Four years ago, Fumizuki Academy adopted an examination system where the scores are not limited to 100. With this system, students could answer as many questions as they could within the time limit of an hour. A student would then have no limit to how high they could score, the limit instead being the student's own intelligence.

From classes A to F in the second year, the students are ranked based on their intelligence on the placement test at the end of the first year. Fumizuki Academy students can summon a 'shoukanjuu' or 'summoned being' with the being's abilities and strength based on the student's grades. With these, they can battle each other for better school supplies and nicer classrooms, from the luxury Class A with its high-tech facilities and reclining armchairs to the derelict Class F with its forlorn tatami mats and crumbling coffee table.

At the end of the first year, the Academy held a placement test for students from across the city and country that were moving into the Fumizuki Academy area and wished to transfer. Many students arrived for the test – from as north as Aomori and as east as Chiba – and sat it successfully. Apart from one, who spent it sleeping.

To: Nanako Sato
From: Karin Sato

Dear Mom,
We have an urgent issue. I'm not even kidding – I don't care if you're drunk – this is honestly serious. What's going to happen now? I fell asleep during the placement exam. I had barely started and then I felt my eyelids closing, and everything becoming so much more serene—
But that's not the point! What if they don't even accept me? They totally should now, seeing as I live 10 minutes walk away, but I have a perfectly good place at Kazuhiro High School. Why would they accept someone who seems like she can barely keep her eyes open during an extremely important test?
The ironic thing is I was studying the night before. Studying so late it came back and bit me in the ass! When you come down next, you're sleeping on the couch by the way. I can't be bothered to move. When is that by the way? You didn't come down last weekend, so technically you should come down and visit this weekend. By the way, I'm going to visit Akira and Akihisa this evening!
Can you believe Akira's already graduated? Time flies ~ And Akihisa is going to be in my year at the Academy. Here's hoping he's got some brains and we're not in the same class. Anyway, I'll see you next weekend! Have fun!

Love, Karin.

P.S. Can I have some more money? I want to buy new pillows.

To: Karin Sato
From: Nanako Sato

Honey,
I can't visit this weekend. Your aunt booked us all tickets for the theatre. Chiharu is asking after you – she says that there's a fantastic film festival in three weeks that you would absolutely adore. So instead of me coming down, how about you come and stay in Osaka for a while? The train is just over two hours, to get here, so you could get the 4:30 train from Fumizuki's main station and be here at quarter to seven. Fujiko was on the computer last night looking at it. You could go back down on Sunday evening, it would be excellent!
I'm so sorry to hear about your news! I'm sure that they will accept you – the new flat is so close now that they can't exactly refuse, remember how hard it was to get you into Kazuhiro High because we lived so far away? It'll be fine, I'm sure. You just might end up being in the lowest class or whatever. You can always retake the exams, honey. There's plenty of time, and you're only in the second year at the moment.
Damn right that's ironic. Tell the Yoshii siblings that I said hello. Akira was only starting university a few years ago! I remember it, you were in middle school then, about to start your second year! I still have the photos from when we all dropped her off at the orientation – oh, the good times that they were. Frankly I'm not buying that Akihisa's brain power has increased all too much. Might just be wishful thinking. At least if he's in your class then you will know someone, right?
Tell me as soon as possible if going to Osaka is in your plans. We'll book the tickets for you, and then Chiharu can get you into that film festival. Bring a new friend!

Love, Mom xo

P.S. I sent it to your account. We need to sort out your budget. Maybe I should come and live there full time?

To: Nanako Sato
From: Karin Sato

Dear Mom,
I'm pretty sure that I'll be coming to Osaka. Tell Chiharu that I'll definitely be there, and tell Fujiko that I said hi. I can't wait to see you guys! Mom, I miss you. It's been too long. But I'll see you soon, and I can't wait. I love bullet trains too. The 4:30 train sounds cool – I just looked at my timetable, and I finish at half past three so I should have plenty of time if I take the subway to the station.
When we bought the flat, did they mention that there were going to be X-rated activities underground? It was only when some crazy lady came up to me yesterday and asked me if I was looking for a good time when I came home from Akihisa's place that I realised there's some kind of underground lap dance place that's been going on for ages. She was about to come in the lift and everything. I'm straight. I'm sixteen. Is this woman freaking mental?
Akira is so grown up. It's been three years since I've seen them both. And Akihisa is so grown up too. He's not all that tall though, and he's still as stupid as he ever was. On that subject, we're in the same class!
I got into Class F, by the skin of my teeth. Good Christ, the reluctance that was in the woman's voice in that phone call. But I'm still in, and I start tomorrow – in the same class as Hisa-chan. Wish me luck!

