Chapter 21: Back to school

Lunchtime. The student council room.

Soft sunlight streamed through the window, illuminating a neatly stacked pile of documents. Aya, seated at her desk, paused mid-review, her gaze falling on the list of transfer students.

‘Seventeen transfer students this year…’

She repeated the number in her head. There were no transfer students in the second or third year of high school. And since the middle school transfer students would be handled during the new student club orientation, this orientation was essentially focused on the first-year high school students. So, naturally, the most prominent among them was…

Kurosawa Rina, ranked third in the entrance exams.

Aya’s fingers trembled slightly. Flipping through the documents, Rina’s name stood out. The name echoed in her mind.

‘What club will Rina choose?’

From the moment she saw Rina’s name, her thoughts had been consumed by her. In the quiet solitude of the student council room, the memories of their bustling weekend trip to the department store surfaced vividly.

The light touch of their hands brushing against each other.

The moment Rina had tugged on her sleeve.

The shy smile she’d glimpsed during the gacha game.

And…

‘Her hands were… soft.’

Aya was lost in thought, the sensation of Rina’s touch lingering on her skin. Their hands had brushed against each other several times at the department store, and each time, her heart had fluttered.

‘…Why?’

Was it just a coincidence, something to be easily dismissed? But those moments kept replaying in her mind. Rina was her friend, just like Mizuki, but this feeling… it was different.

“It’s… different,” she murmured unconsciously.

She looked out the window, her gaze sweeping across the school grounds. In the distance, she spotted Rina walking alone. The sight filled her with a strange sense of comfort.

‘It’s because… she’s my friend, right?’

Aya reassured herself, returning her attention to the documents. But a strange, unfamiliar feeling lingered in her chest.

Just then, the door opened slightly. Hiiragi-senpai, the student council vice-president, peeked in.

“Yukikawa-san, how are the preparations for the club orientation coming along?”

Aya hesitated for a moment, then nodded, gathering her papers. “Yes, it’s almost done.”

But her mind was still preoccupied with the image of Rina, wondering what she’d choose.

****

Ding—dong—

The lunch bell rang. In my past life, lunchtime meant a quick meal followed by a nap at my desk. But things were different now.

Wearing a skirt made napping a risky endeavor. I was afraid of accidentally flashing someone, or worse, mumbling about my past life as a boy in my sleep. So, I tried to stay awake after lunch.

“Rina~ Aya-ring~ lunch?” Mizuki’s cheerful voice called out from behind me.

I turned to see her beaming, as always. And beside her, Aya, quietly waiting for my response.

“Yeah, let’s go,” I replied, standing up.

Perhaps out of consideration for me, they’d never suggested eating at the special dining hall. It would have been nice to enjoy the higher quality food, but…

‘Come to think of it, it’s been a while since I’ve seen the student council members.’

I’d run into Shirazuka-senpai, with her elegant updo, at the department store over the weekend, but it had been a brief, almost inconsequential, encounter. As for joining the student council… I still hadn’t made up my mind. I was afraid I wouldn’t be able to fully replace the protagonist. And I was also thinking about the drama club, the original Rina’s dream.

“What should we have for lunch~?” Mizuki asked, linking arms with me as we arrived at the regular cafeteria.

“I’m having udon,” I replied.

“Me too,” Aya agreed instantly.

Mizuki narrowed her eyes, a playful smile on her lips. “Aw~ are you two having couple’s udon?”

“W-We’re not a couple!” I exclaimed, flustered. Aya looked away, a faint blush on her cheeks.

Mizuki giggled, looking at us back and forth. “I know, I know~ but you two seem like you’re dating~?”

“It’s not like that, we’re just…”

“Friends,” Aya finished, a gentle smile on her face as she glanced at me. She seemed to be saying, “There’s no need to rise to Mizuki’s teasing.”

“Sigh… fine, I’ll have udon too~”

We all got udon and headed to our usual table. We didn’t see any of the student council members.

****

After lunch, Mizuki and Aya left to prepare for the club orientation.

“Rina~ we’ll take care of the orientation, so don’t worry and relax~”

“Yeah, good luck,” I replied, waving goodbye.

