“Truth is stranger than fiction.”
In other words, reality is more interesting than anything you could make up.
Chatting in the middle of the classroom are the popular kids—the centre of the class. The carefree, oblivious idiot tilting his head in confusion is Akagami Kouichi. The stereotypical tsundere blushing bright red as she turns her face away with a huff is Touyama Yuzuki. Meanwhile, speaking at her own relaxed pace with an air of gentle absent-mindedness is Oukura Ruka.
This trio forms the core of the top social group in our class. They're a gathering of some of the most attractive boys and girls in the entire school, and they have enough influence that even students from other classes pay attention to them.
“…By the way, Kouichi, do you have a type? Like, what kind of girl do you like?”
“My type? Hmm… if I had to say, I’d want someone who’s fun to be around.”
“What a lame answer. Well, it doesn’t matter to me anyway!”
“Haha, yeah… Huh? Then why did you ask me, Yuzuki?”
“I-it was just a whim!”
“I’d like a girl who’s fun to be around too.”
Ever since starting high school, I’ve spent all my time watching this group, and I can confidently say that was the right decision.
The relationship between Akagami and Touyama always seems like it’s about to become a romance, yet never quite does. They’re childhood friends, and the atmosphere around them is a mix of the familiarity that comes with growing up together and the heart-pounding awkwardness of adolescence.
Then there’s Oukura, whose very existence stirs up the relationship between the other two. Touyama is obviously in love with Akagami, but even I can’t tell how Akagami really feels.
Lately, Akagami has been getting especially close to Oukura, earning Touyama’s jealousy.
A love triangle really is the royal road of romantic comedies.
Oukura, meanwhile, gets impatient watching Touyama. Even though Touyama complains, she doesn’t seem to dislike the situation all that much.
The fact that the girls are genuinely good friends is another huge plus in my book.
Complicated emotions between friends? That’s exactly the kind of thing I love.
As Akagami nods along in agreement, Touyama shoots him an exasperated retort.
“Oh! The girl who’s fun to be around is right in front of me!”
“G-good grief… Ruka, you’re too much!”
“Ehehe~”
They’re all so ridiculously close…
“…Were you trying to say, ‘Harmony is a beautiful thing’?”
Listening to the conversation of that popular group, I mutter to myself from the corner of the classroom.
My name is Kageyama Hakuto.
Each member of the popular group shines in their own way. It’s because they’re such appealing characters that I grow attached to them and become absorbed in their stories. The classroom at lunch is packed with students, yet not a single person hears me talking to myself.
That’s because I blend perfectly into the atmosphere of the room. I’ve always been invisible.
I’m an ordinary, plain-looking guy with no distinguishing features. Even when I’m standing somewhere, people end up looking for me because they don’t notice I’m already there.
It’s thanks to that ability that I can spend all my time observing the popular group without anyone finding it strange.
No one may sympathise with me, but I’m completely serious.
There was a time when I devoured novels and manga. Of course, there were countless entertaining works.
But one day I suddenly realised something.
“…Wait. Isn’t reality more interesting?”
Stories exist in the real world too.
Today’s entertaining as always…
I’ve also undergone a certain kind of special training that allowed me to erase my presence even more thoroughly.
When it comes to stories, reality is the best.
Of course, not everything is interesting. Sometimes reality follows dull, ordinary developments.
Lately, though, I’ve become hooked on watching the youthful drama of the popular group in my class.
That’s largely because I’m a fan of the youth romantic comedy genre.
I have absolutely no interest in my own youth.
I’d much rather spend that time watching someone else’s story unfold.
After all, once I graduate, if I kept observing high school students, no matter how invisible I am, I’d probably end up being treated as a suspicious person and arrested.
In other words, I’m simply a viewer of the story called reality.
Compared to fiction, reality’s biggest drawback is that my eyes and ears are limited.
That’s why I choose my subjects carefully.
The popular group in our class centred around Akagami.
My instincts told me their story would definitely be interesting.
And I was right.
From here on, I’ll continue enjoying their story as nothing more than a spectator.
In the end, fiction is the same—it’s all just a matter of preference.
I simply prefer the unpredictable twists that happen in reality over the carefully structured developments of fiction.
Reality doesn’t offer realism.
It offers the real thing.
Watching the subtle emotional shifts unique to adolescence is fascinating.
Once you become an adult, those feelings can never truly be experienced again.
The greatest appeal is that I can witness them firsthand, because I’m a high school student myself—and only now.
A real-life high school romantic comedy is limited-time entertainment that can only be enjoyed while you’re actually in high school.
That’s why I intend to enjoy it to the fullest while I still can.
