Walking At The Same Pace

SEVERAL DAYS HAD PASSED already since the opening ceremony ended. The weekend came and went, and it was now Monday.

A peaceful life here at school.

A regular routine that repeated itself over and over.

The most momentous change at the start of this new year was that the blackboards were now digital and all our textbooks had been replaced with tablets.

The fact that the textbooks we were using had all been replaced by tablets illustrated just how remarkable the spread of e-books was.

Each student was given their own tablet, and newly installed high-speed charging devices were in the back of the classrooms.

We were also provided with portable battery packs as well, in the unlikely event that our tablets died in the middle of class.

We were forbidden to bring the tablets themselves back to the dorms, but we were allowed to transfer any data we needed over the school's network, to access it from our rooms.

The annoyingly high number of textbooks we needed to lug around were now all stored neatly inside this twelve-inch tablet, as data.

Well, in my original world, the current scenario hadn't changed much from those old fashioned books.

But, as some wise man once said, old is gold.

Personally, I prefer physical books.

You just can't get that feel of reading in ebooks.

And, this was not the only change that occurred, while I was absent for the whole week.

It would be difficult to say how my classmates perceive me, but roughly this situation sums up to like living with a friend with whom you had a terrible fallout.

Things become awkward, and you don't know what the other person is thinking.

Well, it didn't really matter to me much, as I got the private points I was promised and would continue to do so.

As for my injuries, there was no serious injuries, except a small fracture at my left ankle joint.

They said, it would take some time to heal, so I am in a limping state right now.

I was fortunate that Minami-san and her colleague found me quickly, otherwise, the bleeding might have caused something serious.

However, I didn't report the cause of my injuries.

I mean I remember that it was Ryuen, but I don't think he would be foolish enough to pull something off so risky.

He must have prepared some counter evidence to justify that they were not the ones who did it.

Moreover, I have other reasons for not filing the complaint too.

Chabashira was really annoying though, insisting on taking actions against perpetrators.

I think she had some guesses, but as I said, I have my own reasons for not to do so.

All the info about change in teaching style and the change of seats by choice was relayed to me by Horikita herself.

She showed concern for my health too, which I really appreciate.

And, finally today is the opening day of my second year.

Technically, it's the second time.

But, even if it was, I still felt the fresh vibe of the beginning of a session.

The sky was clear.

The weather was warm and comforting as compared to the chilly breeze blowing just a few weeks ago.

Because of the limping, I was a bit slow.

That's why, I was early to the new classrooms.

Too early, I think.

Cause there was not a single student in my vicinity.

I strolled around the floor and found my new classroom.

2-B.

Coincidentally, in my own second year of high school, I was in class 2-B too.

As I was reminiscing about my past, the sound of a cane tapping on the ground broke my line of thought.

As the girl with the cane approached me slowly, I noticed a smile on her face.

Her demeanor was no different from what I had seen before.

It was more like she was even more confident of herself now.

"You're early," she remarked, her vice filled with her usual playfulness, "Is your leg alright?"

"Getting better, I guess.", I replied.

"That's good to hear.... There is some time before classes start,... should we take a little detour?", she asked.

It's not like I had any reason to refuse, so I agreed and we started walking on that floor itself, in the opposite direction to our class.

" It was Ryuen-kun, wasn't it?", she asked with a devilish smile, her words laced with an air of certainty that made it clear she wasn't guessing.

I paused mid-step, glancing at her carefully.

It was a bit obvious, if you look at my injuries.

However, Sakayanagi's statements are based on facts and rational deductions, so I don't know how she got this information.

"You're sharp as always," I said cautiously, trying to gauge her reaction. "But that doesn't mean I'll confirm anything."

Sakayanagi chuckled softly, her cane tapping rhythmically against the floor as we continued walking.

"Don't misunderstand me, Yamauchi-kun," she said, her tone carrying its usual playfulness. "I'm not here to pry into your affairs, though I must say your decision to refrain from filing a complaint was... prudent."

I raised an eyebrow at her comment but said nothing, letting her continue.

"Consider this: by not taking immediate action, you've left your opponent in uncertainty. Filing a complaint might have triggered a counteroffensive, but by remaining silent, you've kept them guessing. That is often a more advantageous position to hold."

She paused, leaning slightly on her cane as we reached the end of the hallway before turning back the way we came.

"And, of course," she added with a faint smirk, "there's no guarantee the system would favor you. Those who resort to such methods often prepare contingencies to escape unscathed. In this way you have ensured that Ryuen, or whoever is responsible, remains cautious."

Her analysis was disturbingly accurate. It was as if she had peered into my mind and laid out all my thoughts on the matter.

"You make it sound like I'm playing some grand strategy game," I muttered.

"Aren't you?" she countered smoothly, her smile never wavering.

We walked on in silence for a few moments, our steps naturally falling into rhythm. Her cane tapped steadily, while my own uneven pace adjusted itself to match hers.

"Walking at the same pace," Sakayanagi mused aloud, glancing at me briefly. "It's an odd feeling, isn't it? Two people with different paths, yet for this brief moment, we move in harmony."

I frowned slightly, unsure of where she was going with this.

"I suppose it's a testament to adaptability," she continued. "Even those with limitations can align themselves with others, so long as they're willing to make the effort."

Her words carried a double meaning, one that I couldn't ignore. She wasn't just talking about walking; she was making a point about strategy, about life.

"Maybe," I said finally, "or maybe it's just coincidence."

Sakayanagi laughed lightly at that, a sound that echoed softly in the empty corridor.

"Coincidence or not, Yamauchi-kun, I find it rather poetic. For now, let's enjoy this moment of alignment. Who knows when our paths might diverge again?"

Her cane tapped once more, marking the end of her statement.

As we neared the classroom, I realized something.

Despite our differences, despite the games she played and the guarded front I kept, there was an odd sense of understanding between us.

For this fleeting moment, we were walking at the same pace—two people with their own burdens, moving forward together.

When we reached the door to 2-B, she paused, her gaze softening just slightly.

"Take care of your leg, Yamauchi-kun," she said, her voice quieter now. "And don't let your injuries weigh you down—figuratively or otherwise."

With that, she went towards her own classroom, leaving me standing in the hallway.

I watched her go, the sound of her cane tapping against the floor fading away.

Walking at the same pace—perhaps it was more than just our steps that had aligned.

For now, though, I'd keep moving forward, just like she said.

As I was going inside my classroom, Sakayanagi turned back and called me out.

"Yamauchi-kun, there is a piece of information I want to convey."

Then, she got closer and stated in a low voice, which left me bewildered.

"I am not exactly sure, but, apparently, in the upcoming batch of first year students, there are minimum 4 students from the white room mixed in."

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A/N :

Please comment down your thoughts on the chapter.

Next chapter onward, we will start the special exam part.

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