"...Kasumigaoka-kun is really frank, huh."
Kato Megumi's voice was as soft and unchanging as ever, calm like a still pond. As she said this, she quietly took a step away from him.
"Oi oi, if you're praising me for being honest, then why are you putting distance between us?!" Kasumigaoka Touji deadpanned, staring at her with a slight twitch in his brow.
No sincerity! Zero!
"But, you are still a boy after all," Megumi added, before leaning back in toward him with a playful smirk.
Left, then right. In, then out. Is she teasing me!?
Touji scratched his cheek awkwardly, his gaze sliding sideways toward her. "Uh... should I say thanks for being so understanding?"
Actually, he thought, Japanese girls really were quite tolerant. That was true in his previous world, and even more so after transmigrating here. Probably due to the subtle, lingering effects of gender roles and social norms. But even so—
"No need to thank me. I haven't done anything worthy of gratitude~," Megumi replied, ever breezy and elusive.
Just then, a light spring breeze drifted through the corridor. It wasn't strong, but it gently lifted her chestnut brown hair, revealing her smooth forehead and doll-like features. For a brief moment, Touji was a bit stunned.
As he watched the strands of her hair dance in the sunlight, her earlier words echoed in his mind.
She wants to change herself.
That quiet, subtle resolve hidden beneath her placid surface.
"Kato-san is actually really cute," he said sincerely.
"Eh? Thank you."
"But... why is your presence so faint?"
The smile on her face didn't falter, but for a split second, he thought he saw a flicker of something—disappointment? Resignation?—pass through her.
But it vanished almost instantly. Was it just his imagination?
"Because I'm very ordinary, I guess."
No! No way that's normal!
Touji wanted to shout it aloud. Just being plain doesn't mean you're a ninja! How could someone this cute be unnoticeable?
But he bit his tongue. That would just be rubbing salt into a wound.
Megumi raised one hand and began counting on her fingers—long and slender like delicate scallions.
"My name is ordinary, my grades are ordinary, my hairstyle is ordinary, and my personality is ordinary."
"I never joined any clubs, didn't hold any class roles, and barely have any friends. So... my presence is faint."
She laid it all out so flatly, so matter-of-factly, like she was reading a grocery list. But to Touji, it felt like a crime.
This wasn't her fault. This was the author's doing!
In the original light novel, How to Raise a Boring Girlfriend, Kato Megumi was written to be that way! This faint presence of hers—it defied logic! He hadn't even noticed when she appeared earlier despite actively trying to be aware of his surroundings!
Truly unscientific!
Thinking about the original work, he considered what would be necessary for her to change her attributes.
First: a visual makeover.
In the source material, she'd gone through an awakening by changing her hairstyle—ponytails, long straight black hair, a touch of elegance.
No need to do the exact same thing. Just something! Right now, her traditional bob cut was a bit too safe. It kind of sealed away her full potential.
Second—and far more important: a personality change.
People with flat, emotionless speech and a lack of expression were bound to be ignored. That needed to change if she wanted to break through that invisible wall around her.
As he pondered how to bring this up without sounding like a total baka, they arrived at the club building.
"What's on your mind, Kasumigaoka-kun?"
Kato tilted her head ever so slightly, sensing she was the subject of his thoughts.
"Life's beauty is always there. Sometimes, we just need the eyes to notice it," Touji said poetically.
"...I don't get it."
"I want to be the part that holds everything up, even if no one notices."
If this were Kasumigaoka Utaha, she would probably snort and say something like, "Ara ara, are you planning to conquer me too and add me to your harem, Kasumigaoka-kun?"
But Megumi—
"Oh."
"That's it? Just 'oh'?"
"Otherwise?" she asked, glancing at him and tilting her head again—pretending to be puzzled, though her expression didn't change a bit.
Touji sighed and waved it off. "Never mind."
They reached the second floor of the club building. Since this was his first time here, Touji didn't know which way to go. Seeing Kato-san turn toward the corridor on the right, he quickly caught up.
Room 5210, huh? Judging by the numbering, it looked like the club rooms were ordered from one end to the other.
Finally, they reached the second-to-last room on the right.
Touji gave it a casual glance as they passed by. Then he froze.
