As the sun began to cast its long shadows across the campus, I finally made it back to my dormitory. I had quite the haul with me – bags filled with food, kitchen essentials, and more food. I even managed to squeeze in some ice cream amidst the other necessities. It was all neatly packed into four reusable canvas bags.
Or was it 5? I've always been bad at math.
Sure, I might have spent around 20% of my allowance on the first day, but honestly, I couldn't care less. This supply was supposed to last me the entire month. I preferred not to have to venture outside for grocery runs more than once a month if possible.
I know I said that I wouldn't spend 20,000 points for a seat change in the first chapter, but can you blame me? I like high-quality food along with shit-quality food. Take my world-famous egg and instant noodle delight for example!
(It's not that world-famous. I lied.)
My dorm room had a label – Room 404.
Now, I didn't know if this was an insult to my pride or something, but I did find it quite amusing.
Among my provisions were plenty of instant noodles, though I was well aware they weren't exactly a healthful choice. I mean, they'd given me headaches due to their lack of nutritional value, but sometimes convenience trumped everything else. I am a lazy bum, after all.
I went back toward the front of the dorm, where there were some papers that I was meant to read.
I quickly flipped through the handbook, which provided only the most essential information for our daily lives. It detailed the schedule for garbage disposal, reminded us to avoid creating excessive noise, and included notices about conserving water and electricity usage.
"So, there aren't any restrictions on electricity or gas usage?" I mused aloud.
I had initially assumed that the school would deduct the costs from our points, given its meticulously organized system. The level of detail they put into running this school was impressive.
However, what caught my attention was the implementation of co-ed dormitories. Considering this was a high school, I found it intriguing that the rules allowed for such arrangements, though they did mention discouraging inappropriate romantic relationships.
"So basically..."
NO SEX!
LITERALLY 1984!
...
Anyways...if we were to disregard all my emotional outbursts, to which I have counted at least 33 (I'm lying I didn't count) at the time of the story's beginning...Whatever.
My room was about eight tatami mats wide. That was quite spacious, like a Thanksgiving dinner table loaded with dishes kind of spacious. There were plenty of nooks and crannies where I could hide if someone decided to break into my domain.
DONK! 🤪🔨 EHEHEHEH JUJUTSU KAISEN REFERENCE! D-D-Domain expansion
DONK! 🤪🔨EHEHEHEHEHEHH
DONK! 🤪🔨HEHEEEE...
Thud! 💀
As I settled into my new space, I couldn't help but find it rather odd, or perhaps exceptionally idiotic, how this school purportedly moulded its students.
How could any respectable school like this, produce individuals of such, shall we say, unique qualities, given my senpais' track record with a 100% success rate?
This school proudly flaunted an impressive post-graduation employment rate, and its top-notch facilities and comprehensive student services made it the unrivalled high school in Japan.
One intriguing aspect was that people couldn't reach out to students without proper permission, even if they were friends or family. I found it rather endearing.
Within these walls, nobody else's gaze or words could penetrate my world. I could start anew, reinventing myself completely. A fresh beginning was in my grasp. I made a firm decision to savour every moment to the fullest and create a trove of fun memories.
And when I say "fun," I really mean fun...
(I want to mine Bitcoin. No energy restrictions baby!)
I mused to myself with amusement as I concocted my first customized bowl of instant noodles for the year. It was one of those fiery Shin Ramen variants, and I was presently waiting for the water to reach its boiling point, ready to introduce an egg into the mix.
I don't like spicy food that much, it makes me feel...Queasy sometimes, but I'll manage.
With the freedom and resources at hand, it was only natural to suspect there might be a catch or something along those lines. But the one thing I wanna catch is some tiddies in my hands YKYKYKYK.
After all, we're still in the early stages of this relationship, and those secrets deserve to be unveiled at the right moment. Who knows, perhaps after a few more chapters, we'll have developed a deep and meaningful connection.
(The true ship is MC x Reader, 😉)
Maybe even go on a fictional, fan-fictional date?
Ah, ah, getting greedy now are we, darling reader?
You know, I do love a good tease, you know?
(˵ •̀ ᴗ - ˵ ) ✧
What the hell am I talking about? I really am going crazy, huh?
I chuckled to myself, relishing the thought before the egg's unexpected eruption coated my face with a mixture of white...stuff. What's the white stuff on eggs called again, oh right it's called—
POP!
...
..
.
..
...
"FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU-"
[Kiriya Fujiwara has been traumatized]
♔ 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐅𝐨𝐨𝐥𝐬 𝐌𝐚𝐭𝐞 ♔
On the second day of school, or technically the first day of class, we delved into the course objectives. Many students seemed genuinely surprised, if not a little disappointed, by the warm and friendly demeanour of the teachers at this school. Sudo, ever the spectacle, spent most of the class asleep.
I thought the teachers would notice, but they seemed oblivious to his behaviour. Ultimately, it was up to each student whether they wanted to engage in class or not. I observed my classmates' antics with amusement, smiling.
I mean, I had to keep smiling, especially after the egg incident last night.
(I have 7th-degree burns on my face)
You know, I'm not a delinquent. Never have been, never will be. I'm not the type to beat the shit out of someone with a pompadour haircut while smoking cigarettes and listening to 1980s rock music.
But, if you were to ask me, "Hey Kiriya, wanna skip class with me?" I would first retort, "Who do you think I am? I don't have a pompadour!" and then casually reply, "Sure."
Now, what was the point of all that drabble?
I dunno, I just didn't want to be in class.
Chabashira-sensei was our teacher at the moment, and I couldn't help but feel a strong urge to escape the classroom.
So, I raised my hand, maintaining the same passive-aggressive— I mean friendly demeanour I always wore.
She arched an eyebrow before addressing me, "Fujiwara? Do you have a question?"
Speaking in a specific tone, I made my request, "May I go to the bathroom?"
Initially, confusion flickered across the faces of some of my classmates, but the topic was quickly dropped.
Her response was soft, yet there was a subtle furrowing of her eyebrows as if she was attempting to decipher the motives behind my seemingly mundane request.
"Of course," she acquiesced. And with that, I left the classroom, making my way to the bathrooms.
This school really is full of strange people, ain't it?
...
..
.
..
...
I was lost. I got lost.
Here I am, wandering aimlessly around the school corridors, hoping that somehow, through the magical intervention of fate, I would accidentally stumble upon my classroom.
Way to go, Kiriya. You've truly outdone yourself this time. You're officially lost in your own school. You've officially earned the title of "Idiot of the Day."
I must've looked bewildered as I aimlessly meandered through the hallways, trying to appear like I had a purpose but failing spectacularly.
In reality, I had no clue where I was going, and my internal GPS seemed to be malfunctioning.
I noticed various nooks and crannies of the school that I hadn't paid attention to before. It was like exploring a new land, only without a map or sense of direction.
Truly, I was navigating my way through the labyrinthine corridors of the school like a pro.
I was genuinely lost, like a small child who was lost in the vast expanse of Disney World.
Honestly, they would be proud of the level of confusion and excitement I was experiencing. Speaking of which, I've been to Disney World before, and let me tell you, getting lost there was a lot more fun than getting lost in my school.
So, there I was, Kiriya Fujiwara, the mistake, the explorer, trying my best not to have a full-blown panic attack while pretending to be on a super secret mission mission.
...
..
.
..
...
I hear voices! No, no, not those kinds of voices – I'm certainly not experiencing an episode of schizophrenia. I quickly turned the corner and lifted my gaze to the class that stood before me.
Lo and behold, it was none other than...
Class 1-B.
Ah, civilization!
I can practically feel my excitement level rising to match that of a castaway who's just spotted a ship on the horizon, signalling rescue from the isolated island of confusion I had been wandering in.
TOM HANKS, YOU'RE NOT ALONE IN YOUR CASTAWAY ADVENTURE!
WILSON!!
I approached the door and softly knocked. The lecture inside stopped and I could hear the footsteps of whoever the teacher was drawing nearer to the door before opening it.
"Hm~ can I help you?" a sweet voice belonging to what I presumed was the teacher of Class 1-B inquired.
She stood at an average height, her chest-length light-brown hair cascading in curls at the ends, with bangs gracefully draping over her right eye.
Her captivating purple eyes exuded warmth and curiosity. Her attire was also a striking contrast to Chabashira-sensei's stern look – she wore a pink t-shirt paired with a teal skirt that flowed down to cover her thighs.
"Uh, yeah, I'm a bit..." I hesitated, briefly glancing at the class assembled before me. The majority of the students seemed attentive and engaged, but there was one person who appeared somewhat disconnected.
Among the students, I noticed a few individuals who seemed to radiate an air of leadership. Positioned in the middle rows, there was a girl with strawberry-blonde hair who held a certain charisma. Similarly, a guy with purple hair projected an air of studiousness that marked him as an honours student.
