New appearance

2 years later….

*Vibrates…

"waaaah ah ugh"

Today is the first day of school. I ended up staying late at night watching anime.

I brushed my teeth, wore a uniform, took my bag and went out to go to school without eating my breakfast.

I brought 75 thousand yen with me in my wallet.

Still gloomy as usual for a 17-year-old otaku.

I'm not exactly the same as before in the Philippines.

I've never thought that some die-hard otakus are creeping me out. When I went to Akihabara before, to buy some otaku stuff like a whole series of a Light novel. I saw a person who looked like he was craving for a delicious food while he himself being full of excitement to buy newly released 2D figurines.

But at least, I'm also an otaku, I understand.

Wasting money for a 2D character. He must be a rich person.

Maybe I should forget about it.

This is my first day of school. I transferred to another nearest high school here in Tokyo.

Tanaka messages me once or twice a month. asking for Light novel recommendations.

I haven't met her again in two years.

Maybe I should make friends here in school or even a single one especially an otaku.

Sometimes, I was wondering why did I added her to my contact list when we just met for a moment and parted ways.

She must be now in a relationship and then she forgot me.

As if I'd care about that.

….

I just started to get used to their traditions and their culture. My Japanese speaking is getting more fluent than before.

However, it's useless. I'm still hesitating to speak to others after I arrived here and spending my time to watch anime and play games.

I just happened to talk back then at the airport because I realized that it may be my chance to regain my communication skills.

Unfortunately, I decided to stay being an introverted person and make myself look cool.

Class 2-4.

I guess this is it.

I entered the classroom and choose a seat. the back part would be the best option and near the window would be perfect.

Looks like I got here a little bit early.

While the windows are open I can feel the wind which makes me feel relaxed.

It's quite breezy in the morning but it's not bad. If I was still sleeping in my room with opened window, I might wake up late.

I'm still wearing computer glasses even in school. Well, it is also to cover my eyebags after all for me staying up late last night.

More students appearing now, I mean classmates.

...….

15 minutes later.

Everyone is now on the class and the introduction of students has begun.

there are two empty or extra seats.

my seatmate is a girl. a twin-tailed blonde girl. both of us are on the rear seat.

Looking at her chest, she a flat chested, a total chopping board.

No that's kind of rude for me to describe her but flat is justice.

She's now introducing herself.

"Nice to meet you, I'm Nagase Ayane "

Kara's breasts are medium sized and I wonder if they got bigger until now. but no matter what, medium is premium.

Now I'm staring at her.

I'm in the class, now is not the time to think about a female's body, I should pay attention to the class.

I turned my glance away at her and paid attention to those who introduced themselves.

"you've been staring at me, what was that all about"

She noticed.

"uh… no … nothing"

"how gross"

[eh]

I didn't expect I received a word like that.

I took off my glasses and made a goofy face. While my classmates are introducing themselves one by one.

"You there, introduce yourself"

Looks like she is referring to me.

Does the teacher call me or someone on my back? She seemed like she wasn't actually looking at me after all.

I leaned at my back and I forgot I'm on the rear seat.

"….."

"uhh, Ichinose Kenji, that's all"

"you seemed like you haven't sleep well last night. Go wash your face and return to your senses."

"yes"

I went out of the classroom to wash my face.  I don't even know where the restroom is. I almost forgot that I went to school without taking a bath.

I should wash my face clearly.

What a pain in the ass.

I walked at the hallway and searching for the washroom.

I saw a teacher walking by and asked him where the washroom is.

Afterwards, I washed my face and fixed my hair with my wet hands. I looked at the mirror and I still looked weird for me to say.

Shit.

First day of school, my seatmate called me a creep and here I am being ordered to wash my face. Well, I spaced out thinking about woman's body. Serves me right.

I wore my glasses and entered the classroom then returned back to my seat.

"Saegusa Risa, a math teacher and I am also your homeroom teacher from now on."

She seemed like she waited for me to come back to introduce herself.

I somehow felt like my introduction is different.

Our teacher, Saegusa Risa, she had a voluptuous body and a total hottie. She also looked young and there's no doubt that she's in a relationship.

Her red braided hair and long curved eyelashes made her more beautiful.

"let's get the test started."

A pile of test papers was held on sensei's hand. Then that means a test.

[I forgot that we're gonna have a test today.]

After the test paper is given, I answered immediately.

unfortunately, I forgot how to write and the tip of my pen is broken. I don't even have an extra pen or an extra pencil lead in my bag.

Ha, what an unlucky day.

