For the disclaimer and the story's note, you can find it in the first chapter.
Chapter 03
Arriving at the Raizen High school, I marveled the glorious building of Japanese educational institute. It was just like in the anime, if you are curious. The four stories building was painted white and the windows were lining neatly, reflecting the sun light. The middle part was painted in brown color with a single massive clock greets the students who enter the school vicinity, sometimes mocking the late comers and making them aware what is awaiting them in their class; embarrassment and punishment.
Though, this morning felt different somewhat. The vivid sensation of something big was going to happen could be felt on skin, irritating me. Even if I knew what the source was, this feeling obviously testing my patience.
Shaking my head, I cleared the useless thoughts out of my mind. Then, I went to the building without making a sound. Not even my step produced sound as I walked.
I ignored the whispers around me. They came from my female seniors and the female students in my year. There were also some oblivious girls and boys who were curious about me as I was the center of the senior's attention. It was easy to understand they were the freshmen.
'...I wonder how many days until they are converted...' I mused absent-mindedly.
Since last year, the student body was split into two. First was the one who became my admirer, 100% of this category is belonged to the female student population. Second was those who hated me, 100% of this category is the male population.
To be honest, I found it was irritating. To be the center of attention exhausted my mind. I would be happy if they just ignore me and let me alone. But, such thing was only a wishful thinking.
After the short awkward walk, I was glad I finally arrived inside the building. I did not want to pull another unnecessary attention and I immediately went to my shoe locker. My locker was in the upper column, the third row from the further side. It was convenient since I did not need to bow or crouch to access it.
Taking my indoor shoes, I took off my black leather shoes and then I wore the indoor ones. After that, I put my leather shoes inside the empty locker and locked it. My next plan was to check the news board to find my class.
The first floor was bustling with students. They crowded in front of a very wide board. I felt uncomfortable as I found out how many female students around. However, I must check my class. Thankfully, the students were busy finding their class and they have yet to notice me.
I knew I am supposedly in class 2-C, the canon Shidou's class as a sophomore student. But, I was not confident that it would end up just like in the Light Novel. Because my selfish choice and the after effect of said choice, I could not follow the canon plot blindly. I even felt wary to believe canon information with face value.
Calming my anxiety, I decided to check the board from behind the others. This was my way to stay inconspicuous.
There were wide papers with class name and the name of students who entered in to. Unfortunately, I could only see the upper half while the lower half was blocked by the students in front of me.
I felt bitter feeling in my heart. I have tried to be anonymous, but it seemed I could not see the exact class I was in if I stayed in the back. However, I felt wary what my rabid admirers would do to me, if they find me, in a cramped space like this. Groping me in inappropriate place was something that usually happened when I and my admirers were trapped in a cramped space. Sometimes, I felt scared with their aggressiveness.
In the end, I have decided to enhance my hearing with mana. Then, I tried to hear everybody in the vicinity. I hoped somebody would let a slip where my class was. Unfortunately, in my haste, I forgot an important fact of this method...
"Kyaaa! I hope I can be Itsuka-kun's classmate!"
"In your dream! I'm going to be Itsuka-sama's classmate!"
"Please! Please! Whatever deity outta here! Make me in the same class with Itsuka-kun! I am going to make him mine this year!"
My eyebrow twitched. In this world, it was an instinctual muscle reaction, which I found out whenever somebody was annoyed. Even I was not spared from this ridiculous natural law.
The speakers of those absurd proclamations were all girls. I felt slight apprehension for my own safety. Hearing those useless chatters was the only flaw of this method. To be honest, I did not want to hear any of it anymore. At first, it was flattering, but it turned creepy as a month had passed and the girls became more obsessed with me.
I was not somebody who was cut to be a center of attention. I did not have the foundation to be a well-known idol and neither have I had a narcissistic personality. I was not Miku Izayoi for goodness' sake! I was somebody who was comfortable being left alone, with only small circle of friends I could trust and count on. It was understandable if I felt those admirers were more harm than good to my health.
Resisting the urge to sigh, I strained my ears. I tried to find where was my class was just from their conversation.
"Uaaaaaaa! I am not in Itsuka-sama's class! God! What sin I have committed until you punish me with this injustice!"
'...Oy, oy, it was only a class placement. Do not act like you are a victim of cruel injustice!' My mind automatically gave a Tsukkomi[1] to the voice's owner. Her voice sounded truly miserable, something to exaggerated and overly dramatic for a mere class placement.
"Ahh, *hiks* I am in the same class with Itsuka-kun! I'm happy, really happy! I can die without regret now!"
