Youkoso Jitsuryoku Shijou Shugi no Kyoushitsu e

Short Stories

Author: Kinugasa Shougo

Illustrator: Tomose Shunsaku
Translated by Anon from 4chan
 Volume 1
Horikita, Kushida
A certain morning in the swimming pool

Something that happened a certain morning. I heard a deep sigh.

“hah – swim…”

Almost all boys were ecstatic, but only Hondo was dispirited.

“What’s wrong?”

“Eh? No, nothing…”

Hondo looked as if he was worried about something.

“Speaking of which, You’ve always been looking. Don’t tell me, you can’t
swim?”

It’s not like I’m an expert, I have an ordinary level. It’s only that, you see,
there are a lot of things, if I swam.”

I didn’t understand anything about what Hondo wanted to say.

“I’m not enthusiastic about it. This swimming thing is really boring.”

Hondo had returned to his seat very early.

“What’s wrong with that guy?”

Ike tilted his head, not understanding him.

“Ah –so it’s that. So it’s that thing.”

Sudo seemed to have understood Hondo’s train of thought and broke into
laughter.

“What’s up?”
“There were also students like Hondo in middle school. He must be worried
about that, the size of his lower parts.”

“What?”

Sudo’s answer was really unexpected.

“It can’t be, right?"

“No, those who adopt that attitude are most likely because of that. If it was
because of other reasons, his belly will be exposed or he has thick body
hair. Does Hondo meet any of these two criteria?”

Indeed, Hondo has a very average body that you can find everywhere.

“Men determine the winner by the size of the lower part. Normally, that part
tend to be very big in guys who are ordinarily unrestrained. This is like the
thumbnail of yourself for the society. If the lower part of a healthy youngster
is small, his evaluation will also suffer changes, isn't that so?”

“Pfhahahahaha! That guy, so his lower parts are small!”

Ike seemed to have understood Hondo’s train of thought and laughed

heartily. Ah – what an annoying society.

"That guy must be lazing around, look closely”

Sudo said that with a smiling face full of confidently.

Then the swimming class started. Today, Ike and Yamauchi were also
excited about the girls’ swimsuits.

Sudo looked at the Hondo he though was lazing around, while smiling.

It’s because of people like you that even competition swimsuits have been
vetoed by the adults, and there is a trend of guys and girls wearing
swimsuits with less and less exposure, isn’t it?

“Hey, what’s Sudo laughing about, is there something funny?”

Kushida, who had finished changing her clothes, showed a face incapable
to understand and asked me. As always, I didn’t know where I should place
my line of sight.

“There’s a trivial matter”

“What do you mean by trivial matter?”

Stop, being gazed so cutely is also disturbing. Girl’s swimsuits are

extraordinarily erotic, I will get excited, you know?

If I said those words, I reckon Kushida would never talk to me again.

“Let’s swim! There are a lot of guys resting.”

Being vague, I said that while watching those who were just looking around.
Kushida also looked around with me with an expression that implied
agreement, to the students that were on the second floor.

“Girls have a variety of circumstances, but guys also have a lot too. Don’t
you they it? Swimming.”

There are guys who merely dislike it, and there are guys who are not good
at it.”

“Although not being good at it, if they gave up at the beginning because of
these circumstances, they would never be able to overcome it no matter
how long.”

Speaking like a teacher, Horikita has come. Well, the appearance of the
swimsuits is really too bright.

In order to not look as if I was excessively looking that, I moved away my

gaze without leaving any trace.

“I actually think that we should let them be. The worth of swimming, how
should I put it? There are no daily complications for those who don’t know
how to swim. For those who live in the cities, the necessity of swimming is
completely non-existent, isn’t it?”
“What if there’s an accident? If there’s an earthquake, there will also be a
tsunami. In order to raise the survival rate by 1%, there’s nothing that can’t
be better than having learned to swim beforehand.”

Naturally, it’s impossible to deny this survival question once you have come
up with this 1% word.

“Ahaha, the relationship between you two continues to be as good as

always.”

“Not in the slightest.”

Horikita neither affirm nor deny. She just hates talking to Kushida.

“Kushida-chan---! Let’s do our best together too!”

Ike came jumping when he realized the existence of Kushida.

His mouth said chatting, but in his mind he was thinking about branding the
image of Kushida’s swimsuit into his retina”

Kushida laughed and started chatting with Ike, not realizing in the slightest
his perverted thoughts.

“That’s right, what is he laughing about?”

“Eh?”

Horikita looked at Sudo, who was ridiculing Hondo.

“Ah ---No. there are various sorts and varieties. Men also have men’s
worries.”

“I don’t quite understand”

“Let’s make an analogy. There are women that have complicated feelings
about the size of their bust, right?”

She looked at me astonished as if she was saying “what are you talking
about all of a sudden?”. Being looked like this felt like a torture.
“In other words, men also have similar worries. Please try to empathize in
the future.”

If I were to put it in more concrete words, there’s no doubt that this is

sexual harassment. It was hard to say whether I would be beaten by
Horikita.

“…so it’s like that. So senseless “

“Your ability to grasp ideas is really good”

“After hearing your dirty words, although unwillingly, it was enough to

imagine.”

“If I was requested to explain that, I will just merely say the facts. Don’t treat
me like the bad guy.”

“Hey, Ayanokouji-kun. Is Ike okay?

Kushida, who was talking to Ike, had already approached us when we

realized her. About Ike, he was crouching while pressing his belly.

“He looks like he has stomachache.”

Kushida looked worriedly at him in the distance.

Ike, being the target of the worry, was indeed pressing his stomach, but he
didn’t look like he was hurting.

In other words, that must be that he gazed too much at Kushida and now
he was paying the price.

That guy will never learn, he was always living following his instincts.

Horikita looked at Ike with an unforgiving gaze full of contempt.

Ah –youth.

I thought this even though I did not do anything.

 (No title)
"Hey, do you sometimes feel that you are indifferent to no matter what the
world becomes?"

“Why are you suddenly asking this? Too bad, I’ve never been pessimistic
about my own life.”

“I’m not saying about being pessimistic about one’s life… it looks like this
has nothing to do with Horikita.”

Horikita blatantly adopted a disgusted, or probably an annoyed look, and

sighed deeply.

“So, what are you trying to say?”

“I was thinking, what’s the meaning of people trying so hard in a

meritocracy world?”

“Of course that’s for oneself, are you stupid?”

“Going as far as to call me stupid… so specifically, what’s this “for oneself”

referring to?”

“Isn’t this precisely promoting one’s inner qualities, and going for jobs that
possess a high status in the society?”

Horikita answered this as if it were natural. Of course, it’s not like I can’t
understand her.

The main reason about studying high school, university, or graduate school
is to find a better job in the future.

Of course, the dreams one hasn’t stopped pursuing since childhood are
also included among these. However, those are a small minority, and
perhaps there are also ambitious goals that can’t be achieved by just trying
hard.

“Then Horikita, what do you want to be in the future?”

“I haven’t decided it yet, because I am hiding an infinite variety of
possibilities.”

I don’t think there are anyone who can flatter themselves as impressively
as her.

Not letting anyone think that was just a speech to conceal the fact she
hasn’t considered it yet, perhaps it could also be considered one of her
strong points.

“What do you want to do in the future… I’m certain that you have not
though about it.”

“Don’t assert for me. Maybe I unexpectedly have a specific goal?”

“…You’re right. Although the odds are quite low, I’ll ask you for the time
being. What do you plan to do in the future? Do you have a planning?”

“I want to become the Prime Minister.”

“… I was stupid for asking you.”

Horikita made a pose as if she was supporting her forehead, and turned
her body around.

“Hey, listen to me. I was joking about becoming the Prime Minister. What I
want to become is that, something like a civil servant.”

“For someone who wants to avoid troublesome things like you, this is a
stable path… but can you become one?”

With this statement, she was clearly lamenting about my lack of ability.

“This civil servant thing, it’s something that you can accidentally become
one if you want to become one.”

“Someone who thinks like this will certainly not be able to become one. I
advise you to be a convenience store clerk the rest of your life.”

“You are being rude towards all the shop clerks who work at the
convenience stores around the country.”
“Of course, I will respect those workers who have conviction. It’s simply that
I think you are self-degenerating yourself. You’ll probably become a lazy
salesclerk. I believe this is beyond redemption.”

“Suddenly I feel like I want to cry.”

“If you really have a goal you want to pursue, then you need to take
advantage of the time when you are still a student to fully stride forward.
Because even if you regret it later, you can’t reverse time. Finally, what will
appear in front of your eyes will be the unchangeable reality.”

“…I will remember that.”

Even though we are clearly at the same age, I can’t help but to think that
I’m being admonished by a teacher.
 Happy. Unhappy?
That was something that happened in a certain ordinary day

That happened not long after I enrolled in this school and it could not be
said that I was accustomed to the school life yet.

I’m always tense when I get suddenly talked by a classmate, and I’m
unable to chat normally.

In short, for me who belongs to the bottom of the class students, it’s
already exhausting to be able to put a name to a face.

People with high communication skills like Hirata and Kushida have already
started to talk to people from the other classes.

“What an annoying reality…”

We both entered this school under the same circumstances, and yet right
now we are different as night and day.

Even though I understood everybody have different skills, but at the

moment I am regretting it.

In this atmosphere, the resident of my neighboring table spends every day

not paying attention to it.

She never arrives late nor has had any absence, has outstanding grades,
listens earnestly during classes. She is even fast at entering and leaving
the classroom.

However, nobody interacts with her. To put it plainly, she has no friends.

“You look very relaxed, it looks like not having worries is truly great.”

“What are you saying all of a sudden?”

Horikita, who was preparing for the next class, looked at me annoyed.

“Nothing. I can’t help but think about these things.”

“I follow my standards in order to take my studies seriously, you know?”

“I was not saying those things…well, you didn’t hear anything. I was wrong.”

“Even though you admitting being wrong is a good thing, I feel that I can’t
accept it.”

Horikita believes that she doesn’t need friends from the bottom of her heart.

Even if I argued with her, I wouldn’t have high odds of success, and there
wouldn’t be any gain.

“Well, let’s study hard today too.”

“I’ve never seen you studying hard once though.”

I sighed after hearing her sarcastic remarks.

Next day. I woke up earlier than usual and I arrived 10 minutes before the
class meeting began. There weren’t many students and the classroom was
basically empty.

“I’ve arrived earlier than Horikita.”

After all, since it was this time, I thought she had already arrived to the
classroom, but it looks like even the first-rate person is going to arrive late.

“Good morning everyone.”

A moment later, Kushida, the class atmosphere mediator, entered the

classroom.

The gloomy (I’m exaggerating) classroom suddenly became bright and

cheerful.

Even if I only see Kushida in the morning, I still think she is very cute. I
would probably feel the same if I saw her in the evening.

I didn’t know what was Kushida thinking. When she turned into my direction,
our eyes accidentally met.
Normally, I was supposed to greet her by waving my hand, but I
subconsciously averted my eyes, typical from a good-for-nothing like me.

Today I was also running continuously at the bottom.

While I was staring blankly at the outside of the window, the class bells
rang and the class meeting had started. Even at this time, I still hadn’t seen
Horikita.

I didn’t know if Chabashira-sensei had realized or not that Horikita was not
here. She didn’t touch on this topic, finished the roll call and left the
classroom.

“Is she late? So rare…”

I could only guess…

“Good morning Ayanokouji-kun!

“Waah!?

While I was staring blankly at Horikita’s seat, Kushida stealthily appeared in

my field of vision.

“Sorry, did I scare you?”

“…A little. Do you need something?”

“Yes. Actually, I’m concerned about something. Can I bother you a little bit?”

Don’t say a little, you can take my time as you wish.”

“Horikita-san hasn’t come… to school, right?”

She looked at the seat beside me.

“It looks like it.”

“Not even her bag could be seen there, she didn’t come without a doubt.”

“What do you want to say by asking this?”

She had some clue so she slowly nodded.

“You see, I saw Horikita-san leaving her room this morning.”

“Eh?”

In other words, she certainly came to school this morning?

“It wasn’t because she was undisposed that she didn’t come?

“It doesn’t look like it… thus I was a bit worried. Normally I would be the
one to talk to Horikita-san, but I’m hated by her.”

“She doesn’t hate you, she simply hates human relationships.”

I feel like she doesn’t particularly hate Kushida. Probably.

If it’s okay with you, can I ask you to contact with her?”

So, it’s like this, that’s why you talked to me.

"Even if you want me to contact her... I don’t know Horikita's phone

number."

“Eh, it’s like that?”

“Yes, I’m very sorry. I guess the rest of people are in the same situation.”

“What… what do we do then?”

“Isn’t it okay by just leaving her alone?”

“but—”

Kushida is really a gentle person, she’s even excessively worried about

Horikita.

“I’ll go look at her circumstances.”

“You say circumstances… isn’t the next class starting soon?”

“But doesn’t this make people worried? Do you think Horikita would cut
classes?”

“This is something… hard to imagine.”

She gives the feeling of someone who would even come to class despite
catching a cold.

"Although there’s not much time left before the first lesson starts, if I run
fast I should be able to get back on time."

Kushida, just like Horikita, is a model student that never arrives late nor is
absent.

Even if she does this because she’s worried about Horikita, it’ll still leave a
lateness record.

“Ah, wait a moment.”

I lifted my heavy waist and slowly stood up.

I can’t let Kusada be late, so I can only take a step forward. I’m definitely
not pretending to be cool. Really.

“Ayanokouji-kun?”

“In short, I’ll go look for Horikita’s situation.”

"Eh?"

"I can’t let Kushida cut classes. And if I run, I am more likely to get back in
time for the class. So I’ll be right back.”

“But, But, this is something I wanted to do on my own accord. I can’t

request you to do it.”

"No problem, Since the lecture go in one ear and out the other anyways."

...Probably.

“I’m sorry… thank you”

“It’s nothing. By the way, which is Horikita’s room number?

If I had run panically right now, I would end up not knowing where her room
is.
I need to ask this.

“Let me think, it’s 1201.”

Since I’ve been thanked by Kushida, then this might be something that will
score points.

In her heart, my points have probably risen up.

There’s approximately 8 minutes until the first class starts.

Running to the dorms needs 2 to 3 minutes, so there’s a change to get

back on time.

I immediately left the classroom and run like the wind through the corridor.

It looks like it might be a bit motivated.

Feeling slightly embarrassed, I ran through the empty courtyard and I

arrived at the dorms entrance. Thanks to the students who were going to
class, the 2 elevators were stopped in the first floor. I immediately entered
the elevator to go to the 12th floor.

Since I couldn’t help but feel anxious, I kept pressing the target floor’s
button.

“The upper floors are the girl’s area…”

I arrived at the corridor of the 12th floor in an instant and looked for room
number 1201. Just by thinking this was the place where the girls live, my
heart started beating faster. Dangerous, this is not the moment to think
about these things. If it’s like what Kushida saw, then Horikita should be
inside her room.

After arriving at the front of the room, I first caught my breath. Then I
pushed the doorbell.

“...”

However, after waiting for a while, I did not hear a response from the room.
Have you already left for the school?
No, there is only one path to school. If that was the case, we would’ve
surely run into each other. And she didn’t take the other elevator.

She’s either not in her room, or perhaps she has collapsed inside.

In order to confirm the situation, I gripped the entrance doorknob.

“Should I knock the door again?”

Even though she’s Horikita, she’s undoubtedly a girl.

So I pushed the doorbell, then I knocked the door, and waited for a
response from inside.

This time I waited a bit longer. But it was the same in the end. No reaction.

“Damn, there’s no other way.”

Having made a firm resolution about entering the door, I turned the
doorknob.

Then the doorknob easily turned around, thus opening the door. Which
meant the probability of Horikita being inside was very high.

“Hey Horikita, are you here?”

Since it’s one room, by looking inside was enough to find out the situation.

Then--

“Eh…”

Horikita was inside.

She didn’t collapse, nor was in pain.

She was in the process of changing her clothes.

She didn’t suddenly scream because of the unexpected visitor, but calmly
looked at me with a sharp glance.

“...What are you doing?”

She didn’t feel ashamed, Horikita stopped her movements and asked me.

This could be considered one of Horikita’s ways of being wavered.

Is it because her brain has not recognized that she has been seen naked,
that she’s not trying to hide?

I was slightly worried about how to respond to her question, being

bewildered about where should I look at, while I stared at her soft and
glossy skin. After all, I had no choice, right? A girl’s naked body is hard to
see.

Even if what I’m seeing is similar to what I saw during swimming classes,
it’s still totally different.

“This, In fact I was requested by Kushida. She wanted to have me look for
Horikita’s situation. You see, haven’t you been persisting on not being late
nor absent? Usually you go to school very early. Kushida said that she saw
you this morning leaving the room, and yet you didn’t arrive at the
classroom, she wondered if you had a reason and wanted to come here to
look for you. But since a girl coming here would take a lot of take, as a
result, I stepped forward and arrived at here.

Not even I would believe that I was reciting my lines so well in order to
justify myself.

Even if this was the truth, it wouldn’t be acceptable to be linked to being

seen while changing clothes.

“Only this?”

“...Only this.”

This looks exactly like the final words of a death row prisoner.

I calmly prepared myself for the punishment I was going to happen next.

“I see…”
It looks like she has sort out the things inside her heart. She put on her skirt,
buttoned her blouse and became the she that usually wears the school
uniform.

“In other words, you came here to see my circumstances because you
were worried?”

“That’s right. Because it’s unnatural that the superior Horikita would be late.”

“It can’t be helped. Something came up.”

Horikita said this while finishing changing her clothes, and picked up her
uniform that was on her bed.

“I was planning to go to school wearing these clothes, but some trouble

happened.”

“Trouble?”

Horikita unfolded her uniform and showed me the right side of the abdomen.

There were a few centimeters of scratch marks. Leaving a hole.

“You know that there’s a bookshelf in the entrance? There were protruding
nails that hooked my uniform. This is such an embarrassing topic.”

That’s why there was such a big cut. Sure enough, it was difficult to go to
school in this situation.

So she hastily returned to her room and wore her spare uniform.

“Anyway, it’s a good thing that you’re okay. The time’s almost up.”

The time on the phone showed that it was not long before the first class
started.

If we ran right now we should be barely in time.

I want to escape from Horikita’s side… In order to not arrive late, I turned
my body.

“Ayanokouji-kun.”
I flusteredly wanted to to leave the room , but I was mercilessly called.

“M-may I ask what’s the matter?”

“Can you look at me?”

“D-do I must look at you?”

“Even though I can choose to not look at me, but it will make you regret it
even more, you know?”

“May I ask what do you need?”

Horrified, I turned around, but I was attacked by the approaching Horikita.

Followed by a knife hand that stabbed on my abdomen.

All the food I ate in the morning came out fiercely.

After I fell down on the spot, she stabbed on my neck with her knife hand.

“Wagu!”

I was knocked on the floor in this way.

“Whatever reason you had, have you prepared yourself to accept the
punishment?”

“I-I’ve never thought things would become like this…!”

Even though I’ve prepared myself to accept the punishment, but her power
is really frightening.

I can’t believe this strike was done with that lavish body.

“The fact that I didn’t call the police can be considered mercy. However, I
wonder why I haven’t cooled my temper merely with this.”

“I’ve suffered fairly painful experience. If it’s possible, I wish you could stop
here…”

I requested horikita in order to not suffer any more attacks.

“...Ah…”

I shouldn’t have lifted my head during the moment I was laying on the floor.

It wasn’t my intention but I slightly glanced at the white colored existence

under the skirt.

Together with what I saw earlier, it was another seducing feeling.

Why did I look when I knew perfectly well that I shouldn’t look?

“Wait, this is--”

The back of my head suffered an acute pain. Immediately after that, I lost
my consciousness a couple of seconds.

“What if I had died there!”

“No problem. I’ve been aiming my attacks so that doesn’t happen.”

She said something that I didn’t know if they were apprehensive words.

“I’m really miserable…”

“Can you hurry up and leave my room? I’m troubled because I can’t lock
the door”

“I wish you could be a little bit more considerate with me…”

“Let me think… If you want to collapse, I ask you to go to the corridor.”

“This is absolutely not being considerate!

I crawled to the corridor as if I was kicked out.

“See you then.”

Even though this should be obvious, Horikita ignored me, who couldn’t
exert force to my legs, not being able to run.

I don’t need to mention that I was late in the end.

Deep in my heart I sorrowfully determined that I would at least brand the
image of Horikita wearing her underwear in my brain.
 Two people with a bad relationship
That happened on a certain day. The upcoming lunch break caused Class
D to sink into a chaotic state.

What started it was Ike yelling “I don’t have points~”.

As a result of having used up the important personal points, everyone was

in a shortage of points. Even the anxiety over next day’s breakfast
continued.

Of course, if one didn’t want to have an extravagant lifestyle, there were

also free meals to choose from.

But there were things in this world that you didn’t want to eat even if they
were free.

Especially for those who were used to eating junk food, a healthy meal with
potherbs as main dish was insufficient and not delicious enough, and they
were very easy to get tired of.

Hirata, who couldn’t bear to watch this situation anymore, together with the
healing female heroine Kushida Kikyo, implemented a certain plan in the
classroom in the weekend.

It was called “bring your bento day”.

It meant literally those words, everybody had to prepare their own bento.

I guess the reason was saving food expenses while also being able to
interact with the class.

“Did everybody bring their own bento~?”

When the lunch break arrived, Kushida tried to confirm that.

“I brought it! Let’s hurry and eat it together, ~Kushida-chan!!”

The high spirited Ike was bouncing vivaciously. He wasn’t one of those
characters who would usually prepare their bento, but he looked like he
woke up early and prepared it in order to get closer to Kushida.
This bring your bento day was not compulsory. After all, they couldn’t make
everybody participate in it unwillingly, and there were also students who still
held great amounts of points. The participants didn’t make up half of the
class.

“So you have also brought your bento.”

Horikita Suzune, who sat beside me, silently took out a small bento box.

“I didn’t do it because of this farce…this activity.”

Because I saw her bringing bento regularly every day, this was like usual
for her.

“Then everybody, let’s go to the courtyard.”

Hirata and the others took along the participants and left the classroom.

On the other hand, Horikita didn’t show that she wanted to chase after
them, it looked like she wanted to eat the bento inside the classroom.

“Horikita-san, don’t you want to eat together?”

Kushida, who saw this situation, stood in front of her and used her cute
hand to prevent Horikita from starting to eat.

“What?”

“Since Horikita-san also made a bento, let’s go eat it together.”

“Allow me to refuse. I’m not interested.”

“Eating with everybody will make it taste better.”

“The taste won’t change according to the number of people. Now that you
know that, can you pull back your hand?”

Horikita didn’t plan to listen to Kushida’s words and rejected her.

After all, this person never thought about eating bento together with her
classmates.
Seeing Kushida being a bit lonely, I decided to lend a helping hand.

