Chapter 3: CH 3

Premonition

After the morning classes, the students who usually purchased lunch at the cafeteria already knew about the severity of the competition, so they dashed out of the classroom as soon as the bell rang.

As for me, two of the students I was supposed to have lunch with wanted to go to the cafeteria, so I came to see what the legendary competition was about. I heard that about half of the students in our high school used the cafeteria, so it was pretty crowded.

“This is Hekiou’s famous chicken fried rice bowl – limited to only 20 servings a day. It’s surprising how many people are ordering it.”

“I think they’re just being nice to the freshmen. I mean, the upperclassmen didn’t ask for it anyway.”

Takadera was the hungry, pointy-headed one, and Ogishima was the small, good-looking one. All three of us went to different junior high schools, but on the first day of school, we somehow got along with each other and ate lunch together.

“Senda, where do you want to sit?”

“How about this seat?”

“Oh, that’s nice.”

I didn’t feel comfortable sitting in the center of the large cafeteria, so I sat down at one of the tables near the window.

When I was about to start eating, Takadera and Ogishima both looked at me with a serious look on their faces.

“What’s with the look…?”

“I didn’t want to ask last week because we just met, but Ogishima said he was curious.”

“You were the one who said you couldn’t sleep because you were worried about him. Don’t put the blame on me.”

“Oh …… you’re still curious about that ……”

Just the thought of saying her name made my heart feel fuzzy. I hadn’t been able to change my mind at all yet.

“We’re talking about the fact that Asatani-san and you went to the same junior high school.”

“No, we live in different worlds, you know. Somehow we just got along this morning.”

A cold sweat ran down my back as I realized that I was being watched. I felt too bitter to honestly say that I was dumped, so I wanted to get through this without mentioning any of that.

“It’s the same in my class, but I get curious when I think that there are real celebrities here.”

“Oh, yeah, I can see that. I’ve already ego-searched Noarin’s other names several times.”

“I’ve also been ego-surfing under the name ‘Noarin’ a few times now. Well, …. ‘Noarin’ doesn’t seem to be her favorite.”

“Seriously? That’s quite a shock to the fans. Then what should I call her from now on?”

“Takadera, you’re an idol otaku, right? You said you were a fan of another celebrity.”

“I’ve been a fan for a long time. A fan is a fan at any time, even a second ago. It doesn’t matter how many people he’s a fan of.”

Judging from what he says on social media, Takadera was quite fond of idols. He never mentioned online that he was in the same class as Kiritani Noa so we could be rest assured.

She tended to be treated as an idol on the Internet, but Asatani-san herself didn’t seem too happy to be seen as such. It would be better to tell Takadera about it in the future.

“If I were Senda, I’d be thinking that I’d have some kind of chance just because we went to the same high school. You’re so lucky to be sitting next to her.”

He said something that made me almost choke up. But it was my fault for not being able to tell him the situation, no offense to Takadera.

“Well, we’re just ordinary people in the same class.”

“Wow, you’re talking cold all of a sudden. I think I finally understand why Takadera got into our school.”

“I forgot most of what I crammed into my exams over spring break. I’m counting on you two, in more ways than one.”

“No, you work hard too.”

“Oh, you’re the type of person who makes sharp comments, aren’t you? Two talkers and a comedian is a good balance.”

“What are you talking about?…..Enough!”

When I played the role of a tsukkomi, they seemed to be enjoying themselves. They had been quiet last week, but now they seemed to be showing their true colors.

(*tsukkomi basically means the role of the straight man/sensible person)

“Hmm…”

The topic of the conversation between Takadera and Ogishima had shifted to game, but I couldn’t help but turn my attention to the table behind me when I overheard them talking.

“What’s up with that? I thought Nozomi Takane was going to join our club?”

“No, she said she wanted to concentrate on her studies in high school.”

“Then, have the kids from North Junior High recruit her. There are some girls in the second year, right?”

“Oh, that sounds good. I’ll let them know.”

Two upperclassmen from the tennis club were talking about recruiting Takane-san.

When she introduced herself, she didn’t say that she used to play tennis. I wondered if that was because she didn’t want to continue playing tennis in high school.

