There were four dorm buildings on campus. Three were for students, who stayed in the various dorms to which they were assigned from first through third year. In other words, our dorm building this year was the same one where last year's third-year students had lived. The fourth building housed the instructors and school employees.
What I'm saying is that since all of the first year students lived in the same building, inevitably we would meet students from the other classes. Someone entered my field of vision. Our eyes naturally met.
"Thank you very much. It's been a pleasure." The girl spoke these grateful words to the dormitory manager, then called out to me.
"Hey, Ayanokouji-kun! Good morning. You're early."
She had beautiful long, wavy hair and big eyes. The second button of her blazer strained over her large chest. Her upright posture matched her dignified personality. I found myself more attracted to her cool temperament than how cute she was. Ichinose Honami, that first-year Class B student, had found me again.
"I woke up a little earlier today. What were you talking about with the manager?" I asked.
"Some people from my class wanted to make requests about their dorms. I gathered everyone's thoughts on the matter and told the dorm manager. Stuff like water usage, noise, and so on."
"You did all that, Ichinose?"
Usually, individuals handled their own room issues. I wondered why Ichinose had gone to the trouble of gathering everyone's complaints.
"Good morning, Class Rep Ichinose!"
Two girls who were getting off the elevator called out to Ichinose. She said hello back.
"Class Rep? Why Class Rep?" I asked.
I hadn't heard of any "class rep" position before. Perhaps they called her that because she seemed to study too much.
"I'm my class's representative. It seems like that, anyway."
"Your class's representative? Do all classes except for D have someone like that, too?"
That was the first I'd heard about this. Normally I would've been surprised, but considering who our homeroom teacher was, she'd probably decided to leave that part out.
"No, that's just something Class B set up on its own. I think it's good to have some assigned roles, right?"
I understood her point, but we certainly weren't going to assign our own class representative.
"Are there other positions besides class representative?"
"Yeah. Whether or not they serve a function is a different question, but we do have other roles for formality's sake. Stuff like vice class representative, and secretary. They could be more useful when we have a cultural fair, or sports festival, or something. We could try deciding things on the spot, but that might lead to trouble."
I recalled seeing Ichinose in the library before, studying with a small group of boys and girls. Even back then, she'd probably already been fulfilling her class representative duties. Most people wouldn't want to be class representative. They'd be forced to do annoying stuff, and it'd be necessary to participate in face-to-face discussions about school matters. However, with Ichinose taking the initiative for Class B, she probably didn't foist things on others. I'd bet she handled her duties smoothly.
"Seems like you've taken the lead. Of Class B, I mean."
Without meaning to, it appeared I'd expressed my honest feelings.
"Do you think it's weird? It's all purely informal. Besides, there are quite a few troublemakers. We have to deal with a lot of stuff."
As she said, "We have to deal with a lot of stuff," Ichinose laughed. The two of us began walking to school together.
"Aren't you usually a little late? This reminds me that I've never seen you around this time."
Ichinose's question sounded harmless, as if she were following some kind of template. After hearing those words, I felt a little relieved and accomplished. It seemed I could have normal, relationship-building conversations after all.
"I don't have to leave so early. I usually hang around my room for about 20 minutes."
"So I guess you make it just in the nick of time, then."
As Ichinose and I got closer to the school, the number of students around us multiplied. Strangely enough, some of the girls turned one after the other and looked at us with envy. Was this the so-called popularity phase I was told would occur three times in my life? I hadn't experienced it yet; it was about time that I entered my first phase.
"Good morning, Ichinose!"
"Good morning, Ichinose-san!"
Ichinose, who was walking next to me, monopolized all of the girls' attention.
"You sure are popular," I said.
"I just stand out because I'm the class rep. That's all."
It didn't seem like she was trying to act modest. Apparently that's what she truly thought. She had this charismatic force about her that pulled everyone's focus.
"Ah, that reminds me. Did you hear about summer break, Ayanokouji-kun?"
"Summer break? No. I mean, isn't it just summer break?"
