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It's likely that many students struggle with communication.
That's understandable. Unlike me, who has been around other people since childhood, many people didn't have anyone to talk to in elementary or junior high school. So, when they start high school surrounded by complete strangers, they often have no idea what to talk about.
In fact, Ayanokōji-kun seems to be incredibly grateful to me.
So, I'd like to offer a piece of advice to all of you from a moocher. The most important thing in communication is empathy.
It could be complaining about a teacher, a tyrannical coworker, or even talking bad about someone you hate. If you can show that you're in the same boat and that you're on their side, you've hit the jackpot.
This is why people who start conversations with negativity are often disliked. It includes people who hit you with a dose of harsh truth when all you want is for them to listen to your complaints.
So, if a friend comes to you for help, I hope everyone reading this will lend them a hand.
"Hey, Arisu-chan, come on. You're going to get a lot of allowance once this incident is over, right?"
"No. I'm already giving you an allowance for your food expenses and as a thank you for cooking, so you need to manage with that."
"Ugh, Arisu-chan, you're so stingy."
I sit down in the space between her open legs and hug the small Arisu-chan. Maybe it's because she's small, but her moderately warm body is quite comfortable to hold.
I nuzzle my cheek against her soft, round one. Arisu-chan groans in annoyance and sighs as if she's fed up with me.
"What's wrong? You're acting so uncharacteristically spoiled. Is the D-Class problem really that serious?"
"Yeah. Seriously, Sudō-kun, what are you even doing...?"
She called me out on my weird mood. But I can't help it.
In June, D-Class was given 95 class points. We were supposed to get a 9,500 yen allowance, but due to a "certain problem," the payment is currently on hold.
"You really got into a tricky situation. To provoke a fight and get hit on purpose to start a complaint..."
"That's if we believe Sudō-kun's testimony."
That's right. The problem is a fight between Sudō-kun and three C-Class students. You'd think a fistfight between high schoolers is just a silly thing, but it seems like this isn't an issue that can be dismissed as a simple fight.
"Calling him to a special building with no surveillance cameras shows that the opponent is quite clever."
"That's something the ringleader of this mess, Ishizaki-kun, and his crew couldn't have pulled off. Someone must be giving them instructions from behind the scenes. Right now, everyone in D-Class is trying to prove Sudō's innocence by gathering information."
I already went to the special building where the incident occurred, but I didn't find anything useful. The rest is just a tedious process, and I'm not feeling motivated.
"How awful you are. While your classmates are working hard to prove that student's innocence, you're just sitting here in a cool room, talking with me?"
Arisu-chan takes my extended arm and squeezes it playfully. It's like she's in a really good mood. Maybe it's because we haven't had a proper conversation recently due to the chaos of exams?
"You said 'almost,' so it's not completely impossible, is it?"
"Well, no. The first thing that comes to mind is to put a dummy camera in the room where the incident happened and pretend the whole thing was recorded from the beginning to make them drop the case... but that's a tough one."
It's not impossible, but we would need to corner the opponent to a point where they have no choice but to back down. Things don't always go as planned, and the risk is high.
"The biggest problem is money. Electronics stores are expensive."
Everyone could chip in, but I feel like it's a little different to solve the problem just by throwing money at it.
"...I see. So that's why you tried to extort money from me."
"Hey, don't say it like that."
It's not wrong, though.
"I can lend you the money if you have a good reason. If you're truly intent on saving that student, that is."
"Ah, you found me out?"
Arisu-chan chuckles elegantly and puffs out her chest at my response.
It's a little embarrassing that she saw right through me, so I just distract her by giving her small chest a squeeze.
"Hmph?! What are you doing?!"
"What? Covering up my embarrassment."
Her face is all red, how cute.
"...Pervert."
Arisu-chan pouts on my lap. I pat her head to cheer up the cute young lady and then explain my stance on the incident.
"I'm not going to actively try to prove Sudō-kun's innocence in this case. Even though he was set up, Sudō-kun is also to blame for acting so recklessly, and most importantly, he doesn't seem to have learned his lesson at all. Besides, this isn't a problem I should be solving on my own."
"So you think the other students should solve it, or he should face the consequences and learn from them?"
"Exactly."
I'm just an "anomaly" in this world. Horikita-san is growing into a leader, and Ayanokōji-kun is trying to fill the hole in his heart. And the rest of D-Class is uniting by making C-Class their sworn enemy.
Ironically, D-Class is growing in the face of this problem.
"There's no room for me to interfere."
"...I see."
The fact that our relationship is so ambiguous isn't a good thing either.
----------
"It's so hot..."
Tsugumi came all the way here by himself? He's really something.
"Sorry to make you come all the way here, Horikita."
Horikita, who was standing beside me, quietly surveyed the hallway without showing any signs of sweating.
"You're also strange, Ayanokōji-kun. You're getting involved in this incident yourself. We've found the eyewitnesses, and we know there's nothing more we can do. What are you trying to do now?"
That's right, I, Kiyotaka Ayanokōji, was busy trying to resolve the conflict between Sudō and C-Class. As part of that, I came to the special building where the incident happened.
"Sudō was my first friend. I'll help him out a little."
"So you think there's a way for you to prove his innocence?"
"I don't know yet. Besides, the reason I'm moving on my own is because I'm not good at or comfortable with being in a large group with people like Hirata and Kushida. I don't have connections with upperclassmen like Tsugumi does, and I also came here to get away from everyone who might have been walking around the campus and classrooms. Sounds like something an apathetic person would do, right?"
