At a particular room inside the special building's fourth floor, sensei came to a stop.
The room sensei stood before was a normal looking room that was located somewhere in the middle of the hall. It seemed like a normal room from afar, because it was. But if there was anything that stood out or seemed out of place, it would be the blank door plate that was strangely left blank.
"We're here."
As I stared at the doorplate with a hint of astonishment in my eyes, sensei slowly opened the door with a soft clatter. And as soon as the door was widely slid open, a strong and pleasant breeze came blowing our way.
At the other side of the door, was a rather small room that resembled that of your average prep room. It came with a wooden bookshelf on one side, and stack of chairs on the other. There was also an elongated wooden table at the middle of the room, serving as the centerpiece of the very room itself. And the windows inside were also widely left open, letting the breeze enter the room and wreak havoc through the halls of the deserted fourth floor.
There wasn't anything that seemed special about the room itself, it was indeed your average prep room you could find elsewhere inside the school. But if there was anything that set it apart from the rest, it would be the sullen figure standing alone at one side of the room.
By the window pane of that distinct room, was a girl.
She wasn't doing anything in particular, she was just standing idly near the windows, staring far into the distance. But that in itself was a completely captivating scene. It was like a scene out of some foreign film that grossed high on an international scale. It left me staring dumbfounded at the person in question.
Her skin was as white as virgin snow, and her blue eyes complimented it very well. She had this short, silk-like hair that went well with her somewhat round face. And just the sight of her from afar, you could already tell that she had a slender physique. In short, she was indeed a beauty.
It gave me the impression that I'd be nothing but a mere commoner if I were to just stand in the same vicinity as her. That's how far from reach she was. She seemed like the kind of person that everyone wanted to be at least associated with, one way or another. I guess you could call her an unattainable flower in that sense. But in my opinion, if something was unattainable or was clearly out of reach, I wouldn't even bother trying to close the distance in-between. There's a reason why it was called 'unattainable' in the first place.
So as my instinct suggested, I slowly backed away from the danger up front, increasing the distance between me and the girl.
If I was somehow given the chance, I would have backed away until I've reached the gates of this very school. But sadly, before I even took my third half-step back, sensei had already taken a strong grip on my shoulder, the kind of grip that would break my very bones if I were to take another step back. It was then that I knew, I was left with no other choice but to sigh and go along with sensei's whim.
"I'm sorry I'm late," Sensei jested. "Did you wait long?"
Taking notice of the two of us, the girl slowly turned our way as the breeze blew her hair to the side. "Sensei, you sure took your time."
"My bad, my bad." Sensei slowly entered as she dragged me along, closing the door behind with a faint bang. "This guy kinda held me up so I couldn't make it in time."
As urged by sensei, the girl shifted her gaze my way, dubiously staring at me with fully-intent eyes. "What's this person doing here sensei, I believe the two of us can talk without this thing taking up space inside."
...What the hell was up with this absurdly stuck-up chick. Did she seriously have to set me aside like that? She's seriously getting on my nerves with just that line alone.
"Now now, no need to get all abrupt here." Sensei released me from her shackles of restraint with a tap on the shoulder. "He's basically one of your kind so I thought it'd be best if I take this chance to hit two birds with one stone."
"One of my kind?" The two of us chorused at the same time, mine being that of a slightly confused tone, while hers was that of a slightly irritated one.
And at that moment, the girl gave me this quick, cold glance before she whipped her gaze back to sensei. W-what, it's not like I did it on purpose, just so you know. Don't blame me for the little things that occur out of sheer coincidence dammit.
"Sensei," The girl curtly said. "I find it rude that I'm being grouped together with that thing over there."
'Thing over there'…? What am I supposed to be, a lamp? How many times am I going to be deprived of my humanity here…Even though my eyes resemble that of a dead fish, I'm still a breathing human being here and demand to be treated properly. Heck, even the dead fishes that are served on a silver platter would surely get better reception than this. They'd give it this heartfelt smile as they gave out a loud 'thanks for the food' before they started digging in. At least give me that warm smile you give that expensive-looking, cheap sushi you get from the convenience store dammit.
"You'll get what I mean once you read this." Sensei slowly drew an ominous-looking piece of paper from her track suit's pocket, gaining distance from the girl with each step. And at the perfect distance from the person in question, she handed it over ever-so-gently.
In response, the girl hesitantly accepted it, grabbing hold of the paper with a hint of doubt in her eyes. "What's this supposed to be?"
"Why don't you try to see it for yourself."
"Oh, to change is to lose…" The girl faintly murmured as she began to read silently, breaking into a rather disgusted expression as each second passed.
…I knew it. It was the essay that sensei had scolded me for earlier. It was seriously painful to watch her read my work because of the expressions she had, and I could already see where this might head to later on. I seriously don't have enough HP left to survive another verbal lashing, so please spare me…
"Well?" Sensei inquired.
"I feel awfully inflicted sensei..." The girl wearily replied as she put my essay down. "Why would you make me read something like this."
..Why does it seem like you're the only victim here? I've received more damage here just by watching you read my work, just so you know. Drop the whole tragic heroine act will you.
"Well, it was the only way you could get what I meant."
"Impossible." The girl shook her head with a timid shrug, in denial to what sensei was pointing out just then. "I don't see how someone who thinks of the society like that would ever be on the same ground as me. I'm pretty level headed unlike that guy over there. Please stop kidding around, sensei."
