"A man sees in the world what he carries in his heart." - Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, "Faust"
________________________________________________________________________________
「April 7th︱Evening︱Dormitory
[Yamasaki Isao POW]
Advanced Nurturing High School.
A government-funded project that is supposed to produce elite students who will lead Japan in the future. Students who enroll here will have access to a plethora of facilities varying from necessities to entertainment, basically, everything a high school would ever need, and on top of that, students will receive a monthly allowance based completely on their merits and value as a class.
However, a major negative that comes into play when applying to ANHS is the complete lack of contact with the outside world. If one chose to enroll here, one wouldn't see their family, friends, or loved ones until graduation day.
A week has passed since the entrance ceremony.
The moment I entered this school, I didn't waste a single moment.
I spent the entire week learning everything and anything about the school and its inner mechanisms:
Special Exams
Security Camera positions
Student Council
Key players in the first year and above...
I have learned all there is to know about the competition between student council president Horikita Manabu and student council vice president Nagumo Miyabi. I have learned everything about the conflict between the two most talented individuals from the second-year students I have bargained with.
I already knew almost everything from the second-year students I had blackmailed, but Horikita Manabu's speech at the club fair confirmed my doubts.
"Furthermore, we in the student council do not wish to appoint anyone who possesses a naive outlook. Not only would such a person not be elected, but he or she would sully the sanctity of this school. It is the student council's right and duty to enforce and amend the rules, but the school expects more than that. We gladly welcome those of you who understand this."
This was Horikita Manabu's plea for help.
Nagumo knew that if the student council president, Horikita Manabu, ever learned that he had made a mistake or there was someone capable of posing a threat to him, he would take advantage of the situation to remove him from the student council. The president of the student council, Horikita Manabu, and the vice president, Miyabi Nagumo, were not allies but rivals.
Horikita Manabu firmly upheld the school's philosophy.
The school's philosophy emphasised encouraging competition between classes, promoting communication and trust among peers, and pushing everyone to progress together with their class.
But Nagumo had his own philosophy. Nagumo believed that strength was absolutely supreme! He wanted to transcend the rigid boundaries between classes and create a system where only the strongest students could graduate from Class A, while those who were weak would be rejected—or even expelled
The president and vice president of the student council had conflicting ideas. Horikita Manabu had been looking for opportunities to suppress Nagumo's growing influence in the student council, while also seeking a chance to expel Nagumo entirely from the student council.
That being said, I don't have to worry about the second-years I have blackmailed about potentially unveiling my name. From a logical standpoint, they have enough private points to purchase necessities, and their classmates would not notice a thing as long as no one asks to show their private point account.
Based on their reactions, they are not easily rattled. They can maintain their composure as long as they believe they are in control of the situation.
Furthermore, from a psychological perspective, they would be too embarrassed to tell their "leader" about such an embarrassing event to save face.
No senior would willingly want to admit that they got fooled by a first-year student on the second day at school, by a Class D student nonetheless.
In addition, it doesn't change the fact that I have irrefutable evidence that would put an end to their high school lives for good.
A permanent disciplinary record is something very few students are willing to do.
In addition, Nagumo Miyabi is not the type of person who isn't very meticulous. The moment he perceives someone as inferior to him, he becomes careless. And careless people make mistakes in their decision-making. As long as there is no big discrepancy in the number of private points he receives every month from most second-years (except for Kiryuin Fuka), he won't notice a thing.
Yes...
I am aware of the deal the contract Nagumo imposed on almost all second-years.
His classmates, Class 2-A, have to transfer 50% of their private points to Nagumo every month.
Every other class from Class 2-B to Class 2-D is obligated to give up 80% of their private points to Nagumo Miyabi every month.
If that is not enough, if Nagumo ever issues a request, they have no choice but to go along with his requests or whims. No questions asked.
And in return?
Class A tickets.
Nagumo's control over the second year is built on the premise that he will use the private points he gathered to transfer a few students out of a hundred to Class A.
The foundation os Nagumo's control, unmatched dominance over the second year, is a natural consequence of 3 factors:
1. Competition for Class A in the second year is over. The difference between Class 2-A and Class 2-B is 700 class points.
2. Nagumo Miyabi's authority is second only to the student council president, Horikita Manabu. A student council member, especially those in the higher positions, has the right to certain privileges that non-student council members cannot have. As the sole candidate for the student council president position, it is only a matter of time before he reigns over the school even more.
3. Nagumo safeguards millions of private points (about 100 million private points) as his personal property.
Therefore, at this very moment...
Nagumo Miyabi is the most untouchable person in the entire school.
Second-year students follow him because they have no other choice. Most people are willing to succumb to Nagumo's dominance even if it means raising their chances from 0% to 1%.
Then again, whether or not Nagumo will uphold his end of the bargain is another question altogether.
Anyway...
Second-years won't share a word with Nagumo.
Imagine telling your superior that you made a fool of yourself in front of a first-year student. Worse, this first-year student is from a defective Class D.
Even in a meritocratic environment where strength reigns above all, seniority is deeply ingrained in Asian culture, especially in Japan.
Next, special exams.
There is not much to say.
I have already learned the aims, objectives, evaluation criteria, rewards, and punishments of every special exam ANHS has ever had in the last 29 years.
Why is it worth the effort?
Other than occasional new exams or a sudden replacement by the higher-ups, special exams are predictable for the most part.
It would be too time-consuming and cognitively demanding to continuously invent new special exams every year.
A lot of special exams occur every year.
It is simply a matter of practicality.
Next...I profiled every single first-year student. 159 students to be exact.
Personalities, goals, unconscious desires, weaknesses, beliefs - I have identified them all.
Multiple individuals are worth paying attention but one particular person stood out.
Ayanokouji Kiyotaka.
No background information.
Straight 50 marks on every test on the entrance exam.
He got easy answers wrong and the hard questions right.
It is impossible that he is clueless about "average" scores a normal high school student can have.
Statistically speaking, it is more likely to get 100 than 0 in a test.
Even if Ayanokouji never attended a school in the outside world, in a mass-scale experiment supported by the government and financed by corporate and financial industries, it is inconceivable that he was the only student in the generation.
It was very hard to believe that he was never tested on academics and that he had no one to compare his grades with.
This is a deliberate attempt to be noticed.
But why?
Ayanokouji must have used this method to send a message to the higher-ups of Advanced Nurturing High School.
