April 8th, 20XX
In apartment in Tokyo.
A young man with purple hair was sitting right before the entrance, tidily wearing his shoes. From there, he could hear a voice coming from the TV.
TV announcer
"Good morning, dear listeners. We are on April 8th of the year 20XX and here are the latest news report : One week after the beginning of the newly started school year, a lot of people are looking forward to the very special event happening this year. Which one you may ask ? Well, it is none other than the famous "Erabareshimono no Kyousou" ! A—"
The young man suddenly turned off the tv without even touching the TV remote and stood up once his laces were done.
("Yuuki-kun... I was listening, you know ?")
A voice, audible only to him, spoke to the young man named Yuuki.
Yuuki
"My bad."
Speaking with a calm and somewhat apathic tone, he answered to the voice.
He stood in front of the mirror in the entrance hall of his apartment and absent-mindedly adjusted the collar of his shirt. His calm blue gaze, cold and inexpressive, met his own reflection without betraying the slightest emotion.
His hair, a pale light plum with a slightly dusty tone that faded to a dark purple, was slightly tousled and fell into a slightly disheveled fringe that partially covered his forehead, with a few strands falling above his eyebrows.
On the left side, a fine braid adorned a small accessory the size of a keychain, with dark red beads and small ornements resembling cherry blossom on each end.
His uniform, dark and elegant, was worn with a calculated carelessness. The midnight blue jacket, with dark red detailing on the cuffs and a nonchalantly undone collar, gave a casual look without appearing sloppy. The jacket was worn open over an impeccably buttoned white shirt with a neatly tied dark red tie, adding a touch of casual sophistication to the ensemble.
His pants, a slightly darker blue than his jacket, were perfectly tailored and fell straight over his blue sneakers.
He watched his reflection for a moment, not trying to judge himself or convince himself of anything. He was simply ready. Without a sigh, without the slightest superfluous gesture, his bag slowly swung over his shoulder as if by magic, as he headed for the exit. The small braid at the side of his head swayed slightly with the rhythm of his steps, the red accessory catching the light briefly as he left the apartment.
Yuuki
"I'm off."
Then, following this sentence, he closed the door behind him.
("Today is your first day at your new school." )
Yuuki
("Yes.")
("Are...you nervous ?" )
Yuuki
("No.")
("As expected of you, Yuuki-kun." )
The young man exited the building where his apartment was located and was now walking down the streets with his hands in his pockets. As he progressed, the streets became more and more crowded by students. Students wearing the same uniform as him. Through this crowd, a voice could be overheard, the same voice as the TV announcer from earlier.
TV announcer
"... Following yesterday's incident, Mr. Every, the current N°1 hero, made a brief appearance, and we were able to get some word from him !"
Some students stopped to listen to the interview while Yuuki was still carrying on.
("Aren't you listening like the others ?" )
Yuuki
("I don't care about it.")
Suddenly someone bumped on him, while the young man didn't move, the other person fell to their knees.
"I'm so sorry ! I didn't mean to !"
The young girl sounded sincere, not that Yuuki cared about it, but he tried to make sure that she wasn't feeling guilty anymore anyway.
Yuuki
"It's nothing, don't worry about it."
The young man held out his hand to help her up. As soon as she regained her footing, the young girl dusted her skirt.
"Thank you ! I should be more caref— My phone !"
Following this sudden cry, the girl scanned the ground all around her to find where her cellular may have fallen. Her panic ended when the object she was searching for mysterious floated right to her hand.
"My phone ! You are a life savior !! How did you do—"
She looked left and right, searching for her benefactor, but he was nowhere to be found.
*
A few streets away, Yuuki was still walking towards his new high school. His eyes looking dead set in front of him while his mind was elsewhere.
("You can't use your power in public like that you know ? It's against the law, Yuuki-kun." )
Yuuki
("I don't care.")
("As the law states, the use of "Kikai" is strictly forbidden in any public space unless authorized." Even if these regulations are stupid, you could at least pretend to follow them." )
// "Kikai", "An "opportunity", those are special abilities humans were granted a long time ago, according to legends, these powers were granted to humans by an unknown individual who wanted to help them rebel against oppression and fulfill their wishes of liberty. Other says that humans developed these abilities through their limitless ambition. Neither less, these power grew to become in the very core of human beings, 80% of humanity were reported to hold these supernatural abilities within them, some of them are good, others bad, some suffered from it, some prospered because of it. "Kikai", a strange word, an opportunity, which will lead anyone blessed with it to achieve their ambitions... //
As the young man named Yuuki progressed in the crowded street, his mind was still elsewhere, under a tree with someone by his side, someone who meant the world to him—
"Hey you !!!"
Suddenly, a loud and straight voice could be heard by the school gates, where a girl with a red band on her shoulder was scolding another student.
"Your collar and your tie are too much of a mess. Make sure to clean before you go to your class !!"
Young boy badly dressed
"S-Sorry !!"
After a few more minutes of walking through the crowd, Yuuki reached the main door of his new high school :
Narukami Gakuen, Entrance Gate.
Yuuki looked at the immense building before his eyes. As the sunlight passed between the branches of the trees, the few cherry blossoms appeared to pearl in its light. However, he remained unphased at this sight.
Around him, students were whispering about the person who was yelling from earlier.
Young girl 1
"Look, it's Miss President !"
Young man 1
"Narukami-senpai looks so cool today, too !"
Young man 2
"I wish Rachel-senpai would yell at me too !"
Young man 3
"Don't call her by her first name, you idiot !!"
"Hey you !!!"
She pointed her finger at someone, two young men precisely.
Young man 3
"I told you ! You should've shut your mouth !!"
Young man 2
"I-I don't want to be expelled now..."
She strode confidently towards the two young men, who were almost trembling with fear.
Young man 2
"I'm cooked !"
As soon as she reached them, she spoke up.
Rachel
"You two, could you move aside, please ?"
Young man 2
"Huh ?! You weren't talking to us ?"
Rachel
"No. I was talking to him."
She pointed straight at Yuuki, who stood behind the two young men. He didn't seem bothered by her interrupting his sky gazing. However, he didn't seem to have followed the events around him, so he stopped contemplating the landscape and looked at Rachel out of the corner of his eye. He pointed at himself as if he was questioning about him being her locator.
Rachel nodded in response and spoke up again with her bossy voice.
Rachel
"Yes, you !"
NARUKAMI RACHEL なる神 レイチェル, 2nd Year and Student Council President of Narukami Gakuen.
Yuuki took a better look at her, Rachel stood in front of him, radiating an aura of natural confidence. Her purple hair was pulled back into a long, elegant high ponytail, its wavy strands falling in a silky cascade to the middle of her back. A neatly trimmed fringe framed her face, cascading down around her face to accentuate her bright, piercing orange eyes. A fine white headband, delicately tied, held her bangs in place, adding a touch of elegance to her hairstyle while clearing her face with grace.