'...she said something both foolish and scary. Apologize to your parents who raised you until now because your life goal is pitiful!'
"Huehehehehe! I and Itsuka-kun are in the same class! Now, my plan to make him impregnate me becomes easy!"
Shiver traveled on my spine as I heard the outrageous statement.
I noted in my mind I needed to put up my guard while I was in the class. No, it was not enough! I must stay on my guard in the school all the time.
Those were the voice of my admirers, the fan girls. This was the reason why I hated, no, despised them. Should not they think over their future more than think some crimes like that? Honestly, the simple-mindedness of this generation amazed me and made me scared. What would happen in the future if the young generation acts irrational like this? I am sacred for Japanese's future for the next few decades.
Besides the girls' voice, I also heard some comment from the boys. And those comments were anything but pleasant...
"Kukukuku... I'm not in that bastard Ikemen's[2] class! Now, I have a chance to graduate from being a single! Now, you won't screw my plan to graduate from being a virgin, Itsuka!"
"Shit! Shit! Shit! Why I must become Itsuka's classmate! Can I kill him without any repercussion?"
"Why? Oh, why god! Why you put the girl I like in that accursed Mr. Perfect's class! This is the end of my life! No way! She will fall for that bastard's charm! Just rot in deepest pit of hell Itsuka!"
I did not give any Tsukkomi to the boys comment. My Tsukkomi for the morning have been used up for the girls'. Nevertheless, I felt slightly depressed with my chaotic high school life.
'...there's no use, no use at all. Jealousy can blind someone, it makes them irrational and mad...' I mused bitterly. It was really hard to be the Mr. Popular. Even though I have imagined and yearned to be one in my previous life, after falling in this predicament, I hoped I am just a simple student. But alas... what happen happens. I could only ignore it and focused to my real problem, the problem with the Spirit.
So far, I heard some students mentioned my name, either in admiration or contempt, but I have yet heard where my class was. Hopefully, I would hear it from someone else instead of checking it by myself. The ground zero with many love-struck girls and jealous boys was hazardous for my health. Even a stupid person, as long as they have life-preservation instinct, they could see it easily.
"Kyaaaaa! I'm in the same class with Itsuka-kun! We're together in Class 2-C!"
"Hee? How lucky! I ended in Class 2-B! Let's exchange our class!"
"No way!"
I perked slightly when I heard that conversation. It was very convenient! Was this because my pure luck? Or was this the so called plot convenience? I honestly did not care, as long I could go away from this open space soon, I was a happy man.
'...thank you for your kindness, author-sama!' I showed my sincere gratitude in my heart. Then, I hastily retreated to the further back of the crowd, still trying to be inconspicuous as possible. Then, I went to the second floor, where my class supposedly was.
As I climbed the stairs, I passed some female students. This year and senior students' face lit up bright red. It was because the blood-rush from the quickened heartbeat by excitement and nervousness. The blood rush was very noticeable because Oriental pale skin.
When I found this fact, I was like a man that found enlightenment. Finally I could unlock the mystery behind the famous blushing face in the anime or the manga. Though it was not very red, which was over exaggeration in the anime and the manga, at least this was how the real life blush looks.
If you find it is hard to comprehend, you can just force your friend running so far until your friend is dead tired, and then you could comprehend what I meant. You will see the real life blush if you follow my advice!
Now, let's moving on...
Besides the sophomore and senior students, I also passed some freshmen. Just like what I have seen in the school entrance, they were oblivious of my current status and they acted just normally around me, as if I was just a normal student, albeit slightly eye-catching. They showed admiration, which was I believed because my Ikemen look and tall height, but it was just a simple admiration. And I hoped it would stay like that until a year passed.
'...it won't happen...' I mused gloomily, already giving up before the fight starts.
I was a realist and I knew very well just how bad the Itsuka Virus spread over the school's female population. It was only the matter of time until my zealous admirers spread their belief and they would convert these pure souls into faithful fan girls. I was also aware the male freshmen would focus their hostility to me later after they found the girl they liked falling for other boy, namely me.
As much as I was annoyed, I have decided to ignore it in the end.
In the past, I had tried to stop this annoyance but it proved futile and waste of my time, the time that should have become productive to neutralize my death flag.
Before I knew it, I have already been standing in front of my class. My sight fixated on the door's handle. I could hear the chattering sound from the inside.
Before I opened the door, I shut myself from the world. It was needed to keep my annoyance at bay. After I was ready, I opened the door slowly, almost timidly.
