The Second Day of Class

Katagiri sat in the middle of the last row of Class C, his eyes lazily scanning the quiet, yet disjointed atmosphere of the lesson. A handful of students seemed distracted, with some glancing at their phones or staring out the window, but the majority remained focused on the lesson.

In the far-left corner of the last row, Ryuen leaned back in his chair, twirling a pen in his fingers, showing a complete lack of concern for the lesson. Despite occasional glances from the teacher, Ryuen didn't bother to hide the defiance in his lazy posture.

Ibuki, sitting one row ahead of Yuuichi, directly in front of him, showed no interest in opening her notebook. Instead, she rested her chin in her hand, gazing blankly out the window. Her mind seemed far away from the lesson.

Ishizaki, sitting to the right of Ibuki, his head resting heavily on his desk, eyes shut as if nothing in the world could wake him. Each time the teacher turned to write on the board, Ishizaki would subtly tilt his head, continuing to sleep peacefully as though it were lunchtime. The teachers noticed that he was sleeping during class, but no one seemed inclined to wake him up.

Ultimately, we were given the choice of whether to pay attention or not, so the teachers weren't worried at all. Could this be how teachers interact with students who are no longer part of compulsory education? 

In this relaxed atmosphere, it quickly turned into lunchtime. Rising from their seats, the students began to leave to have lunch with their friends. 

Katagiri's POV

Three years. I can't be alone for the next three years. I can't keep living like a shadow in this classroom. Sometimes, when I see groups of friends talking, I realize I'm missing something. I need a friend. Not many, just someone who understands me and doesn't judge.

Shiina... Maybe she's the one. She's different from the others. Maybe she'll be the friend I need. I can't keep standing on the sidelines of other people's lives. It's time for a change.

When I look at Shiina, I see something different. She's not like the others in class. Her quietness isn't because she's distant, but because she has her own world. There's a calmness to her that I admire. If I could be friends with her, maybe I wouldn't feel so lonely. Even though I'm not great at getting close to people, this feels like an opportunity I shouldn't miss.

I glance at her again. She's absorbed in her book. I'll ask her out for lunch.

Alright, I can do this.

"Hey... do you have plans for lunch?" I ask, surprised at how strange my voice sounds.

Shiina looks up, a little surprised. "I don't have plans, but... thanks for asking." She pauses before adding, "I usually eat alone."

I feel a slight disappointment, but I don't give up easily.

"That's okay," I say. "I just thought it'd be nice to have lunch together, but if you'd rather be alone, I understand."

At least she didn't reject me completely. I tried. Maybe one day she'll change her mind. I can't keep living like this, though. I need real connections, and this is just the start.

Before Katagiri could settle back into his chair, Ibuki turned around with an incredulous look.

"Day two, and you're already asking girls out to lunch?" she said, raising an eyebrow. "Seriously? What's next, holding hands in homeroom?"

Katagiri sighed, meeting her teasing gaze with his usual calm demeanor. "It's not like that. I just thought it'd be nice to make friends."

Ibuki rolled her eyes. "Yeah, sure. That's what they all say."

Ishizaki, seated to her right, let out a hearty laugh, shaking his head. "Man, tough luck. She turned you down, huh? Sorry for your loss." He grinned widely, clearly enjoying the situation.

"Not exactly a loss," Katagiri replied evenly. "It was just an invitation, not a proposal."

"Well, if you're that desperate for company," Ishizaki added with a mock-serious tone, "how about you join me for lunch? I could use someone to carry my tray."

Katagiri gave him a deadpan look. "Thanks for the generous offer, Ishizaki, but I think I'll pass."

Ibuki smirked, leaning back in her seat. "Good call. Eating with him might actually be worse than eating alone."

Before Ishizaki could speak, a low chuckle echoed from behind.

"How about all three of you join me for lunch instead?" Ryuen's voice dripped with mockery as he leaned casually against Yuuichi's chair, a smug grin plastered across his face. "You can even serve me while we're at it."

Ibuki scowled, spinning around in her seat. "As if. What makes you think I'd ever waste my time like that?"

Ishizaki glared at Ryuen, his voice full of defiance. "You think we're just gonna be your lackeys? Hell no. I'm not some pawn for you to control."

Ryuen's grin widened, ignoring their protests. "Oh, come on, don't be so quick to reject a golden opportunity. How about this—forget lunch. Why don't the three of you start working for me? Henchmen positions are open. Think of all the perks."

His gaze flicked between them, lingering just long enough to make the air feel heavy. "What do you say?"

The loudspeaker suddenly crackled, and a clear voice announced, "Attention, students. This afternoon, there will be a club fair held in Gymnasium Number 1. All students are invited to come and explore the various clubs available. Feel free to stop by and find something that interests you. We encourage everyone to join and participate!"

The announcement resonated through the room, drawing attention from the students.

Ryuen, seemed to lose his interest in the conversation with the others and now casually walked away, his eyes scanning the room for anything else to entertain him.

When Ryuen walked away, Katagiri noticed that Ishizaki seemed to relax a bit. However, his attempt to appear fearless didn't escape Katagiri's notice. Despite trying to maintain his tough demeanor, Ishizaki's eyes still betrayed a hint of unease, and his posture wasn't as rigid as before.

Ishizaki looked around, forcing a smile, but it was strained. "It's nothing really," he said, his voice slightly faltering. "Just that guy."

Katagiri could tell that Ishizaki's tough exterior couldn't completely mask the nervousness inside.It was as if the moment Ryuen left, the pressure that had been building up was finally released, though not entirely.  As the awkward silence stretched, Kaneda Satoru broke in with a friendly voice.

"Hey, Katagiri-kun, right?" he said, offering a slight smile. "I'm Kaneda Satoru. Looks like we'll be classmates for the next three years. Nice to meet you."

Katagiri nodded politely but didn't show much emotion. "Nice to meet you, too."

Kaneda, still smiling, continued, "I figured we'd be stuck next to each other for a while, so might as well introduce myself properly. Anyway, there's a club fair this afternoon at Gymnasium Number 1. You going?"

Katagiri raised an eyebrow slightly, his expression neutral. "I might check it out. What about you?"

Kaneda shrugged. "I was thinking of going. Want to join me? It's always more interesting with someone else to talk to, don't you think?"

Katagiri considered the offer for a moment. "Alright, I'll join you" he replied, giving a small nod.

Kaneda gave a satisfied nod back. "Great! I'll see you there, then."