Oreki-kun is always listless

"It's good. It's good. It seems you have a good life after you got a girlfriend, Satoshi." 

"I can tell that you don't appear so happy about how I got a girlfriend." Satoshi smiled at Oreki and asked, "So, do you want a girlfriend too, Houtaro?" 

"Don't be kidding! I won't get one! Women are troublesome!" 

Oreki shuddered when he thought of his previous experience this morning! 

"Still, if you make one, then clear up all of your troubles first! Don't you know what kind of trouble that Ibara did to me this morning?!" 

Ibara Mayaka. 

A short, cute girl who loved Satoshi from middle school and also Oreki's childhood friend. 

Still, while Oreki might say that Ibara was his childhood friend, the way they described their relationship should be an unfortunate acquaintance as they just happened to be in the same class from elementary school to middle school. 

No, neither of them loved the other; instead, Ibara was annoyed by Oreki's way of life, and watching him simply caused her to be emotional, or rather, his existence simply touched her nerves. 

However, as Satoshi got a girlfriend and even walked to the school holding hands, whether Oreki wished it or not, he was pulled by Ibara. 

"I am sorry for that." 

"No... it's okay." 

While Oreki wanted to complain when he saw Satoshi sincerely apologize, it threw him off, and he quickly told him that it was okay. 

"So, did you tell everything?" 

"I did." Oreki nodded and asked, "Is that okay?" 

"It is. I don't plan to have two-timing, so there is no need for you to hide anything." 

"....." Oreki. 

"What's wrong?" 

"...I never expected that the words two timing would come out from your lips." 

"As a guy, have you ever thought about having a harem life?" 

"....." Oreki. 

"Joking aside, did you bring the mangas?" Satoshi asked. 

"I did. It was so heavy." 

"That said, you seem to enjoy bringing manga to school." 

While Oreki complained, Satoshi took the many new manga magazines that were brought by Oreki. He knew that Oreki always bought new manga magazines since this guy loved to read, or rather, reading was probably the most common entertainment in this country. 

Satoshi didn't like to read, and he also didn't have much of a manga collection since, while it was cheap, he had many things that he wanted to buy, and books would make his room full, so he directly borrowed those manga magazines from Oreki by calling him this morning. 

Still, while this guy appeared lazy, if someone asked him, Oreki would do it, especially those with whom he was close. 

It was just that such individualism was quite hard to accept in this country, which supported collectivism, so everyone was the same, uniform, and obedient toward those who stood above. 

This was also the reason why there were even the words "The nail that sticks out gets hammered down." 

The energy saver that Oreki tried to uphold was such a way that he couldn't be accepted by others, so he would be hammered down by others. 

Still, when Satoshi thought of this, wasn't living in an "energy-saving" way more troublesome than living a normal way? 

Regardless, as Oreki was the protagonist of this world, he should be okay, Satoshi thought. 

As for Satoshi, only the weak cared about those things, and he, the strong, couldn't care about the opinion of the extras. 

Still, after the class, once again, Satoshi came to Oreki's class as he checked the manga magazines and waited for the rain to stop. At the same time, he also waited for his girlfriend, who was a bit busy as it seemed she wanted to create a new society in this school, so she tried to curry favor with a teacher so this teacher could become the advisor of her new society, and that was why she often helped this teacher. 

Watching Satoshi, who read the manga magazines nonchalantly, Oreki asked, "So what will you do with Ibara?" 

"What do you want me to do?" 

"...you won't do anything?" 

"Explaining will bring more trouble, and it will be impossible for me to break up with Kaho." 

"...you used a first name already?" 

"We had held each other's hands, see?" 

"...how?" 

Satoshi closed the magazine and then looked at Oreki with a smile. "As expected, you are also interested in romance, right?" 

"No way! I am not! I definitely do not!" 

Yes, Oreki was curious about how Satoshi could get a girlfriend, calling his girlfriend's first name directly and then walking to the school holding hands. 

While he had known Satoshi since middle school, it was his first time knowing that Satoshi was such a Casanova. 

Oreki knew that his words might sound exaggerated, but in the age where all the high school students, especially the male ones, didn't appear to grow and even childish, it was simply impossible for them to get a girlfriend unless one was so handsome or thoughtful. 

More importantly, a high school student tends to overthink despite dating being a simple thing. 

