A/N. Hey, so I realize that some people really want me to continue this story. Sorry about there being no updates, a lot of stuff happened. Anyway, stay safe and wash your hands everyone, and enjoy the story.
A new morning. A new beginning. That's right, this is the start of my new life.
I decided to switch schools following "that incident". More accurately, I transferred a couple weeks after. The day the rumors started spreading, I knew it was only going to get worse. That's why I immediately started on the paperwork necessary for the transfer. It wasn't easy, considering my mom was especially mad and confused at that sudden decision. I decided to let some of that notorious "evil aura" out and confessed that I have been thinking about it for a while and succeeded in convincing her. I did say a goodbye to Pansy, but that was it. No heartfelt goodbye, no "let's meet again" with anyone. Who would I even say those things to? Certainly not the bitches and assholes who used me.
"Haaah. I shouldn't be thinking of them so early in the morning." The new school I had transferred to wasn't near, but it wasn't far either. It was basically a train ride away. While I did miss needing to only walk to get to school, this wasn't so bad. Best of all I wouldn't be hit on my back everyday by some bimbo. "Not good, I promised myself I would forget about them." As I talked to myself, I saw a few students look at my direction. I shrugged it off.
Oh yeah, I also decided to let go and not put up the kind image I had before.
Basically, that didn't really work out in the last school. All it got me was more trouble than if I had actually just minded my own business. So I decided to just let go and let things come naturally. Granted, I'm not really some pure evil type magnificent bastard that I would be rude to everyone I just met or something like that. I am still capable of doing good deeds, it's just that I won't hold myself back anymore if something pisses me off.
"Yeah, I don't really care about images anymore. At least I won't be ostracized here anymore." I got off the train station along with my fellow students, though the way that they looked at me tells me that they heard me mumbling to myself. Come to think of it, they were wearing the same uniform as me. Guess this school really does attract attention. I thought I was the only one dumb enough to go to a school so far away when there was one within walking distance, but I guess not.
"Nice to meet you, my name is Kisaragi Amatsuyu. I am in your care." Yep, those are my introductions, as standard and cliche as it could get.
"Heeeh, that's a long name dude." Some guy at the back decided to blurt out.
"Tch, and I thought the new transfer student was going to be a girl!" Another one complained. Sorry I didn't meet your expectations then.
"Doesn't matter, look at him, he looks cute, like a puppy." Some cheers of praise to balance it out I guess, not that I really care.
"Actually, you can call me Joro. It comes from removing 月 from my name. It's easier that way."
"I see. Once again, nice to meet you, Joro-kun. You can take the seat at the back."
I proceed to the back as instructed, and quietly work my way through the lessons. I did miss a few weeks of school but this is a lot of material! I recognize the last lessons from my previous school, but in each subject there's a gap of at least five lessons between what I knew then and what I'm supposed to be studying now!
"Seems like you're having some trouble there." My seatmate seemed to notice my plight.
"Don't worry about it. I can manage."
"No, no, that won't do. Here." Before I knew it, a notebook appeared on my table, complete with all the relevant notes for the lessons. "You can borrow that for now. Feel free to copy what's in there after class."
"Th-thank you." To think that there were kind people in this world. God hasn't abandoned me after all.
"Yasuo. Yasuo Hozuki, but you can call me Hose. Nice to meet you, Joro." With that, it seems I have made myself a new friend.
"Li-likewise. Anyway, thanks. I'll be sure to return the notebook afterwards." The lessons flew by after that, and before I knew it, it was already lunchtime. I finish copying (taking pictures) Hose's notes then go for lunch. It seems he went out before me so I'll just give his notebooks back later. I grab a sandwich and a can of juice for my lunch. I spotted Hose going back to the room so I decide to catch up to him.
Unfortunately, I'm still unfamiliar with the school layout and ended up coming into the wrong room by mistake.
"Hose... whoops. Wrong room... excuse me..." I try to close the door but their gazes were all directed at me. I figured it wouldn't make a good impression if I just ignored that.
It turns out Hose was visiting a few friends. Well, it's not all that surprising. I'm the transfer student with no friends here.
"Oh, is that the new transfer student? What brings you here?" The girl with pink hair styled into loops asked.
"My bad. I got into the wrong room by mistake."
"Really? But you were saying Hose's name just now?" Another girl with short light blue hair asked.
"Ehehe. I thought I saw Hose come into the room. I just wanted to thank him for lending his notes."
"Don't worry about it, Joro. Why don't you go introduce yourselves since you're here already?"
"Ah, right. I'm Amatsuyu Kisaragi, but you can call me Joro."
"Then I'm Momo Sakurabara, the student council president. You can call me Cherry." The girl with pink hair explained it came from removing 原 from her name.
"I'm Runa Kusami. I don't have a title position." She said that with so much confidence. "Hmm, actually, I am childhood friends with Hose, so there's that. Call me Tsukimi if you want." Finished the blue haired girl in turn, apparently coming from removing 草 from her name and swapping the characters around.
"Nice to meet you two. Well, I'll get going then so I won't bother you having lunch."
"Lunch? Aha. Ahaha. Ahahaha..." For some reason, a black aura seemed to radiate from Cherry-san. And how, there was a stack of papers on her desk with no lunch in sight.
"Uhmm... is there a problem?"
