『』『』『』『』『』
On their second day of school—or rather, their first actual day of classes—everything seemed like a normal high school setting. When the bell rang, class was supposed to start. The teacher would lecture, students would take notes, and those who were eager would raise their hands to answer questions.
Or so Kumagawa thought.
In reality, the classroom was nothing like that.
"Man, this school's pretty chill. We can just do whatever, huh?"
"Yeah, I thought they'd be stricter, but it's kinda nice,"
Some students chatted freely, completely ignoring the teacher. Others lazed around, their eyes glued to their phones. A few were even outright sleeping, like that red-haired guy—Sudō, if Kumagawa remembered correctly—who was snoring right in the middle of the lesson.
Even Kumagawa himself wasn't paying attention. In fact, he had already gone to the toilet nine times since class started.
The teacher, however, didn't seem to care. He just continued his lecture as if nothing was wrong, making no effort to control the class.
『Is this how they're grading us? 』
Kumagawa muttered, but his voice was just loud enough for Horikita, who was sitting nearby, to hear.
"What?"
『It's nothing. 』
Before long, the bell rang once again, signaling lunchtime. Almost immediately, students sprang up from their seats, chatting excitedly as they left the classroom in groups. Friends invited each other to the cafeteria, eager to spend their time together, as if marking the beginning of their youthful school life.
And, as expected, Kumagawa, with no friends, remained seated. Due to yesterday's complications, he had no one to interact with. It hadn't even been a week, and he already had the worst reputation in the school.
"How pathetic. Both of you."
The only person who would say something like that was Horikita. Her sharp gaze landed on Kumagawa and Ayanokōji, the two who remained behind while the rest of the class socialized.
"What? What's pathetic?" Ayanokōji asked.
"I want someone to invite me along. I want to eat with someone. Your thought were like an open book."
"But you're alone too, aren't you? Haven't you thought about spending time with others? Or do you plan to spend the next three years here without making a single friend?"
『Don't worry, Horikita-chan. Even if you don't have any friends, I'll gladly be yours instead.』
"And you, Kumagawa-kun, please try to shut your mouth. Every word that comes out of it sounds like an ugly pelican."
『.... 』
Ayanokōji looked astonished by the creative way Horikita had just insulted Kumagawa. He had a feeling she wasn't going to make any friends anytime soon. Then again, he wasn't exactly in a position to judge.
But this exchange only brought more trouble to his school life. Not that he was proclaiming to be anti-social, but honestly, at this rate, he was never going to have any friends for the next three years here. And it could make him a target of bullying.
His future looked bleak.
Then, suddenly, Ayanokōji felt a tug at his shoulder.
『Don't worry, Ayanokōji-kun. You won't ever get bullied as long as I'm here.』
Ayanokōji turned to look at Kumagawa, who was smiling in a way that didn't exactly inspire confidence.
"Does that mean you will protect me?"
『No, they'll most likely bully me instead of you. 』
In that moment, Ayanokōji realized something unfortunate—Kumagawa was the closest thing he had to a friend.
Before he could dwell on that depressing thought, a voice called out.
"Well, I was thinking of heading to the cafeteria. Anyone want to come with me?" Hirata announced, standing up with his usual friendly smile.
Ayanokōji turned to him, eyes shining with newfound hope.
A savior.
It was pointless to ask Horikita—she would just scoff and walk off alone. And honestly, the more he associated with Kumagawa, the more he felt like his peaceful high school life was slipping away. This was his chance.
Slowly, Ayanokōji raised his hand.
"Ah, Ayanokōji-kun?" Hirata noticed him and gave a friendly nod. "You want to come too—"
"I'll go too!"
"Me too! Me too!"
Ayanokōji's raised hand froze in place.
A swarm of girls immediately surrounded Hirata, excitedly joining him. His voice was completely drowned out by the sudden flood of enthusiasm. His raised hand, unnoticed. His hope, crushed
『Oh? Ayanokōji-kun, were you raising your hand just now?』
A cold chill ran down his spine. Slowly, he turned his head to see Kumagawa smiling at him.
