"—You'll be the class representative. You look respectable... and you don't seem like the type to cause school trouble."
Huh?
Her face was full of certainty. She spoke as if she'd already made an official decision.
Wait a sec… Where did you get that kind of confidence from, Miss? Are you messing with me?
Me?
My transfer average was 11.
There are students in this class with 16 averages—literally.
And you picked me?
Me, whose general appearance—by everyone's own admission—makes me look like the leader of a terrorist cell!
Or at least… that's what people say sometimes.
"—Miss, I got an 11. That means, officially: I'm a troublemaker."
I pointed with my hand toward Anis, sitting in the other row to my right, then turned to face him.
"—Look at Anis. He got a 16. He's way more deserving of the rep position."
Anis?
The short guy with plain black hair, black eyes, and pale skin.
There's nothing visually distinct about him—like his face was created to be neutral.
"—Wait, wait! I'm not a hardworking student!"
He blurted it out quickly, like he was defending himself, laughing nervously.
I looked at him with a deadpan expression.
Are you kidding me?
"—So… you yourself admitted you're not diligent. That puts me at the bottom of the bottom."
I smiled defiantly.
"—Which means, no matter what, you're still better than me. I dare you to convince me otherwise."
"—Oh… but I'm gonna transfer schools soon."
Right…
A lot of students plan to transfer.
Melissa used to be one of them, and I'm sure she still is.
At least this time… I didn't feel regret.
As for him—Anis?
It's clear he's not transferring anytime soon. Probably never did.
So of course, the teacher said:
"—Then you can be the class rep for the time you'll be here."
"—Ah… sure."
He slumped in his seat like he'd resigned himself to fate.
Come on… no one can beat me in a persuasion match, especially not in class.
I smiled and let out a soft laugh, riding that little wave of victory.
"—Now… let's see who'll be the vice rep."
The teacher began scanning students' faces.
I know this part all too well…
"—Alright, Nibal… you'll be the vice rep."
"—Oh… okay."
Nibal, I know you didn't want that role.
No one actually wants to be the class rep.
It's stupid.
She sits behind Melissa—a girl with green eyes, fair skin, average height, and glasses.
But to be honest?
I never really notice girls' details.
Not before. Not now.
My goal isn't women.
My goal is money.
Yeah… money first, money second, money forever.
My eternal life motto: Money before love.
"—Now, we only need a second vice rep…"
And who's the lucky one this time?
"—Mizuki, would you like to be the second vice rep?"
The teacher said with a gentle smile.
"—Yes…"
Mizuki replied—but with a tone of genuine shock.
"—Miss!!!"
I shot up from my seat and blurted it out.
My face was frozen in unspeakable shock, like my soul had just left my body.
I quickly fixed my expression and coughed lightly.
"Ahem… ahem…"
I covered my mouth like I was regaining composure, then said:
"—Miss, I'd just like to speak on this specific matter."
I said it in a serious tone, like a lawyer addressing a courtroom.
"—You? Why are you talking? No one asked for your opinion."
She said it with a slight, quiet sarcasm.
"— Sensei, how can you assign someone new to our country as the class rep?"
My words came out clear, logical—like I was giving a speech in parliament.
"— She knows nothing about this place. Not the system, not the school, not even the country itself."
I glanced at her… Mizuki.
I continued in a calm, rational tone:
"— Even her language isn't stable yet. I'm not saying this out of discrimination or bullying… but for everyone's sake. Especially since everyone here knows this is a job no one really wants. I mean… giving it to someone who has no clue about anything? That's like handing a plane to someone still learning the alphabet."
The teacher looked at me for a few seconds, then said plainly:
"— You're right… very well, Bachir, you're the class rep."
"— Yes, Sensei."
Bachir is probably the only one who wouldn't mind being class rep—or even Minister of Defense.
I sat down quietly.
A sigh escaped my lips.
I looked down and rested my head on my hand, as if the floor had become a deep well I was trying to peer into.
Was letting things go really the right choice?
Has nothing changed at all?
Riiiinnnggg…
The school bell rang out, as if setting us free from an artificial reality.
"— Alright, that's the end of the lesson. Next period is Salama's class."
The teacher packed her things and walked out, her footsteps fading beneath the noise of the hallway.
Feet stomping, students laughing, the air buzzing with chaos.
"— YAA ANQAAAAAAAA!!"
"— AAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHH!"
A wild, booming laugh echoed through the corridor.
Of course… Raouf calling Aymen.
As usual, the two of them burst out into the hallway like it was a stage.
Raouf? My friend, a year older than me. He used to study at this school—knows it like the back of his hand.
Aymen? He'll be leaving school soon, so he's just living in the moment.
"— I'll come join you."
I called out to them—
…Or no, wait, that's a lie.
In the past, I didn't go straight away. I hesitated. Sat there for a while, then went out late.
But now… now I'll change that.
