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

It's still early in the morning. The sun hasn't even fully risen yet — just a pale glow bleeding into the sky beyond the thin cracks between the curtains. The house is quiet. Too quiet.

My body feels heavy, the soreness from yesterday still lingering beneath my skin. My breath stirs faintly against the stillness of the room. The distant sound of birds chirping drifts through the open window, thin and soft beneath the cool edge of the morning breeze.

I sit up slowly, my legs sliding over the edge of the bed. My feet press against the cold wood floor, the chill biting faintly through my socks. My hand lifts toward my chest, fingers brushing over the thin fabric of my shirt as my heartbeat pulses beneath my ribs.

My gaze shifts toward the window. The pale gray sky is just starting to soften at the edges, streaks of pale orange and thin threads of blue bleeding into the horizon.

Chapter 19: First Steps Forward