"Pass the ball, Maki! I'm open!" shouted a player on Toshigawa Academy's soccer team.
"Here you go, upperclassman," said Maki, his cleats scraping against the turf as he sent the ball curving toward the goal. The leather thudded softly against his foot and spun through the air.
His teammate jumped, the sun glinting off his forehead, and headed the ball into the net with a loud smack.
"Not bad. Nice pass, rookie," said the soccer player with a grin, his voice breathy from the sprint.
In Class 1T…
The room buzzed with conversation, chairs scraping, pencil cases clattering, and laughter echoing off the beige walls. Someone crumpled a piece of paper and tossed it across the room.
The smell of leftover cafeteria curry and fresh whiteboard markers lingered faintly in the air.
"Good morning, everyone."
Hayami-sensei stepped into the room, her heels clicking sharply against the tile with each step. The metal ring of the classroom door echoed briefly as it swung closed behind her.
She adjusted the strap of her bag over her shoulder, then let her gaze scan the students, her eyes pausing on each desk for a fraction of a second.
A few students shifted nervously, tightening their grip on their pencils or straightening in their chairs.
"Good morning, Sensei," the students replied, their voices lowering slightly in unison. The room quieted, broken only by the faint rustle of papers and the soft scraping of a chair as someone leaned forward.
"I don't have time to give you all a lecture on your behavior, but just to jog your memories—you are the top of your grade. You should represent your class better than this."
Hayami-sensei's voice was firm, carrying clearly across the room.
She leaned slightly forward, resting a hand on the edge of the desk. Her eyes narrowed, scanning the students one by one. The air felt heavier as the students straightened, glancing nervously at one another.
"Now then, for this homeroom session, I would like you to select your class representatives. You can vote for whoever you deem worthy—just write their name on a piece of paper and place it in this box. After that, I will count the votes. The person with the highest number of votes will become the class representative, and they will choose their assistant. Get started on the voting."
Hayami-sensei set a small cardboard box on her desk, nudging it so it sat neatly in the center. Students shuffled in their seats, hands digging into bags for pens and scraps of paper.
The faint scratch of pencils against paper filled the room, punctuated by the soft crinkle of sheets being folded and dropped into the box.
"Okay, now that all of you have voted, I will check to see who has received the most votes."
Hayami-sensei lifted the box with a practiced hand, the cardboard creaking slightly under its weight. She set it down on the desk with a soft thud, the papers inside shifting quietly.
Some students leaned forward in their seats, eyes tracking her movements as she began sorting through the votes, her hands moving with careful precision.
After a minute of sorting, Hayami-sensei looked up, setting the last piece of paper aside.
"It seems that Rie Morioka has received six votes, which is the highest. So, she will be your class representative."
"Th-Thank you, everyone, for voting for me," Rie said, her voice barely above a whisper.
She lowered her head slightly, brown bangs falling over one eye. Her fingers gripped the edge of her desk tightly, knuckles white, and her shoulders tensed.
A faint pink flush crept across her cheeks, and she shifted her weight uneasily in her chair.
The soft rustle of her skirt sounded as she adjusted her posture, and a pencil rolled quietly off the desk before stopping at her foot.
"Okay, Miss Morioka, choose who you would like to assist you in your duties," Hayami-sensei instructed, her voice steady and clear.
She folded her hands on the desk, the faint click of her watch audible as she shifted her weight.
Rie's eyes flitted nervously around the room, lingering on desks and notebook covers rather than on her classmates' faces. Her fingers fidgeted with the hem of her sleeve, tugging at the fabric lightly.
Her breath caught slightly as her gaze landed on Shino. He was staring blankly out the window, shoulders relaxed, sunlight falling across the side of his face.
A faint shadow of his eyelashes moved as he blinked slowly, and the quiet scrape of his chair as he shifted went almost unnoticed in the tense silence around Rie.
"I would like to be assisted by Katsuragi. Is that alright, Teacher?" Rie asked, her voice still timid.
She twisted her fingers together on her desk, the soft scrape of her nails against the wood barely audible. Her shoulders hunched slightly, and her eyes flicked toward Shino, waiting for his reaction.