Ayanokouji probably thought that with his unique circumstances in mind, Advanced Nurturing High School was the only institution in Japan where the decision-makers of a national-scale experiment would not have the authority to force his expulsion.
Other private high schools or even ordinary high schools are not an option.
Why?
Otherwise, Ayanokouji would have enrolled there, and not here, one of the most prestigious high schools in Japan. Considered the possibility that the higher-ups are aware that Ayanokouji is a student from the White Room.
That is why...
[A Notification]
Hmm?
I glanced at my phone and pressed the notification.
#Sapphire: Hey, Sao-kun, I was wondering if maybe tomorrow you'd like to walk to school together?
It was a message from Hasebe.
I had no reason to refuse.
#Sao-kun: Sure. Just tell me what time and place.
#Sapphire: Okie! Let's meet up at the lobby at 8 am, does that sound good?? :)
#Sao-kun: Yeah. See you tomorrow.
At the end of the day, I am still a high school student.
I do not forget to enjoy the small joys as a high school student.
Between breaks, I either converse with Hirata's group in the cafeteria, Hasebe and Miyake in the classroom, or with Sakura through text messages.
Yes...
Sakura and I exchanged contact information on May 3.
I suggested to Sakura that if she ever encounters any trouble, it would be good for her own sake to have contact information from at least one classmate in case of emergency.
Sakura understood what I meant.
Though she was shy, she agreed to exchange contact details with me.
I didn't miss the small smile on her expression, thought...
During lunch breaks, I often talk to Hasebe and Miyake.
Hasebe was the voice of the group. She would continuously tease me and Miyake to get a reaction out of us.
Miyake was one of those easy-going guys.
Neither particularly outgoing nor antisocial. His responses were concise, logical, and straight-to-the-point.
And me?
Well...I am me.
From time to time, I eat at the school cafeteria with Hirata's group.
In the group, Hirata and Karuizawa lead the conversation.
Satou and Mori add the following comment right after either Hirata or Karuizawa.
Matsushita and I just pay close attention. We only vocalize our thoughts once in a while, but mostly we simply respond with a few sentences to keep the conversation going.
This level of communication is more than enough for my social battery.
Hirata group aside, I was already invited to an official Class D chat.
Every Class 1-D member except for Koenji and Horikita.
No mystery there.
In the evenings, I read Raymond Chandler's mystery novel "Farewell, My Lovely," which I borrowed from the school library on May 4.
Before the homeroom session, I usually converse with Hasebe and Miyake.
After lessons end, I immediately head towards the dormitory together with Hasebe and Miyake or by myself.
Yesterday, in the morning, I accidentally met Sakura in an abandoned school building.
She was secretly taking photos.
She likes taking pictures, especially of people.
Of course, she was frightened at first, but after seeing it was me, she slowly calmed down.
We exchanged a few words, and then she requested not to tell anyone about her hobby.
I agreed.
Not that I would have done it anyway...
Shortly, I left her to continue to my target destination without making the atmosphere awkward.
On May 4, I heard that Sudou was scammed out of all his private points in the second year.
Poor Sudou.
He was furious, continuously defending himself and claiming it was not his fault.
Much like almost every person in the class, Sudo is under the assumption that we will get 100,000 points every month.
Unfortunately for him, he couldn't have been possibly more wrong.
The next day, he was still resentful, but he was relatively calm.
Strange.
He is still too "calm" for someone with no private points.
I quickly learned from Hirata that Sudou wanted to "borrow" 20,000 private points from Hirata before the homeroom session on May 4.
Sudou tried to ask his "friends", Ike and Yamauchi, to lend at least 10,000 points, but they refused without a second thought.
Then again, considering their lack of self-discipline in all aspects of life and lack of foresight beyond immediate gratification, it is hard to imagine they are reliable people in any sense of the word.
The mood was a little awkward, but Kushida's intervention quickly dissolved any tension lingering in the classroom.
As expected of a Class D idol.
Anyway... I'd better get to sleep.
Don't wanna be late for the classes.
[Third Party POV]
「April 8th︱Mourning︱Student Dormitory
As Yamasaki was leaving the entrance exit...
-"Good morning, Sao-kun!" - a loud, happy voice rang through the dorm exit.
-"Good morning, Yamasaki." - Miyake uttered with a neutral tone, not too friendly nor indifferent, just casual.
-"Good morning, Hasebe, Miyake." - Yamasaki reciprocated the sentiment with a small smile.
-"You know Sao-kun... You are the first person Miyachi and I have waited for ever since we became friends. Makes you feel special, hmm?" - Hasebe playfully winked and stepped forward towards Yamasaki to get a reaction out of them.
-"Of course. It's only a few days, and I already have friends to hang out with." - Yamasaki answered casually without getting flustered.
-"Damn it! You still didn't give in..." - Hasebe grumbled to herself for failing to unable to complete for mission for the day.
-"Give up, Haruka. Yamasaki is a stone wall. You won't budge him even in a hundred years." - Miyake casually commented on Hasebe's blunder to fluster Yamasaki and annoy Hasebe.
-"No way! Only a week has passed! I still have three years to make it happen. Just watch me, Miyachi. One day, I will make Yama-kun so embarrassed, he would want to stay in his room for the rest of the day!" - Hasebe pointed her finger towards Miyake, proudly proclaiming her goal with such an intensity that one might think she was trying to take over the school.
-"I would like to see you try." - Miyake replied with a smirk on his expression, indicating he was eager to see Hasebe in the aftermath of her doomed quest to embarrass Yamasaki.
Even though Miyake didn't truly believe Hasebe would succeed in her quest, a small part of him was curious to see if Hasebe would truly be able to achieve the impossible.
-"Your determination is commendable." Yamasaki casually remarked, which can be either interpreted as a subtle compliment or a quiet resignation to Hasebe's antics.
-"So Sao-kun..." - Hasebe was hesitant to ask for something.
A minute ago, she was perfectly fine, and now that she has him, the words got stuck in her throat.
-"I will go ahead. See you two in a classroom." - Miyake seems to have understood the reason behind Hasebe's behaviour, and strove towards the school without waiting for Yamasaki's confirmation.
-"Sao-Kun." - Hasebe spoke to Yamasaki in an uncertain tone. As if afraid that the mere mention of the topic would bridge the distance between them.
-"What is it, Hasebe?" - Yamasaki inquired politely in a gentle tone, encouraging him to continue.
-"Am I being overbearing?" - Hasebe expressed her worries to Yamasaki, showing her insecurity to her friend.