"I've heard rumors that we might be taking a vacation to a tropical island."
That sparked a memory. I'd forgotten about it, but Chabashira-sensei had mentioned a vacation.
"I can't believe it, though. Could we really go on a vacation?"
It probably wasn't a normal school field trip. I mean, just look around. It was no exaggeration to say that this school was fancy. Going to a tropical island in the summer and visiting a hot spring in the winter…
It was all incredibly suspicious. I really didn't think our school was going to be so good to be true. They had to be keeping something from us. I wondered what Ichinose thought. But I saw from her bitter smile that she also had doubts.
"It's suspicious, after all. I think it's going to be a turning point."
"In other words, you think our class points could fluctuate wildly over summer break?"
"Yeah, yeah. I think there might be a hidden task, one that has a bigger impact on us than the midterms or final exams. Otherwise, the difference between Class A and us wouldn't close much. We could diminish the gap little by little."
That was certainly true. A big, earthshaking event might very well occur soon…
"What's the difference between you and A?" I asked.
"We have about 600 points, so our classes are around 350 points apart."
It was only natural that their points would drop since the start of the year, but it was amazing how many points they'd retained.
"So far, the midterm is all that's given us a chance to raise our class points, so losing at least a few points was unavoidable for us. I mean, even Class A has lost points."
However, as a result of the midterm, we'd managed to gain back points.
"You don't seem to be panicking."
"I'm concerned, but I think that there's a chance for us to make a comeback. I intend to focus all of my emotional energy on making those preparations."
I thought the first part of what she'd said was definitely correct. However, their cohesion as a class made such things possible. Class D had only managed to get 87 points this month. We weren't anywhere close to being able to compete with the others.
"I wonder how much this event will change things?"
It would probably be worth more than 10 or 20 points. However, it was difficult to imagine that it would change things by 500 or even 1,000 points.
"We're in a tight spot ourselves. If the gap widens any further, we won't be able to catch up."
"I guess we both have to do our best, then."
Actually, the ones who had to work especially hard were Horikita, Hirata, and Kushida.
"At any rate, it doesn't seem like this will get worse." I didn't want to complain, but I felt that something annoying was on the horizon.
"But if we actually did vacation on a tropical island, that would be awesome!"
"I wonder about that…" I said.
"Huh? That idea doesn't make you happy?"
Only people who have meaningful friendships can enjoy a vacation to its fullest. There's nothing quite as uncomfortable as traveling without close friends, especially when you're traveling with a group. Just imagining it made me feel like throwing up.
"Do you hate traveling?" Ichinose asked.
"I don't hate it. I don't think I do, anyway…"
While we chatted, I tried to imagine what it would be like. I'd never traveled with a friend before. I had gone to New York with my parents a long, long time ago. Not a single millisecond of it had been fun. Just remembering that bitter time wore me out.
"What's the matter?"
"Just recalled something a little bit traumatic."
My dry laugher echoed through the hot hallway. No, this wasn't good. If I let my negative aura spread, Ichinose would grow troubled. However, it seemed like my anxieties were unfounded. Ichinose continued talking, seemingly untroubled by my words.
"Hey, I still have some things on my mind. May I ask you some questions?"
Ichinose had a radiant presence, though it was different from Kushida's. I could say that she acted without an ulterior motive. Even when talking with a person like me, she put her best foot forward.
"We've been separated into four classes from the start, right? Do you really think they separated us by ability?"
"I understand that it wasn't entirely tied to our exam results. There are people in our class that, based on grades, should have gotten into the top ranks."
Horikita, Kouenji, and Yukimura were undoubtedly three people who deserved to be at the top based on their academics alone.
"So, do you think it's something like overall ability?"
I gave a noncommittal answer. I'd thought about it many times, but couldn't find a thorough explanation.
"I've been thinking about it since we started here. Someone might be good at studying, but bad at physical activity. Another might be good at physical activities, but bad at studying. But if students are ranked by overall ability, doesn't that mean that the lower classes are at an overwhelming disadvantage?"