"Huh? N-N-No, why me?! I can't do that kind of work—speaking up for my class, making suggestions to the school board—I just can't!"
Shino blurted out, his hands waving defensively in front of him. His chair creaked as he leaned back slightly, and he shifted his weight from foot to foot.
A nervous scratch ran along the back of his neck, and his eyes darted toward the ceiling, avoiding Rie's gaze.
"I see. Perfect choice, Rie," Hayami-sensei said, her posture straight and voice steady, completely unmoved by Shino's protest.
"But, Hayami-sensei, I don't want to—" Shino began, but his words faltered.
"Huh? What was that? Speak up, I couldn't hear you," she cut in sharply, her gaze locking onto him.
He swallowed hard, his throat tightening as he struggled to find the right words.
"W-What I said was… I'm happy to become her assistant!" he blurted out quickly, shoulders stiff and hands clenching the edges of his desk.
His heart pounded in his chest, and he felt the sweat prickling at the back of his neck.
"That's what I thought," Hayami-sensei replied, her tone calm, almost dismissive.
She straightened a pen on the desk and adjusted her stance, giving no sign of irritation or impatience.
She's so scary… Shino thought, his spine tingling under her gaze.
"School isn't just about getting good grades and aiming for your goals. It's also about character development, confidence, the ability to stand up for yourself, and applying the knowledge you gain from experience. Being Rie's assistant will help you grow as a person in the long run, so stop complaining," Hayami-sensei said, her tone firm.
"Yes, Sensei… I understand," he muttered, his voice still trembling.
He clenched his fists on the edge of his desk and hunched his shoulders, tapping his foot lightly against the floor as if trying to steady himself.
"Alright then. Rie Morioka, assisted by Shino Katsuragi, will be your class representatives this year. Any objections?" Hayami-sensei asked, her tone firm, eyes sweeping the room with a steady calm.
"No," the class answered in unison. Some students exchanged quick glances, a few eyebrows raising in curiosity.
Others leaned slightly forward, their expressions attentive, while faint murmurs ran through the corners of the room.
"Good. You two should take some time to get to know each other so that you feel comfortable working together—it's going to be a long year," she added.
Rie's fingers clutched the hem of her sleeve, and she swallowed nervously, cheeks warming.
Shino remained stiff, shoulders tense, gaze fixed on the sunlight spilling across the floor, as though avoiding the attention.
I finally got the chance to be near Katsuragi. I can finally thank him for what he did that day. I'll be able to be friends with him… and eventually, he'll notice me—wait, what am I saying?!
Rie's cheeks burned, and she pressed her notebook against her chest, fingers tightening around it until her knuckles were pale.
Her shoulders tensed, and she shifted slightly in her seat, trying to make herself smaller.
How am I going to manage all this and training? I won't have any free time at all… and I'm not even good at speaking up. I'm going to embarrass myself, I know it.
Shino slouched in his chair, arms crossed loosely over his chest, jaw tight. He let out a slow, uneven breath, shoulders rising and falling as he avoided looking at anyone around him.
His foot tapped lightly against the floor, restless but restrained.
Just as Hayami-sensei opened her mouth to begin the lesson, a sudden buzz from the loudspeaker cut through the classroom.
"Good afternoon, everyone. Sachiko Takahashi and Tetsuo Kawaguchi, please report to the student council room. I repeat, Sachiko Takahashi and Tetsuo Kawaguchi, please report to the student council room," Hitomi's crisp, formal voice announced, carrying clearly through the air vents.
Hayami-sensei's eye twitched slightly. Her hands clenched briefly on the edge of her desk.
That girl… couldn't she have waited until the school bell rang?
A faint sigh escaped her, and she straightened her posture, shoulders stiffening as she prepared to address the class again.
"You both have my permission to leave the class and go to the student council room. You scored the highest points on the entrance exam, so I expect that you won't loiter or skip homeroom after you're done," she said, nodding firmly.
Her eyes lingered on them for a moment, sharp and assessing, before she returned her attention to the rest of the class.
