Start of the self improvement journey

It was the next day.

We spent our first classes in each subject going through the course objectives. Apparently, many of the students were quite surprised, if not a little disappointed, by how genuinely warm and friendly the teachers at this school looked.

Sudou had already made a spectacle of himself by spending most of the class asleep. I thought that the teachers would notice and gave him a scolding, but they showed no signs of doing so.

The class had a relaxed atmosphere, and soon it was lunch time.

I opened up my bento and ate my lunch then and there on my seat.

I followed the recipes I searched up the internet, the taste are just so-so. Not too bad nor too good, just right.

While I was in the middle of chewing my half assed cooking, music blared through the speakers for an announcement. A soft toned voice of a female student echoed from the speakers. Apparently there would be a club fair for the first years for anyone interested in joining a club.

Club activities huh... I've never join a club before. I suck at anything sports related, and I wasn't interested in anything a normal club has. I've always been a member of the go-home club. If only there's clubs for otakus, I'd be more interested.

...

In the end I didn't even go to to the club fair. I was rolling around in my room not sure about what I'm even doing with my life.

Whenever I stop and emptied my thoughts, a certain girl's face will appear on my mind. It caused my heart to race and feel lightheaded. If there is anyone looking at me, I'm sure they would notice my red face.

"Damn, have I fallen in love?"

To fall in love with someone, it's not something easy for someone. The person you fell in love with will occupy your mind whenever and wherever. Your emotions will go unstable, and oftentimes I realized my mind goes blank.

I have come to like a lot of girls since middle school. They were pretty, cute, and very good in what they do. But for a loser like me, I only spent my whole life being in the sidelines knowing how unworthy I am for them.

I spent my whole evening that way rolling around, I even forgot to eat my dinner.

•••

A week has passed by since the opening ceremony.

The boys are excited for this day. It's the first practical co-ed swimming classes.

Usually physical education in schools would separate the boys and girls. And they alternate the activities between them.

And the evidence of that is how rowdy they are in the boy's changing room. They were pretty excited to see the girls only wearing their school swimsuits showing a lot of their skin.

As for me, my head was over the clouds going through the motions. I'm just letting the currents push me on whatever comes my way.

I observed my classmates from the side. When the teacher arrived, I haven't even remembered what he's saying coming into one ear out of the other.

We were made to swim an entire lap of 50 meters swim. I hadn't performed well and came in last, just like I always did.

Because of it I had to take supplementary classes.

...

When I went home, I was exhausted. That swimming teacher was so insistent on having to teach me how to swim.

I've always been bad at sports so it wasn't a shock to me I came in dead last. Now I have to spend my precious afternoon time practicing how to swim. Until I receive a satisfactory performance, the teacher would not let go of me.

But still....

"She looks so beautiful."

That serious stern face, that elegant figure, her back is too far for me to reach even if I went out and extend my hand.

Still, what am I doing? I've liked a girl before, but it never got this bad. Am I love sick? Impossible! It hasn't even been a month you know? We haven't even spoken much with each other.

"I think I should tell somebody."

I dialed up a number on my cellphone. Normally I wouldn't even think contacting someone like this person in the first place.

"Good evening Haruta-kun? It's rare to contact me like this."

"Good evening, Hirata. Do you have time, if possible I'd like to meet with you face to face. How about it?"

"If it is something that I can help, then I'll gladly welcome you. Where do you want to meet?" Hirata said through the phone.

Hirata is a good guy. He didn't even sound bothered calling him in the night like this. It's like he really wants to help me out of the goodness of his heart.

It's true that I was envious of the type of person like him. Not only was he good in studying or sports, he was also popular with the girls. An unpopular loser like me could only have resentment on hmguys like him. But despite my one sided hatred negative feelings for him, Hirata didn't push me away.

"I can't trouble you to come in my room. Will it be okay to come in yours?" I suggested.

"Sure, if that's what you want I'll wait for you."

"Thank you very much."

...

Ten minutes later, I was in Hirata's room.

"Welcome Haruta-kun."

When I arrived, Hirata welcomed me with a smile on his face.

"Well, thanks for having me. Here's a little bit of a gift as thanks."

"Oh, you really don't have to." Hirata said.

"No, I will feel guilty for taking up your time. I haven't had dinner yet so I brought some to eat with. And I wanted to hear of your opinion on my cooking anyway. What do they call about this? 'Hitting two birds in one stone' I think what it's called."

"Then I'll accept it. Thank you very much Haruta-kun. I haven't had dinner yet, care to eat with me?" Hirata said.

"Ah yes." I nodded.

He's really good with socializing. Hirata and I sat near with each other. He often comes to chat and talk with me but he quickly gets surrounded by the girls in our class so we haven't had a proper conversation. I was reading the room and I avoided him so I wouldn't trouble him.

Hirata provided us with eating utensils and set them on the mini table. After heating the curry I brought in the microwave, we each started to eat our dinner.

"It's my first time making curry. I made sure to follow the recipes in the internet. What do you think?"

"I think it's pretty good for your first time. I think you've got a talent for this." Hirata exclaimed.

"Come on, you must be exaggerating."

"No, I truly feel that way."

Hirata is really a nice guy. He's so good on giving compliments and make the person he's talking with feel good about themselves. No wonder why he could be so popular.

"Anyway I know that it's weird. But can I start talking about why I came here now?" I said.

"Of course, I'll listen." Hirata said.

And so I started telling Hirata about my case. I got a girl I liked in our classroom. She was beautiful, talented, and good at anything that she does. Although she was a bit unsociable and get hated by other classmates for her attitude, she was undoubtedly a top tier girl.

"Could it be, you're talking about Horikita-san?"

"W-well... Could you please not tell anyone about this...? It's embarrassing." I said my voice slowly getting uiter like a mice as I talk.

"Don't worry about it, I won't tell anyone." Hirata smiled at me as if telling me my secret is safe with him.

So I told of my feelings and it's been in my mind ever since the start of the opening ceremony. I took a liking to her, but I felt unworthy to her. And because of my feelings, I can't get it out of my head.

"So Hirata, what I'm trying to say is... How do I become a cool guy like you?" I asked.

"Me, cool? I don't really think of myself that way."

"There you go again... I know you're being modest and all, but everyone genuinely thinks you're a cool guy, Hirata. The reason why the girls flock over you. And that's why us losers can't help but feel inferior to you. " I said.

Maybe it was because I'm opening up my heart, but when I hold conversation like this I found it easy to talk with Hirata. Maybe it was because he's genuinely a good guy deep down his heart. He wasn't making fun of me or bullying me because of opening up with my feelings.

"Well it's not like I'm doing anything great..."

And so with a reluctant face, Hirata began talking.

He got started with stuff that he usually do. Like whenever he gets home, he usually started studying and reviewing the lessons for the day. If there's an upcoming test, he would get an extra time studying late evening or early morning. Hirata belongs to the soccer club so that's why he gets plenty of exercise and gets fit. Although he was playing for fun, he is serious when it comes to practice to improve himself. As for his social skills he just get to talk with all sorts of people. He cares for each of everyone and takes time to listen.

"So... If I start studying hard everyday, exercise everyday, talk to other people with care, I would be cool like you too?"

"I don't know me. But I think if you put in the effort is a great start, don't you think?"

I know that it's common knowledge, but isn't this guy just really too cool? Guhh... No doubt he's a top tier choice for females looking for her mate.