Love, Karin.

P.S. Ha, no worries on that one, Mom. You just stick to sending me money for pillows and drinking your sake. Love you.

To: Akira Yoshii
From: Karin Sato

Akira!
It's just me, Karin. I wanted to say how awesome and healthy you look since we last saw you – you look even more beautiful than when we dropped you off at orientation! I've really missed you guys since then, and it was really great to see you yesterday. Thank you for cooking by the way, it was delicious. Maybe we should cook together at some point…?
I also wanted to add that if Akihisa wants to meet me on the way to the Academy on Monday morning, then that would be great. I'll be waiting outside your house at 7:40 tomorrow ~ So he doesn't actually really have a choice. I need to be with someone that I know, preferably. I would e-mail him, but I don't know his address and honestly I don't know if he's literate enough to make one yet. So pass this on, please!
Thank you, lots of love!

Karin.

To: Karin Sato
From: Akira Yoshii

Ah, Karin, sweetie.
Thank you so much! I've missed you guys too, and I know Akihisa was happy to see his childhood friend again after these few years! My university years were great, by the way, and I'll show you some pictures if you have time. You really think my cooking was good? I'd love to show you how to cook sometime – Akihisa always seems to have some kind of weird reaction to my cooking. He's a strange boy.
I've passed your message on and despite his protests he will be walking with you tomorrow, so I'll see you out on the doorstep at 7:40 like you said. I'll make you some take-away breakfast! And in answer to your question, it's .jp and I had to make it for him for family purposes. He's not really up to speed with e-mailing, etc. I hear he goes on Messenger once in a while though. Knock yourself out.
Hugs, Akira!(:

"Akihisa, get your ass out here!" I said, tapping the clock on the screen of my mobile phone. "You don't want to be late, do you? Not on the first day of the year?"
"I don't get there until 9 most days! And it's only the first day of the year for you! I've been going for a week!"
"Calm down, now…"
"I truly hate you for this, and Akira told me to give you breakfast, so here you go," he handed me a cup of instant ramen.

"Your sister isn't cooking?"

"I talked her out of it."
"It's not that bad," I shrugged. "She just has an individual palette."
"All those Japanese studies at Kazuhiro really made you a smart-ass, huh, Sato-chan?"

"Maybe I'm just smart. Ever considered that?"

"Well… no, not really. You're in Class F."
"Hey! That was a fluke!"
"Either way, can you walk behind me a bit, I don't want us to walk into school together."
"Why not?"
"People will talk. They'll think we're walking together," Akihisa said, ever so seriously.

"Hate to break it to you, Hisa-chan, but our legs are moving, one after the other, and we're next to each other, so we ARE walking together."
"HOW ABOUT YOU QUIT CALLING ME HISA-CHAN? And I don't mean walking together, and I mean walking together," he explained, eating the ramen with his bunny chopsticks. "They were a gift," he added, noticing me looking.

"Walking together?"
"Yeah, you know, like together," he said, adding extra emphasis on the word.
"Oh, like together together," I realised, catching on.
"Yes, you idiot! Do you want that?"
"Not particularly but it's just the rumour mill, I mean—"
"Exactly! I'll get killed!"

"By who exactly?"
"The FFF! They'll slaughter me! Bachelors on a mission, I tell you! Listen to me!"
"You'll get over it."
"ARE YOU KIDDING ME?"

"You know, since I last saw you, Hisa-chan, you got some real anger problems!"
"You make me angry, that's all."
"Oh please. I'd make you angry if I told everyone about your bad habits and baby pictures and porn magazines."
"I don't have any—h-hi, Himeji-san," Akihisa got distracted as we walked into the school gates by some busty broad and pink hair and equally rosy cheeks. Himeji-san, huh?

"Good morning, Yoshii-kun! It's a beautiful sunny day, isn't it?"
"Good morning, H-Himeji-san," he replied sheepishly, one hand on the back of his hip and one limply by his side, a faint shade of pink spreading across his cheeks too.
"Who's your friend?" she said, a hint of her tone turning menacing. Looks like the rumour mill just happened to get a little bit deadly at this school.
"She's an old family friend," Akihisa shrugged.
"Come upstairs then, Akihisa! I trust she's in a different class," Himeji nodded sweetly.

"Actually, I'm in Class F," I said, noting her tone and stepping on the other side of Akihisa. "I'll get to see you a lot, what was it, Shimeji?"
"Himeji," she corrected with that irritating voice. I was sure I'd like her at some point in the future – but today just was not going to be it.