Ayanokōji tried to ignore him and subtly lower his hand—
『Ah, don't be shy! Hirata-kun already noticed you, after all. Hey, Hirata-kuuuun! Ayanokōji-kun and I want to eat with you too! 』
Kumagawa's voice was loud.
Too loud.
For a brief moment, Hirata turned back toward them. But before he could say anything, a fashionata-type girl latched herself onto Hirata
"Come on, Hirata-kun, let's go!"
"Yeah, yeah, I'm starving!"
"Let's not waste time, right?"
And just like that, Hirata was dragged away by the crowd, his gaze flickering toward them for a split second before he disappeared out the door. Ayanokōji stared at the now-empty space where his last chance for a normal high school lunch had just vanished.
『Ahh, too bad. We were so close.』
Ayanokōji sighed. "…I'm eating alone."
『Oh? Then I'll come with you!』
"…That's the opposite of what I just said."
『Don't be shy~ I'm very considerate when it comes to social rejects like us. 』
Ayanokōji stared at him.
"…This is the worst."
On the other hand, Horikita looked at Ayanokōji with something resembling pity.
Reluctantly, he decided to head toward the cafeteria. With Kumagawa at his side, though… he suddenly felt like eating alone for the next three years wouldn't be such a bad idea.
As they walked out of the classroom, a bright and cheerful voice called out to them.
"You're Ayanokōji-kun and Kumagawa-kun, right?"
They turned to see Kushida Kikyo, one of their classmates, approaching them with a friendly smile.
Ayanokōji blinked. It was rare for anyone to go out of their way to talk to him. And given Kumagawa's presence, he was half-expecting people to start avoiding him entirely.
This is my chance.
Ayanokōji would not let this opportunity go to waste. He had been hoping to make friend since the first day he arrived here. But with Kumagawa around, that was easier said than done. In the first place, how could someone ruin a basic greeting like this? It was just a friendly hello, nothing more.
But somehow, Kumagawa managed to defy Ayanokōji's expectations.
"!?"
Suddenly, tears streamed down Kumagawa's face, his shoulders shaking as he sniffled loudly. The abrupt emotional display was so unexpected that even Ayanokōji, who prided himself on his ability to remain calm, was caught off guard.
Kushida froze, her cheerful smile faltering as she stared at Kumagawa in confusion.
"Um… K-Kumagawa-kun?"
Kumagawa wiped his tears with the back of his hand, his smile never faltering despite the sudden emotional outburst.
『Sorry for crying all of a sudden. I was just so happy. Because you started a conversation with me. I've been to many schools before, but this is the first time a girl has willingly come up to me to start a conversation.』
Just as suddenly as the tears had appeared, his expression returned to normal, as if the crying had been nothing more than an illusion.
『And, even though I think it's only because you lost rock-paper-scissors… What is it?』
How is he doing that?
Ayanokōji stared at Kumagawa as if he were some kind of alien creature. He had no idea how it was possible to switch emotions so quickly. It didn't adhere to any scientific logic he knew of.
Kushida, on the other hand, let out a nervous laugh, clearly unsure how to respond.
"Uh… no, I didn't lose rock-paper-scissors..."
『Oh, Well, that's even better. Thanks for the chat, Kushida-chan.』
Ayanokōji was speechless. He didn't know how, but Kumagawa had somehow managed to completely destroy a normal greeting initiated by Kushida. What should have been a simple, friendly interaction had turned into a bizarre spectacle, leaving everyone involved feeling awkward and confused.
Sensing the need to step in before things got any worse, Ayanokōji tried to salvage the conversation.
"Um...Kushida? do you need something from us?"
As expected of the class social butterfly, Kushida quickly regained her composure, her usual friendly expression returning as if nothing had happened.
"O-oh right, to tell you the truth, I wanted to ask you something. It's just one little quick question. Ayanokouji-kun, Kumagawa-kun, are you guys on good term with Horikita-san."
"I wouldn't really say that we're on a good term, just casual aquintences I guess."
『I don't know? Are we close or not?』
Kumagawa, for some reason, answered her question with another question.
