light novels to classic Japanese literature, and sometimes even books in English. Today is an English book kind of day. I don’t know what book it is—I’m not necessarily bad at reading English, but it would take me more than just a glance at the cover to figure out what the title was and I wasn’t about to stop just to read it. That would be weird.

  And you’re not weird?

  I settled into my second home by the window and scanned the room.

  I wasn’t too early, so there were a fair amount of people already there. A few girls were gathered around someone’s desk, gossiping about someone, but I didn’t pay much attention to that kind of thing. A boy was frantically trying to finish yesterday’s homework. A guy was catching up on a few more minutes of sleep before the start of class. The gossiping girls seemed to have attracted the attention of Izumi, who was chewing them out for spreading rumors.

  I probably should remember some of these people’s names because I see them every day, but I guess that room in my brain is being taken up by Meteor Witches lore. Priorities.

  With the classroom thoroughly examined, I switched to observing the students coming through the school gate, which I could clearly see from my seat by the window.

  As the start of the school day drew closer, the stream of students slowed down to a trickle. The chime of the school bell declared any student who hadn’t arrived yet late. Just seconds afterwards, a girl with her hair tied up into a ponytail came running through the gate.

  She needs to do something about her schedule because this is not an uncommon occurrence.

  7 - Lunch

  My usual lunch routine began with devouring my lunch as quickly as possible and then playing Meteor Witches. I usually had more than enough time to do all my daily quests and use up all of my Stardust—a limited resource needed to accomplish certain tasks that replenished over time. Afterwards, I would just grind materials or participate in the newest event.

  “Yo, Akio, you’re not going to believe this.”

  Shuusuke had scooted his desk next to mine and tried to strike up a conversation.

  In the short time since lunch had started, I already had my bento box unwrapped and opened. I didn’t even use the chopsticks to pick up the food; I just brought the container up to my mouth and shoveled the contents into my gaping maw.

  “Mhm.”

  “Damn, you’re in a hurry today. Did you forget to eat breakfast?”

  I swallowed before giving a curt response.

  “New event.”

  The second half of my lunch disappeared into my mouth.

  “That game again? You’re never going to get a girl if you’re blowing all your money on mobile games, dude.”

  First of all, I’m not a whale. Second of all—

  I swallowed again.

  “I’m getting just as many chicks playing mobile games as you are doing your thing.”

  I whipped out my phone and tapped on the icon for Meteor Witches.

  “Do you ever pay attention to what I’m saying? I’ve told you about all my girlfriends, dude.”

  “I mean a real girlfriend. Not one you made up. Not a girl you went on one date with who ghosted you immediately afterwards. Not a girl you talked to at a mixer and then never followed up with. And certainly not one you paid to go on a date with.”

  As I decimated his ego, I began working through my dailies.

  “Well...this time it’s real, dude. You wouldn’t believe how cute she is.”

  “Mhm.”

  So, you’re not denying that the other ones were fake?

  I wouldn’t believe all right—I wouldn’t believe that she actually exists.

  Or do you just not want her to exist?

  With my dailies done, I was now using up all my Stardust by farming a weapon upgrade material dungeon over and over.

  “So there I was, walking down the shopping center when I saw this lost-looking girl wearing the Sousaku Girls’ school uniform...”

  Like a rich girl from Sousaku would want anything to do with your sorry ass—at least make your story believable.

  I started to tune out whatever bullshit he was cooking up about another imaginary girlfriend of his.

  This happened a lot once Christmas started approaching. I guess he got self-conscious about not having a girlfriend to go on a date with for Christmas, so he would make shit up.

  Although, he’s starting a little early this year...

  Aren’t you just jealous?

  “...and then she told me that she didn’t like having her picture taken because she thought the camera would capture her soul or something. She’s, like, a really sheltered rich girl type, dude. She’s so adorable...”

  There’s no way a girl like that actually exists nowadays, dumbass. If this girl isn’t just a total figment of his imagination, she’s probably lying to him as part of some kind of badger-game-type scheme.

  Who do you think is running badger games on high schoolers?

  That’s enough of that. It’s time for the long-awaited event quest!

  8 - Magic?

  Ding dong bing bong.

  School was over for the day so the students began to pack their bags and leave—either to their clubs or to go home.

  Naturally, I’m a proud member of the go-home club.

  Shuusuke grabbed me by the shoulder as I was leaving the classroom.

  “Where do you think you’re going?”

  “Uhh, I’m going home?”

  What’s his deal?

  “What about the magic club?”

  What about the magic club? I’ve never heard of any magic club.

  I cocked my head to the side.

  “What?”

  “What happened to getting your fortune read at the magic club?”

  I put the back of my fingers to his forehead to see if he had a fever, because he wasn’t making any sense.

  “You feeling okay? Did a lack of bitches finally make you lose it?”

  He swatted my hand away.

  “I am not suffering from a ‘lack of bitches.’ Were you even listening to anything I said during lunch?”

  No.

  “No.”

  Oops.

  He let out a sigh.

  “Sometimes I wonder if we’re even friends...”

  Good question. Let me know if you find the answer.

  “So, what’s the deal with this magic club?”