I guess I have to sit and do nothing. Maybe a miracle happens.

I was scratching at my hair with my right hand and doesn't know what to do.

Someone near me, stretched out a hand like it was lending something, a pencil with a lead were held or in other words, I was saved.

The one who gave it to me was the girl who called me a creep. I took the pen she lent and was about to start answering the test.

"thank you"

"it's nothing, it's not like I wanted to help you or anything, I just hate to see a seatmate who was about to do nothing but watch his classmates answering"

"but still, thank you"

I started to answer.

…..

At lunch time.

I went to the cafeteria to eat. I wanted ramen as a lunch while I haven't eaten anything from breakfast. It would be okay I guess.

While I was about to sit and eat. I saw that blondie in front of me, she didn't have any food in her hands. And she's making a face like she forgot something.

She's near to me so I guess I'll have to ask her.

"hey, what's wrong Nagase-san"

She screeched, then paid attention to me as I was asking her.

"oh, what's your name again?"

I was suspecting her like she was pretending to forget my name.

"Ichinose Kenji, make sure you'll remember that"

"uhm, Ichinose-san would you mind lending me some money? I forgot to bring my wallet"

What's with that face.

Her stomach rumbles so loud for me to hear. lending her money would be fine. I would feel bad for her not eating anything.

My wallet is filled with paper money. maybe 10 thousand yen would be enough for her to eat.

When I lent her the money. she was surprised and shaking. I can't predict her after all.

She slowly took the money I lent then she was about to say something.

"shesh, you had such a high value of money and you can't even afford to buy a pencil or a lead."

[that hurts but what she said to me was an undeniable fact]

"…."

"I'll repay you later and anyways, ... thank you"

She went away so fast than I expected.

The ramen would be cold if I don't eat it.

"Itadakimasu"

The food here is delicious. If I were eating like this in the Philippines I'm sure it would be so cheap.

Now it made me missed eating Filipino instant noodles. In Philippines it was called "Pancet-Khanton". I wonder if there's a store that had Filipino foods or snacks.

I will check it out after the class is over.

….

I looked around and I saw my classmate, it was my seatmate, the one who called me a creep. I was staring at her like I was observing. She's like a character in the anime or manga, she looked like a tsundere.

Our eyes met again. She was eating alone like me.

Looks like she caught me staring at her and made an eye contact then looked away.

she's a tsundere, no doubt.

….

I finished my lunch and went back to the classroom.

Math time.

Numbers are so annoying.

I had lost of interest in Academics. If I graduate, I will quit school and live my life as a NEET if I want to.

Looks like the tsundere is paying attention to the class.

Now I laid my eyes to Saegusa-sensei.

I used to be attracted to 2d characters as an otaku and I wonder why I can't take my eyes off sensei.

Well, I live in reality so It can't be helped.

I must focus on the class not a person.

All I did is to wait the bell rings and paid attention to the class a little

A few hours later.

The class is over.

While I was about to go outside of the classroom, I was thinking about what the teacher and that tsundere said to me last time. It also made me remember that I heard some words like that in the Philippines before.

This is now the second time to wash my face.

I looked at the mirror again and saw myself with a long messy hair and a gloomy face. My eyes are almost covered with hair and my eyeglasses made me look weird.

Now I've decided to avoid being called a creep again. I also noticed that most of my classmates are talking about me even it's just a first day.

I was still thinking that I can't make myself look decent.

Barber huh. I haven't gone to the barber shop a year ago.

Maybe it's a time for me to go to the Barber shop because fixing my appearance by myself at home is pointless.

I changed my shoes at the shoe locker then went away.

Oh, my phone is vibrating.

When I checked my phone, it was a message, from Chisa, my little sister.

"Onii-chan, I'm at your place and I ordered some food from Wac-Donalds for dinner.

Don't mind me, I'm just playing some games in your game console."

Games, console, huh. It's okay to play games console as long as she won't do anything to my PC. Building a pc with perfect specs cost me about 3000 dollars and my laptop also half of its price of my pc.

Those are most important to me.

…

I was searching for any barber shop nearby with my phone.

my phone is still broken and haven't bought a new one since I was in Philippines. Maybe I will buy a new one soon.

152 meters away from me. go straight then turn left, alright.

I walked and went to the direction towards the barber shop while holding my phone.

I guess this is it.

I entered the barber shop and let the barber decide what's better for me.

Took off the glasses and looked at the mirror again. I didn't realize that I didn't have an acne or a pimple. I'm just lucky It didn't show up.

