#11 Matsushita Chiaki's feelings

Midterms exam is slowly approaching and not many people seem to be bothered by it. I have yet to make contact with that girl from the upper class. I am pretty sure I would be able to buy exam questions from her. She shouldn't have many points to spend, looking at how easily she accepted my meal, so it shouldn't cost much.

The problem is... how to tell the entire class?

I turned around and asked Ayanokoji-kun.

"Ayanokoji-kun, do you think that our senior class had the same questions on exams as us in their 1st year?"

However, before he could respond to my question, prima-donna joined in the conversation.

"I think that's pretty stupid question Walker-kun. How could school allow this to happen?"

Yeah, changing a questions each year is something common for "normal" school, however, this isn't normal school. Would the government bother to build a "normal" school? The answer is of course no. We are supposed to become the pillars of the country in the future, they won't try to teach us in normal way. We are practically being forced to break rules and find loopholes because that's exactly how the adult world works

"Horikita-san, your way of thinking is too flawed. You are trying to succeed just with your academic ability. You will only become a puppet by doing so in the future. You are looking down on everyone who was placed into class D, however, you missed one small detail. YOU are in class D too, you are the same as me and as everyone else, trash. I bet you are smarter than a lot of people in class C, B or even A, yet you were placed into class D, why?" I criticized Horikita for her naive thinking.

When she heard my words she seemed upset for a second but then she looked towards Ayanokoji-kun with a surprised expression. I guess he told her something similar.

"Really... what the hell is up with you two?" Horikita already knows that we aren't simple students from yesterday's conflict with her brother.

"Hey, hey, people did you know that Karuizawa-san is dating Hirata-kun?! Someone saw them holding hands yesterday!" Ike came to us and interrupted our conversation with the news. He didn't even keep his voice down since both of them weren't in the classroom.

Well, I am happy for Karuizawa but why are you telling us this while looking at me?

"Hmm, I see..." I still responded to him with a bit of confused expression.

"Maybe you are wondering why I am telling you this especially Walker-kun. It is because we boys noticed how Karuizawa was occasionally checking you out. I guess she changed her target since you have quite a good relationship with Matsushita-san."

Hey, hey, I don't even know myself that I have a good relationship with Matsushita-san, As for Karuizawa, I noticed how she was sometimes looking at me but it was only because of our past. This became too complicated because of small actions.

"Wh- what do you me- mean Ike-kun?! We are jus- just friends" Matsushita-san overheard Ike-kun's words and her face became a bit red but she still didn't look upset from his words.

Now that he mentioned Karuizawa, I had close to none contact with her... I guess she hates me for my disappearing but why do I think that there is more than it seems? Why does she occasionally look at her abdomen? Heh, it definitely doesn't look like she is pregnant.

I guess I will arrange a meeting with that senior girl, however, I might need a help with spreading the questions.

I looked towards Matsushita-san, she was planning what to do after school with other girls. I guess I could use her but if I want her to go with me today I should ask her before she makes up her plans for today.

I got up and came to her group.

----(Matsushita Chiaki's POV)----

I am quite an average girl in this class. There are many girls who have a better body and appearance than me. I have already accepted that all the best guys will be taken by other girls. When I first saw Hirata-kun on the first day of school, I was captivated by his looks and social skills. He would be the ideal boyfriend material, however, I knew I had little to none chance to be his girlfriend.

But there was still one boy who piqued my interest. He didn't lose to Hirata-kun in terms of looks but he definitely wasn't as sociable as Hirata-kun, however, he had a special aura around him, which made me both curious and afraid of him at the same time.

I noticed that he was a bit of loner which meant it could be my only chance so I resolved myself to go talk to him. I was surprised by how easy it was to talk to him. At first, I was afraid, however, when he smiled at me it made me lose all that fear towards him.

We talked to each other from time to time and I noticed how a few girls from my group of friends were starting to notice him after the competition in swimming class but I was still confident since he didn't look like a guy who was impatient to find a girlfriend and I was ahead of every girl.

I thought I liked him... I myself wasn't sure if I liked him as a person or because he seemed like a decent boyfriend material. However, everything changed after I heard him call me a cute aloud before the entire class. He chose me instead of girls like Kushida-san or Horikita-san. At that time my heartbeat sped up and I couldn't respond to anyone. I was happy yet I was a bit upset...He said I was cute, however, cute are children. I would be perhaps more happy if he used a more aggressive expression.

Ever since that day, I have been feeling very weird when I was standing close to him. I felt so nervous while also safe. I have never experienced this, I don't know what it is.

I have been thinking only about him lately.

I was planning where to go with my friends but our conversation was interrupted by a voice I knew too well.

"Matsushita-san, I am sorry for interrupting but could I talk to you for a minute?"

----(Matsushita Chiaki's POV end)----