The Socially Anxious One Likes the Sunny Owl

VIP notice: This story will become a paid title on December 13, starting with Chapter 31. There'll be a 10,000-word update when it does~ Thank you for all your support so far. I'll keep working hard on updates! This story is complete. Hori Akane is an ordinary first-year high school student. She's afraid of socializing and doesn't dare talk or get too close to others, worried she'll make things awkward. So here at sunny, extrovert-filled Fukurodani, she can only be a lone wolf. One afternoon, while avoiding people, she unexpectedly runs into Fukurodani's volleyball ace inside an equipment-room cabinet. From then on, this dazzling, glowing owl is everywhere in her life. After bravely confessing, Hori Akane does something to him because she's always been curious about his owl-themed knee pads. "I'm going to tease you, senpai!" "Senpai, put on your knee pads!" "Senpai, if I pull your knee pads back and snap them against you, will you cry?" After doing something so bold, Hori Akane can't face him the next day. Just hearing his voice is enough to make her run off in a flash. "Are you challenging me to a race?" The innocent owl doesn't realize she's avoiding him, and takes off after her at full speed. Hori Akane cries out in alarm: "Senpai, don't come any closer!" "Why not?!" After a fierce chase, Hori Akane runs as fast as she can, while the owl catches up with ease. Once he learns why she ran away with her face covered, the owl says she has to take responsibility for what she did to him yesterday. "Um... okay." Hori Akane doesn't dare object and nervously waits for the owl to tell her what her punishment will be. But then he says: "Then tease me a little." Huh? Do you remember how I "teased" you yesterday, senpai? Theme: Chase after who you want to be, and have no regrets about your youth.