School Days - First Day

Year 20XX, September. In other countries, it's either the middle of the year or the biggest holidays of the year, but here in Planeptune, it's the day the new school year begins. And thus, the path to the school is filled with students, me included. Not that I care that much anyway, since I'm related with nearly no one here. I'm all here because, as school is mandatory, I'm forced to spend hours and hours listening old geezers talking about things that I don't care about and expecting me and several others to remember everything.

Such annoying things made me skip school more and more last year, and thus, I've begun to qualify as what people call a "delinquent", when all I am doing is staying on the roof during school hours and sleeping. And while I was quick to correct people who tried to cause me problems because of that, the reputation is still there, especially among teachers who doesn't appreciate the lack of care I put into their works.

And I'm there, moving up this long long road to the school. At least it would be fun to see a girl ask me if I think this school is fun, but-

"Out of the way ! Movemovemove !"
"Huh ?"

As I turn, I notice a purple flash coming right at me. I just have the time to jump on the side to avoid what seems to be a bicycle charging at full speed, with two people on it. I only have one thought as I'm evading.

*Purple hair. Wanting to emulate our goddesses ?*

Our country, like the others, has goddesses and candidates. The goddesses rule the countries, the candidates are potential next goddesses. We don't see them much outside of the main city events, since both of them usually are at the Basilicom, working hard with our Oracle in order to keep the city stable. Or so I've heard, since I haven't even saw them once. Not like someone like me could meet them anyway.

"...Wasn't that Lady Neptune ?"
"Yeah ! And with Lady Nepgear with her !"
"The Goddess AND her Candidate ? Seriously ?"

Wait. What ?

"...You're serious, it's them ?"
"I can't be wrong. I already met them once, since I live near the Basilicom."
"I see. Thanks."

I... Honestly didn't care. Yeah, it's the rulers of our city, and what ? It's not like I'm related to them. However, the event did made me curious. What would push the rulers of our city to come to a small school like this ? They didn't had school uniforms on them, so they're not studying here. They seemed to be in a rush, so maybe one of the new students caused them trouble or something ?

Thinking about this, I didn't notice I was walking a bit faster, and reached the school grounds in time. Nothing special about it - A main building for the school itself, a side building for sports activities and another side building for clubs, the whole thing surrounded by a garden with a wall around it. The new students were surrounded on the side, while the others were already reaching what was about to be their new classroom. I just wandered to the information panel, near the entrance, and checked about my name, before going to the attributed classroom.

"2D, eh. Guess we'll have lots of geeks on it."

Reaching the door wasn't easy, due to the masses of other students blocking the way. However, I managed to enter it.

"Hey, if it isn't Roll !"
"Stop with that stupid name already, or I'll call you Teddy until the rest of the year."
"Haha... So, how went your holidays ?"
"Nothing special. Yours ?"
"The same boring stuff. Parents forcing me to do things I didn't care about, to get money they grabbed for me, to "pay for my future"... My ass."
"Ow. You kept a trace of it ?"
"Of course. I've also grabbed a trace of every previous drops into my account."
"Okay. So you may grab them back once you're 18, I guess."
"That's the plan. Let's hope it works."

The bell rings, and I reached my place while the teacher comes in.

"Hello everyone, and welcome in this class for a year, lucky people."
"Why are we lucky, sir ?"
"Because this class has been selected for a program."
"A program ?"
"What is it ?"

Without an answer, a teacher begins to write some things on the board.

"Goddess Cultural Program ?"
"Exactly. Every new goddess has a moment in life where they have to live the life of ordinary students. Their school is selected for the first year, and they're free to change from it, but they have to work every year like all of you, and to pass every of these. Think of it as a tradition."
"So that's why Lady Neptune and Lady Nepgear came into the school earlier that day ?"
"That's it. Now, you can enter."

The door opened at the teacher's request, on a cute girl with purple long hair.

"H-Hello, everyone."
"I don't need to introduce you to Lady Nepgear, I guess. Do you wish to introduce yourself ?"
"Of course."

After taking a big breath to calm herself down, she bowed in front of us.

"Hello everyone, I am Nepgear, the CPU Candidate of Planeptune. Please do not treat me as a goddess or a leader or something like that, as I'll be on the same level as anyone here."
"Nice introduction, young lady. Here, take this seat."
"Thank you."

As she sat on her seat, the teacher kept continuing.

"As she said, there won't be any special treatment for either her or this classroom because of her presence, as she's a student like any other. Be then sure to show her the same respect you show to your comrades."

With no more comments about that, the school began. And I pulled exactly the same interest about it than last year. Seriously, what will equations and high-level algebra bring to my life ? Good thing the pause comes quickly, and I took the opportunity to reach back my favorite spot, the roof. People who come here usually occupy the spaces along the grid, but there's one place everyone always forgot to check - The top of the entrance. My sacred place. Where I can get rid of all of my problems and spend the best moments ever. All I'll need is a moment of rest and-

"Ah, there you are !"
"W...What is it ?"

