Chapter 299: Girls Going to School Together
In the early morning, the road leading to International High School grew lively. The campus pathways, which had been desolate during the break, regained their spirit and vitality starting today. Between the running girls, the rowdy boys, and the students carrying their school bags, the air was thick with the clamor of laughter and the unmistakable scent of youth.
"Good morning."
"Oh, morning."
"Long time no see."
"Did you go anywhere fun this break?"
Stepping into the school, peers in identical uniforms moved back and forth. Returning to the familiar academic life and seeing familiar faces after a long absence was a pleasant feeling. Of course, even those who disliked school would endure it and leave the comfort zone of their homes for the less comfortable campus—this, too, was a facet of youth.
Growth always occurs through trouble. Staying in a comfort zone leads to excessive relaxation and laziness. Conversely, an extreme environment that induces panic causes over-tension, making calm observation and thinking impossible. Thus, a place that is neither too happy nor completely despairing—sometimes troublesome but not unbearable—is best suited for learning. Schools are, intentionally or not, crafted to be such places. Good and bad classmates, good and bad teachers, a mountain of tedious tasks and bothersome errands; and in the process, one learns.
Shirou mingled with the crowd of students and entered the shoe-changing area at the entrance.
"Ah~! Isn't this Shirou? Good morning." A young female voice came from behind. He turned to see female classmates who had participated in the overseas exchange program with him.
"Good morning," Shirou nodded to them as they passed by.
Then, another group approached.
"Shirou~! After the senpais finish their exams, let's all go on a picnic together!" A third-year senpai laughed, throwing an arm around the boy's shoulder.
"Good luck with the exams," Shirou said.
"Haha, I'll take that blessing!" She patted his shoulder heartily.
"Shirou-kun, good morning~! How about stopping by the Cooking Club after school? the girls are looking forward to making snacks with you," a girl from his own year invited him with a smile.
"Oh... if I have the chance," Shirou agreed.
"See you later then~!" The girls interacted with him half-jokingly before heading toward their respective classrooms.
These girls had spent a week getting to know him during the exchange program. Seeing him standing there, their eyes lit up as they greeted him. The boys from nearby classes frowned one by one. Once the girls left, they swarmed Shirou.
"Did you become even more popular with the girls during the break?" "Why are the third-year senpais so familiar with you?"
"No, it was just during the recent break..." Shirou began to explain hurriedly.
"Is that so?" The boys stared intently at him before finally withdrawing their gazes.
"It seems you had quite a fulfilling break. As expected of our highly anticipated 'special talent' student."
"Damn it! I heard that the International High exchange program has a more important function than just sight-seeing and broadening horizons. It's for 'producing' things!"
"Having boys and girls live and eat together in a foreign land for several weeks..."
"No, no. Even if most people go on an exchange trip, they just become slightly closer ordinary friends. Ordinary friends..." Ochi from the Go club and Hoshino from the Ping-Pong club walked up, arms around each other's shoulders.
"The real benefits were completely monopolized by one person who stood out too much—like going to the girls' dormitory for 'culinary exchange' and such."
"I helped cook in the boys' dorm and the cafeteria too!" Shirou defended himself.
"That was later! We never got to step foot in the girls' dorm even once!" The boys from the Bristol branch in Britain crossed their arms as they walked over.
"Good looks, a righteous personality, and a master chef to boot... just how much do you want the rest of us men to despair?" A boy from the French exchange team joined in.
The surrounding boys nodded in painful empathy, saying in low voices, "Unforgivable..."
"I was just getting along with everyone normally," Shirou argued. But these boys were not the type to listen to explanations. Envy, jealousy, and the urge to "burn the normie" were clearly visible in their eyes.
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Meanwhile, Shizuka Hiratsuka, acting as their teacher, was leading Mashiro, Artoria, and Jeanne on a tour of the school before heading to the Principal's office to handle the remaining enrollment paperwork.
"Ah, it would be wonderful if we could host an exhibition of your work here," the Principal said with a smile.
"I can do that. But only the works I've done since coming here," Mashiro replied. She held great respect for this "Kingdom of Manga," and while she wanted her editor's approval, she also sought the recognition of the public.
"Um... may I ask what kind of works they are? Can they win awards? Of course! I am a loyal fan of Mashiro-kun myself, so any work is welcome. I'm just curious," the Principal said, rubbing his hands together.
While he smiled, he was thinking: I won't let such a resource as an internationally acclaimed genius painter go to waste. I must take this chance to promote the school. This might be the catalyst for my next promotion.
"Manga!" Mashiro answered proudly.
"Eh? Manga? Is there nothing... more artistic?" The Principal sounded disappointed.
Mashiro tilted her head. "Mhm? As for oil paintings, I just finished one recently."
"Then that oil painting can be exhibited, right?" The Principal's eyes lit up. Even if it was just one painting, he could promote it as the "first work of the genius girl painter after moving to Japan."
"Wait, really? That painting?! No!" Jeanne cried out.
The image of that painting—Shirou with his upper body bare, looking as if he were about to burst into flames—flashed through the silver-haired girl's mind. Of course, she wasn't "familiar" with the painting, and she definitely hadn't stared at it in a trance. She just had a good memory and remembered details after a few glances. After all, painting is art, a subject taught in school, so she had merely been "observing for study" for a few days.
