Chapter 3: Summer’s approaching, premonition of a fierce battle

The middle of June was gradually approaching.

There were no new special exams after the one in April, and so we were able to get on with our normal school lives for a while. And the White Room student who was targeting me hadn't made any moves yet.

Up to now, the only thing that had affected me was the time when Amasawa came to my room, and the major crisis concerning whether or not I would get expelled hadn't happened at all.

However, that accident seemed to have left too deep an impression on us, so much so that we hadn't yet found the right timing to kiss again. No matter how good an atmosphere we created, there was always like an invisible wall between us. Although I would like to break this wall down as soon as possible to make progress on our relationship, there was really no need to rush. Over time, Kei would be able to slowly remove that wall herself, moving onto the next stage naturally. That would help her growth.

As a high school student, I was living a substantial school life. At the same time, the season was changing into summer day by day.

The temperature outside began to rise slowly, just like every year.

On a sunny day, the temperature could reach around 30 degrees, and like every year, the temperature started to rise, bit by bit, announcing that summer heat would take over the spring breeze.

Living an ordinary school life for a long time, I've often heard this topic brought up.

What was one's favorite season? But it was an unexpectedly deep and interesting topic.

Even people who were born and raised in the same place had different favorite seasons.

After experiencing the change of the four seasons at this school, I was once again looking forward to the hot season. If I thought about it, my favorite season is probably summer.

Maybe that's why the blue sky felt so beautiful and dazzling in this season.

"Good morning, Ayanokouji-senpai."

As I was walking while looking up at the sky, I was greeted by someone in front of me.

Following the voice, it seemed to be Nanase Tsubasa, a student of Class 1-D.

She seemed to be on her way to school by herself, as the people walking around her didn't seem to be her friends.

"Oh it's you. Good morning."

Since she was walking in front of me, did she just happen to turn around and see me, or did she deliberately wait here because she had something to talk to me?

"Is there something in the sky?"

I didn't notice Nanase's presence because I focused my attention on the blue sky. But since she noticed that fact, she probably was looking at me for a while.

"Nothing, just looking out at the blue sky."

"Looking at the blue sky, huh?"

Nanase, who walked by my side, followed my example, and also looked up at the blue sky.

Today's sky was cloudless, just a vast blue sea.

"What a beautiful day."

"Yeah. By the way, I haven't seen you for a long time."

Although we've passed by each other once, it's been a long time since I've talked to her like this.

"Yes, we haven't met for about a month and a half."

Nanase and Housen jointly formulated a plan to get me expelled. Like Amasawa, if it were a normal person, feeling that it was hard to approach me would not be surprising at all.

"I've always felt sorry for what I did to you, Ayanokouji-senpai."

Looking at the sky, Nanase said.

It seemed like the way she thought was deeper than I had originally thought.

"Senpai, do you hate me?"

"I don't have any reason to hate you. It was for the special exam, right? There's no way out of it. Besides, I saw how you were trying to protect me, Nanase."

Nanase, even though she joined forces with Housen, rushed out and stopped Housen at a critical moment, despite the danger.

I still remember firmly the fact that she had confronted Housen who was hostile towards me.

"Is that special exam over? I didn't hear you mentioning anything about a deadline."

"No, the exam is still going on. The deadline is the start of the second semester."

In other words, the special exam would still continue on for a little bit? But then, the silence of Nanase and Housen in the past month and a half was a bit strange.

"Are you wondering why I haven't visited you since then?"

"It would be a lie if I said I wasn't wondering about that. I'm still wondering if you're up to something behind my back."

"Because of what happened last time, I'm convinced that even with a plan, it might not work out that easily. Also, after you knew our purpose, it would be very hard to pressure you in your everyday life."

"Then are you waiting for the other years to have their special exams? But what about the rest of you students?"

"I don't know how, but I think they already know that Housen-kun has already made a move."

"And since even someone like Housen failed, people judged that it wouldn't work out without good preparation? Then it's worthwhile for me to be so badly injured."

"I don't know if that's worth the cost of your left hand, senpai."