Of course, even though I didn’t know whether I could succeed or not, I

didn’t do a frontal attack. After all, even if I did a frontal attack and
requested Horikita, she wouldn’t agree either.

“Kushida, you also brought your bento?”

“Yes. I put a bit of effort and enthusiasm to do it.”

“Although I’ve not seen Kushida’s bento, but compared to Horikita, Kushida
is better at cooking.”

“Hey~ that’s not true. After all, Horikita looks like she is very skilled.”

“I don’t think she’s clumsy, but Kushida seems to be better.”

We echoed one another with Horikita in the middle.

“I’ve not said anything since the very beginning, but an insignificant
neighbor sure is acting high-and-mighty.”

She glared at me with a sharp gaze. It looked like it somewhat got its
results.

“Then are you implying you are better at cooking?”

“I definitely wouldn’t know about that. After all, I’ve never competed with
anyone. But it was unexpected since because of that I was considered
inferior to her.”

“Then why don’t you try to prove it? And Kushida also brought a bento.”

Normally Kushida didn’t particularly bring a bento. So there weren’t many

opportunities.

“What a boring and obvious provocation.”

However, as if she was speechless, Horikita sighed and lowered her head.

…It didn’t work?

“But, I can. I can prove it once so you can see it. Only that, can we agree
that you will stop bothering me after that?”

She obviously knew it was a provocation and yet she deliberately accepted.

It looks like she didn’t want to lose without fighting. Her competitiveness
kicked in.

She stopped her wand from opening the bento box, grabbed it and stood
up.

My eyes met with Kushida’s for an instant, as if we were transmitting the

message “it’s going smoothly”.

Being later than Hirata and the others, we three went together towards the
courtyard.

Apart from Class D students, there were a lot of other students

congregated there.

“So many people here.”

All the benches had people sitting on it, there were no empty seats.

“It’s a pity. Since there are no empty spaces, then it can’t be helped. Let’s
compete next time.”

“Do you want to run away?”

“If there are no empty spaces, then it can’t be helped right? Time is limited
and I don’t have the time to wait for a seat to become vacant.”

As if it was mocking Horikita’s words, a bench was vacated.

“...You obviously didn’t need to be in such a hurry.”

Was it because she was careless that she said what she was thinking?
Horikita looked very dissatisfied.

Kushida sat on the bench.

I though Horikita, after seeing Kushida doing that, would sit beside her, but
in the end she sat with her back facing Kushida. It must be because she
didn’t want others to think she got intimate with Kushida.

“Then I’ll be going to the dining hall.”

There was no problem in following both of them to this place, but

unfortunately, I didn’t bring a bento.

After all, it would be useless to stay here.

“Wait a moment. If you are not here, who’s going to judge?”

“Judge… did you really plan to decide who’s better?”

“It was you who proposed that. I just wanted to prove I’m not inferior to her
at cooking.”

She implied “That’s why I came to the courtyard”. She was really tough.

“Then hurry up and eat.”

On the other hand, Kushida looked very satisfied because she managed to
get Horikita to come to the courtyard successfully. She hummed a song
while she took out her bento box. That box was so small I couldn’t help but
wonder if that was enough for a person to eat.

Horikita took out a triangular shaped envelope from her bento.

“Wow, that’s awesome, Horikita-san is really formal! It looks like those that
are sold in stores!”

It was a sandwich. Originally it should’ve been wrapped with a plastic film

as the envelope, but Horikita used a sandwich shaped packaging with a
zipper.

“That wasn’t bought from a store, was it?”

“Look closely. It’s not something you can buy.”

She glared at me with a slightly dissatisfied expression. Of course, I was

also aware of how the bento bought in the stores looked like. It was only
that she managed to make it look so good that was inevitable for anyone to
think like that.

On the other side, how about Kushida? It looks like Horikita was also
curious and tried to peek Kushida’s.

“It’s not like I did it to show other people, so I find it a bit embarrassing.”

It seemed that she cared about our gazes, Kushida was hesitating a bit.

“It’s okay if you want to admit defeat like this. After all, forfeiting is also a
very good reason.”

“Uuh~ Then I’ll do my best and take it out and show it to you. Please see.”

Kushida, being a bit humble, opened the small lid.

What it could be seen was a delicate and perfect looking bento. It could be
considered the standard sausages and fried eggs, and with a bit of
vegetables.

If one could make her bring this bento, then one would be looking forward
to every day’s lunch break.

“It would be better if I could put a bit of extra effort in it.”

Even if she said that, considering the dormitory utensils and coupled with
the current point shortage situation, this was the highest quality bento.

Especially the cooking skill that was reflected from the heat control shown
by the fried egg could be considered the cream of the crop.

“Then, em, examiner Ayanokouji-kun. Please.”

She handed her bento box to me. If this scene was seen by Ike, I would
definitely be assassinated by him.

Only that she handing her bento like this, what should I eat?

“What do you want to eat?”

In this situation, I really need to choose the fried egg, the thing that shows
the cooking skills the best. Kushida handed to me a cute pair of chopsticks.
I used them to pick a piece and sent it to my mouth.

“How, does it taste…?”

Using granulated sugar instead of salt as seasoning also deserved praise.

It was really delicious.

But I still couldn’t let the evaluation be reflected in my expression.

“I more or less have grasped Kushida’s ability.”

I grabbed a piece of sandwich already ready to be ingested and put it in my

mouth.

“…I see.”

After eating the sandwich, I closed my eyes.

“How about it, Ayanokouji-kun?”

“Which one is better? Be honest.”

“But, that thing. Can I say my honest impressions?”

Of course, both of them nodded. So I replied honestly.

“Your styles and the ingredients you both used are by itself different, it’s
impossible to compare. If there was one that tasted better or worse, then I
could’ve determined which one was superior, but both of yours were first-
class.”

So far, I could only say both of them were delicious.

“Excuses… even though I wanted to say that, but it may really be that case.”

If they couldn’t accept this verdict, then it would be like asking which tasted
better, Japanese food or western food.

“It’s a pity, Kushida-san, it seems that both parts have lost their fighting
spirit.”
“Even though I didn’t plan to lose to you, ok, let’s say it was a draw.”

Kushida showed an expression of thinking “it’s okay like this”, and put her
mind at rest.

If I rashly decided the victor here, and also I determined Kushida’s victory,
Horikita would hate Kushida even more. As a result, it would be impossible
for them to become friends.

But then again, although the two of them had opposite personalities, there
was no need to doubt about their cooking skills.

Kushida is certainly someone very popular, if Horikita were to have a better

attitude, she would also attract interest from the opposite sex.

“That said, Kushida-san. Didn’t you have something you wanted to tell me?”

“Eh? By that what are you referring to?”

“If you didn’t, then it’s okay. I just wanted to confirm that.”

However, I wasn’t slow to the point of not understanding her words.

Although this Kushida girl was liked by everybody and she also liked them
back at the same time. But her attitude towards Horikita was different.

Even though I didn’t know the reason, she had a reason to hate Horikita.

I was really curious about the reason why she kept restraining herself and
wanting to keep having contact with Horikita.

But after Kushida showed me a smile, she replied with her usual tone.

“There’s nothing at all. It’s because I just want to have a peaceful relation
with Horikita.”

Such an ambiguous response.

It looks like Horikita also understood the topic wouldn’t make any progress,
so she didn’t question any further.

The wind blew towards us.

“Ah, it’s cherry blossom…”

When they heard my words, the two people turned their heads.

The cherry blossom petals were dancing in the air.

“It’s really elegant.”

Horikita, who had been maintaining an expressionless face, showed a

smile after seeing the cherry blossom.

“It was not in vain of coming purposely to the courtyard.”

Maybe I’m the first person who managed to see these two people smiling at
the same time.

It would be great if one day these two could shake hands and be in a
relationship where they could show a real smile to each other at the same
time.

While thinking about this, I also imagined about the school life in the future.
 Volume 2
Horikita, Sakura, Ichinose, Kushida
Horikita Suzune’s Prediction
The sound of a bird’s chirp from my phone slowly reached my ears.

It was time to wake up. I looked at the clock that was hanged on the wall
while I was getting out of bed. I woke up as usual. The habit that the body
had developed can’t be forgotten. This habit hasn’t changed since I entered
this school.

With the exception of some special circumstances that made me go to bed

late, I have always woken up at 6am.

After that, I slightly arranged my appearance and started preparing

breakfast.

Although I don’t have much appetite, I’ve been eating three meals a day, as
a result I’ve a balanced nutrition, to the extent of living a life of having a
good diet.

After that, I left the room at 8 o’clock to go to school.

The sequence of actions up to this point has not changed since elementary
school.

--Originally, it should’ve been like this.

The former me went to school alone, studied alone, ate lunch alone,
returned home alone.

This is me –Horikita Suzune’s life, and at the same time, my nature.

The pitiful gazes that comes from the surroundings considering me as a

solitary person are just meddlesome.

No, even an explanation such as meddlesome is wrong.

I can accomplish whatever I do.

Be it studies or sports, I have the confidence that I’m superior than my
peers.

And more importantly, it’s impossible for me to trust other people.

At first, everybody displayed a good attitude in order to approach me, but

they would immediately leave. So I naturally distanced myself from other
people. As a result, I never perceived loneliness nor inconvenience.

That’s why this situation will inevitably continue. But recently, this has
started to change.

Inside me, the tempo of my life has started to change quietly.

I feel that the time I spend being alone has been reducing.

I know what’s causing this.

It's because of the resident of my neighboring seat in the classroom.

I casted a glance at Ayanokouji Kiyotaka-kun’s seat, who has not arrived at

school yet.

I don’t know why, but no matter what attitude I adopt towards him, his
attitude has never changed.

When we meet for the first time, it couldn’t be said that I gave him a good
impression. I thought I would be quickly ignored.

When I came back to reality, I realized that the time where I talk to him has
increased.

Why is that?

Why?

These questions rush to my mind in quick succession, I’m unable to

understand this.

I’ve never considered Ayanokouji-kun as a friend, never.

Although I don’t know what he thinks, I only consider him as a person who
sits beside me in the classroom by chance.

However, there is no doubt, my heart has some other ideas.

He has come to the classroom.

He looks like usual, slowly going to his seat while lacking enthusiasm.

During that moment, my classmate Kushida-san talked to Ayanokouji-kun.

“Thank you for the previous Sunday. You’ve really helped me.”

She was talking while having a big smile in her face and waving her hands.
These are acrobatics I’m not able to do.

“Let’s go play again in the future.”

“Oh, oh”

Being treated familiarly, he answered her while looking as if he was

thinking that wasn’t bad.

In other words, these two went somewhere on Sunday, didn’t they?

…Nothing to do with me.

What people do in rest day in whatever place have no impact on my life.

Ayanokouji-kun greeted me with a stiff manner, different to how he treated

Kushida-san.

I also used an equally degree of stiff tone to reply him.

And the conversation is over.

“Were you together with Kushida-san during the rest day?

I originally intended to end the conversation a moment ago, but I

unconsciously let those words out of my mouth.

It looks like he treated those words as the everyday conversation and didn’t
look at me.
“She asked for my help because of Sakura. Then I had no choice.”

He really treats Kushida-san with a different attitude. Is this due to the

difference in the intimacy degree?

“I see.”

I couldn’t help but answer coldly, as if he was a stranger.

“Is there any pro..blem...”

Did he look at me because he felt my question was unexpected?

After that he looked as if he was startled and he pulled back while shrinking
his body.

“W-what happened to you?”

“What do you mean?”

I totally don’t understand why he would act like that.

There were no other strange things nearby.

“Ah, you have a very frightening expression”

A very frightening expression? Did I put on that kind of expression?

In addition, nothing happened before that could make my expression

change.

But if I have to say it no matter what, it was just that I was a bit dissatisfied
at Ayanokouji-kun’s treats people differently. That’s wrong, there’s
something more. He’s someone who avoids troublesome things, he should
dislike those things.

And yet he was called out by Kushida-san during rest days and he even
accompanied her proactively. This really puts people in a bad mood.

Even though there shouldn’t be big variations of the time spent in

conversations, why is that?
“Really? I didn’t plan to do that, it’s like usual. I was only lamenting that you
have become someone who does as one pleases. When I asked you for
help I even had an embarrassed face, but when Kushida requests for your
help, you easily agreed. I am just calmly analyzing where could the
difference be.”

Why did I speak so fast? Not even I could believe myself.

These words simply sounded like someone trying to divulge that they were
gloomy.

Why is that? It slightly looked as if I couldn’t handle my unfathomable heart.

Kushida-san was looking this me far away.

After that, she approached as if she realized something and called

Ayanokouji-kun out to the corridor.

I didn’t know why my eyes followed these two.

“…don’t tell me, I’m treating Ayanokouji-kun as a friend?”

I said that in a low voice, as if to let myself confirm that.

This can’t be, right?

There shouldn’t be any factor for me to treat him as a friend.

I’m no trying to boast, but I don’t even understand clearly what a friend is.

In other words, it’s impossible that I can make friends since I can’t
comprehend this concept.

Perhaps I’m just in a bad mood because of that attitude of his.

Because he is always unmotivated, he’s not really the type of person I like.

It has to be this.

By distorting that only answer, my heart could relax a little bit.

I don’t need friends.

--The me of that time really though like that.
 My own place
Chabashira-sensei, Class D’s homeroom teacher, concluded the class
meeting and declared the end of the classes.

Glancing at the students who were talking about how to spend the time
after school, I quietly walked out of the classroom.

Whether it’s attending school or during weekends, my job always starts at 4

o’clock.

Grabbing my partner with one hand –my digital camera, I prepared to start
taking photos and after that, uploading them to my homepage.

This is my daily assignment.

“How should I take the photos today?”

I have to avoid repeating compositions while I update my selfies to the

homepage every day, but I can’t leave the school grounds, so it’s very
difficult.

Even so, Koudou Ikusei Advanced High School’s campus environments are
really abundant.

In the campus there are a shopping center and a cinema, in the gym there
is a swimming pool, there are sufficient facilities, so choosing a different
place isn’t challenging.

…this should’ve been the case, but I could be seen in those places.

Because in order to avoid those situations, I’ve kept taking pictures

repeating the same places with nobody around.

Behind the teaching block, inside the gym, or the shopping center after the
business hours.

But I can’t say that there’s no problem as long as there are no people.

In places where there are no people, there would be a fairly unique lonely
atmosphere.
By taking a picture in a deserted shopping center, it can’t be helped that it
would give a quiet and lonely feeling.

Since it’s rare that I upload photos, I really want it to be those types of
pictures that can make people feel happy after seeing them.

Or those that can cure their souls. Even if it sounds extraordinary, those
are my thoughts.

“No... I might need to try harder”

Although today was the first time coming to the school’s periphery, the
landscape was a bit lacking.

Even though it was a good thing that there were no people, it was more
boring than what I predicted, it lacked charm.

After that, I discovered a small building like an assembled house.

Since I had a lot of time, I went around the building by following the wall in
order to examine the place.

Small and comfortable, built very exquisitely and pleasing to the eye.

There was a warning stuck at the entrance that said “Not allowed to use yet”

I tried to peek through the small window.

Inside, there were those tables used in meetings, folded chairs and a shelf,
but I didn’t know its use.

Will they use this place to conduct discussions?

I felt as if I was doing a bad thing by peekinginside without permission, so

my heart couldn’t help but beat faster.

I whispered “I’m very sorry” and I left the building behind.

Even though the landscapes were somewhat lacking, but with the pass of
the time, my evaluation also changed.
Especially due to the mysterious atmosphere brought by the sunset, the
same place could also feel like a different place.

Hm… it might be difficult doing it here.

Taking a selfie near an assembled house under the light of the sunset. Just
by thinking about it feels creepy.

I had no choice but to give up taking pictures, so on the way to the dorms I
tried to conduct another search.

When I returned to my room, it was almost 6 pm.

I had taken some pictures, but none of them were satisfactory.

As soon as I returned to my room, I took off my school uniform and I took

out my clothes from the wardrobe.

As a last resort when I can’t manage to take a satisfying photo.

“Maybe recently my chest has gotten bigger…”

Looking at myself wearing only wearing underwear reflected through the

mirror, I couldn’t help but feel depressed and sigh. For someone like me
who wasn’t accustomed to attracting attention, I really hated having an
ample chest.

No matter what I'm always conscious about the gazes casted towards me
by the boys.Today a guy stared at me with a strange look.

“Ah…”

I can’t, I can’t. If I think about these things it will affect the pictures.

I told myself “smile, smile”, and I revealed a smile.

“Yes. It’s okay like this.”

After I had regained a bit of self-confidence, I put on my own clothes once

again.

Then I used the delay timer mode to shot photos while I made some poses.
No matter when, I always had a lively and cheerful expression, only the
seriousness in my eyes would not disappear.

“Even though it was impossible for me to take photos of myself in the

past…”

Back then I couldn’t even see my own smile, let alone taking a picture for
others to see.

But now, it feels extremely exciting being immersed in this kind of thing.

I feel really happy when I take photos.

After experiencing this, I realized people’s interests really differ a lot.

Having battled for around 30 minutes and having taken the last photo, I
turned on the computer to confirm them. Even if I wasn’t good at
performing these tasks, I still tried hard to learn to do it.

But it was only to the degree of saving and duplicating and adding some
decorations.

Even so, the impression will also change all of a sudden by doing that.

“This is fine.”

I decided the best photo and I uploaded it directly.

As long as it makes one fan happy, I will be satisfied. Even if there are 100
criticisms, 1 praise is enough to cover them all.

“What should I write down…?

Although uploading a photo was done very fast, updating the contents of
the homepage was very time-consuming.

I don’t have friends and I don’t have anyone to hold a conversation. Being
afraid of having eye-contact with others while talking to them, I always
lower my head. That’s why I was unable to write anything interesting.

But I can’t just write a gloomy essay, nor false things. So difficult.
That’s why I… will write my own prospect.

I hope tomorrow will be a happy and peaceful day for everybody.

I hope everybody can spend the day with a smile.

I wrote this wish.

 Common Delusion
Before 9 pm. I stood up from the computer after checking the weather for
tomorrow.

Something rarely seen happened, Ike phoned me. A rarely seen situation
from someone wouldn’t call me once in a month.

“Hey, Ayanokouji, have you woken up?

Those who are sleeping at this time can only be students that has spent the
whole night preparing for an exam and the busy staff workers.

“Actually, I’m worrying about what should I have for dessert tonight.”

“Don’t call me for these things... haven’t you had dinner yet?”

I remembered that the dining hall of the dorm closes at 9pm. The remaining
options would be only the convenience store.

“Idiot, it’s not that, it’s the dessert all men desire. Do you understand me?”

The dessert all men desire? …

Is there something that tastes differently because of being of a different

gender?

Unfortunately, I’ve never heard of it.

“Ayanokouji. You are being a more and more boring man.”

I was hurt since it was a friend who said this without consideration.
Although I know I’m boring, but being said this directly in the face I will still
take it to the heart.

“You have just stood up from the computer, right? Then let me provide you
with a special dessert.”

He sent me something through the chat window of the Internet phone call
program based on p2p technology. Inside he pasted a strangely large URL.
Is this the dessert?
“Why don’t you open it and take a look? It’s the best dessert after all.”

Still harboring suspicions, I tried to click it, and it showed the contents of
the link.

What appeared was the picture of my classmate Sakura Airi in swimsuit. It

was hard to believe someone at her same age would possess a body with
such a developed chest and a slender waist.

I reckon no matter what type of gentleman they are, their gazes would be
glued to the screen.

“I found her homepage. This photo was taken during third year of middle
school. Can you believe it?”

Unbelievable… even high school student figures pale in comparison to this.

But after seeing this I’ve finally understood. So by dessert he was referring
to this…

“Think about it calmly, isn’t this super good? After all, we have a magazine
idol in the class! If paired with this picture, you’ll have all kinds of delusions.”

Even if you said it as if you were bragging about, I’m still unable to
understand this type of emotion.

Feeling happy by having a cute girl in the same class and feeling happier
when you can meet her… I still don’t quite understand the proper state of
mind of boys and girls.

Leaving my thoughts aside, Ike was staring alone to the picture in high
spirits.

What would Sakura think, if she knew she was being treated as dessert?

I bet it wouldn’t be “I’m already used to it” and call it a day.

But let’s forget about it… for the moment let’s save this picture. Saving this
picture is not doing bad things.
While paying attention to not let Ike discover it, I put the picture inside a
folder.
 Ah, one page of youth
Koudo Ikusei High school. It’s an education facility that has never been
seen until now especially set up by Japan, which was lagging behind in the
international community, in order to restore its former glory.

This school, founded in order to cultivate excellent young people, has

received a lot of interest both at home and abroad.

Due to the facilities being set up far away from the center of the metropolis,
it’s extremely inconvenient to make contact with the interior of the school.
However, in its immense foundation they are so proud of it, occupying an
immense area, students can live in the residential area inside the facilities
and spend a comfortable life from the moment they enter the school until
their graduation. Not to mention the convenience store and the karaoke,
cinemas, shopping centers and similar facilities, they all seem like they
have formed a street. As a result, they won’t feel any inconvenience.

One step further, in order to satisfy the special conditions of the foundation,
they guarantee that, after graduation, people can choose to enter any
grade school and workplace.

In addition, the school has adopted the S point system. Although they can
only be used inside the school, students will receive a huge amount of
allowance every month from the school.

Thanks to the school receiving total support from the country, the school
fees are exempt. In every possible way.

As a first year male student from Class D who attends this school and
receives care from them -- Ayanokouji Kiyotaka.

That’s me. My day started in front of this elevator.

I rubbed my drowsy and sleepy eyes while I was waiting the elevator.

Although there were two elevators, the situation in the morning were
always extremely chaotic. Due to the fact that the girls living in the upper
floors would ride it, it wasn’t strange that the elevator was already full when
it arrived here.

The closing ceremony of the school term in August was already in front of
our eyes. This day came especially late. Although the boys who couldn’t
wait seemed to had ran through the stairs, I didn’t want to waste stamina in
doing those meaningless things.

I was playing with my phone while I waited and finally, the right elevator
arrived.

“…Wuaaa…”

I realized the atmosphere and the 3 dreadful girls riding together inside the
elevator. Facing this unexpected assembly, my body became stiff
unconsciously.

“Getting in? Or not?”

As if the options of paradise or hell were pressing in to me, the girl who had
her finger on the “close” button of the elevator was Horikita Suzune. If she
didn’t talk she would be a beautiful girl with long black hair, but her
personality is extremely terrible. And she is a completely isolated person.

Not only she doesn’t become friends with anyone, she also has a negative
attitude towards social communication. But she is well versed in both
studies and martial arts, she can complete everything alone. In other words,
she has no problems in the survival aspect. She is this kind of girl.

“No, I’m getting in… please allow me to get in.”

I rode the elevator a bit awkwardly together with my classmates that were
already in it.

“Good morning, Ayanokouji-kun. Ah, your hair in the back is sticking up a

bit.”

