It Seems That the Word Cute Was a Deadly Poison to the Girls Who Were Despised as Ugly Women in a World Where Beauty and Ugliness Are Inverted
The heavy atmosphere between Yuma and Mashiro did not clear up even after a week had passed.
Every day, Yuma still talked to Mashiro and smiled at her, albeit somewhat awkwardly.
But his efforts did not seem to be reaching Mashiro’s heart.
The short replies he received at first completely ceased by the time a few days had passed.
Mashiro did not respond to Yuma’s words, but simply looked forward as if she had heard nothing.
But Yuma did not stop throwing words at Mashiro, perhaps out of kindness, or perhaps because of his strong desire for the restoration of the relationship.
Friday after school.
In the classroom with the evening sun shining in, Yuma, as usual, looks at the seat next to her.
“Mashiro. Won’t you go home with me?”
Mashiro doesn’t even give him a glance, grabs her bag, and leaves the classroom.
As she leaves the classroom, she shrugs slightly.
But whether it was regret or irritation, Yuma couldn’t tell.
His hand, about to reach out, remained halfway in the air as if grasping at the sky.
“I wonder if I can’t …… talk to you anymore.”
The only thing that remained was those quiet words, which sank heavily into his chest.
“–What are you looking like you’re about to cry?”
“…… Reo.”
When he looked in the direction of the voice, he saw Reo standing with his arms crossed, leaning against the door at the back of the classroom.
He stared at Yuma’s face with his usual light smile.
“Honestly. What’s so good about a woman who’s always ignoring you?”
“….. Still, maybe it was my fault.”
“Huh? But she just keep ignoring you even though you are the one showing concern for her. Are you satisfied with that?”
When Yuuma fell silent, Reo approached him slowly, smiling wryly.
He then put his hand on the back of the seat next to Yuma’s and exhaled softly.
“Hey. Tomorrow, let’s go have some fun, shall we?”
“…… play?”
“Yeah. To relax. An acquaintance of mine who went to another school was planning to hang out with some girls, but he said he didn’t have enough guys so he asked me to come.”
“It’s not a blind date……, is it?”
“Well, it’s a healthy social gathering, right?
“Well, what do you call a healthy relationship? If Yuuma and I are together it’ll be balanced.”
Reo laughs jokingly.
But his eyes were constantly concerned with Yuuma’s expression.
“If you don’t feel like it,……, of course you can refuse. But it’s better than sitting here sighing all the time, you know?”
“I understand, I’ll go.”
Yuuma answered briefly, and Reo smiled and patted him on the back.
“Okay, that’s my best friend.”
“…., you decided on your own. But thanks.”
“Okay! Then, meet at the station tomorrow at 10 o’clock. If you’re late, I’ll leave you behind!”
Yuma silently watched Reo’s back as he left the classroom with these words.
He left with a faint feeling of emptiness lingering at his feet and a heart that had become just a little lighter.
The next day, Saturday.
It is 9:50 in the morning. The early summer sun was slowly burning Yuma’s skin as he walked to the roundabout in front of the station.
Reo had invited him to play.
It was just a distraction. But there were girls from other schools coming too.
Yuma prepared himself a little more carefully than usual, not wanting to disgrace his best friend’s face.
This spirit was naturally reflected in his stride.
Eventually, he arrived at a prominent statue at the roundabout in front of the station, took a quick breath, and opened his mouth.
“Sorry to keep you waiting….., maybe I’m the last?”
He glance at his phone, it was still a few minutes before the meeting time.
Yet, everyone is already here.
Reo raised his hand, and with the exception of one, the other men and women were all smiling.
“Good morning, Yuuma. If I’d been three minutes later, you are completely out.”
“No, you’re right on time.”
I replied with a wry smile, and Reo shrugged.
“The trend these days is that being close isn’t safe, it’s out.”
As they exchanged such lighthearted words, the air around them loosened gently.
“Is this the Yuma that Reo was talking about? You’re so cool!”
A boy who seems to be an acquaintance of Reo’s said so in a lively voice.
He wore his hair up in a careless manner and had an impressive face with deep laugh lines.
“Thank you. I’m glad you invited me today.”
When Yuma responded honestly, he smiled and patted on the shoulder.
“Don’t worry about it! Reo is always bragging about how good-looking his friend is! Besides, if you hear that you can hang out with the girls, you can’t say no, right?”
“Hey, don’t say that ……!”
The air in the room softened and Yuma’s shoulders relaxed a little.
He realized that he had been nervous without even realizing it.