On her left shoulder, she proudly wore a red armband, symbolizing her position as Student Council President. Her uniform was impeccable: the dark plum jacket with red trim was perfectly tailored and draped over her shoulders, revealing a neatly buttoned white shirt. A precisely knotted red tie added a formal touch to her outfit. Her matching dark red pleated skirt fell slightly over her white tights, revealing a small part of her thigh. Brown boots completed the ensemble.
Rachel
"I've never seen you here before. You must be the new student, am I right?"
Yuuki nodded to answer her question.
The president face changed to a gentler expression. She held out her hand to greet him with a smile.
Rachel
"Harumaki Yuuki, was it ? Pleased to meet you ! Welcome to Narukami Gakuen !!"
Yuuki shook hands with her.
Yuuki
"Thank you."
Despite this friendly gesture, he only responded to Rachel's smile with a seemingly emotionless face.
Around him, the other students took advantage of the situation to continue their low masses.
Young girl 3
"Who is he ? Isn't he kinda hot?"
Young girl 4
"The president said that he was a new student ! I hope he is single !!"
As soon as their hand shake finished, Rachel looked puzzled.
Rachel
"Oh... That could be awkward..."
Rachel's expression changed from excited to worried. She grabbed her chin, seemingly in deep thought.
Rachel
"I should escort you to the teacher's office, but... I'm supposed to watch the entrance, and the others aren't here yet—"
"Hey Rachie."
A girl with red hair came from behind Rachel, waving lightly at her. They seemed to be friends.
Rachel
"Waguri-kun..."
Rachel crossed her arms and faced the girl called Waguri. By her tone, it seemed that Rachel was annoyed by her friend's sudden line.
Rachel
"Didn't I ask you not to use that nickname in public ? And worse than that, you dared to be late again !!"
This Waguri didn't seem very comfortable with her friend's admonitions.
Waguri
"Sorry. I had some things going on at home... I'm here, at least, so you should be a little graceful."
The nonchalance in this girl's voice seemed to irritate Rachel even more, so she raised her voice and walked vigorously towards Waguri.
Rachel
"Even so ! Assiduity is non-negotiable ! You have to be worthy of your role as vice president !!"
Tonakura Waguri 止無列車 和倶李, 1st year student and Student Council Vice-President.
Waguri stood with her arms crossed, her sharp magenta eyes gazing forward with an expression halfway between annoyance and quiet confidence. Her face, framed by a neatly cut fringe just above her eyebrows, had a soft yet severe balance, smooth skin, a small, slightly upturned nose, and lips that naturally curved into a faint pout, as if she were perpetually unimpressed.
Her hair, a striking blend of deep crimson and fiery orange, cascaded past her shoulders in thick, untamed waves reaching the middle of her back. Two high twintails, held together by midnight blue, wing-like hair clips, added a mischievous touch to her otherwise serious appearance. Black piercings gleamed on her both ear.
She wore her uniform with a mix of order and defiance. With the same school blazer as her friend Rachel, though the way she wore it was a little more conventional, it was open, showing her white shirt, with sleeves slightly loose gave the impression that she didn't care much for formalities even thought she was allegedly a member of the Student Council. Beneath it, her crisp white shirt was slightly untucked, as if she'd only half-heartedly adjusted it before heading out. The deep red tie around her neck was knotted properly but sat just a little off-center, an almost subconscious rejection of perfection. Her plaid skirt, in shades of dark red and black, was neatly pleated.
Completing her look were black-and-white striped thigh-high stockings, clashing in stark contrast against her dark outfit, and sturdy brown lace-up boots that didn't look that suited for quietly walking the halls of a school.
After a couple of glances around, Waguri answered Rachel :
Waguri
"You chose me not the other way around, by the way."
Rachel
"Still."
Rachel sighed, resting her forehead in her palm, displaying her annoyance.
Rachel
"Okay, I will stay calm... Just choose between 1 and 2."
Rachel's voice lowered. However, she hadn't calmed down yet, Waguri looked quite puzzled by it.
Waguri
"Huh? For what ?"
Rachel
"It will be your punishment. But don't worry, It won't be that bad. You came to school, at least, right ?"
Waguri huffed in response.
Waguri
"Are you for real ? I know I'm in the wrong but—"
Waguri noticed Rachel killer face and cleverly decided to accept her fate.
Waguri
"Okay... Then I will choose 1."
Rachel smiled at her response, Waguri immediately realized what she got into.
Rachel
"Haha ! Excellent choice ! I wish you good luck with keeping the entrance check today and for the entire month."
Waguri gasped.
Waguri
"... Come again?"
Rachel
"I said–"
Waguri
"Don't say it again !! I get it already."
With a sense of victory, Rachel smiled at Waguri and turned to Yuuki.
Rachel
"Now, shall we get going ? Your homeroom teacher is already waiting for you."
Without a word, Rachel led the way to the entrance, followed by Yuuki, and reached the lockers area.
They headed to a locker that Rachel opened.
Rachel
"Since you don't have a locker yet, you can borrow my soles."
Yuuki tilted his head slightly, intrigued by what Rachel had just told him. In response, Rachel smiled at him and proceeded with her explanation :
Rachel
"You see our school wishes to withdraw from social compliance. We allow students to wear school shoes or their own shoes and use soles."
Yuuki
"Hmm..."
Yuuki looked at the pair of transparent soles.
Yuuki
"That seems expensive."
Rachel
"It is, but nothing to worry about."
Rachel rapidly wore the school shoes and handed the soles to Yuuki.
Rachel
"It can get a bit slippery, so be careful when you walk around with them."
Yuuki nodded and wore the soles, with Rachel just in front of him. She seemed rather excited since their hand shook, but that's nothing he needed to care about.
He stood up, and Rachel immediately talked to him.
Rachel
"All done. Let's carry on."
Yuuki continued to silently follow Rachel in the halls, crowded with a sea of students chatting, walking by, etc. Yuuki's gaze toured around the hall, scanning every corner of the new environment he had just entered.
("This place is rather big, don't you think ?")
Again, a voice echoed in his head :
("It's way bigger than your old school. You can tell we are in the capital.")
Yuuki
("Yes.")
("Now, now~ what's with the flat answers ? Are you mad because of what I said earlier ?")
Yuuki
("No.")
("What's the matter then ? You haven't made a pun since this morning.")
Yuuki
("The fact that this is the indicator of my well-being for you means that I've failed somewhere.")
The voice giggled softly.
("Not feeling as bad I thought are we ?")