  “You at least remember the part about me meeting Reina-chan, right?”

  No.

  “Yeah.”

  “Well, the entire reason I was walking around the shopping district that day was because a senpai from the magic club invited me to have my fortune read. She told me that I would have a chance encounter there that would blossom into a romantic relationship.”

  Sounds fishy to me. Fortune telling obviously isn’t real. Which means either it was just a coincidence that he actually had a chance encounter, or...it wasn’t a chance encounter at all. Well, he’s going to have to learn the hard way to be less trusting of people.

  Don’t expect me to lend you any money once this whole thing blows up on you.

  You’re really sticking to this badger game theory?!

  “And what does that have to do with me?”

  “I suggested that you get your fortune read too. You agreed, so we made plans for me to take you to the magic club.”

  Damn. I must be really good at feigning paying attention, because I don’t remember anything we talked about after I started the event quest. It’s like he had talked to someone else in my place. Like I have a second personality living inside my brain. Like...I’m the alien spy?

  Do you want to freak yourself out again?

  I felt a tap on my shoulder and whipped around to find Izumi standing behind me with her arms folded.

  “You’re not allowed to just block the exit, you know. If you two are going to have a conversation, please take it someplace else.”

  “Yes, Mom.”

  Izumi really did feel like the class mom sometimes.

  She just sighed.

  9 - Magic!

  Shuusuke stopped in front of an unused classroom.

  Taped to the door was a crudely hand-drawn sign with the words ‘Magic Club*’ taking up almost the entire sign. Written underneath in much smaller text was ‘*Student Organization.’

  I guess they don’t have enough members to be officially recognized as a club, so they’re only a student organization.

  Whatever the difference is.

  “Seems like kind of a ramshackle operation.”

  “Trust me, dude. It’s legit.”

  He threw open the door to the club (student organization) room and walked in. I followed, closing the door behind me.

  “Welcome, all, to the magic club. Kihihihihi.”

  We were greeted with a creepy laugh by a girl wearing a black cape over her school uniform. Her long dark hair was unkempt and extended just past her shoulders—it was so messy I can only assume she did it on purpose. She was standing in front of a few desks that had been arranged next to one another and covered with a black sheet. On the table was what looked like a crystal ball surrounded by unlit candles.

  “Who are you? Where’s Asahina-senpai?”

  “Kihihi... Senpai is unfortunately...no longer with us.”

  “Wait, what happened to her? Is she okay?”

  “She...has already returned from whence she came. She has business elsewhere now.”

  Shuusuke collapsed to the ground on the verge of tears.

  “No... That can’t be...”

  I don’t really have any idea what’s going on, but I assume this ‘Asahina-senpai’ is the person who read his fortune. The way this girl phrased it made it sound like she had died, but that obviously isn’t true. No matter how creepy she tried to present herself as, there’s no way she would be able to laugh so casually like that if one of her clubmates had just died.

  “Kihihi. If you really want to see her again, I can teach you how. I know all kinds of rituals.”

  Shuusuke’s head perked up.

  “Really?”

  “Really. It’s a simple spell.”

  “Tell me! Please!”

  “Just come to this room at the same time tomorrow and you will be able to see her face again. Kihihihihihi.”

  “Can something so simple really bring back the dead?”

  Of course not, idiot.

  “The borders between life and death are much thinner than most think.”

  “I see...”

  This is fun to watch, but if I don’t intervene this could go on forever.

  “Dude, she just went home today because she had something else to do.”

  “Kihihihi. Your friend seems to be quite an adept magic user if he could figure out the mechanisms behind that spell.”

  It’s not magic, it’s logic.

  “Really?! Senpai’s not dead?”

  “Right now, in this place, where she is not, she might as well not be living. And tomorrow, when we see her again, she will live once more. If, however, you want to interpret things in your own way, you can.”

  “Now that this whole misunderstanding is cleared up, how about we introduce ourselves? My name is Matsuda Akio, and this idiot is Amano Shuusuke. We’re both from class 2-B. It’s nice to meet you.”

  I was trying as hard as I could to keep things on track.

  “Kihihihi. Obviously, I can’t reveal my true name, but the people of this world tend to call me Nozawa Saya.”

  As she said her name, she flung her arms out wide, sending her cape billowing, and struck a pose with a hand dramatically covering one of her eyes.

  “—It’s nice to meet you both, senpai. What business do you have with the magic club?”

  10 - Soul Read

  “I see...”

  Nozawa nodded in response to Shuusuke’s summary of the situation. She had taken a seat at the makeshift table with the crystal ball on it and we were sitting across from her.

  She patted the crystal ball before speaking up.

  “Yuuna-senpai’s specialty is fortune telling, so if it really must be her, you can always come back tomorrow. However, I’m quite proud of my own magical abilities. Kihihihi. If you want, I could perform a soul reading.”

  I never wanted to have my fortune read in the first place, so I don’t really care who does it, or what they call it. I just want to go home.

  “That’s fine by me.”

  “All right then. I can concentrate on your soul energies more effectively if it’s just the two of us. Would all unrelated parties please leave?”

  Shuusuke whispered into my ear before he got up and left the classroom.