-"What do you mean?" - Yamasaki subtly shifted the question to Hasebe.
-It's just... I feel like I am being a bother to you by constantly trying to include you in the conversation..." - Hasebe stumbled, as if trying to find the right words to convey her inner turmoil and conflicting feelings.
-"What makes you feel that way?" - Yamasaki listened quietly yet attentively as he empathetically observed Hasebe unveil her insecurities.
-"Well...Whether it's during lunch breaks or as we return to the dorm, I am the one who usually initiates the conversation. Usually, you only reply after I or Miyachi ask you something. And you hardly ask me or Miyachi about anything."
-"..."
-"So...That made me think you don't like hanging around with us, especially me. I...I was worried that I was being annoying for trying to talk to you." - Hasebe concluded her thoughts with a withdrawn expression, as if she were a convict waiting for her judgment.
-"Hasebe, it doesn't bother me at all. I am content with simply listening to you and Miyake's playful bartering." - Yamasaki was attuned to Hasebe's anxiety and fear, and he knew how to address the girl's worries effectively.
Yamasaki wanted to make sure Hasebe didn't think badly of herself.
-"Really?" - Hasebe seemed uncertain. She probably thought that Yamasaki was simply being nice to her.
Yamasaki's look was unwavering. "Yeah. I enjoy being around you. You have nothing to worry about."
-"Thank you, Sao-kun. After hearing you say that, I am truly relieved." She heaved a huge sigh of relief afterwards.
Yamasaki's lips curved a little, showing a playful smirk towards Hasebe.
-"I think you were just overthinking, Hasebe."
-"...Ugh, alright, alright, I guess I was worried for nothing. Now I feel embarrassed for something else entirely," Haruka hung her head in shame and buried her face in her hands. Only now did she realize that she really was just making stuff up in her mind. "Oh, l'm so stupid..."
Then, suddenly, Hasebe slightly slapped her face from both sides.
-"Okay! No more gloomy faces today! Let's head to the convenience store, okay?"
-"This is the first time you wanted to go to a convenience store right before school."
-"All that talk made me really hungry. I can't function on an empty stomach, you know?"
-"Sure, why not? We still have some time till classes start."
-"As an apology, I can buy you anything you want, my treat!"
-"Then I will take up your offer."
The duo headed towards the nearest convenience store, as they silently walked together, with occasional playful jabs and a bit of flirting towards each other.
A couple of young high school students got closer to each other through shared playful jabs, vulnerability, and empathy.
Will this step towards closeness stay a close friendship?
Or maybe it will lead to something more?
Who knows?
10 minutes later...
ΨΨΨ🅄🄽🄵🄰🅃🄷🄾🄼🄰🄱🄻🄴🄿🄾🅆🄴🅁ΨΨΨ
「April 8th︱Mourning︱Advanced Nurturing High School 1-D's classroom
- "Good morning, Haruki!"
-"Mourning, Kanji!"
-"Man, I can't believe this day has finally arrived! I was so excited that I could barely fall asleep!"
-"I know, right? We are finally going to see the girls in swimsuits!"
Upon arriving at school, Ike greeted Yamauchi cheerfully. It was unusual for them to be early. One week had passed since the entrance ceremony, and Ike and Yamauchi always managed to arrive just in time for the bell.
-"Wow~. The lesson is so fun that I can't sleep~..." - Yamauchi remarked.
-"Yup, this school is the best - swimming will start soon! I say swimming, but girls are the important part! And by girls, I mean their swimsuits!" - Ike further commented on his "analysis" of today's major event.
Ike and Yamauchi's excitement was practically radiating off them. Their faces were lit up, their grins wide, completely unashamed of their true intentions.
Ike called out his fellow "comrade", "Oi, professor. Come over here."
-"Did you call him Kanji?" Yamauchi remarked.
A chubby boy, who has the nickname "Professor", walked towards the ones who called him. His full name was Sotomura Hideo.
-"Professor, can you record the girls in their swimsuits?" Ike inquired with a serious expression.
-"Leave it to me. I'll pretend to be sick and skip class to observe them." Sotomura complied with no hesitation, as if he wasn't doing anything wrong.
-"What are you doing, Kanji?" Yamauchi inquired about Ike's words.
-"Professor is gonna rank the girls' chest sizes. And if he gets a chance, he'll snap a picture or two."
-"Oi oi." Sudo stepped back, trying to distance himself from the conversation. He seemed to think it was crossing the line, even by his standards.
Not to mention, if the girls were discovered, it would lead to chaos.
Yamasaki observed the idiot duo with not a hint of surprise. It wasn't anything strange, really. High school boys were often like this, especially ones like Ike and Yamauchi, who had no filter and no sense of subtlety. Their conversation lacked any depth-just pure, unfiltered excitement about something that, to them, was the highlight of their school life.
In Japan's swimming classes, apprentices typically took care of students who couldn't swim or girls who were unable to participate due to their menstrual cycle. These students didn't have to enter the pool; they could simply observe and assist from the sidelines.
Japanese school swimsuits are typically navy blue and white, designed to be conservative and practical. They are generally one-piece and tight-fitting for girls, while boys wear navy blue boxer-style swimming trunks. The girls' swimsuits are low-cut with skirted designs, ensuring a modest appearance. The one-piece swimsuit for girls tightly covers the upper body.
While Yamasaki understood teenage boys' curiosity and restlessness when it came to girls, this behavior was beyond acceptable.
Betting on the sizes of the girls' breasts was distasteful, albeit not illegal.
However, secretly taking photos of girls during swimming class crossed a serious legal line.
In Japan, taking photos or videos of someone without their consent is a violation of the law. Secretly photographing girls in swimsuits is an even graver offense.
Given how openly the boys were discussing and betting on the girls' bodies, it was no wonder the girls were united in their disdain.
The girls in the room stepped back from Ike and Yamauchi's excitement.
Noticing the girls were becoming visibly uncomfortable with the ongoing discussion, I knew I had to step in.
I stood up and smiled reassuringly at them. With a simple gesture of my hands, I silently conveyed, 'Don't worry, I'll take care of them.'
They looked relieved and gave me a grateful nod.
I walked over to the group and casually slung an arm around both Ike and Yamauchi. "Hey guys~"
They froze, mid-conversation, their faces instantly nervous as they turned toward me. "H-Hey, Y-Yamasaki."
