'—I don't know the details, but it seems like this year they chose the students who did well on average to be assigned to class 11. Like I said, I don't know the details, but that's what I heard from the others—'
That was what Yagisawa-sensei said when Umi asked her about the classes' roster.
This was all speculation, but apparently the school chose the members of class 11 first before assigning the rest of the students to their respective classes.
She said that this year they assigned the students who did well on average, meaning that they took the students' performance throughout the year into consideration before deciding whether they could enter class 11 or not.
And according to Umi, there were students that were ranked among the 50th to 60th in class 11, there was a huge chance that what Yagisawa-sensei said was the truth.
If that was the case, well, I wasn't even close then.
"—Uu… Maki…"
"Yes, yes, everything will be okay, don't worry."
We quickly returned to my home as soon as the opening ceremony ended and Umi clung to me like a spoiled kid the moment we got back..
"Umi, can you let go of me for a second? I can't make lunch if you keep clinging to me like this…"
"No! Way!"
"…Jeez…"
Back in school she acted all cool and said, 'Well, our relationship won't change even if we're in different classes', but as soon as we got home, she acted like this.
Well, I understood her feelings. In the second year, there were a lot of events coming up like the interclass match, the sports festival after the summer vacation, the school trip during the winter and so on. This year was our only chance to participate in those events since we had to focus on our entrance exams next year.
She was looking forward to the school trip the most since it would be a 4 days, 3 nights long trip of skiing and sightseeing. Being in the same class as me meant that she would be able to spend more time with me during the trip.
That was the reason why she acted like this.
"Umi, it's okay. Yes we'll be in different classes, but it isn't all bad. We can just spend our time going to school and at lunch together as much as we can. Besides, we can text each other during classes… Wait, no, we can't…"
Honestly, even back when we were in the same class, we rarely talked to each other in class to begin with. Even when she was seated right behind me, she never started a conversation with me and vice versa.
That was why I agreed with her when she said, 'Well, our relationship won't change even if we're in different classes.'
And regarding the school trip, we could still sneak out whenever there was free time, it wasn't all that hopeless, really.
"That's what I thought at first too… Just wait for tomorrow, you'll understand why I am like this…"
"Fine, I'll find out tomorrow… So, let me go?"
"No."
"…Fine, I'll give you 10 minutes."
"No."
"…Jeez…"
It had been a while since the last time she clung to me like this. God she was so cute. Still, I couldn't help but wonder… Will it really be that lonely without her?
* * *
Next day. The class began like normal.
"Good~ morning~ everyone! Alright, I know that you're still in your vacation mood, but today's the start of the new year, so adjust your mood properly, okay?"
The sight of Yagisawa-sensei acting as our homeroom teacher was familiar to me, but she seemed to be more relaxed compared to last year. I guess last year helped her settle in.
Aside from her presence, everything was new to me. New classroom, a new desk, and a new atmosphere, but for some reason I felt a sense of discomfort.
Until last year, I was a loner. I thought that nothing much would happen even if I changed class, and that everything would stay the same. Then I met Umi, befriended her and slowly befriended other people too…
"…"
I was seated in the back of the class, so I could freely take a look at the whole class. Umi wasn't here, Nozomu and Nitta-san weren't here either. Amami-san was here and she still stood out from the rest of the class, but everything still felt different.
This class felt very different from the last one…
[Maehara: Umi.]
[Asanagi: ?]
[Maehara: How are you feeling?]
[Asanagi: What, are you missing me already?~]
[Maehara: Oi.]
[Asanagi: Hehe.]
[Asanagi: Hang in there~]
Since I was seated in the back, I could freely mess around with my phone and text Umi. By now, I was proficient enough to be able to send text to her without looking at the phone screen much.
Like they said, practice makes perfect.
It didn't matter even if we were in different classes, we could still communicate secretly like what we always did. Occasionally, I would look at our chat and grin to myself.
Knowing Umi, she probably did the same as me, grinning creepily at her phone screen like an idiot.
I looked up to her direction to confirm this thought… And realized…
Ah… I see…
This was what she was talking about yesterday.
When I looked up, her familiar figure wasn't there.
Last year, I could still see her trying to hold her laughter after we texted something dumb to each other. Occasionally, she would look at me and wave her hand secretly in my direction.
We didn't talk much, but her presence in class comforted me. All the bad rumors about me, I could ignore them because I could just focus on her. Her presence was indispensable for me, and I just realized that.
But now, she wasn't here. We were separated by the thick wall between our classes.
I knew that I wasn't completely alone here. Amami-san was here and there were a few other classmates who were assigned to this class as well, but…
I sent a text to Umi.
[Maehara: Umi.]
[Asanagi: Yes?]
[Maehara: I understand what you meant.]
[Maehara: It feels lonely…]
[Asanagi: I know right?]
In my case, since we had been really close to each other, I felt so lonely without her. But it was probably worse for Umi. She was a needy, clingy kid at heart. Being in a class without anyone she could call a friend would obviously make her feel lonelier than I did.
This couldn't go on, I had to do my best so I could be together with her next year. Of course before that, I had to get used to this new atmosphere first.
Still, I couldn't help but worry about her having to put up with this for a whole year.
I wonder if there was something I could do for her?