Likes Men, Satoshi Satonaka

Little Fist Stone Katsuragi, having noticed that Star Color hadn't shown up that morning, offered a greeting.

"Otonashi, you weren't here this morning. Were you skipping class?"

"Skipping class? No way! I wasn't feeling well, so I took a legitimate leave!"

Yahiko Totsuka chimed in from the side.

"Honestly, taking a day off on the very first day. At a time like this when you should be building a good relationship with the teacher, leaving a gap is an easy way to get on their bad side."

"Alright, Totsuka, let Otonashi rest properly. Otherwise, he won't have the energy to focus in class this afternoon."

Yahiko Totsuka obediently returned to his seat. The two of them weren't really the pushy, bad sort.

Star Color lounged lazily across the desk. The sunlight spilling in was very warm, and the room's temperature hovered at a pleasantly comfortable threshold. He couldn't help but let out a contented purring sound.

The clever design of the lighting was one of this classroom's features—four large windows let in soft daylight.

"Honestly... the way you sleep..."

Katsuragi's gaze turned a little strange. Just moments ago, he'd worn a serious expression, but now there was an inexplicable trace of warmth—the kind of emotional fluctuation reserved for family.

"What's up?"

Star Color tilted his head slightly, his purple hair scattering across the desk as he looked up at Little Fist Stone Katsuragi with those striking violet eyes.

"Nothing. Seeing the way you sleep just reminded me of my little sister at home."

"Huh? A little sister? How old is she? Can you introduce me?"

Star Color grinned mischievously, his androgynous, handsome face taking on a hint of playfulness. He looked just like a sly little fox.

"You bastard! You've got a personality that doesn't match your face at all."

"Huh? Could it be that Classmate Little Fist Stone Katsuragi is a siscon?"

"What the hell is that nickname 'Little Fist Stone'? Though, some guys in middle school did say I looked like one. And I'm not a siscon!"

"Never played the classic game Pokémon? You must have at least seen the anime."

Star Color deftly changed the subject, deciding not to keep teasing Katsuragi.

"I don't have time for that."

"I'll bring a game console later and let you try it out. Then you'll know."

"No need."

Kohei Katsuragi furrowed his brow. Was this lazy, oddly-spoken guy really a student in Class A?

"It's really fun, you know. Studying all the time makes your brain rust. You should relax once in a while, right? Come on~, how will you know if you don't try? It's a lot of fun."

Star Color half-coaxed, half-charmed his way through Katsuragi's resistance, like a devoted missionary with endless patience. After all, dragging someone into a hobby was a joy in itself.

"I'll think about it later."

Unable to withstand Star Color's cajoling, Kohei Katsuragi finally accepted the proposal.

"Oh my, are you two discussing something interesting?"

A sweet voice interrupted their conversation.

"Classmate Sakayanagi? Good afternoon~. I was just talking with Katsuragi about the Pokémon games."

Star Color greeted Sakayanagi lazily.

"Greetings, Otonashi. As carefree as ever, I see."

"Hehe, I guess I'm just used to being thick-skinned."

"There's a club orientation this afternoon. Which club are you thinking of joining, Otonashi?"

"I'd love it if there was a gaming club~. If not, maybe the model-building club. I'm pretty good with my hands or playing games."

"The gaming club or model-building club you're hoping for—unfortunately~, neither exists."

"Huh, seriously..."

Star Color's energy instantly deflated, then he shot back a question.

"So what club does Classmate Sakayanagi want to join?"

"I'd like to test the skill level of the chess club members. If they can't satisfy me, then I won't bother joining any club."

"Chess, huh? That's way too hard for me to get into. You must be really good at it, Sakayanagi!"

Star Color put on an admiring expression.

Sakayanagi Arisu smiled faintly, looking at Star Color with interest.

"Want to learn?"

"Uh... no thanks, not at all. Thanks for the offer, Sakayanagi."

"Oh my, what a shame."

Star Color turned and casually struck up a conversation with Katsuragi, who was studying on his own.

"So, Little Fist Stone Katsuragi, what club do you want to join?"

"Me?"

Kohei Katsuragi glanced at Star Color, put down his math textbook, and thought seriously.

"The student council."

"That's quite an ambition~. Keep it up, Little Fist Stone, Classmate Katsuragi."

After enduring the boring afternoon classes, finally free!

Most of the class had joined the club orientation, and it was lively.

Star Color hated crowded places—they surged like a tide. The noisy chatter and sound waves battered his already fragile heart.

"So tired..."

He'd only stood for a while, yet fatigue had already set in. Star Color parted his lips slightly, breathing in slow, steady gasps to calm his aging heart.

"What's wrong? Are you feeling unwell?"

Tamiya Emi's eyes were filled with worry as she supported Star Color's delicate, petite frame.

