Coffee Shop and the Girls

After enduring the afternoon classes. How truly detestable learning is—in their studies, students do not affirm themselves but negate themselves. Learning does not bring happiness but unhappiness; instead of freely exercising their physical and mental strength, their bodies are tormented and their spirits ravaged.

They find no joy in learning, but feel only displeasure when studying.

If you have this kind of emotion, then learning is not something you do willingly for yourself, but a forced compulsion.

The classic sociological and philosophical concept of [alienation]—the alienation of the object into the alienation of the subject.

Star Color only felt a headache. Before, just to survive, he had frantically crammed all sorts of strange knowledge into his head. Now, when he should be able to relax, he had to endure the suffering of class.

The time after school felt so liberating to Star Color. He stretched his slender waist, his loose beige jacket paired with a gray sailor uniform, and underneath, a close-fitting ice-silk inner layer.

"Gu gu gu... gaha."

Kohei Katsuragi glanced at him from the side and teased.

"Don't make sounds like a girl. I'm starting to doubt your gender now."

"Hmph, I'm a man among men."

Star Color put his hands on his hips and puffed out his proud chest.

"..."

Kohei Katsuragi didn't know what to say. He simply couldn't keep up with this guy's wavelength.

"Classmate Katsuragi, are you reviewing the material?"

"Yeah, just reinforcing it."

"You're really hardworking."

"Of course. If I want to become the class leader, I have to put in the corresponding effort. And studying is very important too—academic credentials represent future status. I want to become an excellent person. At least for my little sister's sake, I'm going to work hard to achieve that goal."

A hint of envy and a dim, obscure shadow flickered in Star Color's eyes, but Kohei Katsuragi didn't notice.

"Keep it up, Classmate Katsuragi..."

A light smile rippled across Star Color's lips. At least this time, it came from his heart. It wasn't the innocent naivety of a young girl, nor the underlying madness and chaos within him—just the goodwill of a human being.

Kohei Katsuragi was momentarily stunned by the smile of the boy before him. If he didn't know the other's gender, he could easily mistake him for a girl.

"That's a pretty nice smile. It suits you."

Not knowing what else to say, Kohei Katsuragi ended with that and coughed awkwardly.

"See you tomorrow, Classmate Katsuragi."

"Yeah, see you tomorrow."

Star Color slung his bag over his shoulder and spotted Kikyou Kushida waiting at the door. His expression shifted back to that of an innocent young girl as he waved.

"Otonashi-kun!"

"Kushida-san, sorry to keep you waiting?"

"No, no, I just got here."

Kikyou Kushida wore a smile like the morning sun, a gentle and approachable act. Was this what they called a performative personality? What an interesting [subject for observation].

Humans are creatures that wear many masks in life, broadly divided into 'individuality' and 'sociality.' The individual personality is [self-awareness]—who you are, [self-criticism], and so on—things belonging to your inner self. The social personality is like a mask.

At school, you put on the 'student' mask; at home, you put on the 'child' mask. The tone and attitude when speaking with friends differ from when speaking with your mother, because people use different [personalities].

"Then let's head to Keyaki. There's a nice café there."

"Then I'll leave it to Kushida-san."

Like a puppy following its owner, Star Color walked behind Kushida.

Sensing the distance between them, Kushida deliberately slowed her pace.

"By the way, Star Color-kun."

"What's wrong?"

Star Color tilted his head, exuding a defenseless, delicate sweetness unique to him.

Kikyou Kushida swallowed.

Star Color had already noticed that Kikyou Kushida was testing him.

"Are you okay?"

Star Color asked with concern, looking up at the girl who was a little over a head taller than him.

"I'm fine. I was just wondering if Otonashi-kun has any friends."

"Not many. I'm the kind of guy girls see and go, 'Wow, he's the class mascot!' then get close for a bit before dumping me off as a pitiful character. If it came to romance, they wouldn't pick a sissy like me, right?"

Star Color had once cared about his appearance. But after that incident, he instead came to cherish it even more...

"Can I be your friend?"

"Friend?"

"Yeah."

