I stared again at the manga she dropped – and it's my favorite shounen series: One Pace!
No. Freaking. Way.
Is this real?
Is Kiyomi secretly an otaku too?
Is she hiding the same persona as I do?
Wait, wait, wait... I can't jump to conclusions this easily.
Let's examine all the possibilities first.
Maybe it's her brother's? Or her cousin's?
No – that can't be true. Why would you bring your brother's manga to school when it's forbidden in the first place?
Or maybe... maybe she's using it as material for our cultural lesson?
Nah, that can't be it either – this volume looks too old and worn out. Definitely used.
I flipped through a few pages and noticed it was volume 2.
If it really is hers... then she's just getting started with this series.
A part of me got excited.
I've never had someone to talk about One Pace with before.
If this manga really belongs to her... maybe she could be my otaku buddy.
I'll ask her tomorrow.
Though... I don't even have her added on Facebook – nor are we friends in real life.
I sighed and shoved the manga into my bag.
"Guess that's it for today."
I handed the classroom keys to the faculty and slowly walked out of the school gate.
The sun was already setting, casting long shadows down the sidewalk.
I walked home quietly, trying not to look suspicious – after all, I was hiding her manga like some kind of smuggler.
As soon as I got home, I dropped my bag onto the floor and collapsed onto my bed.
I stared at the ceiling.
Then at the bag.
Then at the ceiling again.
Then back at the bag.
"Okay, Rin. Let's go over this calmly," I muttered to myself, like I was defending myself in court.
This could just be a coincidence.
Maybe Kiyomi's cousin asked her to return it to someone.
Maybe she picked it up by accident.
Maybe she doesn't even know what One Pace is!
But then again... if it wasn't hers, she would've picked it back up.
She would've looked concerned.
She didn't.
She just left – like nothing happened.
My brain went into overdrive.
What if... what if she's like me?
What if she's been hiding her love for anime and manga too?
What if everything I thought about her – being perfect, cold, and elite – was just a mask... like mine?
No. That's impossible.
But... what if it's not?
I rolled onto my side and groaned into my pillow.
This is bad. This is dangerous.
If she really is an otaku... I'm not ready for that kind of twist.
And if she's not?
I'd die of embarrassment.
And what would I even say?
"Hey, Kiyomi, is this your manga? Want to talk about power scaling and emotional damage arcs with me?"
Yeah, no. She'd send me straight to the disciplinary committee.
Still...
If this is real...
Then maybe... just maybe...
Nope. Nope. NOPE.
Don't even think about getting a romcom with her.
It's just impossible.
And unlikely.
Anyway, I need to stop overthinking.
I'll just ask her if it's hers – and watch how she reacts.
For now, let's just sleep.
ARGHHHHHHH!
I can't sleep! I really need to stop overthinking this!
Maybe I'll tire myself out.
I did a few workouts – reps and sets – until my body couldn't move anymore.
Eventually, I passed out from exhaustion.
Beep! Beep! Beep!
Morning came, and my muscles were sore as hell.
I slammed my alarm stronger than usual.
Ughhh... I don't want to go to school today.
But I have something important to do.
I need to ask her if this manga is really hers.
As I groaned into my pillow, I suddenly heard a voice:
"Oniichan! You stayed up late again! You didn't even say goodbye to me yesterday!"
I looked up and saw Hina – my little sister – standing at the doorway with puffed cheeks and a pout.
Author's Note:
Here's the illustration link!
https://ibb.co/HTZ3LTCb
She was already dressed for school, ready to leave any moment now.
"Sorry, Hina. You were sleeping so soundly last night I didn't have the heart to wake you."
"Hmph! Just do it next time, okay?! Anyway... what's that manga doing in your bed?"
Crap.
I forgot to hide it after tiring myself out last night.
Hina tilted her head and frowned.
"I know that's not yours. You treat your manga like treasure and keep them neat on your shelf. Whose is that?"
I panicked.
"I-IT'S MI-MINE!"
I stuttered so hard, even I wouldn't believe myself.
She crossed her arms. "That isn't yours. You even stuttered! You can't lie to your little sister, Niichan! Tell me the truth."
"Arghhh fine! Kiyomi dropped it... but I'm not sure if it's hers."
"Kiyomi-neesan? She's so kind and cute! I meet her once when I'm at the cafeteria! She helped me pick some of the best foods in there! Ask her if it's her's!" she beamed.
"Maybe if it's hers, you two can be friends! And then... she can be my Neechan too!"
I paused.
I know Hina means well.
She always encourages me to make friends - friends I can be my true self around.
Friends who share the same hobbies.
"Yeah, yeah... I'll ask her."
"Then what are you waiting for?! Get dressed and go to school before you're late!"
With her nagging me like a tiny general, I rushed to get dressed and wolfed down breakfast like a soldier going to battle.
Manga - check.
Bag - check.
Nerves? All over the place.
---
This is it.
Today, I'll find out the truth.
But first, I turned back to Hina at the door.
"Bye, Hina!"
"Take care, Oniichan!"
Even if I don't have a romcom of my own, at least I've got the best little sister - just like those protagonists I admire.
---
I arrived at school and rushed into the classroom.
There she was.
Kiyomi Akeno - seated with her usual perfect posture.
But this time... her hair was down.
She looked immaculate.
Different - but in a good way.
Not that it matters.
I came here to ask her about the manga.
I needed to wait for the right time.
Maybe break time would be good enough.
Throughout class, I barely raised my hand during recitations - too busy rehearsing the conversation in my head.
---
Break time came.
I stood up and walked over to her desk.
She was alone - reading another advanced book like usual.
Posture still perfect. Expression calm.
"Hey, Pres."
She looked up at me, blinking.
"What do you need, Hitoshi?" she asked, a bit confused.
