Fujiidera High School.
Harue's eyesight befell on that school as he got off the bus across the street. He waited for Kana to get off so that they could walk together.
The crosswalk was a little further away from the entrance of the school, so those two walked for a small distance before stopping.
The light was green for the traffic, meaning that the pedestrians had to wait to cross the road.
Students from Fujiidera High amassed besides Harue and Kana. Nonetheless, they knew no one in the group so those two silently stood at the sidewalk.
Greetings and daily normal conversations flowed through their ears from different directions.
They waited for the pedestrian robot sign to turn green.
Some young students were also gathering in the small crowd, probably first-years that are recently starting this term, including Kana.
It's been a while since Harue saw that building adjacent to him. Staring at it was understandable for him to do so. But by getting distracted, he did not pay much attention to his surrounding.
The light turned green for the pedestrians to cross the road.
Shortly after, Harue snapped back as his sides were lightly bumped due to the small crowd's movement. He walked forward with Kana alongside the group.
It seemed normal at the moment but when he arrived at the middle of the crosswalk, all of a sudden, he got a sharp giddiness, which made him abruptly stopped.
Kana did not notice it yet since she was a little bit ahead of him. The students ignored him as Harue got bumped repeatedly.
Harue did not have the time to even look at who are the ones bumping. The dizziness wouldn't help him.
"Are you okay?"
Kana asked as she came back to Harue's position. He held his head as he was in pain. Momentarily after, Harue put his hands on his mouth, as if blocking something.
Kana's eyebrow raised and knew something bad is going on with his brother.
Kana took action. She grabbed Harue's hand and hurriedly guided him in a small and isolated alleyway that was close enough from their positions. The crowd was not making it easy for the two of them but they somehow made it in time.
Harue endured well.
After that, she left her grip from her brother's hand. Kana then backed away a little to let Harue do what he is coerced into doing.
The displeasing noise of him vomiting echoed in the small ill-lighted space. Kana indifferently waited for Harue to stop but it took some time for the vomit to die down.
Harue used the concrete wall as support. He was already feeling tired by the time he puked all of the contents. His back felt light taps as he tried to cast any of whatever's left in his stomach.
*Coughs* *Coughs*
Harue swept a hand at his dirty lips which are dusted with liquids of stomach juice.
"...Thank you,....Kana..."
"....."
Kana looked as indifferent as usual, not saying anything, just continuing tapping his backs.
"Harue-senpai!?"
A boy, wearing the same school uniform as Kana and Harue, jogged towards the siblings.
They were not too far deep in the alleyway, that's why they were noticeable if people paid attention well to their surroundings.
It was Itsuki Seita, the Vice-President of the Drama Club that hurriedly approached them. After closing the distance, Seita knew exactly what has happened.
"Senpai! Damn it! It's happening again! After all, we should have checked at the hospital!"
Kana twitched her eyebrows as he swept a glare at Harue.
"Again?" She said in a low but infuriating voice.
Harue got his footing as he stood straight, while reassuring Seita that it was not a major problem.
"Do not over exaggerate Seita-kun. As I said, it is just the side effects after being diagnosed with a concussion. I already confirmed it with the doctor."
Harue took out some tissue that he always carries in his bag, and wiped his lips clean.
Kana was still silent as the two boys were arguing.
"Still, shouldn't you be resting more at home?"
"What are you talking about Seita-kun. School is important."
"Well that's true but..."
"Let's not waste our time here or we are going to be late." Harue intervened Seita and took the initiative to get out of the alley's entrance.
While he was at it, he remembered something as he looked over Kana and Seita.
"Ah, by the way, you haven't met her, right?" Harue asked Seita as he pointed towards Kana.
"...No."
"That's my little sister. She is a first-year. Kana, introduce yourself." He leaned near Kana and ordered her whisperingly.
She made a slight bow and gave him her name politely.
Likewise, Seita did the same as he inspected to see what kind of person she was. He was curious as Kana is a close relative to their reliable Senpai.
Well, she did not talk much so Seita assumed she was either shy towards strangers or just apathetic.
Nevertheless, those 3 started going together into school grounds. It was mostly Harue and Seita that were chatting. Kana never chimed in their conversation, not that she couldn't, but she wouldn't.