This pompous bitch…I want to put her into eternal slumber.
"Well, you might say that, but I'm sure you've realized after reading his work that the two of you have something in common, Segawa."
As sensei's words exited her very mouth, a certain word resounded through my ear for a good few seconds. Or rather, it was a certain name to be exact. It was enough to jog my head and make my brain remember certain memories to who this girl really was, and why she acted the way she did.
From the top class of our grade, class 2-A, lies a significantly excellent student who excels both in academics and select sports; Segawa Haruna. She's a well-known figure throughout our school and the whole student body. Even though she was a famous icon, she wasn't what you'd call a school idol or anything of the sort. She was only recognized for her academic excellence and nothing else. The only reason why she became well-known, aside from her grades, was because of her extremely cold and unapproachable demeanor.
If memory serves me right, she's rejected about a dozen of guys who've confessed to her flat out. And she's also hated by the girls in her class, and avoided by the remaining male population. Well, it's not like I know these things for a fact. I just overheard a certain group talking about it sometime before. But now that I've gotten the chance to meet the beast in person, those rumors about her don't seem to be too much of a stretch.
"What could you be talking about, sensei." Segawa asked with a considerably rash tone.
"Well.." Sensei paused, throwing a quick glance my way as she shifted it back to her. "I'm sure you already know what I mean."
At that moment, Segawa also threw a quick glance my way, then quickly averted her eyes the second after. She let out this long and resigned sigh, as if admitting defeat to sensei's whim. "I guess I'm in no position to fight back am I? And it's not like I can change your mind even if I did."
"Mhmm, that's right." Sensei nodded. "I'm glad you can see things my way."
As if on cue, Segawa directed her gaze my way, giving me this serious look with a faintly small smile. "I'm Segawa Haruna from class 2-A, and you are?"
"…Uhh, I'm pretty sure that you already know my name." You even got disgusted with the rest of the bit that it came with, just in case you've forgotten. Or is it that you intentionally chose to ignore my name, is that it? Apologize, apologize to my parents.
"It's common courtesy to introduce yourself when you acquaint with someone. Haven't you been taught proper manners? I find it hard to believe that someone like you has made it this far with their education without knowing at least that much. I'm actually a bit astonished."
"I-I don't want to hear that from someone who was treating me like an object earlier. Weren't you taught that being rude was bad manners? I also find it hard to believe that someone like you made it this far in their education with that kind of ill-mannered conduct. I'm also in a bit of a shock."
"I find your response flattering, but I know where I stand and I acknowledge my ill-mannered conduct. Thanks for pointing out the obvious." She said as a triumphant smile crawled up her face.
"Uhh..I wasn't really trying to flatter you or anything, are you stupid or something?"
"Oh, weren't you told? Imitation is the greatest form of flattery. I'm sure they taught you that back in middle school."
"Gehh..." A faint sign of annoyance finally showed on my face as soon as I heard her reply. This chick's seriously something else. "S-setting my education aside, what's with that thing you said about earlier."
"About what?"
"The part where you said you acknowledged your bad attitude. Does it mean you don't intend to change that, is that it? If so, then that's one twisted head of yours you got there."
"I don't want to hear that from the person who said he wouldn't change because he doesn't want to lose to society." She replied with utmost confidence, brushing the side of her hair in an exasperated way. "Also, I was taught to treat others the same way I wanted them to treat me. So if they treat me badly and antagonize me, then wouldn't it be only to follow suit and do the same?"
As the second half of her words were said, the gleaming confidence that showed on the first half devolved into a clouded expression of melancholy on the second.
"W-what's your point, it's not like I treated you badly or anything like that, right? It's the first time we've met after all." And I intend to make it the last.
In response, Segawa replied with silence, furtively averting her eyes as she let out a resigned sigh.
"Won't you just introduce yourself and get it over with? Or do you still intend to refuse and have it your way."
Oh, now that I think about it, this small exchange only came about because I refused to properly introduce myself. I can't believe such a petty matter was able to conjure up something of a somewhat larger scale. But I guess all big maters also originated from small things, like wars and stuff. Although wars won't start over a measly piece of bread, that's for sure.
Continuing the argument would only be a waste of energy and an obvious misuse of my precious time. So it would only be practical if I followed suit and did as she said, even though it was somehow against my will.
"Ohh..I'm Hiraoka Hiroshi from class 2-E, n-nice to meet you."
A somewhat forced smile reflexively played on my face the moment the second half of my words were said. I seriously wasn't pleased to meet her, not one bit. But I feel like my educational standing would be questioned once more if I didn't show proper courtesy.
"Hirao...ka?" Segawa placed a hand on her chin as she paused in deep thought.
"W-what, is there something wrong with my last name?"
"No, it's nothing." Segawa conrifmed, giving me a somewhat indifferent look. "Hiraoka huh, mhmm. I'll remember that."
What the hell's this girl going on about...why's she genuinely acting like it's the first time she's ever seen or heard my name. I'm pretty sure I wrote my name on the essay she just read.
"Umm…my name's written on the topmost part of my essay just in case you've forgotten. You don't have to pretend like you've never heard of it before."
"Was it?" She asked with a sincere tone, stealing a quick glance at my essay. "Ahh you're right, it does have it written here." She took another pause as she looked me square in the eyes, wearing this blunt, teasing smile on her face. "Forgive me if I didn't notice it earlier, it was practically invisible before you told me so."
Again, apologize to my parents.