The barber began to cut and fix my hair.

Part2.

The haircut was finished. I paid the barber.

The hairstyle name is undercut. The barber picked the good hairstyle for me.

Now I've decided that I will wear my eyeglasses only at home then take it off when I'm out on the public.

I went out of the barber shop and I was planning to search Filipino or an Indonesian snack. I almost forgot that my sister messaged me earlier that she ordered some food for dinner.

Instead of snacks, I went inside the nearest convenience store to buy a Hygiene product such as soap, shampoo, deodorant, hair conditioner, etc.

Actually, I was also planning to go to salon for men for my facial care. Doing my best not be seen gloomy or a creepy person.

Haircut is fine, no need for facial care

Wherever I go, in Philippines or in Japan, I looked bad and now I finally became a good-looking person with an otaku side.

I'm getting confident to say I'm cool and I didn't notice that I regained my confidence.

It's getting dark and I wonder what time is it.

When I checked the time on my phone it was late and it's time for me to walk back to home.

It's been a while that I was on my way back home this late. Every time the class is over, I rushed immediately on my way back home to play games.

While I was walking on my way back home, I've noticed that there are people staring at me. I heard some girls murmuring about me like "he looked cool", "go approach him" or something like that.

Somehow, I've felt like I am not comfortable right now.

I saw a sports car passing by.

So cool.

I was staring at it and I felt like someone inside that car is staring at me.

The supercar suddenly stopped and someone was about to go out from that car.

A white-haired gal with a voluptuous body. Her breasts are also big like I want to bury my face in there, compared to sensei, sensei is more shaped and this woman is bigger.

Now she's staring and was about to approach me.

Her make up is not so thick and it was just looked good on her as a gal.

I was attracted to her but still, I'm not interested to 3D girls.

"want a ride?"

After hearing that from a mere stranger, I was thinking about what will happen if I refuse or not.

She must be college student and she's interacting to a younger person like me.

I may be looked different now but my introvert side of me still remains.

What? If I accept her offer, I may be called a male version of a gold digger. She's the one who offered though and anyways, I'm so close at my place already, I don't know if I need a ride.

I would feel bad to reject her offer but it can't be helped.

"thank you, but I can't, my house is nearby."

"i see, that's unfortunate"

She went back to the car and moved away.

Part 3.

"I'm home"

"oh, welcome home, onii-cha- ehhh. Who are you?"

She didn't notice that it was me. I went to barber shop and I look a bit different so I won't be surprised to her reaction.

Looks like she finished playing games. The disk near the tv is a racing game.

I'm not good at that category and I didn't remember that I have one. She must be the one who brought that disk.

Never mind.

"your cousin, Kenji"

When she saw me like this she began to act weird.  She was blushing a little bit when she's staring at me and if we had an eye contact, she looked away.

It was the same reaction when I held a conversation with Nagase-san without having an eye contact. I wonder what would Nagase-san reacts if she saw me like this.

Her name is Haruko Chisa, she's a second year from junior high school, she's 14. Her father is the person who picked me up at the airport terminal. The relationship of her father to my father are also cousins.               

I wonder what's our relationships are.

There's no time for me to think about that. As long as she's with me and fine, that's all that matters.

"by the way Chisa, how did you get inside here?"

"Ahh, I borrowed Keys from dad so I'm free to get inside"

[shit, this is bad. Chisa will often get inside here if she got the key]

Ding dong. The doorbell rings.

"this is delivery"

"yes, I'm coming"

Chisa received the food she ordered.

My stomach rumbles and I'm now hungry when I saw and smelled a food.

I guess I have to change clothes first.

While I was about to change clothes. I put on my bag and the products I bought from the convenience store on the table.

Now I am staring at her while changing clothes then she said something.

"I don't mind to see you changing, we've even bathed together last time."

Now I remembered the time when I bathed together, her breasts back then are bigger than Nagase-san's breasts today.

As I remember, it was a C-cup.

We're relatives, I don't think any weird ideas about her.

"Onii-chan, let's eat the dinner before it gets cold"

"yes"

After I finished changing we started to eat our dinner.

"Itadakimasu"

….

"Onii-chan, why did u change your appearance you? Don't tell me you fell in love"

The reason is something I don't want to tell is that I hate to recall every negativity about me since bad things happened. She is like my little sister so I need to tell her the truth.

"well, the reason why I made myself look good is to avoid being called a creep or a weird person."

"it is true that you looked like a hobo or someone who's given up on life. when we first met, I can tell that you had a painful past. you can't even talk properly, you're unsociable but you changed as the time passes."