"This is the natural hairstyle that is quite popular these days."

“Ahaha, Ayanokouji-kun, you are so funny.”

Only she laughed, the other 2 people behind didn’t react at all.

More than that, I felt from behind a “what boring thing is this guy talking
about?” kind of cold stare.

It was just like that feeling of going to the school’s dining hall alone and
being excessively self-conscious thinking that you were receiving the
attention from the surrounding people.

The only one who used a cute smile to answer me acting stupidly was
Kushida Kikyo. She has short hair and is rumored to be very popular
among the first year students. She’s a girl who can treat everybody gently.
Her studies and physical skills are also pretty good. She has no aspect to
criticize. And her chest is well developed. Bigger than Horikita’s. In a game
she would be the most necessary existence. Only that, Kushida has also a
dark side nobody knows.

Being cheerful and gentle is just Kushida’s outer appearance, her other
side is very frightening. She was capable of telling Horikita and me “I hate
you” with a serious expression, without caring about our feelings. I don’t
know the specific details.

“G-good morning, Ayanokouji-kun…”

There was also another person. The girl that was in a corner behind those
2 people was Sakura Airi. Although she usually wears fake glasses and is
extremely shy with strangers, in middle school she had experience as a
magazine idol. The boys who know her true identity evaluate her as a real
beauty. But she is also extremely shy with strangers when she is not
wearing glasses.

When we arrived at the entrance hall, it inevitably became the state of four
people going to school together.

First year students all living in the same dormitory building regardless of
gender and using the same road to go to school.

“I’ve never seen this combination before, it’s really a strange group.”
Not counting Kushida, Horikita and Sakura usually acted alone, but right
now they were going together, so that couldn’t be a coincidence.

“I got involved by Kushida-san.”

“G-getting involved, those words hurt a bit…!”

“What do you mean?”

I sook a proper answer from Sakura since I couldn’t grasp the situation.

“This, that, this morning, Kushida-san came to my room to get me… she
said she had an important thing to discuss…”

Discuss, although I was waiting for her to continue talking, her volume
dropped so low that I couldn’t hear her clearly anymore.

“Aren’t we going on a trip very soon? That’s why I wanted to invite you all to
go together.”

It seemed that she answered in order to provide assistance to Sakura. I

see. After all, going alone while travelling would be very lonely.

The first year students were scheduled to participate in the luxurious cruise
trip organized by the school.

I guess Kushida greeted people actively in order to avoid the appearance

of isolation inside the class.

“Even so, is it okay to wait in front of other people’s door without

permission?”

“Yesterday I greeted you when we were returning and you said you were
busy so you rejected it... so if it’s in the morning then you will have time,
right?”

There route between the dormitory and the school is just a few minutes.
Even so, in these few minutes they can also discuss things.

Kushida must have realized it so she acted in this way.

“You say trip, but it’s just 2 weeks. You say go together, but there are no
particular things to do.”

“There’s no such thing. I’ve heard that the ship is extremely big and being
alone would be lonely. Sakura-san, you should also come and go with my
group, ok?”

“I-I’m n-not good at…”

Of course, she also knew about Sakura not being good at interpersonal
relationships.

Because of that, Kushida, who could establish a good relationship with

anyone, took the initiative and extended her hand towards Sakura.

Only that, just one person was unable to hold that hand.

“Sakura. There are also a lot of people that are easy to handle in Kushida’s
group. I think it’s an opportunity hard to come by.”

I slightly covered her by urging Sakura to participate.

“Ayanokouji-kun, you are also going with Sudo-kun and the others, right?”

“Yes. We have already planned some things. After all, going alone would
be really lonely.”

I was lying. However, if by doing that I could make Sakura’s heart feel more
relaxed, then it was worth it.

“Although I believe the problem lies in the thought of being alone would be
lonely.”

I knew it would be like this. Horikita interrupted the conversation without

reading the atmosphere.

“Is that so? Isn’t everybody going together happier? It’s only that, you
know?”

“If someone can only keep themselves by staying in the community, then
that person’s existence is incomplete.”
Although Horikita is never interested in other people, she cares about this
point a lot.

The situation of this person is not being lonely or isolated, rather

considering her arrogance as belief.

“Horikita-san, do you want to go together with us?”

“No.”

She immediately rejected Kushida’s invitation. Kushida was also used to it

and retreated with a smile on her face, but she spoke after that.

“Let’s go together, okay?”

“No need…”

In front of the invitation coming from her with a bright smile, Horikita
rejected her by turning her back.

“Good~morning, Kikyo-chan. Horikita-san and Sakura-san are also here!”

Bang – as if it was pressing against my back, a lively girl appeared on the

scene. Long pink hair fluttering in the wind, she was Class B’s student
Ichinose Honami.

As a result of the addition of a lively girl, Sakura became even more

withered and came a bit closer to me. Having difficulties even when
interacting with people of the same gender, she sure has it difficult.

“What, what, this is really a rarely seen combination. What are you talking
about? Let me join in.”

“You see, isn’t the 2-week trip coming soon? After all, it’s hard to come by,
so we were just discussing about where to go. If it’s possible, Honami-chan
can also come with us.”

“Wa, really? I’ll go, I’ll go!”

Even though these 2 people belong to different classes, it seems like their
relationship is on a first-name basis.
But then again, this girl called Ichinose is special. In this school, due to the
special rules with other classes, even if this school is where everybody is
assisting, it still has a huge conspiracy.

That is, it’s a system where they conduct a ranking to the students and
assign them into different classes according to their “strength”.

The excellent students are assigned to Class A, the deficient students are
sent to class D. After graduation, the ones receiving care are only Class A,
so in practice Class D is insignificant.

However, what’s complex here is that academic skills ≠ strength. Even

though the student’s duty is studying, this school doesn’t judge the
students based on written examination performance. The proof of that is
that Horikita, Kushida, and also Sakura’s academic skills are by no means
low. Although every person has their incomplete parts… me included.

“I also want to chat with Horikita-san and Sakura-san a bit more. I’m really
looking forward to it.”

It looks like Ichinose is really thinking about interacting with students from
another class, her face was filled with excitement.

“I won’t be together with all of you.”

“Eh, is it like that…? Do you already have plans?”

“No, I’m just not interested.”

Even if the other person was Ichinose, Horikita’s attitude didn’t change.
Rather, her rejection was even stronger.

“Ahaha, I see. It really feels like Horikita-san’s style. Then if it’s possible, if
you have time during the trip, don’t forget about contacting me. Back then I
already wanted to give you my e-mail address.”

She was different from Kushida, Ichinose didn’t stick to her and
immediately retreated. Ichinose took out a memo from her bag and wrote
down her e-mail address and handed it to the two people. Sakura, who
usually never gets someone to hand over their contact info, was unable to
take her eyes off that piece of paper.

“You are really a good person. Isn’t it better just to ignore people like me
alone?”

“Ignore? It feels like this way of speaking is not suitable for students that
want to enjoy youth.”

“Don’t worry. I don’t intend to enjoy youth. In addition, compared to

spending a boring time chatting with me, isn’t choosing to ignore me a
more effective way of time management?”

“It’s precisely this. Every time Horikita-san gives me the cold shoulder, it
causes people to have no other alternative.”

“Haha. Horikita-san is indeed a bit arrogant, but this isn’t a bad thing.
Although Horikita-san, you have said you don’t need youth, but I believe
you can’t be sure of that. Horikita-san might not want to enjoy youth, but at
this very moment, this is youth.”

Horikita listened to Ichinose’s words in silence.

On the other hand, Sakura, who basically didn’t speak and I didn’t know
whether she had listened to her words, was murmuring softly.

“At this very moment… this is youth…”

Someone who doesn’t have many friends has no chance with youth. I
guess she was thinking that.

The girl who believed she didn’t need it and the girl who thought she had
no chance with youth. Even if both of them had different reasons, the
conclusion they reached must be similar. Ichinose grabbed Kushida’s
shoulder and closed the distance with Horikita.

“Right now I’m here, Kikyo-chan is here, Sakura-san is here too. And
Horikita-san is also here. Chatting about meaningless things while going to
school. In the future we will definitely think this is youth.
“Trying to negate the future events… that won’t do. That’s something not
even god can do.”

Horikita stopped refuting Ichinose. Or I should I say she gave up.

Whether it was related or not to her expectations, if youth itself is to be

enjoyed, then it couldn’t be denied.

Even though I’m the same as Horikita, still not being able to understand the
meaning of youth, but I felt I understood it to some extent. The scene in
front of my eyes at this moment has to be one page of youth.

How should I put it? I was actually in such an incredible scene.

Looking at it, this was an incredible scene of a boy placed in between four
girls. My existence was even more conspicuous than the red ranger in a
sentai squad.

“…Really, so behind the times.”

Thinking that I shouldn’t be there, I stood there quietly.

I felt to some extent that these four people in a not so distant future will
become very good friends.

If it will be like that, I can’t disturb them now.

Even though I was thinking like this…

Kushida realized I was standing in the original place. This action was
transmitted to the remaining 3 people, everybody stopped their footsteps
and turned their bodies to look at me.

“What’s going on? Ayanokouji-kun. Did you forget to bring something?”

“Eh? Ah, no…”

“We don’t have classes today. There shouldn’t be any particular thing we
need to use.”

“Are you… not feeling well…?”

“If I had to say, you’ve been absent-minded since the beginning, pull
yourself together.”

Each of the class D girls used their own way to show their worries and
talked to me.

Seeing this situation, Ichinose, looking satisfied, showed an even more

glittering smile.

“May sickness? Or do you feel excluded?”

“…”

“Ah, did I get it right? It’s nothing, Ayanokouji-kun, you are also a page of
our youth.”

Saying this, she ran towards me, grabbed my wrist, and pulled me softly.

I was planning to stand there and yet I got dragged by Ichinose easily as if I
was lacking strength.

“It’s okay, it’s okay, if you don’t hurry up we’ll just leave you here~”

Perhaps I inadvertently stepped into that youth. But the distance to the
moment I can get the answer is still remote. One year? Two years?

Or maybe the moment I graduate from this school? It was hard to say right
now.

However, the day I can clearly feel that this kind of time is a precious and
irreplaceable thing, will definitely come.

This premonition –was sprouting in the depths of my heart.

 Volume 3
Sakura, Ichinose, Kushida
Things that sprout
After the special exam began, the school life I had in mind had changed
drastically.

Is it because of living in the uninhabited island? Or is it because I haven’t

experienced a cruel life until now?

No, it’s nothing like that. Those are trivial things.

I was staring at the guy who was walking ahead of me in the dense forest.

Why? I don’t know the answer.

When I realized it, my eyes were already on his body. This has never
happened until now.

If I extend my arm I can touch him, that is the distance between us. I tried
to extend my arm slightly.

But that’s something I’m unable to touch. The distance is so close and yet
it’s out of reach.

Suddenly, the boy… Ayanokouji-kun, stopped and turned his body.

My pulse accelerated as I retrieved my hand hurriedly. I-I haven’t been

seen just now, right?

“Let’s rest for a bit, since it’ll still take quite some time to reach the
destination.”

He said this gently, as if he had realized I was starting to feel exhausted,

and looked for a place we could rest.
Although I was ashamed of my lack of physical strength, him being able to
be considerate of me, I felt happy.

Ayanokouji-kun, who was standing there, went to the huge tree he had just
seen, tidied it up by removing the dirt and the tree leaves with his hand to
the extent one could sit on it, and sat down.

Although he also tidied up a place for me, I couldn’t refrain from making a
sound.

I wanted to sit beside Ayanokouji-kun, but, I was so embarrassed…

Sitting there was the equivalent to staying inseparably close to him.

Perhaps Ayanokouji-kun planned to sit there comfortably alone. If I insisted

on sitting there, wouldn’t he be displeased?

After thinking a bit, I was really unable to sit beside him.

I planned to find a suitable place to sit down, but the ground of the
surroundings was not leveled, so if I sat down it looked like it would hurt a
lot. Uuuu, endure, endure.

In order not to be disliked, I sat down far away from him. My butt hurt so
much.

I tried hard to pretend that everything was all right, Ayanokouji-kun kept
staring here, he probably had been seen through me.

“You can sit here.”

“May I?”

“Of course, you can’t rest properly by sitting there.”

“Um, um…”

Although it was indeed like that… our s-shoulders would be almost

touching.

There was no reason not to feel happy after being called, so I suppressed
my happy and nervous mood while I sat beside Ayanokouji-kun.
Ayanokouji-kun’s scent drifted into my nose by the wind.

Sakura Airi, this might be most intense moment in your whole life…!

“Nature is amazing… just by walking a bit we have spent a lot of time.”

I said that in order to alleviate my nervousness.

I needed to think about other topics, since I felt that my face had become
like an octopus because of how red it was.

“Recalling Koenji’s dissatisfied expression, it could be considered that the

school has been managing this place properly. If this was a rainforest from
overseas, then it would’ve been even more dangerous.”

Ayanokouji-kun stared at the front with a slightly thoughtful expression.

I stared unconsciously at Ayanokouji’s face and told him my thoughts.

“At first, I was gloomy when we set off on a trip, since someone like me
with no friends wouldn’t be able to have fun. I only thought it would be okay
by just staying in my room, because it would be like an ordinary day like
that. But it turned out like this, being told that this was an exam…”

I was also surprised, this was a huge development. I had never thought I
could talk to someone like that.

Why was that? Why could I talk to Ayanokouji-kun like that?

“But now… I believe “it was good that I came here”. After all, there weren’t
many chances for me to talk to Ayanokouji-kun like this…”

I was able to say the words I would never be able say in a normal situation.

“If only this could keep on forever, it would be great –“

Ah, these were my heartfelt words, my feelings at that moment with no

falsities.

“I agree.”

Although Ayanokouji-kun didn’t turn around, he still answered me gently.

Just this short line made my heart feel warm. Ah, so comfortable.

I strongly wished to be able to save the scene and my feelings of this

moment.

“Uuuu…what a shame.”

“What’s up?”

The way I said it would make people be worried. Ayanokouji-kun turned his
body to look at me, worried.

“I was thinking that if I had a digital camera right now, I could take the best
photo…”

If it was like that, we could’ve taken a photo together.

“But it wouldn’t be that good if I was also photographed in there.”

“It’s only because Ayanokouji-kun is also in that I believe I could take the
best photo…Ah! No! I meant, it’s because I don’t have any friends to take
photos with!”

More than not being improper, it was because I wanted to take a photo with
him that I couldn’t help but raise my voice.

I got embarrassed and I turned my head away.

Right now I was unable to look at Ayanokouji-kun’s face.

Even though this was not something someone like me could ask…

But --oh God, please give me more… of these warm and gentle moments.

I couldn’t help but wish that.

 The circumstances of Ichinose Honami’s exam
Midsummer in the uninhabited island. Class B students were each playing
properly their roles.

It was the second day of that special exam. I stood up feeling satisfied with
the hammock I personally made.

“Hey! Yeah Now it’s completed!”

I nodded looking towards the tied ropes. Chihiro-chan, who was at the side
supervising the progress of the works, looked also very happy.

“As expected from Honami-chan! Thank you!”

“I can help at any time with these kind of jobs, so call me whenever you are
troubled.”

After saying this, Chihiro-chan showed a carefree smile and linked with my
arms. Like this, she looked as cute as a little sister.

In the past, when Chihiro-chan confessed to me, I was afraid our

relationship would be affected. But those worries disappeared in the
following day, she treated me like usual.

So I took advantage of that moment, opened my heart and talked to her like
I used to.

“Ichinose-san is good at everything. Do you have things that you consider

you are bad? Like sports and so on.”

Ah –ha—even if I know there’s no malice, don’t just add that last sentence
nonchalantly!

“Don’t you think being bad at sports and so on is already surprisingly fatal?

Besides, bad… more like bad, that’s just not being good at it.

Rather than saying it aloud, it was a small excuse in my heart.

I’m confident my running speed is fairly fast. In contrast, my ability to
maintain the equilibrium – known as part of the motor neurons, has its own
bad side.

There has happened a lot of times where I threw or kicked a ball, this went
very deviated, so I’m mocked in the classroom for this. Uuuuh, I’m so sad.

“It’s not like that at all. For me, that side of hers really adds UP her cute
points.”

For me it was a very embarrassing thing, but Chihiro-chan was very happy.

“Wah, stop it idiot, that’s too cold!”

“Wahahaha! Oraora!”

Accompanied by the sound of splashing water in all directions, I could hear

the guys shouting while playing with the water.

“Everybody is having a great time.”

Watching the scene of their innocent looks, it inevitably causes people to

smile. Should I also join them?

“Embarrassing. The boys are just a bunch of brats.”

“A-are they?”

Is it because Chihiro-chan has an insensitive side, or because she has a

strong conflict with the boys?

“But everybody has done a great job. Even though nobody has previously
experienced surviving in an uninhabited island, but they have affronted the
exam smoothly and without panicking.

After they revealed the exam, normally people would plunge into chaos, but
everybody in the classroom pulled themselves together and calmed down,
that was beyond my expectations.

Thanks to everybody, I could also bring out my usual strength and could
contribute to the class. Just passing through the exam like this. Firmly
holding the points and at the same time, not forgetting about cheerfully
enjoying.

“Hey Honami-chan, after this let’s go to the seaside. Since it’s a rare
chance, I really want to go swimming.”

“Then let’s invite everybody and go together.”

“…Honami-chan, if you want it like that, then it’s also okay.”

Eh, why are you looking into my eyes? And your cheeks feels like they
have a feverish tone!

“But I think that… a romantic couple’s world is better”

Don’t tell me that Chihiro-chan still likes me. Rather, this reply just means
she still likes me!? W-w-w-what should I do!?

“Really, I was kidding. You don’t need to panic.”

Perhaps she saw through my panicking heart, Chihiro-chan said while

laughing.

“You’re so bad. I was feeling anxious because I had taken your words
seriously.”

“Because there are still two and a half years left. You don’t need to feel
anxious. But I’ll definitely change Honami-chan’s heart before graduation.

“En en, just like that just like –“

After nodding in admiration, I once again reflected calmly what she has
said just a moment ago, and them my whole body froze.

“Eh?”
 The important time
“Kikyo-chan? Hey, are you okay?

Feeling the sensation of fingers touching my shoulders, I was a bit startled

as I turned my head.

There was a slightly worried Shinohara-san.

“Ah!? Sorry, were you calling me?”

My sense of hearing, which was covered by silence, suddenly started

picking up sounds. The noisy sounds of the surroundings hit me like a
tsunami.

I accidentally dropped the doll that was in my hands on the floor and it
bounced a bit.

“What’s the matter?”

“Karuizawa-san has proposed to go to the deck, it looks like there’s a great

scenery.”

“I understand. I’ll go there once I’ve bought this.”

I believed it was fate, so I bought the dolphin doll the size of the palm of my
hand.

After obtaining the dolphin doll, I rendezvoused with the girls in front of the
entrance of the shop and went together towards the deck.

The crew members standing in front of the entrance welcomed us with a

wide smile in their faces, and helped us open the door.

In order to look at the scenery, most of the students have already gathered
at the bow.

“The scenery is awesome! It’s incredible!”

Even Karuizawa, who usually never shows any interest in anything other
than dressing herself up, couldn’t help but sigh. It seems that the scenery is
really unique.

She surveyed the ocean with her eyes lit up. The rest of the girls were
doing the same.

But I looked at the scenery as if it had nothing to do with me, involuntarily.

It was absolutely not because I had a bad idea about it. Just because I
considered that this moment was very important so I didn’t want to ruin it.

“It’s really an impressive view…”

I switched my mood and answered like this.

“It seems that the boys are in the bow. Let’s join them.”

Everybody accepted Karuizawa-san’s suggestion. Apparently, trying to

start occupying places right now would be a bit difficult.

“… Act naturally, naturally.”

I whispered in a voice nobody could hear it and proceeded with them

towards the deck. After that we treaded into the vacant place the guys from
Class D occupied. It seems that Ike-kun and Sudo-kun’s group has
occupied this place.

The boys who saw us let us into the vacant place without a trace of dislike
in their faces.

Then, I saw Ayanokouji-kun for the first time, gazing boringly into the sea. I
felt a bit of impatience. The reason was because he saw my hidden part.

In a normal situation, I’d be paying close attention to him and monitor every
single move. But his presence is always very low. Normally, He never
speaks apart from the bare minimum, so it’s difficult to follow him closely.

Only that, every time I see him, I start to remember other things.

“Eh? Where’s Horikita-san? Aren’t you two together?”

Horikita-san is one of Ayanokouji-kun’s few friends. For me that is the most
important thing.

“I don’t know, I’m not her protective charm… Also, she isn’t a person who
would fully enjoy a trip, she’s probably in her room, I believe?”

There’s nobody in the class who loves being alone more than Horikita-san.
She probably won’t try to enjoy the trip but stay in her room instead.

It also makes things easier, so let’s first enjoy the summer vacation.

“I guess so.”

After giving him such a short answer, I stood beside Ayanokouji-kun and
felt the sea at close range.

When the ship’s broadcast ended, an isle appeared in my field of vision.

That’s the beach we are about to go, the main attraction of this summer
vacation.

Karuizawa-san and the others are probably looking forward to it and they
are talking about going for a swim.

This school is different to the normal schools. Even though there are quite
a lot of thrilling elements, normal days also exist. The expected everyday
also exists. I want to protect them at all costs. I have no choice but to
protect them.

For this reason, I… even possessed such a determination.

We were gradually approaching the isle.

My --progressively stronger determination was also gradually approaching.

 Volume 4
Ichinose, Karuizawa
In the cracks between dream and reality
In front of me, there were a dorayaki and a stromboli.

“I want to eat both!”

The starving me pounced on the two targets with a flying pose.

However, the two escaped at high speed.

“Muu, impressive. Then I won’t hold back either!”

I leaped again, even more swiftly. After that, I directly extended my arm.

But the food once again slipped through my hands and increased the
distance with me.

“…Then, how about this?”

I gave up on the stromboli and I only extended my arm towards the

dorayaki. This time I didn’t let it run away and I caught it easily. Just when I
was calmly thinking about going for the stromboli, it escaped for the third
time and increased the distance with me.

And the dorayaki that was in my hands just a moment ago had slipped
away without me realizing it.

“This can only mean---”

When I realized what the food represented, they disappeared and the world
dissipated in an instant. After that, I felt the soft ground catching me. Then,
I heard the alarm sound I am used to hear coming from near my head.

“Umm~…”

That’s right. I used my dizzy head to grasp the situation. Today is the last
day of the special exam. Since I arrived at the room earlier than anyone, I
ended up falling asleep while I was racking my brains about how to decide
the outcome of the battle.

After getting up, I realized the figure of the class D student Ayanokouji-kun,
who I didn’t know when he arrived, inside the room.

“Go~od mor~ning Ayanokouji-kun. Sorry, my alarm clock must have

surprised you.”

“No, not at all. It looks like you have slept well.”

