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.

No. No, no, no. That can't be it. There has to be another reason. Something else. Anything else.  


But then—why does this burning irritation keep gnawing at my chest every time I see them talking? It's like a mosquito buzzing near my ear, persistent and impossible to ignore. I shake my head, exhaling sharply. It's not like I care. I don't care. I don't—


My gaze drifts back to them, completely against my will. And there's Chi, sitting across from Yuto, her eyes crinkling at the corners as she laughs at something he just said. Laughing. Like he's the funniest person in the world. Like just being around him is enough to make her day.  


I tap my pencil against my desk, my fingers tightening around it. My jaw clenches. It's probably something dumb. It has to be something dumb. Yuto isn't exactly a comedian, and Chi? Maybe she just has terrible taste in humor. That's all this is.  


Chapter 21 - Chapter 9: Straight-Up Jealousy