"Mom, I'm heading out!"
"I'm leaving."
"Tsuna, take good care of Shouko at school!"
Click…
Shizuka called out from the dining room, but her only reply was the heavy sound of the door closing.
"Alright, there's nothing to worry about. After all these years, don't you trust your son?" Daisuke said, comforting her as he saw the worry still on her face.
"That's not it." Shizuka sighed softly and continued eating breakfast with Daisuke.
The rhythmic clatter of the railway tracks filled the air. Several boys in dark blue stand-collar uniforms ran over the overpass, their leather shoes making crisp, scattered sounds on the metal stairs, just as the train's lingering sound faded.
Figures gathered in groups of three to five on the slope in front of the school gate. Wrists, tanned with distinct light and dark lines from summer short sleeves, clutched phones, and the LINE notification sounds mingled with the chirping of cicadas.
"Tianjian, have you bought and read the second volume of Anohana that was released this summer?"
"No, I saw that the bad reviews increased a lot, so I didn't read it. I was afraid of being disgusted."
"Ah?" At this moment, another boy walked over with a surprised expression and joined their conversation. "Tianjian, you finished the first volume—how did you manage not to read the second volume?"
"Also, you absolutely must not believe those bad reviews online. The second volume isn't disgusting, and the female lead eventually revives. If you don't believe me, you can ask Nakama."
"Ah?"
The boy who had been acting as air on the sidelines was suddenly mentioned by name, and he froze for a moment. He noticed the small glance from the boy who had just spoken and then reacted, nodding repeatedly to confirm.
Just as the boy named Tianjian was half-believing, a black streetcar swept past the group, instantly drawing everyone's attention.
The key point was the two people in the car wearing the same school uniform; they all knew them, and they were even classmates.
"Meeting Miyamura on the first day of school is really enviable!"
"Tianjian, are you envious that he has a motorcycle, or are you envious that he can enjoy the embrace of the cute Nishimiya so early in the morning?"
"…" The short-haired Tianjian rolled his eyes at the boy, gritting his teeth and saying angrily, "Both are enviable, alright!"
— — — —
As soon as the two arrived at the classroom door, they were forced to separate before even reaching their seats. Several girls surrounded Shouko, sharing what had happened during the summer vacation, leaving Tsuna to return to his seat alone, feeling helpless.
Before he could even sit down, he saw Nishikata giving him a comical smile, which left him utterly confused.
As soon as he sat down, Nishikata eagerly began, "Miyamura, you wouldn't believe it, but this morning, as soon as I got to the classroom, I heard so many people discussing your novel and you."
Before Tsuna could ask anything, Takagi-san, Nishikata's seatmate, interjected, "Not many people are criticizing your book, but most of them are criticizing you."
"…" Tsuna glanced at them, a bit speechless.
The truth was as they said; most of the students in the class who were interested in light novels were discussing this matter.
Tsuna didn't care whether they cursed or praised him, not taking it to heart. After chatting a few words with Nishikata behind him, he quietly scrolled through his phone until Shouko returned to her seat, at which point he stopped.
Because Nanase-sensei followed closely behind, and after getting everyone to quiet down, she only said a few words before telling everyone to go to the auditorium on the first floor to listen to the principal's speech.
After returning to the classroom, it was time to distribute the textbooks for the second semester. After confirming there were no issues with the textbooks, she repeated the precautions from the previous semester.
"Dong… dong… dong…!"
Time dragged on until it was lunchtime. Nanase-sensei announced it was time for lunch break, and the quiet classroom immediately became boisterous.
When Shouko and the two others returned to the classroom with their heated bento boxes, Tsuna and Nishikata had already put together their desks.
"Let's eat." x5
"Ajitani-chan, are we having a School Festival this semester?"
The four of them simultaneously looked at Takagi, who had asked the question, curious and wondering why she asked.
"I'm not sure…" Ajitani swallowed her food, slowly shaking her head, then nodding uncertainly. "Should I go ask Nanase-sensei after lunch?"
"Mhm, Ajitani-chan, I'll go with you later." Shouko then suggested:
"If it is, we can also tell them in advance what kind of program we'll be holding for the School Festival. If it's a performance, we can start rehearsing early."
When the School Festival was mentioned, Tsuna couldn't help but recall how they had held a Maid Butler Cafe during the School Festival for all three years of middle school, which was somewhat exasperating.
"At that time, we'll also need to discuss it with Nanase-sensei and then let them vote."
For Ajitani, who had already organized three School Festival events, any unfamiliarity was long gone.
Moreover, she understood most of the School Festival procedures. Although the new school might be different, it wouldn't be too far off.
With that said, Shouko and the two others quietly sped up their eating. In the end, Tsuna and Nishikata hadn't even finished eating when the three of them got up and headed to the teachers' office.
— — — —
"How did it go?" Tsuna had just put his desk back in its original position when he saw Shouko and the two others return, asking curiously.
"Let's talk as we walk." With that, Ajitani was the first to pick up her unwashed bento box and leave. Tsuna and the others saw this and followed her.
"Nanase-sensei said that, barring any unforeseen circumstances, it will be in mid-October, before the Sports Festival and the school trip."
Tsuna sidestepped two boys chasing each other in the corridor, nodding and saying, "So that means there's still over a month. School just started today, and we don't have club activities yet, so we can tell them about it."
"I'm a bit excited to see what kind of program everyone in high school will choose." Shouko put her bento box into the sink, praying:
"I hope it's not another Maid Butler Cafe. I really don't want to make omurice anymore…"
"I, on the other hand, hope our class holds an opera-type performance for the School Festival." Ajitani shook the water from her hands.
Tsuna quietly washed his bento box nearby, no longer joining their conversation. He actually quite hoped that the school would give them a holiday during the days the School Festival was held.
Back in the classroom, he said something to Shouko, who was chatting, and then lay down on his desk to take a nap.
On the first day of school, if nothing else, the lunch break was quite long.
It wasn't until his back started sweating from the heat that he was shaken awake by Shouko. Rubbing his sleepy eyes, he looked up and met Nanase-sensei's gaze as she walked into the classroom.
The clock on the blackboard at the podium also showed '14:29'.
"Clap, clap, clap…"
Nanase-sensei clapped the blackboard behind her forcefully, and the chalk dust on it rose due to her vigorous movement.
"Everyone, perk up. I'll say a few things and then we'll be dismissed."
Before the students below could cheer, she smiled and swept her gaze over a few mischievous students, and they immediately gave up the idea of banging on their desks and cheering.
"Our second semester, barring any unforeseen circumstances, will have a School Festival in mid-October. In November, before the weather turns cold, we will hold a Sports Festival and a school trip."