Kushida blinked at Kumagawa's response, her expression momentarily stiffening before she quickly recovered with a pleasant smile.
"What do you mean by that, Kumagawa-kun?"
『I mean, it's not like I have a measuring tool for relationships. If I talk to her, does that make us close? If she doesn't immediately try to kill me, does that mean we're on friendly terms? If she completely ignores my existence, does that mean we're enemies? Relationships are complicated, Kushida-chan. 』
"Well, I suppose that's one way to look at it," she said. "But if you had to say, what's your impression of Horikita-san?"
Kumagawa suddenly clapped his hands together as if having a grand revelation.
『Ah, I get it now! You like her, don't you, Kushida-chan? 』
Kushida froze for just a fraction of a second before letting out another laugh, this time a little more forced. Ayanokōji noticed that, but honestly, who wouldn't get nervous when suddenly questioned like that?
"Ehh? What makes you think that?"
『Well, you're asking about her out of nowhere, so I thought maybe you had some kind of deep, emotional attachment. Maybe you admire her? maybe you're jealous? maybe you want to become her best friend? 』
Not good.
The more Kumagawa spoke, the more nervous and disturbed Kushida became. She was still smiling, but her expression was just a little too perfect—like she was forcing herself to maintain her usual cheerful image. Ayanokōji decided to cut in before Kumagawa could push further. It would be bad news if the most popular girl in the class suddenly turned into their enemy.
That would spell doom for the entirety of his school life here.
"Kushida, is there a reason you're asking about Horikita?" he asked directly, steering the conversation back on track.
Kushida, who had maintained her cheerful persona, nodded.
"I was just curious about how she interacts with others. She's always so distant, so I wanted to know if she's at least opened up to a few people."
"I don't think she's very good at interacting with others. Why are you asking about Horikita anyway?"
"Well, during our introductions, Horikita-san walked out of the classroom, right? It seems like she hasn't talked to anybody yet, so I'm a little worried about her."
『Worried? 』
『That's pretty noble of you, Kushida-chan. But don't you think Horikita-chan is the type of person who prefers to be left alone? If you force yourself on her too much, she might just get annoyed and shut you out even more. 』
"That's true, but I'd still like to try. It's important to get along with everyone, after all."
"By the way, how did you know our names?" Ayanokōji asked.
"How? Didn't Ayanokōji-kun introduce himself yesterday? I remembered."
Kushida had listened to his hopelessly lame self-introduction. And that made Ayanokōji feel… really happy. It wasn't a feeling he was used to, but the fact that someone had actually taken the time to remember him was, in a way, surprising.
"As for Kumagawa-kun… He's basically the current most infamous person in the whole school."
『Me? 』
"Yeah, didn't you shoplift a can of beer the other day? The rumor has spread to the point where the whole school knows about it."
Kushida smiled playfully, as if discussing some trivial gossip rather than a serious accusation. But before Kumagawa could respond, she added,
"But don't worry, Kumagawa-kun. I believe you wouldn't do something like that."
Ayanokōji glanced at her. As expected of the class butterfly, giving just enough kindness to make people feel comfortable, even in the middle of a conversation that should've been uncomfortable.
"Well, it's nice meeting you Ayanokouji-kun, Kumagawa-kun."
『Yeah, yeah, it's always nice meeting people! …Or, well, I guess that depends on the person. But you seem nice, so I'll let it slide. 』
"Yeah, nice to meet you too," Ayanokōji said simply.
He wasn't sure if today was supposed to be his lucky day or an unlucky one. Even though there was Kumagawa, some things had gone well. Meeting Kushida was a chance. With her as a stepping stone, he could slowly build friendships with others in the class.
『Good for you, Ayanokōji-kun. You have a new friend aside from me.』
Yeah… He just needed to be careful and take it step by step.
『』『』『』『』『』
After taking a quick peek at the cafeteria, Ayanokōji wanted to convince Kumagawa to go to the convenience store instead, buy some bread, and return to class. He used every possible reason and every possible excuse to persuade him, but it didn't work.
『What are you saying, Ayanokōji-kun? This is the time to enjoy your youth! What are you scared of? If you fail to socialize, just try again. Even if you fail, you can't possibly fail harder than me. 』
Ayanokoji was not sure if that was a compliment or not.
