"Okay, okay."
Akira nodded without hesitation, scooped up the neat stack of eight textbooks from his desk, and plopped them down on Shouko's desk.
"Ma—"
"Hmm?"
Shouko narrowed her eyes and gave him a subtle glare, clearly warning him not to say something embarrassing.
Akira obediently swallowed the next word.
Shouko turned her attention away and calmly picked up her pen. Without another word, she began writing Miyamura Akira neatly across the inside of each textbook.
"Ahem."
Nobe, who stood at the front of the classroom, cleared her throat while tapping a finger against the edge of the podium.
"Keep writing your names while I go over a few things."
She pointed to the wall next to the blackboard. "The class schedule will be posted there. You can check it out after class ends."
"Formal classes start tomorrow. This afternoon, I'll take everyone to get your school uniforms and indoor shoes."
Down below, Shouko was just finishing up the last of Akira's books. She rolled her wrist a little and handed the stack back to him, then reached for her own books.
But even while writing, she was still trying to keep half an ear on what Nobe was saying—just in case something important came up.
"I'll be teaching your Chinese Language and Music/Art classes," Nobe continued. "The rest will be taught by other teachers."
BANG!
She suddenly slapped the blackboard behind her.
A few students jumped in their seats—Shouko included.
That was exactly the reaction Nobe was looking for. Her eyes narrowed.
"Don't think that just because I'm not teaching every subject, you can act up in someone else's class."
"If I hear from any teacher that you've been disruptive… I'll show you the 'methods' I've built up over my seven or eight years as a homeroom teacher."
A few students gulped audibly.
"Alright, keep writing. If there's anything else, I'll let you know."
Shouko exhaled and looked down at her textbook—
—and froze.
There, on the second page of her Chinese Language textbook, in clean handwriting, were four big characters:
'Miyamura Shouko.'
Her cheeks flushed instantly.
When she'd been writing Akira's name earlier, she'd been repeating it in her mind over and over.
Then came Nobe's sudden outburst… and her hand must've just defaulted to what she'd been thinking about.
Panic rose.
She quickly darted a glance out of her peripheral vision—especially toward him.
Thankfully, Akira hadn't noticed. He was flipping lazily through one of his books.
Without hesitation, Shouko snapped the textbook shut, sandwiched it deep beneath her stack of other books, and resumed writing her real name like nothing happened.
No need to erase it.
After all… it was a brand-new textbook. She didn't want to scuff it. That's all. Right?
It was just a name. Nothing more.
She and Akira were innocent childhood friends—there was nothing weird about it. No reason to get flustered.
Right? Right! That's how it is.
But her slightly trembling fingertips betrayed her heart completely.
Time passed quickly. By 10:24, Nobe was on the podium, marking down names in her roll call book when her phone vibrated in her pocket.
She glanced down, saw a message flash across the teachers' group chat, and paused.
After reading it, she casually looked up and called out to the class:
"Alright, time to head out. Everyone, line up in the hallway—boys in one line, girls in another. We're going downstairs to listen to the Principal's speech."
She caught herself just in time before blurting out "rambling." That had almost slipped.
Nobe walked out of the classroom alone, waiting in the hall while the students gathered.
"Let's go, Akira."
"Okay, okay."
"Let's go, Shouko."
Takagi Sana stood up from behind Shouko, gently took her hand, and started toward the door.
Akira watched his Shouko being led away, feeling a strange, brief pang of emptiness.
But before he could dwell on it, a voice called out behind him:
"Um, Miyamura? Aren't you coming?"
He turned to see Nishikata Naoto looking at him expectantly.
"Yeah, yeah. Let's go, Nishikata."
The two boys left the classroom together.
All of Class 1-2 lined up and followed Nobe to the gymnasium. Akira looked around at the gathered students.
All of them were first-years, still in casual clothing, though a few stood out in formal school uniforms.
Probably Student Council members, he thought.
"Alright! That's all from me. I hope you all have a great three years at Minato Namikaze Middle School!"
The Principal's final line was followed by thunderous applause—mainly from the boys, who were thrilled that the hour-long lecture was finally over.
Akira clapped politely, but inwardly he was done. The speech had started at 10:30 and dragged on till exactly noon.
That man has mastered the art of rambling.
At the front, Nobe turned to face the class and called out:
"Alright! You're dismissed! If you need to use the restroom, go now. Otherwise, eat your bento. We'll reconvene for class at 2 p.m."
She left the gym right after that.
"Let's go, Shouko! Let's eat in the classroom!"
"Not yet," Shouko said gently. "I told Takagi-san earlier I'd go with her to the convenience store."
"Alright. I'll wait for you in the classroom."
Akira nodded, unconcerned. He didn't have a bad impression of Takagi Sana so far—she seemed nice enough.
He watched the two girls walk off, then turned toward the classroom by himself.
He'd barely taken a few steps when Nishikata Naoto's voice called out again:
"Miyamura, wait for me! I'll walk up with you."
Akira stopped and turned. "Why the rush?"
"Do you know where the school's lost and found is?"
Akira blinked. "Did you lose something?"
"No, no," Nishikata waved his hands. "I found a handkerchief. I want to turn it in."
Akira nodded, then pointed out the directions based on the layout he still remembered.
"Thanks!"
"Hey, just eat your bento first and drop it off later," Akira called out as Nishikata started running.
But the boy just waved and kept going. "I'm worried the owner's anxious. They might be looking for it right now!"
What a guy, Akira thought, watching him disappear. Nishikata Naoto's got a good heart.
Once he was alone again, Akira turned to head upstairs—but another voice caught him.
"Miyamura? What are you standing around for?"
He turned to see two familiar faces: Kawai Miki and Ueno Naoka walking toward him.
"Nothing much," he said. "Just a bit hungry. I'm heading back to eat my bento."
He nodded at them politely, then turned and left without waiting.
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