Chapter 1: Isolation

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Translator: Soafp

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“Hey, Haruki. Let's go already.”

“Don't rush me, Shiho.”

I'm Haruki Asano—just your average third-year middle schooler, or so I claim.

Every morning, my childhood friend Shiho Fukase rings my doorbell bright and early.

“Stop coming to wake me up every day.”

“If I didn't, you'd oversleep and be late, right?”

Shiho is in the girls' basketball club.

It's a top-tier team with a lot of members, and Shiho plays the role of the ace.

She takes practice seriously and also ranks among the top students at school.

“It's not a big deal if I'm late. We're still in compulsory education. No need to be so strict about it.”

“What are you talking about? We're exam students, remember? Being late or absent affects our grades. Are you okay not going to the same high school as me?”

The high school Shiho plans to attend is a prestigious one, well-known in the area with a very high academic standard.

I'm not in any clubs and don't have much going on, so lately I've been focusing on studying. Since starting my third year, my grades have improved.

Still, considering my grades were average until recently, I have my doubts about whether I can make it into such a high-level school.

“We've lived across the street from each other and been together since kindergarten… Maybe going to different schools wouldn't be such a bad thing?”

“No way!!”

Shiho's loud rejection of my opinion startled me.

“Don't shout like that out of nowhere. You scared me.”

“You're okay with not going to the same school as me!? I'm not!”

“Uh… well… that's…”

I only said that out of embarrassment. The truth is, I want to go to the same high school as Shiho.

I want to be with her.

Because I've always had feelings for Shiho…

“Well… yeah. It'd be nice if we could go to the same school.”

“Yeah! Let's definitely make it happen!”

And just like that, I end up walking to school early every morning with Shiho, who's heading to basketball practice.

It takes about twenty minutes on foot from our house to the school.

Even though it's just past 7 AM, we start to see other students heading to school too.

They're probably either like me, going to the study room early, or like Shiho, heading to morning club practice.

“Everyone's so dedicated, coming early for studying or club activities.”

“You're coming to school to study too, Haruki. You're just like them.”

“Well… I guess.”

Honestly, if Shiho didn't come wake me up every morning, I wouldn't be coming to school at this hour.

People who can act on their own initiative really are amazing.

“Shiho! Good morning!”

A group of girls, probably her basketball teammates, come calling her name from a distance.

“Um… Haruki… I, uh…”

“Yeah. See you tomorrow.”

She spoke a little hesitantly, but I just said that and headed toward the school building alone.

“Hey, Shiho. Were you walking with Asano again?”

“Huh…? Um, well…”

“You okay? He's not doing anything weird to you, right?”

“It's fine. Really.”

Their voices trail behind me, but I ignore them and change into my indoor shoes at the locker before heading to the study room.

“Hey, isn't that Asano? Creepy.”

“Why's he in the study room? I can't concentrate.”

“I heard he's always getting into fights. Is that true?”

As soon as I walk into the study room, I hear whispers mocking me.

I shoot them a sharp glare, and their gossip immediately ceases as if they're scared.

(Same old, same old…)

Suppressing a sigh, I find an empty seat and focus on my studies.

---

After about an hour of studying, I head to my classroom and sit at my desk.

The classroom is buzzing with talk about future plans and the upcoming final athletic tournament for club members.

I pull out a light novel from my bag and start reading quietly while waiting for the chime to ring.

“Look, Asano's reading a light novel. What a nerd.”

“Hey! He can hear you.”

I hear more whispers about me again… but I'm used to it.

“Good morning, Fukase!”

“Good luck with your final tournament! We'll be cheering for you!”

“Thanks, everyone. I'll do my best!”

Shiho returns from morning practice and enters the classroom, instantly becoming the center of attention.

With her beauty and academic prowess, she's undoubtedly at the top of the social ladder.

After chatting briefly with some classmates, Shiho walks toward me… but doesn't say anything.

Her seat is right behind mine, and she quietly sits down.

“Beauty and the Beast, every time.”

“Hey, knock it off. What if they hear you?”

(I can hear you loud and clear.)

The truth is… I'm isolated at school.

