Chapter 8: School Life

I check myself in the mirror.

Ugh.

I haven't worn my Gakuran school uniform in ages.

Straight-leg black trousers and a black belt.

A stuffy white collar shirt.

And a black blazer with my school's emblem on its golden buttons.

After washing my face for the fifth time, I sigh and exit the bathroom.

"Aqua, I'm leaving now! There's food in the fridge, just microwave it! And don't do anything stupid!"

"Yeah, yeah, just leave already!"

I was a bit worried about leaving Aqua on her own in my house while I went to school, but hopefully, all the games I've left for her to play should be enough to distract her until I come home.

I pick up my randoseru schoolbag and prepare to leave.

Alright! I'm going to face my fears head-on!

No more delaying!

I burst open the door and head to school.

"I'm heading out!"

….

Hmm.

Many thoughts are running through my head, as I stand outside my classroom.

All the memories rush through me, making me feel nauseous.

Do I really have to do this?

I ask that question as I open the door.

Thirty-six pairs of eyes turn to me.

Silence.

Ignore them. Ignore them. Pretend that they are vegetables.

I walk to my desk at the back of the room by the window, and put my head down, hoping the stares cutting into my back would go away.

Hadn't they been taught that staring is rude? Is it that surprising that I came to school?

Slowly, the classroom's atmosphere returned back to the mild chatter, and I could finally relax.

I didn't have any friends in this class. The few friends I had were in different classes, which was part of the reason why I stopped going to school.

I sigh and look out the window. I wonder what Aqua's doing.

A few minutes later, the principal walked into the classroom.

"Good morning class! Settle down, settle down!"

You know, you would think that being a principal will make students fear or at least respect you, but it took the principal a good few minutes before he got the class to settle down. Poor guy. He's too meek for his own good.

"Class, today you will be getting a new homeroom teacher, and two new transfer students."

Huh. New students? At this time of the year? Interesting. Maybe he could be friends with them. A clean beginning.

"So, er, new students, please come in and introduce yourselves."

Two girls came in.

"Hello, my name is Fukitsuna Ani, nice to meet you all! I hope we can get along!"

Wow. Isn't she cheerful? She kinda looks like a western idol that I see on TV sometimes.

Long, golden blond hair that reached her elbows, deep blue eyes, and was very, very pretty, with a huge racket too. From my guess, D cup?

Wait, that's creepy, why am I guessing her chest size?

"The name's Li. Nice to meet you people"

Li, on the other hand, felt scary. She radiated a 'don't talk to me' kinda vibe.

Her short jet black hair and bright ruby-red eyes made her kina look like a demon.

Her chest was… lacking.

… Again, why am I thinking about their chests?

After the introductions, the principal opened the floor to questions. Instantly, words were being thrown at the girls.

"Where are you from?"

"What school did you go to before?"

"What's your favourite dish?"

"What are your hobbies?"

As the students crowded around the girls, interested in the two new oddities, I sigh and look out the window. Again.

Fukitsuna was obviously going to join the ranks of the 'popular students'. You could just feel it.

Li was most likely that smart loner kinda person.

After a few minutes of questionnaires, the principal attempted to get the class started.

"Class, class, settle down, settle down! Girls, please choose a seat, I just need to go get the new teacher."

And off he ran.

Li walked straight to the back of the class and sat… beside me?

Ah, I see.A fellow backseat person. Sitting at the back of the class has many benefits, such as teachers almost never calling you to answer, quick naps, quick snacks, and many more.

Should I try talking to her?

Nah. Too much trouble.

Fukitsuna was looking around trying to see where it was best to sit. There weren't many seats free, and most good seats were taken through the seat raffle we had at the start of the school year.

She seemed like the kind to sit at the front and answer all the questions.

A teacher's pet.

A popular girl who's a teacher's pet. Ugh.

Our eyes met.

Crap.

She smiled, and started walking towards me.

Here comes trouble.

The whole class went deadly silent.

"Hello there, what is your name?"

"Satou Kazuma."

I answer in the dullest way and as short as possible.

"My name is Fukitsuna Ani, I'm a new student in this school."

Oh really?! I didn't know! It's not like you had a class introduction literally five minutes ago!

"That's cool."

I don't want to talk to you, lady! Take a hint!

"Satou Kazuma. What a lovely name."

Ok, she definitely wants something from me. Whenever someone compliments me, they want something. I know from personal experience. My poor heart never recovered after that incident.

I decided to grab the bull by the horns.

"Do you need something?"

A little taken back from my straightforwardness, she smiled again and put her hands together, and continued.

"You see, I get lightheaded easily, you know? The doctors told me it's some condition or something."

"Ok."

"And so I need to sit by the window, you know?"

"Ok."

"And it's best to be at the very back, where it's the least stuffy, you know?"

"Ok."

Her smile was starting to get a little strained now.

"So, could I sit where you are sitting, if you would let me? Please?"

She tilted her head 8 degrees to the left, clasped her hands together revealing her slim white wrists, and did puppy eyes at me.

"Pweeeeeeeeeaze?"

I suddenly got an urge to punch her.

How dare she ask me for this seat! I fought tooth and nail for this seat! I had to swipe the vice-principals keys, sneak into the school at night, break into the classroom and rig the raffle to let me win this seat! I ain't giving this up, no matter what.

But, wow. She sure knows how to charm a guy. I'm pretty sure if she did this to any other boy, she could get what she wanted.

But like I said before, I ain't no simp. I've already had personal experience with her techniques, so it is less effective on it.

I think carefully of my response. However, my true thoughts jumped out before I could stop them.