Rachel
"Harumaki-kun ? Are you listening?"
Yuuki was brought back to reality by Rachel's voice, who was watching him out of the corner of her eye. They were now in a less crowded hall, with barely any noises.
Yuuki
"Sorry, I wasn't paying attention."
Rachel
"Oh. No worries, I just wanted to ask you if you found this school impressive."
Yuuki
"Hm?"
Rachel giggled a little
Rachel
"Even for this city, Narukami Gakuen is rather big. More than 200 students, with classes of a maximum of 20 students, high-quality teachers, equipment, and even preparation classes. So much effort for such a great outcome. I wanted to have your opinion about it ?"
At Rachel's almost innocent request, Yuuki didn't need to think for very long. In an apathetic tone, he nonetheless uttered the words Rachel was hoping to hear :
Yuuki
"That's impressive."
Rachel
"...I'm glad to hear it ! Really !"
Walking together through the modern-colored corridors, Yuuki gazed up at the sky through the hall's many windows.
He ignored the students' chatter, their curious glances, and even Rachel's ponytail swaying to reveal the nape of her neck...
All that seemed to interest him was the blue sky, whose eyes shared the same glow.
Rachel suddenly stopped. She turned around and pointed a room with her thumb
Rachel
"We have arrived."
On a wooden sign was written : "Teachers office 3". Unbothered by the fact that they were more than 2 teachers' offices, Yuuki looked at Rachel. She opened the door and entered the room, followed by him.
As soon as they entered, their gaze came across one of the teachers, a woman with black and dark green long hair, wearing a classic white liner, a tight short black skirt, black tights and black heels. From the door, Rachel spoke to that teacher :
Rachel
"Mikagura-sensei, I'm here to bring you the new student."
She answered her with a soft stare.
Mikagura
"Oh. Hello Rachel dear, you didn't need to bring him to me in person."
Rachel
"Rachel dear... Mikagura-sensei, could you stop calling me like this ?"
Mikagura softly giggled, amused by her student's flustered response
Mikagura
"Well, you told me not to use your surname so."
Rachel
"It is not the same."
Mikagura
"I'm just teasing you."
Rachel sighed. It looked as if this wasn't the first time this situation had arisen.
Rachel
"I've got work to do so, I'm letting him on your care."
She shifted her attention to me
Rachel
"Harumaki Yuuki, I hope you will enjoy my school !See you later!"
After that, Rachel left. Leaving Yuuki with the teacher
Mikagura
"So your name is Harumaki Yuuki... But your parental figure is—
Yuuki
"I have personal reasons."
Mikagura
"Don't worry, I won't get involved in your personal matters. We should start and take care of the paperwork class will start soon."
Yuuki didn't respond
Mikagura
"Is there a problem, sweetie ?"
Yuuki
"I want to know how to sign up for the tournament."
Mikagura
"Oh. So you want to do it too.."
Yuuki
"Yes."
Mikagura
"You just have to register to your homeroom teacher, which is me. Unfortunately for you, sign ups end this Friday. You will have to find a team quickly."
Yuuki
"Friday... I will be fine."
Mikagura
"I hope so, considering a lot of people are participating most of them already has their full team so, I wish you good luck sweetie."
Mikagura grabbed a pile of papers
Mikagura
"Just a few things, and we will head to class. Don't feel nervous, okay ? My students are very nice."
Yuuki
"I don't care about that."
Mikagura
"You don't care, huh..."
After getting all the right documents together they departed from the teachers office and headed to the classroom, one step after another and these less and less crowded halls, Yuuki was walking his hands in his pockets and his eyes on the sky, like he always did with—
Mikagura
"Here we are ! Classe 1-C. Can you wait a bit outside ?"
Yuuki nodded as Mikagura entered the room, in a complete hubbub of chats, movements, and laughter. Yuuki rested his back on the wall and kept looking at the ceiling that was reflecting in his sky colored eyes. He heard Mikagura's speech through the door
Mikagura
"Today, I have the pleasure to inform you that our new student has finally arrived !"
Students
"Yes !"
Mikagura
"You can enter now !!"
On the other side of the door, Yuuki was facing the door with his right hand in his pocket and his left hand on the handle.
("What are you feeling right now ?")
Yuuki
("Not much, to be honest.")
("Not even excitement to meet new people ?")
Yuuki
("No.")
("Nor a little bit of curiosity about how your new life will turn out to be ?")
Yuuki
("No. The only thing on my mind is my objective")
("So open that door. And don't forget to have fun, okay ?")
Yuuki
"Fun.."
("Yes. You aren't the type to break promises, so let's hope you have lots of fun this year.")
Yuuki
"I will try."
Yuuki opened the door and revealed himself to his new class. Ignoring the stares and whispers of his new classmates, Yuuki joined Mikagura and stood by her side.
Mikagura
"He is coming right from Kyoto and is currently living by himself, so I want from you all to give him a warm welcome with us !"
Mikagura looked at him.
Mikagura
"Now, what don't you introduce yourself ?"
Yuuki nodded and looked at the entire class, it was different than the one he had in Kyoto, he was a middle schooler but still, unlike his former school which was pretty normal, he had now entered an entirely different world, the one of eccentricity and differences, a world filled with people with great ambition but nothing compared to him. Unphased as always, with his deeply neutral and calm voice, he said, What would turn out to b, the first line of what seemed to be a great journey :
Yuuki
"So... My name is Yuuki."
... ... ...
A complete silence filled the room, and shortly after movements were made in the back of the class. A girl with brown hair and twin tails turned right to talk to the black haired girl besides her and got immediately caught.
Mikagura
"Come on, Shirakuma dear, let him finish his presentation first. You can go on, sweetie."
Yuuki looked at Mikagura.
Yuuki
"I'm done."
Mikagura froze.
Mikagura
"You are—"
Yuuki
"Done with my introduction."
Suddenly, nearly all of the students laughed as one
"Haha !! He is a funny one !"
"he seemed kinda cold, but he seems to be funny !"
"Don't speak your thoughts out loud like that."
Mikagura noticed her class restlessness and decided to calm them quickly.
Mikagura
"Now, now, stop with the noise. And Harumaki sweetie, you could make an effort at least instead of playing dumb !"
Yuuki
"I'm not playing dumb. But if you insist, I can tell you further details. My full name is Harumaki Yuuki, I'm 16, and I was born in Hokkaido. I spent all of my middle school in Kyoto and then came to Tokyo on my own to study in Narukami Gakuen. I'm pleased to meet all of you."
The students applauded his speech.
Mikagura
"That's better. Make sure to get along well with him, okay ?"
Yuuki
"Since I'm only here for the tournament, I don't really need that. And there is one more thing I want to say : I will win this tournament. Because— I'm the strongest."
