After the entrance ceremony ended without incident, Yuito slowly headed towards the school gate.

(By the way, during the first week, after the entrance ceremony, I went home right away, and I was surprised to find that the class relationships had already formed without me even noticing...)

Looking around, there are many people lined up and heading home.

Even though it's the first day of school, faint human relationships are beginning to form.

The happy couples are probably already using SNS to expand their network at school.

It was about a month after entering high school that Yuito realized that making friends these days was a cyber battle.

There are many people who seem to be meeting up at the school gate as well.

They will probably get in touch through SNS and deepen their friendship from the very first day of school.

When Yuito was also looking for Hakari, someone tapped him on the shoulder.

When he turned around, Yuito's cheek was pinched.

"Hehe... gotcha."

"...?"

The one who was playing childish pranks on Yuito and grinning mischievously was not Hakari.

"Um, you're the representative of the new students, right, Jinguuji-san?"

When Yuito inadvertently asked, Kirika's smile vanished from her face, and she quickly averted her gaze.

However, in the next moment, she breaks into a bright smile.

"...Yeah. Jackpot! The winner gets the right to call me by my name! You can call me Kirika."

"Y-Yay! You did it!"

"You're honest, which is good. In return, I'll call you Yuito-kun too!"

"Ah, yes."

―Huh, did I tell her my name?

The question that floated in Yuito's mind. However, he was instantly blown away.

The warm sensation enveloped Yuito's hand, and a soft, squishy feeling touched his arm.

Kirika held Yuito's hand and pulled him close.

"Ah!? Ahh, what is it!?"

The distance is too intense for a loner with social anxiety.

It's faster to close the distance than a gal who is kind to otaku.

The confused Yuito's eyes flicker between black and white.

"Yuito-kun, do you have time now? Want to grab a meal together?"

"Uh, no, um..."

Actually, he has a prior engagement. It was when he was about to say that.

"Who is that woman?"

A cold voice pierced through Yuito.

From the back gate, Hakari comes walking briskly. With eyes like icicles, she glares at Kirika.

He doesn't know why, but she's angry.

Hakari is in a complete state of readiness for battle. It becomes a situation where anything could happen. Or so it seems.

"Wow, so cute!! Like a doll!!"

"Eh...?"

Kirika quickly ran over to Hakari.

While looking around Hakari, she praises, saying things like, "Your hair is so shiny!"

Hakari also felt bewildered by the sudden closeness, and the tense atmosphere from earlier relaxed.

"Um, Jinguuji-san... right?"

"I'm Jinguuji Kirika. Call me Kirika."

"I am Amano Hakari. Please feel free to call me whatever you like."

"Nice to meet you, Hakari-chan."

That's the top of the real-life achievers!!

Kirika closed the distance with Hakari in an instant and somehow slipped into her embrace.

Before he knew it, they were calling each other by their names.

Witnessing the true power of a real-life socialite, Yuito was filled with dread.

He's very surprised.

"I wonder what kind of relationship Hakari-chan and Yuito-kun have?"

"Yuito-san is my lifesaver."

"Huh? What do you mean?"

"Two days ago, I was almost hit by a truck, and someone helped me."

"Oh... Yuito-kun, good job. You're amazing for helping Hakari-chan!"

Kirika gives a firm thumbs-up.

For some reason, even Hakari seemed to be proudly saying "Hehe."

"Is it okay if we join the conversation too?"

While Yuito and the others were talking, two men approached them.

One is a refreshing prince-like guy. The other is a self-absorbed, tough guy.

Seeing the two of them, Kirika lets out a small "Ah."

"Um, it's Asakaze-kun and Arai-kun, right?"

"Thank you for remembering my name. We chatted a bit at Isosta, but this is the first time in real life, right?"

Isosta is a popular SNS platform among people who are living fulfilling lives.

It has never even been installed on Yuito's smartphone.

When he remains silent about the story from another world, Hakari whispers to him.

"Are you doing Isosta, Yuito-san?"

"I've never had it even once..."

"I'm the same way. I don't understand what's so fun about SNS."

Apparently, Hakari seems to be a race close to the only person.

A bit of familiarity.

While the two are tilting their heads at the SNS, the happy couple group continues the conversation.

"We're planning to go out for lunch soon, but it feels a bit lonely with just the two of us. If you'd like, would you like to join us, Kirika-chan?"

"Let's take that kid over there with us too."

Prince-like boy, Asakaze invites Kirika.

The other person, Arai glanced at Hakari.

(I feel like I'm not really welcome here...)

Apparently, Asakaze and the others want to go to lunch in pairs with two men and two women.

He can't even bring himself to look at others.

Should he wait for the right moment to withdraw...?

As Yuito was trying to align the cursor with the escape command, Hakari stepped forward smoothly.

"No, I had made plans with Yuito-san."

"Huh, with that guy?"

Arai looked at Yuito and snorted.

In those eyes, he sees contempt.

"Isn't it fine? It's more fun being with us."

"I'll pass. It's more fun with Yuito-san."

Hakari flatly rejected Arai's invitation.

If he had been rejected so bluntly, Yuito would have run home and soaked his pillow with tears.

However, the "real-life" people have remarkable endurance. It seems Arai has no intention of backing down.

"...Enough already, with that gloomy attitude―"

"Well, well, how about we all go together with five people? The more, the merrier, right?"

As Arai was about to say something, Asakaze interrupted.

It seems that Yuito also counted the number of people.

"...Yuito-san, what will you do?"

"I don't mind either way... I'll leave it up to you, Hakari-san."

"Alright, then let's decide as a group of five. Kirika-san, you're okay with that too, right?"

"Ah, yeah. I'm okay."

"...Tch."

Due to Asakaze's insistence, it was decided that the five of them would go out for a meal.

Chapter 5: Living the Good Life