On this campus, there are four dorms. Three of them are for the students; the students stay in the same dorm they were assigned to in their first year for all of high school. In other words, this dorm was used by last years third-years. The last dorm is for the teachers, and for all the live-in employees that work at the shopping mall.

In other words, since all the first years were in the same building, it was inevitable that people from different classes would get to meet.

I locked eyes with a person who had been a complete stranger until now.

Thank you very much.

The girl who said her thanks to the dorm manager noticed me and called out to me.

Yaho, Ayanokouji-kun. Good morning. Youre early.

Long, wavy hair and wide eyes. Chest straining the second button of her blazer. Her posture matches her personality, and what charms me is how cool she is, rather than her looks. It was class 1-Bs Ichinose Honami.

I woke up earlier than I expected. What were you talking about with the manager?

A few people from my class wanted to make a request to the dorm. So, I gathered all the opinions and relayed it to the manager. Things like water usage and noise.

You did?

Usually, complaints or issues about the rooms were handled individually. I wonder why Ichinose collected their opinions.

Good morning class rep~

Ichinose replied to the two girls who walked out of the elevator.

Class rep? Why class rep?

Ive never heard of that before. There are no positions like that here.

It doesnt look like they call her class rep because she studies too much.

Im the class rep for my class.

Class rep do all the other classes have one?

Normally Id be surprised, but our homeroom teacher wouldve probably decided to leave that out.

No, we just made it on our own. I think its good to assign a few roles.

I understood what she was saying, but its not like we were going to assign a class rep anyway.

By any chance, do you have any positions other than class rep?

Pretty much. Whether or not theyre useful is a different question, but we do have other roles like vice class rep and secretary. Itll be useful whenever we have some kind of festival. It would be fine to decide things on the spot, but that might become troublesome.

I remembered that Ichinose was studying with a group of boys and girls at the library some time ago.

She was probably fulfilling her role as class rep back then as well.

Usually, most people wouldnt want to be part of a class committee. Theyre forced to do troublesome things and have to participate in discussions from time to time.

However, with Ichinose taking the initiative, things probably went a lot smoother.

I guess youre like the leader of class B then.

My honest feelings leaked out.

Are you thinking of something strange? Everyones doing this for fun. Also, there are a surprising amount of people who cause trouble. There are a lot of issues.

As she said There are a lot of issues, she laughed in delight. Taking advantage of the current situation, we were walking to school together.

Do you usually leave later? I never see you at this time.

Ichinose asked a harmless question, as if she was following a template.

I felt somewhat accomplished when I heard those words. My relationship with Ichinose will surely grow with small talk like this.

Theres no need to leave so early, so I usually stay in my room for 20 minutes.

Then I guess you get there just on time.

As we got closer to the school, the number of students multiplied.

Oddly enough, a number of girls turned towards us with jealous looks. Is this my popularity phase thats rumored to come three times in a lifetime? Since its never happened to me, I feel like this is just about the right time for it to come.

Good morning, Ichinose!

Good morning, Ichinose-san!

Ichinose monopolized all of the gazes of the girls.

Wow, youre popular.

Since Im the class rep, I just stand out more. Thats all.

Instead of being humble, it seems like thats what she truly believed.

It seems like she naturally attracts the attention of nearby people.

Oh, right. Did you hear about summer break?

Summer break? No isnt summer break just summer break?

There are rumors that our vacation will be on a tropical island.

Speaking of which, something else crossed my mind.

I forget when, but Chiyabashira-sensei said something about a vacation.

I cant really believe it, but do we really have a vacation?

It probably isnt just a trip Look around and seriously think about.

It isnt an exaggeration to say that this school goes all out. Going to a tropical island during summer vacation and an onsen during the winter.

Its very suspicious. I dont think the school is that nice. Theres definitely something else lurking around. I wonder what Ichinose thinks.

Without having to ask, I could tell from the bitter smile on her face.

Its suspicious. I think thats one of the turning points.

In other words, this might cause a huge change in the class points?

Yea, yea. This might have more influence than the midterms and the finals. Otherwise, the only difference between the classes would be these test scores. This trip is so that the school could separate us.

It wouldnt be strange for a big event to happen soon

What is the gap between class A and B?

We have about 660 points, so around 350.

It was a given that the number wouldve dropped since the beginning of the year, but its amazing how many points they held on to.

There havent been any other methods of getting class points other than the midterms, so it was unavoidable that we lost some points. After all, class A also lost a few points in the beginning.

However, class A was able to gain a net positive with the recent midterm.

You dont seem very worried about your class points.

I do care about it, but there I think that we have a chance of making a comeback. Im only going to gather my thoughts in preparation.

I think that the first part that statement is correct.

However, thats only possible because they have a solid foundation.

Weve only got 87 points. Were not close to even competing with the other classes.

I wonder how much this event will change things.

It probably wont be a measly 10 or 20 points.

However, its also difficult to imagine that the totals would change by 500 or 1000 points.

Were also in a pinch. If the gap widens, we might not be able to catch up anymore.

I guess we both have to work hard.