Before I could gather my thoughts to express my situation, their sensei's overly friendly voice interrupted my train of thought. "My, my, aren't you eye candy? Hey, do you have a girlfriend?"
Hold on, this isn't your overly familiar aunt—when did she get so close to me!?
"Um, thanks, I guess," I stammered slightly, feeling taken aback by their sensei's unusual behaviour.
Despite her apparent youthful demeanour, which bordered on childishness and earned my pity, I maintained my composed expression. "I was a bit lost and couldn't find my class."
"Hm~ we can't have that, can we?" Her voice always had a certain lilt to it. "But don't worry! Your favourite sensei, Hoshinomiya Chie-sensei, will help you!" she exclaimed with a little hop.
I suppressed the urge to pinch her cheeks, but that would probably get me in trouble for a multitude of things. And I'm already on the run for the things I committed back in 2001.
"Oh! But I haven't heard your name yet!" she chimed in.
"I'm Fujiwara Kiriya, Hoshinomiya-sensei. I'm from class 1-D," I replied matter-of-factly.
"Ehhhh~ you can call me Chie-sensei, Ki-ri-ya-kun~" she playfully elongated and altered my name with a sing-song cadence. I really wanted to leave. "And ooh! You're from Sae-chan's class, right?" She continued with seemingly boundless enthusiasm.
Casting a glance towards her class, I could conclude they were, in fact, people. I didn't know what else I was going to expect. Aliens? Cyborgs? Mindless robots? Smug Lolis? Bald?
Wait—
"Well, we don't know each other that well, Hoshinomiya-sensei, so I don't think we can start calling ourselves that...yet," I remarked, causing a momentary pout to form on her face.
However, it vanished as soon as I mentioned 'yet,' replaced by a sparkle in her eyes. "And yes, I'm from Chabashira-sensei's class."
"Well~ Kiriya-kun," she followed me outside the classroom to give directions. "Sae-chan's classroom is down the hall, all the way to the back. Take a right, then go to the very end again, and take a left, got it~?"
"Thank you, sensei," I nodded in gratitude. "I apologize for the interruption, 1-B. I hope you can forgive me," I addressed the class, receiving reassuring responses. "Goodbye for now!"
"Goodbye~ Kiriya-kun~" Hoshinomiya-sensei's sing-song voice trailed after me as I made my way down the hallways.
I wandered the hallways for a few more moments, peaking into the classrooms of Class C and A for brief moments through their respective windows. They seemed...special.
(i'M In ClAss A aNd I'M bEtteR ThEn YoU)
{vioLENce Is THE deciDiNG foRce IN thIs WORLD}
I'm not going to narrate in detail what I saw because there wasn't much to see in the first place.
Have you ever watched the movie Saw before? No?
Whatever; at least I wasn't spotted...maybe.
If I was spotted I would've said, "Teehee~ you saw me but now you have to catch me, catch me; now you've got to fetch me!"
[...]
When I finally returned to the classroom, I managed to slip back into my seat unnoticed. Chabashira-sensei shot me a brief, questioning glance, silently asking where I had been for the past 10-15 minutes.
In response, I mouthed the words 'Lost.'
How embarrassing.
♔ 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐅𝐨𝐨𝐥𝐬 𝐌𝐚𝐭𝐞 ♔
Soon, lunchtime arrived, and students began to stand up and leave the classroom with their newfound friends. Meanwhile, I found myself captivated by the sight of cherry blossoms outside the window.
Cherry blossoms had always intrigued me. Whether described in books or captured in photos, they embodied the transient nature of life and the limited time we have on this earth. They served as a symbol of the samurai of bygone eras—living, dying, and perpetuating the cycle of existence.
As for me, well, I'm unable to die, so~.
"How pathetic."
Oh, what do we have here? Am I eavesdropping again? Oh, Kiriya, you little devil, you know that's a bad habit!
But I can't help it!
I have ears, and I need to catch every juicy bit of what Horikita and Ayanokouji are saying!
Hehehe~ juicy~ like a pair of THICC thigh—
"What? What's pathetic?" I overheard Ayanokouji ask.
"'I want someone to invite me along. I want to eat with someone!' Your thoughts are like an open book," Horikita remarked.
"But you're alone, too, aren't you? Haven't you thought the same thing? Or do you intend to spend three years here without making a single friend?"