...Someone found me ? Wait, is it...

"Ah, it's you."
"Yeah. I'm glad I found you, the pause is about to end."
"So my school time is about to begin. Leave me alone and pretend you didn't find me, please."
"I can't lie like that."
"And I can't spend time on the school benches like that. To each one's own."
"..."
"Anyway, how did you find me ?"
"I saw you get out in a rush. I supposed you wanted to be at ease in a nice place, so I asked another student what was the nicest place out of this school, and he talked to me about the nice wind that goes through the roof."
"Clever girl, now if you'll excuse me..."

As I turned my back on her and tried to find some sleep again, I felt one poke on my ribs. Then another. Then another one.

"I'm trying to sleep, you know."
"I can't let you sleep like that. You'll be late."
"If you keep trying to make me come, you'll be the one who is late."
"Then I'll go off as late as I can, and I'll come back as early as possible to wake you."
"Then be a good girl and go ahead. I'm the bad guy here, and trying to reform me will do you no good."
"Okay..."

I could easily hear the deception in her voice, but no one can decently make me go back there. No way. She finally gave up and I could hear her steps down the ladder that leads to my sacred place. Now I can take some rest...

"Waaaaaaaaah, nice sight over here !"

...Until some brat voices her opinion a bit too loudly for my senses. I open my eyes to see...

"Oh, nice stripes."
"Eeek, a pervert !"
"Nope, just someone sleeping up here. Can't you speak a little less louder ?"
"Oh, sorry ! But... Aren't you supposed to endure school ?"
"Too annoying, ran away. I'm probably gonna get scolded by Histoire again."
"Histoire... Name sounds familiar."
"You bet, it's the Oracle of here."
"Wait. Don't you say... What's your name ?"
"I'm Neptune, leader of Planeptune. And yours ?"
"I'm Roland, leader of this roof space."

She erupted into a loud laugh.

"You're funny, Rolly."
"Please avoid that nickname."
"Don't like that one ? What about Rola, Roll or Ro ?"
"As long as you avoid the first one, it's okay."
"Fine, Roll. So, why are you sleeping here instead of enduring school ?"
"Same reason as you. Too annoying, ran away."
"You're a brave man, but you're gonna get scolded too."
"Not if you keep silent about my presence here."
"Will do. If you buy me some pudding, that is."
"Wait, does school have pudding ?"
"Not every day. But I'll be fine with only those days."
"Will give it a try. Now, back to sleep."
"Mind if I rest too ?"
"No problem, as long as you're silent."

I felt her lying alongside me, poking me on the ribs. Again.

"Is it an obsession in your family of poking men ?"
"Why ?"
"Your sister is in my classroom. She tried to push me to go back to the room by poking me like you did."
"Ah, Gear is in ? Is she alright ? Didn't she made a mess of her introduction ?"
"No, she did fine. Don't worry."
"I'll do. She's my precious little sister after all."
"I don't have any relatives, I can't understand that."
"You don't need to have any relatives for that. All you need is to care."
"If you say so."
"...May I ask you something, Roland ?"
"Give it a try."
"...If you see Gear in trouble, can you help her ?"
"...Why ?"
"She's still a very naive girl, and I worry for her safety. Should anyone with bad motives try to get her, I want someone to stand for her and to support her."
"That kind of things is easy, as long as it's not someone who's worse than Hitler."
"One Godwin point for you."
"Thanks."

I thought about it a little. Perhaps I'm motivated for something, at least ?

"Okay, will do."
"Thanks. We'll think about your reward."
"No need for rewards. Just give me your help if I need it, and I'll give you mine. How do they call something like that ?"
"Dunno. Might ask a teacher ?"
"After my rest."

And the next two hours went like that, chit-chatting with a goddess until the bell rang to announce dinner time.

"Ah, time to eat."
"Oh god, my meal !"

She was about to dash to the ladder until she stopped.

"Nice timing !"
"Onee-chan ? What are you doing here ?"
"Your classmate showed me the place, I couldn't help but sleep a bit !"
"Onee-chan ! Do you remember why we're here ?"
"Yeah, yeah, obligation, rite of passage, yadda yadda. But I'm hungryyyyyyyyyyy !"
"I should go and take something to eat, too, before everything's eaten."
"Uhhh... Roland ?"

How does she know my name ?

"Yes ?"
"You want some of my meal ? I cooked a little too much, and even with Onee-chan's appetite, we probably won't eat it all."
"I guess I'll accept the invitation. It's not every day that you eat with goddesses."
"Silly Roll, you spent two hours laid alongside a goddess, you won't tell me you didn't enjoy it through and through ?"
"It was a pleasant experience, I admit."
"Heeeeheeee. Next time, I'll show you something even better that you can do when you're laid alongside a goddess, kid !"
"Onee-chan !"
"No worries, Gear, I won't steal your classmate. He's a little too young to endure my true self after all."
"You can't transform here ! Histoire will be alerted and send the Basilicom troops to assist you !"
"I know, I know. Gear, you're gonna get old before me if you're worrying that much !"