“Ahahaha, sorry. I completely drowsed off. You are so early, there’s still 20
minutes left, you know?”

“You too, since when have you been here?”

“Roughly 1 hour ago. I wanted to stay here calmly. It’s noisy staying in the
dorms, with friends going in and out of the room.

I wasn’t planning to sleep, but I was a bit embarrassed so I ended up

saying that.

However, this might be a good thing. The result of this was that I could
decide the battle plan.

“And there were also a lot of things I wanted to sort out.”

“Did you get results?”

“More or less.”

If I chase after 2 rabbits at the same time I will end up getting none. I have
firmly established the policies to confront the Rabbit group.

Still, I am rarely together with Ayanokouji-kun alone, so let’s investigate him.

Yukimura-kun and Sotomura-kun are easier to read, but Ayanokouji-kun

looks like he is in the clouds, he is very hard to read.

I stood up, fixed my hair messed from sleep, and sat beside Ayanokouji-
kun.
“Since there’s still time until the exam starts, if it doesn’t bother you, do you
want to have a little chat?”

“It won’t trouble me. If you think it’s okay, then it’s okay for me, Ichinose.”

He did not dislike it and agreed to my request.

“Then it’s decided. I have something I wanted to ask Ayanokouji-kun. I

have already asked all the Class B male students like Kanzaki-kun, but I
haven’t asked the students from the other classes, so it kept bothering me.
Ayanokouji-kun, do you have a strong desire to be promoted to Class A?”

First of all, I need to ascertain his inner heart. What he thinks, for what goal
he is taking action, and so on.

I have been questioning myself about the group distribution of this special
exam. Being assigned into a group has a certain meaning. For example,
Kanzaki-kun was assigned to the Dragon group, and the Dragon group had
the names of the representatives of each class. I’m not trying to blow my
own trumpet, but normally, shouldn’t I be assigned to the Dragon group
too?

But the reality didn’t go like this. I was very discouraged during a split
second, but I immediately pondered about it. It could be that there was
another meaning.

There must be some implications in the fact that I was not sent to the
Dragon group.

The Ayanokouji-kun in front of me could also be one of the possibilities--

 Invisible Presence
This was an event that happened not long after the special test started.

I went earlier to the Rabbit group exam room.

“I’ve come a bit early… but whatever”

Actually I didn’t intend to arrive this early, but approximately 10 minutes is

still in an acceptable extent.

I only wanted to avoid meeting with Manabe and the other girls.

The reason being “that incident”. Reopening old wounds in these

unexpected circumstances had disrupted my mood. Standing worried in
front of the door of the room was also strange, so I simply entered directly
into the room. Eg… I only saw Ayanokouji-kun waiting alone sitting on a
chair alone after entering the room. The disgusted expression I adopted in
a flash was seen by him, but it didn’t matter.

I didn’t want to approach him, so I made some distance with him. I chose
the furthest place from him and I sat down.

During the period of time after this, I was passing time chatting with my
friends with my phone.

After that, Rino wanted to have a phone call, so we did that.

“Ah, hello Rino. What’s the situation over there? This side? Ah--, this side is
not just terrible, the situation is at the limit. Even if I’m being separated from
Hirata-kun, at least give they should give me some decent guys. This group
is really full of malice.

It looked like there were a lot of girls in the group where Rino was allocated,
so envious. I was having complicated feelings about thinking that they were
in high spirits during my absence. Girls are certainly organisms that gossip
behind the people they hate. In order to avoid issues from appearing after
the test was finished, I should scout out in advance, in order to control them.
This is the most important thing I should really be doing right now. After
finishing the phone call with a few words, I inspected the chat log from start
to finish to look for suspicious things. En, there shouldn’t be any problem.
At present my presence is still working.

Ayanokouji-kun, who was clamly waiting in the room, entered my field of

vision.

“Ah—right. Are you the Target? It seems that neither Yukimura-kun nor
So…-kun are.”

This thing was not important. I only asked in order to pass the time. How
should I put it, I didn’t have any impression of this guy. He was an
unremarkable guy in the classroom, but I could still find him from the
corners of my memory. Why? Just by thinking a little I arrived at the answer.

Just from appearance alone, Ayanokouji-kun doesn’t look bad at all. If he

could socialize as well as Hirata-kun, maybe he could become a person
whose popularity wouldn’t lose to him.

“I’m not”

He answered me briefly. No, totally impossible, he doesn’t possess

dialogue skills. That’s why he is always mixed with old fashioned girls like
Horikita-san and Sakura-san.

“Ah, I see. Then it’s okay”

“Do you believe me?”

Was it because I was suspicious? Ayanokouji-kun looked at me while

saying this.

“Hah? You probably aren’t, right?”

I gave a slightly angry reply and he immediately shifted his gaze and
stayed silent. You are a man, so embarrassing.

It’s useless to keep chatting with him. While thinking this, I took out my
phone again.

In the end, besides Hirata-kun, there are no real men in class D.

That’s why I can’t leave his side.

Looking back right now, this was the first time Ayanokouji-kun and me
spend time alone together.

In my three years of school life, he would become the most important and
irreplaceable person, but at this very moment I wasn’t aware of it.
 Volume 4.5
Ichinose, Kushida, Sakura, Horikita
Swimsuit SS: Ichinose Honami
In the last day of the summer vacation, I came to the swimming pool to
enjoy myself. After having lunch, I was resting alone.

I was sitting on a simple bench placed in a corner of the swimming pool,

watching attentively at the students who continued to swim without taking a
break.

“If you don’t mind it, do you want to swim with me?”

The leader of Class B, Ichinose Honami, started a conversation with me,

who was resting there.

“Did you talk to me because you saw me being alone?”

“Ahaha, it’s not like that. I just minded it a bit.”

It was an honor to be told this by Ichinose, who was considered cute

(probably) in the campus.

-- Of course, I couldn’t say these words aloud, so I just thought it in my

head.

“I’m not really good at swimming.”

“Is that true?”

After answering her, Ichinose looked incredulously at my top, then she

watched attentively at my legs.

“You look as if you could swim very fast.”

“That’s just your misconception. I’m always one of the slowest in class.”
I told her that since it was an information that could be obtained by
investigating a bit. Ichinose, although she didn’t really agree, immediately
switched the mood and stretched her lower back.

“Then you don’t have to swim. First let’s just enter the pool.

“Oh, ok.”

Since it was a rare occasion to come here once – I held this idea for the
time being. Normally they wouldn’t allow entering the pool wearing a top,
but today was a special day. We did a warm-up standing side by side and
after that, we entered the pool. The ice-cold temperature of the swimming
pool was transmitted through my skin.

“Ah~ so comfortable~ “

Ichinose, who immediately emerged, waved me with a smile on her face.

The next moment she splashed me with the water from the pool.

“…Hey”

“Ahahaha!”

Was because I looked weird with my hair wet from the water she poured?
Ichinose pointed at me while she split her sides laughing.

Following that, she splashed even more water than the previous time at me.

“Is it okay for you not to offer any resistance?”

“You—“

Being provoked like this, you’d also want to strike back. But when I realized
the surroundings looking at me, I became rigid.

“What happened?”

“Ah, nothing…”

How should I put it, this practically looks like lovers playing in the swimming
pool.
Even though Ichinose and I don’t have that kind of relationship, those who
saw us interacting would definitely think like that.

Once I reflected about it, my body felt heavy and I was unable to strike
back.

“It’s just that I want to do Bloodless Surrender…”

I used an idiom as an excuse. The meaning of Bloodless Surrender is

literal. Avoiding a bloody battle when being attacked by opening the city
gates.

“I see~ but it’s too bad, there will be blood.”

Ichinose splashed me water ruthlessly. The water entered my eyes and my

nose.

“Geh…”

I deduced it was useless. It was exhausting to only be attacked.

Ichinose probably felt that attacking unilaterally was excessive too. She
was awakened a bit by a feeling of guilt and apologized to me with a smile.
After that, she told me she was going to the central part of the pool, so I
followed her from behind.

Looking at her defenseless back, I absolutely couldn’t endure it, gathered a

lot of water and splashed her in one go.

“Waaa! Sto- you are so sly!

“I’m really sorry, it looks like I really hate being sprinkled with water. But
now we are even, so don’t resent me, okay?”

“Haha, I’m not going to resent you. I’ll only strike back at you even stronger!”

I’m certain this interaction is already considered by the surroundings as one

done by lovers, but only this time I intend not to care about it. If Horikita
saw this scene, she would definitely say “you are really a brat” and sigh.
But I also want to become a brat once in a while.
 Swimsuit SS: Kushida Kikyo
That girl was getting a lot of attention from everyone.

“Kikyo-chan, since you still don’t have a boyfriend, what do you think about
dating me?”

A male student approached the young lady and told her sweet words.

It’ looked exactly like a scene of hitting on someone in the beach during
summer.

“Ahaha, I might not have a boyfriend yet… but I’m not the type of person
who’s that popular.”

Even though she answered using socially polite words, the truth is, she is
very popular among the guys. No matter who they are, she always treats
them brightly and gently. This is the speciality of the girl called Kushida
Kikyo.

“I’m sorry, Ayanokouji-kun. These situations where I get talked are

happening a lot.”

Kushida told me this with a bitter smile while looking bewildered.

I was spending with this popular person –Kushida, the last day of the
summer vacation. More precisely, we weren’t just 2 people, but the group
included Ike and Horikita and the others, who had come to play to the
swimming pool.

It was just that when I acted alone, I got the opportunity to spend time
alone with Kushida by chance. Kushida came at the corner of the pool and
sat down. She only introduced her feet in the pool.

“Ayanokouji-kun, do you also want to copy me?”

“No, it’s okay.”

“It’s going to be the 2nd term soon~.”

“…Yeah.”
My answer to these commonly used lines in conversations were extremely
short, totally in the line of someone with bad social skills like me.

If my vocabulary were richer, then I could brighten the atmosphere…

Among the girls I’m acquainted with in the school, I’m constantly unable to
get rid of my nervousness with Kushida.

Kushida not only hates Horikita, but she also hates me.

Even so, I’m still unable to get rid of the feeling of nervousness. It’s
probably as simple as I treat her as someone of the opposite sex.

As for whether I like her romantically, I’m unable to deny that this situation
isn’t one step away from that feeling.

If I were to be confessed by her, I would certainly accept her confession –

even though it’s not very likely to happen.

“In fact, Kushida, you are very popular.”

I didn’t intend to say it, but I inadvertently did it.

Although I said it with a low voice, but it still reached Kushida’s ears. She
looked at me with an incredible expression.

“I’m not popular. Not at all.”

“No, you have just been confessed a moment ago.”

“That wasn’t much a confession as… it was sort of an extension of the

greeting?”

So recently, youngsters sneak confessions in their extended greetings. I

totally believe I will never be able to say those words with an indifferent
face, until the day I die.

“Ayanokouji-kun, you are placed very high in the secret rankings, you
must’ve been confessed, right?”

“There has never been any indication of that.”

Who has ranked me so high? I can’t imagine it.

“For example, like Horikita.”

“Eh?”

“No, I was thinking if you have received Horikita-san’s confession.”

I believe I had revealed an incredible and difficult to understand expression

that came from the bottom of my heart.

“That’s impossible. Whether it’s her confessing to me, or me confessing to

her.”

I denied it bluntly. Why would Kushida ask me that?

Sometimes, I don’t really understand this Kushida girl.

Kushida immediately detected the changing atmosphere and said this while
shaking her head a bit.

“Forget about my previous words. I’m sorry.”

“It’s not a big deal.”

I didn’t know why but I was unable to keep looking at Kushida’s face when I
talked to her.

Until the rest of my friends came to talk to me, Kushida and I watched
silently the waving surface of the swimming pool.
 Swimsuit SS: Sakura Airi
In the afternoon, even more students gathered in the pool, it was crowded
everywhere.

Although we were a group of more than 10 people, when it was crowded,

there would inevitably be people who got lost. So we temporarily disbanded
and planned to gather again once the place was not that congested.

I believed the timing was perfect, so in order to act alone, I quietly moved
away from Horikita and the others.

However, when I was ready to spend the time leisurely, someone pulled my
arm.

“A-Ayanokouji-kun.”

When I turned my head in order to follow the origin of the sound, Sakura
was standing there looking at me concerned.

"There’s quite a lot of people..."

"Yeah, let's go to the corner."

Sakura and I are not good at coping with big crowds. If possible, I really
didn’t want to be in the crowd. Sakura was also unlikely to reject it, so after
I got her consent, we began to walk towards the windows of the facility.

"Ah, awa, please wait a moment! ...Puwa!"

After I heard a yelling, I turned around and saw Sakura, who was almost
getting swallowed by the crowd.

She desperately extended his hand toward me, but she still looked a bit
polite. Since it looked interesting, I observed it for a moment. Even though I
obviously didn’t move a step, Sakura was more and more away from me.

I believed if I kept doing nothing, it would be impossible to find Sakura later,

so I approached her and grabbed her arm.
If Sakura had her skin exposed, her resistance would’ve been a bit stronger.
It was fortunate that she was wearing a jacket.

“T-thank you.”

"It was really dangerous."

In order not to get scattered with Sakura, we followed the wall.

"Are you not going to swim?

“I’ll pass. And I’m not good at swimming… and you Ayanokouji-kun, are
you not going to swim?”

She felt sorry that I was staying with her and looked cowered. Since there
were a lot of people, her wariness was stronger than usual.

“I already swim during classes.”

"But……"

"Am I causing you trouble by staying with you?"

"No, it's totally not like that! I'm happy, I'm very happy ..."

I decided to tease Sakura for answering like that.

Of course, I did all this also for her sake.

"Then I’ll just go swim a bit.”

I called on Sakura to remove her top. Even if we entered the pool wearing
that, we wouldn’t be reprimanded, but I deliberately did that, in order to cut
off Sakura’s escape.

“Eeeeh…!?”

“With so many people here, it’s not going to be conspicuous. After all, our
inconspicuousness had been evaluated with high marks."

"That is, ah, although it’s true..."

Sakura also knew her presence was nonexistent.

“but I’m very embarrassed…”

“Nobody is watching.”

“A-Ayanokouji-kun is watching…”

So it was like that… this is really strange. Then –I said this while I moved
away my gaze.

“I’ll try my best not to look at you, is that okay?”

"I-I understand..."

Has she mustered enough courage? I heard sounds of friction of her coat
from behind.

Because I wasn’t looking, the sound felt very real, it kept resonating in my
head, making me almost have strange feelings. This is not okay, this is not
okay – I shook my head to get rid of the worries.

“I-it’s done…”

“Then… let’s go.”

"Yes…!"

I did not turn my head and I extended my hand backwards. In order not to
get lost, Sakura, showing a slight concern, held my hand.

Facing this kind of strange situation, I couldn’t help but laugh a bit.
 Swimsuit SS: Horikita Suzune
The spectacular swimming pool during the summer holiday. Many students
had come here in order to refresh themselves.

The scene showed the majority of the students playing, but there was one
girl… Horikita Suzune, who was on the diving platform of the starting point,
watched perfectly straight at the finishing line, and she slowly jumped into
the azure water. That form was excessively beautiful, to the point that I
didn’t hear any sound. I observed Horikita’s swimming form firmly.

She seems like she’s planning to go back and forth, since she rapidly
turned around at the finishing line.

I was in the starting point, checking the time while waiting for the return of
Horikita.

After getting her hand up, Horikita lifted up her head from the water.

“Yo! Well done.”

“…”

Horikita looked down at me and sighed slightly. After that, she swam slowly
to the ladder and grabbed it.

“Did you see it?”

She asked me while climbed the ladder.

“More or less. You are the only one who would swim seriously in the pool
during summer vacation.”

The majority of the students were sprinkling water, playing with a ball or a
float, only thinking about playing happily.

“I didn’t come here just to play.”

She told me, looking a bit angry.

“What are you doing? What did I do to you?”

“Do you want me to say it? That you threatened me and brought me to the
swimming pool?”

“Don’t use the word threaten, that sounds unpleasant. I hope you can
correct that.”

“…Forget about it. There are not many opportunities to practice swimming
after all, so this is good too.”

It looks like she has used this optimistic way of thinking to stabilize her
emotions.

“You were already good at swimming. You shouldn’t need to practice.”

Horikita has managed to get outstanding grades in swimming and other

sport subjects. The school has probably given her full marks. Even so, why
isn’t she thinking about anything but increasing her skills?

“What’s your goal?”

After I asked her, Horikita stayed silent for a moment. She glared at me a
moment.

“You are not playing, but you aren’t practicing either. What are you doing
here?”

Even if you ask me, it’s hard for me to answer.

The moment others ask you “what are you doing here”, what’s the correct
way to answer that?

“I’m observing mankind. Just by watching you, Horikita, I’m already not
bored.”

“…can you not say nauseating things?”

She moved blatantly her line of sight and sighed. It’s just that she should
already know I was not being serious.

“This is surprisingly interesting. Even though there are a lot of students

here, only you are standing out.”
Horikita, exuding an aura of “I don’t have friends” while swimming in the
vast swimming pool. Wrong, it’s more accurate to say she was exuding an
aura of “I don’t need friends”.

“How about you also try to swim a bit? It could clear your head.”

“Don’t use the “cool down your brain” type of excuse to push on the topic.”

“Anyways, can you step aside from there? I can’t climb up…”

Sorry – I said this while I slightly moved away from the ladder. Horikita
climbed through the side of the pool. With her head inclined a bit, she
cleaned up the water from her ears. Really, if this person didn’t speak, she
would be a beauty.

“Right now you were thinking of unnecessary things, weren’t you?”

“You are imagining things.”

I said this in order to deceive her and looked at her voluntarily.

“Ayanokouji-kun, you have asked me before what’s my goal, right?

“Eh? Yeah, What’s wrong with that question?”

“… Because I no longer want to experience again sad feelings that I

consider unnecessary.”

Horikita’s real thoughts came out in a split second. This was also the proof
that Horikita also realized her weak points.

“Don’t worry. You are not a person who would defeated easily.”

“Isn’t that obvious? I don’t need you to tell me that.”

Horikita immediately took back to her heart that instant of weakness she
showed, and passed over my side.

Probably, the reason I paid attention to Horikita’s since I enrolled in this

school is --
 Volume 5
Ichinose, Karuizawa
Sports festival: Ichinose’s battle

Sports festival: Ichinose’s battle

It was not too far from the end of the Sports festival. In order to cheer for
everyone, I stood in front of my classmates.

“Everybody, do your best, hold on just a little bit more!”

I shouted while I raised my fist, and everybody replied me with energetic

shouts and raising their hands.

Looking at everyone, I was convinced we would obtain victory. We had

almost the first place of the first years in the bag. But we shouldn’t be
careless. We need to effectively accumulate points in order to ensure our
victory. This is our Class B’s true goal. I’m just joking.

“Well, let’s go Ichinose. Next it’s going to be the mixed three legged race.”

“OK!”

Shibata-kun and I went together to the field. No matter who the opponent is,
we only need to fight by going all-out. But seeing an unexpected person, I
stopped walking for an instant.

“What happened Ichinose?”

"Oh, I have just seen Kikyo-chan. I want to go and greet her.”

While saying this, I pointed to two people who were walking in front of us.
They were the Class D student Kushida Kikyo-san and Ayanokouji
Kiyotaka-kun. Although I didn’t tell Shibata-kun, my eyes weren’t looking at
Kikyo but at Ayanokouji-kun.

During this sports festival, I secretly remembered the results of his

competitions. His performance was average. But I sensed something from
it.

Having seen his tricks and demeanor in the last exam in the ship, and all of
his actions until now, my impression of “ordinary student you can find
everywhere” of him began to change.

“Yaho ~Ayanokouji-kun. And Kikyo-chan. It looks like we are all in the

same group~”

In the end I still greeted them naturally. Although I subconsciously called

out the name of Ayanokouji-kun first, I thought that was not important, and
apparently nobody cared about it.

Kikyo-chan looked alternatively at Shibata-kun and me, and said this a bit
troubled.

"Wow~ this is really a powerful enemy, you two are actually in the same
group ..."

"Although Shibata-kun is awesome, I’m not a big deal, and I haven’t got a
single first place yet."

Being praised by Kikyo-chan, Shibata-kun was happy and rubbed his nose
embarrassed. Kikyo-chan’s popularity levels have already spread far
outside of Class D.

"Really? That’s unexpected?

It seems that my surroundings believed by mistake that I was good at

sports.

But it’s simply that they don’t have that perception. Even so, I don’t plan to
take the initiative and say it.
After all, it wouldn’t appropriate. But it felt great to be considered a strong
opponent.

"I got a second place, the rest were all fourth or fifth place. Originally
another girl was supposed to enter the race, but she sprained her leg
during the 200-meter race from this morning. It seems that there are quite a
lot of wounded people this year. "

So I told them my unremarkable performance.

Ah, the competition is almost going to start, I need to remember that feeling.
Although I practiced a couple of times with Shibata-kun, it’s a another thing
to be display it in the middle of the competition.

"Shibata Jun, can I tie our legs?"

“OK ~”

Having obtained the consent of the already prepared Shibata-kun, I said

goodbye to Ayanokouji-kun and them.

“Let’s win this, Ichinose.”

"Yes. Although Class D have been working very hard, their situation
doesn’t look very good."

“In fact, we are fighting against Class C. I want to obtain victory in the last
event, the relay race.”

“I’ll look forward to it~ last relay runner.”

“Leave it to me.”

Boom – Shibata-kun patted his chest made people feel he was very reliable.
I turned my head back a little and saw Ayanokouji-kun and Kikyo-chan
already prepared and had the rope tied, slowly starting to take steps.

"Am I imagining things?"

"What?"

"No, it's nothing."

Compared to him, who made people feel unfathomable, it was better to
focus on the victory before my eyes. I thought this.
 The complex mind of a maiden
“We haven’t decided on any tactic, is that okay?”

Having already arranged our cavalry battle position, Shinohara, who was
beneath me, muttered these words right before the competition started.

“I don’t think there’s any problem. In a sports festival, you only have to take
it seriously to some extent.”

“Eh? Ah, ok. But Karuizawa-san, if you thing this is okay for you---“

“Do I look like that type of motivated person?”

“It’s because you opposed Horikita-san’s proposal when the class was
deciding about the competitions by recommendation, so I was under the
impression that…”

“Ah…”

That wasn’t my idea. I acted following that guy’s orders. Honestly, Horikita-
san’s proposal about distributing the participants according to their abilities
not only made things easier, but also it was a stratagem that ensured the
success of the class. It could even be said that this was looking after the
students who were unwilling to try hard. It seems that I was ordered by that
guy to do some unnecessary things, causing me to be looked with different
eyes by other people.

“In short, let’s do it at random”

“Roger--”

After saying these words, the cavalry battle began. There shouldn’t be
anything extraordinary in the school’s cavalry battle –these thoughts were
immediately subverted.

