Meisei, a high-level and prestigious institute, was not uncommon for the graduates to be admitted in Tokyo University.
The school's facilities showed the right level expected for the quality of students who graduated.
The school grounds indulged in having a fountain at the entrance, a small internal forest, and an area exclusively for the triumphs of each student.
"So much prestige is too much sometimes," Isamu said as he walked without a care. "So early in the morning and there are already a lot of people."
Multiple clubs reached national competitions and the best national academic indexes came from it.
The effort of these people was not small.
"One, two, one, two!" A group of students chanted in perfect synchrony.
"The students are always very diligent," Isamu thought, watching them run.
"Cheer up, girls!" An animated girl's voice was heard, another group followed the first very closely. "One, two, one, two!"
'Such spirit is admirable,' Isamu felt genuine respect for such passion.
A shiver ran down his spine.
"Superior Kuroda!" Isamu heard the shout from afar; there were only two people who referred to him as 'Superior' in the school.
Sighing, Isamu prepared his best fake smile, turning around and waving slightly.
"Good morning, Takagi," Isamu tried not to pay attention to the mounds that were swaying in front of him. "The weather is nice today, right?"
Sunny and warm.
"That's right!" She moved closer to him, very lively. "Today is excellent for training!"
She was a girl with purple hair tied in a ponytail with a black ribbon.
"... Don't overexert yourself," Isamu continue smiling falsely.
The girl's wine-colored eyes looked at him intently, shining with special excitement while standing in front of Isamu.
"You worry about me!" The girl looked very happy. "Great!"
The girl's pale skin was red on her cheeks, and her developed body did curious things when she raised her arm out of excitement.
Her traditional Kendo practitioner clothes don't hide anything.
"Hehehe," the girl laughed with red cheeks and a cute smile. "Kuroda…"
She looked him directly in the eyes; Isamu smiled, internally sighing.
Isamu considered himself an asocial person in Meisei, but somehow he managed to win the favor of three people, one among them was Takagi Ayumi.
Star of the Kendo club.
"I can help you with something Takagi?"
The girl take a breath, Isamu felt the headache taking form.
"Superior… Do you have plans after school?" Several boys stopped halfway through their paths to watch the show.
'There it is,' Isamu thought, already feeling the gazes of his classmates on him.
Ayumi was a school idol; she was so friendly that boys of all years asked her out.
For some reason she just don't date anyone.
Apparently, she was only one step below the 'Goddess' of the institute in terms of beauty.
Whoever that Goddess may be.
"No, I don't have any plans," Isamu smiled with his eyes closed. "How can I help you, Takagi?"
Isamu had noticed that the rest of the Kendo club had also stopped; they looked expectant.
'You have good friends,' Isamu said mentally.
"... Kuroda… why do you always force yourself to smile?" Isamu opened his eyes in surprise; the girl was serious. "I don't think it's good pretend happiness."
'It's not good to pretend happiness,' a 9-year-old Aimi told him with sad eyes.
'Nostalgic…' Isamu forced the smile a little more, perhaps because of her similarity to Aimi he felt comfortable near Ayumi.
"I have no idea what you're talking about, Takagi." Halfway through the school year, everyone would tell him that he should stop trying to smile.
The expression he made was quite diabolic according to some.
"Uh… please stop doing that with your face."
The smile Isamu wore split his face, with closed eyes and generally…
He looked like a villain.
"I have no idea what you're talking about, Takagi." Isamu knew well that this smile scared everyone, which is why he used it so much.
It drove people away.
"You need to be more sociable, surely that way you could have more friends," she whispered, at which Isamu stopped smiling and opened his eyes, the girl gained a reddish tint on her cheeks. "That way… we could spend more time together…"
'God, I feel like someone is about to make me burn with their gaze,' Isamu silently asked the Kendo group for help, who gave him thumbs up.
Taking a breath, Isamu prepared himself mentally.
"Takagi, I appreciate your concern and interest in my social life very much, but…" Isamu looked her in the eyes, brown and red clashed. "... I already have my friends…"
Isamu concentrated on the blue sky above them both, the clouds forming a beautiful canvas, the work of the greatest author.
