The morning is always bustling with noisy people at the station. That's because the majority of them are students.
And i, am one of them, except im not noisy.
Just minding my own business and i can't wait to get out of this environment.
My earphones help me to get through the boisterous atmosphere almost every morning with some slow but powerful rythmic songs.
Listening to them always puts a weak smile on my average looking face, fading me into the midst of the crowd. And i also have to not worry about not hearing which train is coming.
As much as i hate it, there are some students from the high school i go to, so i just follow them in the same train they enter. Although not that many, i can notice them with their dark navy blazer, red tie and white shirt.
However, the same cannot be said when the designated train arrives. When i walked in, conspicuosly enough, there were more dark navy blazers covering the entirety of one full car.
I scurry into a safe place where i can just lean comfortably to the side and listen all the way to my destination.
'Too uncomfortable..'
The amount of people here is still suffocating for me to see.
There's not even much room where i can move without worrying about bumping into someone.
So i steeled myself and indulged myself in the music i was listening to. There was still some time before i arrive at the next station. Remembering that i have to stay in the same position for some time, i tried to distract my thoughts to the lively city through the window.
*Poke*
At first, i thought someone bumped into me so i ignored it out of courtesy.
*Poke* *Poke* *Poke*
Something or someone keeps touching my back.
'Was the train always this unstable?' I blamed the tracks without investigating properly.
Then the final nail came.
A pinch to the back of my hand
'Ouch!! The he-?' I turned around annoyingly.
"Woww, that is scaryy Morikawa-kun~ Don't look at me like that, haha.."
My eyes met with Hayashi Rika. I retracted my glare and soften my eyelids upon knowing who it was.
"Ah. Hayashi-san, good morning. I didn't know it was you." An awkward smile accompanied with my apologetic tone.
"It's fine~ Besides, i got to see a new look of you, " She smiled mischieviously, "So scary~"
"Hahahaa.." i awkwardly laughed.
She was always this mischievious. And along with her gorgeous face, she always had that charming and attractive air about her.
No wonder Tobiyama Jun got entranced by her and naturally became her boyfriend.
"Stop teasing him. What about me?"
Tobiyama was seated next to Hayashi. They both came from a bit far from school so they had pretty much a near empty train to enter.
So they easily got a seat in this now crowded car.
Hayashi turned to him with a curled smile like a sadistic cat.
"Oooooh~ is my Jun-kun getting jealous? Is it? How cuteee~"
'Ugh..' Those couple lovey dovey moments which occur very often between them always throw a sense of uneasiness into my mind.
"Get a room already." I didn't say it out loud so that my surroundings would clearly hear it but Hayashi's ears perked up.
"Maybe we should get a room. What do you say, Jun-kun?"
"Hmmm," he snuggled his hand seductively onto Hayashi's palm and whispered with a low voice, "Are you ready for me?"
Her face blushed and she couldn't respond for a moment before covering her facial expression and turning away from him.
"Ah Jun-kun! Stop ittt~!"
Seriously, how do they have the audacity to act like that in public?
Does love negate their public awareness?
Does love neglect their surroundings and completely get lost in their own worlds?
Does love makes you act this stupid?
Does love make you stupid even????
And why are they okay doing that in front me?!?!? Am i invisilble to them? I'm embarrassed on their behalf.
Tobiyama noticed my discomfort and inquired about it.
"What's wrong Morikawa? Do you want a seat?"
Wrong assumption!
"Wait a second."
"Huh?"
I knew what he was about to do.
As soon as he was about to turn to the guy next to him, i called out to him immediately. Seriously, that guy is hopeless.
"Wait Tobiyama! I am okay. It is only just a matter of minutes till we reached there."
"Is it? Well, if you say so....Now that i think about it, it is the first time we see you take this train. You live a bit close to school."
"Yes i do. That's why i chose that as my first option high school." I faintly smiled as i successfully managed to avoid Tobiyama from creating a scene.
The poor guy next to hin would have witnessed an unforgettable demon's face and threat today.
'Thank me later, poor guy.'
I put an imaginary thumbs up to the unknown guy and nodded to myself.
Us three kept on chatting until a commotion stopped us. There were a few people who were veering their head at the source of the noises.