In Class F, I sat down against the wall, in front of Akihisa's tiny table and behind my own, propping my bag next to me. The place was a breeding ground for some kind of termites, and it was the most uncomfortable place I think I'd ever been in. Himeji sat herself down on so delicately next to Hisa-chan, and hung on to his every word, her voice dripping with cuteness.

We waited, slightly early, for a homeroom teacher or another student or something, and it was around eight fifteen when I looked around and saw somebody else come into the room.
"Good morning all," a soft voice said, coming in and tossing a rucksack to the ground. He checked his nails in an effeminate way and kneeled down, completing the little square that we were sat in.
"Mornin', Hideyoshi," Yoshii greeted him. "The transfer students join today."
"Good morning, Kinoshita-san!" Himeji grinned.

"Morning, you two. I'm Hideyoshi Kinoshita," he said.
"Good morning. I'm Karin Sato," I bowed lazily. "Transferred from Kazuhiro."
"Nice to meet you," he said.
"You too."

"Ah, I'm so lucky to be sat in a classroom with the two cutest girls in our year! …And it's cool to have you here too, Karin," Akihisa said, happily resting his head on his hands. I turned to Hideyoshi.

"GIRL?" we chorused.
"Wait, and I'm not cute?" I added.
"Yes, girl, obviously," Yoshii said like it was blatantly obvious.
"I swear you were a guy," I said, confused.
"I am," Hideyoshi said, rubbing his face in his hands in frustration.

"And you're too old to be cute," he turned to me.
"I'm sixteen," I said flatly.
"I mean, you've been around for too long," he shook his head as if he was thinking of the right words.
"Can you even speak the Japanese language?"

"My Special Education teacher in middle school said that my brain was just a little bit late developing. Speaking of late developing…"
"Good morning, Minami!" Hideyoshi said, turning to a purple-headed bow who looked down at Akihisa with a burning glare, one hand on her hip and the other adjusting a large yellow bow in her hair.

"I heard that," she stated flatly.
She stood at just over average height, with model-like long legs and pretty big green eyes.
"Minami Shimada," she stuck her hand out towards me, giving me a friendly look of moderate approval.

"Karin Sato," I shook it. "I just transferred here from Kazuhiro High School over on the other side of town."
"She's Akihisa's childhood friend," said Himeji vehemently, her happy attitude disappearing again as she rethought the events of our walk up to the class.
"Um… okay," Minami said, unfazed, nudging up to sit between me and Hideyoshi. "Good morning, everyone."
"There's only two people left to turn up," Hideyoshi said, checking his nails again.

"Who?" I said.
"Well, one of them is—Good morning, Muttsulini!" Akihisa said, waving his hand happily at the newcomer to the group.
"Mm," he said, nodding his head full of blue hair and sitting down, pulling a camera out of his school bag and tapping the buttons deftly. A social one, I see.

"Muttsulini, good morning," grinned Hideyoshi.
"No pictures!" said Himeji, stuttering on her words slightly and crossing her arms over her chest self-consciously.
"Almost, almost," Muttsulini slid across the floor towards Himeji's legs as she began talking to Minami, camera in hand and perverted expression on his face. She snapped her legs shut.

"Are you having a bad day, Mizuki?" Minami asked.
"I'm on a diet," Himeji patted her perfect stomach and looked towards the floor. "You're so lucky that you're so skinny, Minami-chan."
"Skinny up and down," Akihisa snorted. "Ah, my spine! YOU PSYCHO! You're going to break it in two!"

"Canadian Backbreaker Drop, this one was, Akihisa, first thing on a Monday morning," Minami explained, dropping to the ground and watching Akihisa roll around in pain.
"Well isn't this a lovely morning gathering," said a deep unenthusiastic voice from the door.

"And Yuji to complete the scene," commented Hideyoshi, who I decided I liked. A tall, masculine boy with spiky red hair walked over and sat between Himeji and Akihisa. I had to hold back a laugh at the overly feminine's girl hurt appearance.

"Good morning," Hideyoshi nodded. Kouta grunted and Minami mumbled something whilst flicking through a book.
"Good morning, Yuji!" said Akihisa cheerfully.
"Good morning," he nodded. "Who's this?" he indicated in my general direction.

"Oh, that's just Karin," Akihisa said matter-of-factly. "She transferred here from Kazuhiro across the city. She's alright."
"Yuuji Sakamoto, Class Representative."
"Resident smart-ass," Minami added.

"Right guys, let's stop playing around. It's time to seriously study!" Akihisa said, holding up his pencil to the sky in determination. This was accompanied by a hearty laugh from the other students, Yuji snapping it in half and Hideyoshi sweeping away the pieces with his hand.

I think I like this class. And we haven't even got started yet.