The classrooms for Class A and Class B were as noisy as ever. Strangely, however, it was quiet in front of my own classroom, Class C. Peering inside from the hallway, I could see that most of my classmates had already arrived.
In the center of the room, I spotted an unfamiliar back standing with arms crossed. I didn’t recognize the person immediately, but I did have a memory of that long ponytail from quite recently. Standing beside her was another figure—a smaller, animal-like back.
"Alright, Ashida. Don't worry about me, you go on ahead."
"No way! Stop trying to force a reckless task on me by pretending it’s 'ladies first'!"
"Then, Natsuka—"
"Excuse me?"
"Ah... s-sorry..."
Faced with Natsukawa, whose eyes were telling me to just hurry up and drop dead (my own broad interpretation), I couldn't remain assertive. I am your dog, my lady; please, give me whatever orders you wish.
However, as I stood there hesitating, my eyes met perfectly with the senior standing in the middle of the classroom. There was no escaping now. She marched straight toward us in the hallway and slid open the window in front of me.
"Hello. I didn't think you'd show up until the morning assembly."
"G-Good morning... Shinomiya-senpai."
"Yes, good morning... 'Yamazaki'-kun."
Ex-posed.
"Man, I was surprised. When Yuyu and I went around the first-year classrooms looking for you, we only found one male student with the surname 'Yamazaki.' After asking around, it turns out there's really only one Yamazaki in this entire grade."
"No, Senpai, you've misunderstood. He really does exist. There's another one in this grade—the Phantom Yamazaki—"
"Sajou-kun."
"Ah, yes."
"I'll be waiting for you at the same place as yesterday during lunch break."
"Yes."
With a thin smile, Shinomiya-senpai walked past me. Inatomi-senpai followed behind her, her red ribbon swaying. she looked at me with an incredibly apologetic expression, but in the end, we didn't exchange a single word.
Peeking into the classroom, I saw the real Yamazaki wearing an expression of pure rage.
"Sajou, you bastard! You used my name!"
"Yamazaki..."
"Aah!? What!?"
"Was Shinomiya-senpai... not your type?"
"Huh...? Well, I mean... she is my type, I guess..."
"Did you... get to talk to her?"
"Yeah, but..."
"Good for you, Yamazaki."
"...Yeah."
Deftly silencing Yamazaki with some smooth talking, I quietly took my seat. Natsukawa looked at me as if she wanted to say something, but perhaps she was already exhausted from the morning, as she abruptly looked away and headed to her own desk. In contrast, the girl right next to me was directing a gaze so intense it felt like it was burning me.
"Hey, Sajocchi! What do you mean, being sought out by Shinomiya-sama...!?"
"A lot happened and she asked for my name... I had a hunch that being remembered by the Disciplinary Committee President would be a hassle, so I reflexively told a lie..."
"You idiot! To think you'd waste special favor like that, Sajocchi...!"
"What are you even talking about..."
Disciplinary Committee President, Shinomiya Rin. Due to her "cool beauty" demeanor, she was popular among both boys and girls, and it seemed the girls in particular treated her like a prince. Apparently, Shinomiya-senpai was a prince-like figure to Ashida as well. Ridiculous. One idol, Natsukawa Aika, is more than enough. Take note.
"Oh? Come to think of it, did you come here with Aichi...?"
"No, we just ran into each other in the hallway."
"Hmm, I see."
I stole a glance at Natsukawa, who was sitting further away. She was leaning her cheek on her hand, looking slumped and exhausted. Good, she's cute. Also, sorry about my sisters.
Come to think of it, just as Ashida had said, I rarely saw Natsukawa chatting happily with students other than me or Ashida. Looking around, there seemed to be students who wanted to talk to her, casting glances her way... Since I wasn't near her right now, time would likely solve that.
"A pizza bun...?"
"They were selling them at the school store."
"You... you really don't intend to apologize, do you...?"
"No, no, I bought two. Do you know what that means? Please, have one."
"As you can see, Yuyu is right here next to me."
"Then please, have this spare triangle chocolate pie."
"A spare."
The Student Guidance Room. Right from the start, Shinomiya-senpai directed an exasperated look at me. Being stared at like that in this cramped room made me feel like I was going to turn into Ashida. Beside her, Inatomi-senpai was looking at me with eyes full of bewilderment. At the very least, she didn't seem to view me as a normal human being.
After I pushed the snacks toward them, Shinomiya-senpai let out a sigh and pointed to the seat opposite her.