He thought of Willow, of the comfortable warmth her presence transmitted to him.
There was a time when he gathered with many people, indiscriminately calling everyone friends.
When the time came, few extended their hands to help him.
'Although, at least I have my memories.' Isamu's mind took him to other times.
He remembered a game of chess, before a key date, with a friend from a distant land.
'You are a competent rival, Kuroda.' Coming from him, it was a compliment of the highest caliber.
The image changed to a young man with light brown hair fishing in a lake with a wooden rod.
'You're good at fishing, almost as good as me, and that's something few can say.' His friend was a simple man.
The memory changed again.
He was sitting on the grass watching the sunset, enjoying the tranquility of that moment, Aimi was by his side; the girl's head was resting on his shoulder.
They were transmitting peace to each other.
His friend only existed in his memories now, but still brought him pure joy.
Outside of his memories, Ayumi seemed captivated by how his lips turned up.
"Ah! Kuroda really smiled!" That intensity in reacting pulled Isamu out of his stupor; regaining his composure, he put on a serious expression.
"... Listen, Takagi…"
"Superior Kuroda truly has a very beautiful smile," Ayumi said in a gentle tone, a slight blush and an expression of embarrassment. "... If you showed that side, you could surely make many friends."
'She didn't believe me!' Isamu thought. He couldn't blame Ayumi either; given how asocial he was at Meisei, it wasn't strange that she didn't believe he had ever had friends.
He felt slightly sad about that…
"I…"
"Superior Kuroda is always alone; he never talks to anyone during recess; that is very sad," Ayumi's look of pity was quite painful for Isamu. "you must be lying about having friends."
"Hey…" He did have friends…
"But!" Ayumi interrupted Isamu with that shout, her voice full of excitement "I know you are good to everyone."
Ayumi even raised her right hand with a clenched fist to the sky.
Such intensity made Isamu somewhat uncomfortable.
"Listen, Takagi…" He had to stop her now, or she was going to get more excited.
"Kuroda is kind! He is always helping others without asking for anything in return!" Everyone who wasn't paying attention before was doing now. "If Kuroda manages to smile like that, he'll be able to make many friends!"
"You don't have to shout…" Everyone was already watching them.
"Kuroda-senpai is also very good to everyone in the club! He lets us see his notes and never says no to a request!" Ayumi shouted loudly.
Isamu felt more embarrassed; she was trying very hard to say something flattering.
"Takagi…"
"And your hands!" The first-year girl took his hands; Isamu, incredulous, remained paralyzed, watching Takagi inspect his palms. "It shows you've put a lot of effort into something… they are firm and Pow!"
A blow to the head made the girl stop.
"Hey Ayumi, come over here with me for a moment," one of the club girls dragged Ayumi away from him.
Isamu felt all the gazes of his classmates on him.
Closing his eyes, Isamu tried to regain the calm he had before interacting with Ayumi—bad idea…
"Did you see that? The crazy girl from the Kendo club talked to the new kid."
"Why do we keep calling him new? It's already halfway through the school year."
"Damn it! Just because he's handsome, has good grades, and is mysterious, all the girls are after him!"
"Did you see that smile at the beginning? He must be a Yakuza; only one can look that dangerous."
"I heard he always goes to a shop run by a woman with a tattoo."
"He does those kinds of things? I hate him!"
"I once saw him with an older woman very late at night."
"The jerk!"
Isamu opened his eyes, convinced that it was bad to be able to hear so well.
He let out a sigh and put on his best smile, then ignoring reality, he walked focused on getting to his classroom.
He ignored how Ayumi's group lectured her about something or that the rest of those present watched him while dedicating colorful comments.
'Don't think about it, none of it.' Isamu continued on his way.
Getting to his classroom meant a little peace in the mornings.
He did not usually talk to anyone, so he sat down to wait for his teacher.
"Sweet peace…" Isamu whispered.
He always sat in the back, in the center line of the class, opened his textbook, and concentrated on the class for that day.
His eyes involuntarily fixed on the window overlooking the exterior; he felt nostalgia.
A long time ago, in another school, his best friend would be sitting there.
