yuzuumachi

Iwasaki Yuto is an ordinary college student who views himself as nothing more than an unremarkable "NPC" in the grand scheme of life. He goes through his days quietly, blending into the background at school and keeping to himself. His world revolves around gaming, anime, and escaping the harsh reality of his social invisibility. Yet, despite his attempts to stay unnoticed, he can’t shake the feeling that something is missing—especially when it comes to love.

In his daily routine, Yuto faces the same struggles of rejection, loneliness, and self-doubt. He watches others live out their high school romance fantasies while he remains on the sidelines, quietly wishing for a chance to experience something meaningful. But when fate throws him into unexpected situations and confrontations, Yuto begins to question if he’ll always be a background character in his own life—or if, somehow, he’s destined for more than the ordinary existence he’s resigned himself to.

My Part-time Girlfriend

The night air feels cold against my skin.

I'm not sure how long I've been walking. My feet moved on their own, carrying me away from the festival grounds and toward the quieter stretch of the school courtyard. The noise of the crowd fades with each step I take, replaced by the quiet hum of the summer night. Crickets chirp faintly beneath the rustle of leaves overhead. The distant chime of wind bells sways with the breeze, soft and hollow beneath the dark sky.

My chest still feels tight. My hands are shoved deep into my pockets, fingers curled into tense fists. The ache beneath my ribs hasn't faded—it's settled into a quiet, dull weight pressing against my lungs, like a hand gripping my chest from the inside.

I can't get the image out of my head.

The way she smiled at him. That soft, quiet smile—the kind of smile she never gives me. The way her gaze softened, the quiet vulnerability in her eyes.

Chapter 16: Fireworks