Sudo took a few steps back, awkwardly avoiding eye contact, as if to say, 'I don't know these guys!'
"Don't you think it's rude and, honestly, pretty insensitive to openly sexualize the girls in class?" My voice rang out loud enough for everyone to hear.
The group of boys went pale, too scared to respond.
I glanced around, and I could see it.
The snickers, the mockery, the sheer revulsion and resentment in the girl's eyes.
Seeing that it was working, I changed my tone to a sharp, hushed whisper. "You don't want to make a bad impression on your idol, don't you? If she learns about what you guys are up to, she will hate you, know? "
I subtly hinted at their "precious idol", the subject of their affection.
No boy would intentionally want to be thought of badly by a member of the opposite sex, perverts included.
At the very least, they would make sure that they wouldn't act on their desires.
Their pride won't allow it.
Twisted form of pride? Teenage insecurity? Or simply irresponsibility to preserve their self-esteem?
Either way, it doesn't matter.
For an average high school boy, being special in a cute or beautiful girl's eyes and a bit of attention (even something as simple as compliments) is the most effective motivation.
The boys froze, slowly starting to realize what I was implying. Their eyes widened, an unspoken understanding passing between them.
'Aha!' They seemed to say.
...
The group of girls huddled together, murmuring with admiration for Yamasaki.
-"Yamasaki-kun knows how to handle those creeps." Karuizawa Kei said, arms crossed as she leaned against the desk.
-"The way he put those perverted guys in their place earlier? It was like he didn't even have to try. He's just... so reliable."
Satou Maya nodded in agreement.
-"Right? It's not just that he's athletic; he's so good-looking, too. Like, how can someone be that perfect? The way he spoke up for us, without even being asked, was... I don't know, kind of amazing."
-"Totally." Matsushita Chiaki chimed in, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear.
Inogashira nodded thoughtfully.
-"He's so different from most of the guys here. They're either clueless or they are just jerks. Yamasaki-kun's one of the only ones who gets it." She spoke in a quiet yet resolute voice.
-"I mean, there's Hirata-kun, too," Kushida Kikyo added with her usual bright smile. "But Hirata-kun's more... gentle. Yamasaki-kun's got this confident, sharp edge that makes him stand out even more."
Karuizawa giggled.
-"Honestly, why can't all guys be like Hirata-kun or Yamasaki-kun? Especially Yamasaki-kun. It's like he knows exactly what to say and do to make us feel... safe."
The girls exchanged knowing glances, their words filled with a shared admiration. As they spoke, their eyes occasionally drifted toward Yamasaki, who stood across the room, subtly gesturing as he spoke to another group of boys. His hand moved slightly in their direction, clearly indicating how uncomfortable their earlier behavior had been.
-"He's not just good-looking; he's thoughtful too. That combination is rare. " Matsushita said softly.
Satou sighed dreamily. "It's not fair. Guys like him are almost too good to be true."
Karuizawa smirked. "Well, whether he's too good to be true or not, we're lucky to have him around. He makes dealing with this school's idiots a whole lot easier."
Sotomura nodded thoughtfully, as if he had come to some profound realization. "I see, Yamasaki-dono. It seems I had the wrong idea about you."
Ike and Yamauchi followed suit. "Yeah, I thought you'd be the no-fun, try-hard type. But you're not like them."
-"Hm! Hm! I hate people who can't appreciate the basic nature of humans. Boobs and asses are meant to be looked at. It's the way of life!" Yamauchi added, clearly gone off track.
-"Hey, at least you're not pretending to be a hypocrite. Everyone knows it's normal for guys to lust over women."
They all exchanged quiet words, inaudible to the rest of the class.
They had learned their lesson.
Well...at least as far as perverts can.
I turned my attention towards Sotomura. "What's that?"
-"Oh, this?" He lowered his voice dramatically, as if revealing a great secret.
-"This is a spreadsheet of the girls' measurements." He gestured toward the screen. "We're betting on the biggest chest size."
-"I see." I hummed.
-"Would you like to join, Yamasaki-kun?" Sotomura asked eagerly...
-"Yeah, come on! It'll be fun!" Ike and Yamauchi added, too eager to include me in their circle.
It's not a crime unless you get caught.
I leaned over the computer, scanning the list. Hasabe was standing at the top, with Horikita firmly at the bottom.
-"30,000 points on Hasabe," I stated.
-"....!?"
-"OHHHH!!"
-"HO-LY!"
Everyone was taken aback by the huge amount of my bet.
"Yamasaki-dono, you are really something else." Sotomura chuckled, clearly impressed.
I simply shrugged and opened my phone to transfer the 30k in one go.
Ding~
"Whoa, that's our largest bet yet!"
"Yeah! Even Yamauchi over here only bet 7,500."
I patted them on the back. "Remember, guys..."
-"Success always comes with risks. Stepping into the unknown, facing failure, and daring to grow-those are the prices of achievement."
They all looked stunned at my words, as if I had dropped some profound wisdom, engraving it into their minds like ancient wisdom.
-"Wow, that's deep..."
-"Damn."
-"As expected of Yamasaki-dono. As an ikeman on the level of Hirata-dono, he knows his stuff."
I walked away, leaving them frozen in thought, my words lingering in the air like an unshakable truth.
I gave the girls a thumbs up as I walked past, flashing a smile.
They all smiled back, blushing in return, grateful for my intervention.
I returned to my seat.
-"You were really cool there, Sao-kun! You showed these disgusting perverts their place!" - Hasebe showered me with a vibrant smile and sincere compliments, being grateful that she won't have to endure the lecherous stares directed at her.
I shrugged.
-"It was nothing, really. The girls obviously didn't feel comfortable with what those guys were doing." - I shared my honest thoughts on the situation that was unfolding earlier.
-"That's not true at all! These creeps wouldn't stop, no matter what the girls say. It is nauseating." - Hasebe continued to express her honest feelings towards the boys in the class, especially the idiot duo: Yamauchi and Ike.
Unexpectedly, another voice whispered right next to me.
-"T-Thank you, Yamasaki-kun." - Sakura's voice was filled with a mixture of fear and gratitude. It must take all her willpower just to make eye contact with me without stuttering.
If we weren't seatmates, I probably wouldn't even hear her voice, let alone hear her words.
-"It's nothing, Sakura. I just didn't like what I saw," - I replied honestly in a calm voice.
-"No. You may not think much, but it was actually annoying to see those guys talking like that."
Out of nowhere, another voice emerged from the classroom.