"That's right. I prefer to be alone," she replied promptly, without hesitation. It sounded like she was being genuine.
"Why don't you stop worrying about me and instead think about yourself?"
"Well, I..."
This was just cute! I leaned back in my seat and spoke to the two lovers. "Ayanokouji-kun, lunch, with me, now," I spoke in a tone that left little room for argument.
Awwee~ his reaction, if he could even emote, was, presumably, so cute! I could simply turn his face into mush!
{It's called cute aggression or something; when you want to harm something you find endearing}
Horikita then gave him a surprised look, with furrowed eyebrows as the two of us stood up, completely ignoring her existence.
If I hadn't made my way toward the door, I wouldn't have missed Ayanokouji's smug face he gave Horikita, presumably.
I can't imagine him making another facial expression besides his normal blank one.
[The author remembered photoshopping the Ahegao face on Kiyotaka]
"Oh! Fujiwara-kun, Ayanokouji-kun!" Hirata called out to us. He was surrounded by the girls like the IRS when someone evaded taxes. "Want to come with me to lunch?" he offered.
I could practically feel my adopted introvert drilling a hole into my head as if silently pleading, 'Please, friend, spare me! I don't wanna go women are scary and they have cooties!'
"Yeah, sure, we're coming."
I accepted the invitation, much to the delight of the other girls in the group. All I heard in response was a resigned sigh from behind me, which only made my grin widen even more.
I could feel my adopted introvert slowly trailing behind me.
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing."
"That means something."
"..."
"Hehe~ got you there!"
"Sigh...Let's just get lunch..."
Hirata lightly chuckled as the two of us followed behind—Wait...
"Ayanokouji-kun do you think—"
"Come on, Fujiwara-kun let's get going! You're being slow!" Karuizawa Kei ambushed me, pulling me into the crowd that was following Hirata, leaving my poor introvert in the very back of the group.
I think this was a bad idea! This isn't 1960's America!
(Get it?)
♔ 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐅𝐨𝐨𝐥𝐬 𝐌𝐚𝐭𝐞 ♔
I have made multiple mistakes in my life; thinking that I could handle a repeat of my 3rd year in middle school was one of them. The girls surrounded and latched on to either me or Hirata like some sort of koala hanging onto their DADDY. They asked me so many questions; like what's your favourite colour, what type of music genre do you like the most, is your belly button an innie or outie...
Wait that didn't happen!
"Ayanokouji-kun," I spoke to the troubled-looking, brown-haired boy. "I think this was a mistake."
"Is it? I think this is rather productive." He said as I was still being dragged around.
Somehow, we were able to talk to one another amidst all the noise and chatter.
"Is it because I left you yesterday—"
"Yes."
Oh. So that's what betrayal feels like.
Eventually, we got our food and gathered around a large table in the cafeteria corner. I tried getting Ayanokouji, who looked like a kicked puppy to sit next to me, only to be intercepted by the likes of Satou Maya and Mori Nene. Matsushita Chiaki sat near the head of the table while Hirata, Mei-Yu Wang, or Mii-chan, and Karuizawa sat next on his left and right respectively. The rest of the seats were occupied by various other people.
Ayanokouji sat near the end of the table, alone.
Poor sod.
"Hey, Fujiwara-kun. What was your middle school like?"
I blinked, looking at the person who posed that question.
"Um...In middle school, I guess you could put me in the loner category."
Count down until people start shouting again in...
3...
2...
1...
Nothing...
Huh?
Did I do something wrong? Why are they staring at me like I'm some sort of creature? Please don't stare at me like that!
I slowly felt my face heat up as the silence persisted. Everyone was looking at me. Were they expecting me to say this was a joke or something? Was I meant to say "Haha I'm joking I got all the hoes in middle school!" or something? I'll let you all know that I was 14!
I don't understand these children. I'll have to salvage this situation somehow.
"Well, I had a few friends! Like 4 of them! But I wasn't very popular until my 3rd year because of things, you know?" I elaborated slowly.
Karuizawa snorted. "Look at your face, Fujiwara-kun! Pfft," I must've had a particular expression on my face if it elicited that kind of reaction. Was it that funny?
My school life before this was quite strange, to be honest. I was a loner for the majority of my compulsory education, though it wasn't out of the fact that I was repetitive or anything of the sort, I could communicate well when I wanted to. Scratch that. I was forced to communicate well as soon as 3rd-year middle school hit me like a truck.