"Isn't that how societal competition works, though? I don't think there's anything particularly strange about that," I said.
Ichinose crossed her arms and hummed to herself, as if she weren't convinced.
"If we were competing as individuals, sure. But this is a competition between classes, right? If you simply put all of the superior students into Class A, then doesn't that mean the rest of us have virtually no chance of succeeding?"
That pretty much explained the current, miserable state of our class points. However, Ichinose seemed to think differently.
"There's definitely a big difference between classes A through D right now. However, I think they're trying to hide something, but going about it in a weird way. Don't you agree?"
"Okay, I have to ask. What's your reasoning?"
"Ha, no reason, really. It's just something that popped into my head. If it weren't true, then it'd be fair to say the whole situation is cruel. I think that good students and good athletes were placed into Class D for a reason, as a countermeasure."
Wasn't that different from the usual system, though? If the classes were solely divided according to academic ability, there'd be no way to win against the others. In a system like this, it was important to be an expert in many different fields.
"Wouldn't it be wiser not to talk to someone from another class about this?" I asked Ichinose, feeling slightly worried.
"Hmm? About what?"
"About what you said just now. Horikita already mentioned this, but you're helping the enemy."
After all, it was possible she could've given me a valuable hint, and I'd do something with it.
"I don't think so. There's a lot to be gained from an exchange of ideas. Also, since we're cooperating now, there shouldn't be any problems."
She wasn't complacent about being in Class B. That was just Ichinose's natural personality. I could understand her disposition and way of thinking. At any rate, she was a good person with no hidden side to her.
"I'm not smart enough to engage in an exchange of ideas. All I can say is, 'I'm sorry.'"
"I don't mind if I'm the one who does the talking and thinking. If you think it's helpful information, then it's okay for you to use it."
Ichinose stopped, almost as if she'd just remembered something. I tried reading her face, noting that she wore a serious expression.
"Hey… There's something I want to ask you, Ayanokouji-kun. Is that okay?"
It was like that bright, cheery Ichinose of a moment ago had disappeared. My body stiffened slightly.
"If it's something I can answer, I will."
Besides, what question couldn't I answer with my massively impressive brain, filled with the knowledge of a hundred million books? (A huge lie, of course.)
"Has a girl ever confessed her feelings to you?"
That…wasn't in the any of the hundred million books I'd read.
"Really? Do I look like a guy who's ever had a girl confess her feelings to him?"
Was she going to call me disgusting, or a virgin, or a shitty moron? Would I cry? I was still only a first-year high school student, you know? It was way too early for this. Right? Hey. You think so too, right? Besides, I was certain that, proportionally, the number of people who had confessed their feelings was low compared to those who hadn't. It was a baseless theory, though. Who knew the real number of people who had died in solitude, hidden in the shadows of humanity's prosperity?
"Oh no, I'm sorry. It's nothing."
It didn't look like it was nothing. However, it did look like she didn't plan to make fun of me. Rather, she was actually worried about something.
"Did someone confess to you?" I asked.
"Huh? Oh, yeah. Kind of."
It seemed like many students were striving every day to couple up like Hirata and Karuizawa.
"Well, if you're okay with it, can you spare a little time after class? I have some questions about confessions. I know all too well how busy you are with the incident right now, but…"
"Sure, that's okay. I don't really have much to do."
"Don't have much to do?"
"I don't think there's much point in looking for evidence or another witness. Doing that would be a waste of time and a headache."
"But you went to the scene of the crime the other day to investigate, right?"
"That was for something else. Anyway, it's fine."
"Thank you."
I wondered what all this confession stuff had to do with me. Had she made up a lie like "Ayanokouji is my boyfriend" to mislead people? I considered it for a moment, but then thought it'd be smarter for her to use a more reliable, pretty boy.
"I'll be waiting at the school entrance after class."
"O-okay. I understand."
Even though I knew absolutely nothing was going to happen, I was pretty excited. That was what being a man was all about.