Sakura and Hasebe almost jumped out of their chairs.
Behind us, it was Miyake.
-"Miyachi! How many times do I have to tell you not to sneak on me like that! You will give me a heart attack one of these days!" - Hasebe was angry and scared that her close friend made her react like that.
Sakura looks like she has seen a ghost.
Miyake shrugged, "It's not my fault that you don't pay attention."
Then Miyake glances at Sakura.
-"Sorry about that. I didn't mean to scare you." - Miyake's apology was curt but sincere.
-"I-It's alright. It's my fault for not paying attention." - Sakura held qualms in accepting Miyake's apology. She was shy and easy to influence, but a kind-hearted girl. She was not the type to be capable of holding a grudge, anyway.
-"Oh, right! I just remember, we haven't introduced ourselves. I am Hasebe Haruka. Nice to meet you, Sakura-san!" - Hasebe enthusiastically introduced herself to a shy red-haired girl.
-"Miyake Akito."
-"I-I am S-Sakura Airi. N-Nice to meet you too, Hasebe-san, Miyake-kun." - Sakura was still uncomfortable with social situations, but with Hasebe's bright smile and sincere eyes, coupled with Yamasaki's presence, she introduced herself.
-"Anyway, with the earlier problem out of the way, we should be able to enjoy the swimming pool," - I interjected, bringing up an earlier topic on swimming class.
Neither Hasebe, Miyake, nor Sakura is are socially proactive person. They respond relatively well in 1-one-1 conversations, but have difficulties initiating a conversation in a group setting. While there are who can be talkative to the people with whom they feel at ease, like Hasebe, introverted people can still struggle to have a conversation with unfamiliar people or in a new environment.
-"I was going to the pool anyway, it is a rare occasion to forget studying, and just enjoy ourselves. What about you guys?" - Miyake shared his position with the group.
As Miyake is one of the more athletic boys in the class, Miyake had no problem with swimming.
-"I-I will pass. I-I don't like swimming that match." - Sakura timidly voiced out her stance toward the upcoming swimming class.
It's not that she disliked swimming in particular.
She simply felt a strong aversion to things that come alongside swimming, especially in public areas.
Fortunately, no one was insensitive enough to point that out.
Despite some progress in making friends and being able to carry on the conversation to a degree, Sakura Airi was a girl with an undiagnosed social anxiety disorder.
This type of thing is nothing she could overcome with mere effort and willpower. It takes time.
-"Actually, I was considering joining the pool." - Surprisingly, Hasebe was considering attending the swimming class.
Everyone was surprised.
-"You do?" - Miyake was the most surprised.
He knew Hasebe better than anyone.
Miyake knew how self-conscious Hasebe was about her well-endowed figure and pretty face.
Ever since her first year of middle school, Hasebe realised she was gifted in certain areas than most girls of her age.
Because of that, she was constantly a victim of everyone's gaze.
Boys were eyeing her like candy.
Girls were jealous of her figure and made fun of her for her uncompromising personality.
That's probably the reason why she dislikes the girls in her class, especially Karuizawa's and Shinohara's cliques.
To this day, Hasebe can't fathom why Yamasaki would hang out with Karuizawa.
To Hasebe, Karuizawa was merely a high school bully who proclaimed herself as the class queen bee.
Because of her beauty and blunt personality, Hasebe struggled to fit in middle school and faded into the background.
High school was no exception.
In middle school, the only person whom Hasebe could truly refer to as a friend was Miyake.
It's not to say she wasn't unpopular.
She was quite "popular" with boys.
Though not exactly in a good way.
High school was no exception.
This time, it was even worse.
The majority of boys don't even bother to hide their stares, especially Ike and Yamauchi.
These two were on a level of their own.
Hasebe was shocked to see that such a level of shamelessness is possible.
It was suffocating.
It was nauseating.
It was frustrating.
However...
Despite feeling alienated from the class, in Hasebe's eyes, two good things happened.
First, to reconnect with her close friend, Miyake Akito.
Both of them thought of attending Advanced Nurturing High School, despite believing they would have no chance.
It was merely out of curiosity.
Against all odds, however, both of them were accepted, in the same class, no less.
When both of them saw each other, they couldn't help but laugh at the absurdity of the situation.
The second good thing is that she has made another friend.
Yamasaki Isao.
-"Normally, I would never even consider such an idea." Hasebe's face filled with disgust at her and revulsion in her eyes, making her feelings abundantly clear. "However...Thanks to Sao-kun's intervention, we have a rare opportunity to enjoy the pool without interruptions." Hasebe's resolution was clear.
This was a rare opportunity to enjoy herself with her friends. She won't miss it just because of some hormone-driven teenagers who are incapable of keeping their eyes from girls even for 5 minutes.
-"Are you really okay with that, Haruka?" - Miyake inquired one more time. He knew that Hasebe could be quite stubborn and bold, yet surprisingly shy at times. Even as a close friend, he too sometimes has no idea how she would react in an unfamiliar situation.
-"Hey! Don't treat me like I am some damsel in distress! I will just use you and Sao-kun as my personal bodyguards. If it comes down to it, I will just make an excuse of saying that Yamauchi-kun and Ike-kun were harassing me." - Hasebe smiled mischievously as she revealed her master plan to the group.
-"Sometimes, I can't decide if you're really smart or just obnoxious." - Yamasaki suddenly joined the conversation between the two.
-"Hehe, disappointed that you won't be able to play a knight in shining armour for me. Sao-kun?" - Hasebe was relentless in her approach to break Yamasaki's composure.
-"Not at all. It makes me happy you take a stance to do what you want to do, Hasebe." - Yamasaki effortlessly countered Hasebe's teasing with precision.
-"Hmm...Still no change, huh. No matter. I still haven't given up on my goal to see you flustered, Sao-kun." - Hasebe proudly proclaimed her goal at her goal she set her sights on.
-"Shame you can't use that smartness during class. If you were half as smart as the idea you just came up with, you would be a model student," Miyake commented, never missing the opportunity to poke fun at Hasebe.
Yamasaki couldn't determine whether it was praise, objective analysis, or just a playful jab towards Hasebe.
-"Well, sorry for not being a super genius!" - Hasebe pouted at Miyake.
Unexpectedly, I hear a small chuckle.
"You three really get along." - Sakura chuckled at our conversation.
"Of course, we do! We are friends!" - Hasebe states as if it were obvious.
