I am bored !!
That's the first thing that came to my mind. Why? Because I am actually bored.
It's the first day of school, and my homeroom teacher decided to put me in the front row. Front row. As if that magically will make me Einstein. I'm not even listening to what she's saying. No or that I want to. Not that I ever would.
If at age twelve I already have to sit through this, then what exactly is waiting for me in the future…
Sigh.
I came to Tokyo two weeks ago. Apparently, my father's workplace obligated him to change locations and help some new branch. That's what he said, anyway.
It's annoying.
It's really annoying.
And my father? He's the kind of person who doesn't even have a backbone.
"Tanori !!" the teacher said, her voice cutting into my daydream, "did you get what I told the class?"
My brain jolted awake.
"Y-yes, ma'am."
With completely uninterested eyes, she looked at me and replied, "Then repeat, word for word, what I just said."
…I'm fucked
"Well," I started, stalling, "it was something about… about… ah—doing groups in pairs? Something like that, right?"
I could feel her gaze drilling into me, even from back here.
Don't eat me alive, old hag
Then I heard it. A faint tongue click.
"Pair with Juriana."
How annoying. Ordering me around like that.
But it's not like I have a choice.
I stood up and walked over, sitting beside Juriana. Even after that, I could still feel that cold gaze sticking to my back.
Sho~ sho~
Juriana, huh?
I looked at her face. Nothing special.
She was a little tall, with straight dark hair that fell neatly past her shoulders. Her face was soft and plain in a way that felt almost intentional. Calm eyes. Quiet features. Nothing that stood out too much at first glance.
She looked ordinary.
And yet… that gaze felt a little weird to me.
Wait… wait, wait…
Isn't she the girl who was hugging those dudes upright, shamelessly?
Wow. First day of school and I already got myself a slut as my partner. Well, yeah. For me, she's a slut anyway. Hugging people like that.
Or is that normal?
I don't know. Still, I'm feeling a little creeped out.
She's looking at me like I'm some kind of mystery treasure or something.
Better greet first then last
"Nice to meet you. I'm 'Tanori Narina'. Hope we do the project nicely."
Her eyes lit up.
Ugh.
"Yeah… let's do the best project everrr… You're new here, right? You're so cute. That baby face is everything. Kyaa…"
Cute…
What is this bitch saying?
Is this that flirting thing people talk about? How annoying.
To be honest, I don't really understand love. Hugging, kisses, arguments. All of it feels distant. Maybe it's because I've never fallen in love. Who knows.
I did my best not to grit my teeth in cringe and just smiled softly at her instead. Then I lowered my gaze and started scribbling the project idea into my notebook.
"So what do you think? We could try explaining racism, or… I don't know, discrimination. What do you say?" I asked softly.
"Hm…" She tilted her head a little. "To be honest, I don't care. Choose whatever you want. We just have to present the project anyway."
That answer pissed me off…Just a little.
Isn't that basically dumping all the work on me?
"But we should work together, at least."
"I am working!!" she said, grinning. "Looking at you. It's a hard job, you know?"
"…Um, that's not work."
Shoot.
I gritted my teeth too hard. WAY TOO HARD. I hope she didn't notice.
She chuckled. "Relax. I was just teasing you. Let's work."
Finally.
Ugh.
And just like that, we spent the rest of the hour working on that fuckderful project.
Then the bell rang, sharp and sudden, dragging me out of focus like it didn't care about my suffering.
My wonderful homeroom teacher finally left the class. It was lunchtime.
I went back to my seat and took my bento out of my bag. I was planning to eat alone, quietly, peacefully. Just me and my food.
Of course, that didn't last.
A voice pierced straight through my peaceful moment, right as I opened my bag.
Of course, it was Juriana.
"Let's eat lunch together, Tanori-kun!!"
Whoa.
No last-name respect. Straight into my name already, huh?
It's not like I could say no either. If I did, I'd probably leave a bad impression. I wish I could be like those cool guys in manga who don't give a fuck, but unfortunately, I still have a social life to live.
"…Okay," I murmured.
I followed her outside to one of the benches. There were three girls waving at us. Well, waving at her, most likely.
One of them suddenly lunged forward and hugged Juriana.
"Juriiii!"
Juriana and the blue-haired girl seemed especially close. Way too clingy. The other two just waved and smiled at us from behind.
We sat down on the bench, and Juriana spoke up.
"Guys!! I made a new friend. His name is Tanori. He's a bit quiet, but he's super fun…"
Who said I wanted to be your friend...
you little—
"Anyways," she continued, "Tanori, meet them. These three are my childhood friends. Akari, Hana, and Miyu."
Couldn't care less.
Still, I greeted them with a simple hello. Honestly, I was a little nervous.
"Juriana, you shouldn't be rude to people," the short brown-haired girl with glasses said. Hana, I think. She looked at Juriana with vague disappointment. "Shouldn't you start by calling his last name first?"
"W-well, I don't need to," Juriana replied. "Moreover, we're good friends already… hmph."
This girl…
We sat there and ate lunch from our bentos.
"So what's your last name, Tanori-kun?" the blue-haired girl asked. Akari. Yeah, Akari.
"My last name is Narina."
"Oh… that's a nice last name."
To be honest, I don't really like this situation.
A lot of people would probably die to be in my place. One guy, four girls, eating together. But for me, it just feels a little… gayish.
Why? Because most gay people I've seen are usually surrounded by girls like this.
Well, unless you're a manga protagonist or something who will be trapped in a love triangle or pentagon in the first chapter. No way right ? Haha