Strangely, no one laughed, in this situation were all of them imagined him as a funny person, the mood completely changed, his speech went right through them, not because of a tone or an overly well worked word choice, "strongest", a bold act for the kind souls and a stupid one for the arrogant ones, a tense atmosphere began to settle when...
Boom !!
The door swung open abruptly. A young girl with burnt-orange colored hair hair taking on a peachy-beige hue at the ends. The entire class watched in silence as she stood hunched over, hands on her knees,struggling to catch her breath.
Her hair, cut unevenly at the ends, curled slightly outward, while her bangs, parted just enough, framed her wide, striking blue eyes. Her short bob cut, slightly curled at the ends, bounced with each sharp inhale, the two small tufts on top sticking out like stubborn cowlicks. Strands of her messy bangs clung to her forehead, damp from her hurried sprint.
For several minutes, only the sound of her breathing filled the room. Then, with a deep exhale, she straightened up, tugging absently at the loose Dark desaturated green hoodie draped over her uniform. Taking a better look at her hoodie, it had pins attached around the bust area, the most distinguishable ones being a gold Asian dragon and another one being a smiling emoji. Her 3/4 zipped hoodie was revealing the slightly crumpled white shirt underneath, her red tie hanging just a little off-center.
As she rolled her shoulders, her dark red skirt swayed slightly, the fabric still creased from her rush.
Finally, she scanned her surroundings, eyes bright with restless energy. The amused glances from her classmates coaxed a smile onto her face—one both slightly embarrassed and subtly entertained. Just before her eyes met those of her teacher, who, despite her broad smile, appeared disillusioned.
"Phew...! Made it jus in time !"
Mikagura
"Ryûko dear... You are late...."
Ryûko
"Ehhhh.... I beat my record time from the portal to here, though... I probably shouldn't have stopped to make fun of Waguri on my way here..."
Her soft, clear voice, like the tinkling of a small bell, filled the room. Her joyful nonchalance about her lateness amused her classmates, causing even more discomfort for Mikagura.
Mikagura
"You should apologize to your new classmate. He was in the middle of his introduction."
Ryûko
"Message received !!"
The girl named Ryûko bowed to Yuuki.
Ryûko
"My deepest apology, Mr New student !!!"
Yuuki remained unmoved and replied coldly :
"No worries, I didn't really care since I was done anyway."
Ryûko
"Good news, at least I didn't cause too much-"
The moment her gaze met Yuuki's, she stopped dead in her tracks, as if lost in the azure eyes of her interlocutor. After a ten-second period, which seemed like an eternity to the young girl, her teacher's voice brought her back to reality.
Mikagura
"Ryûko dear ? Is there something wrong ?"
Ryûko
"Uwahhhhhhhhhh !!! I just remembered that I forgot my math textbook !!!!!!"
Mikagura
"...Hinata Ryûko, if your butt isn't on your seat in the next thirty seconds, you can consider yourself dead."
Rather than feel threatened by her teacher's warnings, Ryûko gave a half-hearted salute and got to her seat, greeting everyone as she went by. She sat down at the last desk of the row closest to the window.
Mikagura
"Ahem... Now that parenthesis is over, let's find where you will sit,sweetie."
A hand rose frantically in the back ranks. Mikagura sighed again, guessing from her pupil's enthusiasm that she wasn't out of Ryûko's overflowing vitale energy yet.
Mikagura
"Yes... What do you have to say, Ryûko dear ?"
Ryûko
"There's a spare seat right next to me ! If our newbie accepts to sit there, it would be a pleasure to have him here !!"
Mikagura
"Is it okay for you, sweetie ?"
Yuuki
"It's fine. I can freely look at the sky there.."
Mikagura
"Aren't basically saying that you won't listen in class ?"
Yuuki
"I didn't say that, but to be honest, I didn't plan on doing it much."
Yuuki silently headed to his seat right next to the girl. As soon as he reached it, he was greeted by that girl.
Ryûko
"Hey there , Newbie ! My name is Hinata Ryûko, let's get along well !"
Hinata Ryûko 日向 竜子, 1st year student.
She held out her hand and smiled at him. After a small silence, Yuuki shook her hand. It was normal, small but normal. It's surprisingly cold but normal. Well, her hand was normal, but something else was weird about it. She was somewhat dangerous. But not for him, so he didn't really care and answered her :
Yuuki
"If it's fine for you."
After that, he silently sat in the chair on her right.
Mikagura
"Now that our new student has found his place, let's proceed the call—"
Another hand rose.
Mikagura
"Yes, Tsukishima dear ?"
The girl stood up, grace and an impression of nobility came only from her aura, standing tall for a girl of her age, with long legs and some assets, she had an unavoidable presence. With a calm and kind of deep voice, she answered her professor.
Her haircut was immaculately neat, a medium-length black bob with striking teal highlights at the ends that shimmered under the fluorescent lights of the classroom as if spun from silk. The ends of her hair fell just below her chin, curling slightly inwards, while her bangs were delicately parted to the side, leaving a soft opening across her pale forehead.
Tsukishima's features were as refined as her demeanor. Her alabaster skin glowed faintly in the light, smooth and flawless in texture. Her lips, unadorned but naturally tinted, were set in a line of quiet thoughtfulness, and her eyes, framed by her round glasses, were a strikingly icy, very light blue, their piercing clarity enhanced by the reflective sheen of the lenses.
She wore her school blazer in a way that reflected her personality: every detail was immaculate. The blazer fell neatly over her shoulders without a crease, its deep plum color contrasting sharply with the crisp white shirt underneath. Her red tie was perfectly knotted and fell just below her neck, completing the formal image with an air of perfection. Her skirt, reaching mid-thigh, swayed slightly as she moved, subtly accentuating her graceful, well-proportioned figure, her long legs elegantly accentuated and completely covered in black tights.
Even her movements were measured and deliberate, as if each step had been rehearsed to avoid any mistake. Tsukishima's calm voice filled the air as she addressed the teacher, her tone unwavering and her words precise. She seemed completely unperturbed by the eyes fixed on her, maintaining her collected demeanor like an unshakable fortress.
Tsukishima Mori 月島 森, 1st year student.
Mori
"Mikagura-sensei, Waguri-san messaged me that she would be late due to a Student Council matter."
Mikagura
"Oh, thank you, Tsukishima dear. But wouldn't it have been better if she told me that herself ?"
Mori
"She told me that you wouldn't believe her if she told you directly."
Mikagura
"...And she would be right. Guess I will have to trust you."
Mikagura proceeded to the call as she finished a familiar voice came from the speakers.
"Test... 1... 2... It's working, it seems."
