Chapter 4: The Beginning of a High School Adventure
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7:30 am
" How many ants have you counted so far, Rio ?"
Rio slowly raised his head as he tried to focus on the rapid movements of the ants in front of him, then said with obvious pride .
" I've counted 5768 so far, and you, Shoyo ?"
Shoyo replied as he stretched his tired legs and drew a faint smile on his face .
" I don't remember exactly… I think I got to 9989, or maybe a little less. Who knows ?"
The two of them were sitting on their knees, looking at the ground filled with small ants moving around without stopping. Their eyes were tired from watching, and signs of boredom began to appear clearly on their features .
Rio asked, trying to break the silence .
" How long has it been, Shoyo ?"
Shoyo answered with a heavy sigh, as if to vent his frustration at this long wait .
" Half an hour...so far ."
They were silent for a moment, then Rio said in distress .
" At this rate, we'll be late for school ."
At that moment, the door finally opened, and Itsuki walked out with confident steps. His black hair was still dripping with a few drops of water, and his white shirt was neatly ironed. The scent of his elegant perfume filled the room, as if he had just stepped out of a photo shoot and not an ordinary school day .
Itsuki smiled as he spoke with a clear sense of relief on his face .
" Okay, we can go now ."
But instead of a welcome, he was met with angry looks from Ryu and Shoyo. The atmosphere seemed to become instantly tense, but Itsuki, as usual, read the scene with a slight smile and said :
" It seems you didn't sleep well ."
Rio replied in a voice with a tone of suppressed anger .
" Seriously, how long do you think we waited here for you ?"
Itsuki laughed lightly and said :
" It's only a few minutes, Rio. No need to be angry ."
Shoyo shook his head, trying to calm his companion down .
" Yeah, stop complaining like a child, Rio ."
Ryu turned his sharp gaze towards Shoyo and asked him with disapproval :
" Are you with me or against me, Shoyo ?"
Shoyo replied with a sly smile, as he rearranged his red tie .
" I'm always on the winning side ."
Itsuki intervened, waving his hand .
" Okay, okay, stop arguing. We're going to be late for school ."
The three of them started walking together on the busy road, their confident steps reflecting the harmony between them. The soft rays of sunlight were filtering through the trees, and the gentle morning breeze was caressing their faces .
Their school uniforms—red ties, black blazers, and white shirts—looked like they had been tailor-made for them. They looked like they had stepped out of a movie scene, and they caught the attention of everyone who passed by .
Shoyo said with a calm smile, trying to break the silence .
" I think the only good thing about this school is its nice uniforms and delicious food ."
Rio stopped walking, and looked at him with a cold gaze .
" If the school students heard you, you would be public enemy number one. You know the status of this school, but you talk as if it were a normal school ."
Shoyo replied indifferently, placing his hands behind his head .
" So what? It's just a school after all ."
Rio's expression gradually changed, becoming more serious. He said in a low voice ,
" You say this because you did not enter it by your own effort ."
Shoyo paused for a moment, then smiled wickedly and said .
" Maybe you're right. I'm grateful to you and the opportunity you gave me, my dear friend Rio. Is that what you wanted to hear ?"
Rio said sarcastically .
" Yes, yes, be more grateful. You too, Itsuki !"
But when they turned to Itsuki, he wasn't there. Instead, he was walking away with a short girl with bright red hair. She was smiling sweetly at him, and they seemed to be in perfect harmony .
Rio suddenly stopped and pointed at them in surprise .
" Who is that girl ?"
Shoyo tried to remember, but he just shrugged his shoulders indifferently .
" I think we met her in the cafeteria. Her name was… I forget ."
Before he could add anything else, the girl approached with a comforting smile and said confidently ,
" My name is Aoki Mitsui ."
Shoyo quickly took a step back, while Ryu said sarcastically .
" Don't scare people like that, girl ."
Ayuki put her hand over her mouth as she tried to stifle her laughter, then looked at Rio and said .
" So, you're Rio ?"
Rio replied with apprehension .
" Yes, do you want something from me ?"
She smiled and said :
" No, nothing ."
Then she turned to Itsuki and said while laughing .
" Do your friends always act like this ?"
Itsuki answered her calmly .
" Not always ."
Rio suddenly interrupted them, waving his hand towards the clock .