With no other choice, he followed Kumagawa inside. The cafeteria was already packed, students gathered in groups, chatting and laughing. Ayanokōji scanned the room for an empty seat.
Fortunately, there were plenty of empty seats in the quieter areas, so they didn't have to rush. They made their way to the counter to order their food.
The menu was divided into six set meals: A to D, a special, and a free option. After a brief glance, both Ayanokōji and Kumagawa decided to order Meal Set B.
"Kumagawa!"
But before they could place their orders, a voice called out to them—specifically, to Kumagawa.
Ayanokōji watched as Kumagawa turned around, only to see a girl waving at him enthusiastically. She had long, purple hair tied in a ponytail on the right side. She was undeniably beautiful.
Impossible!
Ayanokōji was shocked. How could Kumagawa, of all people, have a friend? From his perspective, it was something that simply couldn't happen. Even he, someone who had been trying hard to make just one friend, was struggling. So how did Kumagawa, the walking disaster, manage to attract someone's attention?
So how?
『Oh my! If it isn't Masumi-chan, the one who makes my school life miserable. 』
"I'm sorry about yesterday. In exchange, I'll buy you lunch today."
『Okay. 』
Ayanokōji blinked.
That's it?
Masumi, too, seemed surprised by how easily he agreed.
"Wait, really?"
『Of course. Why wouldn't I take advantage of someone offering me free food? Refusing would be rude, and I'm a very polite person, you know?』
Masumi sighed but didn't argue further. The three of them walked over to the counter, grabbed their meals, and found an empty table.
As Ayanokōji took his seat, he couldn't help but wonder—why was he even here? His original plan had been to grab something quick and head back to class, yet somehow, he had gotten caught up in Kumagawa's pace and ended up having lunch with a girl he barely knew.
But maybe this was a chance. A chance to make friends. His school life had only just begun, and if he wanted to maintain a quiet, ordinary existence, then forming relationships was a necessary step.
Masumi sighed, resting her chin on her hand as she stared at Kumagawa.
"You really don't feel any shame, do you?"
『Shame? Why would I? If someone's dumb enough to offer me free food, I'd be even dumber not to take it. Besides, Masumi-chan, it's not like you're the type to do things out of the kindness of your heart. 』
"…True." She stabbed at her food with her chopsticks. "I just felt a little bad about yesterday, that's all."
『A little bad? Not completely bad?』
"Yeah, just a little."
『Wow, how generous! I'm touched. 』
Ayanokōji, who had been quietly eating, observed their exchange. What kind of relationship do these two have?
"Anyway, what do you think of this school?"
『It's fun. 』
"Fun? That's not what I expected."
『Not as fun as my last school. But it has its own charm, I guess. 』
"Your last school?" Masumi seems interested.
Ayanokōji's ears perked. He didn't really know what Kumagawa was like. For him, he was an enigma. Perhaps this would shed some light on who Kumagawa really was.
『Yeah, my old school was… let's just say, one of a kind. The students there were something else. 』
『Well, for starters, there was a guy who was supposed to be a murderer, but he never actually killed anyone. A girl who could eat more than an entire army but never gained a pound. A protagonist who was so perfectly written that he might as well have been a walking cliché. A girl who only ever spoke in riddles. A boy who thing that he was some kind of king. And then there was me, the bigges—』
Just then, music played through the speakers, cutting him off.
"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—"
A girl with a sweet voice continued the announcement. He had never joined a club before, nor did he particularly see the need to. But still, he couldn't deny a slight curiosity. Would clubs at this school function like ordinary ones? Since this was a school for the elites, there had to be some kind of merit in joining one.
Masumi glanced toward the speakers as the announcement played, then turned her attention back to Kumagawa, who had been interrupted mid-sentence.
"That's it? You just stopped talking?"
『Well, I was rudely cut off, so I lost interest. Besides, I've already told you everything worth knowing. Anything else is just details.』
"You never actually say anything meaningful, did you?"