Inside, teenagers were roaming around the shoe locks with a happy smile. As those three put on their respective indoor shoes they walked together for a while.
Since Harue, Kana and Seita were all a year apart, they were in different classes.
Kana is a first-year student so she continued to her class. She bowed slightly and silently to Seita before parting ways. Kana had manners even though she was not that talkative.
Seita and Harue had to take the staircase to reach their destination.
Second-year students had classes on the first floor whereas the third years were on the second floor. That means Harue had to go up one floor further than Seita.
Harue remembered the exact class he had to go in. When he was bedridden in the hospital, one of his club members, Higashiyama Ike, told him that he was in the same class as him.
"Class 3-7. That's it." He stopped at the backdoor as he blurted out the class' name.
He slid open the door and a normal scenery unveiled to him. He broke a thin smile as he entered the classroom.
A bunch of teenagers, boys and girls, wandering about, talking in a joyous mood. That is what Harue wanted to see since the Heisei Shopping Mall incident. Such a peaceful atmosphere with no danger whatsoever lingering.
It is also even better compared to where he was in the hospital. Although Harue had some company that he could chat with, the ambience was just not quite right for him.
Probably the place he was staying at affected his mind. But he felt relieved as he took a glimpse of this class.
"Harue-kun, over here."
Higashiyama Ike raised his hand enough so that Harue could see. He was just straight ahead of him since Ike was sitting far back in the last column of the classroom.
It is a nice seat. The breeze can enter through the window and the person sitting on that spot can experience it directly.
Harue greeted Ike as he approached him.
"Good morning Ike-kun."
"Good morning Harue-kun. Is your head still okay?" Ike worriedly asked.
"It is definitely better than before, that I can guarantee."
"That's good then. By the way, your seat is adjacent to me."
Ike pointed at the seat diagonally to the front on his right.
"Oh, thanks." Harue went ahead and took his bag off his back. Then he claimed his seat by putting his bag on the desk.
Harue took a second again to scan the whole classroom, especially his classmate for this year. As expected, he reached the same conclusion he had a few seconds ago.
He turned his body towards Ike while still sitting and continued the conversation.
"No matter how I see it, it is only us two that are here. Apart from you, I know nobody else in this class."
"It can't be helped. It's the school that gets to decide our class' choice."
"Then let's look after each other this year during classes, Ike-kun." Harue smiled towards Ike as he tilted his head a bit.
"Likewise."
Ike too had a thin smile that was inconspicuous.
The homeroom teacher came into the classroom and ordered my classmates to settle down the chattering.
The homeroom started as the attendance book was put on the teacher's desk.
....
It was lunch break.
Harue sat down on the chair in front of Ike's desk, which was formerly for another classmate. For now, Harue is occupying it.
They ate their delicious meal accompanied by dialogues between these schoolmates.
"Oi Harue!"
The outburst from a very familiar voice got both Harue and Ike's attention. Not only those two, but the whole class veered to the screaming boy.
Harue facepalmed as he was tired of this energetic fellow.
"Here comes the annoying popular guy." Harue murmured which made Ike wryly smile at his reaction.
"What Kouki?"
"You abandoned me!"
"How?"
"You didn't come with me!"
"Huh? What?"
"Why didn't you wait for me?"
"Just sit down and explain your embarrassing behaviour."
"Emba-!? Well fine."
Kouki pulled a chair which was right beside him and sat close to the two.
The class slowly began to resume what they were doing right before Kouki burst in here.
"Oh sorry, I forgot my manners. How have you been Ike-kun?"
"Fine thank you. And you?"
"Well, I am fine, just a little harmed by my childhood friend."
Harue silently glared at Kouki.
"...U-Umm. What did Harue-kun exactly do?"
"Ask me what he didn't do instead."
Now Kouki started to become irritating for Harue.
"Just quickly tell me instead of making it too dramatic. For god's sake, you like to make anything trivial so extravagant, don't you?"
"What are you saying?"
"Come on, talk."
"Okay fine!"
Kouki stared straight into Harue's alluring eyes and inquired.
"I waited for you in front of your house. But you did not come out. We would always go together but what happened today? I stayed till the last minute nevertheless, you did not exit your house."
