First-Year Class B, Department of Sociology, Arakawa Municipal University.
With less than ten minutes left before the Social Psychology lecture began, Saki Ogiwara sat in the front row of the classroom. Every so often, she turned her head to glance toward a corner seat by the window at the back of the room. Seeing it still unoccupied, a faint expression of disappointment crept onto her face.
Just in time, Fujii Ki strode in through the back door of the classroom.
He had no other choice—being a commuting student, his mode of transportation was entirely reliant on his two legs. It took him at least 20 minutes to walk from home to campus.
After setting down his bag, Fujii Ki slid into his seat in the second-to-last row. Before he could fully settle, a girl with braided pigtails and round-framed glasses approached him with light, tentative steps.
The girl's features were fine and delicate, but her lack of attention to style, combined with her long bangs, gave her a rather plain and old-fashioned appearance.
"Good morning, Fujii-kun!" Saki Ogiwara greeted him softly.
"Oh, good morning, Ogiwara-san."
"How are you feeling after yesterday? Did you get much sleep?"
Fujii Ki tucked his bag into the desk compartment and pulled out his literature textbook for class.
"Well, I… I managed," he replied casually.
Hearing his genuine concern, Saki Ogiwara bashfully lowered her head.
"I was a bit shaken, but I still ended up falling asleep around 2 a.m."
Her voice grew quieter as she spoke, her unease evident.
Fujii Ki couldn't help but chuckle. "I was just joking, you didn't have to answer so seriously."
She's so earnest it's almost adorable, he thought.
Though her appearance was a bit frumpy, her gentle demeanor and sincerity made her much easier to get along with than people like Ai Shimizu or Chiba Saeko.
"Oh, it was a joke..." Ogiwara's face flushed slightly, the pink hue barely visible beneath her long bangs.
"Ding, ding, ding—"
Fortunately for her, the sound of the bell saved her from further embarrassment. The color on her cheeks might have escaped Fujii Ki's notice, but the look she cast him from behind her glasses lingered.
Saki Ogiwara returned to her seat in the front row just as the middle-aged lecturer strode into the room with a stack of books under his arm.
"Alright, let's begin. Turn your textbooks to page 34—Social Cognition."
As always, the sociology lecture was dry and uninspiring. Fujii Ki found himself zoning out soon after the class started. Thanks to his "Introductory Professional Knowledge" skill, he felt that his grasp of the material might even rival that of the lecturer.
And this wasn't limited to professional courses; his proficiency extended to general subjects like literature, math, and English.
As he let his mind wander, his gaze drifted from the lecturer to Saki Ogiwara in the front row.
She sat attentively, her head held high, fully engrossed in the lecture.
After the class ended, Fujii Ki avoided club activities, choosing instead to spend some time in the library. He returned to the classroom just as lunch break began.
While the university had a cafeteria, the food was notoriously unpalatable, so most students preferred bringing their own bento boxes.
Settling into his seat, Fujii Ki pulled out the bento prepared by Ai Shimizu. As he opened the lid, the aroma of fried pork cutlet and simmered potatoes wafted into the air.
This was a special lunch prepared by his aunt, Eiko Tōnonoki, for her precious daughter who was preparing for entrance exams. In a way, Fujii Ki was benefiting from Ai's privileges.
Although the bento wasn't insulated, and the food had gone cold, Fujii Ki didn't mind. Picking up a piece of potato with his chopsticks, he popped it into his mouth.
Japanese people were accustomed to eating cold meals and drinking cold water, and after living here for so long, Fujii Ki had grown used to it.
Just as he was eating, Saki Ogiwara approached with a two-tiered bento box in hand.
"Fujii-kun, I'm really sorry for dragging you into trouble yesterday."
"I made some extra food this morning, and I was thinking..."
A hint of apology lingered in her expression, but she hesitated to finish her sentence.
Fujii Ki rolled his eyes. "Still talking about dragging me down, huh?"
"Anyway, you said you made extra food. So?"
"Well... I-I thought maybe we could eat together."
Her face turned a deep shade of crimson, and her voice faltered. The eyes behind her round glasses glimmered with nervous anticipation.
"Sure, let's eat together," Fujii Ki replied nonchalantly.
Lifting the lid of her bento, a plate of beautifully cooked braised pork ribs was revealed. The tantalizing aroma alone was enough to stir the appetite.
Without hesitation, Fujii Ki picked up a piece and tried it.
"Wow, this is great! Ogiwara-san, your cooking could easily land you a job as a hotel chef in Nakano!"
"Oh, no, you're exaggerating..."
The blush that had barely faded from Ogiwara's face quickly returned. But this time, a faint smile curled at her lips, and a sweet sense of satisfaction bloomed in her heart.
As they shared the meal, their conversation turned to Saeko Chiba.
"Fujii-kun, there's something I need to tell you. This morning, when I went to the restroom, I overheard some of Chiba-senpai's friends talking about something."
A trace of concern flashed in Ogiwara's eyes.
"Oh? What were they saying?"
"Well... I didn't dare get too close, but I think they're planning something this afternoon."
"Afternoon? That soon?"
Fujii Ki frowned. "Doesn't Chiba Saeko realize we could release those photos at any moment?"
"Maybe... maybe I misheard, and it's not about us..."
"That's too much of a coincidence."
"Then... should we call the police?"
"That won't help. By the time they arrive, those girls will have scattered. Besides, nothing's happened yet, so the police might not take it seriously."
"Should we tell a teacher?"
"Same result." Fujii Ki cast a sidelong glance at her. "Didn't you ever try reporting to the teachers when you were being bullied?"
Her gentle eyes dimmed momentarily.
She knew all too well—if the teachers could have helped, she wouldn't have been cornered by Chiba and her group in the restroom yesterday.
What should we do?
A wave of hopelessness surged through her heart.
Until Fujii Ki's voice broke the silence.
"We'll deal with it when the time comes. Finish your food first."
He picked up another piece of rib and shoveled some rice into his mouth.
"Don't worry, I've got this."
Ogiwara froze momentarily. Then, slowly, a spark of light returned to her downcast eyes.
She had always endured silently, naively believing that perseverance would lead to calm seas. But each retreat only fueled Chiba Saeko's relentless cruelty.
Never had she expected—or believed—that someone would stand resolutely by her side.
Until Fujii Ki came along.