I'm Not Popular, But the Future Starts Today Part 1

p3
>Good morning~
>Mornin'. Geez~ I'm all sweaty just from walking to school~

>It feels like here's no spring or fall.

>You always end up having to wear sunscreen.
>We have to put it on all year round.
>Eh? What a pain!

>It'll go away soon so I won't buy any~
>It'll get all sticky if I use it now...

p4
>Ah, Ucchi. Perfect timing.
>That's last months issue, right? The special edition~
>What's this? Bodycare?

>Ah~ This is cute.
>You can't just pick from appearances...

>Then what's your preference? Like in terms of ingredients or price.
>...Something that smells good would be nice...

p5
>So good smells are the basis? What kind of scent do you like, Ucchi?

>Kuroki's...
>Hah

>Gross!! Gross!!!
>Eeh...??
>Yet another spasm.

>I'd like to read this, so could you lend it to me, Ucchi?

p6
>Today's the day
>I confirm Kuroki's you-know-what...

>My investigation says maybe...
>but I need to confirm it in person...
>...it's hard to see past Katou's boobs...

>Miya-chan!?

p7
>I can't hear anything from here...
>They seem to be excited about something...

>...what am I doing?

>...I'm going back.

p8
>Ah, Ucchi. Thanks for the maga-...

>Miya-chan! What were you talking about with Kuroki just now?

p9
>Eh...
>Nothing in particular...
>Was she gross?
>No, I don't think she was gross...

>I mean, you were so chummy with everyone in that class...
>Ah, also, did Kuroki say anything about me!?
>More importantly, we need to get to the music room!
>Miya-cha...

>Why?
>Miya-chan's never acted that way until now...

p10
>Ah.
>I...

>Come on, Ucchi~ Let's go~
>R-Right.
>It's just my imagination.
>I'm sure I'm just overthinking things.

p11
>I mean, even now we've been together like this...

>Even though we've been together, I'm the one who hasn't been paying attention.

>Hey~ And then~
>Eh~
>But y'know, that person~

p12
>Ah~ Sounds like her

>So, like, that girl too
>Aha! That~

>Going over there, coming over here...

>She should make some friends in her own class already.
>Given her pride, I doubt that.
>She'll cry if you say that.

>Haha. Hilarious. Even if they're both loners...
>Eh~ That's a secret~

p13
>I mean, that person's not a loner anymore.
>Seriously? lol

>She's not here... Nor are the usual members...

p14
>For some reason,
>I don't have the strength to search for her today...

>Ah.
>Ucchi... Welcome back~
>You're back early today.
>I just went to the bathroom... What about it?

p15
>About what?

>...Hey.

>Ah, did you see that thing on Instagram yesterday?
>Yeah, there were a lot of really cute stuff in the stories section. I wanted to learn from them before they disappear.
>Watch with us, Ucchi.
>...Sure.

>...I feel uneasy...

p16
>The gossip from the bathroom is spinning around in my head.
>It might not even be about me.
>It's no good. There's so much gloominess on my mind that I can't move.
>As soon as school ends, I want to head straight to Kuroki and confirm things once and for all.

>About today.
>About Miya-chan.

>Okay, that's all for today. Be careful on the way home.

>Kuroki.

p17
>Owah!?

>Emoji... She got mixed with another class' homeroom!?

>Ah... You didn't bring any manga today, right?
>You were reading my magazine after all.
>How does she know that...?

>Shall we go buy one on the way home together?
>Eep!?

p18
>No, new magazine issues for reading don't release on Fridays...
>Not magazines. We should go to the bookstore so you can recommend me some tankoubons.

>What's with this chick? She's really getting her teeth in... Th-This is bad...
>...Tomoko.

>Eep!? Ah... Y-Yuri-chan.
>Sorry, Uchi-san. It looks like Tomoko has plans. Want to go home with me instead?
>Eh!?

>What plans.
>We take the same train, so it's fine, right?

>...Kuroki.

p19
>Yeah, sorry... I'm in a hurry, so...
>Kuroki! What about tomorrow then! Tomorrow...
>Sorry. I've got important plans tomorow.

>Didn't you have plans today?
>Hah...

>What's wrong?

>Even Kuroki-san has lots of plans. She's quite popular, after all.

>Eh?

>Popular...

p20
>Let's all study together again when she doesn't have anything planned.
>Y-Yeah. Later...
>Bye bye, Kuroki-san.
>Ah, Kuroki...

>..We should go home too.
>...What about you, Katou... san?
>I'm doing self-study today.

>See you next week, you two.

p21
>...Hey. Miya-chan came over to your class today, right?
>Miyazaki-san? Yeah...
>What did you talk about?
>...Just... idle gossip?

>...She doesn't seem like the type to obsess over discussions between friends.
>Maybe she really doesn't remember...

>...She doesn't seem to enjoy being with me... She's oblivious to my conversation... or rather, she's just checks her phone everytime we stand still.

p22
>But I guess
>I've been doing the same thing to everyone else...

>Wanna go to the bookstore? I'm not quite as well-informed as Tomoko, but I know some good manga.
>...You probably still know more than me, though. I mostly read books with a lot of kanji. Manga, not so much...

>Then,
>let's go inside.

>...I have no idea what she's thinking but
>it's really helping me today.
>...Thank you.

p23
>Uuh... I'm still really curious... Just what plans does Kuroki have...

>...I really wanted to confirm things with Kuroki...
>It can't be helped... I'll go by myself tomorrow...

p24
>Kuro...
>Sorry for the wait!

p25
>Sorry. Were you waiting long?
>I rang into Makocchi and Tamura-san.
>It's fine. I just got here myself.
>Ah! Yoshida-san, over there!
>Ah, so it was that side.

>Sorry. We were on the other side.
>Sorry. I picked such a confusing meeting point.
>It's fine. Let's get going right away.
>So soon?
>Why!? If she was hanging out with Miya-chan, she couldn't invited me too...

p26
>I have plans tomorrow...

>See you next week, you two.

>Then
>let's go inside.
>Even Tamura mentioned nothing about it yesterday...

>Ah... The usual girls from the same class...
>...I see.

>Friends...

>Out shopping with friends... with the usual people...
>Miya-chan too...

p27
>But there's
>not place for me.

>It's been ages since I've seen Miya-chan look so happy.
>Here, take this.
>Wah! Thank you!

p28
>Kuroki's also... giving off such a... kind smile...

>Ah... I see.
>That's what she meant by important plans...

>The face Kuroki can pull out of her.

>The face I cause her to have.

p29
>I never knew Kuroki's contact details.
>I'm always making her look troubled.
>There's no place for me among everyone.
>And it's my fault.
>We weren't friends. We couldn't be friends.
>Even with things like this, I can only think about myself in the end.

>I'm the worst. I'm the worst. I'm the worst.
>Miya-chan. Kuroki.
>What am I supposed to do?
>I hate thinking about it. It drives me to depsair.
>I hate it, but I want things to go well.

p30
>Because I really care for Miya-chan. I love Miya-chan.
>Even Kuroki-san. I really...