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“Are you paying attention, Naegi-kun?” Nanami asked, staring at Makoto a little worried. “This is important information, I think.”
“Y-yes, I am Nanami-senpai,” Makoto replied quickly. “It’s… a lot to take in, though.”
“That’s normal, probably,” Nanami responded, pulling out her Gamegirl. “It was with me, anyway…”
“But, I think the golden rule is just to treat them as you would anyone else,” Nanami added. “They’re after all still your classmates, Naegi-kun.”
Makoto nodded. If Nanami could handle her class he would probably be fine.
Assuming his luck didn’t go against him, of course.
Entering his class for the first time was going to be the hardest, that Nanami had promised.
Makoto had always thought of himself as a somewhat sociable person but now all he wished is that he could go hide away in his dorm.
They might buy that I’m sick, right? Makoto thought desperately as he stared at the classroom door.
Still, despite his nerves, Makoto reached for the handle.
He was sure he had never been more nervous in his life.
That was sad, wasn’t it?
Makoto slowly opened the door, ignoring the beating of his heart.
“Ah, Naegi-kun,” a mature voice greeted, startling Makoto. “I see you’ve made it here in one piece.”
Makoto dumbly nodded, staring at his teacher.
“Would you like to introduce yourself?” the teacher prodded, smiling softly.
Slowly but surely, Makoto made his way to the front of the classroom, ignoring the stares he felt on his back.
“My name is Makoto Naegi,” Makoto began, staring straight ahead. “I’m the Ultimate Lucky Student and I’m pleased to make your acquaintances.”
“If you could find your seat, Naegi-kun,” the teacher said. “We could start a more formal meeting.”
So far, Makoto thought as he made his way to the one empty desk, school seems pretty normal…
Maybe it won’t be so bad after all!
Makoto found that his classes for the most part passed smoothly, however it was a bit awkward not knowing anyone at first.
Luckily, Maizono, Ikusaba, and Hagakure were quick to talk to Makoto, claiming that he had seemed interesting.
“Naegi-chi,” Hagakure had said, beginning a question he had already asked several times before. “Do you have any magic?”
“No,” Makoto answered, getting a bit annoyed. “Up until a few weeks ago, I had no clue that magic was even real.”
“Huh…?” Maizono had said. “Humansssssss really have no clue?”
“It would make sense,” Ikusaba said. “They have explanations for everything, why would magical instances be any different?”
“I mean little kids believe in magic,” Makoto said. “But as we get older we just stop believing…”
“That’sssssssss horrible!” Maizono gasped, tail shaking slightly.
“Perhaps it’s just part of their lives,” Ikusaba said calmly.
Makoto nodded at that, not knowing what else to say.
“Well, Naegi-chi,” Hagakure began. “If you ever want to learn magic, learn it from me!”
Glancing at Maizono and Ikusaba told him that he might not want to take Hagakure up on his offer, yet Hagakure had looked so excited. Saying no outright would be like kicking a puppy...
“Thanks, Hagakure-kun,” Makoto said. “I’ll… think about it?”
Hagakure smiled brightly, and slowly the conversation turned to more normal things.
chiaki nanami:
nanami: naegi, how was your first day?
naegi: it was… interesting but not bad.
nanami: see? i told you it wouldnt be that bad
nanami: probably
naegi: i mean i havent really talked to most of them yet
nanami: you might do it eventually, naegi! i believe in you
nanami: maybe…
naegi: ...thanks?
nanami: no problem!
Makoto slowly tried to introduce himself to the rest of his class, some more successful than others.
But there was someone who kept gaining Makoto’s interest despite Makoto not talking to him.
Ishimaru Kiyotaka.
It seemed his small friend group had noticed his interest although Maizono and Ikusaba didn’t seem exactly eager to mention it.
Makoto didn’t know whether to be thankful or worried.
“Naegi-chi,” Hagakure said as they walked to lunch. “Are you ever going to talk to Ishimaru-chi?”
“Huh…?” Makoto said, scratching at his cheek. “I do talk to him, Hagakure-kun.”
