Shangguan Che walked into the classroom with the workbook he had just retrieved from his locker. Most of the students were already there, sitting in little groups and chatting quietly. The room was filled with the lively buzz unique to a school full of young people.
Shangguan Che headed straight for his seat. He had barely stuffed his bag into the desk compartment when a soft, sweet voice suddenly spoke up beside him.
"Shangguan, it's been so long, and you haven't come to talk to me once. I'm really sad."
Shangguan Che turned around. Kushida Kikyo was standing beside his desk, lightly twisting the hem of her skirt between her hands. Her bright eyes seemed to glisten with tears, and her lips were pursed in a pitiful little pout.
Shangguan Che's heart gave a little jolt. She's really good at this. I guess I need to work harder on my thick-skinned training.
He quickly straightened up and explained earnestly:
"No, Kushida, you've got the wrong idea. Yesterday was our first day, and I was busy buying the things I needed at the convenience store and getting my dorm room in order. I got caught up in it all and forgot.
"This morning, I was focused on class. Japanese is a little difficult for me, so I need to work hard to keep up and prove I'm still a good student."
Everything Shangguan Che said was true. He hadn't exaggerated a single bit.
"Oh? So that's what happened!"
Kushida Kikyo's eyes widened. The hurt expression vanished instantly, replaced by an apologetic look. She bowed slightly.
"Then I really did misunderstand you. I'm sorry, Shangguan!"
"It's fine, it's no big deal. Don't worry about it." Shangguan Che waved a hand, indicating she didn't need to be so formal.
"That's great! Then thank you for forgiving me!"
Kushida Kikyo straightened and gave him a radiant smile. Leaning slightly toward him, she spoke in a soft voice, with a hint of a request.
"Oh, and you can call me by my first name, Shangguan. Just call me 'Kikyo.'"
"Kikyo?" Shangguan Che repeated without thinking.
"Mm-hm, that's right!" Kushida Kikyo nodded enthusiastically, her eyes curving into crescents.
Shangguan Che hesitated. Wasn't calling someone by their first name a little too familiar?
But then he thought that he was a guy, and he needed to be decisive. Besides, he needed to practice being thick-skinned. He couldn't get all flustered over something this small.
Even so, when he tried to speak, his cheeks felt warm, and he stammered, "Um..."
"Don't be shy, Shangguan. You can say whatever you want."
Kushida Kikyo's smile grew even sweeter, like that of a gentle little angel. I wonder if he wants me to call him by his first name too.
Shangguan Che took a deep breath and finally said what was on his mind. "I thought calling someone by their first name was something people usually did when they were dating or were really close friends. I don't think we're quite there yet."
At that, Kushida Kikyo's eyes darkened for the briefest moment—so quickly it could have been a trick of the light. But she soon covered it up, a bashful blush appearing on her face as she lightly stamped her foot. "Oh my, Shangguan, what are you saying? That's so embarrassing!"
Her reaction caught Shangguan Che off guard. I knew I was overthinking it. He hurriedly took the opening she'd given him. "Ah, sorry, sorry. I got the wrong idea. Kushida, I'll keep calling you Kushida, then. That feels safer."
"That's okay, I don't mind." Kushida Kikyo waved a hand with a smile, taking a step back herself. "Then I'll call you 'Shangguan.' It feels a little friendlier that way."
"Sure." Shangguan Che nodded, and said nothing more.
"Oh, by the way, Shangguan, should we exchange contact info? It'll be handy for class activities or homework announcements." As she spoke, Kushida Kikyo smoothly took out her phone and opened the QR code for Line.
Shangguan Che quickly took out his own phone and scanned her code. When the screen displayed "Friend added successfully," he silently counted. She was his third contact.
After saying goodbye to Kushida Kikyo, Shangguan Che finally sat down.
He looked around and spotted Sakura Airi back in her seat. She was looking down, her chin almost buried in her textbook, and clutching her pen tightly in both hands. She looked extremely nervous.
