When I Started Doing Housework For The Cool Beauty In My Class, She Began Asking Me About The Dinner Menu Every Day. - Chapter 7: Moving To New Seats.

Moving To New Seats.

The summer vacation has ended, and the second semester has begun.

That being said, the sweltering heat of summer is still in full force, and just walking to school leaves a faint sheen of sweat on my skin.

Wiping away the sweat with a towel, I entered the classroom. As I greeted some classmates and made my way to my seat, someone suddenly smacked me on the back, nearly making me choke.

“Yo, Minato!”

“Ugh, Takuma. Don’t scare me like that.”

“Ah, my bad, my bad.”

This guy is Saeki Takuma.

We first met when we started high school, and since our seats were next to each other, we quickly became friends. Before long, we were hanging out, eating meals together, and spending a lot of time with each other.

It was Takuma who had planned our summer vacation outings. He’s on the basketball team, but when he had breaks from practice, he’d always invite me to join him. From the beach to festivals, we enjoyed all kinds of summer events together, but…

“Sorry about bailing on you toward the end there.”

“Ah, that? Don’t worry about it. You live alone, so of course, you need to prioritize your daily life. If anything, I probably dragged you around too much.”

“No, it’s my fault for going overboard at the beach stands and festival stalls.”

“That’s true! Minato, you were wolfing down yakisoba and takoyaki like there was no tomorrow. Who would’ve thought someone so skinny could eat so much?”

“Hey, you were eating just as much as I was!”

“Well, yeah, but I burn it off playing basketball, so I need to eat a lot!”

With that, Takuma gave me another series of hearty slaps on the back before sitting in the seat in front of me, turning around to face me.

Even though I had to cancel plans because of my financial situation, he just laughed it off, making sure I wouldn’t feel bad about it. What a good guy.

“By the way… today’s the day for that event, right?”

“Event? What event?”

“Come on, Minato. The start of the second semester after summer break only means one thing. Don’t tell me the heat’s gotten to you, or worse, are you still skipping meals because you’re broke?”

“Stop teasing me! I seriously have no idea what you’re talking about. The opening ceremony? The endurance event where we see how many students the principal’s long-winded speech can send to the nurse’s office?”

“Nope! And don’t say scary stuff like that so casually! I’m talking about the seat shuffle! We’ve been stuck with assigned seats based on our student numbers for the whole first semester, but now we finally get to change. Aren’t you excited?”

“Oh, that? I completely forgot.”

“Geez. Don’t you have someone you want to sit next to? I sure do! The girls in this class are all top-tier… If I get seated next to one of them, it could be the perfect chance to spark a conversation and get closer… You know what I mean!”

Takuma glanced around the classroom, passionately talking about his hopes.

Well, I can understand what he’s getting at. It’s true that the girls in our class are known for being exceptionally pretty. It’s something even students from other classes envy us for.

Any guy would dream of getting seated next to one of them and, if luck permits, growing closer.

Takuma’s no exception. He seems to have some serious aspirations about this seat shuffle.

He’s naturally good at socializing, so even without being seated next to someone, he could easily strike up a conversation and make friends. But the spot next to someone does hold a special significance.

Once the seating is decided, it usually stays that way for the entire semester unless something extraordinary happens.

“That’s why I’m going to stockpile my good fortune! By racking up some good deeds, I’ll secure a seat next to one of the cute girls…!”

“O-oh… Good luck with that?”

The opening ceremony is about to start, and once that’s over, we’ll have to submit our assignments, attend guidance sessions, and then move straight to the seat shuffle.

I can’t help but think it’s a bit late to start accumulating good deeds now, but since he’s so enthusiastic about it, I’ll let him have his moment without pointing that out.

***

“The principal’s speech was so long! I really thought your prediction about students dropping like flies was going to come true…”

“Yeah, gathering the whole school like that in this heat felt like a sauna. He could’ve kept it short, considering how hot it still is.”

The opening ceremony finally ended, and we returned to our classroom. But judging by everyone’s sluggish expressions, the principal’s endless speech had taken its toll. Thanks to the vice principal’s timely intervention, no one ended up in the nurse’s office. Still, the thought that even a few more minutes might’ve caused students to faint is unnerving.

Summer + an entire school packed into the gymnasium = sauna. It’s a simple equation, and yet they still dragged it on.

“But hey, after surviving that ordeal, it’s time for the reward. Seat shuffle! Can’t wait!”

“Who do you want to sit next to, Takuma?”

“Are you kidding? We’ve got the best lineup in this class. There’s the ‘Class Idol’ Hiori, the ‘Angel’ Hanekawa, and the ‘Little Devil’ Hanai—all top-tier popular girls. The level here is insane. How could I even choose?”

“Ah, I see. Sounds exactly like you.”

“Hey, don’t act so indifferent! They’re all adorable!”

“I’m not denying it.”

Takuma’s choices are undeniably the most talked-about girls in the school. They’re not only beautiful but have been the center of attention since the first semester.

“Seriously, this class is packed with good-looking people. Even you, Minato. You make the rest of us look plain!”

“Nah, you’re the good-looking one, Takuma.”

“Wait, for real? You think the girl next to me might fall for me?”

“…Yeah, totally. You’ve got the looks and the charm. Don’t worry about it.”

Takuma wasn’t wrong—the boys in our class are just as attractive as the girls. Rumor has it there’s even a “Top Handsome Freshmen” ranking circulating among the girls, and I’m sure Takuma is up there.

Just as Takuma was finishing his passionate lecture about the girls, our homeroom teacher arrived. They swiftly collected assignments and conducted guidance sessions, clearly aware of how eager everyone was for the seat shuffle.

Take notes, principal.

“Alright, line up by attendance number and come draw your lot!”

The seat shuffle was done by lottery. Each lot had a number corresponding to a seat based on the current seating arrangement. For example, drawing #1 meant sitting in the front-left seat, #2 would be right behind that, and so on.

After everyone drew their lots, it was time to open them.

Takuma opened his with the intensity of someone betting their entire life on the outcome. Meanwhile, I casually checked mine—I wasn’t too invested in the results.

Number 6.

The back-left corner.

That’s a jackpot in my book.

“Minato, where’d you end up?”

“I got number 6. What about you, Takuma?”

“I’m right in the center of the front row! Number 19!”

“Looks like we’re not sitting next to each other then.”

“What, you’re gonna miss me? Don’t worry, I’ll come talk to you during breaks.”

“Alright, I’ll be waiting.”

I ended up far from Takuma, who had always been close by during the first semester. But since we’re still in the same class, it’s not like we can’t talk whenever we want. Takuma is at the front, while I’m at the back. Now, I’ll wait to see who my new seatmate for the semester will be… and it looks like Takuma’s next to Hiori. That’s the girl he’s been eyeing.

I get it, you’re happy—no need to send me a peace sign.

Now, my new seatmate is…

“Um, nice to meet you… Shirayanagi-kun.”

She wasn’t mentioned in Takuma’s excitement, but she’s one of those quietly popular girls in the class, known for being cool and mysterious.

But, I recently learned something that shattered that image. Turns out, she’s a bit of a mess.

“Yeah, nice to meet you too… Fujisaki.”

My new neighbor is Fujisaki Kanon.