Cappuccino was just so-so... It wasn't exactly bad, but it wasn't good, either. In short, she didn't like it...
After taking a small sip of the tea-brown liquid, Star Color couldn't understand why this place was so popular. Ramune from a vending machine or convenience store was better...
"Otonashi, could I get your contact information?"
Mori Nene took out her phone and looked at Star Color with earnest eyes. Refusing in this situation felt like it would hurt the girl's feelings. They needed more girls like her, not that arthropod sitting nearby.
"Sure~."
They added each other without a hitch.
"Otonashi-kun, I'd like your contact information too."
Ah... That arthropod's fake friendliness...
"Of course."
After exchanging contact information with all three of them, Star Color realized that all the people she'd gotten to know outside her class were girls...
Star Color didn't know whether she was popular with women or not... She still really wanted to make friends with normal guys. Someone like Kohei Katsuragi would make a good friend. Satoshi Satonaka... Never mind... Just thinking about him made Star Color shudder.
"I'll head back now. Thanks for treating me, Kushida."
Star Color bowed, picked up her bag, turned around, and waved. There was nothing wrong with leaving the girls with a good impression.
And so, she brought a relaxing day to an end.
Any teacher who forced students to exercise in this sweltering heat under the pretext of gym class deserved the death penalty.
Wearing her gym clothes, Star Color trudged along, gasping for breath.
She was completely out of energy... She panted, her head spinning from the heat.
Even the slowest girl, who was all the way at the back, had left Star Color half a lap behind.
"I'm dying..."
Her body felt as heavy as lead, and she could barely lift her legs. Why did people have to run? There wasn't even any prey to chase; this was just a pointless gym class.
When Star Color reached the finish line, she collapsed straight onto the ground. Kohei Katsuragi quickly caught her.
"Hey, are you okay...?"
Tamiya Emi hurried over with a bottle of water.
Star Color's throat was dry, itchy, and burning. She carelessly gulped down the mineral water, and the sensation of swallowing felt like drowning bliss.
"Ha... Cough, cough, cough..."
Tamiya Emi patted Star Color on the back.
"Ah... I feel a lot better. Thanks, Katsuragi. Thanks, Tamiya."
"You should exercise more."
Kohei Katsuragi offered her some advice.
"No matter how hard I try to work out... I'm still going to be like this."
Star Color gave a wry smile.
Seeing her like this, Kohei Katsuragi didn't press the matter. He went to help the gym teacher organize the students and lead them to the gymnasium.
"I'm exhausted..."
The boys were playing dodgeball, while the girls played badminton. Star Color had never played any kind of ball sport and was physically weak, so she sat down in the bleachers.
Sakayanagi Arisu was sitting beside her.
"I'm exhausted..."
"Otonashi Seishiki, you really aren't good at sports."
"Yeah..."
"By the way, Otonashi Seishiki."
"What is it?"
Star Color looked at Sakayanagi.
"Would you be interested in becoming one of my people?"
"Huh... Huh?! Um! This and that... Ah..."
Star Color's brain short-circuited.
Sakayanagi Arisu only gave her a teasing smile. She loved seeing Otonashi Seishiki look so confused. It was as amusing as teasing a pet.
"Um... Well! We don't know each other well enough yet... Maybe we should start out as friends?!"
Star Color hurriedly tried to explain, her hands fidgeting awkwardly.
Sakayanagi Arisu flicked Star Color on the forehead.
"What are you thinking, Otonashi Seishiki? I meant that I want you to become one of my supporters."
"A supporter?"
"That's right. I admire your powers of observation, Otonashi Seishiki. You noticed my heart condition on the first day of school. I'm very interested in your abilities."
"Um... I think I'll pass. I'm just an ordinary person. I can't be of any help to you."
Star Color waved her hands, breathing unevenly, her little face flushed.
Sakayanagi Arisu leaned closer and gently stroked Star Color's cheek.
"What's the matter? Do you think I'm not qualified? Or do you think Kohei Katsuragi would make a better leader than me?"
"N-no."
A jumble of white lines appeared in Star Color's eyes, forming a chaotic circle. Her thoughts were a mess at that moment... (Or so she pretended.)
"Um... I just want to enjoy my school life."
"Oh, what a pity. Still, if you change your mind, Otonashi Seishiki, you can join me anytime."
"Okay... Sakayanagi."
At last, class ended. Star Color was changing in the restroom of the office in the gymnasium.
She couldn't understand what the gym teacher was thinking. They were all guys, after all.
Before gym class, just as Star Color was about to enter the boys' changing room, the gym teacher had given her a thorough scolding. Even after learning the truth, he still wouldn't let Star Color use the boys' changing room, and had set aside a separate place for her to change into her gym clothes.
Star Color wanted to complain. She was a guy—biologically, psychologically, and in terms of her orientation! She was being treated differently.
A sudden knock at the door made Star Color jump.
"Hey, Otonashi, are you done changing?"
"Almost!"
She had lunch with Tamiya and a few of her friends. They were all nice.
And so, she made it through the afternoon.
Kohei Katsuragi glanced at his phone. His eyes widened, then he gave a wry smile.