" Enough talk! We're going to be late !"
Aoki was surprised, and quickly took out her phone. She looked at the screen, and was shocked .
" It's 7:55!"
She grabbed her bag tightly and started running quickly, leaving the three behind her .
Rio smiled and said .
" The last person to arrive at school will pay for lunch and dinner today ."
Shoyo and Itsuki smiled after hearing Rio's words, then Shoyo said in a confident tone full of challenge .
" Don't take your words back later ."
Shoyo's face showed a confident expression, as if he was absolutely certain that he would win this race. He added sarcastically, winking at Ryu .
" You seem to have forgotten that you're the slowest one among us, Rio ."
Itsuki didn't wait for any response, he took off like an arrow leaving the three behind him, and shouted lightly without turning around .
" I'll be the first to arrive, as always !"
Rio didn't stand idly by, but ran after them, smiling confidently, and quickened his steps. He thought to himself as his heartbeat accelerated .
" I may have been the slowest before, but that was a year ago. Today it's different ."
A short distance away, Aoki was running at full speed, feeling the blood rushing through her veins and the sound of her breathing echoing in her ears. Suddenly, she heard the sound of quick footsteps behind her, but before she could turn around, Shoyo had passed her with an astonishing speed, making her feel as if a strong wind had passed her by .
This caused her to lose her balance, and she started falling towards the ground. But before she could crash, Itsuki skillfully caught her, and gently pulled her back to her feet .
Itsuki said in a calm tone as he looked into her eyes to make sure of her condition .
" Are you well ?"
Aiuki answered in a broken voice, while catching her breath .
" Yes...thank you. You saved me ."
But at that moment, Rio passed between them at a lightning speed, as if his steps were not heard, or perhaps they were completely distracted from his awareness .
Ayuki looked at him in surprise, while Itsuki turned his head towards Ryu and Shoyo who were walking away. Itsuki thought for a few seconds, then suddenly grabbed Ayuki's hand .
Her face turned red as she asked him in confusion .
" Itsuki, what are you doing ?"
He said confidently as he pulled her lightly .
" Come with me. I have a faster way to get to school ."
Ayuki felt a little hesitant, but she decided to trust him and ran beside him .
On the other hand, Ryo was catching up with Shoyo who was slightly ahead. The more the distance between them increased, Ryo gradually closed it. They both focused on just running, without any extra movement to disrupt their rhythm .
Their steps were in sync as if they were fighting a silent battle, and a hidden smile appeared on their faces. They seemed to be enjoying the competition itself more than winning .
The two reached the main road, where the traffic was getting heavy. They had to weave themselves through the passersby with graceful movements .
A passerby shouted angrily .
" Hey, look out, boys !"
While another woman shouted as she moved out of their way :
" Kyaaah! Watch out you troublemakers !"
But neither Shoyo nor Ryo paid any attention to these sounds. Their focus was only on arriving. Suddenly, Ryo saw two iron bars on the side of the road used to protect pedestrians stretching along the road .
He jumped straight over the first bar, and began running on it with amazing agility and balance, like a ninja. This did not slow him down, but rather increased his momentum, causing Shoyo to raise an eyebrow in admiration .
As they approached the large school gate, the distance between them was getting smaller and smaller .
Student Yoshida, the head of the disciplinary committee, was standing in front of the school gate, looking at his watch over and over again .
Shoyo and Ryu both looked at their watches, and saw that it was 7:59. They exchanged quick glances filled with determination, and both of them increased their speed .
Yoshida gradually began to close the gate, with only twenty seconds left before the clock struck eight .
Rio shouted excitedly .
" Only a little left !"
But instead of heading straight towards the gate, they both suddenly changed their course towards the school wall, which was three metres high .
Yoshida looked at them in surprise .
Ryu and Shoyo ran towards the wall, jumped lightly, and used their feet to walk on the wall with steady steps. They both grabbed the edge of the fence, and quickly pulled themselves up .
They jumped into the air inside the school, landing skillfully on the tips of their feet, absorbing the force of the impact .
When the clock struck eight, the two were standing in the schoolyard, panting and filled with indescribable excitement .
Rio shouted first, raising his fist towards the sky .
" I won !"
But Shoyo didn't delay, he replied in a loud and energetic voice .
" No! I won !"