Shiho never talks to me here.

(First period starts at 9… maybe I'll skip a bit.)

As I stand up, Shiho glances at me for a moment but quickly looks away.

She's probably worried I'm leaving even though homeroom is about to start.

“Where's he going?”

“Probably skipping.”

Ignoring the whispers behind me, I leave the classroom alone.

---

I'm what you'd call… an unremarkable middle schooler. Or at least, that's what I tell myself.

At school, I'm isolated. I'm not particularly good at my studies, and I don't have any notable talents.

Well, I suppose there are plenty of students like me at any school.

But in my case, things are a little different.

I walked through the school building, climbed the stairs, and headed for the top floor.

I don't particularly care about the stares and whispers in the classroom, but that doesn't mean it feels good.

After several minutes of climbing, I arrived at my destination.

I found myself in front of the door that led to the rooftop.

When I touched the doorknob, I noticed that the door—normally locked—was open today.

“So it's open, huh…”

As I pushed open the heavy door and stepped out onto the rooftop, a pleasant breeze greeted me.

“Oh, you came, Asano.”

“Skipping again, Endo?”

Seina Endo.

A stunning beauty, just like Shiho, but with blonde-dyed hair, earrings, fake nails—everything about her appearance was flashy.

“You still have that gloomy face, huh, Asano.”

“And you're as lively as ever. People like us are usually supposed to hate school, you know?”

“I actually kinda like school.”

“You barely go to class. What are you even talking about, you delinquent?”

She's a delinquent through and through, and her self-centered behavior has made her a problem among the teachers.

“Come on, Asano, you're just like me, aren't you?”

“I'm not a delinquent.”

“Oh really? Even though everyone says stuff about you? Your hair's practically the same color as mine.”

“It's brown—natural. I've told you that before.”

“And those scary eyes?”

“Born with them.”

I'm not a delinquent… but it's true that both my classmates and teachers treat me like one.

“Still, starting a fight with that flashy look of yours didn't help your case.”

About this time last year… I got into a fight with an upperclassman.

“It was technically self-defense… but yeah, I regret it. I'm not trying to make excuses.”

That guy had called Shiho out—Shiho, who was starting to stand out on the basketball team—and tried to mess with her using disgusting words and gestures. When I stepped in to stop him, he threw the first punch. I just fought back.

“Asano, have you decided on your next school?”

“Oh, yeah. Um… Sendou High.”

“For real? You were that smart?”

“I'm average. That's why I'm working hard to make it in.”

“Let me guess. You're doing it for that childhood friend of yours, huh? Chasing her around?”

Endo's sharp. She catches on to things quickly.

“W-What's it to you? Where are you applying?”

“Kaisei, for now. Though Sendou isn't off the table.”

“Impressive. Despite how you look and act, your grades are top-notch.”

Sendou and Kaisei are the two top-tier high schools in this area. They're both extremely competitive.

“You should aim for Kaisei too, Asano.”

“No way. I don't exactly have the luxury to be picky. Besides… I want to be with Shiho…”

I want to go to the same high school as Shiho. That's what's driving me to work hard.

“Fukase, huh. I don't like her.”

“What? Why not?”

“You're close with her outside of school, right? But she won't even talk to you at school.”

Now that I think about it, maybe that's true. Ever since we became third-years, she's been distant.

She used to talk to me even at school.

“Well… Shiho has her own social circles. If she hangs around with someone like me… it might affect her reputation.”

Exactly. Someone like me—an outsider—being around her might drag her down.

“If it were me, I wouldn't want anything to do with someone like that. Sounds like she values her social image a hundred times more than her relationship with you.”

“I… don't think that's true…”

Shiho still cares about our relationship. I'm sure of it.

“First period's about to start. I'm heading back.”

“Eeeh!? Skip with me!”

“No way. You should start going to class more too. It's a waste of that brain of yours.”

“Well… maybe I'll give it a try then.”

Endo and I both sighed at the same time.

Our actions synced up, and when our eyes met, we couldn't help but smile.

Feeling a little less gloomy, we made our way back to class, just in time for the first period.