The noise was starting to fade. A moment of silence—an opening.
I packed my things, stood up, and walked confidently to the platform by the board.
I raised my head, and spoke loud and clear—
So loud that even those who didn't want to hear, would hear:
"— Whoever wants to pass without effort, follow me. Whoever wants to stay for class… God bless them."
I left the classroom without looking back.
…Only seconds later, embarrassment started creeping into my gut.
Dear God… did I really say that back then? That confidently?
I muttered to myself:
"— I guess… this is what they call a dark past."
A small, awkward chuckle slipped out, but I quickly returned to seriousness.
In the end, it's all just flair—just theatrics.
Right now, my goal was simple: go home.
…Or at least, that's what I thought.
Why is Mizuki walking behind me?
Ever since I got to the stairs leading out of school, she's still walking behind me.
Not beside me. Not ahead.
Just… behind me. At a close distance.
True, she lives in the same area as I do.
But… why now? No one else from our class left yet.
We'd walked a long way. The school was no longer in sight.
I looked around—barely anyone was here.
I suddenly turned to her:
"— You… why are you walking behind me? Is there a problem?"
I asked in a neutral tone… or at least, I think it was neutral.
"— You said… to follow you."
She lowered her gaze as she spoke, her face full of embarrassment.
…Wait a minute.
When the hell did I say that?
Ah… wait.
You mean that line I said in class?
The one I dramatically shouted: "Whoever wants to succeed without effort, follow me!"
…Wait, you actually… believed that?
Are… are there really people out there this naive?
I instantly turned my face away, trying to hide the smirk stretching across my cheeks. My lips trembled as I fought back the laugh and sarcasm boiling inside me.
I peeked at her from the corner of my eye… yep, still embarrassed.
She seriously took it at face value.
She actually believed it.
—
"Na… Navarro-san?!"
She called out to me in disbelief, like someone who just found out Santa Claus was a lie.
I guess I have to be honest with her now.
I sighed, then looked at her seriously:
"Oh… Okay, but—are you stupid? I mean, who seriously thinks you can actually pass without any effort? Without even attending class?"
I said it bluntly, like someone who was just fed up with explaining the basics.
Mizuki stared down at the ground, her expression like she'd just slapped herself mentally.
She looked like she was having an inner dialogue that went, "Oh God… why was I even born?"
I scratched my head—not out of nervousness, but because I literally couldn't stand seeing her like that.
"…Okay, fine. There is a way, but it's super hard. Wanna hear it?"
She looked up at me and… smiled.
A pure smile.
Full of strange excitement…
No, this was the first time I'd seen her smile like that.
"Yes. I want to hear it."
"All right, let's walk. I'll explain on the way."
I turned and started walking. She followed, now walking beside me.
"The way is… hmm… like, ah… got it! We just study at home instead of going to school!"
I declared it confidently, eyes fixed forward, like I was unveiling a plan to save the economy.
…No reaction.
I glanced at her.
Her expression: "Am I really talking to a sane human being?"
I quickly corrected myself:
"Ahem... Okay, let's be honest. We skipped school today, right?"
"Right."
"And in our school's system, if you skip, you need to bring your guardian to be allowed back in."
"Ah, that's true…"
She placed a finger on her chin and stared up at the sky.
Thinking… or pretending to, at least.
Then suddenly, she froze.
….
Her face went pale in horror.
"Wait… does that mean… I have to bring my dad tomorrow to come back?!"
"No no no, it's fine. First day's an exception. Why do you think I walked out?"
I said it as I waved my hand to calm her down.
Mizuki let out a sigh of relief:
"Yokatta… so I can go back tomorrow. I thought my entire academic journey had ended on the first day."
She smiled a weird little smile…
In just minutes, she'd gone from shock to laughter to terror to relief.
If someone told me she was an actress, I'd believe them.
I continued:
"And in our system, there are three terms. You need to gather at least 30 points total to pass. Super easy."
"But… isn't your curriculum considered one of the hardest in the world? That's what my research said…"
She said it with a confused tone.
Ah, "research," huh? Did you conduct a field study, Miss Tokyo?
"To be honest? Yeah, it's hard. But if I say it's easy… then it is easy. Got it?"
I looked at her, raising both eyebrows with unshakable confidence.
"I don't get it… how is it hard for everyone else but easy for you?"
She closed her eyes and walked beside me, clearly lost in thought.
Her face while thinking was… hilarious.
Shhhhhhh…
The sound of the electric train.
"All right. The train's here. Let's ride and continue inside."
I stepped in first. Mizuki followed behind me with her tiny, quick steps.
We didn't say anything after that.
No need to—just one station.
Shhhhhh...
The train rolled on, moments passing slowly.
Thankfully, I didn't spot anyone I knew.
Moments passed…
Ding!
The door opened.
"The destination is here… and at last, it's time to ask the question that's haunted me since day one."