The voice was certainly from the Waguri they were talking about earlier. A bit of annoyance could be heard from her voice as she proceeded to her speech.
Waguri
"Okay. I, Tonakura Waguri, vice president if the Student Council will proceed to tell the announcements for 08/04/20XX. Today marks the beginning of the final straight to the end of the inscription of the Erabareshimono no Kyousou. You have until Friday to register your team in order to be able to participate... And what else... ... Oh, that's it. Well, this marks the end of today's announcement... (Good god... I hate this job so much...)—"
The speakers stopped, cutting off Waguri's annoyed whispers.
Mikagura
"So, she wasn't lying, it seems."
Ryûko got closer to Yuuki and whispered to his ear.
Ryûko
"In our school, instead of morning assemblies every start of the week, we have morning announcements through the speakers by a member of Student Council. Cool, right ?"
His eyes still set on the sky, and Harumaki answered Ryûko with a disinterested voice.
Yuuki
"It's unusual, I'd say."
Ryûko
"And... Cool, right ?"
Yuuki
"No, just unusual."
Mikagura noticed the two of them chatting and immediately intervene with a satirical remark
Mikagura
"Ryûko dear, I know you must be pretty excited to have a new classmate, but it's not a reason to make a fuss in my class~"
Ryûko
"Hehe... Sorry.."
Ryûko properly sat, and Yuuki got back to looking at the sky. Time passed fast, as the third period was already ending, Ryûko attempted to talk with Yuuki more than ten times, but it always ended up having a few words interactions. On his side, Yuuki wasn't really concerned about her attitude and was lost in his thoughts most of the time. While Yuuki was out of the classroom, Ryûko started talking to the guy seating in front of her.
He exuded an understated confidence. His posture was relaxed yet not slouched, with long legs stretched out beneath the table, making it clear that at 180 cm tall, he took up more space than most
His tousled brown hair, tinged with lighter golden hues, caught the light in a way that lent it a sunlit warmth. A few loose strands fell over his forehead, and his fringe curved naturally just above his sharp, amber-colored eyes. Those eyes bearing a vibrant golden gleam against his tanned skin drifted around the classroom as though his attention was only half there
A pair of sleek black-and-orange headphones hung around his neck, resting on the open collar of his midnight blue school blazer,which he wore slightly unbuttoned. His white shirt was partially untucked, and his red tie sat loosely knotted, giving him a laid-back appearance. Beneath the desk, his black pants were fitted but comfortable, while scuffed brown boots peeked out, practical yet adding a hint of rugged style.
Ryûko
"Yôsuke... My conversations with the Newbie are like 2 or 3 exchanges max... What do I do now ?"
Odogiri Yôsuke 踊霧 陽助, 1st year student.
Yôsuke
"He doesn't seem to be a talkative one. That makes it harder for us. We still have a lot of time, so take it easy for now."
Ryûko
"You are right Yôsuke... No need to be stressed out for now... We shall stack everything up until Thursday night !"
They looked at the door of the classroom and saw someone they knew pretty well. When he finished his discussion with a girl, he came back to them with one of his hands tucked casually in his pocket.
His strawberry-blond hair framed his face in soft, tousled layers, with a long fringe sweeping slightly to the right. The strands were just uneven enough to lend his hair a natural, unintentional charm, with a few wayward pieces curling lightly over his forehead. His gray-blue eyes, framed by the gentle disarray of his fringe, held a calm and steady gaze that seemed to notice everything without drawing attention to itself.
His school blazer sat properly on his shoulders, though the details told a different story: the sleeves were slightly rolled up, revealing the dark red cuffs of his shirt beneath, and his tie, while knotted correctly, was slightly loosened, giving his appearance a relaxed but still polished edge. His black slacks fit comfortably, tapering neatly into rugged brown boots that were laced with precision.
As he approached his friends, he gave them a small wave before settling into the space beside them.
"Hey."
Ryûko
"Where were you when we needed you ??"
"Sorry, I had— OUCH !!"
Ryûko pinched his hand, which cause this sudden cry.
Yôsuke
"You deserve it, Akira."
Toshinori Akira 俊典 明, 1st year student
Akira
"Not you too !"
Ryûko
"He is totally right, you piece of unreliability !"
Akira
"Yeah, yeah... So... Hum... How is it going ?
Ryûko
"The new guy doesn't seem interested to talking to me, so it's hard to try anything."
Akira
"Class breaks are short so—"
Ryûko
"I even talk to him when we are having class, tho."
Akira
"Oh. Well, maybe he is just clever and wants to listen to—"
Ryûko
"He doesn't listen. He is always looking in the void !"
Akira
"Then maybe he is just unfriendly, I don't know."
Yôsuke
"He greeted her before, so I don't think that's the case."
Akira sighed, feeling like he was being played. He looked at both of his friends, annoyed.
Akira
"Are you two making fun of me ?"
Yôsuke and Ryûko
"Well... Kind of."
Akira
"Damn you two.."
Waguri arrived from the door. Her two long twin tails bouncing in sync with her lengthy hair, she approached Ryûko's desk.
Waguri
"Hey, little one, you still owe me a meal."
Ryûko
"Huh ? Do I ? I didn't bring money today, though... Sorry, but can I repay you another day ?"
Waguri
"It's fine, since you owe me two meals now."
Akira
"That's wicked."
Waguri ignored him and continued her conversation with Ryûko.
Waguri
"So, what's happening between you and this guy ?"
Ryûko
"Which one ? This guy is too vague."
Waguri
"The new one, I don't know his name. I wasn't there when he did his introduction."
Ryûko
"You are talking about the Newbie ?"
Waguri
"Yeah, him. Are you trying to recruit him or something ?"
Ryûko
"Well—"
Akira
"It's not like he is our last resort, but it's always good to have multiple options."
Yôsuke
"We have until Friday, so we still have to take our time."
Ryûko
"Oh... So that's what you two think..."
Akira
"What do you mean ?"
In a nonchalant tone, Ryûko told what she meant :
"I want to recruit him in our team right away."
Surprised, Akira and Yôsuke looked at each other and looked back at Ryûko
Akira
"What ?! Ryûko... Do you realize what you are saying ??"
// The Erabareshimono no Kyousou is a team-based competition where each team consists of six members, including a captain. Battles take place in a series of one-on-one fights, with each victory earning 1 point for the team, while the losing side gains nothing. If a match ends in a tie, the point is split, granting 0.5 points to both teams. After these initial matches, the captains face off in a special duel, where the stakes are higher—the winner earns 2 points instead of 1, while a tie results in both teams receiving 1 point each. However, the tournament's most unpredictable factor is the comeback mechanic. If a captain wins their fight and their team has secured at least one other victory, they gain the opportunity to challenge every opposing fighter who won their match, one after another, without rest. Each additional victory in these comeback battles grants 1 extra point, making it possible for a strong captain to completely turn the tide of the confrontation. In the end, the team with the most points wins. //
Ryûko
"Yeah, I know. But it's not out of nowhere!"