"Fine. Sit down."
"Understood."
"You don't have to be that formal... but whatever."
I sat down to face them. Being confronted by two seniors like this made me feel like I was undergoing a job interview. A certain level of tension hung in the air.
"Now then, 'Sajou.' Why did you lie?"
So she was saying I couldn't escape anymore. I thought as much. But it was fine; Senpai had a straightforward personality, so I could predict what she'd say. That's why I dared to speak my true feelings.
"I had a feeling that being remembered by the Disciplinary Committee President would be nothing but a hassle, so I reflexively gave her a classmate's name."
"What...!? W-Well, honesty is a virtue. However, that means you pushed the trouble onto your classmate."
"Yamazaki was happy about it."
"I-I see... No, I don't get it! Why is it that some students hate it and others are happy about it!"
Was she asking me to explain that in detail? I thought that was actually a pretty embarrassing story for Yamazaki... but oh well. No matter how it turned out, I could only see a future where Yamazaki was happy.
As I was thinking, Inatomi-senpai, who was sitting next to Shinomiya-senpai, nodded as if she understood perfectly.
"It looks like Inatomi-senpai understands."
"H-Hyah...!? U-Um...!"
"Hey, don't scare Yuyu."
"I am truly sorry."
"Wait, it was a joke. Why do you apologize so immediately...?"
It was because being feared by a small-animal-like girl hurt me deeply. In fact, I couldn't feel at peace unless I apologized. I'm sorry for being a guy. But then again, if I were handsome, her reaction would probably be different, right? That was likely the reality.
"U-Um...! How should I put this..."
She was all flustered and cute. I wondered what kind of guy a person like this would end up with in the future. I felt like I should take a running start, punch the guy, and then slap him on the back while telling him he'd better make her happy.
"U-Um... It's just like Sajou-kun said earlier. I think Yamazaki-kun was happy because Rin-san is beautiful."
"What... H-Hey! Don't you start cracking jokes too, Yuyu!"
"I-It's not a joke..."
"...Somehow, I'm sorry, Yamazaki."
Faced with a perfectly accurate analysis, I felt a sense of pity for Yamazaki. Thanks to Shinomiya-senpai not being used to being complimented, I felt like the "manly" aura of Yamazaki that girls usually hated had been glossed over. I didn't actually do anything, though.
"Nngh...! A-Anyway, Sajou. You must not lie to people for reasons like that."
"Right..."
Shinomiya-senpai seemed like one of the "popular crowd" who was admired by many students, so I had selfishly assumed she wouldn't understand the feelings of students who stayed in the corners of the classroom... but seeing how expressive she was, I began to think that might not necessarily be the case.
I prided myself on my own ordinariness. If my way of thinking was close to the average—if many "ordinary" students tended to act similarly to me...
Just as I used a fake name, perhaps Shinomiya-senpai had been subtly avoided until now without her even noticing. Not just because she was the Disciplinary Committee President, but because those who lacked confidence avoided direct contact out of fear of looking inferior to someone so superior. Girls, in particular, seemed to have a strong tendency toward that. In short, her superior looks combined with her dignified attitude had formed a wall, unknowingly pushing people away.
Thinking about it that way, I suddenly felt a surge of sympathy for Shinomiya-senpai. I wondered if she felt lonely too.
"I'll be careful from now on. I'm sorry."
"Umu. See that you are."
"Yes. Then, if you'll excuse me."
"Yeah. If there's another opportunity."
"Yes."
"Eh..."
Phew, I got caught by someone troublesome. While I was grateful to be able to talk to beauties like Shinomiya-senpai and her companion, when she interacted with me as a Disciplinary Committee Member, I felt a pressure that completely ignored her looks. Dealing with people in power was just so much work, regardless of whether they were popular or not.
In the end, a peaceful daily life was best. I intended to devote myself to that, so why was I, who avoided unnecessary contact, in a place like the Student Guidance Room? Using a fake name really was a mistake... Wait? In the first place, how did she find out I used a fake name?
"—W-Wait... please wait...!"
A small, desperate voice called out. It clearly wasn't Shinomiya-senpai's voice, which meant there was only one other person it could be. Realizing I had to stop, I turned around. Oh, she really was cute.
High school girls who wear ribbons are practically an endangered species, aren't they? I have to treasure this. I'll protect her—ah, no, just kidding.
Actually, the Disciplinary Committee itself is an endangered species.