『I sometimes do, and sometimes don't. I'm pretty fickle with my feelings.』
She let out an exasperated sigh, pushed her chair back, and stood up, grabbing her tray.
"Whatever. I'm done here."
『Thank you, Masumi-chan. It's not every day that a beautiful girl invites someone like me. You're so kind. You're truly a role model. 』
"Shut up."
Without another word, she turned and walked away, leaving the two boys alone at the table.
Kumagawa leaned back in his chair, looking pleased.
『Well, that was fun. 』
"..."
Ayanokōji, on the other hand, wasn't sure what had just happened. Fun? From beginning to end, the person named Masumi had never even acknowledged his presence. She had only spoken to Kumagawa the entire time. If he hadn't been sitting there, the conversation would have played out exactly the same.
『What do you think, Ayanokōji-kun? Want to go check it out?
"…You're interested in clubs?"
『Not really. But I've got nothing better to do.』
That was probably the best reason he'd ever get from Kumagawa.
『』『』『』『』『』
"There are a lot more people here than I expected."
When Ayanokōji and Kumagawa arrived, the gymnasium was already packed. There had to be at least a hundred people, all waiting for the club fair to begin. While they waited, they flipped through the pamphlets handed to them at the entrance. Each one contained details about the various clubs, along with a map of where their stands were located.
『I wonder if there's a naked apron club here. 』
Ayanokōji let out a quiet sigh and decided to pretend he hadn't heard that. Instead, he focused on the pamphlet in his hands, subtly stepping away from Kumagawa in the process.
"What an unpleasant coincidence."
The voice was sharp, familiar, and—unfortunately—directed at him.
Ayanokōji turned around to find Horikita standing there, arms crossed, looking as disapproving as ever. He wasn't sure if her irritation was directed at him or at Kumagawa. Though, given his current company, he had a pretty good guess.
『Ah! If it isn't Horikita-chan, What a wonderful surprise. 』
"I'd hardly call this wonderful. The fact that I ran into both of you at the same time makes it even worse."
『Ouch, my fragile heart. Ayanokōji-kun, comfort me. 』
"I refuse."
Horikita exhaled through her nose, clearly uninterested in whatever nonsense Kumagawa was about to spout next. Instead, she glanced at the pamphlet in Ayanokōji's hand.
"Are you actually planning to join a club?"
"…Not particularly."
"Then why are you here?"
"Just looking around."
Horikita didn't seem convinced, but she didn't press further. Instead, she turned her attention to Kumagawa, who was flipping through his pamphlet with exaggerated interest.
"And why are you even here, Kumagawa-kun? I refuse to believe you're taking this seriously.
『Do you always think so little of me, Horikita-chan? 』
"Yes."
『How mean, but… I don't hate that meanness. 』
"...."
Ayanokōji didn't know if Kumagawa was being serious or not, but was he trying to be cool just now? Because if he was, it definitely wasn't working. Horikita looked at him the same way someone might look at an insect that had wandered onto their desk.
Meanwhile, Ayanokōji had been flipping through his pamphlet and pretending not to exist. He didn't want to be dragged into their conversation. Then suddenly, a loud voice boomed through the gymnasium speakers, signaling the start of the club fair.
A girl of average height with purple hair tied into two buns stepped forward onto the stage. She exuded an air of composure.
"Thank you all for waiting, first-year students. We will now begin the club fair. A representative from each club will explain their function. My name is Tachibana Akane, the student council secretary and the club fair's organizer. It's nice to meet you all."
The gymnasium was filled with polite claps as the students acknowledged her speech. After a brief pause, Tachibana was about to step back to allow the club representatives to line up when—
『Tachibana-senpai! 』
A loud, enthusiastic voice echoed through the gymnasium, cutting through the polite atmosphere like a knife.
Ayanokōji didn't even need to turn his head to know who it was.
Kumagawa, standing right next to him, was waving wildly at the student council secretary, grinning from ear to ear.
For a moment, there was complete silence.
Then, all at once, hundreds of eyes turned toward them.
"!!!"
Ayanokōji stiffened. This was bad. The distance between him and Kumagawa was too close—far too close. To the entire student body, he would now be perceived as his associate.
