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 been two weeks since Rin transferred in.

Two weeks since I last spoke to Kaori.

I tell myself I'm not avoiding her. Or maybe I am. But it's easier this way—cleaner, less complicated. Less painful.

My legs burn as I push through the final stretch of my morning run. The chill of early morning air slips beneath my thin hoodie, sharp and biting against my skin. Each breath cuts through my chest, coiling deep and ragged in my throat. My sneakers slap against the pavement, steady and rhythmic, the sound swallowed by the quiet hum of the waking city.

I slow to a stop near the park entrance, hands braced on my knees as I try to steady my breath. My calves ache, the soreness humming beneath the cold sting in the air. My breath fogs faintly before me, curling into soft, ghostly shapes that vanish into the pale light.

Chapter 21: Silent Distance