"I apologize for ignoring you Natsukawa... I zoned out for a little" Ayanokōji apologized to the brunette, promptly illiciting the girl to huff.
"So you were ignoring me! ~hmpf~ actually it's better if you do that from now on. You're a bother." Not waiting for his response the girl snapped her head to the opposite direction marching towards the school building.
"...."
'I wonder how my predecessor put up with this?' Ayanokōji thought to himself. He had already stilled himself to limiting contact with the explosive girl. He personally couldn't bring himself to continue the degrading legacy this body had left behind.
Letting out a soft exhale he scratched the back of his head lightly before picking up his bag off the floor and heading in the direction of the school building.
'New beginnings....for better or worse.'
◆
Taking a look around the school building as he walked, Ayanokōji unintentionally drew comparisons of it to the only other school he had attended, that being Kōdo Ikusei He noted the lack of surveillance throughout the halls as well as the surprising silence it held.
Though he should accredit the halls being silent due to the fact he classes should have already started and he was late.
...come to think of it he should probably hurry shouldn't he?
~Sigh...
"Late again are we Sajō-kun?" A dark haired buxum figure called out as soon as he opened the classroom door.
"Sorry, it won't happen again." Ayanokōji bowed slightly.
Perhaps already used to the brown haired boy's prior antics the teacher let out a sigh before replying. "Is it because you keep chasing Natsukawa-san's ass... ara? Natsukawa-san is already here? How rare, did something happen?"
"No, nothing in particular. I was simply late."
"Really? Then simply... don't be late to my class!" she reeled back her hand that held her binder and swung down in an attempt to strike the boy; however....
~Fwip~
Ayanokōji lazily raised his hand and caught it before the impact could hit his head causing her eyes to widen slightly.
"You— You should've just accepted your punishment like a good little Sajō-kun! ~sigh Whatever.. just go take your seat."
The class chuckled at their interaction.. bypassing her peculiar phrasing.
Walking towards his seat ignoring the teasing and prodding of his classmates his gaze fell upon Natsukawa. This caused the girl to turn away her head in an exaggerated manner, he wondered if that was because she was still upset about their earlier 'argument'.
Not bothering to think about it anymore he took his seat and faced front, directing his half hearted attention towards the teacher.
◆
Ayanokōji Kiyotaka was currently in deep contemplation. While at Kōdo Ikusei he'd played the fool in an attempt at a quiet life— making moves from the shadows only when absolutely necessary to avoid drawing attention to himself.
Whether he had done it because he truly wanted a quiet life or because he wanted to delay the trail of his father was unknown even to himself. But granted his precarious situation of current he couldn't help thinking that he has no such restrictions now.
The average student's grades only offered so many opportunities, and with the threat of returning to the whiteroom disappearing for once in his life he actually had to consider his future.
As a free person he'd have all the time to experience average while at school and college, so there'd be no point in trapping himself in mediocrity for the rest of his life just to have a peaceful school life.
Besides, he'd already experienced a full year of that before arriving in this world.
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"Hey you— did you actually get hurt?" After the morning classes ended Natsukawa walked over to his desk.
"No, I'm alright."
She gave him a slow elevator look scanning his body for any visible injuries before snapping her head to the side with a harrumph.
"Hmph. Well since you're fine this time I suppose you should let this be a lesson." She chastised aggressively before walking towards the door. Unfortunately Ayanokōji had to relieve his bowels so he got up and headed to the door too. 'Coincidences can be freaky.'
"Hey! Don't follow me!" the girl snapped at him.
Tilting his head slightly Ayanokōji replied. "Follow you? Ah.. no, I just want to go to the restroom."
"Eh— Eeh!?" She froze in place.
While he did understand that the original Sajō had followed her relentlessly, it wasn't as though he had NOTHING else to do.
Sensing the awkward atmosphere and realizing that she had misunderstood him, her face turned crimson as she regretfully glared at the boy.
"Then say so sooner!"
He mentally sighed. 'Such a loud woman.' Not wanting the awkward exchange to continue any longer he swiftly replied. "Okay then." before continuing on his way.
While his behavior was drastically different from the Sajō Wataru of the past...if a man suddenly declared "I'm going to the toilet" to a woman.... She would be troubled about how to react, right?
◆
Just as he entered the bathroom Ayanokōji was ambushed by Yamazaki and several other of his classmates.
Clamping his hand down on his shoulder with a tense expression, Yamazaki asked in a hushed voice. "───Oi, oi, what happened between you two?"
Ayanokōji cocked his eyebrow. "Between you two you mean— are you talking about me and Natsukawa?"
Hearing his words Yamazaki's expression twisted as if he ate something sour "Bro when did you start calling her by her last name again!? Are you giving up or somethin—"
"Yes." he abruptly replied, cutting the boy off. He gently gripped the hand on his shoulder and repositioned it to the owner's side. "I am giving up."
In an instant all the chatter in the bathroom died down and all faces turned to their direction. If a pin dropped in the room right now one would probably hear it clearly.
"""WHAT/HUH!!?"""
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Author note: Heres a taste of what the rewrite is like. More chapters someday, when... who knows. Lmk if i messed up spelling or anything