A smile of pure, innocent girlhood appeared on Star Color's face. Under the light, the two of them walking side by side down the hallway couldn't help but give off that strange, ambiguous feeling.

"Hey, we should hurry. Otherwise, there might not be any seats left!"

Kikyou Kushida broke the strange atmosphere first.

Star Color just nodded, a faint smile at the corner of his lips that could melt anyone, his purple pupils crowded with indescribable, imperceptible emotions, and a bizarre, unspeakable aurora of stars swirling within his gaze.

They made it to the café smoothly.

"Good thing there are still seats."

Kushida sat down at a table, smiling at Star Color. Star Color looked around the place—it wasn't at all the quiet, classic, old-school café he'd imagined. It was a trendy, popular café selling itself on fashion...

So many people... such a hassle... why can't everyone just die...

Star Color hated crowded places. They made him irritable, like countless eyes were fixed on him, made him want to throw up.

He shook his head and pulled out the unfinished Fire Phoenix and Burning Plains.

"Otonashi-kun, what would you like to drink?"

"Umm... anything's fine. I'll have whatever you're having... I'm not really good with coffee..."

Star Color had no ability to appreciate coffee or tea. He hated the taste of coffee—either so bitter it was hard to swallow, or sweet with a bitter aftertaste. For him, it was only about whether it felt good to drink or made him happy. Plain soda was his favorite. He didn't understand those refined people's taste buds anyway; if his tongue said it tasted bad, it tasted bad.

Kikyou Kushida raised her hand, and a waiter came over.

"Two cappuccinos, please."

"Got it."

Kikyou Kushida plopped down right next to Star Color.

"Otonashi-kun, what manga are you reading?"

"A Three Kingdoms one... a political intrigue manga. Drawn by a Chinese person... it's amazing."

"Wow, that's impressive."

"Haha..."

Star Color scratched his cheek shyly.

"Otonashi-kun, do you usually like reading manga?"

"Yeah... I read both manga and novels."

The noisy environment made Star Color's already weak voice a little indistinct.

"Kushida-chan! You're at the café too! Great, no need to find a seat."

The short-haired girl with wheat-colored skin waved at Kushida.

"Huh..."

Star Color looked flustered at the two unfamiliar girls in front of him. After all, he wasn't good at interacting with girls, and suddenly facing so many of them—no way! No way!

"Oh, there's a cute kid here. Is this a new friend of yours, Kushida-chan?"

The short-haired girl with wheat-colored skin sat right next to Star Color. So close... and she was leaning in...

With two girls beside him, he was a guy after all, and he could smell the faint fragrance wafting from them...

He blushed and pressed a hand to his crotch.

A brown-haired girl also looked at Star Color with interest.

"Umm... hey... I'm a guy, okay... stay away from me."

"Really? A guy?"

The short-haired girl stared at Star Color in shock, then looked at Kikyou Kushida. Kushida nodded apologetically.

"A guy? There's actually a boy this cute in the world? I don't believe it!"

"Whoa, whoa... don't pinch my waist..."

After the girl confirmed Star Color's bone structure, she was a bit surprised.

"He really is a boy?"

"Haah..."

The blush on Star Color's face never faded, and steam slowly rose from the top of his head. His soul had no idea where it had flown off to.

After being shaken around by the energetic, sporty girl, Star Color finally came back to his senses. This girl... she had no guard up around men at all. Star Color screamed internally.

"Guuaaah—"

The brown-haired girl looked at Star Color.

"You can't tell he's a guy at all. By the way, what class is this kid in?"

"Class A."

Kikyou Kushida said.

"Class A, huh."

The brown-haired girl turned her head to look at Star Color.

"May I ask your name?"

"Otonashi... Star Color."

Calming her pounding heart, the woman nearly shook her brains and nosebleed out.

"Nice to meet you. Both Kushida and I are from Class D. I'm Mori Nene."

"I'm Onodera Kayano! Happy to meet you, Otonashi-kun."

Star Color just wanted this to end quickly... Three unfamiliar girls sat before him, and he had no idea what to say.

At a more secluded seat in the café, Tamiya Emi occasionally stole glances at Star Color's table.

On the other side, another guy, Satoshi Satonaka, watched coldly as well.