Chapter 2

──Damn, I don’t get any of this…

The first class after transferring was math. There’s something about Math I and II, but I’m bad at math to begin with…

Suppressing the urge to lay my head down on the desk right away, I try to listen to the teacher’s explanation and understand, but what I don’t get, I don’t get. I’ll have Daiki teach me later. Yeah, let’s do that.

I decided to be serious at least on the first day, so I take notes for now.

Otherwise, I might lose to the glances I keep feeling.

──No matter how you look at it, I’m being watched…

I know who the source of the gaze is without thinking. But it’s class time now, and I feel like returning the gaze wouldn’t accomplish anything, and above all, I don’t intend to get involved from my side for now.

But they’re definitely going to approach me during break time…

I take a deep breath and try to focus on the lesson again… but I still can’t understand the content. Why are there so many formulas? Isn’t basic arithmetic enough?

In the end, I just end up copying what’s written on the blackboard into my notebook, and this time I let out a sigh.

──Kiin koon…

「Alright, that’s it for today’s lesson. Make sure to review anything you don’t understand.」

Yeah, reviewing is important. Repeating the same thing over and over and over again is very important.

Ahh, my trauma is about to resurface…

「Um…」

「Shou-nii!! Are you here!?」

With a satisfying sound, the classroom door swings open. Well, I expected her to come, and she did say so herself, but the bell just rang, didn’t it? Isn’t this too early?

「Hikari, open it more gently. You’ll break the door.」

「Okay~. Ahh, nice. You got the seat at the end. Because of Asaki-chan, I’m stuck in the very front…」

Also, aren’t you a first-year? Is it normal to just barge into a senior class without hesitation? Look, you’ve come in so forcefully that the surroundings are buzzing.

「Oi… isn’t that girl cute?」

「Yeah, right? Was she always here?」

「Who knows? She seems to know the transfer student, so maybe she’s a transfer student too?」

「I’ll try to get her contact info later.」

And so on. This is like the boys’ version of when Daiki introduced himself. When I turned to look at Daiki next to me, a crowd had already formed around him. As expected of the super high-spec handsome guy!!

「Ahaha… Dai-nii is the same as always.」

「Well, it was predictable.」

It’s not unusual for him to be surrounded by girls, and it’s a familiar scene with Hikari already. For now, he’s probably getting attention for his looks, but once PE and club activities start, it’ll probably get even noisier…

「More importantly, Shou-nii, were you able to keep up with the class? I was completely lost…」

「Don’t worry. I was completely lost too.」

「Right─」

To begin with, we have too much of a handicap. Even if it were a regular high school, we don’t have the academic ability to keep up, and yet we’ve been thrown into a famous prep school.

「But since Asaki-chan went through all that trouble for us, we have to try our best!」

「Yeah, I guess so.」

It’s all about money and connections in this world. Not that we asked for it.

「By the way, Shou-nii, are you going to join any clubs?」

Clubs, huh. Yeah, clubs are great. They’re practically synonymous with youth.

「I refuse.」

「…Shou-nii, you’re always like this!! Really, that’s just like you!!」

What do you mean by that? And what do you mean by “that”?

「But look, there’s a kendo club and all, so Shou-nii could…」

「Hikari.」

I lower my voice a bit and call her name. I could see Hikari flinch slightly, perhaps sensing the change in my demeanor.

「Me, in the kendo club now? Don’t joke. To begin with, my first choice is the go-home club.」

「But…」

It seems Hikari isn’t convinced. Well, I understand she’s saying this out of concern for me… but sorry, that’s what you call unnecessary meddling.

「Don’t make me say it again. I’m not joining any club. Look, break time is almost over, so go back to your own classroom.」

「Okay… got it. I’ll come again!!」

「Yeah, that’s fine, but make sure to open the door gently.」

Hikari waves goodbye and runs off. Next time she comes, I’ll have to teach her not to run in the hallway…

「Hey… what’s with that?」

「That girl is so pitiful.」

「No matter what, there’s a way to say things.」

I can hear whispers of criticism directed at me from around. I wonder if they think I can’t hear them.

Well, I don’t care what others think of me at this point. When I glance to the side, students are still densely packed around Daiki. I met with his gaze peeking through the gaps, but he only returned a wry smile, whether it was at the previous interaction or at their own situation, I couldn’t tell.

Then the bell signaling the end of break time rang, and the teacher for the second period entered the classroom. Now, what was the next class again…

I absentmindedly look towards the teacher while taking out my textbook from under the desk. All while feeling glances that seem to be checking on me──

──In the end, Hikari came to this classroom every break time.

I thought she should make friends in her own class, but knowing Hikari’s bright personality, she’ll probably fit in with her class in no time without me worrying. Rather, she’ll definitely become popular.

Her slightly light brown hair and round eyes that exude friendliness. Her facial features are more than average, and while she might seem a bit skinny physically, she still has a well-endowed figure where it counts. Well, you could say she’s the female version of Daiki. She’s a bit shorter, but I guess that’s a matter of personal preference.

With such a Hikari coming to me every time, of course I attract attention. Hikari talks to me energetically, and I respond indifferently. Probably by the end of today, people’s evaluation of me as a person has been somewhat established. At best, maybe middle of the lower tier. Probably.

「──That concludes homeroom. Class rep.」

「Stand! Bow!」

Finally, the first day of school life is over. In the end, the only people I talked to today were Daiki and Hikari.

Well, I guess that’s how it is. I decided to be satisfied with that.

As I thought about going home and looked towards Daiki, there was still a crowd around him. I wonder how they don’t get bored. Maybe it’s because he’s a good talker?

