Chapter 2
The students of D-class
On the second day of school, even though it was technically the first day of classes, the majority of the day was spent going over policies and rules. Many of the students had their expectations completely blown away by how nice and friendly the teachers were. Having already made a big commotion the other day, Sudou was left alone as he slept like a log during class. The teachers noticed him sleeping, but no one made an indication as to stop him.
After all, deciding to listen to the lesson or not is our choice, so the teacher wasn't concerned. Is this how teachers interact with students that are no longer part of compulsory education?
In this relaxed atmosphere, it soon became lunchtime. Getting up from their seats, the students started to go out to eat lunch with their acquaintances. I couldn't help but look in envy towards the others. Sadly, I wasn't able to make any close friends with my classmates.
"Pitiful."
The only person who noticed my feelings sneered at me.
"… What. What's pitiful?"
"'I want someone to invite me. I want to eat lunch with somebody.' Your thoughts are really obvious."
"You're also by yourself. Don't you feel the same way? Or do you plan on staying alone for the next three years?"
"Yes. I like being alone."
She replied quickly, without any hesitation. It seems like she really feels that way.
"Instead of worrying about me, go worry about yourself."
"Well… "
After all, it wasn't me that proudly said that I couldn't make friends.
To be honest, it seems like the near future will be troubling because I couldn't make any friends.
After all, being alone also stands out. If I became the object of bullying, I would certainly be conspicuous.
Not even a minute after the ball rang, half the class became empty.
The people who are left either want to go but are alone just like me, are sleeping and not paying attention, or like being alone like Horikita.
"I was thinking of going to eat, does anyone want to come with me?"
Hirata said as he stood up.
With that kind of thinking, he looks like a real riajuu.
I'd been waiting for my savior to come all along—it's a perfect chance for me.
Hirata, I'm coming now. Steeling my nerves, I slowly raised my hand…
"I'm going too~!" "Me too me too!"
When I saw Hirata surrounded by girls, I put my hand back down.
Why did those girls take my spot? That was my chance to be friends with him! Just because he's an ikemen doesn't mean that you guys can thoughtlessly go to the cafeteria with him!
"How sad."
Another derisive laugh and a disdainful look came from Horikita.
"Don't try to guess what other people are thinking."
"Is there anything else?"
Feeling a bit lonely from the lack of other boys, Hirata looked around the room.
When he spotted me, our eyes met.
It's here! Hirata noticed me! A man who wants you to invite him is here!
After meeting eyes, his gaze locked onto me.
As expected from the riajuu, he understood my troubles!
"Umm, Ayanoko───"
Hirata tried to call out my name, but at that moment,
"Hirata-kun, hurry up!"
The girls took a hold of Hirata's arms without noticing me at all.
Ahh… Hirata's gaze was stolen by the girls. Afterwards, he and the girls exited the classroom. The only thing that remained was my outstretched arm.
Feeling embarrassed, I pretended I stretched my arm to scratch my head.
"Well then."
Sending me one last look of pity, Horikita left the classroom by herself.
"That was useless… "
Reluctantly, I stood up by myself and decided to go to the cafeteria all alone.
If I don't feel like eating alone, I'll just go buy something at the convenience store.
"Ayanokouji-kun… right?"
On my way towards the cafeteria, I was suddenly stopped by a beautiful girl. She's Kushida, one of my classmates.
Because it was the first time I looked at her from the front, my heart went doki doki.
Straight, short, brown hair that reached the top of the shoulders. It wasn't crude by any means, but the school recently approved shorter skirts, so it was obvious that her uniform was a newer one.
In her hand was a pouch with a lot of keyholders on it—I couldn't tell if she was carrying a pouch or if she was carrying a lot of keyholders.
"I'm Kushida in the same class. Will you remember my name?"
"Sure, I guess I can. What do you need from me?"
"Actually… I would like to ask you something. It's a short question, but Ayanokouji-kun, by any chance, are you on good terms with Horikita-san?"
