Kaito Igarashi had spent nineteen years of his life perfecting the art of not being noticed.
And yet, despite his efforts, the universe had conspired against him.
His roommate, Haru, called it "The Accidental Chad Effect."
Mika called it "Hot Loner Energy."
Yuki called it "Kaito Being an Idiot."
But whatever name they gave it, Kaito knew the truth.
He was not cool. He was not confident. He was a mess.
And yet—
People thought he was cool.
Which was a nightmare.
Case in point:
It had been three dayssince the Coffee Shop Incident.
Three days since Kaito had accidentally given off the impression of being a silent, brooding, untouchable enigma.
Three days since girls started noticing him.
And, worst of all—
Three days since his life became infinitely worse.
Kaito wasn't popular in the traditional sense.
He wasn't a jock. He wasn't rich. He wasn't the student council president.
But somehow, despite his active efforts to go unnoticed, people had started talking about him.
And the rumors were getting out of control.
"They say you're a former delinquent."
Kaito nearly choked on his drink. "What?"
Mika smirked, scrolling through her phone. "Yep. Rumor has it you used to be in a gang but reformed yourself."
Kaito stared.
Yuki took a sip of her coffee. "I heard a different version. Apparently, you're actually a genius, but you keep your grades average so you don't attract attention."
Kaito felt actual pain.
Haru burst out laughing. "Oh, this is gold"
Kaito groaned, burying his face in his hands. "How did this happen?"
Mika grinned. "Because you don't talk. And you dress well. And you have that whole mysterious, I-don't-care-about-anything vibe."
Kaito sighed. "But I do care."
Ayane smirked. "Yeah? Then why don't you correct the rumors?"
Kaito crossed his arms. "Because that would require talking to people."
Silence.
Then—
Haru grinned. "Bro. You're screwed."
Kaito sighed.
---
### **3. When Doing Nothing Makes Things Worse**
Unfortunately, the rumors **didn't stop.**
If anything, they **got worse.**
Because when someone **tried** to approach Kaito, and he—being the socially anxious mess that he was froze and walked away
People didn't take it as shyness.
They took it as cold indifference.
And so, new rumors were born:
"Kaito doesn't talk to people because he's seen things."
"Kaito is secretly rich and heir to a powerful family."
"Kaito is actually a professional underground fighter."
Kaito nearly fainted when he heard the last one.
"Who—who comes up with this stuff?!" he demanded.
Haru snickered. "Bro, just admit it. You're an anime protagonist."
Kaito glared. "I literally have panic attacks over ordering food. How does that scream protagonist?"
Mika smirked. "That just makes you even *more* mysterious."
Kaito groaned.
And then, as if things weren't bad enough—
It happened.
The worst possible thing
A girl confessed to him.
In broad daylight.
In the middle of campus.
In front of multiple people.
It started innocently enough.
Kaito was walking to class, minding his own business, when suddenly—
"Excuse me!"
He turned.
A girl stood there, shifting nervously.
"I… I know this is sudden," she said, cheeks pink. "But I really like you. Would you… go out with me?"
Kaito's brain short-circuited.
This wasn't happening.
This wasn't happening.
This wasn't happening.
His entire body screamed for him to run.
But that would be rude.
And if he stood here in silence for too long, it would just make things worse.
So he did the only thing his panicked brain could think of.
He bowed.
And said, in the most formal voice possible—
"I'm sorry, but I'm not looking for a relationship right now."
Then he turned and walked away.
Without looking back.
Without hesitating.
Without acknowledging the shocked gasps around him.
And in doing so—
He made everything worse.
Haru was in tears.
"Bro. BRO. You rejected her like you were in a historical drama."
Kaito groaned. "I panicked."
Ayane was cackling. "You *bowed* to her, Kaito. Bowed."
Mika wiped her eyes. "You just *confirmed* every rumor about you."
Yuki smirked. "Yeah. Now you're *definitely* the untouchable, coldhearted prince."
Kaito buried his face in his hands. "I hate my life."
Haru clapped his back. "Nah, bro. You own your life."
Kaito groaned.
Despite his best efforts to stay under the radar
Despite his years of training in the art of invisibility
Kaito Igarashi had somehow become the most talked-about person on campus.
And as much as he wanted to pretend otherwise…
There was no escaping it now.
And worst of all?
His so-called friends were having way too much fun watching him suffer.
"Bro," Haru said, grinning. "You know what this means, right?"
Kaito sighed. "No. And I don't *want* to know."
Haru smirked.
"It means… you're officially the school's accidental heartthrob."
Kaito stared at him.
Then
He stood up.
Walked to the window.
And seriously considered jumping out of it.