Despite his internal declarations of rebellion against the institution of education, Kuroha Akira's body honestly trudged along the familiar path to school. Such was the inertia of human habit—once you started something, it was surprisingly difficult to stop, even when you'd mentally checked out.
Today, he wasn't late. A small victory.
But the moment he stepped into the classroom, he felt it—a shift in the atmosphere. Eyes tracked him. Conversations paused briefly, then resumed at a lower volume. Yesterday's commotion had fundamentally altered the class dynamics. Kuroha Akira had become a focal point that other students could no longer ignore.
He walked to his seat with practiced indifference, sliding into his chair and turning to greet the boy behind him.
"Morning, Fujiyoshi-kun."
"Ah, good morning, Kuroha-san." Fujiyoshi Michio adjusted his glasses. "You're not late today."
"Yesterday was just an accident..."
Before they could exchange more than two sentences, a familiar voice interrupted with characteristic energy.
"Yo! Akira-kun! And Dofu! Good morning!"
Blond hair bouncing, Sumitomo Ryota bounded over like an overexcited golden retriever. His enthusiasm was almost physically overwhelming this early in the day.
"Morning..." Kuroha Akira responded flatly.
"Mm, good morning, Ryota-kun." Fujiyoshi Michio offered a small wave.
Kuroha Akira watched the interaction with mild exasperation. Sumitomo Ryota seemed to genuinely consider him a friend now, and he'd already bonded with Fujiyoshi Michio enough to use first names.
When had that happened? Yesterday?
Ryota immediately launched into his real reason for approaching.
"Akira-kun, you didn't come to school with Hitomi today?"
"We weren't going the same way anyway." Kuroha Akira shrugged. "Besides, I don't even know where the class president lives."
"Huh?" Ryota's eyes widened. "You don't know that?"
"Why would I need to know that?"
Did this guy remember anything about yesterday's conversation? He and the class president weren't dating. They weren't even particularly close outside of school. The assumption was baffling.
But Ryota hadn't come to interrogate him about relationship status. Instead, he draped an arm familiarly over Kuroha Akira's shoulder, a mischievous grin spreading across his face.
"How about I tell you? Her house is actually near mine. You could come hang out at my place sometime, and then I'll show you where Hitomi lives—"
"Sumitomo-kun."
"Ugh!"
Ryota's body went rigid.
Asato Hitomi had just arrived at school, and the first words to reach her ears upon entering the classroom were apparently about someone revealing her home address.
The route to her seat didn't require passing by Kuroha Akira's desk. She deliberately detoured.
Her smile when she looked at Sumitomo Ryota could only be described as... chilling.
Ryota felt, in that moment, like he was staring into the face of a female demon who ate people whole. The kind that featured in horror legends.
How had he ever had a crush on her?
With the filter of puppy love thoroughly shattered, Sumitomo Ryota was finally experiencing the true Asato Hitomi—including her terrifying, intimidating side.
Ryota-san... you should have realized it long ago. The class monitor was never a gentle, well-behaved girl.
"Uh!" Ryota's voice came out slightly strangled. "Kuroha Akira! I just wanted to say we should team up for today's physical education class! That's all! Well then, I won't bother you anymore! Haha... ha..."
Laughing nervously, he retreated with stiff, wooden steps back to his original friend group, leaving Kuroha Akira alone with the class president.
Asato Hitomi's kind smile transferred seamlessly to him.
"Good morning, Kuroha-kun." Her voice was warm, concerned. "Sumitomo didn't say anything unnecessary, did he?"
Kuroha Akira averted his gaze slightly. "No..."
She shifted her stance, maintaining eye contact with him. "You don't look so good."
"Stayed up too late last night."
"Is that so..." Her eyes narrowed with worry. "Then why don't you take the day off? I can help you talk to Kobayashi-sensei."
"That's not necessary." He shook his head. "I mean—don't worry, class president. I'm fine."
"Are you really fine? If you're not feeling well—"
"I'm really fine. You can rest assured." He offered what he hoped was a reassuring smile. "I'll also attend the Literature Club activity after school as usual."
Shirai Shiori probably wouldn't be happy to see him, but honestly? Even just showing up to annoy her was worthwhile. Petty motivations were still motivations.
"Is that so? That's good." She nodded slowly. "But if you can't hold on, you must tell me immediately. Promise?"
"Mm-hmm. If I really can't, you'll be the first to know, class president!"
Satisfied with this response, Asato Hitomi returned to her seat.
Once she was out of earshot, Fujiyoshi Michio couldn't help but murmur.
"...The class monitor really cares about you, Kuroha-san."
"Yeah..." Kuroha Akira sighed. "But we're really not dating, okay?"
Fujiyoshi offered a wry smile. "I believe you, Kuroha-san. But other classmates might not."
"Well... I can't control that."
Others didn't know that the class monitor valued her friends to an extraordinary degree. Conversely, if they did know, they'd realize Asato Hitomi didn't consider them "true friends."
If that happened, she'd probably end up isolated. The class president's prestige in Class 1, Grade 1 would crumble overnight.
For now, the rumors were at worst a melodramatic love triangle—still within the scope of private relationships. So maybe it was better to let others misunderstand.
The downside: he might be targeted by Sumitomo Ryota's friends. Annoying, but manageable.
He'd already made peace with it. Still, judging by the unfriendly looks from Ryota's circle, they clearly didn't understand why their friend was so friendly to his supposed "love rival." To be honest, Kuroha Akira didn't understand either.
As long as they didn't pull some idiotic stunt like ambushing him after school...
Morning classes began. Kuroha Akira initially planned to work on his novel during lecture, but the side effects of staying up late were catching up with him. His temples throbbed with an unnatural, pulsating discomfort.
He put his head down on the desk.
Sleep refused to come.
The hard wooden surface was no match for the soft comfort of Toshiro-san's chest-pillow. This body also hadn't developed the talent for sleeping in any position—he was too used to actual beds.
New plan: go to the infirmary, sleep through morning classes, then start writing in the afternoon.
Perfect.
First period had barely begun when Kuroha Akira raised his hand high.
"Teacher, I'm not feeling well. May I go to the infirmary?"
"Oh... alright, you may go."
Thanks to yesterday's commotion, every teacher except Kobayashi-sensei had adopted a "better to leave him alone" attitude toward Kuroha Akira. Permission was granted immediately.
He hadn't even reached the back door when he heard the class president's voice.
"Teacher, I'm the class monitor. I'll accompany Kuroha-san to the infirmary."
"Alright, you go too. Just get the teaching notes from me later."
Every teacher trusted Asato Hitomi's character. She was the top student in her grade—outstanding students were popular with faculty everywhere. The teacher likely assumed she was just being a responsible classmate, and even offered her an easy out regarding missed material.
"Thank you."
Then, under the collective gaze of the entire class, Asato Hitomi walked naturally to Kuroha Akira's side and linked her arm through his.
"Shall we go, Kuroha-kun?"
"Oh..."
Well. This definitely deepened the misunderstanding.
Other students would absolutely speculate that the class monitor and he were going to the infirmary to do something... indescribable. That room had a certain reputation.
But Kuroha Akira genuinely just wanted to sleep!
As for the class monitor...
Was she coming to warm his bed? Or to sleep with him?