"Oh~ Fujiwara-kyun~ can I get your number~?"
"Heeeyy~ wanna go to the arcade with me later~?"
"Hey! Wanna eat lunch with us and by us I mean me?"
"That wasn't a request. Get in the trunk."
(Wait what does that one—)
"KYaaaa~ can I play with your balls—"
You know? Those types of comments would get me sent to a mental asylum and chemically castrated if I were to say them to anyone else. I'm also completely sure I made that last one up in my head because I wanted to elicit sympathy from the audience. Please feel bad for me my ego needs feeding!
I tried to keep my group of friends tight-knit and comprised of people who were genuine and not the ones who wanted to fuck my brains out.
"You know; I could see it," Mori said honestly. "Picture it! You were a loner for nearly all of your life but then BOOM puberty hits you like a fricking truck and you become so smoking hot that..."
Are...do they still see me as an object? Was all my monologuing and exposition for nothing!? OH. MY.GOD! I LITERALLY CAN'T RIGHT NOW GIRL!
(What's with that sass?)
{Throw them off a bridge.}
(Agreed.)
"Am...I'm not...that...uh..."
"Yes, you are!"
"..."
I want to die.
♔ 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐅𝐨𝐨𝐥𝐬 𝐌𝐚𝐭𝐞 ♔
Mission accomplished! Take that Fujiwara! The girls are on my side now.
♔ 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐅𝐨𝐨𝐥𝐬 𝐌𝐚𝐭𝐞 ♔ ♙♙♙♙♙♙♙♙
When we finished our meals, I had to have Ayanokouji support me in limping back to the classroom. Not because I was dying, but because I just felt like it at the moment.
"At five PM Japan Standard Time today, we will be holding a student club fair in Gymnasium No. 1. Students interested in joining a club, please gather in Gymnasium No. 1. I repeat, at—"
"Are you interested in joining any clubs, Fujiwara-kun, Ayanokouji-kun?"
I limply shook my head as he lightly chuckled.
"No, not really. I might just browse and see if anything interests me. You're going to join the soccer club, right, Hirata?"
"Haha! Yeah. I've been playing it since I was in elementary, so it's only natural, right?"
"Mhm. I'm going to drag Fujiwara back to his desk. See you, everyone."
"See you in class!"
♔ 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐅𝐨𝐨𝐥𝐬 𝐌𝐚𝐭𝐞 ♔
Fujiwara, you were wrong about one thing. Right now, just for this moment, I'll tell you.
I have never thought of you as my friend. I've never cared about you as a classmate. In this world, win—
♔ 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐅𝐨𝐨𝐥𝐬 𝐌𝐚𝐭𝐞 ♔
"...Horikita—"
"I'm not interested in joining a club."
"I didn't even ask you anything yet."
"Well, what is it?"
"Are you interested in joining a club?"
I regained consciousness and overheard Horikita and Ayanokouji bantering with one another. Or that's what it would look like to other people. Often, I'm not sure if it's intentional or not, but Ayanokouji would try to interact with Horikita, leading to her being annoyed. I found it funny.
"Ayanokouji-kun, do you have dementia, or are you just an idiot? Didn't I just tell you that I'm not interested?"
I think he's just an idiot but that's just my thoughts.
"That doesn't mean you won't join, though," he replied.
"Now you're just splitting hairs. Don't argue for the sake of arguing."
"Okay then."
I lightly giggled, drawing attention to myself. "Hey. Horikita-san, weren't you curious about the school for some reason?" I said, leaning back in my chair.
She regarded me with her signature glare. "Yes. What of it?"
"Don't you think it's a good idea to like—go around the school and find out yourself instead of being a lazy bum?"
My use of language seemed to have irritated her for some reason. I don't know why, though but there was a subtle gripping of the book she was reading, which signalled that I was going to die if I called her any more names.
I don't want that to happen again; I mean—
"Fujiwara-kun do you not have a filter perchance? I'm asking because all the times you've opened your mouth, the most reprehensible garbage is spewed out."
HUH!? I've barely spoken 10 sentences to you throughout this entire fanfiction! Who are you to judge me you stupidly pretty idiot! You shouldn't judge a book by its cover because I'm way worse on the inside than I portray myself on the outside.
(I got them inner demons rawr xD)
You should be grateful!
"Ehhh? Is that so?" I grinned, trying to hide the emotional pain I was in. "I'm just saying that there's going to be a lot of people—"
"More of a reason not to go."