Tachibana, who had been caught off guard, blinked in surprise. But as an upperclassman and the secretary of the student council, she needed to maintain her image as a dignified senior.
"Ahem. Student there, it's not time for—"
『Okay! 』
Kumagawa immediately cut her off with a cheerful response, as if she had just asked him to behave.
Tachibana's lips twitched slightly, but she forced a smile
"…Let's continue with the event."
Quickly, she gestured for the club representatives to come forward, eager to shift the focus away from the bizarre interaction.
Ayanokōji, meanwhile, wanted to dig a hole and disappear. But the damage was already done. He could feel the lingering glances on them. His carefully planned, peaceful high school life was slowly becoming nothing more than a dream.
The club representatives began introducing their clubs one by one. It was a diverse array of clubs—archery, basketball, shogi, chess, even horse riding. However, Ayanokōji didn't hear a single word. His mind was still reeling from the unwanted attention Kumagawa had brought upon him.
Then, he noticed something.
He turned to the side, only to see Horikita standing a safe distance away from them. At some point during Kumagawa's antics, she had managed to subtly step away, successfully separating herself from the chaos.
Their eyes met.
"…I see you've finally realized something important," Horikita said, arms crossed.
"That Kumagawa is a black hole that sucks in misfortune?"
"That you should stay away from him,"
Ayanokōji glanced at Kumagawa, who was happily flipping through the club pamphlet as if nothing had happened. Even without Horikita pointing it out, he would have distanced himself already—if he could. But somehow, Kumagawa stuck to him like a leech, draining away all of his fortune with a smile.
"That might be difficult," he muttered.
As the upperclassmen finished their introductions, they stepped off the stage and headed toward the area where their clubs had set up booths, likely to welcome new members. The energy in the gymnasium shifted as students began murmuring amongst themselves, preparing to check out the clubs.
However, one person remained standing on stage.
Slowly, the noise died down.
Ayanokōji's gaze landed on the lone figure, and he immediately noticed something different. The air around him felt heavier—he exuded a powerful presence that naturally commanded attention.
Even Kumagawa, who had been flipping through the pamphlet absentmindedly, stopped to look.
『Oh? 』
Ayanokōji, too, was curious, but his attention was quickly drawn to something else. He turned slightly and saw Horikita, her gaze locked onto the man on stage with an intensity that was unusual for her.
"…Horikita? What's the matter?" he asked.
It would be a lie if he said his interest wasn't piqued.
The man on stage surveyed the crowd, his eyes scanning the first-years as if assessing them. Then, his gaze landed directly on Kumagawa.
Kumagawa grinned and waved enthusiastically.
"Do your best!"
"Did you forget your notecard?"
"Ha ha ha ha!"
The students hurled comments at him, their laughter filling the gymnasium. However, the man standing on the stage remained calm. The laughter and comments of the first-years didn't seem to bother him. Even as the noise died down, he didn't say anything, simply standing there with an apathetic expression.
The relaxed atmosphere gradually changed, and things took an unexpected turn. Despite having yet to say a single word, his silent presence alone created an atmosphere of discomfort. It was as if some chemical reaction had taken over. An unbelievably quiet atmosphere filled the gymnasium.
Not a single student spoke.
『He's kinda cool, isn't he? As expected of the elites. 』
Except for Kumagawa.
His cheerful remark cut through the silence like a sore thumb, completely unaffected by the pressure exuding from the man on stage.
After about thirty seconds of eerie silence, the man finally spoke.
"I am the student council president. My name is Horikita Manabu."
『Horikita? 』
Both Ayanokōji and Kumagawa turned to look at Horikita. She remained silent, but Ayanokōji noticed a subtle stiffness in her posture.
Horikita Manabu continued.
"The student council is also looking for first-years to replace the graduating third-years. There are no strict requirements to apply for the position, but those who are interested should not be affiliated with any other clubs. Generally, we do not accept candidates involved in other clubs."
Kumagawa watched Horikita Manabu as he spoke. To a normal student, this guy would seem incredibly impressive. His presence alone demanded attention, and his charisma was undeniable. He couldnt help himself but to compare him to Medaka-chan.