Their antics amused me enough for me to pull a laugh.

"You girls are funny."
"I'll take that as a compliment. So, are we eating or are we staying here ?"

The meal went without a problem. I got enough of it despite only taking some bites at it, so I guess it's the difference between a well-cooked meal and whatever the cafeteria proposes ?

"Thanks, it was good."
"Okay, so now, you two go back to your classroom."
"What about you, Onee-chan ?"
"Me ? I'm already about to be lectured by Histy, so I may as well enjoy a quick post-meal nap."
"I see... Roland, will you come with me or accompany Onee-chan in her sleep ?"
"I have a hard time sleeping after eating, so I guess I'll go back to the classroom."
"Can you come with me, then ?"
"If you want, but you can be sure the rumors will come plenty."
"I'm ready for that. It happens often when you're the Candidate."
"And I'm already full of rumors. So, let's go."

Of course, the return to the classroom was already full of people looking at us. But it's going inside the classroom itself that was the worst - Twelve pairs of eyes fixing on us. I went to my place while two girls approached Nepgear, and the closest thing I could call a "friend" went to me.

"So, how is she ?"
"Kind. A little too much, I'd say. Oh, and she cooks well."
"Don't tell me you ate food made by a goddess ?"
"Yeah. And ? She's a person before being anything else. And she could either make delicious or disastrous food."
"You got a point. So, I guess you went to the usual place ?"
"Yeah. The breeze is as welcoming as usual. I wasn't alone though."
"You got your place stolen ?"
"By her sister."
"Wait. Waitwaitwaitwaitwaitwait."

He slammed his hands on the bench.

"Don't tell me you befriended both our goddess and her candidate ?"
"Fine, I won't tell you."

Telling him the truth might be dangerous, so I turned over... Right to Nepgear, who went to me.

"Roland ?"
"Yes ?"
"Here are the notes for the hours you missed."
"Let me see..."

The writing was clear, and the content was surprisingly understandable.

"...Okay. Here."

I closed the book containing the notes and gave it back to Nepgear.

"You already read it all ?"
"It's things I already learned and understood. I might find them alongside my notes from last year."
"Didn't you burn them all ?"
"Ah. Yeah. Crap."
"If you want, I can lend you these notes once the day will be over."
"It would help me... If I was interested in following these, of course. Didn't you remember ?"
"Sorry... I hoped you..."

And then she threw me that look. You know, the kind of look that says "I'm gonna cry if you keep refusing". And I have the feeling that both the whole class and her sister will tear me a new one if I make her cry.

"...Don't cry and give me those notes. You'll get them back tomorrow. You're fine with that ?"
"Yes !"

Her smile makes the pill pass better, I guess. However, as she dropped the book on my bench, one of the girls who approached Nepgear grabbed her by the hand and gently pulled her back.

"You shouldn't stay with him, he's bad news."
"W-Why ?"
"You know he failed one year ?"
"Yes, he told me."
"Well, that's because..."

Due to her attracting Nepgear further from me, I couldn't hear what was told.

"I guess that's that old rumor."
"SERIOUSLY ?"

Nepgear's answer echoed through the whole class, everyone turning to her. She then faced me, before turning back to the other girl.

"...I don't believe you."
"And you do well."

I chose to stand up and to reach the little group.

"I know about that rumor. I've been accused of raping a girl last year, because she asked for directions, got lost, and I helped her. You can go and ask her, she's on 3B this year and she's perfectly fine."
"W-Why are you peeking into others' discussions ! They're not your concern !"
"When they begin to spread things about me, they are my concern. Especially when you're trying to make believe things that didn't happen to what may be our ruler in some years."
"No worries, Roland, I don't believe her."
"And you do well, but to make things clear..."

I approached the girl, a fierce look on the eyes.

"Don't. EVER. Try this again. Or else you might regret it. Understood ?"

She stayed silent.

"UNDERSTOOD ?"
"O-Okay ! No need to get angry for that !"
"Maybe that next time, you'll think about the consequences of your acts before speaking."

Without a word, I went back to my seat, followed by Nepgear.

"...Roland ?"
"What is it ?"
"...Thank you."
"Huh ? Thank you for what ? All I did was to clear a year-old rumor about me before it spreaded, isn't it ?"
"Yes... But... Still, thanks."
"Okay, okay, thanks accepted. Now be a nice girl and go to your place before the teacher reprimands you."
"Okay !"

With another nice smile to make the pill pass easier, she went back to her place.

"...Charming. And when comes the declaration ?"
"Never."
"Booo, you're not funny."