The reason being Class C quietly advancing forward and unceasingly

attacking Class D. The vanguard was Ibuki-san. She was that existence
that thrown my class into chaos.
Ibuki-san led the cavalry to do a surprise attack to Horikita-san.

“Shinohara, go! Support Horikita-san!

“Eh? Ro-roger!”

Even though she was surprised at me suddenly issuing an order, the horse
still dashed forward.

“Although I’m not interested in winning, I don’t want to lose like this…!”

I didn’t know whether these words were said to Shinohara, or myself.

In brief, Horikita-san was targeted and leaving her alone would cause a
terrible situation.

“Stop! I’m sorry, but I can’t let you go past here!”

The one who came to block us was Ichinose from Class B. Even though I
haven’t really interacted with her that much, I thought she was difficult to
handle.

“What do we do, Karuizawa-san…?”

Shinohara-san, who was holding the center position of the horse, sook for
my instructions.

“We have no choice but to go forward, even though I don’t really want to do
that”

My physical capabilities are not very outstanding and I don’t want to do

troublesome things. But—

Right now that guy is probably looking here. Although I don’t know why, but
I just don’t want that guy see me suffering a crushing defeat. That
existence that knows about the darkness of my heart. That existence that
said he will protect me.

Fortunately, Ichinose’s movements are not as difficult to handle as I

thought. I can barely deal with her. While dodging her, I issued a specific
instruction to Shinohara-san, to keep a suitable distance.
“Why am I trying so hard…?”

This time I was talking to myself. Everybody was trying hard so nobody
heard my whisper.

During the summer vacation, I was also involved together with that guy.
The same thing happened with this sports festival, making me help him
with things I failed to understand. I just kept helping him, not knowing what
he was doing or what he wanted to do.

Normally this would be unpleasant. But I don’t know why I never like this.

That’s certainly because the harm I’m really worried about deep down has
not appeared.

The girls from Class C who wanted to look for problems with me haven’t
come back again. Is this merely a coincidence? No, absolutely not. That
guy… Ayanokouji-kun, did something for me.

Just because he let me have this premonition, that I’m obeying him.

“!?”

I barely evaded Ichinose’s hand.

“Ah, really, this doesn’t look like me!”

The image of Horikita’s horse falling entered my field of view. Ah, we are
going to lose.

But the only thing I can do right now is to focus on the adversary in front of
me.

I was gradually changing.

I was gradually receiving change.

But the unexpected thing was that I don’t dislike it.

Right now I’m unable to confront the gradually changing myself.

 Volume 6
Hasebe, Sakura, Sakayanagi
Perhaps I can make friends
I don’t hate going to school.

I believe it went smoothly from elementary school to high school.

But if I were asked whether I liked school or not, I wouldn’t be able to

answer bluntly that I like it.

When I was young, my chest developed early, so the girl’s distinctive

feature I embodied was extremely eye-catching. During my childhood I was
teased by the boys because of my chest and the girls looked at me with
sympathy. My growth became even more remarkable after being promoted
to junior high school. As a result, I received even more attention.

Their eyes would unconsciously look towards my chest, this was inevitable.
However, after I became aware of their lecherous gazes, my heart
gradually became cold.

Because of this, I became someone who basically stopped exercising. I

gradually wanted to avoid those gazes.

What happened as a result? Their impression of me naturally became one

of a cold and arrogant person and they started to become distant.

I didn’t get angry. It was very relaxing so I thought it was okay.

When I became a high school student, I was already used to be a loner.

Although I joined Karuizawa-san and Kushida-san’s group, I didn’t force
myself to get close to their circle.

I originally planned to live like this, not becoming friends with anybody…
but the circumstances changed.

I couldn’t help but to change.

“I didn’t expect that not only we have to take the exams with a partner...but
also it has to be with Miyacchi, who isn’t good in the same subjects as me.”

In addition, I have never heard of students being the ones providing the
exam questions.

From their conversations, it looks like the the exams are going to be very
difficult this time.

“Who are you waiting for, Hasebe-san?”

Kushida-san looked at me with an startled expression, who was standing

there using my phone with one hand.

“Ah, yes. I have some stuff to do, I’m going to a study group now.”

“Now that you mention it, you were talking about this with Yukimura-kun
and the others.”

Being asked by her, there wasn’t anything that I needed to hide, so I

honestly nodded as a reply.

“Although it must be very hard, but good luck!. If you have any problem, I
will come and help you at any time.”

“Thanks”

She left after our short exchange ended.

‘She’s really a good person’ - I mumbled these thoughts.

If only everybody were like Kushida-san, things would be very easy.

It it were like this, I could probably blend into Class D a little bit more.

I feel like I’m really not able to get along with Karuizawa-san and Satou-san.

“...It’s useless thinking about this”

“Why did you leave earlier?”

Yukimura-kun walked towards me with a slightly angry expression.
Miyacchi and Ayanokouji-kun were following behind him.

“You ask me why? It’s because I don’t want to attract attention. It’s a bit
inconvenient in the classroom--”

I hate the most being cast lecherous glances by the boys even though I’m
wearing a school uniform.

“You don’t want others to see you talking to us?”

“It’s not like that. I have my own circumstances.”

“It would have been very easy to explain it, but I was unable to do so. This
was hard to do against someone of opposite sex.

“Don’t mind it, Yukimura. Hasebe has always been this kind of person.”

Even though I can’t ascertain all the situation, these three people have one
thing in common.

None of them would use a perverted attitude to look at me. At least, this
part deserves to be assessed.

“If we keep standing and chatting here, there will be no empty seats. How
about we move first?”

“You’re right… It will be very troublesome if the seats were filled. Let’s go.”

“You should also be careful with your words”

“My way of speaking from earlier provokes resentment. I will reflect upon it.”

Although it’s unclear whether I can have a smooth relationship with these
three people.

However, it looks like this looks interesting.

This is what I think.

 The person I love

I was keeping down the intense heartbeat in my chest while I arrived at the
Bunanoki shopping center together with Kiyotaka-kun.

Whenever I see the Kiyotaka-kun walking beside me, my heart feels like it’s
going to burst out.

This is not a bad thing, but a comfortable pain.

… I should have probable become aware of it.

Right now, I love Ayanokouji Kiyotaka-kun.

“It feels exciting going out with everybody… Ki-Kiyotaka-kun”

“That' right, it doesn’t feel bad”

It’s thanks to Keisei-kun and the others that I can address Ayanokouji-kun
with “Kiyotaka-kun”

Of course, I’m very embarrassed and I’m not doing it properly, and yet…

“Eheheheee…. KIyotaka-kun”

I’m already happy by only being able to call him by his name.

“What's the matter?”

Kiyotaka-kun asked me while showing a baffled expression.

“Eh? What do you mean?”

Not knowing the reason of Kiyotaka-kun’s question, I couldn’t help but to

answer with another question.

“You have called my name, right?”

“…D-did I call you? I-I’m sorry, it’s not like that at all!”

I thought I said it in my head, but it looks like I said it aloud carelessly.

After I obtained the cinema ticket from Haruka-san, I looked for the seat
numbers and I discovered that my seat was beside Kiyotaka-kun’s.

It can’t be considered a d-date between both of us, but-but, we sit on

adjacent seats. It’s great!

“Ayanokouji-kun!”

Just when I was rejoicing, I heard someone calling Kiyotaka-kun from my

back. It was a female voice.

“Could it be that you are going to the cinema? Oh! This is for the movie
that’s a hot topic!”

It was Satou-san… She got very close to Kiyotaka-kun.

I felt a bit of hatred and fear, so I widened my distance from them.

“...It seems so.”

“Were you invited by Karuizawa?”

“No. I suggested to go watch a movie in the study group, then Karuizawa-

san told me she also wanted to come, so we came together. Since it’s a
rare opportunity, let’s go watch it together”

Why Satou-san has to!? It was a rare chance to go watch a movie together
with Kiyotaka-kun! Why, why!?

While I was still confused, Satou-san hugged Kiyotaka-kun’s arm.

“Fuaa!?”

Facing this hard to believe scene playing in front of me, my brain started to
shake.

After that I couldn’t hear my surroundings.

Recently, they have been going out together, looking very intimate, it can’t
be, it can’t be!?
I did my utmost to keep my awareness in order to confirm the truth, so I
yelled loudly.

“Ehm, Ki-kiyotaka-kun”

“What's the matter?”

“Kiyotaka-kun… recently, Satou-san and you, have been in good terms...”

Are you two dating? Even though I wanted to ask like this, I couldn’t get
these words out of my mouth.

I don’t have this kind of courage…

“It’s a misunderstanding. Satou-san and I have been studying together a

couple times because we are a "pair"”

“B-but people don’t normally walk a-arm in arm?”

“That wasn't arm in arm, but having my arm linked”

“I feel that, if you dislike it you could shake it oft…”

“I understand. I don’t think it will be a next time, but I will be careful”

“A-and besides? Before the pairs were set, you also went somehere with
Satou-san, right?”

This was the thing I cared the most. I asked with all my might.

“...b-between you two, is there anything…”

Isn’t that the omen before a confession? –I couldn’t help but to think like
this, like erasing myself.

But, what, what if those were confession words?

If Kiyotaka-kun accepted Satou-san’s confession, and they are dating each

other right now?

If this fact was revealed in front of me, my heart would probably stop
beating.
But—

“No”

Kiyotaka-kun made a straightforward assertion.

I’m so glad…I felt relief for the time being.

But I would be lying if I said my heart was not disturbed.

“Are you not convinced?”

“N-no. S-sorry for always asking you weird questions… did I make you
uncomfortable…?”

I just keep asking him weird questions, could it be that Kiyotaka-kun hates
me?

Even though I’m nothing more than Kiyotaka-kun’s friend, I keep asking
him unruly questions.

I suddenly started self-loathing myself and I almost started to cry.

But Kiyotaka-kun probably noticed my mood, so he talked to me gently

“Not at all. If there’s something you are worried about, you can tell me at
any time.”

Wuuu, so gentle….

In this kind of situation, it couldn’t be helped if he didn’t feel happy, but

Kiyotaka-kun still treated me like usual.

Whenever I see Kiyotaka-kun like this, I like him even more.

“C-count on me. I will properly keep an eye on Kiyotaka-kun”

This is my first love.

I will like him more and more --I firmly believe this.
 Sakayanagi Arisu’s everyday – Behind the scenes of the end
of term exams chapter

I have seen it in my dreams. The stage is the sports festival. How many
times has it been already?

The majority of the boring and endless time have completely disappeared
from my dreams. But only that single act – the one that consisted in the
relay race, the final athletic event, slowly but continuously reappears in my
dreams.

I keep having the same dream because I want to see that scene again. Or I
believe I need to watch it. Apart from this there is no other reason. This is
probably because the deep layers of my mind are influencing me.

He was evenly matched with the Student Council President Horikita-san…

no, from my point of view, it was an easy battle. From the split second I
saw his silhouette, the boring everyday totally changed, like a flower
recklessly blossoming.

School roll in Class D, Ayanokouji Kiyotaka-kun. His silhouette was deeply

branded in my brain, impossible to get rid of.

I slowly opened my eyes

Calmly, I slightly exhaled a tepid breath. The sunset was gradually sinking
down.

It looks like I took a nap in this deserted place.

“I desire to obtain him”

Like a maiden in love, I frequently think about Ayanokouji-kun.

There is no need to understand the reason why he is placed in this school’s

Class D.

As long as he is in this school, being my enemy, it’s enough for me.

“Hehe”

This is so wonderful. This is a miracle.

“You can really sleep in a place like this!”

The one using a surprised voice beside me to start a conversation is

Masumi-san from Class A.

She looked dissatisfied at me with her arms crossed.

“How about you also take a nap? It is unexpectedly snug.”

“Now it’s not the time for taking naps. Why are you looking for me? I want
to go back earlier.”

She’s still so impatient. I really wish she learns to enjoy the mood.

It looks like if I didn’t talk seriously, I guess she would just go back
immediately, so I got straight to the point.

“The end term exams are going to start very soon, have you been
reviewing properly?”

“I’ve been properly reviewing. I’m averaging around 60-70.”

“If you don’t mind it, I can teach you. I can tutor you alone.”

“Don’t joke about it.”

I was being serious, but Masumi-san shook her head with a disgusted
expression.

“You don’t need to flaunt your academic levels. If you only wanted to tell
me this, then I’m going back”

“What was the situation in the classroom after the classes finished?”

“The situation? Very normal. Aren’t we just earnestly preparing for the
exams?”

“What about them?”

“Katsuragi and the others? They kept complaining about having to battle
against Class B. You are aware of this already. If you asked me, I also
think it would’ve been better to choose the easier Class D or Class C as
target.

She showed a dissatisfied expression. It looks like she harbors doubts

about aiming directly for Class B.

“If we were to lose this direct confrontation, they would almost catch up to
our accumulated class points.”

“You don’t need to worry about it. As long as they can’t surpass our points,
them catching up is not a menace. Humans, as long as they have hope,
they will cling on it. If they don’t try to chase after us at all costs, the school
life is going to be boring.”

Properly speaking, there wouldn’t be any problem even if we were

surpassed. However, these words will most likely disturb Masumi-san's
heart, so I didn't say the aloud.

After all, Class A students all want to do their utmost in order to hold their
status.

"I just can't comprehend. I fail to understand what's interesting and what's
boring. Keeping Class A status should be the priority. Until now, you have
been obstructing Katsuragi and the others, who have different policies than
you, and have stirred up a battle within the classroom. But this has also
ended. You have wom the faction war. So now it's time to work together."

The untalkative Masumi-san when we first met have recently become more
entertaining in conversations.

Although I didn’t dislike her previous arrogant attitude, but as a friend, this
is indeed better.

"Work together with Katsuragi-san, as it should be."

So long as the Class A's smooth and evasive policies are completed, it can
allocate this manpower into other places.
If we could set our eyes on Class B, it should be slightly easier to manage.

"Why do I have to pay attention to these kinds of things? So, excuse me, ,
can you hurry and state your business?"

"Please be happier. Today I'm going to dialogue with that Katsuragi-kun"

"...with Katsuragi-san?"

Masumi-san looked at an empty place.

"Yes. Since we are going to discuss about working together or not, I think
that, as my right hand, you should also participate."

The time was approaching the stipulated half past 5. It was probably the
time.

He showed himself 1 minute earlier than the stipulated time. And he also
brought another person, Inoue-kun.

"Why have you called us to this kind of place?"

Before Katsuragi-kun opened his mouth, Inoue-kun asked with a slightly

rough tone of voice.

It looks like they are maintaining a strong sense of vigilance. It's not
surprising given what has happened until now.

"Today, with regard to the end of term exams, I want to consult with you
once again."

"Consult? Haven't you already decided the tactics?"

Katsuragi-kun crossed his arms as to imply - right now there's already no

need to discuss anything.

"Do you still believe my idea of attacking Class B was a mistake?"

It would be very nice if you could have changed your mind until now.

"Right now I still think that. If it were me, I would aim for Class D or Class
C."
Apparently, I didn't obtain the answer I was looking forward to.

"As expected, you are very dull, Katsuragi-kun. So far until now you have
always been dull."

"Dull huh. Indeed, I'm just this type of man. I won't deny I have always been
pursuing stability. But this has always been the optimal solution in order to
achieve victory."

"I wouldn't have any objection if that was the optimal solution."

Even if I said these things to him, it would be to no avail. Being faithful to

the basics is a strength, but to me this kind of strength is extremely boring. I
already walked past that old path 10 years ago.

"What do you really want to say, Sakayanagi?"

Inoue-kun got angry as if he took it personally.

Looks like he fairly supports Katsuragi-kun, or more correctly, this

protection is what he should do as a friend.

"The only one who can satisfy you is that eccentric Ryuuen."

"Maybe. I don't have any interest in people like Ichinose-san and you."

Indeed, Ryuuen is an interesting talented person. There are a lot of similar

people like him, but only a very small portion stand out.

He might have been the only person in this school that could've made me
feel joy.

Be that as it may, it is already a thing of the past.

Since I have encountered Ayanokouji Kiyotaka-kun, there are nobody in my

eyes other than him.

"Your methods will make a lot of people fall into misfortune. this is what I
believe."

"Maybe it will"
As long as I can directly defeat him, I have no attachments to Class A

I wouldn't care even if we dropped to Class B --this is what I am thinking

right now.

As long as I can defeat him, even "leaving this school" could be regarded
as an option.

In that case, this would be counted as misfortune for Katsuragi-kun and

class A students.

"I actually want to ask you whether you regret the decision of choosing
Class A. But looking at you, I'm definitely unable to get along with you.

"This time Katsuragi-san has conceded, but next time it won't be like this!"

"Then what do you want to do? Do you still want to battle against me?"

"Of course! There's only one leader in Class A and that's Katsuragi-san!"

Compared to the yelling Inoue-kun, Katsuragi-kun calmly said.

"No. There's no need for more battles. I want to withdraw from the contest
for the leadership."

"K-Katsuragi-san, are you being serious!?"

Inoue-kun turned his head showing a hard to believe expression, looking

very shaken.

"I originally didn't lead the class to this day because I wanted to be the
leader, but because I considered, but to propose the most optimal tactics in
order to bring benefits to Class A. that's why I adopted these actions. In
addition, Sakayanagi, I did only acquiescence the internal strife because I
thought you were wrong. But since the class points have dropped down to
this point, there needs to be someone to take responsibility"

And the responsibility rested in Katsuragi-kun’s shoulders, who was leading

Class A so far.
"Please wait a moment. if it's like this, then Sakayanagi should be the one
assuming the responsibility! Because she meaninglessly threw the class
into disarray and dragged it down!"

"You can't assess that either. It's a fact that I chose the wrong options."

Katsuragi-kun revealed a regretful expression.

Indeed, entering into defensive stance multiple times gave the enemy to
drill a hole.

But the thing that makes him regret the most and unable to extricate
himself, that would be that thing that happened in the uninhabited island,
that left the biggest impact. Although I did not mention "that contract" here.

"Even though I feel that it's still not enough, if you say that you want to quit
the school then it would be another story."

"This conversation is over"

Although the conversation had just started not long ago, Katsuragi-kun
already planned to leave.

"From now on I ask you to keep leading Class A following my policies,

Katsuragi-kun"

"What did you say?"

"I did really oppose you at choosing the battle tactics. But I believe your
management skills made me see you in a new light. If you can act as my
right arm, then your position in the class will be immovable. And people like
Inoue-kun will also be willing to obey your management."

"What a rare invitation, but allow me to reject it. If I wanted to obey you,
there wouldn't have been a collision between you and me. I will take my
leave then."

"Who wants to obey you!"

Inoue-kun also said this line. I wanted to establish cooperative relations,

but I ended up breaking off the relations with them.
But from now on he will not contradict me and will not give me complaints.
Seeing him losing his will of fight

But he will not hit me in the future, give me a comment. It was easy to see
from his appearance of having lost his will to fight. It wasn't bad since it
saved me some effort.

"Is it okay like this?"

"Since he gave up fighting, I would not attack from behind. Moreover, I only
opposed Katsuragi-kun because I wanted to kill some time."

Since now that I have future provisions, I no longer need him anymore.

"Then is my mission over?"

"Indeed, I no longer need you to monitor Katsuragi-kun. You there are still
work for you. Next you will have to monitor Ayanokouji-kun"

"By Ayanokouji-kun, you mean that guy from the relay race? Why are you
so concerned about that guy from Class D?"

"Are you interested?"

"Not at all. It's your bad habit again."

"Haha, you really understand. He is just like Masumi-san, that lets me feel
joy"

The instant I said these words, Masumi-sans grabbed my collar.

After that, she stared at me as if she was facing her mortal enemy.

"I will never approve of someone like you. You really make me want to
puke"

"This is really strange. Actually, do you think you have the right to self-
proclaim yourself as a good person?"

I picked up the cane that was beside me and pushed to Masumi-san's neck.

"If I wanted, I could immediately bury you, you know?

"Guu!"

No matter how hard they try to be brave by adopting a mighty appearance,

the weak points that were exposed will never disappear.

The girl called Kamuro Masumi is already in my hands.

"After all, you are an outstanding person, please don't make me lose you in
this manner."

"...when will you free me?"

"It's hard to say. It depends on my mood. You can only work hard."

Things I'm unable to do. My disadvantageous condition --unable to stand

on the ground constantly on the move.

I need Masumi-san to become my legs and work hard for me.

"I hope you die."

Showing this nasty attitude, Masumi-san went back to the dorm.

I watched attentively her rear view, feeling that she was cute.

"It's interesting to tease her once in a while. It would be good if these days
were I can laugh happily continue forever."

This all depends on Ayanokouji-kun.

How much has Ayanokouji-kun grown, compared to the him I saw that day?
I'm really looking forward to it.

I wish my boring daily live will change.

 Volume 7
Hasebe, Hiyori, Chabashira, Sakura
I, Hasebe Haruka, don’t plan to change

After school, the temperature gradually decreased. The Ayanokouji group

gathered as usual at the entrance of Keyaki shopping center.

I hurriedly put aside my conversation with Miyacchi and approached

Kiyopon.

"Ah, talking about Class C ... I saw it~, president~ you really make people
hate you~”

Then I used my elbow to touch his flank.

"What did you see?"

Was it because he didn’t realize it, or because he was trying to hide it?
Kiyopon’s expression didn’t change and it was as usual.

"And you ask me what I’ve seen… it was the scene of Kiyopon having
lunch with Shiina from Class C."

I didn’t like to beat around the bush, so I launched a frontal attack.

If he was guilty he would show a trace of wavering in his eyes, but despite
mentioning Shiina-san’s name, Kiyopon’s attitude was still the same as
usual.

“Airi has been concerned about that all the time, she dropped rice several
times while eating.”

“Waah, Haruka-chan! We agreed not to say that!”

Airi got angry, her face was blushing.

This frank reaction was really cute, I couldn’t help but tease her a bit.
“Is that so? Then what I said earlier didn’t count.”

Until now, a child that can honesty show her love reaction was very scarce.
I really admired her.

Although sometimes there were also girls who showed a calculated love
reaction, but I didn’t like them.

“Don’t tell me you were planning to hurriedly start a romantic relationship

before Christmas?”

At this very moment, for the sake of Airi, I had to further interrogate him.

“Kiyotaka, is that true? I had the impression you wouldn’t do those vulgar
world things…”

“Too naïve, Yukimu, you are too naïve~. Between a man and a woman, it
always ends in a romantic emotion in the end. By the way, the term vulgar
world is too outdated. Young people nowadays are even more precocious
than you imagine.”

“What precocious… we are high school first year students.”

“You know, high school first year students having their first love is already
considered late. When I was in elementary school, some classmates were
already in a relationship with middle school students or high school
students.”

“I-I’ve never heard of that.”

“That’s just because Yukimu, you didn’t pay attention to your surroundings.
There are a lot of girls who have no interest in childish male classmates.”

So you boys, you have way too much fantasies about girls. If you want to
get a pure and cute girlfriend, you need to pay attention to the surrounding
girls like Airi.