Both were student council president. Both excudues charisama but it was at two compeletely different level.
Medaka-chan didn't exude charisma—she exuded perfection. A presence so overwhelming it felt divine. Horikita Manabu, on the other hand, was much more human.
"Furthermore, we, the student council, are not looking for anyone with a naive way of thinking. Not only will that kind of person fail to get elected, but they will inevitably become a stain on this school. The student council is responsible for regulating the students, but the school expects much more. We gladly welcome those of you who understand this."
He didn't pause once during the speech. And as soon as he finished, he immediately left, leaving the podium empty.
Ayanokōji glanced around. None of the first-years approached him as he left. That was to be expected. Horikita Manabu didn't just speak to them—he spoke above them. His words had drawn a clear line between those who worthy and those who weren't.
『Student Council President-san. 』
Kumagawa called out and approached the man known as Horikita Manabu.
Ayanokōji shouldn't have been surprised by this, and yet, somehow, he was. He quietly left, wanting no part in whatever nonsense Kumagawa was about to do.
Horikita Manabu turned to face him
"Aren't you... Kumagawa? What is it?"
『I want to join the student council, please. 』
"Oh? What is with this suddenness? Didn't I already say that the student council does not accept just anyone?"
『Yes, I heard you loud and clear. But you see, I thought, 'Hey, what's the harm in trying?' 』
Manabu remained silent, his sharp eyes locked onto Kumagawa's, searching for any sign of sincerity or resolve. After a brief pause, he finally spoke.
"...I fail to see any merit in your words. Come to me when you have something to prove."
With that, he turned on his heel and walked away without another glance.
『...… 』
Kumagawa stood there, still smiling, even after being rejected in front of the entire student body. A rejection like this didn't faze him in the slightest. If anything, it only made things more amusing.
But still… he wanted to join the student council.
Just as he was about to turn around, he suddenly felt a strong pull on his collar. Someone was dragging him outside of the gymnasium.
『Oh my, how rare. 』
Kumagawa let himself be pulled without resistance. And then, suddenly—he was face-to-face with the younger Horikita.
"Kumagawa-kun!"
『Oh my, Horikita-chan, you sure are passionate today. 』
"Don't be stupid," she snapped. "What exactly do you think you're doing?"
『Hmmm? What do you mean? 』
Kumagawa tilted his head, with his his ever-present smile. Horikita couldn't tell if he genuinely didn't understand her question or if he was just pretending not to. His expression was unreadable making it impossible to get a clear read on him. He could be lying, or he could be telling the truth—there was no way to know for sure.
"Why did you try to join the student council? Do you think this is some kind of joke?"
He could be lying, or he also could not.
『A joke? Now, now, Horikita-san, let's not be so cruel. I was being completely serious. 』
He placed a hand over his heart as if deeply wounded.
『 I think I'd be a great addition to the student council. After all, I have plenty of experience dealing with presidents. 』
"Experience?"
『I was once the student council president myself; you know. And also a vice-president once. So I'd say have my fair share of experiences.』
"Somehow, I highly doubt that."
『That's unfair, Horikita-san. Judging someone just because you don't know anything about them? What would your dear brother say if he heard that? He would be deeply disappointed if his sister was the type to judge a book by its cover. 』
Her fists clenched. He was toying with her. No—he wasn't even trying to hide it. Horikita took a deep breath, forcing herself to calm down
"I don't know what you're up to, but stay away from my brother."
She exhaled sharply through her nose and turned on her heel, walking away without another word.
Kumagawa watched her go, still smiling.
He didn't chase after her. He didn't call out to her. There was no need.
Kumagawa was a minus through and through. He didn't fight people. He didn't confront them. He simply existed—and in doing so, he managed to bring out the worst in everyone. Someone, somewhere, would always find a reason to hate and detest him. Even if he did nothing at all. And he didn't mind.
Kumagawa smiled to himself as he adjusted his collar, the wrinkles still lingering from where Horikita had grabbed him.
『Fuh…It sure is hard being popular. 』
『END』
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