Stop Being a Simp

"I'll be in charge of Class A from now on."

A middle-aged man with dead fish eyes stood at the podium. His name, Tashiro Kenichiro, had already been written on the blackboard.

"If anything comes up from now on, you'd better solve it yourselves. You're all old enough to get married—you're adults. Learn to solve your own problems."

"If there's really something you can't handle, then come discuss it with a teacher."

"Of course, it'd be best if you didn't come looking for me. Teachers aren't superheroes who can solve every problem. If I had that kind of superpower, I'd definitely use it on myself first."

The marks of age were etched across the face of this salaryman-like teacher. Even the way his scrawny body spoke seemed listless and weak.

Akimoto Yoichi looked at Teacher Tashiro, who was every bit as unreliable as he appeared, and wasn't surprised.

If this had been the protagonist Fukayama Midori's class, then without a doubt, their teacher would have been a woman.

Most other classes had ordinary, unremarkable teachers like this. Teacher Tashiro was just a little more outrageous, but if the teacher of Blondie's class had been too enthusiastic and capable, it would have interfered with the development of the NTR plot.

Naturally, Akimoto Yoichi had no objections. At least he didn't need to worry about the teacher causing him trouble, and he had no intention of causing any himself.

"Looks like everyone has already picked their seats. Next, we'll choose the class representatives. Volunteer yourselves."

Next came the time to choose the class representatives.

At that moment, Akimoto Yoichi turned his gaze toward the seat beside his. As expected, Suzuran Ayano stood up.

The class president and other representatives were all taken up by students who looked relatively well-behaved, while quite a few students were rather enthusiastic.

These pubescent brats were probably all thinking about things like making their high school debut.

Suzuran Ayano's goal was clear. She nominated herself for the Public Morals Committee.

"Please take care of me from now on, Akimoto-kun." Suzuran Ayano smiled as she greeted Akimoto Yoichi.

"Oh, congratulations." Akimoto Yoichi looked at her in confusion.

"You don't get it? Nobody dared become a Public Morals Committee member." Seeing the question marks practically floating above Akimoto Yoichi's head, Suzuran Ayano smiled, revealing her little fangs.

"Because you look too scary, nobody dared become a Public Morals Committee member. If someone did, they'd have to deal with you, but everyone's afraid of you."

At that, Akimoto Yoichi swept his gaze across the classroom.

Sure enough, everyone in class immediately looked away.

Even the students who had just become class president and other representatives didn't dare meet his eyes, afraid he would remember their faces.

Rubbing his nose, Akimoto Yoichi said helplessly, "It's fine. They'll get used to it eventually."

"Yeah, I think everyone will realize sooner or later that Akimoto-kun isn't actually that scary." Suzuran Ayano encouraged him.

Ayano had treated Fukayama Midori the same way, but Fukayama Midori had felt pressured by it and resisted her support.

In contrast, Akimoto Yoichi wasn't irritated in the slightest. He even thanked her.

"So that's why you moved to the seat beside me? Thanks. Having you here makes things easier for me too." Akimoto Yoichi looked at Suzuran Ayano beside him.

He had originally thought Suzuran Ayano would choose to sit with Kuroo Maya. He hadn't expected her to choose the seat beside him instead.

"It couldn't be helped. Your textbook got thrown away, didn't it? I was partly responsible for that too. It's more convenient if I sit beside you."

Hearing Akimoto Yoichi thank her, Ayano gave him a radiant smile. Her little fangs were incredibly cute.

The textbook placed before them was shared between the two of them, and Akimoto Yoichi and Suzuran Ayano had pushed their desks together.

After they explained, Teacher Tashiro didn't say much else to them.

Although Kuroo Maya wanted to say something, she ultimately didn't. She simply moved her own seat behind Suzuran Ayano's.

It's over. Ayano-chan is really done for!

Watching Akimoto Yoichi and Suzuran Ayano chatting happily, Kuroo Maya, seated behind them, could only feel a headache coming on.

The two of them paid no attention at all to the strange looks from the rest of the class. No matter who saw the atmosphere between them, they would think they were a couple, right?

If Suzuran Ayano had truly given up on Fukayama Midori, her childhood friend, and chosen to like someone else, that would have been fine.

But Kuroo Maya was worried that the new guy her best friend liked was a terrible scumbag!

What was she supposed to do? If she tried to persuade Ayano now, Ayano would only argue back. After all, Ayano trusted Akimoto Yoichi so much.

She had no choice but to stay by Ayano's side.

When she saw Suzuran Ayano actually take the initiative to move to the seat beside Akimoto Yoichi, she had followed right behind Ayano.

If Akimoto Yoichi turned out to be a bad person, she could help Ayano too!

With that thought, Kuroo Maya clenched her tiny fists.

Until recess.

"Oh, right. Akimoto Yoichi, Akimoto-kun, come here for a moment."

Teacher Tashiro picked up his textbook, ready to leave the classroom. Looking troubled, he rubbed his nose and called out to Akimoto Yoichi.

"Oh, coming." Akimoto Yoichi exchanged a puzzled glance with Suzuran Ayano before leaving his seat.

After Akimoto Yoichi followed Teacher Tashiro out of the classroom,

Kuroo Maya immediately ran over to Suzuran Ayano and asked worriedly, "Well? Well? Akimoto-kun didn't do anything to you, did he? Like deliberately elbowing you, or peeking at you or something? Let me see if you're missing any flesh!"

As Kuroo Maya inspected her, she touched Suzuran Ayano's ticklish spots and made her laugh. "No, of course not. What are you even thinking? Akimoto-kun listened carefully and took notes the whole time. If you don't believe me, look."

Looking at the notebook Suzuran Ayano opened, Kuroo Maya indeed saw crooked, messy notes.

She looked utterly incredulous. The handwriting was terrible,

but judging from the content, they really were notes.

"B-but why was he actually studying so seriously?" Kuroo Maya found it hard to believe, though she felt even more guilty.

"Because Akimoto-kun wants to get into Todai." Seeing her best friend's funny expression, Ayano couldn't help feeling a little proud.

The one who wanted to get into Todai wasn't her, but Akimoto Yoichi, who had said it, was her friend.

Everyone was afraid of Akimoto Yoichi now. Nobody understood Akimoto Yoichi. Only she understood Akimoto Yoichi best.

That feeling was so much better than Fukayama Midori, who had always been an unmotivated shut-in.

"Maybe Akimoto-kun really didn't like studying much before, but now he's decided to become a good student."

"He wants to get into Todai, so he's studying so hard and attentively."

"He didn't say a single word to me during class. He was just seriously taking notes. Maya-chan, you'll gradually come to understand the real Akimoto-kun too."

Seeing Ayano go on and on, then looking again at Akimoto Yoichi's notes, Kuroo Maya couldn't help believing her a little.

After all, she hadn't seen Akimoto Yoichi get handsy with Ayano just now. His eyes had stayed fixed on the blackboard too.

"Ayano, don't tell me you've fallen for Akimoto-kun? You two look more like childhood-sweetheart lovers than you do."

Kuroo Maya still couldn't stop herself from voicing what was on her mind.

"No! Don't talk nonsense, Maya-chan!"