Yôsuke
"What's your reasoning ?"
Akira
"Yeah. This is serious, Ryûko. We can't just take the first stranger and recruit him, you know ?"
Waguri
"She has always been an impulsive idiot. She took you, of all people, in her team, after all."
Akira
"I'm not weak."
Ryûko
"It's not just about being weak or not... How can I put it... I see something in him. Yeah, I see something special in him !"
Akira
"That's only your intuition. How do we know if it's correct or not ? Aren't you with me on this ?"
He looked at Yôsuke who seemed to be thinking about something, Akira's gaze interrupted his thoughts, and an answer came right away from him.
Yôsuke
"I will follow Ryûko on this one."
Akira
"Come on, man... At least we have two thoughtful people here, right Tonakura ?"
Waguri
"Who ? Me ? If it makes you wrong, then I think Ryûko is right."
Akira
"You—"
Ryûko
"Come on, Shin-chan, let's find a plan to recruit him !"
Akira
"Don't use that dumb nickname in front of everyone !"
Akira felt like his opinion wasn't really important. He sighted and decided to trust them on this.
Yôsuke
"First things first, we have to get to know each other. He wouldn't join a team of complete strangers."
Ryûko
"If we charge at him all at once, he will certainly be annoyed by it."
Waguri
"I don't think that's true. You could just invite him to have lunch with you, it would be easier to talk to him, and it would be less cringe."
Akira
"I get your point, but how do we make him accept having lunch with all of us ?"
They heard voices from the door, it was from Mori, she was talking with Yuuki.
Mori
"Greetings, Harumaki-san."
Yuuki
"You are—"
Mori
"Tsukishima Mori."
Yuuki
"Tsukishima..."
("Oh. I remember her, she's that girl from the park ! You know, from two years ago.")
Yuuki
("I see...")
Yuuki
"It's been a long time, Tsukishima-san."
Mori
"I'm glad you remembered me, and thanks again for your help that day."
Yuuki
"No problem. So, do you need something from me ?"
Mori
"Yes, I want to have lunch with you today."
Yuuki
"Lunch together ?"
Mori
"Yes."
Yuuki
"I have nothing against it."
Mori kept her serious expression.
Mori
"Perf—"
Ryûko interrupted their conversation. With her bright voice, she totally contrasted with the voices of both of her classmates.
Ryûko
"I want to eat with the Newbie too !"
Yôsuke came to them as well
Yôsuke
"It's impolite to interrupt people like that, and also trying to force your way in, Ryûko."
Ryûko"
"You say that, but you are here for the same thing !"
Yôsuke
"You are right !"
Akira
"Since everyone seems to be asking, can I join as well ?"
The three of them looked at Yuuki, trying to convince him to accept, Yuuki bluntly answered to their wishes with his same plan face and monotonous voice.
Yuuki
"I don't care."
Confused at first, Ryûko believed that she understood his message.
Ryûko
"Did you mean to say "I don't mind" ?"
Yuuki
"No, I said, 'I don't care', because I don't care. It's up to her to choose."
Yuuki joined his seat in silence.
Akira
"He is so weird."
Yôsuke
"Yeah, he is not our usual high school students. Even the eccentric ones aren't that eccentric.
Ryûko was staring at him in silence while the others were talking about Yuuki, Mori interrupted their conversation.
Mori
"I'll be joining my seat, too."
Ryûko suddenly hugged her
Mori
"What's up, Ryûko ?"
Ryûko
"You are a genius... Recruiting you was the best idea ever !"
Mori
"Shouldn't you be concerned about my fighting abilities instead of my actions ?"
Ryûko
"I know.. Hehe.."
Shortly after the last class until lunch break started, for Ryûko, it lasted ages. Her mind was completely on how to recruit the person seating to her right.
Her instinct wasn't fooling her, she saw something in him, something that could make her team win, she wasn't really the type to hesitate, the sentence "f*ck it we ball" usually came to her mind when she had to take these kind of decisions, that's how she always thought.
Of course, it wasn't just random conclusions out of nowhere. She is a quick thinker and has something else she can rely on, a kikai that suited her way of thinking, in her opinion. After a hell of a class, the bell rang marking the end of the ordeal, Ryûko immediately stood up and externalized her feelings :
"It's finally over !!"
The rest of the class remained in silence. The teacher was still here and heard her. With a straight face, the teacher took it as a joke.
History teacher
"It's only the second week, Miss Hinata. You are still stuck with my classes for 9 more than months !"
Ryûko
"Ah... Sorry, I didn't mean to.."
Ryûko laughed in embarrassment, which provoked laughter from the rest of the class. Somehow, it made her happy instead of embarrassed. She had her reasons, so she laughed with everyone.
History teacher
"Enjoy your lunchtime !"
The class thanked their teacher, still in the euphoria of the scene that just happened. Ryûko saw everyone's smile except for one. Harumaki Yuuki seating right next to her didn't laugh. His expression didn't even change, which surprised her at first, Yôsuke joined her to cut her from her thoughts.
Yôsuke
"You really are a dumb one !"
Ryûko
"It wasn't on purpose !"
Akira
"You still did your usual clown moment, like every day."
Ryûko
"It wasn't even that funny. Look, the Newbie didn't laugh !"
The three of them got their attention on Yuuki, who wasn't really paying attention to them.
Yôsuke
"He doesn't even seem in the class in the first pla—"
Yuuki
"I heard her."
Ryûko
"It wasn't that funny, right ?"
Yuuki
"It was dumb. That's what I think."
Ryûko
"I feel attacked !"
Yuuki
"That wasn't my intentions, I just said what I thought about it."
Instead of being mad at Yuuki's intervention, she felt like he was telling the truth. She felt relieved and even snorted.
Ryûko
"Yeah, I think it's dumb too !"
She took her desk and placed it next to Yuuki's.
Ryûko
"Now that lunch break started... Let's eat !!
Yôsuke
"Don't be so brusque, you wouldn't want our invité to feel uneasy, dear Ryûko."
Ryûko
"Oh, my bad."
Akira took his desk and sat in front of her.
Akira
"No wonder you are always hungry when you are so agitated all the time."
Yôsuke joined them too, as well as Mori.
Ryûko
"Why don't you come with us, Waguri ?"
Waguri
"I... have an assignment, don't wait for me."
She took her bag and got out of the classroom.
Ryûko
"Weird..."
Yôsuke
"She always asks you to eat with her. It's unusual to see her refuse this kind of proposal."