“Aren’t there a lot of good-looking guys here today? It’s unfair that they’re even dressed so perfectly.”
“Oh, is that the junior guy I’ve heard so much about? Yoo-hoo!”
The girls behind Reo stepped forward to admire Yuma.
The girls around Yuma are all gazing at him, and he must have the appearance that is considered a beautiful boy in this world.
After a week, you get used to it.
Whether this is adaptation or compromise, Yuma himself is unaware of it.
“The white shirt looks simple and difficult to wear, but it’s amazing how well he wears it. It’s refreshing, or rather, it’s very clean.”
“..Yeah. I wonder if you had some hesitation when making your choice.”
“Oh, that’s nice. Give me a smile too. Aren’t you the only one who’s not being fair?”
“Hey, hey, we’re not going through with it and all you do is Yuma.”
The air suddenly relaxed at the sound of Reo’s one voice, and everyone laughed.
Yuma also gave a small smile and looked at one of the girls.
She did not join the circle, but stood at a little distance from the others.
Her arms were crossed grimly, and her eyes were slanted, but she was not looking anywhere in the vicinity.
The girl’s eyebrows shot up and she clicked her tongue.
“….what. Don’t look at me.”
Her low, muffled voice rang out sharply, cutting through the surrounding clamor.
The blonde-haired robes, which burst in the sunlight, swayed quietly as she turned her head away.
The uniform is carelessly worn, shirt left hemmed, tie loosened, skirt a little short, sneakers on the feet.
The outfit was somewhat rough and unadorned, but strangely suited her.
Her petite physique and modest chest. However, her well-defined shoulders and tight waist accentuate her style, which cannot be hidden by her sloppy clothes.
Her white skin was pale and translucent in the sunlight, giving her an eye-catching purity.
It was supposed to be just careless, but there was definitely a sexiness to it.
They did not clash with each other, but quietly and exquisitely harmonized.
–By the standards of this world, she must be an ugly woman.
But in Yuma’s eyes, she was more beautiful than anyone else in the room.
“Hey, Kouno. Just because you’re here to make up the numbers doesn’t mean you should be dressed like that, right?”
The words were uttered with a smile on her face, but she was clearly looking down on her
“…. Shut up. Who’s looking at me? I don’t need to dress up, not with a face like this.”
“….I’m sorry, all three of you. There were no other girls available. I probably shouldn’t have brought her. ……”
While those around him tried to lighten the mood with vague smiles, Yuuma alone did not miss the wavering eyes of the girl known as Kouno.
“…I’m going home. The rest is up to you guys to do as you like.”
The moment she was about to turn on her heel, Yuma’s hand gently grasped hers.
It was a reflexive action. The body was moving faster than you could think.
“Let go of me, …….”
“I just want to talk to you.”
Even though he was glared at with anger mixed in, Yuuma didn’t back down a single step and just stared straight back at her
“Why…? Is it because I looked pathetic?”
“…. no”
For a moment, he hesitated, but did not remove his gaze.
“Because you …… looked so beautiful.”
“Huh!? …… are you crazy?”
Even though she retorted forcefully, a slight blush rose to her cheeks.
“Do you want to play with me?”
“Ha……?”
“Is there any reason why I shouldn’t choose you?”
As soon as he spoke, he felt a slight embarrassment at his own words.
But still, he couldn’t accept the option of just letting her go home like this.
“What, Yuuma-kun with Kouno? Seriously?”
“No way, that’s bad taste… I’m turned off by it.”
“Well, isn’t that just right? Two eccentrics make a good match.”
“Indeed! We’ll have fun on our own!”
Biting his lip, Yuma didn’t say anything back to the disappointment of the two girls.
Even if he denied it, he knew it wouldn’t reach her
“…Reo. You should choose your friends more carefully.”
“He’s really stupid, but…he’s a cool guy.”
The air in the place stopped for a moment at Reo’s words.
While pretending to be taken aback, the concern in his eyes was obvious.
Yuma, noticing the strong intention in his eyes to watch over him, rather than a flirtatious sympathy, gently lowered his head.
“I’m sorry, Reo. I’m sorry for creating a strange atmosphere”
“Yeah, that’s right… Well, it’s fine if that sounds like you.”
“I’ll be going somewhere soon, I’m really sorry.”
Thanks to Reo, who sent him off without saying a word, Yuuma felt a weight lift off his shoulders.
Without letting go of the hand he held, he walked away with Kouno.
“Don’t be silly! I didn’t say I was going!”
“Just follow me.”
“What?! You’re being too pushy!”
Maiasa