“That’s not what I mean, man,” Hagakure whined out. “Since it’s obvious you have a crush on him why don’t you talk to him?”
“What…?” Makoto asked. “I don’t-”
“It’s obvious, man,” Hagakure said. “I could predict your future with him for a measly 100,000 yen!”
“...I’ll pass, Hagakure-kun,” Makoto said.
As Hagakure and Makoto made their way to the lunch table Makoto couldn’t help but ponder Hagakure’s words.
I can’t have a crush on Ishimaru, I haven’t even really spoken to him…! Makoto thought. ...Right?
Makoto went through the rest of his day, trying not to think of Ishimaru.
If anything, it’s a bit creepy, right? Makoto thought to himself. I mean, we don’t even know each other!
“Naegi-kun,” Maizono began, slithering up to Makoto at the end of their final class. “Did ssssssssomething happen?”
“Huh?” Makoto asked, looking at Maizono. “I don’t think so, why?”
“You ssssssssssseemed a bit out of it,” Maizono explained. “Thissssssssss doesn’t have anything to do with Ishimaru-kun, doessssssssss it?”
“W-wha…?” Makoto said. “How did you-”
“I’m pssssssssssychic, ssssssssssssillly!” Maizono smiled. “Jusssssssssst kidding, I jussssssssssst have good intuition!”
Makoto stared at Maizono in a bit of a shock.
“Maizono-san,” Makoto began. “I think I might have a bit of a problem…”
“And you have a crush on him?” Ikusaba asked plainly. “Despite not interacting with him other than superficial moments?”
“When you say it like that…” Makoto said, scratching at his cheek.
“Hey! Humans have short life spans!” Hagakure said. “So of course he’d fall in love quickly!”
I didn’t think my lifespan was that short… Makoto thought.
“I think it’sssssssssssss ssssssssssssweet,” Maizono added. “Love at firsssssssssssst ssssssssssssight, right?”
“It isn’t love!” Makoto protested. “I… just… I don’t know.”
“Well you won’t find out if you don’t talk to him,” Hagakure said.
“Hagakure-kun is right, for once,” Ikusaba said. “You’re going to have to talk to Ishimaru-kun to confirm your feelings.”
“It won’t be sssssssssssso bad, Naegi-kun,” Maizono said. “Ishimaru-kun can’t be that bad to talk to.”
“Yeah, you’re right,” Makoto said. “Well, wish me luck.”
“Hopefully we don’t have to man,” Hagakure said. “You are the Ultimate Lucky Student aren’t you?”
Finding Ishimaru wasn’t hard. From the little interaction Makoto had with him he knew the guy liked to study.
Religiously.
Makoto went to the library and unsurprisingly Ishimaru was there. At least his intuition wasn’t wrong.
“Ishimaru-kun?” Makoto said, walking up to Ishimaru. “Could we talk?”
“Of course, Naegi-kun!” Ishimaru said in his usual loud voice. “Students communicating is fundamental for a working school environment!”
“It’s more of a personal matter,” Makoto said, looking away.
“Oh? Please do share, Naegi-kun!”
“I realized I don’t really know a lot of my classmates that well,” Makoto said. “So I wanted to get to know you better, Ishimaru-kun.”
What a copout… Makoto thought sullenly to himself.
“I would also be interested in furthering our relationship, Naegi-kun!” Ishimaru responded, smiling with his arms out.
chiaki nanami:
naegi: ...i need your help, nanami
nanami: huh…? what do you need naegi?
naegi: i dont know how to flirt with one of my classmates
nanami: oh? youre already flirting with one of your classmates?
nanami: um… thats… a problem
naegi: i know
nanami: just flirt with them like you would a normal person, probably
naegi: i dont know how to flirt with people
nanami: im not good at dating sims, naegi…
Slowly but surely Makoto was sure he was making progress with befriending Ishimaru. His friends offered him tips on what they had learned about Ishimaru but he wasn’t exactly sure he could accept all of their help.
“I could have one of my minions follow him, man,” Hagakure offered during lunch.