Actually, its Horikita, Hirata, and Kushida that have to work hard.

At any rate, it doesnt look like the situation will get much worse.

I dont want to start complaining already, but it seems like a troublesome event will happen soon.

But if its actually a vacation on a tropical island, that would be super amazing!

I wonder

Huh, not looking forward to it?

Only people who have friends and interact with others can enjoy their break.

Theres nothing that feels as uncomfortable as traveling without people youre close to.

Even more so if traveling with a group. Just thinking about it makes me feel sick.

Do you hate traveling by any chance?

I dont hate traveling. I think, at least.

While talking about this and that, I imagined what it would feel like. After all, Ive never traveled with a friend.

Speaking of travel, Ive been to New York with my parents when I was very young. None of it was fun. I felt weary by the bitter flashback I had.

Whats wrong?

I just recalled a certain traumatic memory.

My dry laughter echoed along the hot road.

No, no. If I spread my negative aura, then Ichinose would be troubled as well.

However, my worries were for naught, and Ichinose continued to talk, looking like she didnt mind.

Can I ask you some questions?

Ichinose was a dazzling existence, though different from Kushida.

It seems like shes acting sincerely for her own satisfaction.

Even when shes talking to me, it seems like shes giving it her all.

The whole grade is separated into four classes, right? I wonder if thats actually by ability.

I know that the results of the entrance exam dont directly correspond to the results. There are people that deserve to be in the top class based on test scores, so I figured about that much.

Horikita, Koenji, and Yukimura would definitely rank highly in the grade.

Isnt it something like overall ability?

I gave a vague reply. Ive also thought about it many times, but couldnt come up with an answer.

But I always wondered. People might be good at studying and bad at sports, or vice versa. But if the students are ranked by overall ability, doesnt that mean that the lower classes are at a severe disadvantage?

Isnt that how societal competition works? I dont think its strange.

Ichinose crossed her arms and paused. It looked like she didnt understand.

If it was an individual match, then maybe. But this is a class competition. If you put all the good people in class A, isnt there absolutely no chance of winning?

I mean, thats pretty much the current state of the class points.

However, it seemed like Ichinoses thoughts were different.

Theres definitely a difference between class A and D, but I think thats because theyre trying to hide something by using something so trivial.

Your reasoning?

Ahahaha, nothing much. It just came to me for some reason. If that wasnt true, it would be accurate to call this situation harsh. I think that there are people who can study and do well in sports in class D for a reason.

Is that different than the usual system?

If the classes were separated using only our academic ability, there would be no way to beat the other classes, no matter how hard we tried.

An important factor to this system is being an expert in many fields.

Shouldnt you keep quiet about this?

I advised Ichinose, feeling slightly worried.

Hmm? About what?

About your thoughts right now. Horikita said it early, but youre helping out the enemy.

I might get some new ideas and try to do something with it.

I dont think thats true. Its important that a lot of ideas are circulated. Also, since were in a cooperative relationship, its completely fine.

It wasnt the complacency of being in class B but rather, it was a characteristic of Ichinose. Somehow, I could understand what she was thinking. Anyway, shes actually a good personand doesnt have two sides to her.

My brain isnt good enough to exchange ideas and such. I can only say Im sorry to that.

Its fine even its just me talking. If you think its useful information, you can use it.

Ichinose seemed to remember something and stopped in her tracks.

As I wondered what it was about, I turned my head and saw her serious expression.

You know I wanted to ask you something. Is that okay?

I could hardly imagine the cheerful Ichinose from a few seconds ago. My body stiffened up.

Ill answer to the best of my ability.

Theres nothing I can answer with my brain that has the knowledge of a hundred million books (a big lie).

Have you ever been confessed to by a girl?

Um That wasnt in the millions of books I read

Do I look like a person who hasnt been confessed to before?

Is this when she calls me disgusting, a virgin, or makes fun of me? Ill cry, you know?

Im only a first-year high school student! Its way too early for that. Hey, hey. Dont you think so too?

Im pretty sure that the proportion of people who have confessed to those who havent is very small. I have no proof to back it up, however.

The number of people who die in solitude, hidden away from the rest of humanity, cannot be counted.

No, no. Sorry, its nothing.

Thats not a face that says its nothing. However, it looks like shes more worried than anything else.

Did someone confess to you?

Huh? Oh, yea. Something like that.

Somehow, it seems like a lot of people are trying to become a couple just like Hirata and Karuizawa.

If you have time after school, I want to talk to you about confessions. I know youre busy and all about the current issue, but if you have time

Its fine. I dont really have much to do.

Dont have much to do?

I dont think theres any use to find evidence or look for a witness. Itd be troublesome to waste my time doing something like that.

But you went to the scene of the incident yesterday, right?

That was for something else. Anyway, its fine.

Thanks.

But I wonder what this has to do with me.

Is this the pattern where she makes up a lie and says This is my boyfriend? However, I immediately pushed that thought away since it would be better to use a more reliable ikemen instead.

After school Ill be waiting at the entrance.

A-Alright.

Its the natural that I felt somewhat excited, even though I knew nothing was going to happen.