I slowly made my way towards the school grounds. The school was surprisingly lively during lunch break, filled with laughter and chatter. But I, now accustomed to the silence of the crowd, walked quietly, lost in my own thoughts.

Having spent so much time with Aya and Mizuki, I’d inadvertently become part of their elite circle. I could sense the other students’ hesitation, their subtle distancing whenever I approached.

Few people talked to me, whether in the classroom or in the hallways. Well, not no one. But their attempts at conversation felt superficial, like they were just testing the waters, nothing that could develop into a genuine connection. And for me, it was difficult to integrate myself into already established groups.

Joining a group of boys was even more awkward. I could hardly announce, “I used to be a guy.” And I knew how they’d react to my cute appearance.

So, I’d become accustomed to spending lunch break alone, strolling through the school grounds.

‘It’s okay, I was always alone at cram school.’

I walked along a path lined with cherry blossom trees in full bloom. A warm breeze rustled the leaves, sending delicate petals swirling through the air. Spending time alone like this wasn’t so bad. Quiet, peaceful.

But even in this tranquility, I felt a tinge of loneliness. Did I miss Aya and Mizuki’s company?

‘I could join the student council, but… I don’t think I can be like the protagonist.’

I muttered to myself, continuing my walk. Just then, I stopped, my gaze fixed on an extraordinary figure.

Yukikawa Reina, the Angel of the Masses.

She sat quietly on a bench beneath a cherry blossom tree, bathed in sunlight. Her impeccable uniform and shimmering platinum blonde hair seemed to glow.

‘She really does… have a different aura.’

There was a reason she was called the Angel of the Masses. While not academically or athletically gifted, she was universally loved. Was she coming from the infirmary? I was curious, but I lacked the courage to ask. And I didn’t want to seem rude by walking around her, so I decided to just walk past.

“Kurosawa-san.”

But Reina-senpai had noticed me. I turned to meet her gaze. Her eyes, as always, were soft and warm. She closed her book and beckoned me over.

“Are you taking a walk alone?”

I smiled sheepishly and nodded. “Yes, Aya and Mizuki are preparing for the club orientation… so I’m walking by myself.”

“I see.” Reina-senpai looked at me for a moment, then patted the space beside her on the bench. “Would you like to sit and chat for a bit?”

I couldn’t refuse her invitation. I sat down beside her and glanced around. “Senpai, do you… often read here?”

Reina nodded, a gentle smile on her face. “Yes, I’m often in the infirmary because of my health, but I also enjoy quiet moments outside like this.”

She smiled, basking in the sunlight. For a moment, I felt like time had stopped. Like her younger sister, she had a captivating presence. Blood runs thicker than water, as they say.

“Do you like being alone, Kurosawa-san?”

I hesitated, then nodded honestly. “Um… it’s not that I like it, but I’m more used to being alone.”

Reina tilted her head slightly. “But you have good friends by your side.”

“That’s true… but sometimes, I feel… self-conscious, because they’re so special.”

Reina-senpai smiled at my quiet confession. “Even special people appreciate having someone close to them… Isn’t that another kind of special?”

I pondered her words, looking at her. Her gentle smile seemed to envelop me in a warm embrace.

“You’re a special person too, Kurosawa-san. Asakura-san and Aya know that.”

I smiled slightly, touched by her words. ‘This is why she’s called the Angel of the Masses…’ Her gentle voice was comforting.

“By the way… are you participating in the club orientation, senpai?” I asked, noticing the gold student council insignia on her collar.

Reina-senpai smiled and shook her head. “I’ll probably just be helping out in the student council room. I’m a third-year, after all.”

“Ah… I see…”

We sat in comfortable silence, chatting until the bell rang. It was a pleasant, heartwarming moment, the quiet companionship easing my loneliness.

‘This… is Reina-senpai’s charm…’

“Well, I should head back,” I said.

“Me too,” she replied, standing up.

We exchanged brief goodbyes, and I returned to the classroom. As I opened the door, I was met by Aya, already seated, her gaze fixed on me. She smiled, but there was a coldness in her eyes.