Minutes before the bell rang, Oota-kun and Kawai-san returned to the classroom together. Their faces are fully flushed as their hands held each other company.
Everyone who was gossiping before kept silent from their arrival, wondering what this unlikely pairing development could be.
However, before we move forward with the story, let's revisit the day when their story began. On the day when two worlds that don't usually meet collide with one another.
At the start of the new semester, when Yukiya Saito had just made his debut, revealing his new appearance. Everyone was surprised. Who knew such a gem could be hiding at such boorish appearance, they thought.
At that time, Kawai Nishino-san had a bright idea. A thought that will shake the world of an unsuspecting person named Oota Kutanaka-kun.
After school, when the final bell rang. Kawai-san ambushed Oota-kun who was on his way home from school. She was secretly trailing him from behind.
The two of them talked at a nearby caffe, and here Kawai-san pitched her absurd proposal. She calls it, [Operation: "Boyfriend Maker"]
Following the philosophy that "A gem shows their true value after being polished" Kawai-san thought that Oota-kun has the potential to be just like Yukiya Saito, a diamond in the rough.
Oota-kun has thick bangs too, covering his eyes which drawn Kawai Nishino-san to grow interested on him. With this air of mystery around him, she wonders what are the chances that he might actually be a secret hottie too.
When she lifted his bang. She said, "Hm, you're a little more mundane than I thought."
Oota-kun, a little offended by her remarks. He annoyedly replied, "It's not my fault I'm ugly!"
"You're not ugly." Kawai-san replied with a calm smile, then proceeded to add, "You're just a little unpolished." She smiled cheekily.
Oota-kun's heart almost skipped a beat, watching the gal smile seemed so genuinely.
Kawai-san then handed her phone to Oota-kun, showing a picture of hers from middle school.
Oota-kun was a little surprised, at the same time, underwhelmed. 'Is she really the same girl on the photo?' He hates to admit it, but she's much more prettier now, brimming with confidence as a gal. 'The power of make up sure is something,' he thought.
Going back on topic. Although Kawai-san was a little underwhelmed about Oota-kun's uncovered bangs, she didn't back out like Oota-kun thought. Her determination remained the same, to make her own ideal S-tier boyfriend come to reality.
And so she reached out her had to Oota-kun.
"So, what will it be?"
A little hesitant, Oota-kun knew this might be a decision he might regret later on, but he grabbed and shook Kawai-san's hand anyway, being swept by the moment, shaking his gray and mundane world.
The deal is sealed, and the terms of the secret strategic partnership had been finalized. If Oota-kun manage to become a gem, then Kawai-san claims him as her boyfriend, inn exchange, letting Oota-kun climb the social hierarchy. On the other hand, if Oota-kun failed to climb the hierarchy, this is where their secret relationship would end.
As days go by, slowly, they discovered different sides of them, and sides they themselves did not even know. At first Oota-kun thought Kawai-san was just using him because she's a hoe, but she was actually a really nice person. And surprisingly, more pure hearted than he initially though.
He came to know that her dream was to become a beautician. A dream job she has her sight on for a while now. Maybe that's why she wanted to help him. 'I was just a test subject' he thought. He can't help but admire her, at the same time, feeling the gap contrasting his life that seems to have no direction.
On the other hand, Kawai-san came to know that Oota-kun can be really funny some times, which surprised her as he's usually so timid around other people. He has his cool moments, sure, but it was always fun seeing him try his best even knowing full well he'll likely fail. Overall, he's really fun to hang out with, even though his words are pretty blunt most of the time.
Before they knew it, their eyes started to follow each other's direction. They would bashfully look away, but will meet again, locking eyes with each other. But there still this underlying feeling, feeling of insecurities brewing inside that this strategic partnership might come to an end if the plan fails, not meet the terms of their agreement.
Oota-kun thought long and hard about his true feelings. It reached to a point he constantly avoids Kawai-san, forming a rift, and slowly becoming more and more distant. Were all of their interaction was all a facade? Was he/she only acting that way so he/she could get what they want from the agreement? A popular boyfriend/social status?
And right there at that moment, as if asking god for a sign. But he gave Oota-kun another question instead.
"What type of girl's do you like?"
On that moment, an image of Kawai Nishino-san popped up inside his mind. He couldn't lie to himself anymore. He mumbles, "A Gal"
As if looking for assurance, his classmate, Satoru-kun requested, "Can you repeat that for me"
Once more, Oota-kun mumbles "A Gal"
As if looking for stronger confirmation, the classmate pretend not to hear him, asking for Oota-kun to repeat himself once more.
"What's that? I still can't hear it."
"I said a Gal" Oota-kun replied, growing irritable at the moment, his answer more clear than the last one.
As if asking for one final confirmation, the classmate requested, "O-Once more"
"I SAID A GAL GOD DAMN IT!"
Oota-kun shouts, hoping his feeling reached Kawai Nishino-san who he noticed was secretly listening on the sidelines.
"And so here we are"
Hitomi-san summarized, letting Mocha-san and the readers catch up of how things led to one another that resulted in the current events.
'How do you know that, tho?' Mocha-san wonders, how does Hitomi-san knew details about the supposedly secret relationship between the class gal and otaku.
"Yukiya-kun knew his presence alone is enough to influence the people around him, and so he utilized his presence to become the nucleus of the class."
'Well, let's just assume what Hitomi-san is saying is the truth' Mocha-san asked, "I still don't get it. Why would he go out his way to act like an outcast? Couldn't he influence the system when he's already at the top of the hierarchy?"
Hitomi-san then proceeded to ask her, "Once you become untouchable, you lose the ability to touch."
Mocha-san nodded, feeling she heard that phrase somewhere before.
"People who reached the top says it's lonely up there. Disconnection starts when people only see position and power from those with elevated status. For Yukiya-kun, he knew to himself he could claim the throne at any given time, but what is position and power if no one can understand you?"
"Plus, if he claim the top and becomes the nucleus that connects everyone, what about the times when he's not around. In the end, Friend A and B would just be a friend of a friend, unlike what's happening right now. Also, because his move started specifically at the start of the second semester, it made everybody feel like it was okay to push the reset button, like Oota-kun and Kawai-san did on their secret entanglement."
"All of this is under Yukiya-kun's expectations."
[He knew such no plans]
"Oh. Ah, I-I see..."
Mocha-san started to believe after Hitomi-san gave such detailed explanations. However, there was still some things Hitomi-san keeps secret.
'But that's not the only thing Yukiya-kun did to collapse the hierarchy...'
'Mocha-san might not know this. But Yukiya-kun getting a part time job was also in a way, part of conquering and breaking the hierarchy. By allowing Mocha-san to grow mentally in a working environment, she came to realize that there is more to life than your social life at school, the same time, securing the role to play his first follower."
The role of the first follower is transforming a lone idea into a movement by demonstrating courage and showing others how to join. They publicly act on a new idea, risk ridicule, and show that the idea is viable and safe to follow, effectively turning a "lone nut" into a leader and igniting the spark for a larger group to join. (Google AI Overview)
Hitomi-san smiles in satisfaction, "I really can't hold a candle to Yukiya Saito-kun's leadership."