Akira
"Given how Waguri calls her out, I wouldn't call it 'asking'."
Ryûko
"I didn't mean that... Since when does she do assignments ?"
Akira
"Haha ! I get what you mean ! She's too much of an idiot to—"
He got interrupted by his hair being pulled by someone. It was Waguri who hadn't already left.
Akira
"That hurts !!"
Waguri
"That's perfect then. Anyway, Futaba just messaged me that my task was cancelled, so I will have lunch with you."
Ryûko
"Oh, that's nice, the more the merrier !"
Waguri took her table and sat beside Mori.
Yôsuke
"Before we eat, wouldn't it be better if we properly introduce ourselves to our new classmate ?"
Ryûko
"That's true ! Then I'm up first, my name is Hinata Ryûko, I'm still 15 but my birthday is in 2 months, I like hanging out with my friends and eating ! My favourite movie genre is action ! Oh, and I used to be—"
Akira
"Okay, you are getting overly excited by this. Can you chill a little."
Ryûko
"Oh... Sorry. Well, in short, nice to meet you, Newbie !"
Waguri
"Why do you keep calling him "Newbie" ?"
Ryûko
"Newbie, does it bother you that I call you "Newbie" ?"
Yuuki
"I don't care."
Ryûko
"See ! He doesn't mind !"
Waguri sighed and didn't bother responding to her.
Yôsuke
"Ahem. Now it's my turn to introduce myself, I'm Odogiri Yôsuke. I'm 15 and the youngest of my family. I'm all about basketball and music. I've known Ryûko and Akira for a long time, so if you have any question about their twisted personalities, make sure to ask me, okay ?"
Akira
"You an idol or something ?"
Ryûko
"I'm sure Shin-chan is criticizing everyone's presentations because he doesn't want his' to sound lame~"
Akira
"Of course not."
Yôsuke
"Do it then, introduce yourself."
Akira
"How low do you think of me to think that I will fumble an introduction to someone our age ?"
Yôsuke and Ryûko
"Low is a nice word if you ask me."
Akira
"Damn you two. I'm Toshinori Akira, I'm 16 well, and I'm—"
Yôsuke
"A Don Juan !
Akira
"No, not that, I'm actually a—"
Ryûko
"An idiot !!"
Akira sighted.
Akira
"Tsukishima-chan, can you help me on this one ?"
Mori
"Me...? I don't have anything to say about their interventions."
Akira
"What ? Do you think that they are telling the truth ?"
Mori didn't respond and instead took another bite from her bento.
Akira
"I'm gonna have a headache.."
Ryûko
"Come on, Waguri, it's your turn !"
Waguri
"Why would I ? As he said, he doesn't care about me, so do I."
Ryûko
"Waguri, you can be such a meanie sometimes !"
Yuuki
"It's okay since she is right, I don't take it personally, and it's not like I would want to talk to her by myself."
Akira
"Heard that, Tonakura ? Even the newbie hates you."
Waguri
"Like I care."
("See ? Now they must think that you are some kind of... You should be a little more open with them. They don't seem like they are bad people.")
Yuuki
("The fact that I don't pay any particular attention to them wouldn't be entirely untrue, but you might be right, I should at least explain how I see things to them.")
Yuuki
"There is something I don't want to you to misunderstand. I don't hate anyone particularly, but I don't like anyone particularly either, except for people I already knew before. When I say that I don't care, it means that I don't have interest in them because I have no interest in people I don't like, I don't have interest on how they act or are, that's what I mean by 'I don't care'."
Akira
"Said that way it seems pretty normal, I too don't care much about people I don't know, I mean, I don't have any business with them so it's not like they are important to me."
Yôsuke
"Says the guy who is always hitting on and hanging out with any cute girl he sees."
Akira
"Will you stop with that ? It's not like I do it all the time. Just, sometimes."
Ryûko
"Liar ! You spend so much time with me !"
Akira
"You... Don't count."
Ryûko
"Eh ? Why ?"
Akira
"We have known each other for like, 7 years so, you don't count."
Ryûko
Oh yeah, I forgot to tell you Newbie, Yôsuke, Shin-chan and I have been friends since... Since... When was it ?"
Yôsuke
"It was, 3rd year of middle school or something like that."
Ryûko
"Yeah, we are childhood friends, basically !"
Yuuki looked at her but didn't have much of a reaction.
Ryûko
"Oh, you probably don't care about it, sorry."
Yuuki
"No, it's okay."
Akira
"Huh ? Wait, I thought you didn't care ?"
Yuuki
"I have no interest in people I don't know, but that doesn't mean I'm against getting to know them."
The people around him stopped a bit to register and properly understand what he meant, This sentence clearly expressed an initial lack of interest in strangers, but it qualified Yuuki's position by showing that this initial disinterest didn't mean a rejection of others, even if he didn't feel any curiosity or immediate interest in them, but a certain openness to having a relationship with them.
Yôsuke
"Oh, that's what you meant.."
Akira
"Man, what do weird people always have to say things so weirdly ?"
They heard a voice from behind, a girl voice for sure, it sounded fluffy and teasing and somewhat captivating :
"Oh, you are really here.♡"
As they turned toward the voice, a girl stepped into view, her presence as striking as the fluffy, teasing tone she had just spoken in. She stood at 157 cm, an average yet curvy silhouette that only added to her charm. Her honey-blonde hair, cut into a slightly messy bob, framed her face, soft strands falling just over her sharp, green eyes that shimmered with playful amusement, as if she was in on a secret no one else knew. Her lips curled into a small, knowing smirk, glossy and slightly parted.
Her uniform was anything but standard. The blazer, worn open and loose, slipped slightly off her shoulders, a subtle invitation to look yet an undeniable statement of rebellion. Beneath it, her white dress shirt was unbuttoned just enough to leave a small hint of cleavage visible. Her pleated skirt was shorter than regulation length, sitting snugly around her waist.
Her long legs peeked out from beneath the hem, accentuated by the signature gyaru loose socks that bunched messily around her ankles. With one hand casually brushing back her hair, the slight jingle of ear piercings caught the air, drawing attention to her subtle accessories, just enough to enhance her look without overshadowing her natural allure.
Every movement was deliberate yet effortless, like a cat stretching in the sun, confident, insouciant, and utterly mesmerizing.
She approached Yuuki from behind him. She rested her head on the top of Yuuki's head.
"It's been a while, Yuuki.♡"
Yuuki
"Oh, it's you."
they were quite surprised by that, firstly that she knew him, secondly because she seemed close to him and finally because she called him by his first name with no honorifics.
Ryûko
"Do you know Kaname-chan, Newbie ?"
Yuuki
"I do."