Among the 1st years, Housen Kazuomi, for better or worse, was one of those students who attracted all the attention.

It was perhaps a fortunate thing that Housen was the first to act against me.

The question was, however, who exactly was behind this special exam. Although it would be easy to just ask Nanase here…

However, the few times I looked at her, she looked away, so I had no choice but to give up asking her and looked forward again. Even if I asked her the question now, Nanase couldn't answer it. Within the remaining three classes, lurked unidentified insiders. It was also impossible for her to betray them to maintain fairness. In the end, Nanase just admitted the existence of the special exam to prevent her own Class D from being disadvantaged.

"Thank you for understanding me."

Since I've maintained my silence, Nanase said that, as though she understood what I was thinking.

Since we were going to school together anyway, I decided to talk about completely unrelated topics.

"You seem to be already completely used to life at this school."

From the way she was acting and speaking, she had shed the naivety of when she first arrived, and was fitting in well with the atmosphere of the school.

"Yes. I think the students in my grade, including myself, have become able to deal with all sorts of special situations. Although I don't know how much the upperclassmen know, us 1st years had taken our 2nd special exam at the end of May."

Just like how we 2nd years had our own battle, the 1st years had their own battles as well.

"Although I haven't heard from anyone directly, I've noticed rumors that there was already someone who was expelled."

The 2nd years have also heard that there was one student who got expelled during that special exam.

"Ah, so you do know about it? One boy dropped out of Class C in the first year."

After all, that student disappeared from the OAA list. But the one who dropped out was a student with an A in Academic Ability, so I guess he got a special penalty.

"There's always going to be rumors about such a big event."

"At this school, yesterday's friends who you were laughing with could be expelled without mercy today. That's why I've come to realize that every day of this school life must be lived without regrets."

Although right now was a matter of just watching and letting the others fight among themselves, the time will come for Class 1-D to face the same situation. It was really important to have a sense of crisis like Nanase does.

Even so, in terms of the class points of the other years, I had no way of knowing.

That's why I didn't know which class won and which class lost in the exam.

"How did your Class D place in the results of the exam?"

"The previous time, we came in last, and this time, unfortunately, we only made third. But this time, Class A and B battled fiercely, so the point difference created between the classes is very small."

It seemed like even having Class A and B as opponents for her class, they were able to stick closely to them.

On the other hand, the main reason why Class C came in last was probably because they had someone expelled.

"Is Housen more well-behaved recently? Or…?"

"It'd be a lie if I said he hadn't done anything. But it's true that he has nothing to do with this time's expulsion. You're the only one in his eyes now, Ayanokouji-senpai."

Nanase, who had been looking at the sky, finally looked towards me for the first time, with a bitter smile.

"Although it's a far-fetched theory based on only the result, I think it's thanks to you that he has become a bit more well-behaved. I guess you could say that he's taking some of the energy focused on the first year students and placing it on the upperclassmen. Recently, he keeps saying things like, "Let me fight the 2nd years". That's just great."

This was indeed a good thing for a first year. But now that she said that, the fact that Housen would meet my eye when I passed his huge body was really just a sign of provocation.

"There should be a chance to fight with you first years sooner or later."

Although we've only had one chance to work with them up till now.

But as long as Nagumo continues to pursue his policies, we would definitely compete with each other sooner or later.

"I hope I can spend my school life here without any regrets.

"That'll be good."

As Nanase said, the friends you were laughing with yesterday might not be with you today.

That was the kind of thing that could happen in this school.

That's why we can't take every day we live here for granted, but rather, enrich it by ourselves.

Because each day that passed was a fixed past that could never come back.

"You must not leave any regrets in your school life as well, Ayanokouji-senpai"

Her words seemed to suggest that there is not much time left of my school life.

Her eyes contained a strong determination.

"Of course, I'll do my best to leave no regrets."

After hearing my reply, Nanase nodded with force, as if she was satisfied.

"Then I'll take my leave."

Having almost reached the school building, Nanase bowed her head and left.