"Yes, Teacher. You have our word. Let's go, Kawaguchi," Sachiko said, already stepping toward the door.
Her shoes tapped lightly against the polished floor as she moved, the subtle sound echoing in the quiet classroom.
Tetsuo followed, his steps measured and silent, shoulders squared as he kept pace with her.
A faint rustle of his uniform accompanied each movement, and his eyes scanned the hallway ahead, alert but calm.
Sunlight streamed through the wide windows of the council room, illuminating the polished wood table and organized stacks of paperwork.
A kettle whistled softly in the corner. Hitomi set out two cups on saucers, pouring tea with a graceful hand.
"I'm glad you came, Tetsuo Kawaguchi. Please, both of you, sit down," she said, her smile calm but measured, as she gestured toward the chairs.
Her eyes flicked briefly toward each of them, noting their posture and expressions as they approached.
Tetsuo remained standing, posture straight and composed, his expression unreadable.
The warm aroma of green tea drifted from the cups on the table, mixing with the faint scent of polished wood.
"What do you want with me?" he asked bluntly, his voice even and steady.
He made no other movements, his hands relaxed at his sides, gaze unwavering and focused on Hitomi.
"Straight to the point, I see. I like that about you. Well then, let me enlighten you," Hitomi said, lacing her fingers together on the table.
Her eyes flicked to Tetsuo, studying him as she spoke, the corners of her mouth tilting into a faint, practiced smile.
"I explained to your classmates that the former student council members have graduated, and—"
"I wasn't listening," Tetsuo interrupted, his tone flat and unwavering.
He remained perfectly still, posture rigid, eyes fixed steadily on her without a hint of distraction.
"Huh? Excuse me?" Hitomi raised an eyebrow, a brief flicker of surprise crossing her otherwise composed face.
Her fingers loosened slightly on the table, the porcelain cup beside her making a soft clink against its saucer.
"The information you gave had nothing to do with me, so I ignored it. It didn't apply to me anyway," he said, his tone flat and firm.
Posture unmoving, hands resting calmly at his sides.
Hitomi blinked, momentarily caught off guard. Her smile faltered for a heartbeat, then returned, thinner and sharper than before.
She straightened in her chair, the soft rustle of her skirt the only sound as she shifted slightly, trying to regain her composure.
"Anyway, the reason I called you here is to ask you to join the student council as our secretary.
If you join, you'll receive several benefits. The school heads will extend your scholarship, covering your education for both your second and third year. So, what do you say?"
Hitomi's voice was smooth as silk. She leaned forward slightly, fingers resting lightly on the polished table, eyes flicking to Tetsuo as if measuring his reaction.
"Sorry, but I won't join the student council," Tetsuo replied without hesitation, his voice steady and even, posture unyielding.
"I see… May I ask why?" Hitomi asked, tilting her head slightly, eyes narrowing as she studied him.
A faint tension rippled across her shoulders, and her fingers brushed against the edge of her cup.
"Firstly, even though you're the student council president, you're quite a conniving person. Using the fact that I'm on a scholarship to try and manipulate me into accepting your proposal… it might have worked on someone else, but not me.
This was the norm where I was from," he said coldly, maintaining eye contact without flinching.
His hands stayed relaxed at his sides, and he shifted his weight only slightly, the movement deliberate and controlled.
"Secondly, my sister gave me a calling. It would be rude of me to abandon her wishes. That's all."
He stood, movements measured and deliberate, expression unreadable.
"It's about time for me to take my leave. I don't want to keep my teacher waiting. See you," he said, stepping toward the door with steady, even steps.
The door clicked softly behind him as he exited, leaving a faint echo in the quiet room.
Hitomi's gaze lingered on the door for a moment before a smirk tugged at her lips.
"That boy is a strange one… but I can't say I'm not intrigued by his opinion of me," she murmured, tilting her head slightly, fingers brushing the rim of her teacup.
"I already told you he was going to reject your proposal," Sachiko said, taking a delicate sip of her tea.
She glanced back toward the door, eyebrows slightly raised.
There's no way he's Tetsu-kun… that much is certain.