"Kousei"
Eh?
"Hey hey Kousei!!! Wake up," A boisterous voice interrupted my peaceful sleep.
Please stop, it's too noisy! Please stop talking.
"Kousei, wake up," the voice repeated, the voice tinged with concern.
I slowly opened my eyes; it was Hayato Ren. He was the one who had woken me from my slumber.
"What is your problem?" I asked groggily.
"What do you mean?! If Ryuto sensei saw you sleeping he would've kicked you out of the class," Ren explained with a hint of worry in his voice.
It was at that moment I realized that I had been sleeping during my Mathematics class.
It has been about 15 days since that fateful day, the day when I first laid eyes on her. I couldn't focus on anything, I couldn't sleep at night. I was always thinking about her, lost in thoughts of her beauty and grace.
"T-thank you, Ren, you saved me," I said, grateful for his friendship.
"Haha, don't mind don't mind! Buy me a bowl of Ramen after school," Ren replied with a playful smile.
"Haha, sure," I agreed, happy to repay his kindness.
"You two, yes you, the one sitting near the 3rd window and the person next to you!" Ryuto sensei loudly scolded from the front of the class.
Ahh, everyone is looking at me again. I hate this! STOP!
"I am sorry, Sensei; I was asking a doubt about the problem you were teaching," Ren stood up, his voice confident and clear, even though he was lying.
"Ha, that's what people who don't listen in class say all the time. Well, I don't have time to argue, both of you, get out of the Class right now!"
"But Sensei," I asked, my voice calm and composed.
Yes, it was my last effort, to act nice.
"OUT!" Ryuto sensei roared.
And just like that, we were kicked out of the classroom.
Oh, I haven't introduced Hayato Ren properly, have I? He was in the same Junior High as I was.
I don't know whether he considers me a friend, but he is the only person I can share my problems with. Do I trust him? I do. I consider him a friend.
"Umm... let's go to the Ramen shop! You said you would treat me for waking you up," Ren suggested with a grin.
"But we still got kicked out. So why should I treat you?" I asked, a hint of amusement in my voice.
"Ah, you're right about that!! By the way, what happened to you? You're not the type of person who would sleep during a class. Didn't sleep yesterday?" Ren questioned with a hint of concern.
"Ah, you got that right! I couldn't sleep yesterday," I admitted, my voice heavy with the weight of my thoughts.
"Umm? Why? Were you playing games? Or were you watching adult videos? Sauce please," Ren teased, a wicked glint in his eye.
"What? Stop that! I don't watch those adult videos"
Well... that was a lie! I like watching them. I mean who doesn't.
"What?" my friend Ren exclaimed, disbelief etched on his face. "That's harsh!"
I longed to confide in someone my feelings, and Ren was the only person I knew at this school. Should I tell him? I believed that speaking my heart to someone would ease my burden.
"Hey, by the way," Ren asked, breaking the silence, "are you joining the soccer club?"
"Umm, I'm not sure," I hesitated. "Probably not."
Clubs were a big part of this school and after only 15 days, club admissions were already in full swing. Although I yearned to join the soccer club, I just couldn't bring myself to do it.
"Come on, man," Ren encouraged me. "You're so good at it. You should join!"
"I'll think about it," I replied, my mind already on something else. "Ren, I have something I want to share with you, but you have to promise not to tell anyone."
"Of course," Ren replied, eager to listen. "I'm all ears."
"Last night, I couldn't sleep," I began, my voice barely above a whisper. "I was thinking about a girl in Class B. I don't even know her name, but she was all I could think about."
Ren's eyes widened in shock. "What? You're in love with someone? Are you okay? You should see a doctor."
"No, it's not love," I corrected him, blushing at the thought. "I saw her in the hall during our orientation class and she told me her name, but I couldn't quite catch it."
"Oh really?" Ren asked, a mischievous glint in his eye. "Care to show her to me?"
"Now?" I asked, surprised.
"Yeah, we've already been kicked out of class," he said with a shrug.
I started walking towards Class B, with Ren following close behind. It felt like we walked from Tokyo to Osaka as her classroom was too far away from mine.
"You wait here, Ren," I said, peeking into the classroom. "Let me find her first."
There she was, sitting in the fourth row, second seat. My heart fluttered with a mixture of emotions, as if I were a proud father looking at his newborn for the first time. Just like how a father couldn't take his eyes off his own child, even though he's seen many other babies, I couldn't tear my gaze away from her.
I want to talk to her....
"Ren, look," I whispered excitedly. "There she is."
"Where?" Ren asked, craning his neck to see.
"Fourth row, second seat," I replied, my voice filled with longing.
"Oh wow. Hehehe I see." Ren breathed. "She's beautiful indeed. I didn't know you had such great taste in girls."
"Stop it," I said, blushing. "What do you think of her? Do you know her name?"
"So you really don't know her name.. huh? Well, she looks like someone you could hang out with," Ren said with a shrug. "As for her name, I have no idea."
I'm not sure why, but I sensed an off vibe in our conversation just now.
Just then, the school bell rang, signaling lunchtime.
"Finally," Ren said, rubbing his hands together. "I'll catch up with you later in class. See you!"
Well... I never would have thought these little moments would backfire this soon.
Because, when I returned to the classroom during lunch break, the air was filled with laughter and jeers directed at me. I approached Ren, seeking answers.
"Ren, what's going on? Why is everyone laughing at me?" I asked, a hint of desperation in my voice.
"I don't know," Ren lied effortlessly, a false smile playing at his lips.
"A LOSER LIKE YOU WILL NEVER GET THE GIRL FROM THE MITSUI FAMILY," one of my classmates taunted, their voice ringing out through the room.
Whispers filled the air, the sound of my classmates' ridicule like poison to my ears.
"Is he sane? He thinks he can win over Mitsui Tsuki? Haha." "He wants to be with her? Good luck with that." "He doesn't even stand a chance, he's not good enough for her."
I forced a nervous laugh and tried to brush it off. "What are you all talking about?"
But deep down, I knew the truth. Ren, someone I thought of as a friend, had betrayed me by spreading my secret admiration for that girl to the entire class.
Uragirimono, the traitor. If only my favorite author, Mr.Nisio Isin was here to pen a tale of treachery and deceit, entitled "Uragirimonogatari".
At that moment, I felt like I couldn't speak, the weight of my embarrassment crushing me.
But then, a voice interrupted the jeers.
"ENOUGH!"
The entire class shifted their attention to the speaker.
"Enough with the toxic behavior! Stop talking behind his back like this. Every one of you has or had a crush on Tsuki, even the girls. But guess what? None of you will ever be with her. None of you even had the balls to admit your affections. Leave him alone, at least he had the courage to admit his feelings."
The entire insults were now directed at him.
But I couldn't focus on them. All I could think was, "Who is this person, and why is he standing up for me?"
He took a seat next to me, his eyes warm and inviting.
"Hey there, I'm Kiyosumi Yozora. It's nice to meet you. Don't worry, I'll be your support, just like the night sky help the stars to shine bright."
I was stunned, speechless. "Ehhhhh???"