“I-I’m sorry, Haruka-chan. That…”

Airi whispered me in a low voice. It looks like she had finally realized I was
assisting her.
“Don’t worry, don’t worry. You need to confirm at all times whether Kiyopon
is single. But Airi, you also need to try your best. If he got a girlfriend, then
we wouldn’t be able to be this blunt, right?”

Digging other people’s information, no matter if it was thinking or doing it,

Airi would never do it.

“Ok.”

Airi nodded with resolution, her face red. Airi being so cute, if it was a
normal boy, I guess she would have immediately fallen into the enemy
hands. They would normally carry the thought of “let’s first go out to see if it
works”.

Miyachhi and Yukimu had more or less understood the situation, but
Kiyopon hadn’t become aware of it yet.

I really didn’t know what he was thinking.

Forget about it, let’s sound him out a bit, with a bit of assist fire.

“…But…”

Until now, I had never been in a relationship with anyone.

But I would be lying if I said I had never had anyone I liked.

When I was in elementary school I had one, in middle school I also had one.
They were both 2 years older senpai. Unfortunately, I’ve never talked to
any of them. They were intelligent, handsome, good at sports, those types
of all-rounded senpai.

More than liking, using the word longing in order to express my feelings
would be more fitting.

I had tried to start a conversation countless of times, but I had never

gathered enough courage.

I regretted two times.

That was a past where I couldn’t even confirm whether that was love or not.
The next time I harbor these kind of feelings, I don’t want to regret it again.
I had been thinking like this all the way until now.

… In short, the threshold for me to fall in love was a bit high, or maybe I
was basically not interested in ordinary boys. As a living creature, this
should be very normal. In brief, my ideal standards were extremely high.

Inside our class, Hirata is the closest to my ideal person. However, I’m
pursuing an even higher ideal standard.

Recently, I unexpectedly started to think Kiyopon’s qualifications were very

good.

Although he was not as good as Yukimu at studies, he also looked like he

was not as strong as Miyacchi at fighting.

But –I kept feeling that he was unfathomable.

Probably Yukimu and Miyacchi also started to gradually perceive that.

I remembered my astonishment during the sport festivals. The relay race

between Kiyopon and the Student Council President.

Until now, nobody knew Kiyopon could run so fast –because he had a
terrible precedent.

If Kiyopon was my ideal man.

At that moment, would I be able to suppress my feelings?

I drove out the bad premonition that floated in my heart.

It was hard to come by forming such an intimate group.

The feeling of wanting to support Airi, who was as cute as a small animal,
was also very strong.

And no matter how, this must be me overthinking things.

It was only because Kiyopon was full of mysteries.

I bet that if I was in contact with him a little bit more, I would definitely reach
the conclusion of “ah, Kiyopon is also an ordinary boy”.

“What’s wrong, Haruka-chan?”

“Oh, it’s nothing.”

I don’t plan to change.

I will definitely not change.

Be it the place I’m right now or this feeling. I can’t bring whatever
unnecessary thing that breaks the equilibrium of this small group.

“I’m sorry, I’ve disturbed you all because of my keen interest, but

“I’m sorry to disturb you while you got excited by your own account, but
there’s absolutely no such frivolous thing.”

After hearing my conversation with Yukimu, Kiyopon ridiculed us while

being unperturbed.

“Is that so? You are not trying to hush up a scandal?”

“Y-you see? Even though I told Haruka-chan that, she didn’t believe me!”

Ok. The current situation is fine.

I told my heart this again.

I, Hasebe Haruka, don’t plan to change.

 I wish we can become friends

I wish we can become friends

That day, I went towards the library when the lunch break started.

I had been going to the library several days in a row in order to look for
Raymond Chandler’s “Farewell, My Lovely”. Recently, due to its popularity,
it had been hard to borrow that book.

I didn’t have anyone I could consider as friend and I had always been alone.

Of course, it’s not like I didn’t want to make friends, but I had never been
good at dealing with people.

“…It’s not here.”

As soon as I arrived at the mystery novels section, I immediately dropped

my shoulders in disappointment.

I’ll come back after the classes are finished to check for it, I need to come
here before going to the Tea ceremony club.

Although I was quite happy being alone, I also felt loneliness once in a
while.

Ryuuen-kun couldn’t stand to see me like that so he talked to me, but since
there were always a lot of people around him, that made me feel very
nervous so I wasn’t able to stay together with him.
“Eh?”

There was a book placed in a high place.

Suddenly, I realized that the book didn’t match with the classification of the
section.

Was the staff member who made a mistake?

“En…”

I extended my hand in order to get it down, but I couldn’t reach it.

Incredibly, even though I knew I couldn’t reach it, I still tried to do it several
times.

“I still can’t reach it.”

Then, when I was about to arrive at the conclusion that I couldn’t reach it.

“I might be doing some unnecessary things…”

A boy said that and helped me draw the book that was classified wrongly.

“I recall you are class C’s…”

He said that to me and after that, I also remembered him.

“I recall… you are Ayanokouji-kun, right?”

Thinking back, I saw him previously during Ryuuen’s introduction.

I remember at that moment they were looking for the person who defeated
Ryuuen-kun… that sort of stuff.

Although, as a result, they performed a thorough investigation to Class D,

but that has nothing to do with the present situation.

I have never been interested in those things.

“Yeah. For now, I’ll give you this.”

“Thank you.”
I took the book and just in case I confirmed the library card.

As expected, this book should be placed in another section.

“Do you like Bronte’s books?”

I opened the book and closed it again. He looked at me as if it was strange.

It looks like he misunderstood me and thought I liked Bronte’s books.

"Personally, I neither like nor dislike anything. But the book was in the
wrong section, so I just wanted to return it to the right place.

"So it was like that…”

At that moment, I noticed a certain thing.

That was the book Ayanokouji-kun was holding in his hand.

"By the way, the book you have in your hands is... "Farewell, My Lovely"
right? It's a masterpiece."

I didn’t know why but I thought I’d found a comrade, so I couldn’t help but to
inquire him.

"I managed to borrow it from a friend today."

"You're very luck then, for some unknown reason, Raymond Chandler is
very popular amongst the 2nd-year students and the battle over this book
has been continuing for a while. I've also been wanting to read it for a while
now, but today I haven't been able to find it here either."

"I’m sorry, I seem to have done something bad. Monopolizing it."

"I don't mind. I've read this book before. And besides, while looking for that
book, I was blessed to run into other books. It seems this school’s library
has a large collection of books. If I were to immerse myself into reading
them, I might have graduated before I realized."

"…I see, that might be so".

After that, I unconsciously talked passionately about books with
Ayanokouji-kun.

Although I also realized in the middle of the speech that he remained silent,
but that was because extremely happy and I did it involuntarily.

Time passed in the blink of an eye.

I felt lonely because the chat was ending and I unknowingly said the words
that didn’t match my usual self.

“You have probably not eaten lunch yet, right? If it’s okay, would you like to
have lunch together with me?”

"……Eh"

It was normal to be confused.

After all, not even I expected that I would proactively say those kinds of
words.

In addition, there seemed to be a lot of dispute between Class C and Class

D.

Even if I also believed I would be rejected, I still continued talking.

"There's no one in Class C who likes reading novels, so I have no one I can
talk to"

Therefore, I frankly told him my feelings.

“Wouldn’t this cause a lot of problems? Right now Class C is in an uproar

by actively looking for someone from Class D, right? I think I'm being
counted as one of the many suspects.”

"Please don't worry. Last time, I was only helping Ryuuen-kun as a

formality. From the start, I was never interested in things like conflicts. Or is
it a problem for you to talk to me?"

"No. If there's no problem on your end, I have nothing to say either."

"That's a relief. Because creating cracks between classes over such trivial
things makes me unhappy. After all, the best thing is for everybody to live
in harmony.”

Ayanokouji-kun didn’t reveal a disgusted expression, so that made me feel

very happy.

"Shall we leave then? Time is flying.”

Maybe I can make a friend with similar interests.

A part of me thought these actions were not like me, while the other part
was extremely excited towards this development.

I hoped that, in the future, the dispute between classes wouldn’t create a
crack between us. I thought this deep in my heart.
 Invisible darkness

Ayanokouji had contacted with his father.

I was walking in the corridor while my heart was trying to bear with that
carefully.
“…What do you mean by you have realized everything?”
Even if I was unclear of the situation, I still showed a calm teacher
appearance.
“Chabashira-sensei. I’m saying that everything you’ve told me are basically
lies.”
“What are you talking about?”
Not good. I can’t treat the boy in front of my eyes as a normal high school
student.
“That man has never contacted with you, Chabashira-sensei. Of course, he
also didn’t have you force me to quit school.”
“No, your father asked me for help. In fact, just like what I told you, I’ve
been constantly trying to get you expelled.”
Impatience appeared in my heart and Ayanokouji saw through me.
“Stop trying to deceive both of us. Chairman Sakayanagi has told me
everything –he told my situation to you the instant my enrollment was
decided.”
I wanted to hide that truth, but Ayanokouji pointed that out.
In that instant, I relaxed.
“…The chairman told you everything?”
I carelessly asked him the question I had in my mind.
Even if I knew Director General would never act hastily, I still made a
mistake.
I felt Ayanokouji in an instant smiled a bit.
“Ayanokouji, were you probing me?”
“Yes. The chairman never told me anything about Chabashira-sensei. But I
was certain it was related to you, this has become very clear.”
I knew I was going to gradually be dominated here. Even though I only
learned about him growing up in a special environment, but what in the
world did they do to teach such a strange kid?
I had seen a lot of excellent students during my career. But Ayanokouji was
different to them, he was unknown to me.
Ayanokouji revealed his speculations, as if he wanted to unmask all the lies
I had told him until now.
What should I do? What should I do in order to use this child?
If only I could step over this obstacle, I could probably be promoted to
Class A.
And after that I could finally cover my past.
That’s why --- no matter what methods I have to use, I must use Ayanokouji.
As long as I can get ahold of something decisive, I can make Ayanokouji be
unable to decline.
I’ve been fighting with the darkness in my heart every day.
 I, Sakura Airi, have been tossed back and forth

“I-I see. So you were not having a date.”

Hahaha, great…!

My heart felt at ease, I exhaled in relief.

“But I totally didn’t get that impression, and no matter how many times she
asked me I wouldn’t be able to answer. Honestly, it’s really unbearable.”

Ever since I saw Kiyotaka-kun and Shiina-san having lunch together, my

heart has been beating very fast.

If she was Kiyotaka-kun’s girlfriend – my heart would probably stop beating.

“You’re very naïve, Airi. You need to confirm it carefully, you know?”

Haruka-chan whispered in my ears in a low voice.

“True, saying Shiina was Kiyopon’s girlfriend was going a bit too far, but the
probabilities of both liking each other or Kiyopon harboring feelings towards
the other part exist.”

“Eeeeeeh!?”

B-but, if that were the case, perhaps it could be…

“Right? That’s why you need to thoroughly investigate in advance.”

“Saying this, Haruka-chan started talking to Kiyotaka-kun.

“But I feel like you looked rather happy back then, weren’t you?”

Just like that. Haruka-chan asked the questions I wanted to ask in my place.

“I couldn’t show a dislike face either. After all, she is also a first year like
me.”

Yes, yes. It was just that, right? Because Kiyotaka-kun is very kind-hearted,
that’s why he couldn’t ignore someone if they talked to him.
“Leaving aside the love Haruka said, I’m a bit concerned about the person
Class C is looking for. She apologized for eavesdropping me, but Sudo
also seemed to discussed with Horikita about being bothered constantly.”

Realizing the topic had shifted from love to a more serious topic, I felt
relieved.

“Yes. But it should be half true.”

“T-that high!?”

“Even if Kiyopon said he couldn’t show a disgusted expression, the fact is

that he had lunch with a girl, you know? I actually think it’s better to be
suspect a bit.”

“Uuuuh. So it was like that after all…?

“Ah, aren’t you overthinking? Perhaps Kiyopon treats everybody like that.”

“Yes, yes. It must be that.”

“But~ aren’t boys all like that~?”

“R-r-r-really!?”

I, Sakura Airi, am always been tossed back and forth by my own heart.
 Ibuki, Ishizaki, Albert and Shiina’s day

This happened after the second term ended, in the first day of winter
vacation. At the same time, it was two days after that “Incident” happened.

That day for Ibuki Mio was an extremely boring day.

Under the cold air, I looked at my reddened fists while heaving a sigh.

“What am I doing…?”

The breath I exhaled slowly dissipated in front of my eyes.

During the first day of the winter vacation, I didn’t know what I was thinking,
that I directly went to the boulevard that lead to the school after waking up.

After that I beat up Ryuuen and following that, I should’ve gone to the
dorms in order to warm myself.

I thought this was enough to make me satisfied.

However, I didn’t know why but I was still staying in the boulevard.

“Aha. It’s so cold.”

Being alone, I started to meditate.

About what happened yesterday.

The incident of that moment.

All these disturbances happening in quick succession, I could only believe

we were possessed by something.

All the things that happened until now, that event.

Don’t tell me I--

No, including Ryuuen, everything that happened was in that man’s

expectations.
In retrospect, since I entered this school, there hadn’t been a peaceful day
and there had been a lot of commotions.

Right after being assigned to Class C, Ryuuen Kakeru started to control the
class.

Of course, the people in the class didn’t acknowledge him at first and
defied him.

Ishizaki and Komiya didn’t need to be said, even Kaneda didn’t

acknowledge Ryuuen’s attitude of using power to control.

Ryuuen, with that kind of attitude, would naturally be alienated and

suppressed by class C.

It even gave people the feeling that abuse would appear inside the class.

However, that guy did a frontal resistance. He didn’t even care about the
existence of the surveillance cameras and school rules and sent Ishizaki
and the others flying --Honestly, I was shocked at that moment.

But Ryuuen had understood from the very beginning. The conflicts within
the class couldn’t be reported to the school. Because that would be the
same to shooting oneself in the foot.

Ryuuen repeated those indiscriminate things multiple times and at the

same time he saw through the closest point to the limits of the rules.

In fact, until yesterday, Ryuuen had used a lot of methods to lead class C.

Those thoughts and plots of his brought him “pride”.

In his own wishful thinking, he believed he would never lose if there were
rule violations.

That incident was bound to happen, that’s why it happened.

That defeat had its origins in Class C not being able to stop the student
Ryuuen Kakeru.
Although all of this happening to the horrid Ryuuen had nothing to do with
me, I didn’t know why I felt anger.

I didn’t know the reason why I felt anger.

Even if I didn’t think about anything, I couldn’t wipe this anger out from me.

What is making me feel irritated?

“Ah, really! Don’t think about it.”

Why do I have to waste the winter holiday’s time to ponder over those
things?

Before I noticed, the boulevard that led to the school building that was
welcoming the winter vacation was overflowing with students wearing
casual clothes.

They were probably preparing to go to the Keyaki mall to enjoy the winter
vacation.

No matter what, that was unrelated to me. There didn’t exist anyone that
could be considered my friend.

“Too slow…”

I had already been waiting for 30 minutes. My patience was already at its
limit, so I took out my phone to try to urge the other person.

“Yo, Ibuki. I’ve kept you waiting.”

Before I called him, the target approached me.

Ishizaki said that and started a conversation with me. Standing beside him
was Albert.

“How long did you want me to wait?”

“I’m sorry. We were also struggling a bit.”

“…is that so?”

“Anyways, it could be considered a success. But Ryuuen-san is very mad.”

“I guess so. Your injuries have also increased.”

Ishizaki must have been hit strongly in the face by him, it looked very
painful and he was caressing his reddened face.

However, his face didn’t show anger or regret, he looked very cheerful.

“You’ve been beaten up and yet you look so pleased, are you a masochist?”

“Don’t joke around. I’m just very happy, that’s all.”

Eh…isn’t that just being a masochist?

Although I thought that, Ishizaki’s eyes were flickering and he looked really
satisfied.

“You’ve been suppressed by Ryuuen until now, shouldn’t you be resentful

towards him?”

I asked him the doubt I felt with another meaning.

Ishizaki had been regularly blamed for his incompetence under Ryuuen’s
dictatorship.

Adding punishment to that, the person who got beaten up the most was
Ishizaki.

“To tell the truth, regarding that, I’m certainly feeling dissatisfied… but.”

“What?”

“Nothing. Now I already acknowledge him, or perhaps I should say I

respect him.”

Was it because this guy got beaten so many times that his brain become
weird? To go as far as to acknowledge that kind to person?

And respect him?

“In my eyes he’s just a loser that got too carried away.”
“Don’t say such things about Ryuuen-san.”

Uwa, so disgusting. He probably got beaten up too many times that his
brain has become weird.

But from Albert, who was standing behind Ishizaki, I could also feel a
similar atmosphere than Ishizaki’s coming through his sunglasses.

“…Don’t tell me, you also think in the same way?”

I faced Albert to ask him and he nodded slightly his head without saying
anything.

“Haa. I can’t understand it. What’s so good in that guy?”

Even if I asked this, Albertdidn’t answer me.

“If you took it seriously, even if the adversary was Ryuuen, you could also
win.”

If it was a normal quarrel, Albert would have an overwhelming advantage.

Actually, Albert obtained victory in three of the three direct confrontations in

the past.

Only that during the time I wasn’t aware, those two were constantly
repeating the fight, and in the end, Albert became one of Ryuuen’s
generals. I understood the situation to some extent, but that still was really
inconceivable.

However, Ishizaki seemed to understand Albert.

“Albert unexpectedly hates fights.”

That must be something that men mutually understand, Ishizaki laughed

while poking Albert’s flank.

“You have that body and yet you hate fights?”

“Apart from the ones Ryuuen-san instructed him to beat, have you ever
seen Albert beating someone?”
“… Probably not. No, but, all the more reason then.”

As long as he didn’t follow Ryuuen, he wouldn’t need to beat anyone.

“Ryuuen-san let him experience what is manliness.”

Not knowing why, Ishizaki said those words I failed to understand and
slapped Albert’s back.

“Aah I see, forget about it. I shouldn’t have hoped for a serious reason.”

In short, I had understood the situation from Ishizaki’s words, so it was time
to go back.

Today I had been standing outside for a lot of hours, I was almost frozen to
death.

“I’m going back.”

I said this, but I didn’t know why, Ishizaki peeped at me with a serious face.

I couldn’t help but want to kick him flying, but I managed to restrain myself.

“Ibuki, if you don’t mind, do you want to come with us for a tea?”

“…What?”

What did this person say just now?

I didn’t manage to understand his words, so I stayed stiffly. Ishizaki asked

again.

“Let’s go drink tea.”

Don’t tell me this guy was inviting me?

The idiot Ishizaki was inviting me?

The moment I was pondering about this, Ishizaki denied that while being
flustered.
“No, I’ll say it in advance, I don’t have any weird thoughts. I’m very normal,
I’m more concerned about Ryuuen-san? Ah, if I say it like that it becomes
weirder. In short, it’s not like that. And Albert is coming with us.”

What kind of explanation was that?

But his words didn’t seem to be lies.

Even though Ishizaki was rude and violent (although I don’t have the right
to say that about others), his personality was very honest.

I understood Albert also wanted to drink tea with me --although I didn’t

know why he wanted to drink tea with me.

Those kind of things had never happened until now, where did this sudden
impulse come from?

Or was it because yesterday’s events left them a deep impression?

“If anything happens, I will also knock you down, there’s no problem in that.”

“I’m telling you I don’t have that kind of intention. I’ll definitely not have
those kinds of thoughts towards you. Definitely not.”

Being directly rejected like this, why did it make me feel a bit in a bad
mood?

“To sum it up, you will accompany us for a bit. After all, you don’t have
anything planned for winter vacation, right?”

“…I understand.”

Although I was not willing, my schedule for winter holidays was completely
in blank.

In addition, since I had been standing outside for so long, my hands were
almost frozen.

“If you want to go, then hurry up.”

“Albert, do you also want to come?”

Facing Ishizaki, who was inquiring him, Albert calmly nodded his head.

During the first day of the winter vacation, there were students everywhere
in Keyaki mall.

To the point that I couldn’t help but regret that I was too hasty to come here.

“Returning to our main topic, I didn’t expect you would stay on our side.”

“What are you saying?”

“I’m talking about Ryuuen-san’s issue. I thought you hated him.”

“Ha? It’s clear that I hate him.”

What kind of misinterpretation led him to that conclusion?

“Then, why did you contact with us today?”

“That’s---“

It was just that it put me in a bad mood that that guy fled without permission.

But Ishizaki and the others would certainly not be able to understand my
feelings.

Since I entered this school until now, I had never liked Ryuuen. It was only
that I acknowledged his abilities in a certain extent.

That was why I was feeling irritated because of the things that happened in
these 2 days.

“Anyways, it has nothing to do with you.”

“Well that’s true.”

It looked like the person who asked didn’t plan to inquire any further.

Ishizaki munched the ice cubes while drinking ice coffee with lots of gomme
syrup in it.

“Why are you drinking ice coffee during this season?”

“There’s nothing bad about that. It’s just because it’s very cold that’s why
drinking cold drinks will be more delicious.”

Of course, Albert and I ordered hot drinks.

“Anyway, what’s going to happen when the third term starts? Iya, really.”

Ishizaki took the initiative, and after finishing the drink his body was
trembling. It looked like the ice cubes were very cold. He’s stupid.

“How I would know those kind of things.”

“But… we need to think about that, don’t we?”

What exactly did Ishizaki want me to say?

Even if we didn’t think about that, it was very clear.

“Even if I think about that, Ryuuen’s decision won’t change. You are free to
fret by your own accord, but you’re probably wasting your time.”

“Uh…”

I used an intense tone to say the strict words.

I knew it. He probably wanted me to assist him, but it was really a waste of
time.

Although I thought they were thinking about indecent things, it was that
after all.

“But.”

“No buts.”

“Ryuuen-san’s thing is like this, Class D’s--“

“Stop.”

I used the most straightforward tone I had used today to stop Ishizaki and
glared at him.
“Listen carefully. I forbid any topic related to “them”. If you can’t respect that,
I will be leaving.”

Since I told him that, Ishizaki had no choice but to admit defeat.

“I understand. I really understand.”

Ishizaki, in a panic, tried to ease my mood.

After all, I didn’t know why I had to discuss those things with these two.

“I’m leaving once I’ve finished this drink.”

There was still half of the drink left. I should drink it a bit faster.

“I’m not going to talk about that, do you really hate that topic?”

“I hate that. And after yesterday, the number of people I hate has increased
to 2”.

That’s all.

“Good morning Ibuki-san.”

When we were having this tea party without chatting too much, Shiina
came to us.

She had her schoolbag and a drink in her hands.

“What?”

When I replied her indistinctly, Shiina smiled and said.

“I started a conversation with you by accident since I was thinking that this
combination is a rare sight. Isn’t it?”

“Is it? We are frequently together.”

“Not true.”

