Chapter 1: The End of the Everyday

Chapter 1: The End of the Everyday

Chapter 1:

The End of the Everyday

I ARRIVED AT THE SCHOOL BUILDING a little earlier than usual, trying to suppress a faint feeling of elation. I made my way up the steps I still wasn’t used to climbing and arrived at the floor lined with third-year classrooms. My gaze fell upon my new classroom, which featured a plate with “Class 3-A” engraved on it. I stopped and stared intently, noting how beautifully polished it was.

“I’ve finally made it…” I remarked aloud.

Although the feeling hadn’t fully settled in yet, I knew very well that I wasn’t dreaming. I made it from Class 1-D to Class 3-A. Although there were plenty of fun and joyful times, there were also painful experiences that I couldn’t forget either. The road to this point had been anything but smooth.

Yamauchi-kun, Sakura-san, and Maezono-san. It was a road built on the sacrifices of those who had left the class. That much couldn’t be forgotten. When I thought back on it, I realized that I didn’t have any clear goals when I first came to this school—I simply wanted to follow in my brother’s footsteps. However, my brother kept his distance from me, as always, and he coldly cast me aside every day. Even so, in continuing my school days here, I was able to come to know my brother’s true feelings. I was taught that it wasn’t okay to deny my own potential to just continue chasing after my brother.

I’m now part of the student council, and I’m even giving the congratulatory address at the opening ceremony of the school term. I’m walking an unbelievable path. And I can’t forget that Ayanokouji-kun was a big part of making that path possible. If he hadn’t been in my class, I’m sure that I wouldn’t be where I am now. I would’ve been more immature, more petulant, and unable to get close to anyone. Sure, there were times when I was annoyed by his attitude, and times where I couldn’t tell what he was thinking, but that’s all amusing to me now.

From that day onward, I made it my goal to graduate from Class A—not for my brother or for myself, but to share that joy with everyone in the class, including Ayanokouji-kun. That would be my ultimate goal for Class A, to reach a place that I could never have reached with my own strength alone.

I must not let myself get conceited.

Right now, the path to the top has only just been cleared. There was still one more year of school left. Ryuuen-kun’s class was right on our tail. Even though they were a little far away, Ichinose’s class and Sakayanagi’s former class couldn’t be made light of either. They would probably try to catch up and overtake us in the future, no matter the means. We, on the other hand, must fight to keep ahead of them and not let them catch up to us.

After taking a breath, I averted my gaze from the plate. That’s enough rejoicing for the time being. Let me get my mind back on track and renew my focus . As that thought went through my mind, I walked through the doorway to the classroom. Once inside, I noted that there was a large monitor instead of a blackboard, and our pre-assigned seating was displayed on it.

“Let’s see, my seat is…”

I was in the fourth seat from the front, in the second row from the hallway side. That was my seat for my first day in Class 3-A. And next to that seat was the fourth seat from the front, in the first row. Ayanokouji’s name was listed there.

“Can’t believe I’m sitting next to him again… Heh,” I chuckled.

Though our actual seating positions were quite different back then, we were seated next to one another two years ago as well. Even if there were a seating assignment change in the near future, it wasn’t like I hated coincidences like this. I sat down in my seat, feeling a little amused. Since it was still early in the day, Ayanokouji-kun hadn’t made an appearance yet. I wanted to hear his thoughts on this seating arrangement as soon as I could.

I gazed out the window opposite the door.

The view looked a little different from when we were first-years and second-years.

One more year.

Only one more year and this school life would come to an end.

When that time came, I wanted to graduate from Class A with this class, with these allies.

I wasn’t going to let this end as a dream.

I absolutely…needed to make this a reality.