I like you, and you like me.

That's it. 

It wasn't so complicated, and if the others didn't like you, then just change to another girl. 

As for the trick or whatnot, like a pickup artist, it was simply nonsense since if you like someone, just show it, and the others will naturally like you. 

If Satoshi had to say, it was like a mirror effect; when you warm others, the others will naturally warm to you. 

Just show your care and love without being too heavy, and then everything will come so naturally. 

What is hard is to show your feelings as your feelings might not be reciprocated or those feelings are betrayed, but if that happens, then be a man and move on. 

"Then, I won't talk." 

"...." Oreki. 

"Still, if you are troubled by Ibara, just call me, and I will talk to her." 

"...you won't take the initiative?" 

"It will be complicated if I talk to her now and..." 

"And..." 

"..." 

Satoshi looked at Oreki, who appeared to have a great interest in his love life, and then asked, "As expected, you have an interest in romance, right?" 

"I am not!" 

Watching Oreki, who blushed, Satoshi only smiled and said, "You don't have to deny it fervently like that." 

"..." 

Somehow, Oreki felt a bit helpless, facing Satoshi, who somehow had become mature, but then again, he could tell that this guy played him around and didn't seem to have any intentions of telling everything. 

Still, he knew well that inwardly, he had been lying since he was extremely curious! 

"By the way, what have you been doing?" 

"Hmm?" 

"I thought that you wanted to read a manga, but you don't seem to have an interest in those stories." 

Yes, Oreki saw that instead of reading the manga story, Satoshi just flipped the magazine to a certain page, read it for a moment, then changed it to another page. 

"I am thinking of making a manga." 

"You want to make a manga?!" 

Oreki was so dumbfounded that he raised his voice, and naturally, he attracted the attention of the others, who looked at them curiously, which made him blush and a bit shy. 

However, Satoshi was at his own pace, looking at the newcomer manga competition and looking at the competition that gave him the highest reward. 

'1,000,000 yen...' 

This was the highest it would go, and the rest would be about 500,000 yen or so, but then again, considering the theme and reputation of the company, magazine circulation, and the rest of the factors for the future, he leaned more toward competition that had a prize of 500,000 yen. 

"Really? Are you going to make a manga?" 

Oreki asked quietly as he looked at his friend curiously. 

"Yes." 

"Why?" 

"To make money." 

"..." Oreki fell silent, then sighed. "Don't let others, especially Ibara. If she hears you, she will nag you forever." 

For others, being a mangaka meant a sacred goal, but in Satoshi's eyes, it was just a means to make money. 

If they knew Satoshi's answer, they would curse him, Oreki thought. 

"I won't." 

"Then, what kind of a manga will you make? Considering you have been looking at the newcomer competition, you must have an idea, right?" 

"I do." 

"Really?" 

"Yes, it is a slice-of-life story." 

"What kind?" 

Watching Oreki's curious eyes, Satoshi said, "Oreki-kun is always listless. That will be the title." 

"....." Oreki. 

"Just kidding, the title is "Tanaku-kun is always listless." I won't use your name for it." 

"But it doesn't change much! Also, what do you mean by always listless?! Won't this story be about me?!" 

"Well, it's inspired by your way of life, or rather, I want to create a story where one takes your way of life seriously." 

"... that seems interesting." 

Strangely enough, Oreki became interested. 

"Right? I will be there too, so you don't have to worry." 

"...so, it is the story of a friendship?" 

"Yup. Aren't you moved by the fact that you have such a great friend like me?" 

"...is that something that you should say about?" 

"Do you need the royalty if I am successful?" 

"I don't need that; you can create whatever you want. Also, are you sure that your manga will win the competition?" 

Watching Oreki's suspicious gaze, Satoshi smiled and said, "Just wait." 

Instead of talking nonsense, the result would be Satoshi's answer. 

"...okay, I will wait, also, can you let me read your manga when it is ready?" 

"Sure." 

Still, as they talked and Satoshi also had made up his mind about which competition he should join, a voice interrupted them. 

"Fukube-san! Oreki-san!" 

The puppy, no, Chitanda-san, was there! 

"By the way, keep it a secret." 

"Okay." 

As Oreki heard Satohi's words, he nodded, then looked at the golden retriever that ran happily toward her master.