"We're not particularly close. Just acquaintances. Did she do something?"
It seems that when her goal was to ask about Horikita. I feel a bit sad.
"Oh, I see. Weren't you two getting along on the first day of school though? I was asking everyone one by one for their contact info, but… Horikita refused to tell me."
That girl, what is she doing? If she was asked for her contact by an assertive girl like her, she could've helped me out and shared it with me. Afterwards, I might have have gotten familiar with the class.
"Also, on the day of the entrance ceremony, weren't you two talking to each other in front of the school?"
Considering that we were also on the same bus together, it's not surprising that she saw the two of us together.
"What kind of personality does Horikita have? Is she the type to only speak her mind to her close friends?"
Even though she wants to get to know Horikita, I can only listen to her questions but not answer any of them.
"I think she's not very good at interacting with others. Why do you want to know about Horikita?"
"During the self-introductions, Horikita-san walked out of the room, right? It looked like she didn't talk to anybody, so I was worried about her."
She did say that she wanted to get along with everyone in her introduction.
"I understand, but I only met her yesterday, so I can't really help."
"Fuun… so that's how it was. I thought you two were friends before coming to high school. Sorry for asking you a weird question out of the blue!"
"No, it's fine. Why do you know my name though?"
"What, didn't you introduce yourself? I made sure to memorize everyone's names."
Kushida listened to my lame self-introduction.
For some reason I feel really glad hearing that.
"Once again, let's get along well, Ayanokouji-kun!"
Although I felt a bit perplexed by her outstretched hand, I wiped my hands on my pants and then shook her hand.
"Nice to meet you too… "
Today was a lucky day. Even though there were some bad moments, there were also good ones.
And since humans think conveniently, I quickly forgot about the bad moments of the day.
1
Eventually, after peeking through the cafeteria door, I decided to go to the convenience store, bought some bread, and returned to the classroom.
A group of friends were eating with their desks next to each other, while there were various students quietly eating alone. The only thing common was that nearly everyone had a bento from either the convenience store or the cafeteria.
I was going to start eating when I saw that Horikita had already returned to her seat.
She had on her desk a sandwich that looked delicious.
I returned to my seat without saying anything.
When I was about to take my first bite of my bread, music started to play out of the speakers.
"Today, at 5pm in gymnasium number 1, there will be a club fair. For those of you with an interest in clubs, please come to gymnasium number 1. I repeat, today──"
A girl with a cute voice made an announcement over the PA.
Clubs, huh. I've never been in a club before.
"Hey, Horikita───"
"I have no interest in clubs."
"… I didn't even ask anything yet."
"Ok, then what?"
"Are you going to participate in any clubs?"
"Ayanokouji-kun. Do you have dementia? Or are you just an idiot? Didn't I say from the beginning that I have no interest in clubs?"
"Just because you don't have any interest doesn't mean you won't participate."
"That's a frivolous argument. Don't make that kind of pointless talk."
"Ok…"
Horikita has no interest in clubs or making friends. Whenever I talk to her, she looks annoyed. I wonder if she came to this school just for the education or the high employment rate.
It wouldn't be surprising if that was her only reason, but it seems unnatural.
"You really don't have any friends, I see."
"That's wrong. Now I can talk to you pretty well."
"You say that, but don't count me as one of your friends."
"R-right, sure…"
"Since you want to go see the clubs, do you intend to enter any clubs?"
"No, I'm still thinking about it. I probably won't join one though."
"If you're not going to join a club, why are you going to the club fair? Strange. Are you using clubs as a pretext to make friends?"
How is she so smart? No, it's probably that I'm too easy to understand.
"Because I failed on the first day, clubs are my last chance to make any friends."
"Isn't it fine to invite anyone other than me?"
"It's because I have no one else to invite that I'm having trouble!"
"That's true. However, I don't think that Ayanokouji-kun seriously means the things you say. If you really wanted a friend, you'd probably talk more earnestly."
"Because that's not possible for me, I tread the path of loneliness."