"Oh, is that so?" Harue reacted uninterestingly.
"Eeeeeh!? You are hurting me!"
Such a serious statement and with such a joking tone. And further actually supporting his playfulness, he had such a funny face that is undescribable to Ike.
Harue, however, was still indifferent. That was the quirk of being Watanabe Kouki's childhood friend.
"I arrived here with Kana."
"So that's why you left me. Your doting older brother character interfered in our friendship!"
"Speaking of Kana, weren't you supposed to look after her?"
Harue successfully deviated from Kouki's irritating topic, as Kouki went with the flow of the conversation.
"Oh come on. Cut me and Kana-chan some slack. I'm sure that she wants to have some time away from my radar."
Kouki added another detail to him.
"Besides, I'm not a stalker."
Now Harue wanted to tease Kouki since he made the small mistake of feigning ignorance to Kana's security measure.
Or he is just masquerading his mischief for his jealousy ever since Kana calls Kouki 'Kou-nii'.
Yes, it is just straight out envy from a doting brother.
"Yes yes. A handsome boy can 'NEVER' be a stalker."
".....Are you doubting me!?" Kouki dramatically responded, looking as if he was utterly in shock.
"It is far from doubt. I already know your nature."
"Oh come on! You know that's not true!"
The surrounding table between the three third years, Ike, Harue and Kouki, certainly became livelier. For sure, it is a funny conversation between the two childhood friends that led to this atmosphere.
Ike, although he was silent, he was enjoying this time between those two.
Lunch break for Higashiyama Ike was merrier since Harue came to especially this class
....
After school.
Ike and Harue were walking together down the corridor, heading to the drama club.
Kouki had to go to the pool since he was in the swimming club. Since he is the ace in that domain, he had to make an example to the new first years who recently joined.
"Ike-kun, how many first years are there in our club?"
"Three. 2 girls and a boy."
"Wow, so many?"
".....Uh...Many?" Ike muttered had mixed feelings about what Harue said.
Can 3 be considered many? Or maybe just Harue is happy with small achievements.
"I can't wait to meet them."
They arrived and Ike opened the door for both of them.
The drama club room is bigger since it contained a big stage. Well obviously it is big since it is the auditorium. Inside, there were several people busy with something.
Harue thought that it is more crowded, even though there were about 10 people.
This room is personally for the drama club members. The reason is that before, this school's drama club reached new heights and won competitions at regional levels.
But the recent years were not so good.
But this year, they had potential.
Upon the arrival of Harue and Ike, Kinugasa Hishimi, was the first one to notice.
She said in a loud tone so that everyone could hear.
"Ah? Harue-senpai is back!"
To say the least, Hishimi got everyone's attention to her. She approached Harue and greeted him
"Good afternoon Harue-senpai, Ike senpai."
"You were supposed to bow before us." Harue declared his authority as an upperclassman.
Then, Hishimi came with an unexpected comeback.
"Ah yes. I need to get on your eye-level, right?"
*Great shock*
Harue got pierced by an illusionary spear of embarrassment.
She still bowed slightly to the two but her smugness displayed on her face.
".....Y-You....."
He could not even speak.
"Hishimi-chan, the first thing you do when Harue-kun comes in here and you insult him?"
Chiziwa Paro, President of the drama club, intervened as always between the two childish teenagers.
"I did greet them first though." Hishimi retaliated, but not denied the fact that she insulted Harue.
Paro shot a glare at Hishimi before welcoming the two, especially Harue.
"Welcome, Harue. It is good to be back here, isn't it?"
Harue snapped back and replied.
"Indeed it is Paro-san."
Seita, Daisuke and Yuna all came together to greet Harue.
The other three first years were further away from the centre of attention. They discussed among themselves.
The sole boy initiated the discussion, "Who might that be?"
"Maybe another recruit like us?" One of the girls assumed.
The other girl retorted, "But she seems to be well acquainted with Paro-senpai and the others."
The boy noticed a peculiarity.
"Speaking of the girl, why is she wearing the boy's school uniform?"
The three of them were confused. Then one of them blurted out as she was a bit grossed out.
"A weirdo with a strange fetish."