The Price of Popularity

“I do have an idea. But I want to hear what others think.”

“In that case, I won’t hold back…”

Fatty began counting on his fingers, detailing my embarrassing past and meticulously analyzing how I had become so isolated. Finally, he reached a conclusion.

“You’re unpopular simply because your personality is terrible. Honestly, you’re not tsundere; you’re more like ‘proudly sullen.’ No one will ever discover your endearing qualities; they’ll just label you an isolated freak, and your social life will be completely ruined.”

Mortified, I covered my face, utterly wishing the ground would swallow me whole!

Stop talking! I’m so embarrassed I want to kill myself. Why do I always make the worst choices whenever I try to socialize in real life?!

“If you know how awful you are, why even ask me? Aren’t you just setting yourself up for humiliation?”

“Because…” I clenched my fists. “I want to be a normie!”

Fatty looked at me with an expression of pity, as if to say, ‘This kid has completely lost their mind.’

“Ah Jiu, go home and take a nap. You can have anything you want in your dreams.”

“Hmph, just you wait. I’ll be popular sooner or later.”

“Don’t worry, Ah Jiu. I’ll definitely find a partner before you do.”

“Whoever finds a partner first is a dog!”

“Woof!”

After finishing his meal, Fatty, as always, tried to put an arm around my shoulder, intending to share some heartfelt—mostly mocking—words in our usual camaraderie. However, I instinctively pushed him away.

He looked at me with a face full of questions, then became unusually dejected.

“I don’t know what’s happened these past few days, but you’ve really changed. I even suspect you’ve fallen in love. Look, you’re even keeping your distance from me now.”

I quickly explained, “I’m sorry, I…”

He waved his hand. “Don’t say anything, I understand. Although it’s a little sad, I’m also somewhat relieved. You’re finally starting to act like a girl.”

“Huh?”

I suddenly realized that everyone around me seemed to think I had changed a lot, but I felt like I was still the same as before. Could it be that I really had turned into a young girl?

“By the way, how do you usually see me?”

“A beautiful girl with the heart of a crude, unrefined man.”

“Sounds about right.”

Alas, even with the skin of a beautiful girl, I was still an unpopular shut-in. Who truly enjoys loneliness? If given the chance, I would absolutely become a normie.

It was a shame. I had thought life would change, but if everything remained the same, what was the point of me turning into a girl?

Filled with resentment, I declared, “Damn it, I want to experience a sweet romance too!”

Fatty eyed me askance. “Isn’t having a waifu enough for you?”

“That’s different!”

Fatty patted my shoulder earnestly. “Listen to me, Ah Jiu, don’t even think about it. Look at yourself—big chest, shapely butt… Ow! Where did you kick me?!”

I rolled my eyes at him. “Don’t disgust me, or your happiness below the waist will bid you farewell.”

Fatty clutched his crotch, forcing a bitter smile. “If you look closely, you’re quite good-looking. There are so many looks-obsessed people these days; as long as a girl has a little charm, someone will fawn over her. But both guys and girls are completely immune to you. You should know why, right? So forget about romance and just stick to fawning over your waifus.”

Why did I feel offended, as if my own ‘fawning’ was being targeted? If An An didn’t have her current looks, would I still like her? No, my devotion to her is absolute! I am not looks-obsessed!

“Hey, Ah Jiu, look over there. Isn’t that a beautiful girl?”

“Where?”

“She’s next to a blond little boy.”

I squinted, looking closely. Sure enough, not far away was a silver-haired girl with pigtails, chatting and laughing with a boy beside her. She was wearing a junior high school uniform, so she must still be a junior high student. She looked a little familiar.

“Cute, right?”

I nodded. “Super cute. If I were a lolicon, I’d be all for it.”

Fatty stroked his chin, speaking with an appreciative tone. “Hehehehe, looks like a junior. I have an idea…”

“Don’t say it. If you say it, it’s pedophilia. I’m telling you, if you make a move on her, you’ll end up with a criminal record.”

“What are you thinking?” Fatty’s face showed a hint of excitement. “She looks so much like Yosuga no Sora! She’s perfect for cosplay. I really want to pull her into our Anime Club. She’s so adorable; I bet our club president would be ecstatic.”

“Oh, that reminds me. Your Anime Club’s president is a famous lolicon, isn’t she?”

“Pfft, don’t slander our glorious president! She’s not a lolicon; she’s full of maternal love.”

Indeed, a senior who could openly declare “Two-dimensional culture is innocent” at a school-wide assembly and advocate for the establishment of an Anime Club couldn’t simply be called a lolicon. She was a beacon of two-dimensional culture.

Fatty then continued to promote. “Ling Jiu, why don’t you join our Anime Club? It’s perfect for you.”

“No, games suit me better than clubs.”

“We often play together.”

“You don’t understand,” I sighed. “In this day and age, if you don’t have some money, you can’t truly call yourself a connoisseur of two-dimensional culture. I can’t afford it. Your club is full of young masters and young ladies; being among a group of rich people only makes me feel my poverty. I’m a proletarian, barely able to pay the deposit for figures by scrimping and saving, while people in your club are already on team trips to Japan for shopping sprees. It’s sparking class conflict, really.”

Fatty gave a dry laugh. “Haha, that’s true. It’s a niche hobby with its own circles. Ah Jiu, someone like you, who prefers peace and quiet, probably wouldn’t feel comfortable in our club anyway.”

Actually, being a poor warrior in the ‘No Money’ faction wasn’t the main issue. The real problem was my slight fear of the Anime Club president, Ye Qian. She was a senior in her second year of high school and a legendary figure in our school. Her legends could fill three days and three nights. Not only was she an academic prodigy, winning multiple national and international awards, but she was also a popular UP host with hundreds of thousands of followers.

Most strikingly, her personality was unpredictable; she always managed to do astonishing things. If she had any flaws, it was her personality—she always seemed to be missing a screw. For example, after she got to know me, she would often discuss bishojo romance games with me without any reservations. She even excitedly declared, “It’s so good, I’m already horny,” even when others were present.

Truly, such a person was a huge headache. Not only was she overly familiar, but she also constantly tried to make me the next club president.

“Ling Jiu, you’re a rare talent! The important mission of spreading two-dimensional culture rests with you!”

I immediately refused. “No, you’re just lazy and want me to be your tool, to help you manage the club. I know there’s always infighting in your club, and I have no intention of being a pushover.”

Then, she said something that gave me lasting psychological trauma:

“Hmph, you’re so smart, it makes things difficult for me! Ling Jiu, how about this: want to do it with me? I’ll help you lose your virginity. How’s that for a deal?”

For reasons everyone understands, as a shy virgin, I fled. Since then, I have always avoided her. I had always heard rumors about her somewhat debauched lifestyle, but I never expected them to be true!

The most embarrassing part was that when I heard the offer, I actually felt a stir, and my lower body reacted. It was a pure black mark on my history! Sorry, An An, I’m a scumbag! Please forgive me!