The boys shared the sentiment.
"This group is actually really comfortable." - Unexpected, Hasebe remarked with an uncharacteristic, serene expression, different from her usual teasing expression she gives to her friends, and different from the aloof expression she shows to her classmates.
-"Let's make a group." - Hasebe proposed, potentially affecting the dynamics of this group permanently.
-"A group?" - Miyake inquired.
-"It would be easier to hang out with each other, no? Besides, I like the atmosphere around you guys, you know?"
"Basically, a self-proclaimed loners' group," Yamasaki thought to himself.
-"Sure, why not?" - Yamasaki quickly reciprocated Hasebe's sentiment. He had no reason to refuse their company.
Now he was a proud member of two groups, the popular one (Hirata's group) and the loners' group.
-"What about you, Sakura-san?"
-"A-Are you sure about this? I don't want to bother you," - Sakura exclaimed with fear and self-hate in her voice, and yet, with small hope in her eyes.
-It's alright, Sakura. You don't have to force yourself. You should do what you want to do. That's all that matters." - Yamasaki reassured Sakura, who was plagued with anxiety and self-loathing.
-"Then please take care of me!" - Sakura responded with uncharacteristic firm conviction in her tone.
"What do you think, Miyachi?" - Hasebe playfully asked Miyake.
Miyake shrugged, "Fine by me. This group is really easy to be around with."
Eventually, it was decided to call this group "Hasebe group" despite Hasebe's grumbling and pouting.
It was an amusing sight.
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「April 8th︱Mourning︱Advanced Nurturing High School Swimming Pool
[Third Party POV]
"Alright! The pool!"
After lunch had ended, it was finally time for swim class. Finally, the moment Ike and the others had so desperately been waiting for. Without even trying to hide his excitement, Ike leapt up and headed with the others toward the indoor pool.
Chabashira Sae stopped at the desk near the pool entrance and picked up the loudspeaker resting on the table.
"Before entering the locker room, all electronic devices such as mobile phones and watches must be stored in the anti-theft lockers on the right," Chabashira Sae announced. "Electronic devices are strictly prohibited in the locker room or the indoor swimming pool."
"What?! Why is this happening?"
Ike and the others groaned in despair. Without their phones, their plan to secretly take photos was completely ruined.
Horikita, with her arms crossed over her chest, cast a cold glance at Ike and his group, their faces twisted in frustration.
"You should be thankful you're not allowed to bring your phones in," she said icily. "Otherwise, you'd be punished by the school. Hmph."
Ignoring their complaints, Chabashira continued in her usual stern tone,
"There's a detector at the entrance to the locker room, so don't think you can sneak in a phone or other device by hiding it on your body." Her cold gaze swept across the students. "Now, find the locker with your name on it, store all electronic devices, and head into the locker room to change into your swimsuits. Then proceed to the indoor pool."
She paused, adding, "Students who are unable to enter the pool for any reason, please come and register with me."
These final words brought visible relief to Sakura. She had been dreading having to change into a swimsuit and had no idea how to handle the situation.
Now, she realized she could opt out without any trouble.
-"This sucks! Oh well...Guess we have no choice. Let's go, guys." Ike exclaimed.
Sudou wasted no time in changing into his swimwear. His well-defined physique, molded by years of basketball, was on full display. In comparison to his classmates, his strength was particularly noticeable.
The students wrapped themselves with bath towels, but Sudou stood there in only his underwear. In that semi-nude state, he took out his swimsuit from his bag.
-"Sudou, don't you feel embarrassed?"
-"No, I try to change as quickly as possible. If you try to hide yourself, you become the center of attention."
True. If someone tried to sneakily change clothes in a locker room, they would just get teased.
-"All right, I'm going on ahead." - Sudou cut the conversation brief, and a moment later, left the locker room.
I quickly finished changing as well.
Upon seeing the fifty-meter pool, Ike cried out, "Whoa, this school is something else! It's even better than the city pool, don't you think?"
The water was clear and beautiful, and because it was indoors, we didn't have to worry about the weather. The perfect environment.
-"Kanji! Remember, Kushida-chan is here. Remember, we have to play cool."
-"Right, my bad. This is our chance to show the girls over that pretty ikeman bastard Hirata, Haruki." - Ike remembered what happened before the swimming class.
After hearing Yamasaki's words, something clicked within them. They swore to become guys worthy of Kushida.
And whether or not it will happen?
That's a different topic.
Though the motivation was less than noble, it was a small step in the right direction. Baby steps.
-"What are you two doing? That looks like fun."
-"K-Kushida-chan?!"
Kushida showed up between the two of them.
She was clad in her school-issued swimwear, which nicely showed off her voluptuous figure. In an instant, nearly all of the boys' eyes were glued to Kushida's body. She must have been a D or E cup. She was a lot bigger than I'd thought. Her butt and thighs were also more voluptuous than I had pictured, which was strangely captivating. However, all of us boys quickly averted our gaze.
And Horikita?
She was alone in the back of the swimming pool.
For some reason, Horikita was checking me out all over.
-"Yamasaki-kun, do you exercise?" she asked.
-"I try to stay in shape."
-"I doubt you can attain such a physique merely from daily exercise."
-"I suppose I was blessed with good genes. It spares me much effort."
-"Fair enough."
-"Are you a good swimmer, Horikita-san?" - Suddenly, Kushida interjected between Horikita and Yamasaki.
Although Horikita gave a slightly puzzled look in response to Kushida's question, she quietly answered. "I wouldn't say I'm particularly good or bad at it."
-"I was really bad at swimming when I was in junior high. But I gave it my all and practiced really hard, and now I think I've gotten better," Kushida said.
-"I see." Horikita gave a disinterested response and backed away slightly, clearly signaling that she didn't want to continue the conversation further.
-"Sorry, Yamasaki-kun. I have to return to my friends." - Kushida apologised for her actions, and quickly went to her friends' group.
-"Hey."
I heard a voice coming from behind.
It was Miyake.
-"It seems you were having quite a pleasant conversation with Kushida and Horikita." Miyake's smirk was all over his face.
-"Guess so. Where are Hasebe and Sakura?" Yamasaki smoothly changed the subject.
-"Hasebe will come shortly. Believe it or not, Sakura actually agreed to join the swimming class." - Miyake revealed the unexpected news.
-"Really?" - Yamasaki was genuinely surprised by Sakura's decision, especially considering her usual personality.