"Shut up, woman. This is my seat, I'm not it giving up. I don't give two shits about your condition, go die for all I care."

The whole class was in shock at my response. Fukitsuna looked like a goldfish, with her mouth open.

I realised I needed to rework what I said.

"Oops, sorry, that was not what I meant to say."

I clear my throat and put the biggest smile on my face to show Fukitsuna.

"Excuse my foul language from before, that was unlike me. However, I myself like where I am sitting due to the benefits it gives. So, sorry, I can not give up this seat."

Silence.

You could hear a pin drop. Then suddenly, the class exploded in anger.

"Satou you trash!"

"Don't mind him Fukitsuna, you can have my seat!"

"How could you treat the new student this way?!"

"I hope you die in hell!"

"Look, you made her cry! You bastard!"

"No wonder no one likes you!"

Damn, she's already got the whole class under her thumb.

I duck as milk cartons and juice boxes are thrown at me.

Beside me, Li sniggers.

Luckily, the principal walked back into the classroom at the right time and calmed the situation down.

The guy in front of me gave up his seat (simp!) to Fukitsuna, and after sticking her tongue out at me, sat down.

The principal clears his throat.

"Well, em, the new teacher is running late, and er, I just remembered that your class will get a third transfer student. Can't believe I've forgotten."

Another one, huh? Three in one day? Did something happen that warranted these sudden transfers?

"So without futher ado, please come in and introduce yourself."

A girl walked in.

Oh no.

With blue hair.

Oh no no no no.

And blue eyes.

Oh no no no no no no no no no no no no no no.

"Hi, my name is Aqua, the Goddess of Water! Nice to meet you!"

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!

I clearly remember telling Aqua to stay at home and entertain herself with my PS4.

And yet here she was, wearing my school's girl uniform (your classic sailor outfit with a black skirt and stockings) and standing in front of the board introducing herself.

And it didn't make sense. How did the school approve so fast of her transfer? How did she fill out the paperwork? How did she even get that uniform?

Please don't cause me trouble, Aqua.

And as if on cue, Aqua spots me.

"Heeeeyyyy, Kazuma! Look, I'm in your class now, isn't that cool?"

I hide my face behind my hands.

"I'm sorry, you've probably got the wrong Kazuma."

Please, get the hint!

"Wa- Kazuma, don't ignore me! I went through so much trouble to get here!"

Oh dear god, please help me.

A student sitting at the front raised his hand.

"Um, Aqua-san, was it? What is your family name?"

"A family name? Goddesses don't have family names! Higher beings like me have only their title name!"

I want to smash my head into the wall. Good job of blending in, Aqua! Why don't you show them your powers too?

I just hope everyone assumes she's a Chūnibyō. I mean, without context, she just sounds like an edgy teenager who's read too much fantasy novels.

Another student continued the conversation.

"Then, what is your parents' family name?"

"Parents' Family name? Hmmmm."

Aqua went into deep thought.

"Parent's Family name… parent's family name… what was her name again…"

The student, baffled at her difficulty to give a family name, decided to ask the principal.

"Hey, teach, what is her family name?"

However, the principal was also baffled.

"Well, um, I have her down as just Aqua-Sama. So, her surname is Sama? Er, Ms Aqua, what would you like us to call you?"

"Well, obviously Aqua-Sama! I'll have nothing less!"

She puffed out her chest in pride.

The whole class just looked confused. Another student put up their hand.

"Er, Aqua...Sama?"

"That is me! What is the question?"

"What is your relationship with Satou-san? You called him 'Kazuma' without honorifics so you must be really close?"

Ah, crap. I knew this question was coming.

Aqua, hearing this question, turned to me and gave me a creepy gloating smile then sent shivers down my back.

Please don't say anything weird please don't say anything weird-

"Well, Kazuma here is my servant. After being in awe of my BEAUTY and my POWER, he pledged life to serve me-"

I explode, and jump up from my seat,

"SERVANT MY ASS! You grabbed onto my leg and wouldn't let go if I didn't help you! Also, what the hell are you doing here? I told you to keep yourself busy with my consoles and stay out of trouble!"

"Wa- Do you know the lengths I had to go to to get into this school? I had to use up all my blackmail material on Eris! You should be grateful I'm here to accompany you, you shut-in neet!"

"Grateful?! GRATEFUL?! That is what you should be to me! All you do is cause trouble for me! Without me, you would still be wandering the streets! All you do is freeload in my house! You-"

A student interrupted our conversation.

"Wait, Satou-san, she lives in your house?"

Well, might as well play my hand and go all in.

"Yeah, she does. It's a complicated matter. Thanks to my BIG HEART and kindness, I let her stay at my house. Even though all she does is lie around, doing nothing, being useless, causing me trouble…"

Aqua burst into tears.

"KAZUMAAAAAAAAAAAA YOU MEANIE! I'm just trying my best…"

And instantly the class was on her side.

"Look, Satou-san made another girl cry."

"What a jerk."

"Trash."

"How can one be this cruel."

The girls all went up to comfort Aqua, while the boys all gave me death stares, whether from jealously that Aqua was living with me or hatred because I made her cry, I have no idea.

The principal gave up on trying to understand what was going on and left.

Aqua was still bawling her eyes out.

And in the midst of all the chaos, the new teacher arrived, out of breath from running.

"Hah, hah, hah… haaaaaaaaaaaah. Good morning, students, my name is Elizabeth Rizu, but my friends call me Liz."

And, while all this was going on, Aqua's hairpin started to glow. A monster/demon was in our vicinity.

I sigh and sit back down.

First day back to school and already everyone hates me. Aqua is causing me trouble and a monster/demon has appeared.

Fml.