They exchanged smiles as they let the adrenaline take over their senses, as the school gates closed behind them .
While Shoyo and Ryu were shouting at each other, each one clearly declaring himself the winner :
" Didn't you see that I jumped before you?!" Shoyo said angrily .
Rio replied sarcastically: "Is there something wrong with your head? If I touch the ground first, that means I'm the winner !"
The argument between them continued until a familiar laugh interrupted them. They turned to find Itsuki standing next to Ayuki, a confident smile filling his face .
" There's no need to argue between you two, I'm the one who got there first ."
Shoyo and Ryo froze in place, stunned. How could Itsuki be in front of them? They were pretty sure he had been behind them the whole time. They looked at him suspiciously, realizing that he had used some kind of trick in the race, but they didn't have the strength to argue further .
Itsuki smiled sarcastically and said :
" So, you both pay ."
Shoyo and Ryu nodded in agreement, resigned .
Yoshida, the head of the Disciplinary Committee, approached the group. His sharp expression made Aoki feel flustered, so she hid behind Itsuki without thinking .
Yoshida spoke in a calm, yet stern tone .
" Go to your classes before you are late anymore ."
The group moved quickly before he changed his mind, but at the last moment Yoshida grabbed Rio and Shoyo .
As Itsuki and Ayuki continued on their way, they waved at them with a small smile and said :
" See you in class !"
Shoyo and Ryo felt betrayed for some reason, but they didn't have time to think about it. Yoshida took two papers out of his pocket and handed them to them .
Rio asked curiously as he looked at the paper .
" What is this paper ?"
Yoshida's tone quickly changed, becoming sharper.
" Jumping over the school fence is prohibited. This is an official warning, and you two should visit the principal later ."
Shoyu immediately replied in a quick tone to avoid further trouble .
" Okay, we get it ."
When Shoyo and Ryo arrived at Classroom A-1, they noticed that the classroom was very clean, with a simple and tidy layout. The shiny wooden tables were neatly arranged, and the walls were painted a pure white with green accents at the edges. There was a smart board installed in the front, surrounded by small shelves containing modern teaching aids .
The atmosphere inside the classroom was noisy. The students rearranged their seats and pushed tables together to form small groups, and Itsuki quickly joined one of them while Aoki sat quietly behind him .
Ayuki and Itsuki were in the last seats, Shoyo quickly walked over to them and sat on an empty chair next to Itsuki .
Shoyo sat on the chair with a feeling of satisfaction, as the position of the chair was ideal, for Shoyo, as there were students in front of him who were taller than him, which would make him unnoticeable in class, and even if he fell asleep in class, he would not be noticed .
While the students suddenly began to quickly rearrange their seats, and put anything unrelated to studying in their bags .
Rio stood there in confusion, unaware of what was happening. Suddenly, the teacher entered the classroom .
She was a mature-looking woman, with braided hair, a sharp gaze, and a serious expression on her face. As soon as she entered, the classroom went quiet as if everyone was afraid of her .
She shifted her sharp gaze to Rio who was still standing .
" You, sit on a chair quickly ."
Rio slowly walked to the only empty chair, which was located directly in front of the teacher's desk. He muttered to himself in displeasure .
" Damn, I hate my luck ."
After sitting down, he quickly looked around, trying to make sense of the situation. He noticed that Shoyo and Itsuki were looking at the teacher as if they were trying to remember something. Suddenly, the same thought flashed through all of their minds .
" Isn't this Rika's mother ?!"
The teacher interrupted their thoughts with a firm voice .
" Students who did not come to class yesterday, raise your hands ."
Shoyo, Ryu, Itsuki, and Ayuki all raised their hands. Only four out of all the students .
I asked them in a serious tone .
" Why didn't you come yesterday ?"
No one answered. The teacher just sighed and said in a reproachful tone .
" And you, Rio Nakamura, are supposed to be a role model for the students, not miss the first day of school ."
Rio could not respond to her except by saying .
" Okay teacher "
Everyone in the class was shocked by what they saw. The students whispered to each other in astonishment: T.
" Can you believe that?! She was so strict yesterday !"
" Yes, you punished me for being only five minutes late !"
" How can she forgive them so easily ?!"
The teacher slapped the table with the palm of her hand, making a loud noise that silenced everyone. Then she announced seriously :
" I am teacher Emilia Figura, and I will be your teacher this year ."