'Isamu! Let's go for ramen!' he remembered his friend's routine shout.
In a seat that had not yet been occupied, the ghost of a blonde young man appeared.
He smiled unintentionally at the memory.
Another ghost appeared in a nearby seat, one with pink hair tied in two pigtails.
'What if we go to a sushi stand instead?' always suggesting options.
'Better a barbecue,' the memory of Aimi appeared, she was the only one with a face.
The four of them were inseparable in those years.
The Best friends.
All of that was false.
The image of an Aimi with a white cloth over her face made him aware of it.
'I'm Kuroda Isamu! He knows me! I'm his best friend!' he had hurt his throat with his shouts. 'I need his help!'
Nostalgia quickly gave way to disappointment, desolation, and the deepest rejection.
'He says he doesn't know any Kuroda.' Isamu was devastated; he felt the world around him breaking.
The figure that once transmitted confidence, security, and hope now only produced in him…
Disgust.
The ghost of the blonde boy disappeared from the seat; Isamu closed his eyes for a moment, deciding he had had enough.
'Goodbye forever.' Isamu smiled, closing his eyes. They had been happy days. 'It was… fun.'
"Kuroda."
Isamu opened his eyes.
In front of him was a girl with silver hair, but with black roots; her golden eyes looked tired.
She had three buttons of her uniform undone, revealing a bit of her small chest.
She had light makeup on her face and a silver bracelet on her right hand.
"Good morning, Nimura." Isamu relaxed; he should stop getting lost in his memories. "How can I help you today?"
The girl leaned toward him, emphasizing showing her chest and winking while putting on a somewhat flirtatious expression.
"Kuroda, would you let me see your notes?" Isamu remained calm when the girl said his name in a sweet voice and put more emphasis on her chest. "I did a lot of modeling work and didn't have time to do anything."
Isamu closed his eyes and smiled kindly.
"No problem, Nimura." Isamu took a gray notebook out of his backpack and handed it to the girl. "It's all here."
"..." The girl stared at the notebook. "Are you sure you don't want money?"
"Nah," Isamu denied with a calm expression. "I do this because it's the right thing to do."
"Someone could easily take advantage of you," the girl said with certainty. "Be careful."
Isamu saw that almost all his classmates had their eyes fixed on them.
'It's a good time for the teacher to arrive.' Isamu wanted to stop being the center of attention.
"Good morning!" Someone opened the classroom door with passion.
'Good!' Isamu celebrated mentally; the best distraction had appeared.
"Saito!"
"It's Saito!"
"Good morning, Saito!"
Juro Saito, with black hair, black eyes, fair skin, and a kind expression.
Isamu did not socialize with anyone beyond what was necessary, but even he had to hear what the school usually said about Juro Saito.
The top 4 grades at Meisei.
The 5th most desired boy in the school.
The captain of the soccer team.
"... He's quite popular…" Isamu said; almost everyone gathered around Saito; Nimura tensed up because of the newcomer. "Hey…"
"Hello everyone!" Saito greeted the whole room, then noticed how Isamu and Nimura were close. "Nimura, again? Straighten your posture and tidy up your uniform."
Isamu felt the headache begin to form, he quickly scanned the classroom, no one questioned Saito, he remembered that type of behavior with others.
"Tch…" Nimura looked away as she straightened up, tidying her uniform grudgingly. "Done, happy?"
"Quite, thank you." Saito focused on Isamu after nodding to Nimura. "Now then…"
Isamu widened his smile, again having the appearance of a villain.
"Juro, good morning…" Isamu had noticed the annoyance in Saito's eyes when he saw them close. "Do I have some business with you today?"
The entire classroom lost its lively atmosphere; Isamu immediately knew he had stepped on a mine with his classmates.
"Kuroda…" Saito began to say, his face took on an expression of pity and his voice seemed to be of someone who felt sympathy for him. "It's not right that you let Nimura use you like that just because she's the only one you talk to."
'Oh no.' Isamu saw Nimura get annoyed.
"Listen, you hypocrite!" Isamu stood up from his seat with a smile and closed eyes, stopping her from continuing. "Kuroda?"