Kaname Anko 要 安狐, 1st year student.
Anko
"How have you been ? We haven't seen each other in like~ 6 months.♡"
Yuuki
"3 months."
Anko
"Oh, really~ I didn't realize... Life has been so boring since then...♡"
Akira
"Wait... Are you two close or something ?"
Anko
"Well, he's one of my ex-boy—"
Yuuki grabbed her lips to prevent her from talking, then let go of her mouth.
Yuuki
"Don't tell lies about me, Bakeneko."
Anko
"Again with that nickname ? Find something cutter, at least ?♡"
Yuuki
"No, Bakeneko is fine since you are one."
//Bakeneko are cat yōkais capable of talking and with shapeshifting abilities. They are expert in manipulation and curses and known as malevolent creatures since their main targets are humans.//
Ryûko
"Newbie... Are you perhaps a Kuudere ??"
Anko
"What's that ?♡"
Yôsuke
"According to my expertise, Kuudere are quiet, cold and reserved people who may appear indifferent, distant or even apathetic, but underneath this facade often lies a gentle and loving personality, revealed only to certain people or in particular situations."
Anko
"Oh, and in short ?♡"
Yuuki whispered to her ears, the meaning of the word that she immediately understood.
Anko
"Oh. I get it now~ Well, Yuuki is a nice person but he can be such a bitch some—"
Yuuki pinched her lips again.
Anko
"Stop, my lips are sensitive, you should know that by now.♡"
Yuuki tightened his pinch, but was interrupted by a girl's voice.
"Kaname Anko ! That's where you were !"
They looked at the door and saw a girl wearing the uniform of 3rd years, she looked mad and kept staring at Anko
Anko
"Oh, and who might you be ?♡"
"Don't play dumb !! You stole my boyfriend last week !! Of course you know me !"
Anko
"Ehh... But if I did as you said... Doesn't it make him my boyfriend now ?♡"
"How dare you ?!"
Anko
"Yuuki, that girl is scary ! Protect me ple—"
Yuuki stood up and grabbed her (like a cat), he walked toward the door and handed her to the mad girl.
Yuuki
"Have fun."
"Thank you."
She took Anko with her and left, Anko kept a seemingly careless expression during that process even waving at Yuuki while being taken away, when Yuuki got back to the others, their impression of him changed for the better again except for one of them. Yuuki sat down while being looked at.
Ryûko
"Never expected you to be a funny one Newbie !"
Akira
"You have "known" him for like 3 hours."
Ryûko
"Well—"
Waguri
"Not that I want to be a mood killer but, you should eat before lunch break ends."
Ryûko
"What time is it ?"
Mori
"1pm And it ends at 1:30."
Ryûko
"Wow already !! I didn't even noticed !!"
Yôsuke
"Again you should hurry up, you are the only one who barely ate."
Ryûko looked around and at each of their bentos that were empty except for her's.
Ryûko
"I'm so dumb."
Waguri
"You said it not me."
After finishing her lunch in a hurry, class resumed towards the end of the day, once in a while Ryûko tried talking with Yuuki but like before these conversations where short and she couldn't talk to him about her idea of recruiting him. Soon after the final bell rang, the teacher called Yuuki over, killing another chance for Ryûko to talk with him. As he got out of the class, Yôsuke and Akira joined Ryûko.
Ryûko
"Come on.."
Yôsuke
"That's unfortunate."
Akira
"We still have an entire week to convince him. It's fine."
Ryûko
"No, it's not ! I just thought about it and, we have to recruit him as soon as possible. Or else, he could get picked by someone else... And I don't want that !!"
Akira
"Why are you so obsessed with recruiting him ? We don't even know if he is tough or not ? Do you know him or something ?"
Ryûko took some time to respond, they were things she didn't want to say and things she wanted to but as she thought about it gain, she just said ti herself that it would be better if she told the truth.
Ryûko
"In this case, it's not about knowing him or not. When he introduced himself, he said that he would win and I heard it fro outside and I felt it, right through me. I think he is telling the truth. I don't know if it was a call to join him or a warning to not be against him either way I believe him. My senses don't foul me, he is a real deal. That's what I think."
Akira
"That's—"
Yôsuke
"Akira. Like with Tsukishima-chan, let's trust our captain in this one. She seems confident in her choice so we have to follow her, that's our engagement, right ?"
Akira looked at Yôsuke then at Ryûko, he knew his opinion was certainly the bad one, after second of thoughts he scratched his head and sighted.
Akira
"Do as you want. I have to go, I have a date tonight."
Yôsuke
"Let's go together !"
Akira
"No."
Yôsuke
"I won't steal your girlfriend alright."
Akira
"That's not what's bothering me ! She isn't my girlfriend anyway !"
Yôsuke
"Like I'm gonna believe that."
Yôsuke waved at Ryûko.
Yôsuke
"Make sure to go home with him ! I trust your convincing words captain !"
The two of them got out if the class leaving Ryûko on her own.
Ryûko
"I can do it, right...?"
As she walked out of the class, her mind was completely filled with intrusive thoughts, sure she was outgoing, sure she was a quick thinker, her mind was sometimes filled with these thoughts. She trusted her senses and her kikai more than anyone would have in their's but still she somewhat lacked confidence in herself. The only times where she hesitated was when she wasn't confident in her, that's why she mostly rely on her senses because she thinks that she can't really rely on herself sometimes.
This time, it was a serious matter. Something very important to her was on line after all. The tournament isn't just a fight for fun thing, the winning team gets to have one of their wishes granted. She as well as the thousand students in all of japan who signed up for the Erabareshimono no Kyousou, knew that it wasn't a game, they could even defeat their friends or worse lose to them. Only the strongest team wins, the strongest team has the strongest members and the strongest captain so, the strongest in her eyes was him and she had no doubts about it. Still lost in her thoughts she reached the school gate where she rested her back on a wall to wait for him. Her stress was building up but she had no other choice, she had to recruit him. Minutes passed as well as students, soon 30 minutes passed and finally her target got out of the school, their eyes met but Yuuki didn't talk to her and was trying to leave when he got talked to.
Ryûko
"Hey, Newbie."
Yuuki
"Do you need something from me ?"
Ryûko
"Yes, I have something I want to ask you.."
Yuuki
"Go ahead."
Ryûko took all her courage and looked at him in the eyes
Ryûko
"Newbie... Can we... Go home... Together...?"
Yuuki didn't immediately respond and looked at Ryûko with his usual cold look, Ryûko thought that he would refuse because "he didn't care" about people he didn't know but, surprisingly his answer was the one she was waiting for.
Yuuki
"Why not."
Ryûko
"Huh ?"
Yuuki
"I said, why not."
To be continued...