April first.
The day was finally here: Ryomei High School’s entrance ceremony, aka the day that would go down in history as the start of my high school debut.
In middle school, I had been what people would call a gloomy introvert. I was part of the go home club, and forget about having a girlfriend; I didn’t even have any friends. I was always alone.
I was jealous, green with envy. Of the popular kids smiling merrily in the center of class. Of the groupies flirting after school in the classroom with the girl I secretly thought was cute. So, I wanted to change my life in high school.
I’ll pull off a successful high school debut and secure myself a rainbow-colored youth! That’s why I purposefully chose a school far away from home. I think I look better than I did in middle school too. I lost a lot of weight thanks to my diet... Hmm, I’m still a little plump, though. I also ditched those lame glasses for contacts... But will this really be enough?
No, no, no! Don’t you wimp out. You decided you’d do this, remember? If I camouflage as an extrovert, it’ll all work out, even if my exterior falls short.
“Okay, let’s go!”
I boarded the train at the nearest unmanned station. The car rocked back and forth for a while, and then a girl wearing the same uniform as me got on. That looks like a brand-new uniform. Maybe she’s a first-year?
She also seemed to notice me, because she glanced in my direction. Our eyes locked. Then, she looked away as though nothing had happened.
An extrovert would probably chat her up, right? But I really don’t have the guts to strike up a conversation in the middle of a crowded train. My commute’s long because I chose a high school that’s far away, but there’s nothing I can do about that.
Having nothing better to do, I read a light novel until I reached my stop, Maebashi Station. Ryomei High School was a five-minute walk from there. As I walked along the road lined with cherry blossom trees, I found myself surrounded by more and more students wearing the same uniform as me. It was par for the course since we were all heading in the same direction. I had been somewhat anxious that I might get lost, but I could relax now. I just needed to follow everyone else, and I’d reach my destination.
“So this is Ryomei High, huh,” I said.
I’d been here to take the entrance exam, but it still felt unfamiliar. I’ll be coming here every day from now on.
When I walked through the main gate, there was a wall of bodies in front of the bulletin boards. I guess the class listings are posted there. Let’s get closer. My class is going to be a critical component to my high school debut. I can only pray that I’ll be with a good squad.
“Let’s see, my name is...”
When I scanned the listing for year one, class one, my eyes came to a halt at the name “Motomiya Miori.” I overheard the girls gossiping before we graduated, but it looks like she really did choose Ryomei. Miori was my childhood friend, and we had been really close in elementary school. However, we’d drifted apart in middle school.
“You shouldn’t hang out with someone like me!”
Or more precisely put, I had pushed her away, so Miori probably didn’t want to have anything to do with me either. I peeled my eyes away from her name and searched for mine. I found my name, Haibara Natsuki, listed under class two.
I’m glad I’m not in the same class as Miori. That would’ve been awkward. Plus, it’d be embarrassing to act like a different person in front of someone who knows what I was like in middle school. That would’ve made choosing a high school far away from home meaningless.
Suddenly, a loud voice rang out from right behind me. “Ah! Look, over there! Yaaay! Rei, Tatsu, we’re all in the same class!”
I turned around to see a girl whose joy seemed too big to be contained within her petite body.
“You don’t have to yell. I can hear you.”
“Come on. Uta can’t help being hyped up; she’s a high schooler now.”
The small girl was chatting with two boys who she seemed close to. I’m guessing they went to the same middle school.
“Tatsu, you’re happy too! Why’re you trying to act cool?”
“Huh? Why would I get worked up like you?” The boy called Tatsu was tall, solidly built, and kinda scary.
“Tatsuya, you’re such a tsundere,” said the handsome, slender boy with a soft smile. “That’s not in right now, you know.” He was the one the girl had called Rei.
I think we’re in the same class. Maybe I should talk to them. I hesitated and ultimately averted my gaze. I was hell-bent on doing this high school debut thing, but I’m super nervous... No, no, no! I can’t be chickening out. Let’s do this! If I don’t try to start conversations, things will be the same as they were in middle school. I’m an extrovert, so I need to wear a brighter, more energetic smile!
“U-Um!” When I turned around again, they were already gone.
Wait, it’s empty all of a sudden. Where’d everybody go?! I glanced at the time. It was already three minutes before the entrance ceremony would begin. Evidently, I had been brooding for a considerably long time.
✦ ✦ ✦
Somehow, I made it in time for the entrance ceremony. After surviving the principal’s long-winded, boring speech, the students split up into their respective classrooms.
I’ll sit at my desk first. Who should I talk to? Did the kids who’re already chatting together like old friends go to the same middle school? Or have they hit it off already? I’m getting kinda impatient. I heard that interpersonal relationships in a new environment are contingent on the way you handle the beginning. According to my findings, the safest choice is to talk to someone else who’s alone during times like this.
“Um, do you have a sec?” I said to the girl sitting at a nearby desk. I’m nervous about talking to a girl, but I need to get used to it if I’m going to make my high school debut work out.
“Huh? Sure... Do you need something?” She raised an eyebrow quizzically.
She was looking at me like I was someone to be suspicious of, so I forced my best smile.
“I’m Haibara Natsuki. What’s your name?”
There was a pause, and then she replied, “I’m Fujiwara Kanata. Nice to meet you.”
“Nice to meet you too. We’re in the same class, so I hope we get along.”
“Um... Yeah, thanks.”
And the conversation died just like that. What now? What do people talk about when they’ve just met?
“Wh-Whoa. Isn’t that girl super cute?!” someone suddenly yelled from the classroom entrance.
I glanced at the door. The voice belonged to the petite girl I’d seen earlier. For some reason, her eyes were wide open in surprise.
“Oh, um, are you talking about me?” asked a girl with flaxen hair standing directly in the short girl’s line of sight.
“Whoa,” I murmured.
It’s true that she’s cute. She’s got a ridiculously gorgeous face. How did I not see her before? A girl as beautiful as an idol is in the same room as me, and I didn’t even notice! My heart’s racing just looking at her. Is this what they call love at first sight? At any rate, my motivation to execute my high school debut has shot through the roof. I want to get close to that girl, and if possible, I want to date her. Which means this isn’t the time to be nervous! Let’s get pumped!
“I’m Haibara Natsuki! My hobbies are reading and watching movies. I’m gonna join the basketball club. Oh, my dream is to make one hundred friends! I really want to get to know you all! Nice to meetcha!” I enthusiastically said during class introductions.
I’m super stoked for my high school life to start!