FYI;

POV/Scene

: Speech

- Thoughts

[Flashback/Recording]

"Quoting"

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Horikita Suzuki's Room

While Suzuki was a usually composed guy he couldn't hide the blush on his face.

Suzuki: Asking me out like that. What was she thinking?

[Kiyone: Hey Horikita. Do you want to go out with me?

Suzuki: What?

Kiyone: If you're going to reject me that's fine as well. I just want an answer.

Suzuki blushed.

Suzuki: I need some time to think about this.]

Suzuki- She said it so casually too! What is up with that girl? I mean I thought she was just a cute girl at first. Then we spent more time together and discovered she was more than just cute but now she confesses?

Suzuki was practically having a mental breakdown. While he had been confessed to many times most were from "Admirers from afar" so he neer paid much attention to those confessions. Ayanokoji Kiyone was different. She was a Classmate... no a friend.

Suzuki- How am I supposed to respond?

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Beginning Of The First Year

Suzuki was on the bus reading Crime and Punishment (I bought the book recently. Up to chapter 3 so far.) He was reading it for the first time and found it very fascinating when he felt the gaze of someone. He looked to see a girl with long brown hair looking at him.

Suzuki- Another one huh?

When he inspected her closer though he was able to see her features more clearly, she was tall for a girl (about 169cm) only slightly shorter than him (174cm). Her long hair reached her elbows. Her figure was modest, to say the least, and her face was monotone which at first glance would make her seem bland but Suzuki saw through this. He could tell she was actually quite beautiful if you looked at them closer. She was... a cutie.

Suzuki- Hold on... what am I doing? If I continue staring I'll be no better than those other girls.

He looked away as the bus came to a stop.

Suzuki- Wait why am I the one in the wrong here? She was staring first.

Suzuki stopped at the entrance to confront her.

???: Can I help you?

Suzuki: Why were you staring at me on the bus?

???: I wasn't though.

Suzuki: I could feel your gaze.

???: I was looking at the book you were reading. You were only in my line of sight.

And then it dawned on him as if lightning had struck him.

Suzuki- She wasn't looking at me?

Suzuki often had women's gazes on him. At times he even caught his teachers looking at him inappropriately. Because of this he generally felt more comfortable with male teachers. Regardless of all that it was safe to say he was quite handsome and he knew it.

Suzuki: Then I apologise for the misunderstanding.

He offered his hand to her. The fact she wasn't staring made him intrigued.

???: It's nothing. I don't mind.

She took his hand shaking it.

Suzuki: Well then. I'll leave you be.

???: You're not going to introduce yourself?

Suzuki: No need.

Suzuki left.

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Auditorium

Through some twist of fate, Suzuki found himself standing next to the same girl he had met before.

Suzuki- What kind of strange coincidence is this?

A woman with glasses and a cold and calculating look stepped out onto the podium. She didn't say a word as the Class 1C boys spoke up.

???: Hey girly? Need some help finding your notes?

???: I'm sure we could help you.

???: We could help you a lot.

Suzuki gritted his teeth.

Suzuki- How dare those scum speak to Nee-San in such a way.

???: I am Horikits Makoto. I will be your Student Council President for my remaining year at this school. At this school, Merit is judged above all else. Your days here will be gruelling but if you push past your weaknesses and move forward you'll look fondly at the time you spent here.

Suzuki- Nee-San. I've finally caught up to you.

Suzuki saying this still couldn't look at her in the eyes.

???: Hey do you have a Sister Complex or something?

Suzuki was taken out of the moment in an instant.

Suzuki: What kind of question is that? And how do you know She's my Older Sister?

???: You just confirmed it but it was just a hunch.

Suzuki- This girl... is not just...cute...

That last word hung in his mind. He would never admit it but he really did find this girl cute.

Suzuki: You're a strange person.

She feigned an injury as if being struck in the heart before leaving.

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Classroom

Suzuki- This girl... she lied to me! She was staring! She's been stalking me this entire time since the bus hasn't she? She must have somehow made it so this situation could be possible. Otherwise, it's too much of a coincidence.

???: Huh. what a coincidence.

Suzuki: An unpleasant one.