"What's wrong, Katsuragi?"
Star Color couldn't help noticing his expression.
"It's nothing. I just didn't make it through the Student Council interview and application process."
"Huh... Huh?! Seriously?! The Student Council is that strict? They'd turn down someone as useful as you?!"
"What's with that mouth of yours... And what do you mean, 'useful'?"
"Because look, you keep the class running smoothly, and you've helped the teachers out a lot. Every teacher likes you. You'd be a useful tool on the Student Council."
"I don't know how you connected me with being a tool, but thanks anyway, Otonashi."
"Huh? Why are you thanking me?"
"You were trying to cheer me up, weren't you?"
"Hahaha, you caught me."
"It's fine. I'm not the kind of person who can't accept setbacks. The Student Council isn't everything. Life doesn't always go smoothly; there are always setbacks. What matters most is how you face them. I don't need the Student Council to validate me. I'll just do my best."
"Very nice, very nice. That's an impressive outlook on life, Katsuragi."
Just then, Star Color's phone vibrated in her pocket.
It was a message from the Student Council. Star Color opened it and took a look.
They wanted her to go to the Student Council Room after school? That meant there was still a chance!
If she could, she'd put in a good word for Katsuragi while she was there and see if she could change their minds.
After making it through the afternoon classes, Star Color quickly packed up and left the classroom. She wandered around the school, searching for the Student Council Room.
"Found it!"
At the door, Star Color took a couple of deep breaths, patted her cheeks, and tried out one expression after another...
"Phew..."
As usual, she knocked politely.
After receiving permission to enter, Star Color opened the door.
The decor wasn't particularly luxurious. There was a simple, long white conference table, and a dedicated desk facing the entrance. The nameplate on it read "Student Council President."
That was pretty over the top... They even had a tea set.
Akane Tachibana showed Star Color to a sofa in the guest area and skillfully prepared some tea.
Star Color didn't know how to appreciate tea. After taking a sip, she obediently sat there, a little stiff with nerves, like a kitten on its first day in a new home.
The successful Student Council President, Manabu Horikita, came over and sat on the other end of the sofa. Senior Tachibana handed him a cup of tea and stood obediently behind him. What did he take himself for, the owner of a publicly traded company? Star Color grumbled to herself.
The Student Council President really was impressive. He was the kind of person whose name and face ordinary students remembered. Star Color imagined herself becoming the Student Council President, then announcing from the stage, "I'm going to rule over every woman in the school, teachers included." She'd completely renovate the Student Council Room, install an air purifier, and add a freezer and a snack cabinet. Maybe she'd even put in an island kitchen and hire a private chef? Oh no, she'd completely lost herself in the pleasures of power.
"You're Otonashi Seishiki?"
He was only a high school student, yet he was remarkably composed. His presence was stronger than that of an ordinary student, too. This school was full of hidden talents...
"The Board Game Club?"
"Mm-hmm."
Star Color nodded.
"There's no need to establish one."
"Huh...?"
That sudden declaration left Star Color's brain frozen.
"This is a pointless gaming club with no value for this school's students. So the Student Council has decided to reject the application."
"That's not right. Chess is a board game, too. Some tabletop games, like mahjong, Texas hold 'em, and Magic: The Gathering, have even become competitive sports. Why can't our club be approved?"
"Because they're games. They have no value."
Manabu Horikita spoke coldly, looking down on her in a way that irritated Star Color. Did he really think he was some big shot? I'll kill you!
"Board games cover all kinds of subjects, including war, trade, culture, art, city planning, and history. Some board games can train your logical analysis, calculation, and reasoning skills! They can also help you develop your thinking, memory, imagination, judgment, communication skills, and emotional intelligence! They're not as pointless as you say!"
"But they're still games, aren't they? If a mediocre club like this is allowed to open, that would be laughable."
Manabu Horikita adjusted his glasses, the lenses catching a glint of light.
"Akane Tachibana, show her out."
"Wait!"
Star Color dropped the act and stopped pretending to be well-behaved.
Clenching her teeth, she wore a savage expression, like a demon from hell. A palpable killing intent and murderous aura rolled off her.
Manabu Horikita felt the terrifying pressure. Goosebumps rose all over his body, an involuntary reaction he couldn't control.
"Bet me. We'll use a game."
Star Color opened her phone and showed him her 520,000 points.
"I'll bet all of my points. Maybe that's pocket change to you, but is it enough to get you, Mr. Big Shot, to play one game with me?"
"Who are you? You're not an ordinary student, are you?"
It had only been the fourth day since the new students had started school, yet she already had 500,000 points. It was completely beyond Manabu Horikita's expectations.
Even Akane Tachibana covered her mouth, too shocked to speak.
"I'm just an ordinary person."
"So, S-u-c-c-e-s-s-f-u-l Student Council President... come and bet me."
She no longer used her weak, feminine voice, the one that barely pushed the sounds past her throat. Her voice suddenly became a deep, masculine rumble, rich with intensity and madness.
Chaotic black lines filled Star Color's violet eyes, weaving into a black hole that devoured everything.
Was the true Star Color a gathering of madness and countless malice? No one could know.
Before you continue