I was Thrown into an Unfamiliar Manga

"I heard some students are calling you the ‘Black Beast’ because you’re always surrounded by girls. What do you think about that?"
"We’re just normal friends. Honestly, I don’t understand why people are trying to link me to them in that way."
"There’s also that fight video that went viral before summer vacation. People are saying the guy in the 1-on-50 brawl was you. Is that true, Kim Yu-seong?"

"…Absolutely not. I watched that video myself, and you can’t even see the guy’s face."
Ayabe-senpai’s questions were a perfect mix of mild and spicy.
If I hadn’t known I’d be asked these questions in advance, some of them would’ve been tough to answer on the spot.

Most of my answers had to be negative, but honestly, I had no choice.
After all, the actual things I’d done could be counted on one hand.
When the interview ended, Ayabe-senpai turned off her recorder and frowned slightly between her brows.

"Hm, not as sensational as I expected."
"Sorry I’m such a boring person."
"No, honestly, just getting to interview you is lucky enough. Considering your reputation, the fact that this will be published in the school paper alone will make everyone curious."
"…Is it really that big a deal?"

When I looked at her skeptically, Ayabe-senpai nodded firmly.
"It’s that big. Even if you asked the first-years who just entered this year, they’d know about you."
She glanced toward the first-year girl holding the camera, Hanami.

Hanami shrank a little, looking shy, but nodded timidly.
"The president’s right. Kim Yu-seong-senpai is super famous even among the first-years. They call you the guy who conquered the school with his fists."
‘What is this, a 90s school delinquent manga?’

In this day and age, chasing after "fist romance" will just land you in jail before you even get to college.
"Anyway, thanks for the interview today. I’ll show you the paper first when it’s out."
"When does it come out?"

"During the cultural festival, of course. About two months from now, right?"
"Not that far off, then."
"Not for second-years, no. We’ve got the school trip, the sports festival, and then the cultural festival all ❀ Nоvеlігht ❀ (Don’t copy, read here) crammed together."

Ayabe-senpai let out a small sigh.
"I wish I had more free time, but my parents won’t let me breathe."
"Which school are you aiming for?"

"Waseda University. School of Commerce."
"Ah…"
I immediately understood why she sounded so tired.
Well, if it’s Waseda, that’s just how it is.

"Anyway, let’s stop with the gloomy talk. The interview’s over, so… want to hang out?"
"Eh? Me too?"
"Yeah. It feels too abrupt to just leave like this. How about we take a commemorative sticker photo at the arcade? It’s not every day we get this chance."

Ayabe-senpai invited me so casually that I was taken aback.
Honestly, people who talked to me this naturally right from the start were rare.
Maybe only Rika or Sasha came close.

Is this the power of a true super socialite?
I glanced at the other two girls.
Both looked confused. Clearly, this hadn’t been discussed beforehand.

"Wouldn’t it be awkward if I tagged along?"
But Ayabe-senpai waved her hand dismissively.

"Come on~ If I thought it’d be awkward, I wouldn’t have invited you. Besides, if it’s just girls, we get hit on a lot. I don’t know if it’s because of how I look, but guys often come up and try to talk to us."

With her saying that much, I couldn’t exactly refuse.
"…Alright."
It’s not like we’d be out long. I could play along for a bit and then head home.

With that thought, I agreed to go along.
***
Ayabe-senpai led us straight to a nearby arcade.

"Yes! Perfect! I’m on fire today!"
Contrary to her first impression, which made me think she’d play only cutesy games, she was insanely good at a rhythm game where you hit taiko drums.
Holding drumsticks in both hands, she beat the drum in perfect rhythm. Clearly, this wasn’t her first time.
"President, just how long have you been playing this?"

"Since middle school, so… four or five years?"
"I don’t think I can even manage the easy level."
"It’s not as hard as it looks. Hey, Hanami, want to try?"

She offered Hanami the drumsticks, and after a moment of hesitation, Hanami accepted, playing a song on an easy level with a happy expression.
‘Now this is the good side of arcades.’
Even people who aren’t close can bond over games.

