Tamiya Emi

Teacher Majima left the classroom, and an unusually strange silence settled over it.

The only sound came from Star Color quietly crunching on crispy potato chips.

Taking advantage of the quiet, the bald guy beside him stood up.

Star Color was startled like a cat and looked at him in confusion.

Little Fist Stone, the bald guy, walked up to the podium.

"Hello, everyone. My name is Kohei Katsuragi. I'm glad we've all met and can learn and grow together in the same class. How about we introduce ourselves to each other?"

Ugh, how old-fashioned... Was this the kind of thing where everyone chanted some slogan in unison, like "Youth is the best!"? Star Color grumbled. It was downright creepy.

I looked at the expressions around me. Most people seemed to agree, a few looked indifferent, and one person wore a hint of annoyance and disgust.

Everyone sure was interesting...

As a member of the class, Star Color naturally wanted to make a good impression. After all, he was already an oddity in terms of his clothes; he couldn't afford to be an oddity in his thinking, too.

As for his persona in class? Of course, he'd be a harmless boy. Neither winning people over nor annoying them, just giving off the aura of a harmless mascot. Maybe an ordinary guy like me might catch the eye of a pretty girl and make her fall for him. That was how gal games and light novels always went, right?

"This is pretty boring, don't you think?"

The silver-haired girl's comment left Star Color confused.

"It's not so bad. Introducing ourselves at the start of the school year helps us get closer to everyone quickly. You can get a sense of what someone's like from how they talk, their logic, word choice, interests, and personality. And picking friends by thinking through the labels you assign them—isn't that pretty nice? It's like choosing one of the three starter Pokémon."

The silver-haired girl gazed at Star Color and smiled calmly. She looked delighted and expectant, like a child who'd just spotted a present.

"That's a pretty interesting way to think about it."

"Hm? Um, why are you looking at me like that, Classmate Sakayanagi?"

Feeling the warmth in her gaze, Star Color looked back at her.

"Nothing. I just think you're interesting."

"Interesting?"

Star Color scratched his cheek, seeming to have trouble understanding.

Thanks to her name tag, Star Color knew the girl's name.

Sakayanagi Arisu picked up her cane and slowly stood.

"Um, are you feeling all right? If you have a heart condition or something, you should probably just stay seated."

Star Color looked at the frail girl in front of him. She seemed so delicate and light that a strong breeze might carry her off. That was the impression she gave.

Sakayanagi Arisu paused, her pinkish-purple eyes widening slightly. Then she regained her usual air of composure, her confident smile returning.

"Thank you for your concern. I just wanted to step outside for some air."

"Then be careful."

"I will."

Since they'd be classmates for three years, Star Color figured he should at least make the effort to be sociable. He hadn't expected his desk mate to be such a cute girl. Her voice was soft yet sensible, with a hint of hauteur. It was almost like she was voiced by a professional voice actress...

Even with a congenital heart condition, she still carried herself with such elegance and composure, a smile on her face. He envied her. Her family must be well-off, and she'd probably grown up surrounded by love, never feeling inferior because of her condition. He really envied her...

When Star Color came back to himself, he joined in with the lively chatter around him.

"Um... I'm Seishiki Otonashi... I'm a boy... I like reading books and manga, playing games, and watching movies... And... uh... that's about it..."

"A boy? You're so cute, Otonashi! Do you take care of your skin? It looks so fair."

"Otonashi, your hair is so pretty! Do you have a shampoo brand you recommend?"

"Otonashi! Are you one of those rare cross-dressing boys?"

Star Color found himself surrounded by a few curious girls...

"I don't do anything special... I guess it's because I don't get much sun."

"As for shampoo, you have to pick one based on your hair type and what it needs."

"I'm not a cross-dressing boy!"

Star Color hadn't expected his looks to be so popular with girls. At least, he'd thought girls these days would prefer guys who were stronger or taller.

Star Color was now basking in the bliss of being surrounded by girls. People said philosophers never got married, but did Star Color look like a philosopher to you?

"That's why I hate pointless events like opening ceremonies."

Even though he'd only been standing for a little while, Star Color was already out of breath. He bent forward slightly and let out a breath, which made him feel a little better.

Looking at the students in the gymnasium, he saw that the spirited boys and girls had quickly formed groups. Some had teamed up to eat and chat, others were heading to karaoke to get closer, and still others had made plans to explore the academy together.

Star Color's stomach rumbled traitorously. His first priority was finding something to eat.

"Um... Otonashi, would you like to have lunch with me?"

It was Tamiya Emi...

(Tamiya Emi only appeared in the anime version. She also appeared in the Commander's Tower mental arithmetic. Check the interlude for a picture.)

She had long, deep-purple hair and a refined, elegant face. If Classmate Sakayanagi had the air of a young noblewoman from Central Europe, Classmate Tamiya felt more like a young lady from a financial dynasty. She was poised, beautiful, and had a great figure... She didn't act haughty around people like a typical heiress. An ordinary guy would probably have fallen for her already. The beauty mark at the corner of her mouth was especially alluring... It drew people's eyes to her face and those lovely red lips...

"Sure. By the way, do you know where the cafeteria is, Classmate Tamiya?"

Star Color's little head took control of his big head.

"Mm-hm. I studied the map carefully. Come with me."

"Okay~."

Star Color followed behind her. Classmate Tamiya was about one meter seventy tall, already taller than almost everyone. Some of the boys probably felt self-conscious when they saw her. As for Star Color, he had to tilt his head back just to look at her. (The height here is the author's own setting.)

"You're really tall, Classmate Tamiya. You're beautiful."

"Well, being so tall isn't always a good thing. I had a really awful nickname in middle school. People called me Godzilla."

"Huh? That's so mean. You're beautiful, Classmate Tamiya. I think tall girls have a unique, dignified elegance. But that's just how the world is. People exclude anyone who's different to satisfy their own pitiful vanity. Maybe those people were just jealous of you."

Star Color turned his face aside, trying not to meet Tamiya's eyes. The sunlight lent his cheeks a faint blush.

"That's all in the past. I don't let it bother me anymore."

"That's good."

The two of them arrived at the dining hall.

"By the way... why did you ask me to come with you? I'm a boy, you know... Wouldn't it be better to get along with the other girls in class? Everyone seems pretty friendly. They don't seem like the sort to tease you."

Star Color carried a "burger and fries with a Coke" and took a seat across from Tamiya.

"Because you were the first person to talk to me."

Thinking back to the self-introductions Classmate Katsuragi had organized, Star Color recalled that he had indeed spoken to Classmate Tamiya... though it had only been a brief greeting.

"Oh... Is that so? But wouldn't it be better to get along with the girls first, rather than the boys?"

Classmate Tamiya tilted her head slightly and looked at Star Color with her captivating, downturned eyes.

"But I want to get along with you first."

"Well, I'm very grateful. It's my first time making friends with a girl... It's a little embarrassing."

Star Color bashfully scratched his cheek.

At the same time, Star Color keenly noticed an older student who looked like he was in a higher grade. He glanced over with envy. On his tray was the free wild-vegetable set meal.

The first impression the senior gave was one of utter gloom, as if he'd already given up on the future.