"Juro, don't you think it's a bit rude to come here and make insinuations?" Smiling, Isamu's voice became firm. "Do I look like the type of person who is easily manipulated?"
The voice was terrifying. Isamu could feel fear and alert fill the classroom, and his classmates began conversing in low tones.
"God, that was scary."
"Kuroda is quite intimidating."
"Like a dragon…"
He ignored them all.
"Kuroda, isn't it strange that she always asks you for help?" Saito was not intimidated, his voice still confident. "I don't mean to be rude, but you're not exactly the most popular guy in the class."
Isamu held back the urge to roll his eyes.
"Juro, isn't Nimura a classmate?" He stared fixedly into the popular boy's eyes; there was no fear. "Isn't it natural for us to support each other?"
Saito seemed taken by surprise. His gaze became more understanding, and Nimura herself blinked in disbelief.
"... Kuroda… I see you're kinder than the rumors say."
'Rumors?' Isamu decided to ignore that for the moment; it probably wasn't important right now.
"Nimura is someone very responsible with her work," Isamu recalled how the girl's grades were below average. "I often share my notes with her."
Isamu gave her a look only she would notice. The girl seized the moment to speak.
"My job demands a lot of my time," Nimura was a well-known rising model. "I have problems with some classes, so I ask Kuroda for notes to study."
Nimura told this to Saito with a serious voice.
Saito looked at the rest of his classmates with an incredulous expression. Isamu noticed his classmate pause for a moment on a girl.
Saito's lips moved without emitting sound. Isamu read them easily.
"Shuko… why?"
'He has his own problems, too,' Isamu thought, noting how Saito looked at Nimura with an embarrassed face.
"I apologize, Nimura, I wasn't aware of your circumstances, but…" Saito then directed his attention to Isamu. "Don't you think it's strange that Nimura only asks you for help, Kuroda?"
'I'm the only one who helps her,' Isamu thought. Even with how antisocial he was, he could clearly see that no one else bothered to talk or interact with Nimura besides him.
Choosing to smile, he reminded himself to remain calm.
"Nimura-san only asks for my notes. I have no problem helping her with something soo small," Isamu said, relaxed. "Besides… why this bother you?"
"..." Saito looked away, a click of his tongue audible. "... But why only her?"
Saito whispered. Isamu knew his contact with Nimura was causing a stir.
From what little he had heard, there were suggestive rumors about Nimura, nothing real or proven.
That reminded him…
'Honestly, I don't know why they keep you around, you're just dead weight.'
'While everyone else was doing their part, what were you supposed to have done?'
'Without them, you are nothing.'
"Disgusting…" Isamu whispered, sickened by his memories and the current scene. "I'm the only one who wants to help Nimura."
He said that last bit loudly for everyone.
His classmates didn't bother to hide how brazenly they were listening to the conversation.
"This is getting intense…"
"Kuroda's voice is sexy…"
"Is he sleeping with her?"
Isamu felt anger well up from his heart. That last comment came from Shuko. Clenching his right fist, he forced himself to calm down.
He focused on Nimura. She had taken his right arm to hide her trembling.
Isamu didn't know if it was from anger or embarrassment. Putting on his best smile, he addressed Saito.
"Nimura is a dedicated worker; I'm only helping her out of respect," Isamu looked at all the students, tired of the spectacle. "That's all."
Saito seemed impressed with his reason, but the rest of the classmates seemed reluctant to believe those words.
"Nimura could easily ask the rest of the class for help," Isamu couldn't believe how naive Saito was. "And you too could try to be more sociable."
Isamu almost rolled his eyes.
But…
"Juro, has anyone else besides me responded to Nimura's request for help?"
Saito lowered his gaze. He had also heard Shuko; there was no room for his excuses.
Then his face took on a hopeful expression. Lifting his smiling face, he looked Isamu in the eyes.
"... Kuroda-san is very good with words. It would be great to hear your opinions in depth," Saito extended his hand to Isamu with a friendly expression. "How about coming with a group to a cafe or karaoke?"
Isamu remembered an irritating girl with pink pigtails who used to stick to him in everything he did.