His face twisted in sheer disbelief.
Caring for Cockroaches Club.
"HIIIISSS—!"
His whole body recoiled instinctively.
Are these people serious?!
Caring!? For cockroaches!?
Wait—don't tell me… they're actually raising them!?
Touji shivered and took a cautious step back.
This school is cursed!!
Yare yare daze, if they were actually breeding cockroaches in there, then Touji would rather eat spicy natto for lunch every day than set foot in that room—much less bring in a microwave oven and use it during nap break!
Just standing there made his stomach churn.
"It's not what you're thinking~," Kato Megumi said in her signature airy tone, sensing his obvious distress.
Touji turned toward her, eyebrows raised in surprise.
"This club… hmm, I guess you could call it a sort of philosophical society. Their main activity is contemplating the meaning of life—specifically, what purpose cockroaches serve in this world despite being universally hated."
"Ehhhhh?! That's even weirder!" Touji blinked rapidly, then clutched at his chest and let out a dramatic sigh of relief. "For a second I thought they were literally protecting cockroaches. Raising them like pets. Megumi-san, don't scare me like that!"
She tilted her head. "I was startled too at first. But once we asked, it turned out to be more... metaphorical."
It was almost impossible to imagine Kato Megumi being startled by anything.
Still recovering from the emotional trauma, Touji followed her toward the club room at the end of the corridor. He grabbed the sliding door and pulled it open.
Inside, the Nap Club room was modest in size—around half of a regular classroom. But it felt cozy. A long, plush blue sofa took up one side of the room, a rectangular table with five chairs sat in the center, and bookshelves lined the wall. A storage cabinet stood quietly in the corner.
Simple, but far from shabby.
Hearing the door, the three people inside turned to look.
Touji's gaze met a familiar face—Kumin Tsuyuri.
Oh? She's here too? And seated the furthest away from the dazzling presence of Kasumigaoka Utaha…
Touji smiled to himself.
It looked like she was working hard!
"Yo, everyone's here already." Touji raised a hand casually, eyes sweeping the room with a satisfied look. "This club room's not bad at all."
"Right? Right? The sofa is super comfy. It's perfect for taking naps~."
Kumin Tsuyuri looked up from what seemed like her homework, her voice soft and fluffy like marshmallows.
You've already slept here?
He gave her a thumbs up—yup, totally on-brand for her.
"Good afternoon, everyone~."
Kato Megumi's calm greeting floated into the room as she stepped in behind him.
"Megumi-chan, good afternoon~!"
Tsuyuri's response was enthusiastic and warm. Touji noticed the way they casually addressed each other—first names already? Looks like they'd become friends.
In Japan, calling each other by first names without honorifics was practically a declaration of closeness!
Gotou-san, you better pick up the pace! He shot a subtle glance at Gotou Hitori.
As if feeling the pressure, Gotou Hitori perked up and murmured a soft, "Good afternoon~."
Even Kasumigaoka Utaha, who had been lounging on the sofa with a paperback novel in hand, looked up and muttered a lukewarm, "Good afternoon."
...She was probably just being polite.
Still, she'd responded. Progress?
Despite Touji being the sole male member in the club, it seemed like the fan favorites were everyone else—especially the girl with the weakest presence.
Anime logic strikes again!
Not that Touji cared. He dropped his backpack and turned to see Kato Megumi sitting down next to Gotou Hitori, pulling out her homework like a diligent honors student.
One by one, everyone began focusing on their assignments.
Nap Club (×) After-School Study Club (✓)
Touji felt a stare burning into his soul.
He looked up to meet the intense gaze of Kasumigaoka Utaha.
"...We ran into each other on the way here," Touji explained, gesturing toward Megumi.
Still staring.
So he added, "There was this whole thing earlier with Anjima Masahei..."
As soon as he said the name, Utaha's brow furrowed deeply.
"That lecherous trash. That pest. That absolute scumbag. I can't believe someone like that exists in your class."
Whoa. That was a pretty brutal character assassination.
Gotou Hitori winced at the harsh words and unconsciously drew her neck in like a turtle retreating into its shell.
Touji chuckled awkwardly, rubbing the back of his neck. "Well, yeah… he's not exactly popular."