The Dreaming Boy Is a Realist

is a Japanese light novel series written by Okemaru and illustrated by Saba Mizore. It was initially serialized as a web novel on the user-generated novel publishing website Shōsetsuka ni Narō in December 2018.

It was later acquired by Hobby Japan, who began publishing it as a light novel in June 2020 under their HJ Bunko light novel imprint. A manga adaptation illustrated by Popuri Yoshikita began serialization on Kadokawa Shoten's Shōnen Ace Plus website in March 2021.

An anime television series adaptation produced by Studio Gokumi and AXsiZ aired from July to September 2023.

Plot
Wataru Sajō has been pestering and asking Aika Natsukawa, a beautiful girl in his class, to go out with him and get turned down. One day, a flying soccer ball swiftly changes his personality and comes to the conclusion he is not worthy of her and begins to distance himself from her. However, Aika mistakenly thinks he now dislikes her, and she starts to get involved with him. This is the start of a romantic comedy when two classmates struggle to convey their feelings, especially when other girls begin to take notice of Wataru.