"Can you come with me to the hallway? I have something to talk to you about. Privately."
She stared at me for a second, as if trying to read my intentions.
"...Alright."
She quietly closed her book and stood up.
We walked side by side into the hallway, the noise of the classroom fading behind us.
I stopped and turned toward her.
Now or never.
I stopped walking and turned to face her.
I took a deep breath.
"Yesterday... after class, you dropped something."
Her eyes blinked slowly. "Dropped something?"
I reached into my bag and carefully pulled out the manga.
"This. It's a volume of One Pace."
Her eyes widened slightly and her face redder than usual.
Suddenly she grabbed my wrist and dragged me into the supply room.
She was already dressed for school, ready to leave any moment now.
"Sorry, Hina. You were sleeping so soundly last night I didn't have the heart to wake you."
"Hmph! Just do it next time, okay?! Anyway... what's that manga doing in your bed?"
Crap.
I forgot to hide it after tiring myself out last night.
Hina tilted her head and frowned.
"I know that's not yours. You treat your manga like treasure and keep them neat on your shelf. Whose is that?"
I panicked.
"I-IT'S MI-MINE!"
I stuttered so hard, even I wouldn't believe myself.
She crossed her arms. "That isn't yours. You even stuttered! You can't lie to your little sister, Niichan! Tell me the truth."
"Arghhh fine! Kiyomi dropped it... but I'm not sure if it's hers."
"Kiyomi-neesan? She's so kind and cute! I met her once when I was at the cafeteria! She helped me pick some of the best foods in there! Ask her if it's hers!" she beamed.
"Maybe if it's hers, you two can be friends! And then... she can be my Neechan too!"
I paused.
I know Hina means well.
She always encourages me to make friends – friends I can be my true self around.
Friends who share the same hobbies.
"Yeah, yeah... I'll ask her."
"Then what are you waiting for?! Get dressed and go to school before you're late!"
With her nagging me like a tiny general, I rushed to get dressed and wolfed down breakfast like a soldier going to battle.
Manga – check.
Bag – check.
Nerves? All over the place.
This is it.
Today, I'll find out the truth.
But first, I turned back to Hina at the door.
"Bye, Hina!"
"Take care, Oniichan!"
Even if I don't have a romcom of my own, at least I've got the best little sister – just like those protagonists I admire.
I arrived at school and rushed into the classroom.
There she was.
Kiyomi Akeno – seated with her usual perfect posture.
But this time... her hair was down.
She looked immaculate.
Different – but in a good way.
Not that it matters.
I came here to ask her about the manga.
I needed to wait for the right time.
Maybe break time would be good enough.
Throughout class, I barely raised my hand during recitations – too busy rehearsing the conversation in my head.
Break time came.
I stood up and walked over to her desk.
She was alone – reading another advanced book like usual.
Posture still perfect. Expression calm.
"Hey, Pres."
She looked up at me, blinking.
"What do you need, Hitoshi?" she asked, a bit confused.
"Can you come with me to the hallway? I have something to talk to you about. Privately."
She stared at me for a second, as if trying to read my intentions.
"...Alright."
She quietly closed her book and stood up.
We walked side by side into the hallway, the noise of the classroom fading behind us.
I stopped and turned toward her.
Now or never.
I stopped walking and turned to face her.
I took a deep breath.
"Yesterday... after class, you dropped something."
Her eyes blinked slowly. "Dropped something?"
I reached into my bag and carefully pulled out the manga.
"This. It's a volume of One Pace."
Her eyes widened slightly and her face turned redder than usual.
Suddenly, she grabbed my wrist and dragged me into the supply room.
She closed the door behind us, shutting out the hallway noise completely.
It was quiet. Uncomfortably quiet.
The dust in the air caught a bit of sunlight slipping through the small window — and in that hazy glow, Kiyomi stood still, her eyes darting to the floor, then to me, then back again.
Her shoulders were stiff, fists clenched slightly at her sides. Her lips were parted like she wanted to speak, but couldn't. For someone always so composed… she looked like she was on the verge of short-circuiting.
Author's Note:
Here's the illustration link!
https://ibb.co/nMx05X6v
Her hair fell over part of her face, but not enough to hide the light blush burning across her cheeks.
"W-Where did you find it?" she asked again, but this time softer — her voice barely above a whisper.
She wasn't just flustered. She was… scared.
I realized then — she was afraid of me knowing.
Afraid that someone saw through the perfect image she'd built.
I hesitated, feeling the weight of the manga in my hand.
"I said you dropped it yesterday after we were done cleaning."
"If you tell anyone… I swear I'll… I'll—" she mumbled, not even finishing the threat.
I didn't move. I didn't say anything.
Because right now, more than anything… I understood her.
She wasn't perfect.
She was like me.
And somehow, that made her even more real.
"Is it yours?"
"WHA-WHAT IF THAT'S MINE?! WHY DO YOU CARE?!"
Her tone was now more nervous and shaking.
I had never seen her look like this before.
"It's got nothing to do with me... but I'm just curious, I guess."
"Li-listen... if you ever told anyone this, hell will rain upon you. You understand?"
"Alright, I understand!"
She reached out, snatched the manga from my hands, and held it tightly against her chest like it was something precious.
"Good! Now I'm going back."
She immediately rushed back to the classroom, holding tight to the manga she took from me.
It's confirmed.
Akeno Kiyomi — the most beautiful girl in class, seemingly the smartest and perfect in every way — is secretly hiding a secret side!
She's an otaku like me!
Wait...
Did I ever reveal to her that I'm the same?
Crap — I didn't.
Why didn't I say something?
Why didn't I reveal my hidden side too?
Maybe...
Somewhere deep down...
I'm still scared of being seen too.