"Including the senpais and all of that stuff, you know? They've been here for a bit so they may know a thing or two about your questions from the first day."
Horikita glanced at me before placing a bookmark in her book. What was this? Was she going to come with us?! I'll be so thrilled! The Ice Princess is finally coming out of her shell~! This coming-of-age story is one for the history books!
"If it's only for a little while. I will go with the two of you," she said.
"Really!? I'm so happy—"
"But don't think for a second that we're buddies. I'm only there to collect information. Got it?"
Jesus Christ, she's so snappy.
(BRATTY SUZUNE NEEDS CORRECTION 😭😭💢💢💢)
"Yes ma'am!" Me and Ayanokouji saluted.
"Watching the two of you flail around is quite entertaining. It's like watching two infants doing advanced mathematics."
I choked on my saliva.
(Let's throw her off of a building.)
{Agreed. She knows too much.}
♔ 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐅𝐨𝐨𝐥𝐬 𝐌𝐚𝐭𝐞 ♔
"There are more people here than I expected," Ayanokouji murmured to himself
After class had ended for the day, the Three Amigos went to the gymnasium. Nearly all of the students assembled there were freshmen. About a hundred people were waiting around. We stood near the back of the room and waited for the fair to begin. While waiting, we glanced over the pamphlet that students received upon entering the gymnasium. The pamphlet contained detailed information about club activities.
"I wonder if this school has famous clubs. For example, something like karate."
"Every club seems to operate on a high level. It looks like many athletes and club members here are famous throughout the nation."
Even though this school didn't seem like a top-tier institution for activities like baseball and ballet, the clubs here certainly looked great.
"These facilities are significantly more substantial than ordinary schools. Look, they even have O2, chambers. The equipment here is so luxurious, it puts the professionals' stuff to shame. Oh, but it looks like they don't have a karate club after all."
"I see."
"What? Were you interested in karate or something?" Ayanokouji asked.
"No, not particularly."
"It seems like it'll be hard for newcomers to get into the athletic clubs," Ayanokouji said. "Even if a first-year managed to break in, they still might just be a benchwarmer forever. I can't think that would be much fun."
"I like benches."
"No one asked for your opinion, Fujiwara-kun."
Owie.
"Wouldn't that depend on one's efforts, though? Surely by training for one or two years, anyone could get in and play."
"I didn't realize that the concept of training even existed for someone who always avoided trouble, like you..."
Their conversation got drowned in the background as I looked around the entire gymnasium. There were a multitude of people from all walks of life, seniors, staff, second-years, first-years, and even some third-years.
Nothing was out of the ordinary; it just looked like a normal school fair.
"What do you mean 'kind'?! He looks like a gorilla! He'll kill me for sure!" I heard a frightened Ayanokouji snap.
"He'll probably talk passionately about how easy judo is."
"Cut it out!"
"Hey. I'm going to go over there." I chimed in. The two looked toward where I was pointing.
"There? Where that girl is? Fujiwara-kun please spare her from your antics." Horikita said.
"Huh? No its not anything like that. I just recognized her from this morning."
Horikita raised an eyebrow. "Fine then. Go."
Why do you sound like a parent?
...
..
.
..
...
"Hey!" I called out to the strawberry blonde, who was with a couple of other people. She gracefully twirled around to face me.
Her eyes lit up in recognition. "Oh! It's you from this morning!"
I lightly chuckled. "Yeah, I recognized you from across the room and came to say hi."
"Hehe. Did you find your class? Oh! I'm Ichinose Honami; I almost forgot to introduce myself."
"I did, thanks for asking."
She smiled brightly, a captivating image that I will store in my brain for future reference. Would she appreciate a self-portrait? Is she an egoist?
"It happens to the best of us, Fujiwara-kun, don't let it get you down, okay?"
I nodded before turning my head toward the entourage that accompanied Ichinose. There was the honours student I recognized, as well as a girl who suspiciously looked like Karuizawa but with black hair.
The honours student, the one with purple hair, stuck his hand out to me. "I'm Kanzaki Ryuji, it's nice to meet you, Fujiwara. The person beside me is Amikura Mako."
I smiled as we shook hands. "Fujiwara Kiriya. It's nice to meet you too, Amikura-san, Kanzaki-kun."
"Hehe, you can call me Mako! You know, after you left we were all talking about you, even Hoshinomiya-sensei! She couldn't stop saying how handsome you were, how cute you were, how—" Amikura teased, going off into a rant.