"Indeed. You're a contradiction, saying you're helping him because he's a friend."
"You're the same. You said you didn't need friends, but you get all embarrassed when you call me or Tsugumi your friends."
"Shut up!"
"...Ouch!"
I poked at her, and Horikita gave me a frustrated chop.
"Violence-prone heroines aren't in style anymore..."
"Oh, the heat must've gotten to your head, so I just fixed you."
"Am I a TV from the Showa era?!"
After this back-and-forth, we continued to walk down the hallway. Horikita stopped as if she noticed something and started thinking.
"...As Saitō-kun said, there's nothing here. It's a shame."
"Huh? What do you mean?"
"Surveillance cameras, like the ones in the classrooms. If there were cameras, we would have definite proof. But I don't see any in the hallways of this special building."
"Oh, right. Surveillance cameras. That would have solved everything in an instant."
There were outlets near the ceiling, but there was no sign that they were being used. The hallway has no obstructions, so if there were cameras in that position, there's a high chance that the whole event would have been recorded.
The fact that Tsugumi came to this conclusion on the very first day proves that he is indeed my best friend.
"Wait, there aren't any cameras in the school hallways to begin with, right?"
There shouldn't be cameras in the hallways in front of the classrooms either, not just in this special building.
I shook my head in shame for getting my hopes up for a moment.
We wandered around for a while after that, but we just wasted time and didn't find anything useful.
"So, did you come up with a plan to save Sudō-kun?"
"Of course not. Coming up with a plan is your and Tsugumi's job. I'm not asking you to save Sudō, but I want you to help the situation turn out for the best for D-Class."
Horikita shrugged her shoulders in disbelief. She probably thinks I'm putting it nicely.
After thinking for a few seconds, she began to talk hesitantly.
"...Regarding this matter, Saitō-kun probably isn't very proactive."
It was an abstract statement, but from the context, I could tell what she was trying to say.
"About saving Sudō?"
"To be precise, 'proving Sudō-kun's innocence.'"
Horikita's guess is probably right.
His actions to read ahead during the exam preparations amazed me. But he doesn't seem to have that kind of proactiveness now. Ike, Yamauchi, and Sudō probably haven't noticed, though.
"Well, anyway, there's no point in staying here any longer. You must be hot too, Horikita? Let's go home."
"...Are you imitating Saitō-kun? It doesn't suit you."
...It seems she saw right through me and knew that I just wanted to go home. I shouldn't do things I'm not used to.
"My bad. I shouldn't have tried to imitate my beloved Tsugumi."
I teased her, expecting a punch to the face, but Horikita's reaction was surprising.
"...It's not that."
Horikita looked down and fidgeted with her fingers. To be honest, it was quite cute. I want to ask her when she fell for him, but I'm not going to get involved in unnecessary things.
"I see. But if you're going to make a move, you'd better do it soon. Tsugumi is way more popular than you think."
I saw him going into a somewhat expensive restaurant with a few female students who looked like his upperclassmen. It was a terrifying sight.
"That's none of your business... I know that."
And the A-Class student who is apparently Tsugumi's childhood friend is probably a girl too, judging from what he said.
Seriously, he's like a guy who came out of a harem anime. It's no surprise if he gets stabbed one day.
After that, there was an incident where I met Sakura and a student from B-Class named Ichinose, but I got back to the dorm without any problems.
"Haaaaah."
I dive onto the bed in my uniform. I had the air conditioner on full blast when I was out, so the cold sheets feel nice. I'm so grateful for this dorm where I don't have to worry about electricity bills.
As I was enjoying the benefits of technology, my phone in my pocket vibrated. The notification showed the name of a chat app.
[ I tried to ask some upperclassmen, but I didn't get any useful information. It seems that when a problem like this happens, there's usually a pretty heavy penalty.]
It seems that Tsugumi sent a message in the group chat. The members are the seven of us from the study group: me, Tsugumi, Horikita, Ike, Yamauchi, Sudō, and Kushida.
I was about to send a "thank you" message but stopped just before sending it. I always wonder if I should reply in situations like this.
[I see... Then we just have to try harder! ( •̀ᄇ• ́)ﻭ]
[Yeah! When this is over and we get our points, let's have Sudō treat us to a meal lol]
[Sure, but let's go somewhere cheap. It's gonna be tough with this many people.]
Kushida, Ike, and Sudō sent their replies in order.
I couldn't help but smile at the thought of everyone going out for dinner together. Even these small exchanges were something I had always longed for.
I close the chat screen, and the group's icon is at the very top of my history.
"You still haven't changed it..."
The icon is a two-shot of Tsugumi and me with our arms around each other's shoulders. We took the picture less than a month after we started school.
In contrast to Tsugumi, who has a big smile, I'm giving an awkward smile and a small peace sign... I asked him to change it because it was embarrassing, but it seems Tsugumi has no intention of doing so.
"Friends, huh..."
It's been two months since I entered Advanced Nurturing High School. It's a fleeting moment compared to the 15 years I spent in "that place."
However, these short but intense two months have slightly cracked my values from before.
"Which one will I choose?"
I muttered that unconsciously, but the answer was decided from the beginning. As the saying goes, what's bred in the bone will come out in the flesh. A person's true nature doesn't change that quickly.
---------
But I do have something in my hands that I couldn't get in that place.
I wanted to believe that I still have enough humanity left in me to not want to let go of it.
============
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