With a bad taste in his mouth, he smiled at Saito. With amusement, Isamu noticed the movement of discomfort on his classmate's face.
"I have no problem with that, Juro-san," he then focused on Nimura. "Are you joining us?"
"..."
"..."
"..."
"..."
"Pfft… Hahahaha! Man, Kuroda is savage!"
Before Isamu's devilish smile and malicious words, everyone remained silent, letting the words sink in, until one of his classmates burst out laughing.
Isamu was taken by surprise by his laughing classmate, who got up from his seat and put his arm around Saito.
"Tsoryu…" Saito started, speaking to the smiling classmate. "This is serious."
"Saito, Saito, do you miss your childhood friend so much that you're trying to drag everyone to a meeting just to talk to her?" The smile on the student's face indicated that he genuinely meant what he was saying. "A brilliant plan."
"I-I, I mean…" Adding more credit to those words, Saito had a noticeable blush on his face.
Isamu lost his smile. He had genuinely been taken by surprise. He wasn't the only one; the rest of the classroom was also silently incredulous.
"Saito…" Isamu focused on Nimura. Her face was red, with an expression of shame and slight happiness plastered on it.
"Miyako…" Saito said in a weak voice and a red face.
'So her name is Miyako,' Isamu took a moment to distract himself with that piece of information.
"... Saito… I thought… you didn't want anything to do with me anymore because of the rumors…" Nimura said without looking Saito in the eyes.
"No!" Saito raised his voice, still close to the other student. "I never believed those rumors… but you started getting close to Kuroda and…"
'Don't involve me in your drama,' Isamu mentally pleaded.
"Kuroda is just helping me. If it weren't for him, my grades would be in the toilet," Nimura Miyako began, and Isamu agreed, her academic index left much to be desired when he wasn't helping her yet. "Besides, he's too intimidating to be my type."
Isamu decided to ignore that, as well as the look of relief on Saito's face.
"... Not your type…" There was hope in Saito's whisper, which of course, only Isamu could hear.
"Tch…"
Isamu noticed the one called 'Shuko' let out a click of her tongue with a bitter expression on her face.
Of course, only Isamu and perhaps one other student noticed this; the rest of the attention was still on the main event.
"Damn, Nimura needs help with her studies," Tsoryu said in a jovial tone. "Too bad, Juro, you could have used this moment to close the distance between you two."
Saito's face was a poem. Isamu looked around the classroom and found that everyone was calmer.
'He's quite smart,' Isamu conceded to the one called 'Tsoryu,' and he was surprised never to have noticed him before.
Short, well-combed, copper-brown hair, with a carefree expression and a sly smile.
Fair-skinned, with blue-gray eyes that shone with an intelligence that betrayed the first impression they might have of him.
He was also wearing a black hoodie over his uniform.
'That must be hot,' Isamu thought, then he noticed something about his classmate.
His figure exuded an atmosphere that was out of the ordinary.
Power.
Isamu noticed that. He instinctively calculated the possibilities.
"But Kuroda is a good guy; despite not talking to anyone, he doesn't hesitate to help those who ask," The boy walked toward Isamu, smiling. "Hey Kuroda, are you up for karaoke after class?"
The entire classroom fell silent. Isamu admitted he had also been taken by surprise. Recovering, he decided to smile with a somewhat incredulous expression.
"Good morning, class! Ready for another day?!"
Just as Isamu was about to answer, the teacher in charge entered, making everyone focus on her.
"..."
"..."
"..."
"Is something happening?" The teacher was quite friendly, but slightly oblivious.
"No, Professor, everyone… back to your seats," Saito took control of the situation with impressive speed.
And so began another day of classes. Isamu felt that trouble was coming in the distant future.
'... I must find a friendly way to refuse,' Isamu thought. He decided to look toward Saito and found that the popular leader was exchanging glances with Miyako. 'Well, I guess it won't be necessary.'
Curiously, the image of two childhood friends exchanging those looks caused him a strange melancholy.
While the lesson was being taught, Isamu focused on the blue sky.
'Childhood friend.'
Unbeknownst to him, Isamu was being watched carefully by several of his classmates.