…I mean, I chased her around fairly seriously for forty-five minutes first thing this morning, and I still wasn’t able to catch her…
He wanted to put his head on his desk. Or more accurately, bang his forehead against it.
I won’t, though…
Sousei glanced idly toward the open classroom door. The moment he did, he realized something: He hadn’t done it idly at all. He’d sensed something. Someone was going to come into the classroom.
—Miss Hitsujimoto?
Sousei stood up abruptly.
Guess not…
There was no reason why it would’ve been her.
Sousei’s shoulders slumped so dramatically he felt he might dislocate them, surprising the small-statured girl who’d just come in. She was wearing glasses and had her hair pulled back in a tight ponytail.
“Wha…?” the girl said, taking half a step backward. “…What? What’s wrong?”
“Aaah, Class President!” Asumi waved, a huge smile spread across her face.
“Do you have work to do or something, Tadecchi?” Moena asked.
Iori Tadeshina, the president of Class 2-2, adjusted the frames of her glasses with her finger.
“Yeah, kind of. Mr. Oohira asked me to do something.”
“Thanks for all your hard work,” Yukisada said with a smile.
“Not at all,” Iori said offhandedly. “All I’m doing is carrying out my duties. It’s not anything you should be thanking me for. You all look like you’re having fun, which is good, but don’t stay in the classroom too late. This isn’t a playground, you know.”
“Okaaaaay!” Asumi replied cheerfully, but Moena seemed a little hurt.
“Tadecchi, every single word you say is so harsh. I don’t think what you’re saying is wrong, but if you’re not a little more mindful about how you say it, you’re going to make enemies.”
“I appreciate your concern, Hina Shigee,” Iori immediately retorted, “but as you pointed out, I haven’t said anything wrong, have I? If someone gets angry and decides to be my enemy over that, then they’re welcome to it.”
“There she goes again…” Moena sighed. Asumi hugged her gently from behind.
Apparently, Moena and Iori had known each other since before they started high school. The class president was considered an honor student—both by herself and by others—and everyone relied on her. She had a strong sense of responsibility, a sturdy character, and a dependable nature, but she also had a prickly side that put off some of the students.
“There’s no need to worry about me,” Iori said, lifting her chin and looking down at Moena. “Everything is perfectly fine and dandy. Even if I’m shunned or despised, I walk my own path. That’s how I live my life.”
“Oh, I see!” Moena replied, raising her voice. Her lips were quivering. “You want a candy?” Offering a candy to the president despite her obvious anger was a very Moena thing to do.
“I won’t let your generosity go to waste!” Without hesitation, the president stepped forward to accept the throat lozenge from Moena. Sousei couldn’t understand the class president’s mindset, either.
She’s going to take it…?
“Yeeeeeah!”
But at that moment, Wakkuu burst into the classroom. He gave his usual “Yooo!” and salute-like gesture, and the situation started to descend into chaos.
“…Y-yo…” Although he was confused—or because he was so confused, probably—Sousei automatically returned the greeting with a “Yo” of his own.
Beaming, Wakkuu gave a sharp thumbs-up, then saluted again.
“Yoooooo again…!”
“You’re so noisy!” Iori was about to throw the candy she’d received from Moena at Wakkuu, but she stopped herself at the last moment.
“I know, right…?” Moena said in agreement as she took out another candy. “Want one?” she asked Wakkuu.
“I’ll take it, muscle-ertainly I will! Like the wind! Hustle, whoosh…!” As he ran up to Moena, Wakkuu let out a stream of words that both made sense and made no sense whatsoever. He knelt down in front of her and accepted the throat lozenge, holding it reverently above his head. “Heaven be praised! At this very moment, my throat was starting to hurt slightly after being overworked all day today! As expected of you, Moena! What a considerate demon you are! Hup! Or perhaps I should call you a demon lord! You’re a gift to mankind! A president…!”
“Ha-ha-ha…” Yukisada let out a laugh. But given Yukisada was usually so carefree, the exasperation in it was noticeable.
Wakkuu stood as he tore the candy wrapper off. He tossed the lozenge up and, without missing his mark, caught it in his mouth.
“Delicioso. You’re the best!” He winked at Moena.
“Ah, every single thing about you is annoying…!” Iori said, holding her head in her hands.
She’s not wrong…
Deep down, Sousei couldn’t help but agree.
Wakkuu’s funny, though… And he’s a good guy…
“I’m annoying…?” Wakkuu’s eyes bulged so much that it seemed his eyeballs would pop out. It just lasted a moment, though. His expression quickly turned serious, as if he’d just realized something. He lowered his head with a chuckle, and a bashful expression appeared on his face. “Yeah, I guess you’re right. I mean, this sort of thing would get in people’s way if I did it at home. When I say ‘this sort of thing,’ I guess I’m talking about myself. That’s not good. I shouldn’t put myself down. Self-respect, self-respect. Gotta have pride, all the time, have some ego, do the tango. Wow, that doesn’t make sense even to me…”
“Still…aren’t you a little too hyper, Wakkuu?” Asumi asked, looked slightly taken aback.
Now that you mention it…
Wakkuu was full of energy. It wouldn’t even be an exaggeration to call him the embodiment of energy. He threw around jokes about every little thing, seized every opportunity to bring up an exciting topic of conversation, and dragged everyone into constant improv comedy games, creating a whirlwind of laughter every single day.