I was standing a step away, watching the three of them, when—
"Excuse me…"
"Hm?"

I turned my head, curious, and saw a vaguely familiar delinquent standing there.
"Do you remember me?"
"Uh… who were you again?"

"I’m the guy who went to the shop asking you to help Kaz-bro."
"Ah!"
I finally recalled his face.

Right, that had happened.
It was long enough ago that I didn’t recognize him immediately.
"What are you doing here?"

"Just hanging out with friends. But when I saw you, bro’s bro, I wanted to say hi."
He bowed deeply, his blonde hair falling forward.
"Uh? Uh?"

I panicked slightly and glanced around.
Luckily, the Newspaper Club trio was too absorbed in their game to notice us.
"Hey, don’t do that."

I quickly straightened his back, whispering urgently.
"Why not, sir?"
"I’m not Kaz’s ‘bro.’ We’re the same age."

The blonde punk scratched his head awkwardly.
"Still, you’re older than me, so calling you ‘bro’ feels right."
"Wait, how old are you?"

"I’m in my third year of middle school."
"……."
He definitely didn’t look like a middle-schooler, but in this manga world, that’s not exactly unusual.

Not that I was one to talk.

"Anyway, nice running into you, but you should go. I’ll tell Kaz you said hi."
"Ah, yes. Wishing you long life and health, bro."

"I said I’m not—!"
I sighed as he left, still bowing politely, then casually leaned against the wall, whistling as if nothing had happened.
Ayabe-senpai approached, apparently finished with her game.

"Who was that? I heard you talking to someone."
"Ah, just a guy I know. Said hi and left."
"Hmm, okay."

My instincts screamed one thing loud and clear: Of all people, I absolutely cannot give this person the wrong idea.
"If we’re done here, how about we try something else? How about a shooting game?"
"That sounds fun, but let’s do what I mentioned earlier first."

"What you mentioned earlier?"
"Commemorative photo. When else would I get to take a picture with you?"
She glanced at the two underclassmen.

"You’re taking one too, right?"
Judging by their faces, they didn’t really have a choice.
"Alright! Let’s go!"

We followed Ayabe-senpai like cows being led to the slaughterhouse, stepping into the sticker photo booth one by one.
***
Sticker photos.

Machines like these were the territory of social butterflies.
I’d taken one relatively recently, but only because Minami had practically forced me.
Being surrounded by near-strangers like this was definitely a first.

"Since Kim-kun’s the tallest, you should stand in the middle."
As instructed, I played the totem pole.
Ayabe-senpai stood in front, while the other two clung to my arms like cicadas on a tree trunk.

"S-sorry for clinging like this!"
Hanami, clearly unused to physical contact with guys, kept mumbling apologies, her face bright red.
"Hmm. Not bad muscles, though."

Meanwhile, Takagi, who was my age, acted all casual, squeezing my arm.
Clearly, four people in such a tiny booth was too much.
Breathing heavily, we jostled against each other while Ayabe-senpai adjusted the machine.

"Okay, say cheese! Cheese!"
Hearing that word triggered my instinctive Korean response, and I smiled reflexively.
Click! Click! Click!

Three shots in quick succession.
Ayabe-senpai picked the best one and handed out the stickers to each of us.
We finally escaped the cramped booth and sat on a bench, catching our breath.

"Man, I’m thirsty. Who wants to grab drinks?"
"Let’s decide with rock-paper-scissors."
"Agreed!"

"I-I’m okay with that."
Of course, rock-paper-scissors ended in my loss, as if bound by the law of "the one who suggests it always loses."
I headed to the vending machines with four drink orders in mind.

One thing I liked about Japanese vending machines—most drinks were only 100 yen, which was great for someone who preferred soda and sports drinks over water.
Clunk!
I returned with four cans in my arms… only to see—

"Come on, don’t be like that. Hang out with us. Why’re you playing hard to get?"
The three girls were being hit on.