After the teacher introduced herself, all the students turned to her attentively, while she maintained her serious look that did not hide her firmness .
She took calm, steady steps as she moved towards the desk, placed a thick notebook on the table and then raised her head towards the students, saying ,
" I ask you to fully comply this school year. Any deviation from the rules will be met with appropriate consequences ."
Her gaze moved sharply between the students, then stopped at Shoyo, whose expression was disinterested. She continued :
" And you, the last student, don't think that you can act as you please. I won't allow anyone to disrupt the order in this classroom ."
Shoyo was shocked by her focus on him, but he nodded and said :
" Yes, teacher ."
Then she looked at Rio, who was trying to avoid eye contact with her. She said in a softer tone .
" As for you, Ryo Nakamura, I expect you to set an example for the other students. Don't make me repeat myself ."
Rio nodded quickly :
" Okay sensei, I'll be careful ."
Despite the serious atmosphere imposed by the teacher, the low whispers among the students began to rise again, especially after the different way in which she treated the absentees .
Ryo sat in the front seat, trying to pretend to be calm, but he felt the weight of Shoyo and Itsuki's gazes on him from behind. He turned lightly to see their expressions full of mockery, as if they were enjoying seeing him in this awkward situation .
Shoyo leaned towards Itsuki, and whispered sarcastically .
" Who would have thought that Rio, our dear friend, would become the front row boy ?"
Itsuki laughed softly and added .
" What a way to start the school year. I feel a little sorry for him !"
Rio tried to ignore them, but he couldn't ignore the anger he felt because of what the two of them said .
The general thought was interrupted by the sound of the teacher distributing papers to the students .
" Well, before we start the lessons, I will conduct a simple test to see how you are. Don't worry, it won't affect the class grades, but it will give me an understanding of how to teach you, and know your weaknesses and strengths in the subjects ."
The classes let out a collective sigh, as everyone grabbed their pens .
Shoyo whispered in a quiet voice to Itsuki .
" I almost forgot that it is a school famous for its educational system ."
Itsuki replied without looking at him .
" Yes, you are right. I just hope the exam is not difficult ."
Answer me slowly .
" Don't worry, we can help each other, unlike the poor guy in the first seat ."
Rio tried to look behind him, but the teacher's gaze made him change his mind .
But before they could begin, the teacher suddenly raised her head and said .
" Oh, and there's one more thing ..."
A heavy silence fell over the class, then she continued with a slight smile that rarely appeared .
" The student who gets the lowest grade... will be assigned to clean the classroom for the rest of the school year ."
Muffled laughter erupted among the students, hiding behind it clear tension, as they had been preparing for the exam since yesterday, as if it was an opportunity to get rid of class assignments .
The students started solving the reading, and everyone was concentrating silently. The students' expressions changed with each question, from confidence a moment ago, to expressions of regret and anxiety. Soon, their voices of discontent increased.
" These questions are very difficult... How do they test us on them ?!"
Vermilia Sensei quickly spoke .
" Adhere to guidance and you will find a solution "
Silence in class again .
Shoyo grabbed his pen and started playing with it, reading the questions, while Itsuki held his head and tried to focus on the solution .
While Ryo was the calmest of the bunch as he almost finished solving them, he couldn't help but glance sideways at Shoyo and Itsuki behind him, seeing how Itsuki was slowly solving the questions while Shoyo just played with his pen .
Rio whispered in an almost inaudible voice .
" They look like they'll do well ."
Time ran out quickly, and the teacher gathered the papers. After she picked them up, she said :
" I will announce the results at the end of tomorrow. Don't worry... you can relax ."
Her smile and last words made everyone feel anxious after she left the classroom .
As the school day ended, the three, Ryo, Shoyo, and Itsuki, gathered in the schoolyard. They sat under a large tree, talking about the morning race and what happened after it .
Shoyo said sarcastically .
" I can imagine Rio cleaning the classroom until the end of the year ."
Rio replied with a smile .
" No, that's impossible. I'm more worried about you. I think you were struggling even with the first question ."
As for Itsuki, he just laughed and said .
" I wonder... who will be the first victim ?"
While they were talking, Aoki suddenly appeared from behind and said with a shy smile .
" I don't think it will be me ..."
