The protagonist is characterized by his social isolation, marking him as a "loner" or "loser" in the school hierarchy. Kondou, aware of this status, never mocks him for it. Instead, she creates a safe space where his loneliness is alleviated through physical connection. This dynamic flips the script on "nerd gets the girl" stories; Kondou is not a trophy to be won, but a participant guiding the relationship. Her boyfriend (mentioned early on) fades into irrelevance not just because of plot convenience, but because the emotional connection she forms with the protagonist feels more authentic than her socially acceptable relationship.