"What's going on?", said Tobiyama.
He wanted to have a look but was already seated.
So i tried to deduce what was the commotion about through my hearing abilities and i tried to be on my tiptoes to get a better view.
Based on what i heard which went like this:
"I did not do anything!! You are seriously mistaking me for someone else!!" A panicked mature man was yelling.
"It is most definitely you! I saw how you were touching that girl's butt. Don't try to escape you filthy groper!!"
A furious girl was confronting the man with a bold accusation.
And in the middle of those two was a shy woman with an office attire on.
I sighed with disdain on my mind and updated Hayashi and Tobiyama with the information i gathered.
To which both of them had an annoyed look but Hayashi was more leaning to that of disgust.
"Perverts like that deserves to die."
I couldn't agree more with Hayashi's comment. But there was one thing that was bugging my mind.
That girl's voice sounded familiar.
I took a second look at the situation and then quenched my doubts about the girl's identity.
I couldn't help but muttered, "..It's Aoi.."
Furthermore, that did not escape from Hayashi's excellent ears and inquired about it.
"Aoi?"
Surprised, i tried to stay calm and smiled faintly at her, "It is Serizawa-san, the one who caught the groper."
"Ah, the one from the disciplinary committee?"
"Yes."
Hayashi squinted her eyes but did not say anything to that. Instead, it was Tobiyama who spoke.
"Wasn't she the one who brought the teacher the other day?"
I hesitated before giving a vague answer.
"Maybe.., i couldn't see from afar."
"It is her" , Hayashi firmly stated.
I had a bad feeling about this. Hurriedly, i tried to naturally divert their attention with another topic.
"Well knowing her, she got that situation handled. Anyway, what do you guys think about the first upcoming midterm exams?"
"Ahhh, don't remind me about that crap," Tobiyama ruffled through his black hair vigorously.
To that, Hayashi proudly puffed her chest and had a confident air around her.
"Do you want me to help you, Jun-kun?"
"Now that i think about it, you are really academically smart Hayashi-san."
"Thank you for the compliment, Morikawa-kun. This is all my genius mind's fault."
Tobiyama was taken aback, "Never thought i would see someone praise themselves for being too smart."
"There is a first time for everything, Jun-kun"
She winked at him cunningly which made Tobiyama's heart skip a beat. Just then, an annoucement interrupted their converstation.
"Next stop: Higashi-hakuraku Station."
The commotion over there was still going when getting off the train. We three also got off but didn't seem too interested in that matter.
After all, Serizawa Aoi was the center of that attention. She was holding onto the man and kept on callling for the train station's officials
They rapidly came closer to Serizawa and put the man in the line of sight of their authorative gaze.
In that midst of the crowded area, she caught a glimpse of my glare. Indifferently, she focused back to the authorities while i went back to chatting with the other two.
It was not a long distance walk to the school.
In barely 20 minutes, we reached our destination.
Kanagawa Suigoh High School.
It's already been a month since i started being a second-year student at this high school. It is big, got a good educational system, moreover, it was close to where i live.
What could i ask for more?
Oh but well there is some problem about it. The level of education is a bit high so i constantly have to be on my toes to even keep an average score.
It has taken a toll on me as a freshman but nothing too serious.
Well, for being a second year, that is another matter. The midterm exam will let me gauge my capabilities so that i can work around my learning abilities.
Good luck me!
"Hey guys!", a cheerful voice called out to us.
Conspicious long haistyle with a tinge of green dye on its end, it was hard to say who it wasn't.
Wakatoshi Arisu always had a happy vibe to him. He seems approachable if someone did not know him too well.
Really a definition of not judging a book by its cover
"Arisu, good morning."
"Arisu-kun, good morning~"
We all used his first name because he was the one who suggested it.
Apparently, the 'Wakatoshi' of Wakatoshi Arisu did not seem cool to him upon hearing from our mouth, or anyone's mouth for that matter.
So he pratically 'begged' us to say only his first name.
"Good morning Arisu."
He envelopped his arm around my neck like a big brother type of guy and then said good morning to everyone.
He was a bit taller than me, almost on the same height as Tobiyama.