I grab my bag, deciding to leave quickly, sacrificing Daiki as a scapegoat.

「Natsuki─, club activities today too?」

「Ah, yeah.」

Just as I put my hand on the door to leave the classroom, a familiar name reaches my ears, and I freeze in place.

「I see─, so you’re going home with your boyfriend again. Nice, being all lovey-dovey.」

「I-It’s not like that!!」

With a prickling sensation as if something had stabbed my body, I open the door and step into the hallway.

「Ah…」

I thought I heard a regretful voice behind me, but I tell myself it was my imagination and walk down the hallway.

Now, what should I have for dinner today? Maybe I’ll do some shopping in the shopping district on the way home. I force myself to switch my thoughts.

「──Oh, if it isn’t Shougo!! It’s been a while!!」

「Oh, you’re still running this shop. Long time no see, old man.」

As I arrived at the shopping district a bit away from the school, the greengrocer old man called out to me. It’s rare these days to see a shop that only sells vegetables.

「I was really worried about you, you know. But look at you, I heard you got seriously injured, but you seem fine!!」

「Yeah, it wasn’t as bad as I thought, so I’m perfectly healthy.」

「That’s good to hear!! Isn’t Natsuki-chan with you today?」

「Ah, no. We’re high school students now, after all.」

「Kaa, what are you saying? If you keep talking like that, someone might snatch her away, you know!? Even an old man like me can see that Natsuki-chan is too cute for you, Shougo.」

「Well, well, we’re not kids anymore. Anyway, old man, can I get some onions and carrots?」

「Sure thing! Consider it a celebration for your recovery!! I’ll give you a discount, so buy lots!!」

I ended up being pushed into buying a large amount of vegetables. I appreciate the discount, but I wonder if I can use up all this…

「I’m home─」

Naturally, there’s no response. Well, it’s just a habit.

It feels a bit early for dinner, but I quickly chop up the vegetables I bought, add oil to the frying pan, and start stir-frying them. Looks like it’ll be stir-fried vegetables or curry for a while…

The vegetables are so fresh that they smell good just from being stir-fried. This is going to go well with rice.

Ah, I forgot to cook rice.

I had no choice but to settle for a large serving of stir-fried vegetables for today.

After finishing dinner, I laze around on the living room sofa for a bit, then wash the bath and fill it with water. So I can get in right after that thing is over.

「It should be about time.」

I mutter to myself, take off my non-prescription glasses, and place them on the table. I don’t have a spare, so it would be troublesome if they broke.

I take a shallow breath and prepare for that thing. There’s no set time for it, but it’s a small mercy that it comes at night rather than during the day.

As I was thinking about this, my vision suddenly blurred.

──It’s here!!

I pull the blanket I had prepared nearby over my head and curl up on the spot. To muffle the sound as much as possible.

「Ah, ahhhhhhhhh!!」

I scream.

「Gahhhhhhhhhhh!!」

I scream.

It hurts, it hurts, it hurts, it hurts, it hurts, it hurts, it hurts.

The pain of my left eye being gouged out feels like it’s splitting my head open.

My vision turns bright red. The gray world is being colored. Bright red, deep crimson. As if painted with blood, just red, only red.

「Guh, uuaaahh…」

The pain is so overwhelming that I feel like I’m going to lose consciousness, but this eye won’t allow it. Whenever I feel like I’m about to pass out, the pain comes back as if to overwrite it.

The pain invites solitude, and solitude accelerates the pain. I don’t think about why I’m suffering like this now. I don’t, but what is there beyond enduring this pain?

Why am I enduring this pain? My hazy consciousness dulls my thoughts, making me feel only the pain.

How much longer will this last? How much longer do I have to endure?

I continue to endure the pain while screaming and groaning.

「──ugo.」

Suddenly, white seeps into my vision that was painted red.

「──arish──」

The white is approaching me. Could it be, is someone in the house?

「Shougo!! Get a hold of yourself!!」

The white floating in the red said so. It was a familiar voice, and as I felt that, the pain began to subside.

At the same time, my vision gradually returns to its normal color. I may not have regained my normal thoughts yet, but I can at least identify the person in front of me. But what should I call this person?

「…Obasan, why are you here──ni!?」

I was suddenly hit on the head. It’s a different kind of pain from what I felt earlier. I guess I’m starting to feel relaxed enough to think about that.

「Obasan?」

It seems she didn’t like being called that.

「Ka, Kaname-sa…」

「That’s not right, is it?」

I tried to add “san” this time, but I’m interrupted halfway. Her smiling face is the scariest. Because I know it’s the expression she makes when she’s really angry.

「…Kaname-kaasan.」

「Yes, well done.」

Kaname-kaasan, now truly smiling, patted my head. It tickled and embarrassed me, and I thought about pulling away, but her hand was so warm that I felt it would be a waste, so I just let her do it.

「For now, I have lots, and I mean lots of questions, about what just happened, about that bright red eye, about when you came back, about your leg, and so on.」

Her hand moves away from my head. Despite wishing she’d stop because it was embarrassing, I now feel a sense of longing when she actually stops, which is quite fickle of me.

「Welcome home, Shougo.」

Gently, my body is enveloped in her arms. You could say I was caught off guard, but I found myself being hugged by Kaname-kaasan.

「Come on, what do you say when you come home?」

「I’m home… kaasan. I, I…!! I’m sorry, I’m so sorry!!」

I don’t even know why I apologized.

But somehow I felt I had to. Kaname-kaasan’s body heat is transmitted to me, and I can’t stop crying because of its warmth. They won’t stop.

My eyes, my head, they don’t hurt anymore.

The world reflected in my open eyes was filled with colors that were neither red nor gray.