After school. On the way home.
Takuma Kunimi trudged through the shopping district with his school bag slung over one shoulder.
(...Nothing really happened today either. I'm ugly, and girls aren't interested in me.)
(...Maybe I'll grab some fried chicken from the convenience store on the way home.)
And then—
"Whoa there...!"
Coming around the corner was a tall man walking with a cane—
Nekomaru Nezu.
Beside him walked a black Labrador with a glossy coat shining in the afternoon light.
—Besu.
"Hey, kid. Heading home from school?"
"...Oh, Nekomaru-san? Hello."
Takuma gave him a small nod.
At that exact moment—
"WOOF!!"
Besu suddenly charged straight at Takuma.
She practically body-slammed him in the chest—
"Whoa?! H-Hey, wait...!"
"Oh..."
Nekomaru narrowed his eyes with interest.
"That's unusual. I've never seen Besu take to someone this quickly."
Besu was normally only friendly with female students.
When it came to boys, she barely showed any interest at all.
And yet— with Takuma, her tail was wagging at full speed as she happily pressed herself against him.
"...Why me?"
"Just so you know, Besu's a girl. Which means—"
"—EVEN DOGS LIKE YOU, KUNIMI-KUN?!"
A voice cut him off.
Takuma turned around.
Led by Mikiko Izumi, the heroines were already rushing toward them.
"Not just girls, but DOGS too?! Are you kidding me?!"
"Aww... Besu-chan is so cute! ♡ But I think I might be a little jealous. ♡"
"Hahaha! You're even popular with dogs now? That's basically cheating."
"My subject of observation... has expanded beyond humans."
The Tachibana sisters arrived shortly afterward and began whispering to each other.
"...What kind of life-form is popular even with dogs?"
"Black Labs are smart, you know. Maybe she figured out what Kunimi-kun is really like."
"What he's really like?"
"Yeah. Like how he's unconsciously kind to everyone."
"...The fact that it works on both girls and dogs is actually kind of terrifying."
And then there was the man himself.
Takuma looked down at Besu.
"...Nah. I probably smell like fried chicken or something."
He nodded to himself.
"Yeah. That's gotta be it."
"WE KEEP TELLING YOU THAT'S NOT IT!!!"
Besu wagged her tail contentedly and sat down right beside Takuma.
Takuma Kunimi— a boy so popular that even female dogs adored him.
And yet, as always, he remained completely oblivious as he continued on his way home.