His unbuttoned blazer, just like mine, and his shirt untucked, just like Tobiyama, he wanted to be a cool person. So he is always on the lookout for any trending fashion style.
"It's rare to see you come alongside those two lovebirds, how come?"
"We took the same train and i just saw them. They are hard to notice."
"Indeed," Arisu nodded to my statement.
"What do you mean by that?" Hayashi tilted her confused face.
'Seriously?' I thought as i looked at Arisu and he looked at me.
I chuckled then Arisu began to explain in an amusing tone.
"From anyone's point of view, the way you two act and look always project the perfect couple couple kind of vibe. I mean look at you two highly attractive people. Meant for each other, literally."
"Praise us more," Behind that cool and happy demeanor of accepting Arisu's compliments, Hayashi was astonished and blushing deep inside.
Same goes for Tobiyama who just replied, "Is that so..." and turned his head a bit away from Hayashi's gaze.
"How cute." I muttered
It's been not so long that i knew of them but they never showed signs of getting further away from each other.
It was the opposite.
Gradually getting closer and becoming more comfortable with each other is such an adorable process to watch.
If only they were not such assholes.
....
Class 2-2
I glanced at the sign board above the classroom door before entering the noisy atmosphere.
My seat?
Well, it is in the worst possible spot.
The first row of the class, meaning in the front and the second chair nearest to the door.
Being the nearest to the teacher with all my sides surrounded with people is what i consider a really bad spot.
Imagine if i was taking a test, if i did not know an answer, i would be scared to even think about cheating. Every move leads to failure. There are like needles next to my neck if i turn in any direction.
I heaved a dejected sigh then followed to grab my seat.
On my way there, my classmates who came near to me subtly moved away from my position.
I noticed it but did not put much thought on that.
It became a daily occurence, more so a tradition that i had grown accustomed for the past 2 months.
Yes, it has been 2 months since i got to know Tobiyama and the other infamous members of the group.
It was in the final term of our first year that my path for a road of tranquility through hugh school took a small deviation.
All because of a good deed i did.
Anyway, enough thinking about the past and more of improving the present.
Homeroom period was about to start as i took my seat.
The bell rang and almost everyone took their seat. Neither Arisu, nor Juzo or even Tobiyama and his girlfriend were assigned to this classroom.
It was really good for me. Less chaotic people, more peace.
All is well.
"All right everyone! Today we are going to welcome a new person in our class." Our usual PE teacher entered with a rough aura around him.
A transfer student at this time? So unusual.
"Please enter, miss."
What followed, was the gasps of my classmates. Uncomprehending of what was happening, the real cause walked past me and stood next to the homeroom teacher.
A tantalizing fragrance wafted throughout the classroom.
Everyone was in awe of the girl that made her presence.
Not even a girl, it was a beautiful woman with a mature look to her. She had a serene look with her long black silky hair swaying gently with the help of the slow wind coming through the window.
She wore a red sweatshirt with pale blue jeans.
Even a simple fashion sense like that did not diminish the beauty she exuded.
"Woow..Pretty.." i heard the girl behind me letting out her true feelings
I couldn't agree more.
The woman opened her glossy light pink lips and spoke with a composed tone.
"Good morning everyone. My name is Yukimura Seiko. I will be attending this high school as Class 2-2's homeroom teacher's assistant. I will also be teaching English. Pleased to meet you. Let's all get along."
She bowed slightly and then roars of praises followed with claps of acceptance.
Particularly, the boys were more than excited.
Because of a brute as a homeroom teacher, this new female teacher would be a new motivation to their learning curriculum.
Yukimura Seiko, the new teacher, smiled upon the response she received.
But me...?
I was not going to be a part of this.
What did she say her name was?
'Yukimura...Seiko?'
I squinted my eyes, glaring at her with dark thoughts starting to emerge in my mind.
'Seiko..'
The mutual feeling with my other classmates of admiring the new teacher's beauty quickly faded.
I calmed myself down, trying to not do anything rash. For the moment, i think i succeeded.
I supported my head by putting my arm on my desk, acting all indifferent and turning away from Yukimura Seiko.
Still, i could not help but let my mouth seep out some of my helpless anger.
"Are you fucking kidding me..?"