I nervously chuckled a bit, feeling the heat in my cheeks.
"Amikura..." Kanzaki deflated. "Sorry, about that."
I wryly smiled.
A girl dressed in archery gear then stepped onto the stage. "Hello, my name is Hashigaki, the captain of the archery club. Many students may be under the impression that archery is an old-fashioned, simple activity, but it is a fun and rewarding sport. We welcome beginners with open arms. If you're interested, please consider joining."
Archery wasn't exactly my forte, nor did I have any inclination to join a club centred around it. The repetitive nature of the sport catered to those with unusual strength in their dominant hand, and I certainly didn't fall into that category.
(I'm making a joke about my right hand)
Now, when it came to my eyesight, that was another story.
I took a bit of pride in my green eyes – a special mint green shade that stood out. Considering how rare green eyes were in the global population, I wondered if I could become the club mascot next year.
Who wouldn't want a mint-eyed archer on their team?
"Are you joining any clubs, Fujiwara?" Kanzaki asked from the side as we all stared at the stage.
"If anything interests me, I will. What about you all? Anything?"
Ichinose smiled. "I'm thinking of joining the student council. I was student council president when I was in middle school, so I think it's natural that I join again."
"Oh? Was it fun?" I asked.
"Hehe, well, it's probably not 'fun' in the way that you mean, but I got to help a bunch of people. That was fun, in my opinion." she swayed back and forth on her heels, hair swaying in an enchanting manner.
She takes pleasure in helping people. Is that called a reverse sadist or am I just scrutinizing her for no reason?
{Do you think if we honk her boobs they'll make a squeaking sound? Why are they so...endowed?}
(I think we'd get arrested if we honked them— I mean; I think they'd make a rubber ducky sound.)
What?
The other upperclassmen took turns introducing their respective clubs, each presentation adding to the list of options available. Among the various pitches, one presentation particularly grabbed my attention.
"Good morning, everyone. My name is Hidaka Kiyomi, and I'm here to represent the Technology Club," her voice radiated warmth as she spoke into the microphone. There was no denying that she was remarkably attractive, and whoever was leading the club deserved credit for that alone.
Her long brown hair cascaded down, framing her brown eyes perfectly. But what intrigued me the most was her styling – her hair swept to the right, revealing a small piercing that peeked out on her left side.
If you were to ask me about my "type," I'd simply reply with anyone I found visually appealing. I mean, that's probably a universal preference, right?
Pretty people attract attention, after all.
Embarrassingly, my mind had drifted away from Hidaka-senpai's pitch, and I hadn't absorbed much of what she was saying. It was more like pleasant background noise while my thoughts ventured elsewhere.
Perhaps I could catch up with her later and ask for her contact information.
Not that it means I'm a playboy or anything.
Just curious, you know?
Now, when it came to the baseball team's presentation, it was equally unremarkable compared to the others. No matter how they detailed their practice schedule or highlighted their inclusivity for new members, the pitch seemed rather standard and unexciting.
Yet, it wasn't just the baseball club that fell into this category. Most of the other club introductions followed a similar pattern of being conventional and predictable.
It seemed that the fair was marked by a surplus of minor liberal arts-related clubs and activities, like the tea ceremony or calligraphy club.
I wonder if they'd like my handwriting...?
Probably not.
I was surprised to learn that only three people were needed to form a new club. It was a lower bar than I had expected, and it made me wonder why some of these clubs even existed. The gymnasium was alive with chatter as each club finished their spiel and the next one took the stage.
Throughout the event, the representatives and their supervising instructors remained patient and dedicated, explaining their respective organizations to the sometimes rowdy first-year students. They carried on without showing any signs of annoyance, likely driven by their desire to attract new members – even if just one person joined.
Honestly, it wouldn't hurt for some of these clubs to invest in a marketing director or aspiring ones, similar to how Hidaka-senpai's club appeared to have done.
The upperclassmen wrapped up their introductions and made their way off the stage, congregating around a designated area with plain tables – likely a reception area for welcoming new members.
Slowly, they dispersed until only one individual remained on stage, commanding the attention of the entire audience, including myself.
He appeared to be about 170 centimetres in height, so he wasn't very tall. He was slender, with sleek black hair. He wore sharp glasses and had a piercing, calculating gaze. Standing in front of the microphone, he calmly looked around at the first-year students. What was his club, and what in the world was he going to say? My interest had been piqued.