"there's no way that I would be in love with someone."

"that's right, there's no way an unsociable otaku would fell in love with a 3d girl"

My body is weird. I'm hungry but I had no interest of eating. I would feel bad if I don't eat the food she ordered.

Afterwards, I'm full.

"Gochisousama deshita"

…

"by the way Onii-chan, I heard from dad that you've been down from the Philippines, what was that all about"

When I found out that she knew what happened to me back then, I don't understand what I felt. I wonder if I was angry or sad.

"well, lot of things happened but that was something I don't want you say"

"is that so. I'll wash the dishes and I forgot to tell you this, dad need some help."

"help for what?"

"I don't know but I heard that there was a girl who will move here tomorrow"

Uncle picked me up, helped me to buy appliances and stuff. Most importantly, he let me live the apartment for free.

It is now my turn.

After the Chisa washed the dishes I accompanied her on her way home. I planned to talk to uncle by telephone or any messaging app but I had no intentions of letting Chisa going back home at this night.

Part 4.

Uncle was already at the sofa waiting for me to come. His face is not the same face as usual.

"Oh, you came, Kenji-kun. You've became more handsome than before. I was surprised"

"I was planning to talk to you by device but I would feel bad to see her going back home alone"

"there's no need to. It's was just a kilometer away."

I'm a man that's so I'll do what's necessary.

"there's a girl who's the same age as you. Moving to live the apartment tomorrow, she asked me if I know someone to help with. You were the one I know who can help her move her belongings. So I was asking if it's ok for you."

"Leave it me"

"I'm counting on you"

Why does it have to be on weekdays? It must be after the class I suppose.

"I'm going home"

"take care"

I went to convenience store and bought some drinks or snacks for me to play games later.

Energy drink or a canned coffee would be enough for me to stay the night. It may be possible that I will look gloomy again at the time I wake up.

I bought hygienic products so it won't be a problem.

When I arrived at the house, I quickly turned on my pc then plays a game immediately.

FPS game is the category I played this time, I quitted to play gacha games when I'm always have a bad luck.

I was just letting the time passes until I get in the mood to play and waste money on a gacha game again.

My game console was such a display, I haven't even played it a year ago. In Philippines most gamers there prefer pc than consoles.

I guess I'll have to sell this game console. Nope, maybe there's a wonderful game will be released on this console soon.

 I locked the door, turned down the lights and wore computer glasses. This is a competitive game I need more serious.

Playing a competitive game is more interesting than studying.

Then after that, I've spent my whole night on playing games and reading manga.

..

Part 5.

I fell asleep at 3 A.M and woke up at 10 A.M. Seven hours is enough for me.

Looks like I will go to school tomorrow.

Telling sensei that I'll be absent because I'm have a cold and I'm living alone, I will tell her that I ended up lying at the bed waiting for me to recover. That reason would be enough but I looked way different than before so, it may be suspicious.

I guess It'll be fine.

After I woke up, I brushed my teeth then take a bath.

…

At the school.

Nagase-san was staring at my empty seat then paid attention to class lately.

She said something in her mind.

[that creep is absent on his second day of school]

[I wonder what he is doing right now]

[no, why am I thinking about him, that idiot. I just wanted to repay him back with 10 thousand yen]

[never mind, I'll wait tomorrow.]

...

While I was just finished taking a bath. I wore my clothes and was about to eat bread.

I heard a sound of a truck that was about to park nearby. this must be my new neighbor packing things up and hired a truck.

I went to check if that was the person whose uncle is talking about.Lots of boxes were piled up and there's a girl who appeared. When I saw her, my mouth was half opened like I saw a goddess.

A woman with a brown fluttering hair, blue eyes with long slender legs and also looked the same age as me. She's the girl I met at the airport and the one who messages me sometimes.

I know her, she's Tanaka Kara.

She attempted to carry her thing and I went down to help her.

"that's heavy, I'll help you out"

"thank you-"

"Long time no see"

She was making a confused face while facing me.

"who're you"

That hurts like I wanted to die right now.

"I'm Ichinose Kenji, the landlord wanted me to help you. Seems like I was mistaken just pretend you didn't hear it."

"Sorry, you looked way better than we met before."

"first, we should finish moving this to your apartment."

"thanks in advance"

I carried all her belongings to her apartment and also helped her to arrange. I didn't expect that a person I fell in love in first sight became my neighbor, fate sure is a fickle thing. After I helped her, I went back to my place and do stupid things and waited for tomorrow classes.

.