Itsuki nodded with a confident smile, saying :
" Yes, it won't be you, I helped you ."
Ayuki's face flushed with embarrassment, and she began hitting Itsuki's shoulder with her small hands while puffing out her cheeks slightly, trying to hide her embarrassment .
" Damn... Itsuki! You said you wouldn't tell anyone !"
Itsuki laughed at her reaction, but it didn't stop irritating her. Shoyo chimed in with a sly smile .
" No need to tell them, I know too ."
Ayuki was shocked for a moment and felt like she was in a ridiculous situation. She increased the force of her hit on Itsuki's shoulder, saying in a voice full of anger and embarrassment ,
" You are horrible !"
Meanwhile, Ryo was watching them from afar as if he had been completely forgotten. He felt as if his friends had replaced him with a cute red-haired girl. As he was lost in his thoughts, Shoyo suddenly approached and tapped his forehead with his finger .
" Why are you absent-minded ?"
Rio held his forehead, looking at Shoyo with a slightly annoyed expression .
" Sometimes coincidences are scary. I didn't expect to meet Rika's mother so soon ."
Shoyo put his hands behind his head and said in a calm tone .
" Yes, you're right... It's like something you don't want to happen, like wishing you didn't meet your father on the street and suddenly he's in front of you ."
Itsuki laughed as he interrupted the conversation .
" Yes, that's true. But at least, it means we might get to see Rika again ."
Rio and Shoyo smiled at the same time and said together .
" Okay ."
As the atmosphere was filled with a light spirit, Itsuki intervened again, saying ,
" Well, about this morning's challenge... I'm hungry ."
Both Rio and Shoyo's facial expressions turned into frowns. Shoyo put his hand in his pocket and said in a businesslike tone .
" Since we're tied, I'll pay half, and Rio's the other half ."
Rio nodded in agreement and said .
" Well, that's fair at least ."
The group moved towards the school cafeteria, but suddenly Rio stopped, remembering something important. He said hesitantly .
" Shouldn't we go see the principal, Shoyo ?"
Before Shoyo could answer, a familiar voice interrupted them from behind them .
" You don't have to, the manager isn't here right now ."
The group slowly turned towards the owner of the voice, to find a boy with dark brown hair, distinguished by a golden streak on his shoulder. Kenzaki, the student council president, was standing there with a small smile .
Rio sighed and said in a serious tone .
" I guess you didn't come here just to tell us that, did you ?"
Kenzaki smiled slyly, but he looked more hesitant than usual. He put his hand to his head as if trying to think of how to say what was on his mind .
" So, you exposed me… Actually, I want your help with something ."
Shoyo spoke in a sharp tone, examining the boy standing in front of them .
" Since when do we know you that you ask for our help ?"
Kenzaki smiled a small smile, but it didn't hide his surprise. He looked directly at Ryu and said .
" Rio, didn't you tell them what happened yesterday ?"
Rio shrugged his shoulders indifferently and said .
" I told them, but they didn't believe me ."
Kenzaki stood silent for a moment, trying to analyze the situation. He thought deeply, realizing that these people were Ryu's friends, however, their contrasting personalities made them a challenge in themselves. He knew that convincing Ryu to help wasn't that hard, but the rest? He might need a smarter approach .
He took a deep breath, then approached the group with quiet steps. He lowered his voice until it was barely audible and began to speak .
" Look ..."
He stepped back a little after he finished speaking, and looked at everyone, waiting for their response .
Itsuki, Shoyo, and Ayuki looked at each other silently before speaking in unison .
" Okay, we'll help you ."
A wide smile spread across Kenzaki's face, feeling as if a huge burden had been lifted off his shoulders. He said in a grateful tone ,
" Great... Then I'll tell you later where and when we'll meet ."
He waved at them lightly before turning and walking steadily towards the school building, leaving the group wondering what awaited them next .
Everyone exchanged glances, a mixture of confusion and excitement on their faces .
Shoyo said while crossing his arms .
" Well, that sounds interesting... finally an adventure worthy of my involvement ."
Itsuki laughed and said sarcastically .
" You're always looking for something to kill your boredom, aren't you ?"
Aoki intervened in a low voice, as if she was thinking out loud .
" I wonder what he really wants from us ?"
No one answered them, but their eyes were all shining with curiosity .