I turned around to see a group of three students from the same middle school talking to each other. I remembered them, and it wasn’t just a faint recollection. In fact, I knew a lot about them. They were the first group of people that I had mingled with. These three were the center of class 1-2. They were at the top of the social ladder, the popular kids—in other words, the position I had yearned for the most.
“Tatsu, you’re happy too! Why’re you trying to act cool?” The loud girl currently yelling over the crowd was Sakura Uta. Her petite frame fluttered here and there, clearly expressing her joy. She was a cheerful and energetic girl, and she had a cute face to boot. Watching her overflow with energy was enough to warm anyone’s heart.
“Huh? Why would I get worked up like you?” The deep-voiced boy who was rebuffing her with a blatant scowl was Nagiura Tatsuya. He was taller than me, with a solid build. His features were well-defined, though his eyes had a mean edge to them which gave off a wild impression.
Nagiura looked like a scary but still handsome guy, if I had to sum it up. In reality, he just hated being underestimated more than anything. He was actually an upbeat and nice guy.
“Tatsuya, you’re such a tsundere. That’s not in right now, you know.” The boy teasing Nagiura in a mellow tone was Shiratori Reita. He was attractive, with fine features that gave off the exact opposite vibes from Nagiura. Unlike Nagiura, who might have been attractive to some, Shiratori was attractive to everyone; his presence captivated the gazes of all the girls nearby. He was a gentle and affable person, as well as a great leader.
When I’d been planning my high school debut, the guy closest to the ideal image that I had been striving for was Shiratori.
“Were tsundere boys ever popular?” Uta asked.
“Oh, Uta. Your knowledge of shojo manga is lacking,” Shiratori replied.
“Stop using words I’ve never heard of. What even is that?” Nagiura barked back.
“Oh right, Tatsu doesn’t read manga,” Uta threw in.
“Stop belittling me! I’ve read some Two Piece before.”
“Only ’cause I lent it to you. You don’t own a single manga,” Shiratori said with a shrug.
Nagiura snorted. “Shut up! Basketball is all I need anyway.”
At that moment, Shiratori caught me watching their spectacle. “Oh, sorry. Are these two being too loud?”
I was shaken for a moment; this hadn’t happened the first time around. But I managed to keep my cool and respond normally. “Oh, no. Not at all. I was just thinking the three of you sure are close.”
Did I stare too much? The day’s barely begun and I’ve already misplayed! It was such a familiar sight that I couldn’t help but watch.
“That’s because the three of us are from the same middle school. Are you in class 1-2 as well?” Shiratori asked me amicably. He was completely clueless about my inner turmoil.
I know, I wanted to say. Nor would it have been hard to guess what class they were in since they’d been standing in front of the posting for class 1-2 for so long.
“Yeah. I’m Haibara Natsuki. Nice to meet you.”
“I’m Shiratori Reita. The short one here is Sakura Uta, and the tall one is Nagiura Tatsuya.”
Nagiura and Sakura turned in my direction when they heard themselves being introduced. I didn’t think they noticed, but I was trembling a little. Nagiura’s gaze was especially intimidating.
“Hey, Natsuki? Sorry, man, but I can’t stick up for you anymore. Besides, you piss me off.” I recalled the moment Nagiura had said those words to me. After all, he’d been the one who forced me to face my mistakes, the one who had started it all. He hadn’t done anything wrong; it was all my fault for being socially inept. Even though I was well aware of that fact, the trauma left within my heart wouldn’t disappear so easily.
I still had nightmares of that day.
“Already made a new friend, Reita? Of course you did,” Nagiura said.
“I was just saying hi since he’s in the same class as us.” While they talked, I took the opportunity to calm my breathing. I saw Nagiura give me a once-over. He stared hard, examining me from head to toe.
“Hey, you. You’ve got some good muscle on you. What did you play?” Nagiura asked after his examination.
“Play, like in a club? I wasn’t in a club in middle school.”
“What, for real? But you’re so fit.”
“True. You do look like an athlete.” Shiratori nodded in agreement. I was glad that my bodybuilding had paid off.
“I got into lifting weights and stuff recently. I’m glad to hear it’s paid— What?!” I jumped in surprise. Someone was giving my stomach a pat down. I immediately looked down to see short little Sakura there. She had somehow crept up close enough to touch me.
“Wow! You’ve got a six-pack!” she marveled.
“You surprised me...” Are cheery people always so touchy? Oh yeah, Sakura doesn’t think twice about physical contact with boys, so she’s easily misunderstood. She had zero interest in romance but people kept confessing to her. And she shot them all down. A nasty trait to have.
“Listen carefully, Uta. You’re not supposed to touch someone’s stomach without permission the first time you meet them,” Shiratori warned her with a sigh.
“Really? I’m sorry.”
“It’s no big deal. I was just a little surprised.”
“Anyway, it’s crazy! You’re as ripped as Tatsu!” she blurted out.
“What?! You’re on par with me?!” Nagiura exclaimed.
“No way. That’s impossible. The difference between us is clear as day.” I shook my head vigorously. I was relatively confident in the results of my training, but in the end it had only been one month of working out. I would definitely lose when compared to Nagiura. He was both taller and better built than me.