you’re screwed, bubby

I was typing my excuse to fend off any questions, when I got a short text from Mana, followed by a ton of demon and X emoji.

Ugh… I’m not getting out of this one. They’re gonna take away my food!

Fushimi and I arrived “fashionably late” just in time for the second afternoon class: English. Being that our homeroom teacher was in charge of that one, she called us out on it.

She didn’t question Fushimi too much, but she had me pegged as a continuous offender.

“Takamori, you’re late? When did you get here?”

“Um, just now…”

“Well, it’s no skin off my nose whether you call in or not. You’re the one getting in trouble,” she replied sardonically, then started class with a broad smile.

I knew what she meant; I could feel it in my soul. I was in trouble.

Fushimi scooted her desk right beside mine. She flashed her princessly smile. “I forgot my textbook… Can I see yours?”

“Sure.”

But I had seen it.

I saw you take your English textbook out, act like you just had an idea, and put it away again.

“Good thing you brought yours, huh?” She was lying with a straight face. Zero shame.

…You were right. You are turning into a delinquent.

I put my textbook in between both of us, then decided to take whatever notes I needed while I was writing my apology letter for Mana.

“What’s wrong?”

“I might actually starve, so…” After hitting send, I received a reply in a matter of seconds.

im not the one you should be apologizing to

Right. Nothing for it but to beg forgiveness from Mom.

I was thinking about what to tell her when…

“Takamori, can you tell me what word goes here?” the teacher asked.

Agh, she’s looking at me?!

“Um, well…”

Crap, I wasn’t paying any attention! …And that’s why she chose me, isn’t it?!

The teacher smiled devilishly. She was reveling in my suffering, making an example of me for the rest of her students. This is what happens to naughty kids who don’t pay attention.

I stared at the blackboard, then at my textbook, but I had no idea.

Then Fushimi tapped her desk and scribbled something down in my blank notebook.

what

I glanced at her, and she nodded.

“What, ma’am.”

It seemed my answer was right. The teacher shot me a dull glare, like she’d found some broken toy. She was not amused.

“…Yes. In this English sentence, you…”

Class resumed, and I gave a sigh of relief.

Thanks

You’re welcome. Fushimi was grinning ear to ear. Be more careful from now on, okay?

OK

Waka’s got the eyes of a hawk.

Waka was the nickname for our teacher, Miss Wakatabe.

Yeah, I can see.

She was also calling out everyone else not paying attention—people dozing off, people chatting with their neighbors, people daydreaming. This had been the case since the year before. You could never lower your guard during her class.

After the lesson, we were handed review tests.

Eh, these don’t really matter. I’ll just fill it out with whatever.

Then Fushimi leaned toward my desk.

A pleasant aroma tickled my nose every time she moved, being so close.

“Let’s see, this one is…”

“C-c’mon—it’s fine.”

“Huh? But…this should be easy. Just look at the textbook.”

Wait, really?

“Look—it’s here. As you can see in this sentence…”

Fushimi thoroughly explained how to answer.

We’re taking the same class… How can she get this stuff so much better than me?

And we had been taking all the same classes even before now, so when exactly did I go wrong?

“There. You should be able to solve it now.”

“You’re really smart, huh, Fushimi?”

“Hee-hee. I know, right? Please go on. Praise me more,” she said with a bashful smile.

“Listen up, everyone. After this, we have homeroom, where we’ll appoint our committee members, okay? We’re the only class that hasn’t done it yet, so I’m not letting any of you go home until it’s done!” The teacher gave the last announcement before leaving at the end of the class.

We’d taken some time for that the day before, but we hadn’t reached an agreement.

Aside from the class reps, we had to choose members for cleaning, library, health, and all sorts of other committees. Half the class had to participate somewhere.

That last part was the problem—no one wanted to do any of it. We’d drawn lots the year before.

“Ryou, are you joining a committee?”

“I don’t want to, if I can avoid it.”

“Figures,” she replied.

The prettiest girl at school moved her desk back to its place and was instantly surrounded by a crowd of other girls. They chatted about the committees, why she arrived late, and lots of other stuff.

Oh, the trials of being popular.

When the bell rang again, the teacher came back and started writing down each committee’s name on the blackboard.

We had to choose one boy and one girl for each.

The teacher sat down on her folding chair, with the backrest in front of her.

“So how did you choose last year? Drawing lots? See, I believe lots aren’t dramatic enough…”

Dramatic? What? What are you talking about?

Probably everyone else thought the same.

“Agreed. Dramatism…is important.”

Except for my childhood friend.

I’m pretty sure everyone wants to just be done with it and leave already, though.

“Let’s start with class representatives. Anyone can apply for themselves or nominate someone else!”

Ryou, want to join one together?

What if Fushimi nominated me for class rep?

After further consideration, I didn’t particularly mind. I wasn’t so opposed to joining a committee that I’d turn down someone else’s nomination.

“…Okay, then.” I slightly raised my hand, to which the teacher reacted with obvious shock.

“O-ohhh! Now that’s a surprise! The prince of truants! Who would’ve thought?!”

The prince of truants? Well…you’re not wrong.

“Not like I have much motivation, but if you don’t mind…”

“Accepted! Everyone, give him a round of applause,” the teacher said cheerfully while kick-starting the clapping. Some of my classmates followed.

“Ryou, I didn’t expect you to go for class rep.”

“Someone’s gotta do it, and I figured it might as well be me.”

Fushimi blinked in amazement, then nodded with determination.

“Okay, now for a girl. Who will be the other class rep?”

The classroom had been in complete silence until then. The balance was now broken, and unrest spread among everyone.

“Takamori as the class rep… What an unexpected twist. Now this is what I call dramatic!” Our thirtysomething teacher nodded in satisfaction.

“Me!”

“Me.”

Just as Fushimi raised her hand, someone else spoke up.

“Wow… Fushimi and Torigoe…”

Huh? Torigoe?

“Torigoe?” Fushimi turned around to face the seat behind her, and so did I.

My lunchmate had her hand raised, her face calm.