Horikita quietly resumed eating her sandwich.
"I can't really understand that kind of contradictory thinking."
I want friends, but I can't make friends. It seems that Horikita couldn't understand that.
"Did you ever do any clubs?"
"No. I have no experience in any clubs."
"Then do you have any experience with things outside of clubs? Oh, you're talking about something like this and that?"
"… What are you trying to say? I feel the malice behind your words."
"Malice? I didn't even tell you what I was referring to though."
I received a chop to my side in a quick motion.
I reflexively coughed from her unexpected strength.
"Hey, what was that for!?"
"Ayanokouji-kun. I've warned you already, but it seems like you don't listen to what I say. Remember that I'm capable of inflicting more pain than I just did."
"No violence! Violence doesn't solve anything!"
"Really? Ever since the beginning of time, violence has existed because it is the most efficient way of resolving problems. It is the fastest way of either getting your point across to the other party or ignoring the other party's desires. After all, even countries employ police who use weapons and violence to arrest people, right?"
"You sure talk a lot…"
She gave me a grand speech, asserting that she did nothing wrong. Whenever she made a remark, she would say absurd things and use it to viciously retort.
"From now on, I will use violence in order to fix the errors of your ways. How about it?"
"How would you feel if I said the same thing to you?"
I wonder why they call men who raise their hand against a women the lowest and cowardly.
"It doesn't matter, because don't you think that'll never happen? After all, I never say something I shouldn't."
That was an answer that came far out of left field. She seems to believe that she's never wrong.
Even though she looks and acts in a civil manner, she's mean on the inside.
"I got it, I got it. I'll be really careful from now on."
Giving up on inviting Horikita, I looked out the window. Ah, the weather's good today.
"Club activities… is it. I see… "
Horikita mumbled as she pondered over something.
"Only a bit after school is ok, right? I'll go with you."
"What do you mean by that?"
"Didn't you say it yourself? That you wanted to go to the club fair."
"Oh, right. I never intended to stay long. After all, I was only looking for an excuse. Is that fine?"
"If it's only for a short while. Then, I'll see you after school."
After that, she resumed eating. Looks like she decided to go along with my attempt to make more friends.
Earlier I said that she was unpleasant to talk to, but her attitude seems to be taking a turn for the better.
"Looking at you trying to make friends and failing sounds interesting."
Never mind, she's still unpleasant.
2
"Wow, it's bigger than I thought it'd be."
Horikita and I met after school to go to the gymnasium.
Almost everyone there were first years; around 100 people were waiting nearby.
Waiting around the back, we were waiting for the club fair to start.
As we entered the gym, pamphlets with details about club activities were passed out.
"I wonder if this school has a particularly famous club. For example… something like a karate club?"
"A lot of clubs here seem to be high-leveled. There are a lot of members in a lot of clubs that are nationally known."
Even though this school isn't particularly known for their sports like baseball or volleyball, it isn't like the club activities are at the "hobbyist" level.
"The facilities are also high quality. Look, they even have oxygen capsules. All the equipment put pro's equipment to shame. Ah, but it looks like they don't have a karate club."
"… I see."
"Why, are you interested in karate?"
"No, not particularly."
"But you know, it looks like an inexperienced person will have a hard time joining a sports club. Even if someone made their high school debut, they would be a substitute for an eternity. I don't think it would be fun."
Everything around here seems too orderly and tidy.
"Isn't that dependent on the effort they put in? After 1 to 2 years of training, anyone can become good."
Training… I don't think I would be able to put in much effort.
"I didn't think that the word 'training' existed for people who avoid trouble like you."
"What does avoiding trouble have to do anything with this?"
"Doesn't someone who avoids trouble also avoid any sort of manual labor? If you've declared that you avoid trouble, you should stick to your word until the very end."
"I don't take it that far…"
"If you're always noncommittal like that, you're never going to make friends."
"Your words wound my heart."
