First Year, Class A.
By the time Sato entered the classroom with Nishimiya Shouko, quite a few students had already arrived.
Maybe it was the excitement of starting high school, or the anticipation of meeting new classmates, most faces in the room were lit with enthusiasm.
At least on the first day of their transition from middle to high school, everyone was smiling.
For those carrying dark memories from middle school, high school symbolized a new beginning and for the chuunibyou types, today marked their "rebirth."
When Sato and Shouko entered, most of the class glanced their way.
Seeing the seemingly close relationship between the two, many eyes changed subtly, then the whispers began, curious murmurs and sidelong glances turning them into gossip fodder.
"Damn normies…"
Sato caught a sour whisper and raised an eyebrow.
Damn normies?!
His expression grew a little strange. Sorry, but I'm actually a total shut-in otaku!
Still, he noticed something.
"You sit here," he said to Shouko, pointing to a seat in the second row. "I'll go to the back."
The room was still scattered with students. In unfamiliar settings, people instinctively keep some distance from others. But humans are social creatures, and these scattered individuals would soon form small groups, cliques and circles.
Sato then pointed to a window seat at the back of the classroom for himself.
Shouko parted her lips slightly, eyes filled with hesitation. She looked at Sato, wanting to speak but holding back.
Then, she pressed her lips together tightly.
Sato chuckled. "Go on, make some new friends."
In unfamiliar places, people are more inclined to approach others who are also alone, rather than intrude on groups that already seem close.
Her mother may have been strict, but she was right. Shouko couldn't rely on others forever. Real social growth requires personal effort and experience.
…
Sato settled into the back row, by the window.
Not because of any silly trope about this being the "main character's seat."
That idea likely came from lazy artists using the same layout repeatedly. Who'd have thought it would turn into an urban legend among otakus?
Sato chose it simply because the view was good.
Through the window, he could see the school's cherry blossoms and, in the distance, shimmering glimpses of the sea.
Looking out at such a view brought a sense of peace.
Propping his elbow on the desk, chin in hand, Sato gazed out the window. His mind drifted back to his time at Asahigaoka.
He hadn't felt the atmosphere of a bustling school in a long while. It was a little disorienting.
Back at Asahigaoka, every day was laid-back and carefree. Mornings were slow, with bus rides to school, even though everyone lived nearby, they still rode out to a school kilometers away.
The school building itself was nearly dilapidated. On rainy days, water would drip from the ceiling onto the wooden corridors, slowly rotting them. If you weren't careful, you'd win the "lottery."
There were only a few students, and even the teacher often napped during class.
In their free time, they'd run wild through the countryside. Hours would pass unnoticed, and before they knew it, another lazy day had gone by.
Spring brought flower viewing, summer was for catching cicadas, autumn meant hiking in the hills, and in winter, they went skiing.
They didn't gain much, except a treasure trove of joyful memories.
…
When Sato returned from his reverie, the classroom was nearly full.
He glanced toward Shouko and saw several girls gathered around her, chatting and laughing.
Though she couldn't speak, she communicated just fine through writing. The girls around her wore expressions of tenderness and compassion, typical of girls' emotional intuition.
While bullying was far from rare in Japanese schools, by high school age it tended to lessen. And being a prestigious institution, Private Mixed High School attracted students with better character.
Turning his gaze back to his surroundings, Sato noticed students had filled the desks in front and behind him.
Oddly, neither of them was interacting with anyone else. Both were propped up like him, gazing out the window in a pensive pose, like statues of "The Thinker."
Sato couldn't help feeling a little speechless.
Don't tell me this really is the protagonist seat? Not just the location, even the poses are weirdly synchronized…
But something about the classmate in front of him seemed off.
Sato blinked.
From behind, the student had pink hair and… were those antennae on his head?
He couldn't hold back any longer. He gently tapped the student's shoulder.
Kusuo Saiki furrowed his brow and turned to look at the curious classmate behind him.
"Um… are those antennae some new kind of fashion accessory?" Sato asked cautiously.
"You can see them?"
To Sato's surprise, the boy looked genuinely shocked, like he'd just encountered something unbelievable.
…Heh.
Sato wore a slightly awkward smile. I'm not blind, of course I can see them!
Perhaps realizing how odd his question sounded, Saiki's expression returned to calm. "Hmm… Let's just say it's a personal hobby."
"Ah… haha, I see. Well, they're… quite unique," Sato offered diplomatically.
"Thanks."
They exchanged a glance. The atmosphere grew a little awkward.
"Oh, right! I'm Nohara Sato. Nice to meet you!"
"I'm Kusuo Saiki."
Saiki reached out for a brief handshake, his eyes scanning Sato with curiosity.
Strange… He can see my limiter…
Sato was a bit unnerved by Saiki's stare. Something about the eyes behind those lenses was just unsettling.
Just then, he noticed the student behind him snapping out of his own daze.
"Hi, I'm Nohara Sato."
The black-haired boy blinked, then introduced himself in turn: "Hello, I'm Kirigaya Kazuto."