Unfortunately, my expectations were dashed immediately. He didn't say a single word. Maybe he was drawing a blank? Or perhaps he was so nervous that he couldn't speak?
(I think we should shove him off of a cliff—)
"Do your best!"
"Did you forget to bring your notecards?"
"Ha ha ha ha ha!"
The first-year students hurled comments at him. However, the upperclassman stood on the stage calmly, without trembling. The laughter and comments didn't seem to faze him. When the laughter had reached a crescendo, it suddenly died. He wore an apathetic expression.
"What's with this guy?" remarked an astonished student.
The gymnasium buzzed with people talking, yet the boy on the stage still did not move. He simply stood there, quiet and motionless, staring fixedly at the crowd. Horikita stared back at the student with an intense gaze, not breaking her line of sight even for a second.
The relaxed atmosphere gradually changed, and things took an unexpected turn. It was as if some chemical reaction had taken place. An unbelievably tense, quiet mood gripped the entire gymnasium. Even though no orders had been given, the silence was so terrible that it seemed to have gagged everyone. Not a single student looked able to open his or her mouth. The silence continued for about thirty seconds or so...
Then, the student started his speech, slowly scanning the crowd.
"I'm the student council president. My name is Horikita Manabu," he said.
The revelation hit me like a bolt of lightning. Horikita Manabu, the student council president, was none other than the older brother of Horikita Suzune. The pieces of the puzzle fell into place.
No wonder they both shared that signature glare – it seemed to be a family trait.
If me and Horikita-san had kids, would our child look like Ayanokouji with black hair and yellow eyes?
Heh, mental note of that one!
What would a relationship with Horikita even look like—
Pokariizu on Twitter
Scratch that! I don't want to imagine what being in a relationship with Horikta would be like! No sir! I would like to NOT be chained up and be done in ways I would never know existed.
(Oh my~)
"The student council is seeking potential candidates among our first-year students to fill the vacancies left by the graduating third-years. While no specific qualifications are necessary for candidacy, we kindly request that those considering applying refrain from participating in other club activities. Generally, we do not accept students who are engaged elsewhere," Horikita Manabu's voice was soft, yet the tension in the air was so palpable that you could practically cut it with a knife.
"This guy's quite intense, huh?" I murmured while the Class B students nodded, not saying anything. Ichinose looked up toward the elder Horikita with admiration.
He had managed to silence over a hundred new students in the vast gymnasium. However, it wasn't solely his role as the student council president that commanded this attention. It was Horikita Manabu's presence that held the power, enveloping everyone around him.
"Furthermore, the student council does not wish to appoint individuals with naive perspectives. Such candidates would not only fail to secure a position but also compromise the integrity of this institution. While the student council is entrusted with upholding and revising regulations, the school expects much more. We extend a warm welcome to those who comprehend this reality," he delivered his speech without a single pause, his words flowing effortlessly.
("Naive perspectives")
{Cough}
As soon as he finished, he descended from the stage and exited the gymnasium. The first-year students remained silent, unable to utter a word as they watched him depart. It seemed that no one dared to challenge the aura he exuded.
"We appreciate your attendance. The club fair has now concluded. The reception area is open for those interested in signing up. Registration will continue until the end of April, allowing students to join at a later date by directly submitting their application forms to their chosen clubs."
The calming announcement from the organized spokesperson helped alleviate the tension in the room. Following this, the third-year students who had presented their clubs began accepting applications from interested students.
"Hey! I'm going over to where the student council sign-up is. Wish me luck!" Ichinose said.
The three of us gave her our encouragement. But before she could disappear into the crowd, I called out to her.
"Oh! Ichinose-san could you get me one of the forms? I'm interested but I need to go and do something!"
The strawberry blonde backtracked. "Oh, sure I can do that! Let's exchange contact information so I can give it to you later, okay?"
"Yeah, sure; thanks!"
"No problem!"
(SPEEDRUN: PLAYBOY ROUTE!)
{Can we not? We have a bunch of things to do}
[Agreed.]
With that, she disappeared into the crowd, while I went out to secure my...objective...And by objective, I meant the following:
...
..
.
..
...
"Ah, Senpai!"
"Hm?"
"Could I get your number?"
"Eh?"
...
..
.
..
...
Heh, I got Hidaka-senpai's number, after all, SO LONG VIRGINS!
...
[Private Points: 2,751,513]
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