"Oh, it's nothing. Just a pile of budgeting paperwork the clubs decided to file at the last minute. You know, simple stuff."
"Oh, is that all?"
"Yeah, and to top it all off I even forgot my bento back home! It's like they don't want me to even eat!" Cherry-san looked like a crazy woman who had been pushed to her limits.
"Now, now, Cherry, it's not nice to use him to vent out your frustrations." Sexual innuendo aside, Hose did have a point. Well, she looked pitiful though, so I didn't mind.
"Sorry, sorry. But Hose and Tsukimi, you won't even help."
"Well, I sort of have my plate full at the moment." Hose admitted to her.
"Don't say plate!"
"Besides, as the student council president, don't you think it's your responsibility to finish all that?" Tsukimi interrupted.
"Actually, if it's paperwork like that,maybe I can help." I know that I didn't need to get involved, and that I might be doing another unnecessary good deed, but I'm not so cold-hearted that I can ignore such an obvious cry fro help. Besides, these people weren't really pushing my buttons yet, and I did owe Hose a favor.
"Really? Then if you can sort this out really quickly I would very much appreciate it. The materials are all on the desk. I'm just going to go grab some lunch, okay? It'll be quick I promise!" Some of those words were barely audible, considering she was already saying them while sprinting through the hallway.
"Sorry about this. Cherry gets like that when she is stressed about something."
"Yeah, I can tell. It's not nice to put down so much stress on a person." It hurts that I'm speaking from experience, but at the same time I'm relieved that we can all take a load off our shoulders.
"What is this?" I hold a piece of paper detailing the school's budget. More precisely, the school's budget for one club. To think that they can spare this much! I look at the overall budget and, sure enough, their budget has an extra digit compared to the one from my previous school. With this, it's going to be really easy sorting out the money each club needs, and then some. I proceed to go to work.
"I'm baack! Sorry it took so long." Said Cherry-san with bread still in her mouth.
"Umm, Cherry-san?" I took a deep breath
"Yes, Joro-kun? I can take over now."
"No, it's not that. Actually, yeah, feel free to check if I did it correctly." I stood up from the chair to let her sit down. "How do you balance a budget this big?"
"Oh that? Well let's see your work first." She scanned the forms I made and seemed satisfied with them. I did follow her guidelines that she left on the table. "I see. You're hired."
"Eh?"
"About your question, usually it ends up back to the school funds. To be honest, they just spend it all on an end of the year festival, so they can say that they spent it all and can request the same amount for the following year."
"Huh?"
"More importantly, I'm very happy with your work. I didn't expect a budget this effective and efficient. To be honest I just thought you were going to divide the budget by the number of clubs or something like that. My bad Joro."
"Eh? No no no, what's this about me being hired?"
"Hmm? To be part of the student council of course! You look like a responsible kid, why not take a position that suits you?"
"Wait, wait wait?! I just budgeted for you?!"
"See, the fact that you can say "just budgeted" might be the reason you're being selected here. It's not an easy job, you know? Plus you did it all in the span of Cherry stuffing her face." Tsukimi backed Cherry-san's proposal.
"Now I know you're just messing with me."
"Joro, don't be like that. Don't devalue your work and make it seem worthless. Still, Cherry, I don't think it's nice that you're forcing a heavy role on him, more so that he just transferred." Luckily, Hose came to my rescue. Is this guy great or what? Also, that bit about my work having value, that was so touching.
"Ahaha. My bad again Joro. But seriously, this is great. Do you have experience with this or something?"
"I used to help with that kind of stuff back at my old school." I didn't realize it, but I had tilted my head down. It was for the better though, I didn't know what kind of face I was making now that I had been reminded of her.
"Really? Then I'll still make my offer. You're free to come by anytime."
"Thank you. Please do a final check just to make sure I did it correctly. I'll take my leave now." I went back to my classroom. By the time I regained my composure lunch had already ended.
Afternoon classes ended quickly. I somehow managed to avoid the "new student attention" and went home quickly. I still hadn't memorized the route so far but it wouldn't hurt to check some places I can hang out in. As I look for such a place, I immediately remember the library. I decide to go home after that, since looking for a place while I'm in a foul mood would only sour my impressions.
As I take the train home, I realize a few things. I already made a few friends so school might not be so bad. But more importantly, the friend I made, Hose, he's perfect, honest and kind. Come to think of it, he's friends with both Cherry-san and Tsukimi-san. The student council president and a childhood friend...
I start sweating. Isn't Hose the type of person that I tried so hard to be?! What is this, divine intervention? God, are You trying to say that it really was possible?
I'm reminded again of the people I left behind. No, the people I never deserved to be with. My mood's turned awful again. But I do realize one thing. I was never cut out to be the "protagonist" or anything like that. I realize that now. In my new school, or even in my old school, I was never the "protagonist". At most, I'm just a side character, so it's not even worth trying anymore. Each time I try to a role not meant for me, I just end up being the only one hurt. I'll just let Hose have the story, I really couldn't care about being the main character anymore. I'll just try to be friends with them, but I won't get involved. Not anymore.
The next week, a new student transfers into our school.
A/N. Feel free to write your thoughts about the story below. It really gives me a boost knowing people care enough about the story to comment on it. Stay safe everyone.