chap 3 intro

Chapter 3: Summer’s approaching, premonition of a fierce battle


The middle of June was gradually approaching.

There were no new special exams after the one in April, so the repetitive normal school life continued. I still had no clues about the actions of the White Room student that had my attention.

As far as I was concerned, there was no further crisis that could get me expelled, other than the troublesome surprise visit by Amasawa.

However, due to that sudden event, I hadn’t yet found the timing to kiss Kei. I felt that even if the atmosphere around us had improved, there was still an invisible wall separating us. I had the thought of removing that wall to make progress, but there was no need to rush. Over time, Kei would be able to slowly remove that wall herself, moving onto the next stage naturally. That would be more effective in terms of advancing Kei's inner growth.

As a high school student, I was living a substantial school life. At the same time, the season was changing into summer day by day.

The temperature outside began to rise slowly, just like every year.

On a sunny day, the temperature could reach around 30 degrees. Those types of days have started to appear. It was the time of the end of spring and the beginning of summer.

Living an ordinary school life for a long time, I've often heard this topic brought up.

What was one’s favorite season? But it was an unexpectedly deep and interesting topic.

Even people who were born and raised in the same place had different favorite seasons.

After experiencing the change of the four seasons at this school, I was once again looking forward to the hot season. Thinking like this, I've learnt that my favorite season is summer.

Maybe that’s why the blue sky feels so bright during this season.

"Good morning, Ayanokouji-senpai."

As I was walking while looking up at the blue sky, I was greeted by someone in front of me.

It was Nanase Tsubasa, a student in Class 1-D.

She seemed to be on her way to school by herself, as her friends were not around.

"Ah, morning."

Was it because she was walking in front of me, so she looked back from time to time? Or was it because she was waiting for me.

"Is there something in the sky?"

I didn't notice Nanase's presence because I focused my attention on the blue sky. When I did notice her, she seemed to be observing me closely.

"Nothing, just looking out at the blue sky."

"Blue sky...?"

Nanase, who was by my side, also looked up at the blue sky just like me.

It was a cloudless blue sky today.

"What a beautiful day."

"Yeah. By the way I haven't seen you for a long time."

Although we've passed by each other once, it's been a long time since I've talked to her like this.

"Yes, we haven’t been in contact for about a month and a half."

Nanase and Housen jointly formulated a plan to get me expelled. Like Amasawa, if it were a normal person, feeling that it was hard to approach me would not be surprising at all.

"I felt sorry for what I did to you, Ayanokouji-senpai."

Looking at the sky, Nanase said.

It seems like she had a mind of her own, more than I thought.

"Do you hate me? For what I did?"

"I don't have any reason to hate you. It was for the special exam, right? There's no way out of it. Besides, I saw how you were trying to protect me, Nanase."

Nanase, even though she joined forces with Housen, stood in front of me at the last moment without thinking about the danger.

I still remember firmly the fact that she had confronted Housen who was hostile towards me.

"Is that special exam over? I didn't hear about the deadline."

"No, the exam is still going on. The deadline is the start of the 2nd semester."

In other words, the special exam would still continue on for a while? But then, the silence of Nanase and Housen in the past month and a half feels weird to me.

"Are you not concerned about how I wasn't in contact with you?"

"It would be a lie if I said I didn't care. I was worried about whether you guys were planning something behind the scenes."

"From what happened last time, I was convinced that even with a plan, it might not work out that easily. Also, after you knew our purpose, it would be very hard to pressure you in your everyday life."

"Then are you waiting for the other years to have a similar special exam? But what about the other students?"

"I'm sure everyone understands how Housen-kun handles things."

"Since even that Housen failed,  people judged that it wouldn’t work out without good preparation? That credit goes to my injury."

"I don't know if that's worth the cost of your left hand."

Among the 1st years, Housen Kazuomi, for better or worse, was one of those students who had all the attention.

It was perhaps a fortunate thing that Housen was the first to act.

The question is who exactly was behind this special exam. Although it would be easy to just ask Nanase here...

However, the few times I looked at her, she looked away, so I had no choice but to give up asking her and looked forward again. Even if I asked her the question now, Nanase couldn't answer it. Within the remaining three classes, lurked unidentified insiders. It’s also impossible for her to betray them to maintain fairness. In the end, Nanase just admitted the existence of the special exam to prevent Class D from being disadvantaged.

"Thank you for understanding me."

Since I've maintained my silence, Nanase said so, as she seemed to have understood my thoughts.

Since we were going to school together anyway, I decided to talk about completely unrelated topics.

"You seem to be already completely used to life at this school."

Her manner, behavior and such felt different from it was in the beginning, as if she had already integrated into the school.

"Yes. I think the students, including myself, have become patient with the special circumstances. Although I don't know how much the senpais know, the 1st years had their 2nd special exam at the end of May."

Just like how the 2nd years were fighting each other, the 1st years had their own battle.

"Although I didn’t ask anyone directly, I've heard rumors that there was already someone who was expelled."

The 2nd years have also heard that there was one student who got expelled during that special exam.

"You knew about that, right? One boy dropped out of Class C in the first year."

After all, that student disappeared from the OAA list.

"Although he got an A in academic ability, he might have broken some rule and received the penalty."

"Anything related to someone getting expelled would become rumors."

"At this school, yesterday's friends who you were laughing with could be gone without mercy. I've come to realize strongly again, that school life must be lived without regrets."

Although right now was a matter of just watching and letting the others fight among themselves, the time will come for Class 1-D. It's important to have a sense of crisis like Nanase does. Even so, in terms of the class points of the other years, she still didn't know anything.

That's why I didn't have any information other than the results.

"How did your Class D place in the results of the exam?"

"The previous time, we came in last, and this time, unfortunately, we only made third. But this time, Class A and B battled fiercely, so the point difference between the classes is very small."

For Class A and B, they were rivals who couldn't close the gap between them and hung tightly to each other.

On the other hand, the reason why Class C came in last was probably because they had someone expelled.

"Is Housen more well-behaved recently? Or...?"

"It'd be a lie if I said he hadn't acted. It’s just that he wasn't affected by the disturbance caused by the expulsion. Housen-kun is seemingly obsessed with Ayanokouji-senpai."

Nanase, who had been looking at the sky, finally looked towards me for the first time, with a bitter smile.

"Although it's a far-fetched theory based on the result, thanks to Ayanokouji-senpai, he has become a bit more well-behaved. Housen-kun, who used to only have a strong obsession with the first years, is now the same with senpai. Recently, he would always say, "Let me fight the 2nd years", that kind of catchphrase. This is very good!"

This was indeed a good thing for a first year. From time to time when I passed by the huge and conspicuous Housen,  we met each other's eyes. In retrospect, the expression in his eyes was in fact saying “Let’s fight.”

"Maybe we'll have to fight the first years sooner or later."

Right now, we’ve only cooperated once.

If Nagumo's policies were pushed heavily, the days where we would fight against each other wouldn't be far away.

"I don't plan to leave any regrets on my life here in this school."

"That's good."

As Nanase said, the friends you were laughing with today might not be with you the next day.

That is what could happen at this school.

And that's why we should cherish every day that we have in front of us.

Because each day that passed was a fixed past that could never come back.

"You must not leave any regrets in your school life as well, Ayanokouji-senpai"

Her words seemed to suggest that there is not much time left of my school life.

Her eyes contained a strong determination.

"Of course, I'll do my best to leave no regrets."

After hearing my reply, Nanase nodded with force, as if she was satisfied.

"Then I'll take my leave."

Having almost reached the school dormitory, Nanase bowed her head and left.