“There’s probably a love spell I could cast on him,” Ikusaba said during the middle of their third period. “Although I would have to go to the dragon realm…”
“You could alwayssssssss trap him, Naegi-kun!” Maizono had said cheerfully at the end of the day.
Yeah, his friends were probably not the best people to consult on this matter.
“Naegi-kun!” Ishimaru yelled after Maizono had left him for the day. “I think it would be pertinent for us to study!”
“Huh…?” Makoto said. “Study…?”
“Yes!” Ishimaru said. “It would help us better understand each other while still keeping on top of our school work!”
“We could… just hang out?” Makoto offered. “That would also help us better our friendship…”
“But what about our studies?!”
“Studying isn’t everything in a friendship…” Makoto said. “I mean it’s also important for friends to relax with each other.”
“Wh-wh-wh-wh-wh-what?!” Ishimaru cried out, looking shocked.
Did Makoto… break him?
Did I really say something that weird…? Makoto thought.
“I understand, Naegi-kun!” Ishimaru said, starting to cry. “Thank you for teaching me, Naegi-kun!”
“You’re… welcome?” Makoto said, scratching at his cheek.
“Naegi-kun! You can decide the place we relax!”
As Makoto led Ishimaru to a park he had discovered nearby he noticed Ishimaru’s tail wagging.
Huh, I didn’t know that he could do that… Makoto thought. It’s kind of cute…
The routine of hanging out with Ishimaru continued for a few weeks and Makoto found himself happy with how things were going thus far.
Too scared to make a move, Makoto had accepted that he was resigned to only being friends with Ishimaru.
Not that that was a bad thing, despite how his friends had teased him.
Yet today, Ishimaru had been acting a bit weird to Makoto. More red-faced and loud, almost as if he was annoyed.
Did Makoto do something?
“Are you really that dense, Naegi-kun?” Ikusaba asked, blinking at Makoto. “I wonder how you’ve made it this far.”
“Huh…? What do you mean?” Makoto asked, tilting his head.
“I think it’s pretty obvious, man,” Hagakure answered unhelpfully. “Are you going to eat that, Naegi-chi?”
Makoto pushed his tray towards Hagakure who accepted it wordlessly.
“I think Ishimaru-kun might be reciprocating your feelingssssssssss, Naegi-kun,” Maizono explained. “It would explain his recent behavior.”
“H-huh…? You think?” Makoto asked.
“It’s obvious,” Ikusaba said. “Even Hagakure gets it.”
“Mhm!” Hagakure agreed, muffled by food.
“Don’t worry too much, Naegi-kun,” Maizono said. “It’sssssssssss going to work out perfectly!”
chiaki nanami:
nanami: heard from one of my classmates that you have some good news incoming
nanami: ….probably
nanami: it’s probably pointless to wish you good luck, naegi, but i told you it’d be fine.
nanami: ...maybe
“Naegi-kun!” Ishimaru yelled at the end of the school day, startling Makoto.
“Ishimaru-kun…?” Makoto asked, trying to ignore what his friends had told him during lunch. “What’s up?”
“I have something to tell you, Naegi-kun!” Ishimaru said, continuing to yell.
“I don’t think you have to be so loud, Ishimaru-kun…” Makoto said. “Unless you want to tell everyone in the school…”
“I know these feelings are not exactly wholesome but I can no longer deny my attraction to you, Naegi Makoto-kun!”
“Huh…?!” Makoto said, feeling his face redden rapidly.
“I understand that you may not reciprocate these feelings….!” Ishimaru said, trailing off as Makoto stared blankly at Ishimaru.
Before Ishimaru could say anymore Makoto closed the gap between the two of them connecting their lips.
“Ishimaru-san, I think I might like you too.”
naegi phan klub:
Soldier Girl: Looks like they finally got together.
Snake Songstress: Finally! I’m happy for them!
speak to the dead: ...maybe we should add him to the group chat now?
Snake Songstress: No…! Think about how embarrassed he’ll be.
Soldier Girl: Adding him now.
Naegi Makoto was added to the group chat