The upperclassmen were not in a good mood, as you could see, and that was apparent to Takadera and Ogishima, who lowered the volume of their voices and spoke.

“Hey, aren’t they a little rude over there?”

“It’s the boys from the tennis club. Some of them are a little scary.”

The first month of school was a period for choosing club activities and Ogishima was doing a lot of research. So he must have heard about the tennis club.

The two of them continued to talk. Even if I didn’t try to listen, I couldn’t help but hear what they were saying in the commotion of the cafeteria.

“This morning she was acting like a bit of a jerk. She just strolled off.”

“I’ll talk to her on my way home today.”

“Oh, really? I’ll go with you. I want revenge.”

“Don’t say ‘revenge’. You’ll scare her.”

The upperclassmen left their seats – I could see them walking away, and they both seemed to be in second year.

Takane-san did stand out from the rest of the first years. Even so, the fact that she was being recruited for club activities like that seemed like overkill to me.

Besides, I had a bad feeling about this. I wondered if the reason why they wanted Takane-san in the women’s tennis club was because those boys just wanted to have contact with her.

“Hey, what’s up? Are you okay? Want some fried chicken?”

“It’s tough for Takane-san, having to be recruited like that. I mean, they’ve definitely got ulterior motives.”

“……You think so too?”

“Hey, I didn’t hear you very well. I feel like I’m being left out…”

It was very difficult to say that Takane-san, who was in the same class as me, might be in trouble when you look at the peaceful face of Takadera.

After I returned to the classroom, Asatani-san gave me back my notebook before the class started.

“Nagi-kun, here. It was really easy to understand.”

“Ahh… Thanks.”

“What are you thanking me for? I’m the one who should be thanking you.”

Asatani-san smiled happily. I felt like she was looking at the notebook I had just received, but it was probably my imagination.

Class time was flying quick. The time when I could sit next to Asatani-san was coming to an end.

It was the end of fifth period. Then came the end of sixth period, and finally time for homeroom. The teacher came into the classroom with a lottery box for changing seats.

“Two students said they wanted the seats in the front. If other students draw those seats, we’ll have to redraw the lottery again. Let’s start the lottery from that row over there”

One by one, we drew lots and our names were written on the seating chart drawn on the blackboard.

I was in the back of the second row by the window. Asatani-san was seated in the front of the hallway – a seat much farther than before.

Takadera and Ogishima were also sitting in the front. There was also one other person in class that I knew, but he also sat far from me.

The second from last to draw the lottery was Takane-san. She unfolded the lottery and looked at it. She then told the teacher her number and looked at me.

“………….”

I was looking at her too, so our eyes met – but it was only for a moment. She sat down diagonally to my left, as if nothing had happened.

The sunlight streaming in through the window made Takane-san’s hair, which was long enough to reach her back, shine. The light seemed to flow, making me think that her back view alone would make a beautiful picture.

We were in the same class, but there was a clear and obvious gap between us. There were two such people who gave this kind of feel in this class.

The girl sitting to my left is Watanabe-san, who I believed was in the same group as Asatani-san.

The three people I knew, excluding Asatani-san, came over to me and said that they were jealous and wanted to switch with me.

“This is how everyone’s seats will be assigned. If you really want to change your seat, please come and talk to me. I’m still thinking about whether or not I should set up a class social networking group for consultation and communication concerning such matters. Everyone, be careful on your way home.”

Without any further greetings, the class disbanded. Takadera and Ogishima had already decided on their club activities, so they would be going on their own after school.

I had no intention of joining any club activities at the moment. I was in the reading club until junior high school, and on the days I wasn’t in the club, I went to the gym of a friend who I’ve known since I was a kid, where he taught me some martial arts.

I hadn’t been to the gym since I entered high school, so I wanted to go work out sometime soon. Today, however, there was one place I really wanted to go. The bookstore in front of the station.

“Asatani-san, you’re going to visit the theater club, right?”

“We’re going to see the light music club. Why don’t you go with us after visiting the theater club?”