I hated being considered by others that “I was always together with

Ishizaki”, so I replied immediately.”
“May I join you?”

In the exams that needed to use the brain, she could be considered Class
C’s treasure. Together with Kaneda, they had been asked for help by
Ryuuen multiple times. But at the same time, she normally didn’t have any
contact with us.

“There’s no problem with her joining, right?”

Because she was a student Ryuuen acknowledged, Ishizaki and Albert

easily accepted her.

“Then, excuse me for disturbing.”

“Where did you go by wearing the school uniform?”

“I’m from the Tea ceremony club. During winter holidays we also have to
continue with the club activities.”

“Tea ceremony club… what do you do in there?”

“We do a lot of things. Learning etiquette, how to handle the tools or

receiving guidance.

“Ha, so there are still people that want to do those kinds of things.”

Ishizaki interrupted his conversation with Shiina, and said that while feeling
bored.

Although I was completely unaware of it, from Shiina I heard that there
were very few members in the tea ceremony club.

“If you don’t mind, do you want to try joining the club?”

“I’m not joining. I hate club activities.”

Ishizaki started chewing the remaining half of the ice cubes in the cup.

“I’m changing the topic a bit… actually, I saw Ryuuen-kun this morning.”

Shiina also mentioned Ryuuen.

“Since he was wearing the school uniform, I was a bit concerned.”

“Don’t worry, there’s nothing.”

“Is that so. I feel at ease after hearing your words.”

With these members, if that guy wasn’t present, they would naturally
mention him.

I was planning to leave silently, but Albert grabbed my shoulder.

“What are you doing, it doesn’t matter if I go back. There’s also nothing to
say.”

Facing me, who was saying these words, Albert silently pointed at the
drinks.

“…Do you want me to not leave until I’ve finished the drink?”

It seemed that since I had said I would be leaving after I finished drinking, I
had no choice but to do so.

Right now I was a bit in a bad mood, so I planned to just finish it.

“So hot.”

“Ara ara, don’t force yourself. I remember Ibuki-san can’t handle hot food,
right?”

“So noisy. Me being able to handle hot food or not has nothing to do with
you.”

“But we are classmates.”

Even if we were classmates, what about it?

Right now, asking for that kind of stuff in Class C was cruel.

“Starting the third term we will drop to Class D. The battle has already
ended.”

“Not necessarily, we Class C will definitely rise again.”

Shiina said with a serious face the words that made people feel
uncomfortable.

“What’s that? Do you have any basis? Or do you want to lead the class?”

“Of course I will provide assistance to the class. After that, we will gather
everybody’s strength.”

Even though I had thought this child always said things as if she was
missing something, but I never expected it would be to such extent.

What Class C lacked the most was unity -- that is, helping each other.

That was something that didn’t exist in a Class C that Ryuuen led alone
until now.

Even Shiina should have understood those things.

“We may be late by a lot compared to others. But for that reason, from now
on we need to help each other in order to be promoted to higher classes,
don’t you agree?”

“I see. Then do your best. I’m not participating.”

I really wanted to leave earlier, but I still hadn’t finished the drink yet.

If I had known, I wouldn’t have ordered a hot drink and should’ve chosen a
cold drink instead.

“Why are you so irritated? Even if you are usually like this…”

“You too, do you plan to have a fight with me?”

“I don’t plan to do that.”

“By the way Iwasaki-kun, you look like you’ve suffered a lot of injuries.”

“So you’ve only realized now. And I’m not called Iwasaki, but Ishizaki.”

“Haha, I’m just joking. I remember clearly all the classmate’s names.”
It looked like the reason Shiina, who usually didn’t interact with us, didn’t
approach us because of Ryuuen not being here.

It was because she saw Ishizaki and Albert’s injuries and she was
concerned about the specific details.

“How did you get those injuries?”

“Well, some stuff happened.”

“Some stuff?”

“Actually, yesterday-- ”

I believed Ishizaki would say unnecessary things so I unwillingly joined the

conversation.

“Because he had differences with Ryuuen about the policies and had an
argument. After that he got beaten up.”

It’s like that, right? – I glared like this at Ishizaki and he nodded in
agreement.”

“Difference in policies… that’s a rare sight.”

Since Ishizaki usually was stuck together with Ryuuen, it was difficult to
imagine those things happening.

“Don’t tell me you had a fight with Ryuuen-kun?”

That was ridiculing Ryuuen while he was not being here.

Albert realized what I meant, faced Shiina and nodded.

“I think sometimes fighting is good, but please make up as soon as

possible. If you need it, I can also help you.”

“What can you do?”

“I will request Ryuuen-kun and tell him “please stop fighting””

It seemed that she didn’t intend to do anything special and directly convey
that to Ryuuen.

With her like that, it was really fortunate that she didn’t get beaten by
Ryuuen until now.

However, Shiina was not good at sports and disliked violent conducts, so
Ryuuen wouldn’t take it to the heart.

After all, she had never done anything that went against Ryuuen’s policies,
as it should be.

“Fu, I’ve finished my drink. Bye.”

“Are you going back now?”

“I’ve kept company to you to this extent, it should be enough already.”

“Ah, by the way, Ibuki-san. I’ve heard that interesting movies are going to
be released soon. If you don’t mind, do you want to watch them together?”

“I’m not going.”

Even if I wanted to go, I would go alone.

“I see… it’s a pity.”

I picked up the empty cup and left the seat.

If I continued to frolic with these guys, I was afraid I would get hives.

Moreover--

Right now, I had never been so angry to myself.

That’s right.

I had finally realized why I had been so irritated in these past two days.

It wasn’t Ryuuen’s fault, nor Ishizaki nor Albert’s fault. And of course, it
wasn’t related to the Shiina who appeared by chance.

I couldn’t forgive myself.

That was the reason of my irritation.

If I was a bit more reliable, things wouldn’t have developed in a way that
made Class C be in such a dire situation.

Ryuuen Kakeru wouldn’t have made a mistake as the leader.

It was because I arrived at this conclusion.

If I kept staying in that place, I would have continued losing my temper.

That’s why I wanted to hurry up and be alone.

“I say, Ibuki.”

Ishizaki called me, who wanted to escape.

“What else do you want??”

“Don’t you just shoulder everything alone, you should also consult with us.”

“Ha--?”

I inadvertently made a dry laugh sound.

“You’re kidding. Who would look for you to discuss things? And there’s
nothing to talk about.”

A group of people that normally were very stupid, but why were they so
sharp only in times like this?

“Ibuki-san, let’s talk again together next time.”

Shiina also said that, and the silent Albert stared at me.

That really looked as if those 3 people invited me in order to cheer me up.

In retrospect, no matter if it was Ishizaki or Albert who invited me to drink

tea, or Shiina after seeing the group composition, the first member they
talked to was always me.

What is this.
I had never hoped for these kind of things.

Not being able to endure that scene, I started walking.

I didn’t hope for that kind of warm environment.

I thought today was an extremely boring day and at the same time it was a
no way out day.

But, in reality, the “real no way out day” would come just a bit later.
 Volume 7.5
Karuizawa, Ibuki, Ryuuen, Kei
The Heart that Realised
I have made a big decision. Even I think so myself. I can no longer take
back the words I have said.

"I'm going to break up with Yousuke-kun".

That was, for Karuizawa Kei, the greatest extreme, an option that would
never have been chosen normally.

"I'm sure everyone in the class will be surprised when the 3rd semester
starts".

Feeling restless like that, I silently whispered those words.

"I suppose that's true".

It's very likely that almost immediately, a battle between girls over Yousuke-
kun will be expected to begin.

"That guy, do you think he'll go out with someone else?".

"Even if you ask me that, I don't know Yousu.........no, it's not like I know
Hirata-kun that well either. But in some places, like Kiyotaka, he can be
cool. As long as he's pretending to go out with me, he won't be able to date
another girl too, and he might not even be that interested in romance".

Even though it was a lie, we'll still be breaking up. If I mess it up and
remain close to him as usual, I'd feel bad for the other girls too. In order to
get into the habit from now on, I've decided to no longer call him 'Yousuke-
kun' but rather back to 'Hirata-kun'.
"Even though you're going back to calling him Hirata, you're still calling me
like this?".

Before I had realized it, I had unconsciously started calling Kiyotaka by his
first name. By going back to calling Hirata-kun like that, Kiyotaka threw an
obvious question like that at me.

"Ahh........I see. Is it better if I change it back?".

"That's not what I meant. You're free to call me whatever you like".

After saying that, a short pause, then Kiyotaka continued.

"This might be a good opportunity".

Towards being continued to be called by his first name, Kiyotaka did not
show any signs of disapproval. And then, a moment that felt like destiny to
me, suddenly occurred.

"I'll also just be calling you 'Kei' then".

I'll also just be calling you 'Kei' then. I'll also just be calling you 'Kei' then. I'll
also just be calling you 'Kei' then.

Those words reverberated and repeated inside my heart like sacred words.

Hyuruhyuruhyuru~. Just like that, a single arrow fell from the skies. That
was, the arrow that was aimed towards Kiyotaka from Satou-san. That
arrow was supposed to have flown off somewhere after being released.
And that

"Tauwa!".
Of all things, it pierced my heart.

".....tauwa?".

Kiyotaka heard and repeated the mysterious word that flew out of my guts.

"N-n-n-n-nothing! Why is Kiyotaka also calling me by my first name?".

"If one side uses the surname and the other side uses the first name, it
wouldn't feel right".

No, no, no. That might be so but! You didn't give any prior notice or
anything!

My throbbing, no, soaring heartbeat continued to beat on and on. The

sound of that was immense to the point I wondered if Kiyotaka would end
up hearing it. And without even minding the panicking me, Kiyotaka
continued to talk.

"By the way......just to get things straight. The original proposer that set up
the double date was not you, but Satou right?".

As expected, I should say. Kiyotaka was already aware of the double date
trick. Desperately suppressing my feelings, I answered the question.

"W-What's that supposed to mean, set up?".

Just in case, I'll try and deceive him.

"Your acting was pretty much spot on but here and there, Satou's actions
were strange you see".

"Ahh---....as I thought you realized it? I also thought Satou-san was being
suspicious".

My heart had somehow managed to calm down. Fuu, fuu. It should be fine
now.
"That's right. I also have a Christmas present for you".

"Ehh? No kidding?".

As I thought that, my heart once again leaped up and soared.

"I lied".

"Huh? You want to get beaten up?".

After the sudden climb came the nosedive, and I glared at Kiyotaka.

Could it be, am I just being teased?

"More precisely, it's just a normal present. I think it may be an unnecessary

product for you but".

".....wait, what's up with that pharmacy bag? Are you mocking me?".

Even if he gives me such a thing, I'm not one bit happy. As I thought that, I
received it, and checked the contents. The bag is what it is but the truth is
the contents were---I was expecting something like that. What came out
from inside it was.

"Cold medicine and a receipt........?".

Such fleeting expectations were betrayed simply to the point it was almost
disappointing. But, I realized something strange. Why give me this?

"Don't mind the receipt, please throw it away".

But by hearing that, it only made me more unnecessarily curious. I pored

over the details on the receipt. And then realized my question.

"Hey, this receipt has 10:55 am on the 23rd written on it though.....".

It's not something that was bought today. Normally cold medicine is
something you buy only when you need it right away.

"On my way back after buying it, I saw you and Satou together at Keyaki
Mall. That's how I realized that the double date was a set up from a
relatively early stage. I had thought your health would have deteriorated,
but it seems that prediction was spectacularly off the mark".

"So.....that means the reason you didn't call me out of worry was.....".

Does it mean he wasn't being cold towards me, or had forgotten about me?

"You weren't wearing a mask either, even from a distance I could see that
you were healthy".

W-what's that mean? I didn't hear anything about that!

"I-If you're this worried about me.....instead of doing things in a roundabout

way like this, do things like visiting me earlier or at least giving me a call.
You could have confirmed it that way".

"In such a conspicuous dorm, I can't afford to directly visit your room.
Contacting you via phone would be an effective means of doing so, but I
also took into account that you'd act tough in that case. Because you hate
showing your weakness after all".

What, what, what, what, what is that supposed to mean! I felt the sudden
urge to hide my face which was rapidly becoming red.

That day, ever since that incident on the rooftop, that means Kiyotaka's
always been worried about me!
Aaaaaaaaaaaaa, mou, aaaaaaaaaa! Inside my heart there was another me
who was squealing while running around. There's no more mistaking it. I
just have to admit it now. Seriously, seriously, seriously, my heart's
seriously been stolen away. The arrow which had pierced my heart. The
arrow of love which I could no longer take out. Is this even possible? Is it
even fine for me to fall in love with someone who's been partly bullying me?
But it's already too late. The power of this arrow is tremendous.

I have, I have towards Kiyotaka-----really, seriously, I've fallen in love with

him.
 The Cupid Karuizawa
At last it's the 25th, and the double date started. I, in order to faithfully carry
out Satou-san's request, in order for a one hit kill, took into my hands the
arrow of love. This arrow is a magical arrow which causes anyone it hits to
fall in love. Satou-san beside me, in an attempt to get along with Kiyotaka,
is coming into contact with him with a sense of distance similar to that of
lovers. Looking at those two, I decided to call out to them like a
meddlesome lady from the neighborhood.

"Heh....you two are looking pretty good aren't you?".

"R-Really?".

"No matter how you look at it, you guys look like a couple affectionately
spending Christmas together, that sort of feeling?".

Firstly I need to tell Kiyotaka that they make a natural matchup. Kiyotaka,
who usually thinks of things I wouldn't even be able to comprehend, in
regards to romance alone, he doesn't seem like a professional.

He should have no idea how his surroundings view him.

"Hehehe. Isn't it embarrassing, Ayanokouji-kun? They're saying we look

like a couple".

".....I suppose so".

Towards those words from Satou-san, Kiyotaka disinterestedly answers.

What's 'I suppose so' supposed to mean. Aren't you supposed to be happy
deep down inside? Zuzuzu, like that inside me, something dark whispers.

Ahh, no good, no good. The cupid of love does not think such dark
thoughts.
"But still, the two of you seriously aren't going out with each other? Could it
be the truth is you're already going out~".

Killing my own feelings, I pressed them for an answer vigorously to stir

them up.

"N-N-No. Not at all. We still aren't in that kind of relationship!".

Even though she was desperately denying it, Satou-san also checked
Kiyotaka's state with a side glance. If he seems happy, it meant it would be
material for her to decide that they have chemistry together.

However on the contrary, this blockhead, no matter what's said, never once
changed the serious look on his face. He doesn't laugh and neither does he
get angry, that makes judgment difficult.

"Really? If you're hiding something you'd better tell me right now, ok?".

Even when I attack repeatedly like that, in response, Kiyotaka gave a reply
that was close to outright ignoring us.

I wonder if it was a bad idea to say it in a roundabout manner.

"Speaking of which, Satou-san, you don't have a boyfriend yet right?".

"Y-Yeah".

Since it's come to this, I tried expressing it fairly straightforwardly and yet
Kiyotaka still didn't have a good reaction to it. More like, he doesn't even
seem to be paying attention to my words. It's almost like he has no
awareness that he's on a date. The double date has just begun, maybe we
came on too strong with the opening.....

"We'll be enjoying this on our own so the two of you, don't mind us ok?".
For now I decided to leave Satou-san and Kiyotaka to act independently.
As I talked with Yousuke-kun, I eavesdropped on the conversation of those
two from beside them. By the way, I waited for a fairly long time but the
conversation between those two did not start up at all. It may be that Satou-
san is also getting nervous, but she did not seem to be able to carve out a
topic to discuss. Or it could be that she's expecting the conversation to
come from Kiyotaka and is waiting for it. If that's the case it's probably
hopeless.

Kiyotaka doesn't seem to have any intention of changing from his usual,
sparse self. Ahh mou! That means there's nothing left but for me to do
something about it.

I directed a hopeless gaze towards Kiyotaka. And when I did, it seems my

feelings were delivered to him as my gaze immediately met Kiyotaka's.

"You're being rather quiet. So does this mean you're going to keep acting
quiet?".

"It's not like I'm acting or anything. I'm not used to dates, I just don't
understand the lifestyle of those with topics to discuss".

It's probably that sort of thing.

I felt like from our gaze, I was able to read such feelings from Kiyotaka.

"Satou-san, isn't it just that Ayanokouji-kun doesn't know what to talk

about?".

The arrow of love I had let loose. If it hits, it's a magical arrow that will
cause one to fall in love. This one arrow, one way or another I'll make sure
to hit Kiyotaka with it.
 Conflict of the Mind
The 23rd which welcomed the first day of the winter vacation. I came to the
movie theater, ignoring the couples who were being festive due to
Christmas being at hand. Early in the morning, when I saw off Ryuuen who
was intending on quitting school, I was planning on staying in my room for
the whole day. But just a while ago, after receiving mail from that idiot
Ishizaki, I changed my mind.

"Ryuuen-san changed his mind!".

Along with such a mail, them bragging about how their persuasion had
worked was also written. But that's not the case. That guy, Ryuuen had
hardened his resolve to quit school. It wasn't a situation where mere
persuasion from Ishizaki and the others was going to make him change his
mind. In other words........there were other factors besides that.

Something that would make him change his mind. That is probably,
something related to Class D's Ayanokouji Kiyotaka. My intuition is telling
me that. If I'm in my room, it becomes obvious that I end up anxiously
thinking about that, so I desired a time where I could focus on something
else entirely.

Remembering that there was a movie I had not seen yet which was almost
nearing the end of its screening period, I made reservations for a seat and
headed for Keyaki Mall. Just before the screening began, inside the
building that was engulfed in darkness, the me who had arrived with that
timing, upon reaching my seat, casually rested my arm on the empty
armrest. Feeling a sensation of rubbing against cloth, I turned to glance at it.

That was a mistake.

"Geh".
I ended up meeting with the number 1 person I did not want to meet right
now in this unexpected place. It was the Ayanokouji who had been
occupying my thoughts. He's the man who puts on a dumb face yet is the
one manipulating the class from behind the scenes. He's not just smart,
he's a surreal existence whose fighting skills are far beyond that of Ryuuen
and Albert.

"It's a coincidence, huh".

He calls out to me like that.

I really don't want such a coincidental meeting. I felt nauseous and turned
my gaze away. Ahh mou, why do I have to come across Ayanokouji? On
top of that, he's also alone.

Back during the summer vacation, I remembered the time when I was
trapped with Ayanokouji inside an elevator. Ever since then, I had been
dancing in the palm of his head, and remembering that, frustration oozes
out of me. Not knowing a thing, writing him off as an idiotic student of Class
D. In a sense, this situation is similar to that situation back then.

It feels like the two of us are trapped inside a sealed box. Desperately
trying to clear up the darkness, I turned my gaze towards the movie that
was being screened. But the contents of it barely came into my mind. I did
think about just standing up from my seat and leaving, but that would just
make it look like I'm running away from him. That alone, I cannot stand. As
soon as the movie ends, I'll leave. I made that resolve. As it stands, without
anything happening, such a wish of mine, right after this, would collapse at
once.
 A Sign of Battle

At night, the New Year's Eve bell declaring the coming of the New Year
rang for the 108th time on the television. Apparently it's to cleanse all
worldly desires away and to welcome the new year with a purified body. It's
a silly story. People won't lose their worldly desires from a farce like this.
The more you suppress it, avarice from the core is something that only
swells up. There was an incoming call to me from an unregistered,
unfamiliar number. Feeling like killing boredom, without thinking anything, I
silently pressed the phone's call button.

"Happy New Year. Were you awake?".

A woman's voice. Naturally, a voice I'm familiar with.
"To think you'd call me this early into the new year, Sakayanagi".
"If you wouldn't mind, may I have a bit of your time from now? I'd like to
meet you in person".
"Are you asking me out on a date at a time like this? Kuku, it's not like I
won't answer you though. Come directly to my room then".

"Then, in 30 minutes, I shall be waiting by the vending machine outside the

dorm".
After ignoring my invitation, she sure is continuing to onesidedly talk.
"Fine, I was free either way".
Having finished our brief conversation, I threw my phone onto my bed.
There's no need to honestly respond to her but this time, there are some
circumstances. Either way, I already understand the contents of what she
wants to say, so after confirming that the promised time has passed, I left
my room.

Then, slowly, I left the lobby of the dormitory and immediately headed for
the vending machine. As I carefreely arrived at the promised location, that
woman immediately called out to me. As always, she was carrying her
cane around as she welcomed me.
"You're 10 minutes late. I believe I've given you 30 minutes to prepare
though".
She spoke that fact calmly without any happiness or anger.
"Kuku. I could have just ignored you though".
"Well, this is fine".
10 minutes was being too lenient. I should have kept her waiting longer in
this cold weather.
"But for a late night date, there are quite a bit of onlookers".
Beside Sakayanagi, the figures of Kitou, Hashimoto and a sleepy-looking
Kamuro were there.
"Usually this is something that's done as a pair".
"Fufu. I don't have the courage to meet you so late at night when it's just
the two of us".
Having received such words of praise I'm thankful for, I drew closer to
Sakayanagi.

However, just by drawing closer to a certain extent, Kitou takes a step

forward. It was a silent pressure that was telling me not to come any closer.
Is he playing at a knight protecting the princess? Kitou's face doesn't befit
that of a knight's.
"It appears you've suffered quite the terrible injury. Even now, it seems
there are some scars left behind".
"Are you worried about me?".
"So you're not going to deny your injuries then?".

"Deny? It'll just be strange even if I deny them with this face".
It's been a week since I fought Ayanokouji on that rooftop. The swelling and
the bruises have gone down quite a bit, but even so, I haven't made a
complete recovery yet. It's obvious these injuries aren't something I'd
sustain from falling down a flight of stairs. And I don't know where she got
wind of this, but it's nothing particularly surprising.
Looking at either me or Ishizaki who both went out with our faces swollen,
anyone would be able to immediately tell.

"For someone who holds pride in fighting, you've lost face, Ryuuen".
Hashimoto says that while laughing. While courteously pointing out where
my drive lies.
"Was it alright for you to go about in such a state?".
"I'm grateful for your concern, but I don't want to be told that by someone
whose legs are crippled like you".
"Fufu. That may be the case".
Maybe my provocations were fruitless.

As for Sakayanagi, she probably has something else she wants to hear.
"If you wish, I can tell you all about the extent of the condition of my injuries
right here and now".
Sakayanagi's two prized bodyguards, Kitou and Hashimoto, each turn their
eyes towards me.
"Even though your subordinates are not present, you're rather bullish".
By subordinate, she probably means Ishizaki or Albert and the others.
"Whether they're here or not doesn't matter. If you look at them as part of
my forces, they're not here after all".

I took a step forward. Kitou also takes a step forward. Leaving aside
Hashimoto, it seems Kitou has taken a fighting stance. Whatever happens,
to be able to move immediately, he's warming up for it.
"Let's stop with the dangerous stuff. No one stands to gain anything from
fighting in a place like this".
Hashimoto, as though joining in, said that.
"Shall we get down to business then? The reason I called you out at a time
like this is because there is something I would like to ask you directly. It's
something that's difficult to ask when there are people around".