In general, there are only two fundamental reasons why a person will step out of their comfort zone and embrace change:
1. A significant life event, an accident, or even a misfortune happening to oneself or one's family or close ones.
2. The opposite sex they care about.
-"Yeah. This happened right after you left the classroom for the swimming class. I was about to follow you, but I overheard Sakura telling Hasebe that she wants to enjoy the pool with us together."
-"Is that so? That is surprising."
-"I know, right? I don't know anything about Sakura, but I did not expect to actually participate in swimming class, even if she would use bodyguards, like Haruka."
-"Of course, you are Miyachi. If you ever hope to have a girlfriend, you should learn how to protect her."
In front of us, A+ tier beauties, Hasebe and Sakura, walked towards us.
"Whoa..." said Akito, astonished, finally arriving at the pool after being late to get changed. That word just slipped out of Miyake's mouth. Instead, it was likely because he saw Sakura and Hasebe standing next to me, wearing a swimsuit."
"I think I'm gonna go for a little swim too," said Miyake, and with that, he leaped into the pool to escape, swimming with vigorous intensity. Sakura, on the other hand, couldn't swim very well and had her feet touching the bottom of the pool. She waved over to Hasebe.
"Haruka-chan, come on in!" she called. "The water feels great!"
"Yeah, yeah, I'm coming. Hold your horses a minute."
Haruka stood beside me and started doing warm-up exercises with a "well, guess we're doing this" type of air about her."
-"All right, everyone, line up!"
A macho-looking middle-aged man, the kind of guy who apparently devoted himself to sports, gathered everyone together and started the class. He looked like a PE teacher, but also seemed like the kind of guy who was attractive to men and women alike.
In Japan, all school clubs require an official instructor to be formally established.
The role of a club instructor typically includes responsibilities such as:
Establishing team rules and schedules.
Organizing training sessions and competitions.
Managing club funds and attendance.
Ensuring the physical and mental well-being of club members.
At this school, being a club instructor was nothing like it was at other universities.
In other universities, club instructors often worked voluntarily. But here, instructors responsible for preparing clubs for competitions received significant benefits from the school. If the club performed well and achieved impressive results, the instructor could earn rewards through the school's system.
-"There are 38 of you, huh? Everyone is present. That's great."
Clearly, a few of the students in that class had ditched class, but it didn't appear to frustrate him.
-"After you warm up, I want to see what you can really do. Swim for me," the coach said.
-"Excuse me, sir. I can't really swim, though..."
A lone boy sheepishly raised his hand and spoke up.
-"Since you have me as your teacher, you'll be swimming by summertime. Don't worry about a thing."
-"Well, we don't really need to force ourselves to swim, do we? It's not like we're going to the beach or anything."
-"No way. I don't mind at all if you're bad at swimming now, but I'll make sure you guys are winners in the end. Besides, being able to swim will definitely come in handy later in life. Definitely."
The only places where swimming is invaluable outside of a swimming pool are on a cruise or at the beach.
Knowing the school, I wouldn't be surprised if we were suddenly thrown on an abandoned island and had to form our own camp with little resources.
Then again, the ability to swim would be convenient. The teacher probably just wanted to keep the students from sinking like rocks.
Everyone started their warm-up exercises. Surprisingly enough, Ike and his group showed a strong restraint towards the girls, especially. There were a few glances now and then, especially towards Kushida. But compared to the way they were before class, it was quite a progress.
The teacher asked us to swim for about fifty meters. Students who could not swim were allowed to touch the bottom of the pool with their feet.
After fifty meters, I waited for everyone else to finish.
-"Well, it looks like everyone can swim, for the most part.
-"Of course, sir. Back in junior high, people called me 'the flying fish,' you know." - Yamauchi couldn't resist the opportunity to boast.
-"I see. In that case, I'll have you start competing against each other. We'll separate groups by gender. Fifty-meter freestyle."
-"C-compete?! Are you serious?" Ike cried.
-"I'll give out a special bonus to the first-place winner: 5000 points. The student who comes in last place, however, will have to take supplementary lessons. Get ready."
Athletic students cheered with joy, while non-athletic students groaned out of annoyance.
-"Because we don't have very many girls, I'll split you into two groups of five people, and the student with the fastest overall time will be the winner. As for the boys, I'll look at the top five finishing times and then move on to a final round."
Kushida immediately dominated the boys' attention. Would any of the other girls catch up to her? If you focused on her face alone, Horikita could definitely have been in the top tier, but because she loathed social interaction so much, her popularity had dipped. Despite that, many of the boys thought she looked great, so she got plenty of cheers at the starting line.
Somehow, swimming had strengthened the boys' bond. The only exception was Hirata, who seemed to avoid looking at the girls. The whistle blew, and five of the girls dove into the water. Horikita was in the second lane. She took the lead at the beginning of the race and kept her distance from the others, maintaining her position at the front of the pack. She swam confidently, effortlessly covering the fifty meters.
-"Wow! Awesome, Horikita!"
Her time was approximately 28 seconds. She was pretty fast. Horikita slowly got out of the pool and went to the side, not even appearing out of breath. To the boys, results were of secondary importance.
After that came the second race. Kushida, the most popular girl, was in the fourth lane. The boys cheered for her, smiling and waving.
-"Woohoo!"
During our introductions, Kushida had announced that she wanted to make friends with everyone in class. It looked like her wish had already pretty much come true. It wasn't just the boys, either; girls were around her constantly, too, chatting away happily. Kushida had an air that attracted other people.
Yamasaki had zero interest in competition. All he wanted was to avoid taking those supplementary lessons. He was assigned my spot and placed in the second lane, while Sudou was in the first, right next to him. With that in mind, the race started, and we dove in.
Sudou finished the fifty-meter race with incredible speed. The boys and girls cheered in admiration.
-"Wow, you're amazing, Sudou. You finished the race in twenty-five seconds!" they cried
I, on the other hand, finished in twenty-seven seconds. It looked like I got eighth place, and ended a second place in a group. Looks likes I will move on to the finals. No matter. No supplementary lessons, for me.
That's all that matters.
-"Sudou, won't you consider joining the swim team? If you practice, you could probably win at competitions!"
-"Basketball is my only sport. Swimming's just for fun." Sudou, who hadn't even broken a sweat, calmly got out of the pool.
-"Yamasaki, what about you? With some training, you could become an ace in the swimming team."
-"I am good, thanks."
"Oh, wow, these two have absolutely outstanding motor skills."