While Mashiro saw it as a perfectly normal work, the outsiders looking for a spectacle wouldn't see it that way. Furthermore, Jeanne did not want Shirou's torso to be seen by the entire faculty and student body. This had to be stopped!
"That painting won't do! Please postpone the exhibition. Let Mashiro paint some new, smaller works instead," Artoria stepped forward, looking at the Principal with a tone that brooked no argument.
The Principal felt a sudden surge of majesty. Though she was a petite blonde girl, in that moment, she made him feel the same pressure as a top-level executive who held his salary and promotion in their hands.
"Alright... fine. Of course! The school simply wishes to showcase the achievements of its outstanding students," the Principal agreed, wiping cold sweat from his forehead.
Unbeknownst to him, the boy had been protected. He luckily avoided a shameful "public display" where the entire school would gaze upon his upper body and offer critiques.
"Very well, welcome to the Chiba branch." The Principal took a stamp pad from his drawer, pressed his seal, and stamped the documents one by one. He stood up and nodded to the girls. "Now then, I'll leave the rest to you, Hiratsuka-sensei."
"Ah... yes." Shizuka Hiratsuka blinked. He was so enthusiastic a moment ago, why the sudden cold feet? Regardless, she had to follow her superior's orders.
She led the three girls out of the Principal's office and toward the Year 1 International Class.
"Whew... how terrifying. What is with that girl? I couldn't find the will to resist her at all," the Principal muttered to himself as he slumped into his chair the moment the door closed, heart still pounding.
Outside:
"Will that old man be okay? His face looked quite pale," the silver-haired girl asked the teacher.
"Well, whatever. Don't worry about it. Just get used to the school environment for now. Shirou will come find you during the lunch break," Shizuka waved her hand. She quickly put the Principal out of her mind for dumping the babysitting duty on her; after all, she had already received the bonus and spent it all on gacha.
"Yes, we agreed on that before coming," Artoria nodded.
"Good. If you have questions, just ask Shirou. This school is quite special, and you two come from different eras anyway," Shizuka said, happy to be idle.
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International High School accommodated students from various countries, so it held unified exams. While the class schedule varied slightly to account for the traditional holidays of different nations, it mostly synced with the domestic calendar.
Japan is a country that prioritizes education. The school system isn't very different across the board; "cram schools" are prevalent from elementary school onward. For ordinary students, there are academic high schools; for the upper class, there are elite "aristocratic" schools; and then there are "wild chicken" schools where delinquent minors just kill time.
Most schools follow a three-semester system: entering in early April when cherry blossoms bloom; a summer break of over a month in July; starting again in September; and a winter break from Christmas Eve through the first week of the New Year. There is also a spring break from mid-March to April.
Chiba's schools mostly follow the Tokyo mainstream. However, International High has more holidays. Besides the standard Japanese "red days," it observes major holidays of various countries, such as Easter, Ascension Day, or the Prophet's Birthday. Furthermore, to accommodate exchange programs, summer and winter breaks start earlier to give the Student Council nearly a month of holiday—allowing for either exchange trips or giving foreign students ample time to return home.
Thus, although Komachi passed her exams early, she still had two more months of middle school. But for a "special talent" like Mashiro, the school was desperate to bring her in to boost their prestige. Artoria and Jeanne would also be transferring into the Year 1 International Class. BB-chan seemed to have chosen a prep school specialized for international students. In reality, such cases were common for foreign students adapting to the environment.
But that was just an excuse. There were many things to be busy with, and her purpose here was not yet fulfilled.
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In Japan, the traditional lunar holidays like the Lunar New Year or Lantern Festival have been moved to the Gregorian calendar since the Meiji Restoration. Japan turned the traditional New Year into January 1st. Yet, it retained the ancient "Seven Luminaries" (Sun, Moon, Fire, Water, Wood, Metal, Earth) for the days of the week.
The reason for the change was simple: if you are backward, you get beaten. This was especially true when facing Western civilizations built on colonization and plunder. Most "backward" Eastern nations went through moments of doubting their own culture. It is human nature to align with the strong for security; even China once had proposals to abolish Chinese characters.
Japan went into isolation in the 17th century and suffered for it in the 18th. While trying to "learn the barbarians' skills to control the barbarians," they managed to fight the Anglo-Satsuma War to a draw—against Great Britain, the "Empire on which the sun never sets," which had just won the Opium War and was the undisputed world hegemon. Ultimately, Japan had to apologize and pay reparations. This was similar to the Qing Dynasty winning the Battle of Zhennan Pass against France but still apologizing; when the foundational military power isn't on the same level, winning one battle at your doorstep means little.
Fighting a war you are destined to lose might let the commoners vent, but it isn't practical. The commoners can die as cannon fodder, but the rulers are the ones who have to live and pay the bill; a ruler or a slave-owner acting on personal gain would never choose that path.
Thus, the Japanese New Year became January 1st, and the Lantern Festival became January 15th.
After eating soba and mochi with his family on New Year's Eve and listening to the countdown bells, and then eating sweet bean soup on the 15th—which is also Coming of Age Day, where many senpais wore long-sleeved kimonos for ceremonies and ate red bean rice—January's festivities were over.
Now, the students were looking forward to Valentine's Day in February. It seemed a dark undercurrent was brewing.
At that moment, Shirou, having escaped the crowd of boys, felt a sudden, inexplicable chill.
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