Arc 2 – Episode 1: The Start of the Second Semester

Reading Settings

The second semester had begun.

Returning to school after a while, I saw my classmates gathered in their usual friend groups, chatting away. Some of them had gone through a “summer debut”—new hairstyles, dyed hair, trading glasses for contacts, or showing off fresh tans. Others seemed to have taken a reverse “summer debut,” becoming gloomier over the break. Since I didn't interact with them much, I decided to ignore it.

As always, my childhood friend and girlfriend, Ichigo, sat alone, quietly reading a book.

“Kuzuha-chan! It's been a while! The last time we saw you was at that karaoke camp!”

“You really helped us out back then. Thanks for that.”

“Hey, it's been a while. Also, careful how you phrase that—it might give people the wrong idea.”

I greeted Suzuki and Kobayashi, my usual friends.

“Um… uh… Kuzuha-kun, it's been a while!”

“Oh, it has! Good to see you.”

Itou-san approached me a bit later, and we exchanged greetings. Normally, I would have greeted her first, but something about her seemed off. Did something happen over the break?

Suzuki and Kobayashi were grinning at me.

Their appearances hadn't changed much, except Suzuki seemed a little more tanned. I wondered if something had happened between the girls but decided it was better not to ask.

“Kuzuha-kun! Long time no see!”

A voice called out to me. A girl with silver-dyed hair, tanned skin, and a flashy, loose style to her uniform stood in front of me.

“Long time no see. You are… uh…”

I couldn't place her name right away. We hadn't talked much before.

“What? You don't remember me? I'm Yoshida Ami!”

“Yoshida… Yoshida-san?!”

I couldn't hide my surprise. The Yoshida-san I remembered was an ordinary girl—normal hair, normal skin tone, and a properly worn uniform.

“I went for a makeover during summer break. Judging by your reaction, I'd say it was a success!”

She smiled like a kid proud of pulling off a prank.

“Yeah, I'm surprised.”

I didn't bother asking why she'd changed her look. My instincts told me not to dig too deep.

“I'll be chatting with you all more often, okay? Nice to meet you, everyone.”

She wasn't just talking to me—she addressed Itou-san and the others too.

“Uh, yeah, nice to meet you.”

“Sure, nice to meet you!”

“Did you bring snacks or something?”

“Kayo, don't pick on her!”

“Haha, it's lively around here.”

As we settled into the flow of conversation with this unexpected addition to our group, more classmates trickled into the classroom.

“Good morning, everyone!”

A clear, cheerful voice echoed through the room, drawing everyone's attention.

Aria-san Kakyoin walked in with her signature bright smile, greeting people as she headed to her seat. The atmosphere shifted instantly as the “school princess” arrived.

“Kakyoin-san, long time no see! You haven't changed a bit—you're still gorgeous!”

“Did you finish your summer homework, Kakyoin-san?”

“We're going out after school to celebrate the end of break. Want to come?”

She responded to each person with her usual polite smile while gently declining the invitations. It had been a while since I'd seen her, but this felt like the same old classroom dynamic.

“Kuzuha-kun, aren't you going to join them?”

Yoshida-san leaned toward me, breaking my train of thought.

“Nah, we're not that close.”

Aria-san and I were still keeping our relationship a secret.

“What about you, Yoshida-san? Aren't you going over there?”

If I remembered correctly, Yoshida was one of those who always approached Aria-san during breaks.

“I think I'll pass. Right now, I'd rather get to know Kyoichi-kun better.”

I felt a few sharp glares from my classmates. I was too nervous to confirm who they were coming from.

“I see. Well, let's just be regular friends.”

I ignored her attempt at using my first name.

“If you want, Kyoichi-kun, I wouldn't mind being more than just a friend. And feel free to call me Ami.”

The classroom air turned icy. Half of the group surrounding Aria-san was now looking our way. I had the sinking feeling Aria-san herself was glaring at me too.

More than just a friend? Yeah, not stepping into that minefield.

“Nah, I'm good as is.”

Between Ichigo and Aria-san, my hands were already full.

“Oh, so you already have someone? Could it be Itou-san?”

“Wha—?!”

Itou-san flinched, her face turning red.

“N-no! Absolutely not! Why would you think that?!”

“Well, Itou-san, you've changed a bit since before summer break. I thought maybe you and Kyoichi-kun had… you know, gotten closer.”

“We didn't! And…”

She denied it but seemed to deflate, looking almost dejected. Kobayashi patted her on the back in silent support.

“So, you don't have anyone in this class, then?”

I actually did. Two, in fact. Not that I could say that out loud.

“Hey, Kyoichi-kun, how about me then? Want to hang out after school today?”

Yoshida-san pressed on, ignoring the tension in the room.

“Uh, what about Itou-san and the others?”

I decided to involve the others to diffuse the situation.

“Huh? Us?”

“Hey, I only asked Kyoichi-kun!”

Yoshida-san pouted, clearly dissatisfied, but I had my reasons.

The school director had asked me to rehabilitate my reputation over the break. While I hadn't been told to cut ties with my female friends completely, I couldn't afford to hang out one-on-one with girls anymore.

“You two, could you refrain from these conversations in the classroom?”

Aria-san suddenly appeared, her voice calm but sharp.

“S-sorry!”

Itou-san and the others seemed to think she was upset about us disrupting her school's decorum—her “castle.” But I could tell this was jealousy.

“My bad. We'll be more careful.”

I apologized, following Itou-san's lead.

“Yes, please do.”

With that, Aria-san returned to her seat. But the unusually strict tone in her voice left the classroom in a frozen silence.

I could feel the frosty glares from my classmates. It stayed awkward until homeroom started.

With a start like this, I had a bad feeling about my second semester…