“Sure, I’m interested in both of them, but I might not be able to do much club activities, so I’ll probably just observe. Is that all right?”

“Oh, I see. You have a job after school on weekdays, right?”

Asatani-san and the others left the classroom. After that, another group of girls gathered at Takane-san’s place.

“Takane-san, do you have any plans after school?”

“We thought we’d go somewhere to have tea and study before going home. We can concentrate better that way than at home.”

“I’m sorry, but I have to study at home today. Please invite me again next time.”

Takane-san apologized, and the girls left, though they seemed to be regretting their decision.

“Oh, um, …….”

It was Watanabe-san, part of Asatani-san’s group but she stayed behind. She tried to talk to Takane-san but her voice was so quiet that Takane-san didn’t hear her and just walked out.

“Oh…… I’m sorry. I think I should go home too.”

Perhaps thinking that I had seen her, Watanabe-san apologized awkwardly and quickly walked out.

It was not good to make assumptions, but I could kind of guess from the situation. If Watanabe-san had something to say to Takane-san, it would probably be about her seat. There was quite a height difference between Takane-san, who was tall, and Watanabe-san, who was on the smaller side of the class. It might be difficult to see the blackboard from behind Takane-san’s back.

However, it would be awkward to ask Takane-san to switch seats. There were many girls who were concerned about their height. Although I was sure there were just as many girls who wanted to grow taller too.

It was not my place to meddle, and I felt bad for Watanabe-san if I was being honest, so there was nothing special I could do then.

However, as much as I had bad premonitions, my ‘hunches’ often came true. I was so good at observing people that I could say that I was a Chuunibyou.

(*Chuunibyou means middle school syndrome)

The train station was a short walk from the school, and the area in front of the station was often used as a place for students to stop by on their way home and hang out.

Today I came to the bookstore because there was a book I wanted to buy. Not a fashion magazine with Asatani-san as a model – but a new manga and a paperback novel.

It was the first time for me to buy something like that in my high school uniform, so I quickly finished my shopping. I found what I was looking for, and was about to take it to the cashier but I knew I couldn’t ignore it once I spotted it, so I approached the fashion magazine section.

(Ahh… There’s a customer ahead of me. I’ll have to shift my timing. …… No, wait. Those two are ……)

I couldn’t help but hide from them, but there were two boys who were wearing the same school uniform that were quite worn out. They were the ones who were talking about Takane-san in the school cafeteria.

“It’s really listed. Amazing.”

“We’re really blessed this year to have two girls of this caliber.”

“If I can get in touch with Kiritani Noa, maybe she’ll introduce me to some celebrities.”

“They’ve got their guard up though… If Nozomi Takane goes well, maybe so would Kiritani Noa?”

“Let’s hope so. Oh my God, I’m so excited.”

If I hadn’t heard what they said earlier at lunch today, I wouldn’t have stopped to pay attention to those two there.

However, I was also pretty sure that I was going to buy the magazine out of curiosity, just because Asatani-san was in it.

I said it was because I was a fan and I wanted to support her… But I was just using that as an excuse to disguise the kind of interest I had in her. I was just fascinated by her and wanted to know as much as I could about her.

“…… Oh, the mission went well.”

“Nozomi Takane is coming? I guess you can’t be rude to a female senior after all, Nozomi-chan.”

(…….)

“You’re making a really wicked face. Let’s go.”

The two boys put the magazines back in a mess and walked out of the store.

I rearranged the magazine neatly – the disgusting feeling remained, and my heartbeat continued to quicken.

“Thank you.”

“Oh……”

The clerk, who had been watching me rearrange the books, bowed to me and thanked me.

‘Let me know if you get a new girlfriend, okay?’

–I didn’t know why I just remembered that.

Even back then, I felt that Asatani-san was different from usual, but I was too afraid to ask her because I was afraid that she would just say it was my imagination.

But was it really the right thing to do?

Would I be satisfied if I made the safe choice, convinced myself that it was the right one, and avoided making a ruckus?

I was aware of it but I didn’t do anything. It was only afterwards that I thought if I had acted then, something might have changed.

It was just a foolish way to comfort myself that I wasn’t wrong.