???: That's pretty cruel. Girls won't like you if you're like that.

Suzuki- Is this girl... actually teasing me?

Suzuki got annoyed.

Suzuki: As if something as trivial as the attention of Women disappearing would bother me. In fact I welcome it.

??? put her hand to her mouth.

???: So you're the type that would rather die alone... I see.

Suzuki: What...?

Even though she had spent most of her time casually roasting him since she met him her expression didn't change. Her composure set like stone, her face unchanging. Suzuki's interest would only increase with each encounter even if he would deny it outwardly.

???: Nothing.

Suzuki sighed as the introductions went as normal until it came to ???.

???: Helllo. My name is Ayanokoji Kiyone. I'm not really good at anything in particular. I hope to get along with you all?

Suzuki- Yeah right.

Many sweatdroopped at her less than spectacular introduction though one boy did look her way. Yamauchi Harukia.

Suzuki- Even though I don't know him. From that look I can tell he's scum.

A woman in her thirties entered the Classroom.

Suzuki- Please don't stare at me. It's annoying.

However, this woman's gaze was directed at his seatmate. He could tell her gaze was focused on the person next to him.

Suzuki- Well... that's new. Maybe it's not so bad that she's next to me after all. But why is she attracting the attention of the teacher already?

He turned to see the girl asleep on her desk. The first though in his mind was that even while asleep her face wouldn't relax as if she was still alert... next in his thought were that she looked cute...but after that?

Suzuki- ...

He had no words to express how dumbstruck he was that this girl was sleeping in class. The first class of the three years they'd be spending in school no less. He kicked her table waking her up.

Suzuki: Wake up. We're in the middle of class.

Kiyone: Violence against women isn't looked well upon you know.

Suzuki: What violence? Do you have any proof?

Kiyone: You're a nasty man you know. Even if you marry you'll likely get a divorce.

Suzuki got annoyed by this.

Suzuki: Your constant insults are getting old. Especially since you don't seem to derive any joy from them which means you're only doing this to annoy me.

Kiyone: Yes I am. I never denied that.

Suzuki- This girl...!

Even though he usually attempted to keep his calm this girl had an easy time getting under his skin. He stood up in front of her, his hands on her desk.

Kiyone: You're awfully close.

Suzuki: Are we going to have some kind of problem?

Kiyone: No. Why would we?

Suzuki: Ayanokoji-San. Are you actually dumb or are you only pretending?

Kiyone: Now who's the one throwing insults?

Suzuki: Exactly! Why wouldn't we have a problem then?

Kiyone: Then the problem will solve itself if you don't insult me.

Suzuki: ... I meant you insulting me!!!

The class looked at the two of them an apprehension but the Teacher continued on as if nothing had happened confusing many students including Suzuki.

Kiyone: But I haven't been insulting you.

Suzuki: What? Then what has all this been?

Kiyone: I thought it was just friendly banter. Isn't it common in male friend groups?

Suzuki: First of all. I don't have any friends. Certainly not you. Second of all that kind of banter is reserved for close friends and finally, you're not a man.

Kiyone: Oh... well... I guess I butchered my first attempt at making a friend then.

Suzuki- That's it? That's her reaction? She was trying to be my friend?

Suzuki sighed.

Suzuki- There's something wrong with this girl.

He then looked a ther face on instinct. Admiring her beauty by accident he blushed.

Suzuki- Cute... wait what am I doing?

Kiyone tilted her head.

Kiyone: Are you alright? Your face is all red.

Suzuki: I'm fine.

Suzuki sat back down when Kiyone turned to face him.

Kiyone: What's your name by the way>\?

Suzuki: What?

Kiyone: Your name You didn't introduce yourself.

Suzuki: Why should I... you're going to pester me for it aren't you? Fine. Its Suzuki. Horikita Suzuki.

Kiyone: It's good to meet you Horikita-Kun. Maybe we can reset and try being friends again?

Suzuki: Don't even think about it.

Suzuki tuned her out listening to the teacher but his mind kept wandering to the girl next to him.

Suzuki- Damn this girl. I underestimated her. She's not just a cutie.

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To Be Continued

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