I was Rejected 10,000 times by My Childhood Friend, but After I Gave Up, I Suddenly Started Getting Popular? - Ch. 1 - Episode 1 p16
It’s not a shoujo manga!
After enjoying the self-serve at the family restaurant, we headed toward the bookstore in front of the station.
The reason for this, of course, was to buy a love textbook: “shoujo manga”.
My hypothesis of “girls are more interested in romance than boys” could be supported by their interest in romance stories. A typical example was found in shoujo manga. However, there was also the viewpoint of girls just maturing mentally sooner than boys.
During the house tour of Karen’s house, there were many shoujo manga in Karen’s room. Aki-san had to force Karen to organize them due to the sheer quantity.
And so, I assumed that there was something to be gained from these stories.
“Do you read romance stories, Shirahata-san?”
“I like mysteries, so I don’t read romance. I don’t watch much TV either.”
“I see. Well, think of it like a gateway to success. Let’s learn from it.”
“Yes!”
You’re really too direct for your own good, Shirahata-san. Her pure, innocent, straightforward smile moved me on many occasions.
I really can’t get used to it…
We eventually arrived at the bookstore.
I didn’t know where the shoujo manga corner was, so I just strolled, with Shirahata-san following me, around the bookstore with a general feeling of “well, it’s probably somewhere pinkish”.
Then, I suddenly noticed the reference book section.
“Come to think of it, it’s already July… College entrance exams are coming up, right?”
“Mhm. We’re already in our second year of high school. By the way, have you decided what school you want to go to?”
“No, not at all. I haven’t even decided what I want to do for a living, much less a college. I just put a nearby public school as my school of choice on the career choice survey. But, among the second-years, I have average grades.”
Technically, my grades were in the upper middle of the year. Just a little above average. I had no problem saying that I was average, but I wanted to look slightly better there.
Though, I was slightly worried about my ranking. Since I went to a prep school, many people had already started studying for exams around this time of year.
“By the way, Shirahata-san, have you decided where you want to go?”
“I’m applying to Tokyo University. The goal is the top.”
“A-As expected of the top of the class…”
“Well, I’ve always been in second place…”
Shirahata-san pouted.
I’d be hula dancing, in my lonesome at night, the day I got second place. However, I think this is the part of me that hates to lose. For me, hating to lose is a virtue. I’m a quitter.
Oops, Dr. Yasu0. Let’s not try to put words in my mouth. What is this one man farce?
“Oh, yeah. You have a final exam at the beginning of July, right?”
“That’s right! I’m going to beat you there, Momiji-san! I can’t lose this time!”
Funsu! He seemed to be full of motivation.
“But you’re going to buy a shoujo manga now, aren’t you? I don’t know if I should be the one to tell you this, but buying a shoujo manga so close to the test will just make you self-destruct, you know?”
“Then, it’s not a good idea to buy shoujo manga now…”
“No, it’s okay! Just as Japanese is related to each subject, love is also related to each subject! In other words, this will allow me to learn what I lacked in love and completely beat Momiji-san!”
“That’s definitely not true! That’s an excuse a cynical person would use to their mother!”
I was unsure why, but when Shirahata-san said it, it seemed credible to me.
Wait, no. In the first place, I couldn’t prove that love isn’t connected to each subject. And so, I couldn’t exactly come up with an argument, despite my wanting to deny it. A selfish Ritsu was born.
“It’ll be fine! If I want to know about something, I’ll be thinking about it anyway!”
“I see… then, let’s go look for it.”
“Yes!”
And so, we began wandering through the bookstore again. Finally, we found a pinkish corner of the bookstore.
There was a kind of atmosphere about this kind of place that made it hard for males to enter. Just by entering, I felt like I was doing something wrong, something indecent. However, since Shirahata-san was there, I was justified in doing so.
Which me wanted to join before?
Maybe I had just discovered a new me.
“This is the shoujo manga corner? It’s amazing… I feel like a high school girl.”
“Shirahata-san, aren’t you admiring high school girls too much? It’s just somewhere a normal high school girl would come!”
We surveyed the corner, with her ignoring my retort.
As I was slightly… rather, really concerned that she glossed over my retort, I followed Shirahata-san around.
“Do you have any recommendations for me?”
“Uhm… I’ve never read that many shoujo manga, so I’d just go for the best sellers. Maybe.”
Shirahata-san picked up one of the books from the flat pile.
“I see… Ah! This one says ‘anime adaptation’ on it!”
“Let’s see… ‘The Paradise of Man and Man’… is this a shoujo manga?”
“…No, that’s definitely not it! There are only boys on the cover of this manga, and plus, it doesn’t mention anything about girls! It’s got no shoujo feel to it!”
Perhaps… this is one of those “BL books”.
This was the first time I had seen one. It seemed dangerous.
I took the book from Shirahata-san and put it back.
If the current Shirahata-san used this book as a basis for romance, she will have a distorted view of love. I didn’t mean to deny homosexuality, but Shirahata-san wanted to know about the general conception of “love”.
If that were the case, this book would probably not be best suited for that task. Though, it is definitely a love story.
Later on, we managed to find a shoujo manga, and so, Shirahata-san quickly bought it.
“Ooh, I’m so excited! I’ll read it when I get home and send you a message about what I think! You should read it too, Kaminoki-san.”
“Sure. Of course.”
I actually bought a copy, too.
I would have to do some studying, too, right? (about love)
“Then, talk to you later tonight!”
“Okay. Have a safe trip home.”
“Yes! Thank you so much for today! It was fun! Bye!”
Shirahata-san left with a manga bag in her arms.
“I should go home too.”
I would be embarrassed if anyone found out that I bought a manga, so I quickly shoved it into my bag.
I felt like I was carrying something dangerous…
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Roxysta
Si Shirahata Lee un manga bl su alma sería corrompida y no habría vuelta atrás…. Bien hecho MC