"Thank you for waiting, first year students. A representative from each club will explain their activities and how to join. I am Tachibana, the secretary of the student council and the chairman responsible for this club fair. Nice to meet you."
After the greeting from Tachibana, the club representatives lined up on the stage of the gym.
There were various representatives, ranging from those wearing judo uniforms to beautiful kimonos.
"Hey, if you ever change your mind, try joining a sports club. Doesn't that judo club look good? That senpai looks nice and encouraging."
"What part of him looks nice and encouraging? That gorilla looks like he could kill someone at any time."
"He'd probably preach to you that judo is an easy sport."
"Just stop!"
I thought that the conversation was really going somewhere, but she was just being rude again.
"Even if that was the case, the sports clubs clearly don't welcome any beginners, looking at how they're showing off."
"They should be welcomed. The more the people they get, the more money the school gives them and so they'd be able to get more equipment."
"That's just using new members as a way to get money…"
"It'd be ideal to recruit a lot of new members, increase the budget, then get them to become ghost members. You need to be able to skillfully manipulate the rules in the world."
"What a bad world… Your way of thinking is certainly strange."
"My name is Hashigaki, and I'm the captain of the archery club. I think there are a lot of students who find it old-fashioned and simple, but it is a really fun and fulfilling sport. We give all new students a warm welcome, so if you're interested, please join."
A girl wearing archery clothes started her introduction on the stage.
"Look, they seem to welcome beginners. How about you try joining? To make their budget bigger."
"Joining a club for that reason is a definite no! Also, a sports club is a meeting place for riajuus. Without knowing anyone, it wouldn't be fun at all and I'd probably leave in an instant."
"Isn't that way of thinking a result of your twisted personality?"
"Yup, absolutely. A sports club is definitely impossible."
I wouldn't even want to do a part-time job that is completely lax and requires little effort.
Furthermore, I would probably only join a club if it was easy to join, calm, and quiet.
"Tsu… !"
As the club representatives introduced their clubs one by one, Horikita suddenly tensed up. She was looking towards the stage, her face pale.
"What's wrong?"
In her tensed state, she looks as if she didn't hear me.
I also looked towards the stage, but I didn't see anything in particular.
The baseball club representative was giving his introduction while wearing a uniform.
Did she fall in love at first sight with him? Doesn't seem like it.
Surprise? Disgust? Or maybe joy? To be honest, her expression is complex, making it hard to read her face.
"Horikita. What's wrong?"
"…"
Can she really not hear me? She just stared at the stage.
I'll stop talking and wait for an explanation.
The baseball club didn't seem particularly more interesting than the others.
No matter how well they welcome beginners, or how appealing their meeting location and times are, it's just another normal introduction. It wasn't just the baseball club, all the clubs seemed ordinary. If I learned anything interesting from these explanations, it was that minor clubs like tea ceremony and calligraphy clubs existed, and that the minimum number of people needed for a new club is 3.
Every time a new club starts their explanation, the first-years chat amongst their friends about the previous club.
The gym had a lively atmosphere to it. The club representatives, and not to mention the supervising teacher, continued their explanations with displeased looks. They must be frantic to get as many new members as possible.
As the senpais finished their explanations, they got off the stage and walked over to some tables. They're probably setting up a reception area so they can talk to people one-on-one and sign them up.
Eventually, all the people on stage walked off until one person was left. Everyone's gaze was centered on the stage. I realized that Horikita had been staring at that one person the whole time.
The person was about 170cm in height, which wasn't that tall.
A slender body, sleek black hair.
Sharp glasses, and a calculating gaze.
The student standing in front of the microphone looked over the first-years with a calm look.
What kind of club is he from, and what explanation will he give? My interest has been piqued. (T/N The person's gender isn't yet revealed, but I just used "he" to avoid saying "person" or "student" over and over again.)
However, my interest vanished the next second. He was completely silent.
Maybe his mind went blank. Maybe he felt nervous and his voice didn't come out.
"Do your best~"
"Did you forget to bring your notecards~?"
"Ahahaha!"
