The relatinship called "friendship" can be one of the strangest ones, you ever had.
It doesn't require constant maintainance like a love relationship, nor does it come naturally like blood relationship.
There is no proper start or end to it.
When things become awkward, you just naturally drift apart.
Such was my thought before that reunion of my high school friends, but in that reunion, I realized something.
No matter the current situation of your relationship, the time spent together laughing, enjoying, fighting are always the truth.
And those moments are the only things that stay forever.
Well, that's enough for philosophical talk.
It has been almost a day since I have transmigrated into the body of Yamauchi, and the classes are almost over.
It still doesn't feel real, but keeping my feelings aside, I took a look at the class.
Soon after the Ichinose incident, the in-class voting special exam would be announced.
And in that exam someone must be expelled from each class.
In the story, it was Yamauchi Haruki from class 1C, but this time someone other than me would have to go.
....Well, let's think about that after I have handled this particular incident.
The class was over, and students started packing up to leave.
"Hey Ayanakouji, how about we go to karaoke this evening?", Ike asked right after the class ended.
It was a bit unexpected, so I listened intently.
Ayanokouji, after a bit of thinking, nodded and said 'alright'.
His response was unexpected too.
Final exams of first year are just around the corner, everyone is busy studying, so I think, Ike just want to let off some stress.
"How about you, Sakura chan?", Ike asked in a cutesy voice to Sakura, who was just about to leave.
As soon as she realized Ayanokouji was coming, she agreed to come too.
"Sounds fun! I'm in.", Sudo spoke up behind me.
"You coming too, Haruki?", he asked me without hesitation.
There is some time before the aforesaid karaoke, so if I quickly finish what I had planned, then it would be alright I think.
It would be strange for 'Yamauchi' to deny this kind of invitation, where there would be Sakura, whom he had a crush on.
A bunch of other students, like Shinohara, Hondou, Kushida, Karuizawa, Matsushita, also joined.
"Alright see you then.", I bid farewell to Sudo and Ike, and left the class.
***
The backside of the class building was almost devoid of people, as it was getting pretty chilly, with the evening breeze.
I stood there, looking at the beautiful sunset, and the appearance of opportunistic stars.
And then, sound of footsteps reached my ears.
"You are late, Chabashira sensei.", I said, turning towards the other sole figure in my vicinity.
"Sorry, had to take care of some paperwork on my way."
She stepped closer, her eyes narrowed. I could tell she was perplexed. To her, I was just Yamauchi Haruki—the loud-mouthed, underachieving clown of Class C. I wasn't supposed to be the type of student who arranged secret meetings, let alone one claiming to have uncovered a conspiracy involving Hoshinomiya-sensei from Class B.
She had been lured here by the pretense of a plot, but seeing me instead of a "serious" student clearly made her want to end this farce quickly.
"Let's make this brief, Yamauchi," she said, crossing her arms. "What is this 'conspiracy' you mentioned?"
I turned to face her, a small, knowing smile playing on my lips. "It's about Hoshinomiya-sensei. She's been quite talkative lately. She even mentioned some... disturbing details about the past you two shared. Back when you were both students in this very school."
The air seemed to still. For the first time, I saw a genuine 'tweak' in her composure. Her eyes widened slightly, a flash of defensive instinct crossing her face as she questioned the credibility of my words. I didn't actually know what had happened—the light novels hadn't revealed the full truth yet—but the mere mention of it was enough to strike a nerve.
She looked perplexed, her mind likely racing to figure out how much I knew. This was the opening I had been waiting for.
Without a word, I reached into my bag and pulled out a scarf I had prepared. I stepped into her personal space—a move the old Yamauchi would never have the courage to make—and swiftly tried to wrap it around her neck.
She reacted instantly. Her hand shot up, gripping my arm with surprising strength to stop my movement. She flinched, her cold eyes searching mine for a threat. After a tense silence, she reorganized her composure and let go of my arm.
"It doesn't really matter to me what Hoshinomiya-sensei said," she stated, her voice regaining its steel. "And I would advise you to stay away from her. Now... tell me directly. What is the meaning of this scarf?"
I looked at her with a polite, innocent expression. "I simply thought sensei was feeling cold."
She stared at me for a long moment, speechless. She didn't offer a rebuttal or a punishment; she simply turned on her heel. "Go back to your dorms before sunset," she called out over her shoulder. "It's only going to get colder from here on."
I watched her walk away, knowing exactly what was going through her head. She knew the Yamauchi who lived a carefree life like Ike. She didn't know this Yamauchi.
Once her footsteps faded, I breathed a heavy sigh of relief. The performance was over.
"Come out now," I called toward the bushes a few meters away. "She's gone."
The leaves rustled, and a girl in the Class B uniform emerged.
Her black hair was tied in its signature ponytail, but her face was a mask of disgust and awe. Chihiro Shiranami looked at me as if she were seeing a monster for the first time.
I met her gaze and gave her a casual smile.
"Did you take the photos?"
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A/N :
Next - The Tension And Ichinose
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