Shangguan Che had planned to talk to her about the club information session that afternoon, but seeing how painfully shy she looked, he swallowed the words before they could leave his mouth.
I should be considerate of her. She might feel more comfortable chatting online. Shangguan Che took out his phone, opened Line, and sent Sakura Airi a message.
[Sakura, did you know there's a club information session at the First Gymnasium at five this afternoon?]
A few seconds after he sent it, a reply came in.
[I did. They announced it over the PA at lunchtime. Why? Have you already decided which club you want to join, Shangguan?]
Shangguan Che looked at the screen and quickly typed back: [Not yet. I thought we could go take a look together. Maybe there'll be a Photography Club. We don't have to join anything; we can just find out what's available. Then, if there's anything about photography you don't know, you could ask someone with experience in the club.]
It took Sakura Airi a little while to reply. Her message was cautious: [Okay... But wouldn't that be a waste of your time?]
[No, not at all. I was going to go see if there were any clubs I wanted to join anyway. It's on my way.]
After sending the message, Shangguan Che felt a little pleased with himself. I was right. Sakura Airi is clearly more relaxed when she's chatting online.
Just then, the bell rang.
Shangguan Che glanced at Sakura Airi and caught her looking over at him.
The moment their eyes met, Sakura Airi quickly lowered her head, then sneaked another glance at him and gave a small nod.
Shangguan Che couldn't help smiling. He nodded back, then put his phone in his desk and took out his math textbook.
The math teacher started with the basics. Shangguan Che hesitated and glanced at the table of contents. He already knew most of the material in the later chapters, but in the spirit of "respecting his teacher," he still listened attentively for twenty minutes.
The teacher probably wants students to study independently, right?
Shangguan Che muttered to himself, quietly opened the textbook to the first page, and began reading and working through the problems on his own. He spent the afternoon's science classes in this "respecting his teacher" mode, and his study sessions were pretty efficient.
During a break, Shangguan Che couldn't resist his curiosity and messaged Sakura Airi to ask how difficult she found math.
It took Sakura Airi a while to reply. She was very honest: [It's a little hard for me. I don't really understand a lot of the formulas.]
[It's okay. If there's ever anything you don't understand, just ask me. I'll teach you! We're friends, after all.] Shangguan Che replied without a second thought.
Sakura Airi stared at the word "friends" for a long time. By the time she came to her senses, she realized she had forgotten to reply. She quickly typed: [Thank you so much, Shangguan.]
[You're welcome. I'm pretty good at science subjects, so just ask me anytime.]
[Thank you!]
Shangguan Che looked at the screen and quietly thought it over.
*Why didn't I offer to help with the humanities? Obviously, it's because I wanted to spare Sakura's feelings!
*What if Sakura's a humanities whiz? If I brought it up, wouldn't it look like I was showing off?
See how thoughtful I am? Sakura will definitely think I'm a great guy.
And so Shangguan Che accepted Sakura Airi's thanks with a clear conscience.
As soon as the dismissal bell rang, Shangguan Che began packing his bag, wondering if he should invite a few more classmates to the club information session.
He glanced around the classroom. Yosuke Hirata was surrounded by a group of girls, chatting animatedly; Karuizawa Kei was among them, occasionally chiming in. Ayanokoji Kiyotaka was standing with Kushida Kikyo and the long-haired girl in glasses to his left. Shangguan Che had no idea what they were talking about.
Well, looks like it'll just be Sakura and me.
Shangguan Che shrugged helplessly and glanced at Sakura Airi, who was slowly packing up her things beside him. She seemed perfectly fine, and a thought suddenly occurred to him. I really do need to practice being thick-skinned. Otherwise, I'll spend ages fretting over something as simple as going to a club information session alone with a girl.
He slung his bag over his shoulder, walked over to Sakura Airi, and said with a smile, "Come on, Sakura. Let's go check out the club information session at the gymnasium."
Sakura Airi looked up and nodded lightly. "Okay."
Before you continue