The first years threw those words at the person. However, the senpai on stage didn't waver at all. Neither the laughter nor the encouragement seemed to reach him.
Even when the laughter started dying down, his apathetic face didn't change.
The students started wondering "What is this senpai doing?" and the gym got noisy.
Even then, the boy didn't stir. He just stood there quietly, looking at the first-years. (T/N gender is revealed here)
Horikita also stared at the boy with an intense gaze.
The relaxed atmosphere gradually shifted in an unexpected direction. It was an electrifying change in mood.
Eventually, the whole gym was enveloped in a tense and quiet atmosphere.
There were no instructions given out, no one dared to talk—it was a dreadful silence.
No one could open their mouths to talk. This silence has been going on for 30 seconds already…
The student on stage started talking.
"My name is Horikita Manabu, and I am the student council president."
Horikita? I looked at Horikita next to me. I wonder if they're related…
"The student council is also looking for first-years to replace the graduating third-years. There are no strict requirements to apply for the position, but those who are interested should not be affiliated with any other clubs. Generally, we do not accept any candidate involved in other clubs."
His tone was soft, but the mood was still tense. He alone silenced the whole gym.
Of course, it wasn't his position as the student council president that gave him that power. Horikita Manabu also carried a powerful aura. His presence dominated the whole gym.
"Also, we, the student council, are not looking for anyone that has a naive way of thinking. Not only will that kind of person fail to get elected, they will inevitably become a stain to this school. The student council is only responsible for regulating the students, but the school expects much more. Those of you that understand can become potential candidates."
After that unwavering speech, he walked off the stage and exited the building.
Because no one dared to speak, none of the students spoke up when he left the gym. The students didn't know what would happen if they tried to talk. Everyone felt that way.
"Everyone, thank you for coming. With that, the club fair is over. We will now open the reception area for anyone interested in joining. The reception area will only be open until the end of April, so anyone interested after then can bring applications directly to the club."
With the help of the chairman, the tense atmosphere slowly disappeared.
Afterwards, the club representatives opened the reception area.
"…"
Horikita still didn't move at all.
"Oi, what's wrong?"
Horikita didn't answer. My words didn't reach her.
"Oh, Ayanokouji-kun. You also came?"
A thoughtful voice called out. It's Sudou. My classmates Ike and Yamauchi were with him.
"What is this, three people? Seems like you guys are getting along."
Feeling jealous, I called out to Sudou.
"Are you also thinking of joining a club?"
"No, I was just looking. Does that mean you were thinking of joining a club then?"
"Yea. I've been playing basketball since elementary school. I think I'll continue here too."
I always thought he did some kind of exercise with that kind of body—guess it was basketball.
"How about you two?"
"We just came because it seemed fun and exciting. I also hoped some kind of fateful encounter would happen."
"The hell, what do you mean by a fateful encounter?"
I prompted Ike again after hearing that questionable goal, and he answered proudly after crossing his arms.
"My first objective is to make a girlfriend. So, I was hoping that a fateful encounter would happen here."
(Illustration: https://imgur.com/Ntfmtqc)
So it was that kind of thing. Having a girlfriends seems to be an essential part of Ike's ideal school life.
"Also, that student council president has a strong aura. As if he ruled the place."
"Right? He was able to silence everyone."
"Yea, yea. Also, I made a male group chat yesterday."
Ike took out his phone.
"Do you want to join too? It's pretty convenient."
"Eh, is that fine?"
"Of course. We're all a part of class D after all."
I didn't expect that. I'm glad to have been invited to a group chat.
A perfect chance to make friends finally came!
As I started to take out my phone to exchange numbers, I saw Horikita disappear into the crowd.
Feeling worried about her, I unintentionally stopped moving.
"What's wrong?"
"No… it's nothing. Let's exchange numbers."
Regaining my senses, I shared my contact info with the others.
Horikita has the freedom to do whatever and go wherever she wants, and I have no right to stop her.
I felt like following her for a moment, but I decided not to.