As the final class of Physical Education began, Nana Sato, our teacher, initiated a discussion on the benefits of warm-up exercises. We quickly pushed the chairs aside to create space, preparing ourselves for the upcoming activity. Catherine and I had been talking, contemplating which warm-up exercise to perform for participation points.
"Warm-up exercises seem exciting," Catherine exclaimed, her eyes shining with anticipation.
"Yeah, they are," I agreed.
Just then, Kanna and Aina approached us. "Are you two doing fine?" Aina asked with concern.
"Yeah, I'm fine," I reassured her.
"I'm fine too," Catherine chimed in.
As Nana Sato approached our group, she seemed somewhat sad or perhaps even jealous. "Adrian, Adrian! You seem to be having fun with the three ladies," she remarked.
"We were just checking on each other, Ms. Nana, to make sure we were all okay," I replied, maintaining a smile and a cool tone.
"Well, if that's what you say," Nana sighed, surrendering as she returned to her teacher's desk. She then addressed the class, instructing us to form pairs for the warm-up exercise activity.
"You may choose your seatmates or classmates as your partners and perform the warm-up exercise in front of the class. You have 10 minutes to practice with your chosen partner. The time starts now!" Nana announced, as we stood in anticipation with the chairs set aside.
I pondered my options for a unique pairing. Teaming up with Catherine seemed too common, and Kanna's confidence didn't pique my interest either. That left me with Aina, whose joyful and playful attitude caught my attention. I decided to approach her, drawn to the way her pink hair flowed as she walked.
"Aina, how about we pair up for the Warm-up Exercise Activity?" I extended my hand for a handshake, awaiting her response.
Catherine was taken aback. She had expected me to invite her as my seatmate, but I wanted to make this experience unique. Kanna, as usual, appeared shocked, lacking the same level of confidence she had displayed during her lunchtime confession. It was time to pair with Aina, whose attitude and flowing pink hair intrigued me.
"Yes, of course! Let's be paired up for this warm-up exercise activity, Adrian!" Aina replied excitedly, skipping the handshake and surprising me with a hug. We stood there, talking closely.
"Well, it's going to be easy for us," I remarked.
"Do you remember the warm-up exercise steps, like marching in place, arm circles, torso twists, leg swings, hip circles, and jumping jacks?" I asked Aina.
"Yes, I've memorized the steps from my notes, the textbook, and how Ms. Nana taught us," she assured me.
"Thank you so much. Your kind words truly mean a lot to me," Nana overheard our conversation and chuckled warmly, appreciating Aina's praise for her teaching.
Aina and I took our seats, which were now separated from the others. I decided to strike up a conversation.
"Look, Aina! Catherine and Kanna seem shy and embarrassed to face each other as partners."
"It seems that way. Their chemistry as a pair might be a bit awkward," Aina observed.
I could see Catherine and Kanna standing and talking hesitantly, seemingly uncomfortable with the arrangement.
"I didn't expect to be paired with a spoiled brat from the Takahashi family," Catherine remarked.
"I didn't expect to be paired with the Daughter of the chairwoman of Ouran Academy, always trying to impress Adrian," Kanna retorted.
"What did you say?!" Catherine's anger flared at Kanna's comment.
"What did you say to me? a spoiled brat, while you're always trying to be a good girl in front of Adrian, and you expect me to be friends with you and be close to you? No way! But fine, I agreed to this partnership for the sake of grades." Kanna admitted.
Catherine and Kanna formed their pair. As I looked around, I noticed other classmates paired up with different partners, while I couldn't help but wonder why Kaito Yamazaki and Hayate Tachibana paired while Kaito wasn't paired with his friends. Hayate, an intelligent and popular guy, had become just an ordinary high school student since I arrived.
Time flew by, and after 10 minutes, Nana Sato stepped forward.
"Time's up! It's time to perform. Please take a small sheet of paper and write your paired names," Nana instructed, placing a box on her desk. "Put your papers in this box. Fate will determine who gets picked. If your name is drawn, you'll perform. Consider it an unlucky draw."
I took a small sheet of paper and wrote:
Physical Education Warm-Up Exercise Activity:
Adrian Asendorf
Aina Kishita
After finishing, I approached Nana Sato, placing my paper in the box. Nana chuckled and said, "I can't wait to see if your name gets drawn."
"Let's make a bet," she proposed, catching me off guard. "If I draw your name from the box, we won't have a tutoring session next Saturday. I'll spend my time alone, enjoying myself, making PowerPoint presentations for my upcoming classes, and creating quizzes. But if I don't draw your name, we'll have a tutoring session as usual."
"Are you saying that you're tired, and winning this bet would give you a break from tutoring? I'm guessing you're hoping to inform my parents of your victory to convince them."
"Hmm... Exactly. So, do we have a deal?"
"Deal. It's difficult to draw the 'fine young man,' just like it's challenging to pull off a rare summoning in a game. Your bet puts you at a disadvantage with only a 5% chance of winning," I replied confidently.
As I walked away, smiling at Nana, I returned to my seat. On my way, I crossed paths with Catherine, and we exchanged words.
"Good luck, Catherine," I smiled, maintaining my cool tone.
"Good luck to you too, Adrian," Catherine replied, returning the smile.
As I sat down next to Aina, watching other classmates submit their papers to the box, Nana shook the box and exclaimed, "Let's begin!"
She drew a paper and, with a suspenseful tone, announced the first pair to perform the warm-up exercise.
"The first pair to perform today's warm-up exercise is..." Nana's voice lingered, building anticipation. "Catherine Fontaine and Kanna Takahashi."
Catherine and Kanna stood up, their sighs audible. "We're so unlucky," Catherine remarked.
"It's because you were the one who submitted our paper. Luck won't come to us," Kanna added, laughing.
"Enough with the jokes. We need to perform and face our classmates. Kanna, are you ready? Did you memorize the steps?"
"Of course, I'm ready. I've memorized everything. After all, Adrian is watching us, and I can't afford any embarrassing mistakes. That would be a deduction in his eyes."
"Don't bring Adrian into this serious discussion, but you're right. Let's go, Kanna. Let's go to the front of the class, perform, and end this!"
They proceeded to the front of the class, leaving me wondering, "Will I win this bet? Will Nana draw our names from the box? Will luck be on her side?"
[End of Chapter 10]