Chapter 5 – Don’t Go Shouting That I Got Dumped

When I arrived at my classroom, Year 1, Class 1, there were already about twenty people there.

Back when school started in April, the room was always buzzing with students from other classes who I’d been friends with in middle school, but now a distinct class atmosphere had formed, allowing for relatively stable mornings.

“Mornin’.”

“Aki? Morning.”

I immediately called out to my friend who takes the same train, Shinichi Nanba.

He’s the very definition of a boring guy, the kind who’s a full-time otaku. He has a slender frame and wears thick, blue-rimmed, rectangular glasses.

His eyes are naturally much larger than mine, but they look incredibly small because of his strong prescription.

Shinichi’s  territory was the seat directly behind mine. We started talking after the seating chart changed in June, and we’ve gotten pretty close.

“You look sleepy.”

“This is the effect of an all-night anime marathon.”

“Oh yeah? What show?”

“‘

That Time I Got Reincarnated as Poop,’ obviously. The animation is great, and the voice actors are top-tier. I really think you should watch it too, Aki.”

The one that’s been popular lately, huh? Still, the main character is a piece of poop. Even if she’s a high school girl on the inside, the author’s craziness really shines through in that work.

Alright, I’ll watch it when I get home today.

“Hey, how many seasons of that are there now?”

“The one airing now is the sixth season. By the way, starting from the third season it became a double-length run, so there are a ton of episodes. You’re welcome.”

“Whoa, sounds like that’s gonna be one hell of a long journey.”

As Shinichi and I were having our fun chat, the beautiful girl in the seat next to me, Hinami Hayasaka, entered the classroom.

She rides the same bus as me every day, but for some reason, we never seem to enter the classroom at the same time. That makes things slightly awkward for me.

Am I being avoided?

“Hayasaka-san, good morning.”

“Good morning, Yamabuki-kun.”

I make it a rule to greet whoever sits next to me, whether they’re a boy or a girl, a sworn enemy or an old friend.

It’s the minimum level of courtesy required to build a friendly relationship. Thanks to that, I became good friends with Chifuyu , who sat next to me in April, and I developed a relationship of mutual respect with Ryuuji Sakuragaoka, my seatmate in May.

Since this is his first mention, I’ll briefly explain: Ryuuji  is apparently a child prodigy aiming for Harvard University. He should be getting to school pretty soon.

“Sorry for bumping into you on the bus. It lurched so suddenly.”

“No, it’s okay.”

“So… um… the test is coming up soon, huh?”

What is this conversation? It’s like we’re deliberately trying to be as awkward as possible.

Actually, if Hayasaka-san  is intentionally avoiding me, maybe I shouldn’t have talked to her so much?

“You’re right. Is your test prep going well, Yamabuki-kun?”

She actually replied properly.

“Not at all. I try to study, but I can never seem to make myself sit at my desk.”

“That’s surprising. You seem like you study a lot.”

This whole “I haven’t studied for the test” routine is just small talk; in reality, I’m fully prepared.

But saying that to Hayasaka-san, who seems to take everything at face value, makes me feel bad, like I’m lying.

“Umm…”

Just as I was thinking of changing the subject, Hayasaka-san’s  gaze returned to her desk.

That was the signal for sleep. It was a declaration that she was about to plant her face on her desk and sleep, and that she wouldn’t wake up unless something major happened.

And with that, the conversation event with Hayasaka-san  concluded.

“Aki, what’s the deal with that?”

“Huh?”

Next, a mandatory conversation event with Shinichi  began. He had been as still as a statue while Hayasaka-san  and I were talking.

“You are the only student who can speak to Hayasaka. No matter how many times I talk to her in my imagination, she never responds.”

“Isn’t that because it’s in your imagination?”

“No, that’s not it. No matter how many other students try to talk to her, she doesn’t answer. And yet, why is it that you…”

There was no trace of jealousy in Shinichi’s  words.

—Just pure curiosity. His expression was one that sought an answer.

“I don’t know either. Maybe just ’cause we sit next to each other?”

“Impossible. The only one Hayasaka talks to is you, Aki.”

“If you’re that curious, ask her yourself. I’ve got nothing to do with it.”

For the record, Shinichi and I were whispering so Hayasaka-san  wouldn’t overhear us.

“You’ve already got a girlfriend, and now you’re trying to become even more of a heartbreaker?”

“Ah… about that…”

“Hm?”

“The truth is, Chifuyu  dumped me yesterday.”

“D-Dumped?!”

Shinichi’s  voice echoed throughout the classroom.

A hush fell over the room, which had just been filled with chatter. Of course, some people love hearing that someone got dumped, so I guess it was to be expected, but…

—!

Thump.

Hayasaka-san, who had been face down on her desk, shot up.

Her eyes were wide with surprise. I never knew that Hayasaka-san —a cool beauty with sharp, monolid eyes—could make such an expression.

She wasn’t just beautiful; she was cute, too.

Hayasaka-san’s  rare awakening drew the attention of the surrounding students. Not just the boys, but the girls, too. They were all captivated by the sight of her surprised face, which they had never seen before.

“…”

Realizing she was the center of attention, Hayasaka-san’s  cheeks flushed slightly as she returned to her usual calm expression.

Then, she fixed her gaze on me.

As if triggered by that, the eyes of every student in the classroom now turned to focus on me. This was, without a doubt, Shinichi’s  fault.

“Wait, did he just say he got dumped?”

“No way, Yamabuki-kun  is single?”

“Tough break, Aki.”

“Hasebe’s  free! Yessss!”

The classroom was flooded with comments about me and Chifuyu. And hey, who was the one who said, “Tough break, Aki?”

I shot a reproachful glare at Shinichi, but…

“My, my, that came out a bit louder than I intended. My apologies.”

He doesn’t look sorry at all.

“It’s over and done with, so it can’t be helped, but…”

“Seems like you’re finished in more ways than one.”

I’ve made up my mind. I’m making Shinichi  buy me ten orange juices later.

Even as I thought that, I remembered that I was still the center of attention for most of the class.

Hayasaka-san  smiled at me. It was a divine smile, one worthy of being described as the smile of a goddess. But wait, why was she smiling?

Is she thinking, “serves you right,” for me getting dumped?

If so, that’s kind of sad.

—Ding-dong, ding-dong.

The chime signaling the start of morning reading time rang.

That brought the students back to their senses, and they began to pull out books onto their desks.

By this time, about thirty-five of the forty students in the class were present.

But unfortunately, there are always those who are late every day…

“Aki, speak of the devil… your rumored ex-girlfriend has arrived.”

Shinichi  whispered from behind me as I opened my book. You know what? Ten orange juices aren’t enough. I’m making him buy me at least eleven.

The sliding door at the back of the classroom opened weakly, and a cute-type beauty walked in.

Her name is Chifuyu Hasebe. My ex-girlfriend, who had just dumped me yesterday.