Behind him, Classmate Satoshi Satonaka had somehow brought a chair from somewhere, speaking in a flat tone to Star Color.

(Satonaka Satoshi: the number one most handsome face in the grade, no illustration.)

"Sit down, Classmate Star Color."

"Ah, thanks!"

The white-haired handsome guy behind him had been ice-cold during yesterday's self-introduction. Star Color's label for him was an ascetic super-handsome guy. Back then, most of the girls in the class had their eyes stolen by him. If there were a yearly election for the most handsome high schooler, he'd definitely take first place. He might even get scouted by an agency to film something like Kamen Rider—so enviable.

Star Color's heart was sour. Why was this guy getting to star in Kamen Rider! Though he didn't know why he was jealous over such a trivial thing, he still had to keep up appearances, a shy smile hanging on his face.

"Ah, much better... Why do humans have to stand for so long?"

"Classmate Star Color, your body is way too frail."

Tamiya Emi sighed, as if she were taking care of a child.

"Can't help it, that's just my constitution."

"Classmate Star Color, if you feel unwell, call me again. Don't push yourself."

Star Color turned his head to look at the iceberg ascetic super-handsome guy behind him, Classmate Satoshi Satonaka, who actually smiled at him.

At that moment, cold sweat broke out on Star Color. This isn't right... Could this guy be...

When he looked back again, Classmate Satonaka noticed Star Color's gaze and the corners of his mouth lifted slightly.

WTF... Star Color lowered his head, not daring to think further.

Star Color trembling.JPG.

"What's wrong?"

The nearby Tamiya Emi saw Star Color's face turn pale and green.

"Nothing! Classmate Tamiya, don't ask!"

At that moment, Star Color felt like someone had smeared wasabi on his butt, repeatedly squeezing in suppositories while enduring extreme agony, ultimately revealing an exceptionally vivid expression.

"Ah... Classmate Star Color, your complexion looks really bad."

"I'm really fine, Classmate Tamiya."

Star Color wanted to cry but had no tears.

After watching the student council president of [Campus Super Fierce Tiger] show off, each club department's representative introduced themselves on stage—what a bore. Star Color yawned.

But the archery club's senior, Qiaoheng, was really plain and pretty. A main character type? So enviable. She probably had plenty of male suitors, a total winner in life.

Star Color activated his human observation, watching each club representative. All were guys not worth caring about. He definitely wasn't joining any boring clubs like these.

"Classmate Tamiya, what club do you want to join?"

"Me? The gardening club. I usually like fiddling with flowers and plants. Growing beautiful ones is really rewarding."

"That's a nice hobby~."

Were all rich girls into gardening or tea ceremony? He couldn't figure it out. Star Color didn't plan to dwell on it either—they weren't from the same world. Just listening for fun was enough.

Classmate Tamiya went to sign up at the gardening club, leaving Star Color alone. No, not alone—there was a dangerous guy! He had to ignore him.

Satonaka Satoshi had been following behind Star Color the whole time. Star Color just thought this guy was pathetic, treating him like a dog on a leash.

Star Color quickened his pace to shake off Satonaka, but luck and stamina were never his strong suits. He ran near the ballet club and happened to get surrounded by a group of senior girls.

"Wow, this kid's bone structure is perfect."

"Really? Let me feel!"

"So soft, and the skin's squishy too."

A bunch of girls started feeling up Star Color's waist and leg bones.

"Wah wah wah... I'm a guy, stop touching me... ah... not the legs!"

Star Color was surrounded by a group of girls, petted like a lost kitten.

"A guy? Isn't that even better? Ballet isn't a dance exclusive to girls—there are guys who dance it with incredible elegance and charm. Besides, our club welcomes cute kids like you."

"No... Satonaka Satoshi! Save me!"

He could only pin his hopes on Satonaka Satoshi behind him.

"Sorry, this kid already has plans with me."

Satonaka Satoshi saw Star Color's predicament, grabbed his hand, and pulled him out of the gaggle of women.

"Wow, so cool!"

"Can I get your contact info?"

"You're a freshman, right? Which class? Come join our club."

The eyes of all the girls present fixed on Satonaka Satoshi, but his gaze held no room for that group of lust-driven girls—in fact, he didn't care about any of the girls there at all.

Hey hey, isn't this even more terrifying... Star Color felt like he'd just escaped a tiger's den only to walk into a wolf's lair.

Pulled away from the ballet club's territory, they wandered around aimlessly.

"Star Color, is there any club you want to join?"

Satonaka Satoshi turned his head to look at Star Color and asked.

"Huh? A club I want to join... no, not really... all the clubs on campus feel too formal."

"No club catches your interest?"

"Mmm... I want to start my own club."