Second Day Begins

Hirata suddenly becomes pensive at my mention of the word "love."

It must be said that he has never experienced it. Basically, he's the archetype of the handsome young man sitting on a mountain of admirers but still searching for love. Even though in this case, Hirata isn't searching for it. For him, he finds no interest in it. A truly peculiar boy in his own way.

"From the expression on your face, I conclude that you've never been in love, have you?"

"Actually, I…"

Hirata tries to justify himself, but the words fail him. He doesn't need to explain himself in the first place.

"You don't have to feel strange about it. Love is like puberty; it's different for everyone. Your time just hasn't come yet."

"I-I see. That's probably the reason."

'No. The truth is that you'll never find love with your current philosophy.'

I don't let him know this because his current outlook suits me for now. A Hirata who doesn't understand what love is would be much more useful than a Hirata in love.

And as we continue exchanging pleasantries, we are interrupted by other people entering the classroom.

It's a group of girls, among them the "psychopath" Kushida Kikyō.

While the other girls in the group greeted us from afar, Kushida took the initiative to approach us.

"Hi Kōenji-kun and Hirata-kun!"

With a warm tone and a perfect poker face expressing joy, Kushida greeted us.

"Good morning, Kushida-chan."

"Good morning, Kushida-chan."

Hirata and I respond to her greeting in the most jovial manner, one being genuine, the other pretending.

"What were you talking about?"

'What audacity.'

Usually, people avoid imposing themselves in a conversation, but this girl is the complete opposite. She naturally manages to slip in anywhere. You need to be as unscrupulous as Horikita to push her away. And even then, Kushida will always get her way in the end. It wouldn't be wrong to say that nothing escapes the "secret hunter."

"Hirata-kun and I were just getting acquainted."

"It seems Kushida-chan has already made some friends on her side."

Hirata added after me.

"Well, as I said yesterday, I want to be friends with everyone!"

Kushida said this while bursting with joy. Then she turned to me.

"By the way, I already have Hirata-kun's number, but not yours, Kōenji-kun. Would it be a problem if we exchanged them now?"

"Ok."

Fortunately, I know who she really is; otherwise, I would have been bewitched.

After exchanging our contacts, she invited us to organize an outing together, which Hirata and I gladly accepted. I said gladly, but the truth is, I didn't really have a choice here.

After that, more classmates began to show up, and Hirata returned to his seat.

A few minutes before the bell rang, Hasebe arrived.

"Good morning."

She greeted me as she took her seat.

"Good morning. How was your night?"

I asked.

"Great. Their bed is really cozy; as soon as I laid my head down, I fell asleep. I even had trouble getting out of it this morning. Can't wait for the holidays."

'A real slacker.'

"It's only been a day since school started, Hasebe-chan."

"I know, I know."

A while later, Sudō also arrived. He greeted us as he went to his seat.

I chatted a bit more with Hasebe, then the bell rang, announcing the start of classes.