Just like that, the chattering sounds I have heard from the outside turned silent. Every set of eyes zeroed to my direction, the curious look immediately turned into both adoration and contempt. I could help but feel anxious. To tell the truth, I have yet been comfortable with this treatment.
I went to the empty desk in the back row, next to the window. In front of the desk, I saw familiar boy with spiky black hair. Furthermore, his black hair was glistening from the massive amount of gel. After all, it was not possible to have that kind of hair style in the real world except when you use ton of gel.
His appearance was like a normal Japanese boy with pale skin and black hair. He was tall for a Japanese native, which was usually short. He was also focused on to his smartphone, likely busy playing a dating simulator.
As you think, he was Hiroto Tonomachi, Shidou's best friend.
I put my school bag on the empty desk and then I greeted Tonomachi: "Good morning, Tonomachi."
However... A pair of black irises stared me with contempt.
And then... "Tch, damned Riajuu. Can't he just die in some explosion already?!" Tonomachi whispered under his breath, scornfully.
Oy! That was not how you reply somebody who greets you politely!
I felt a small prick in my heart after I heard Tonomachi's low whisper. He could think I was not hearing his curse to me, but my enhanced hearing could hear it clearly. This small pain was likely because how rude he was to me. Even though I and Tonomachi have never been an official best friend, heck we are not even acquaintance, I have thought him as one. I feel like I am being betrayed here.
Though I was a loner, I treasure the bond I have made with others. To me, who was alone as Edward and did not have anyone close to me, a bond I have made with others is very precious. That bond made me feel complete.
"Just leave me alone. Can you see I am busy with my girlfriend?" Tonomachi waved his hand, where his smartphone was, mildly.
"Of...course, Tonomachi. Sorry for disturbing your activity." I turned my body, my back facing the class in this position. I enhanced hearing can hear the bustling whisper from our altercation.
"Good, Hiroto! That was how you should do it!"
"Good job! I am glad Hiroto put that bastard down few pegs!"
"Why don't you throw that accursed Ikemen out of the window and let him just die!"
"Heh, the fire in my heart is soothed looking at Mr. Perfect's miserable face!"
I was not sure if my face showed miserable expression because Tonomachi's rudeness. However, I was sure right now my face shows miserable expression slightly frommy male classmates' contempt!
"How dare you being rude to Itsuka-sama, you low life!"
"Let's plan a nasty payback to Hiroto for Itsuka-kun's sake!"
"My big brother is the boss of gangster, should I call him to get red that stain who dares harming Itsuka-kun?"
"Don't worry, my uncle is a Yakuza[3] boss, I have texted him to clean the maggot over there. Hiroto Tonomachi is no more from tomorrow onwards."
Scary! These girls have scary mind!
I did not feel happy for my admirers' unquestionable zeal for me. On the contrary, I felt truly miserable because of them. Unbeknownst by them, they were assassinating my social life!
I sat on my seat, threw my face to the window, and watched the clear blue sky silently. I tuned down the useless chatter around me.
Just like that, I have lost the sense of time. Watching the fluffy white clouds drift afloat in the sky has eased my anxiety and apprehension for today. Now, I understood why Nara Shikamaru from **ruto anime and manga franchise liked the could-watching. It was therapeutic in some way.
"A...ano, excuse me..."
A soft spoken tone destroyed my precious peace. I felt a slight irritation, but I held it back. I felt pride for my self-restraint and it shone at the moment like this! At the same time, I found the class has become silent. There was not a sound in vicinity.
'...just what happens?'
I turned my eyes to the owner of the soft voice next to me. When I saw her, my eyes open wide in surprise. Not only me, but the girl was also surprised. I was sure of it because her blue irises dilated when she saw my face. Her breath also became rough.
"A...ah?" A startled, yet soft, voice escaped the girls who sat on the seat next to mine.
She was a young, attractive female with blue eyes, and long, silvery-white hair reaching down to her waist with three hair-clips in the right part of her front bangs. Her facial structure was the mix between western and oriental, crafted in unparalleled beauty. Her slender body was clad in a Raizen High girl uniform like the other female students.
I could not help but feel incomprehensible shock when I saw her.
She was no other than Tobiichi Origami, not from the canon time line but from the new time line after Shidou messed up the time line and created a paradox.
"Eh...?" A startled voice escaped my lips without my consent. It showed how surprised I was, just like Origami next to me.
'...what in the world?' My mind could only pitifully ask to no one with this unpredictable outcome. 'Just what have happened with this world?'
To Be Continued
[1]: Tsukkomi: retort.
[2]: Ikemen: good looking boy/man.
[3]: Yakuza: Japanese Mafia.