Late at night between the end of one year and the start of the next, the
rules on the school campus are somewhat different from the rules of the
outside world. The convenience store that's normally open for 24 hours is
also closed, and there are no stores currently open. There's no one that
would go outside at a time like this. Either they've gone to bed already or
are watching the welcoming of the new year on the television. This is a
situation where we can talk about anything we like, in other words.
"You've fallen from your seat as leader of Class C. I've heard word of that".
"I knew you'd try to confirm that".

"Is that true?".

"If it is, what'll you do?".
"That was a rather quick admission. Unlike your injuries, it's not like we
were there at the scene watching".

Sakayanagi stares at me with eyes that were searching for the truth. Until I
met Sakayanagi, I had onesidedly reached a single conclusion. There's no
way she could possibly know about Ayanokouji.
Who I quarreled with, who I was defeated by. I had thought she wouldn't
show much interest towards that.
"Did you think I would have put on airs?".
"I wonder. That may be the case indeed".
However, it's still fishy. Sakayanagi's eyes are that of someone who knows
something. She had such a look in her eyes. Ayanokouji did not talk in
depth about it but did he already attract Sakayanagi's attention?
If so, then when? There's almost no doubt it was before the incident on the
rooftop with me. No, if that's the case, then Sakayanagi should have had a
strong interest in Ayanokouji since way back.

But up until now, Sakayanagi showed no signs of it and as a matter of fact,

she's trying to investigate it like this. From that bizarre contradiction, I
arrived at a single answer.
It means there is a possibility that Ayanokouji and her were acquaintances
from way back. If that is indeed the case then what Sakayanagi wants to
know right now isn't whether or not I lost.

'It's whether or not I lost to Ayanokouji'

It would be that she wants to know the truth regarding that. It's quite an
interesting line of reasoning if I do say so myself, or so I thought, but I'll let
that problem be for now.
If such an interesting topic were to be dangled in front of me, it'll cause my
instincts to throb.
"Even if you lose to someone, will you conceal that fact, Sakayanagi?".
"I don't know, because for me to lose to someone, cannot possibly happen
after all".

That's a Sakayanagi-like screwed up response.

"However, if I happened to lose, at such a time, will I honestly acknowledge

it or not, you ask?".
"Kukuku. Because you're prideful if nothing else, after all".
"Pride is important, you know. A life without pride would be boring, wouldn't
it?".
"A life of showing off your pride, on the contrary, is the pointless one".
"Hey, couldn't you have confirmed something like this over the phone?".

Kamuro, who had been silent up until now and listening to the conversation,
joined in.
"The thing about truth is, you won't know until you meet face-to-face.
Especially since he's proficient at telling lies. Over the phone, it would have
been difficult to ascertain it".
"Ahh, I see. Then at least get it over with quickly".
The small fries Sakayanagi uses also have it tough. Underneath the
freezing sky, Kamuro's body slightly trembled.
"After playing the tyrant, in the end you ended up losing to your subordinate
and fell from your seat as leader".
Sakayanagi pretends to ponder over it.

"It's a story that's hard to believe, isn't it?".

"If so then what else could it be?".
"That is something I do not know. That is why I have called you out like
this".
"If you meet face-to-face with me, you'll begin to see the truth, huh?".
"I wonder".
She's always trying to sound me out. Well, if you ask me, I have no
intention of maneuvering around her every single time over Ayanokouji.

"I have no further intention of doing anything else in this school".

"Oi, oi. That's a joke, right? Are you seriously saying that?".
The one who reacted before Sakayanagi, was Hashimoto.
"There is no need to doubt like that. Due to his contract with Katsuragi-kun,
every month, he is guaranteed private points. Ultimately, linking up with
Class A is an assured pathway for him so even if he drops out now, it won't
be an inconvenience".
"Precisely. I'll be observing your petty fights from above".

"However, there's no guarantee it'll continue to go well though. If an event

where you lose a large amount of private points were to occur, your rise to
Class A will become doubtful".
She gives a courteous preface, no, explanation. The point is, it's a
provocation from Sakayanagi saying she can crush me at any time.
"But please be at ease. First of all, I've decided that I will be thoroughly
tormenting Class B. Having you and Class C as my playtime opponents will
have to be on a different occasion".
"Do as you please".

Just as Ayanokouji's information said, it appears the brunt of Sakayanagi's

attack from now will be focused towards Class B. I have no interest in
what'll become of Class A or Class B but as a spectator, I'll have them
entertain me.
"If you have no intention of starting a fight here, then I'll be taking my leave".
"It was only for a brief while but I had quite a bit of fun. I thank you for your
loser's speech".
I turn my back. However, feeling like I'd tell her something, I stopped
walking.

"Sakayanagi, you should also remember that you're not a winner who's
guaranteed victory".
"If you're going to teach me defeat then I'll welcome it anytime".
I have no further intention of getting involved in the dispute between
classes. However, if she were to challenge me as an individual, then I will
crush her. If I didn't need to protect my colleagues in Class C, I wouldn't
have to rack my brains over Sakayanagi's strategies every single time.
A large and expansive sea. The place I've been left behind on is this
uninhabited island.

"Aaah......they're gone.......".

I stared at the passenger ship that's slowly becoming smaller and smaller
like it's somebody else's problem. It appears the summer vacation has
turned into something unbelievable.

To be honest, I don't know what I should do now. Because I have no idea

how I'm going to escape from this uninhabited island, surrounded by 360
degrees of sea. Ships, planes and phones. I don't have anything
convenient like that with me. On top of that, because of my swimsuit, it's
likely that my body will be chilled once night falls.

But I was neither anxious nor panicking. On the contrary, I thought about
how great it would be if this moment would last forever.

Why is that, you ask? That is because of the significance of the presence of
the boy sitting next to me. If he's with me, he'll save me no matter what
predicament I'm stuck in.

A new experience.

It's because I'm confident of this that I feel no anxiety.

"Hey, Kiyotaka. Where are we? As far as the eye can see, there are only
mountains and the sea.......Could it be that we're stranded somewhere
absurd? Like Tasmania?".

"Tasmania isn't an uninhabited island, you know? Besides, there's no way

it'd be this small".

"I-I see".
"In the first place, we're in Japan. There's that mountain you see in the
distance, right? That's Mount Fuji".

"Mount Fuji, you mean THAT Mount Fuji?".

"Then that means we might surprisingly be able to escape this island

easily".

"That won't be the case. Because to escape on our own, there's only one
way and that's to swim".

It's not an exaggeration, but I don't quite have the strength to swim away.
At that moment, a hawk took flight from the island and swiftly flew in the
direction of Mount Fuji.

In all likelihood, it'll reach land in no time.

"It must be great having wings, isn't it? Because you could simply fly away
like that".

Saying that, I gazed at Kiyotaka.

Eyes looking straightforwardly in the direction of Mount Fuji. And so I

decided to ask him a frank question.

"Could it be that.....you're capable of swimming all the way there,

Kiyotaka?".

"To be honest with you, there's a high possibility that if I'm on my own, I'd
be able to swim all the way to land. Taking into account the probability of
survival, it would be a good idea if I were to start swimming now while the
sun is still out".

"A-As I thought......you're amazing".

But, Kiyotaka is here right now and he's showing no sign of swimming
away.

"Could it be that it's because I'm here?".

"When I think about leaving Kei alone here, it's no longer a viable plan.
There may be wild animals in the forest and once night falls, you'd have no
way of protecting yourself".

"Sorry, Kiyotaka. I'm always getting in your way".

"That's not true".

"I'm happy you'd say that. But......I want Kiyotaka to survive".

"A plan where I'd be the only survivor can't even be considered a plan. It'll
only be worthy of being considered a survival plan if it means both Kei and I
can survive".

The inside of my body started getting hotter and hotter.

"Why do you care about me that much?".

I was slightly afraid of hearing the answer, but I boldly tried asking him that.

And when I did, Kiyotaka looked me straight in the eye and answered
without any hesitation at all.

"It's because to me, you're a precious partner. This is normal".

As my body grew colder, Kiyotaka hugged me.

A new experience.

Because we were both wearing our swimsuits, our bodies were in close
contact with one another.

"N-No. We're not THAT kind of partners.......!".

I tried to get away from him but Kiyotaka wouldn't let me go.

"Then you and I just have to become that kind of partners. Am I wrong?".

".......b-but..........".

Gradually, my resistance weakens. If I could be swept away, then I'd like to

be.

"Kei.........".

And when I realized it, Kiyotaka's face is already right there in front of my
eyes.

"Kiyotaka.........".

The two of us gaze at one another. The distance between our bodies and
our hearts began to shrink.

And then---guu~. Cruelly enough, in my state of starvation, my stomach

growled.

"!".

A sound of ruin that seemed as though it could erase the romantic

atmosphere in an instant.

But Kiyotaka calmly took in this absurd situation where it wouldn't be

strange even if he were to show disgust.

"Eat this, Kei".

The thing he handed to me, I wonder where he procured it from.

"Is this.....an eggplant?".

"It's native to this uninhabited island. It'll help you recover from your hunger
if you eat this".

"T-thank you. But why an eggplant......eggplant?".

Fuu~ I began to realize something.

The Mount Fuji I could see in the distance. The hawk that flew away earlier.

And the eggplant.

This is something you'd look forward to on New Year's Day, is what I've
heard.

Furthermore, when I thought about the eggplant, the world underwent a

massive change. Kiyotaka, who was sitting next to me, was also affected
by that change and I could see him fading away.

"Have you noticed? This is your Hatsuyume. What an ideal Hatsuyume,

congratulations Kei".

"Hatsuyume.........so, it was a dream after all?".

Kiyotaka beside me faded away even more. What a relief, being stranded
on an uninhabited island was just my dream. But that means, that moment
was also a dream.

In other words, this romantic atmosphere will also be gone in a while.

That kiss I almost had, all of it will disappear soon.

I reached out to grab Kiyotaka. But Kiyotaka was no longer there beside
me.

I could see Kiyotaka swimming ferociously against the tide. I leaped up into
the sky and in an instant, the uninhabited island disappeared.
"Aaaaah wait. Wait, my Hatsuyume! My first kiss!".

Even as I screamed out, it was already too late. My consciousness was

swiftly pulled back into the real world.

The very next moment, a familiar ceiling appeared before my eyes. A

morning no different than the usual, so peaceful that it's almost
unbelievable I had been panicking in my dreams.

But, my heart was beating fast.

"No, no......hey dream me, why are you so desperate for a kiss..........!?".

In reality, I always make an effort to stay calm and I won't simply ask for a
kiss that easily.

E-Even if it happens to be the boy I love, that's why, umm, I won't be clingy.

But even so, even if it's just in a dream, there are still things that are ok for
me to fantasize about and things that aren't. I think this is the craziest
dream I've ever had in my life.

How could I have ever imagined this would be what I'd see in my
Hatsuyume.

"Hatsuyume, huh.......".

Could my Hatsuyume turn into a Masayume.........no way, right?

Either way, let's keep this super embarrassing dream to myself only.

(N/T: Masayume is a 'dream that comes true' compared to Hatsuyume

which is the first dream of the new year.)
 Volume 8
Kei, Nazuna,Ichinose, Sakayanagi
A Teasing Partner
Soon after the outdoors school began, I received a request from Kiyotaka
and committed myself to understanding the girls' group.

And now today, I could see Kiyotaka at last.

Kiyotaka looked at me once.

I immediately understood.

The fact that he's going to be making contact with me now.

And I could feel him sitting behind me.

"hnn---".

I sent him a signal by purring so I could let Kiyotaka know I noticed him
without being noticed by my friends and my surroundings to my left and
right.

And then I proceeded to unreservedly chat with my friends to my heart's

content.

If I do something disruptive, it would cast suspicion on me. Then about

three minutes later, I succeeded in going back ahead by saying I had an
appointment with another girl.

"So? Finally feel like relying on me on the third day?".

I called out to Kiyotaka, who sat behind me. However, I didn't turn around
to look that easily.

At times like this, female spies don't act foolishly.

"That's about right. There's far too little information on the girls".

These days, Horikita-san seems a bit distant too. I'm the only person in the
class he can depend on.

I was extremely happy that deep down inside, Kiyotaka relied on me as

though clinging to me.......no, no. What's the matter with me? Being
delighted that I'm being worked to the bone.

"Well, it can't be helped right? For someone with a communication disorder

like you, there are only a few girls you could possibly make contact with".

But I acted bullishly, just a bit, to tease him.

"Then even without my advice, you can overcome this special exam?".

I received that counter punch from him.

I should have taken the advantage but with that one blow, I was left reeling.

"O-Of course. Who do you think I am?".

I made a bluff, but without a doubt, the fact that I was shaken by it must
have been conveyed to Kiyotaka.

"I see. Then there's nothing to fear".

I can handle the rest myself? I received that sort of pressure and so I gave
in.
If I ever got into a pinch, it's not like I can do anything about it on my own.

"......later, at least analyze my situation to see if there's any danger or not,

ok?".

I meekly(?) asked that of him.

"For now, let's hear it starting from the partitioning of the girls' groups".

"Ahh, before we talk about that there's something that's been bugging me".

"Let's keep it brief".

Of course I understand. I don't want anyone to start paying attention to

Kiyotaka by messing up.

"It's something pretty important.....or more like, what's going on with that
Ryuuen guy?".

"Are you concerned?".

"I mean, yeah. It's become a topic even among the girls. Why that guy
stopped being the leader but it doesn't look like anybody knows the truth
though".

There's no way I wouldn't be curious about what's going on with the man
who did all those horrible things to me.

"Being as meek as a lamb, that expression doesn't quite fit Ryuuen but
right now it looks like he's acting quite mature".

"Does that mean your chastisement worked?".

"Chastisement, eh?".
For the foreseeable future, I won't be targeted by that man.

I was truly happy about that.

"Don't worry about Ryuuen. He won't act carelessly. At the very least, I can
say that he won't do anything to Kei from now on".

Buu!

A surprise attack. He called me 'Kei'.

Since I'm still not used to him calling me by my first name, I unexpectedly
panicked.

But, it's lame panicking over something like being called by your first name.

I stabilized my breathing.

".....sorry, that was nothing".

I gave that excuse and returned to our conversation.

"That didn't seem like nothing, Kei".

He called me by my first name again. Every time, my poor heart takes a

giant leap. Then, after a few seconds, it begins beating rapidly.

"I-I'm telling it's nothing".

Calm down, calm down Kei. I'm not a woman who's moved just because
she got called by her first name.

I'm a popular gyaru who can easily overcome trivial things like that.

Still, even though he didn't refer to me that way that much up until now,
why's he calling me that consecutively?

"Is that true, Kei?".

The 3rd time honestly confirmed to me that I am being teased.

".....hold it right there. You're doing it on purpose!".

I wanted to turn around, but I can't.

Because more important than the fact that our surroundings would notice
us is the fact that I'm aware my face is beet red.

"Ahh, mou. Really, I shouldn't have given you permission to call me by my

first name..........".

Even though I wanted to see him off while hiding my face, I can't quite do
that at the cafeteria.

The pain of having to play the part of the girl slowly eating her meal.

"You're the one who called me out here in the first place though".
"Yeah. That can't be helped".

Can't be helped......is a lie though.

The one who falls in love loses.

I don't know who said it, but I think it's a clever saying.
 That 1st Year Boy
That meeting took place while I was on my way back to the cafeteria from
the toilet.

"Hmm?".

When I passed by that boy, I heard that voice. Could it be that he's talking
to me?

As I pondered over whether or not to stop walking, that boy called out to
me.

"Ahh, I'm sorry. I just thought I've seen that amulet before a while back.
Please don't mind me".

That boy said such a thing. Just as I thought I'd seen him before
somewhere, he turned out to be the 1st year that Miyabi talked to a while
back.

If I recall, he fought well against Horikita-senpai during the relay.

A pitiful boy who attracted attention because of that, was the impression I
somehow had of him.

"This amulet isn't in stock at the school anymore though".

I doubt this is the case but could he be hitting on me while putting on that
naive face of his?

"Is that so? By any chance, did you happen to drop this amulet somewhere
a while back?".

"Could it be.......you're the one who picked up my amulet?".

"I wonder. I picked it up on my way back during the winter vacation
though.....".

I had dropped my amulet somewhere and had given up on it. I felt grateful
towards the person who picked it up and so I felt ashamed of having
imagined something rude.

"I don't believe I'm mistaken. I see, so it was you".

I went up to the boy and showed him my amulet.

Perhaps it's because he immediately handed it over, since he hadn't

realized it.

"This amulet is something I bought in this school. So it's not like I have any
strong attachment in particular to it. It's just, how should I put it, it's like my
mental support? When I have this in hand I feel really at peace. That's why
when I lose it, it feels like an omen that bad things are going to happen and
that makes me anxious. That's why I was really happy knowing someone
picked it up and handed it over".

Unconsciously, I ended up talking about unrelated things but this should be

enough.

"To think the person who picked it up would be you".

This too, might be called a strange, chance meeting. Or more like, it may
be something along the lines of destiny.

This amulet protects its owner and at the same time, is the harbinger of
destiny.

It's not just about romance but also brings people together.
Perhaps there might just be a meaningful destiny both he and I share.

Maybe that's why I happened to drop the amulet.

Thinking that, I began to feel like cherishing this bizarre and precious
destiny.

That's right.

For me, this was how I met Ayanokouji Kiyotaka-kun. The day destiny
reared its head.
 Weariness of the Heart
"I'm exhausted".

After splitting up with Asako-chan and the others, I leaned on the wide table
in the cafeteria with my upper body.

It felt like all the fatigue I had accumulated during the day just faded away.

It'd be great if I fell asleep just like this.

I closed my eyes and thought so.

No, no. If I fall asleep in a place like this, I'd be inconveniencing the others.
But my eyelids are already so heavy.

When I tried my best to open them again, Ayanokouji-kun was reflected in

my eyes.

At a surprisingly close distance.

I abruptly raised my upper body and called out to him.

"Ayanokouji-kuuuun yaho~".

"You were having a good time".

Apparently he's overheard my conversation with Asako-chan and the

others.

"Girls' chats may or may not be their source of power".

Perhaps I have't been sufficiently charged yet, but I just didn't have the
strength and had to use the table as a replacement pillow.
Since Ayanokouji-kun had a flabbergasted look on his face, I added.

"Ahh, can't I do this?".

It may have been too rude an attitude to take when speaking to another
person...

"It's normal to do something like that when you're tired".

He did seem surprised but he gave his consent.

"Sorry---. For making it slightly uncomfortable".

"It's become quite the difficult group, hasn't it?".

"It was difficult until we formed this current group, is perhaps how I should
put it. Girls know very well what they like and dislike, or more like, there are
more than a few girls who are willing to say they don't like another girl
straight to their face. In that regard, when it comes to personal feelings,
aren't they a lot of boys who like to muddy the waters?".

Well, I've heard my fair share of quarrels breaking out over the small details
though. If I can hear a variety of things from Ayanokouji-kun, then I'd like to
collect information.

"Ryuuen's openly disliked though".

"It's bad to laugh at that but that really couldn't be helped, could it? But isn't
Ryuuen-kun tired too? To be disliked by everyone must be tiring".

It would've been just fine if he had connected with others more in order to
get along with them.
Even if he turns over a new leaf now, wouldn't it be difficult to make things
go well?

"Don't get too fired up".

Perhaps he was being considerate of me, as Ayanokouji-kun quickly got up

from his seat.

Doesn't seem like I'll be able to draw information out of him but that can't be
helped.

I too, felt like relaxing on my own anyways.

"It's fine, it's fine. Being energetic is about the only thing I have going for
me. See you later, Ayanokouji-kun".

Besides, either way all I can do when it comes to an exam like this is to
tackle it seriously.

A special exam where I'll have to join hands with people other than my
classmates isn't really one I can do anything about.......

How should I put it, if I increase the number of things I have to protect I'll
end up being unable to keep up with it all.

Someone who'd normally be my enemy becomes my ally. Something like

that means that someday, my enemy now may end up as my ally.

If something like that were to happen, then sooner or later I might just burst.

I thought that while looking at Ayanokouji-kun's back as he went away.

".....so they've climbed up to Class C. Even though all I've heard of are
Horikita-san's accomplishments......".

Ayanokouji-kun, who's always positioned perfectly.

Exactly how much influence he exerts is still a complete unknown.

But---there are only a few people who know the fact that I possess a
massive sum of points.

Did a student from Class B leak it, or could it be.....Ayanokouji-kun?

I'll have to ascertain that soon enough.

If he happened to be someone superior to Horikita-san then it means that

he may be a threat to Class B, which I must protect.
 The true meaning is

That boy walking towards me did so while looking away.

I could easily see that he was engaged in a pleasant chat with his friends
and thus was neglecting what is in front of him.

At this rate, we will collide.

However, even someone with handicapped legs like me can still adjust my
course sufficiently enough considering my positioning.

But there are times when my legs would hurt and it's harder than usual to
get them to move.

And that happened to be now.

That is why I had no choice but to choose the option of calling out to him.

"Umm---please look out?".

However my voice was drowned out by the boys' laughter.

Disregarding the fact that I had worked out a measure to avoid them a
second time, it was rendered ineffective.

Since it's come to that, I don't feel like coming up with a third proposal.

I made up my mind and braced for the conclusion that would follow shortly
after.
Sure enough, the boy did not notice me and his shoulder, with some force,
hit me.

I tried to endure it but there was no way it would go swimmingly and all I
could manage was to sit down right there as though collapsing.

"Sorry, sorry. Are you ok?".

The name of the boy who noticed me for the first time after running into me
was Yamauchi Haruki. A student of Class C.

For the record, I do keep that information in mind but as far as I'm
concerned, he's an insignificant existence.

"Yes...no need for concern".

I did not take the hand that was extended to me, rather, I used the wall to
slowly get back up.

"Then, umm, I'll be off?".

Yamauchi-kun ended it with a single, non-serious apology.

In a sense, you could say he's a pleasant boy.

"Yes. Please don't concern yourself with me".

As I replied politely like that, Yamauchi-kun immediately returned to

chatting with his friends and walked off.

"Really though, Sakayanagi-chan is cute but isn't she clumsy?".

Despite not having taken much distance from me yet, without even knowing
that he's being overheard, Yamauchi-kun left behind such words and
disappeared.
He probably didn't see all of it, but it appears Ayanokouji-kun too, has been
observing my interaction with him.

I ended up letting him see something unsightly.

"Are you alright?".

"Thank you for your concern but it's not a big deal".

"I'll give Yamauchi an earful later".

"It's not like he deliberately did it, I only fell once at most".

However, now that I have fallen once, it also means I have gained the right
to make him fall too.

"Well then, please excuse me".

Sooner or later, I'll have to deliver a special gift to him.