Ike, feeling envious, elbowed Sudou.
"Kya!"
A girl let out a joyful scream as Hirata took his starting position. Whereas Sudou's body had attracted the boys' admiration, Hirata's body attracted the girls. He was slender, but also well built. You could say he was a macho pretty boy. After hearing the girls' delighted squeals for Hirata, Ike spat in response. Sudou didn't seem very amused either and shot Hirata a glare.
After the ruckus had settled, the final round commenced. The final competitors were Koenji, Sudou, Hirata, Miyake, Yamasaki, and one more Class D male student.
After the final round has concluded...
"I'll announce the results. In 5th place, Miyake with 27.8 seconds. In 4th place, Hirata with 27.1 seconds. In third place, Yamasaki with 25.0 seconds. In second place, Sudou with 24.9 seconds. First place, Koenji with 23.22 seconds." He announced after gulping.
"WHAT!?" One of the boys shouted.
"No way!?" More boys shouted in surprise.
It's only natural for guys to want to win; it's in their DNA, every single boy and man has thought about being the best at one point in time. No one person will be the best at everything, but for males, it is normal for us to want to be the best in our social circle, at the very least.
[Karuizawa Kei POV]
The girls were excited, especially about the last part of the race. I couldn't believe that people like that existed in our class. This is an elite school.
"I can't believe Hirata-kun and Koenji-kun are so fast," Satou-san said, admiration clear in her voice.
"It came as a total surprise." Shinohara-san giggled.
"If only Koenji-kun weren't so arrogant," Mori-san complained.
"It's fine, we have Hirata-kun and Yamasaki-kun."
"Yeah, but those are the only two; all the other boys are trash." Shinohara-san hated the other boys.
"Don't say that, they're all good people." Kushida-san didn't want the rest of the boys to be talked badly about. She cared about everyone.
"If you say so, but those two are the only dateable ones." Mori-san accepted Kushida-san's words, but like every other normal girl in class, she was interested in those two.
"I still think Yamasaki-kun is the type of person who burns through girlfriends." Matsushita-san giggled.
A solitary person without abilities or handsome features is just showing off.
A solitary person with abilities and/or handsome features is impressive.
"Maybe no girl could tame him." Shinohara-san laughed.
"Then why not go for it, Shinohara-san? Maybe you can tame him." I teased Shinohara-san, it was known that she had a little crush on Yamasaki-kun.
"Hehe, maybe, I just think he isn't very interested in me; he hasn't initiated any type of conversation with me." She sighed, disappointed after letting out a self-deprecating laugh.
"Then make him interested before it's too late. I overheard him inviting Ichinose-san out on a date during a school fair, a while back."
They would make a good pair; they were both very good-looking people.
"Karuizawa-san, I can't compete with Ichinose-san," Shinohara-san complained.
"Who knows, maybe you're more his type." I giggled.
"Hah, what about you? Didn't the two of you went on the date right after the arcade?" Matsushita-san chimed in, as I felt my face slightly heat up.
I remember that moment as if it were yesterday.
He was so kind to me.
I remember how he smiled at me as he smiled softly, and with those bright brown eyes.
I felt blood rushing to my face.
"He was just helping me."
I pouted as the girls giggled.
"Karuizawa-san sure is lucky," Nene-san said as the girls all nodded in agreement.
"What do you mean?!" I was confused.
"I'm sure she could get either Hirata-kun or Yamasaki-kun." She teased as she glared at me.
I gulped as fear overtook my body.
This might be where it starts, calm down, Kei.
I forced myself to calm down and not relive my past.
I made a vow to change and start a new one.
"I remember him talking with Matsushita-san a lot, too." Sorry, Matsushita-san, but if it's to save myself, I'm going to throw you to the wolves.
"Now that you say that, I remember that too." From the side, I noticed that Shinohara-san was slightly depressed.
I felt pity for her.
I doubted that she'd be able to date Yamasaki-kun;
Shinohara-san wasn't ugly, but Yamasaki-kun seemed to care about looks a lot, at least that was my impression. He was friendly not just with Matsushita-san or Satou-san but even a loners like Hasebe-san and Sakura-san.
I walked up to her and leaned in to whisper into her ear.
"Shinohara-san, you should try to seduce Yamasaki-kun," I whispered. The girls didn't take notice since they were talking about Yamasaki-kun and Hirata-kun.
"How?" She almost seemed desperate, and although I had no experience in this topic, I could try to give advice.
"Yamasaki-kun seems smart. Ask him to tutor you one-on-one." That was a good idea. I wasn't sure if he'd accept, but if he did, that was a way for Shinohara-san to spend more time with him.
"But what if he says no?"
"That may happen, but I don't think he's the type to deny you if you ask him for help," I explained.
Would this work? Probably not, but who knows? The goddess of luck might look favourably on her.
"Yeah, but then what?" I couldn't give you a step-by-step guide to date him. Not because I don't want to, but because I have no clue.
"Shinohara-san, just go for it." I decided that was the best advice I could give her.
"Alright, I'll do it." She determinedly nodded.
"Go get him, girl," I said, seemingly a bit too loud as the girls turned their attention toward us.
Which is exactly what I wanted. If the girls find out I advised Shinohara-san, they might see me as reliable.
"What are you two talking about?" Satou-san questioned.
"Karuizawa-san was just giving me advice."
Shinohara-san answered nervously after gulping.
I'm sorry for using you this way, Shinohara-san, even though I think it will fail.
"On Yamasaki-kun?" Shinohara-san nodded to Matsushita-san's question.
"If it's Karuizawa-san giving you advice, I'm sure you can do it." Nene-san gave a thumbs-up as I giggled at the praise.
"So Shinohara-san is planning on confessing?" Kushida-san didn't say much, but she sounded interested; maybe she also wants a boyfriend?
"Not now, but at some point." Shinohara nodded after pausing and gulping. The girls cheered for her, though I was sure that most of them were hoping for her failure.
That's how the girls are.
On the surface, we may seem best friends, but behind the scenes, we hope that no one in the group won't have their way.
"Good luck." Kushida-san kindly smiled, which made her look cute.
"Thank you, everyone." Shinohara-san smiled happily.
With all the upsides and downsides, this is the first time everyone Class D were having fun together.
I still hasn't forgotten a vow I made to myself to start over.
I should...
No. I must make contact with Yamasaki-kun about "that".
No matter what, I will not return to those days.
I will protect myself no matter what.
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