Speculation

Star Color watched Tamiya elegantly eat two portions of food and grew a little concerned.

"Um... can you finish all that? Would you like me to help you with some of it?"

"Huh? It's fine. I usually eat this much. I hope I'm not making Otonashi uncomfortable."

"Not at all. Having a big appetite is a good thing. Being full and satisfying your stomach is healthy, after all. Neon culture tends to favor slender, petite, cute women, and everyone watches what they eat. I don't think that's very good... Eating too little can really affect how you feel throughout the day, so it's fine to eat more."

Star Color responded with a considerate smile.

"I never thought I'd meet someone who understood me. I feel the same way. When I don't eat enough, I just don't feel right. But Otonashi, with your build, you should eat more. You're awfully thin for a guy."

"I'm the type who can eat whatever I want and never gain weight. I've thought about trying to get taller and put on some weight, but it's been a total failure."

"I'm so jealous of your metabolism. I have to maintain my figure, so I work out every day."

"No wonder Tamiya's figure is so good..."

Star Color suddenly blushed and hurried to explain himself.

"Um... sorry... That came out a little suggestive."

"It's fine. Actually, I'm happy. Being with Otonashi feels like hanging out with a girl—as a friend, I mean."

"Er... don't say that... I'm a guy..."

Star Color blushed and lowered his head, nibbling at the hamburger in his hands like a little hamster.

After lunch, Star Color and Tamiya strolled leisurely around the campus together.

The school was located in a bay, and the entire site had been built on reclaimed land. Using land created through artificial land reclamation for a basic facility like a school seemed like a huge waste of resources.

"What's wrong?"

Tamiya caught him spacing out.

"Nothing. I'm just feeling a little uneasy."

"Uneasy?"

Star Color watched Tamiya's adorable, puzzled expression with a hint of mischief.

"If there were a major earthquake, followed by a tsunami, we might all sink to the bottom of the sea and become fish food."

"That's a pretty gloomy thought."

"Well, well, I'm just used to imagining the worst-case scenario."

"Honestly, Otonashi. Now you've got me worried, too..."

"Sorry, sorry."

"What are you planning to do, Otonashi?"

"I'm going to buy some daily necessities at the store, then head back to the dorm and get organized."

"Then, do you want to explore the school's shopping district with me this afternoon? You said before that you like reading. I heard the school library has an unusually large collection, with a huge variety of books."

"Then we could get dinner afterward... How does that sound? Interested?"

Tamiya Emi invited him. Huh... Could this be what they called... 'love'? Star Color tried to keep his heart from racing. Don't beat too fast... This counted as a date, right? It did, didn't it?

Star Color's throat bobbed as he nervously swallowed.

"Sure, sounds good."

The two exchanged phone numbers and contact details.

As soon as he entered the store, Star Color began carefully comparing the prices of shampoo and soap.

Always mindful of money, Star Color immediately noticed the free items on the shelves.

"Um? Free?"

There were rinse cups, toothbrushes and toothpaste, little bottles of body wash and shampoo like the cheap ones hotels provided, and bandages. He looked at the sign below, where the words were printed in large letters.

[Only three items may be claimed each month.]

So there was a limit. Still, the school gave them one hundred thousand points each month, the equivalent of one hundred thousand yen. Did anyone really need these shoddy free products? There were so many things that didn't add up, Star Color thought.

He had already noticed it at the Gymnasium. Every class of new students had seemed cheerful. To be honest, the school's assigning students to different classes based on their interviews made it obvious that the classes would have their own rankings. There was no way there wouldn't be competition. What made this school special? It certainly wasn't like the carefree or elite education systems outside. If it offered the same kind of education as public or private schools, there'd be nothing special about it. And there were only so many education systems to choose from, so it had to be a system where classes competed against one another.

Let's speculate boldly: maybe the school didn't actually give everyone the same number of points each month. The free items and the mountain-vegetable set meals were the best examples. It seemed possible that points would become scarce, and that the free items were there to ensure everyone's basic needs were met—to maintain the bare minimum standard of living. That would explain it.

If Star Color's guess was right, then what Teacher Majima had said earlier had been quite the word game. There were traps everywhere. Wait, what was the point of doing this? Were students not supposed to come to school to study? Were they some unscrupulous company? Did they love playing word games in their contracts or something?

Don't bring that kind of cruel, real-world nonsense into a school! Star Color ranted inwardly.

Still, it was only a theory. If the students in the other classes had the same number of personal points as they did, that would prove this theory true.

But that wasn't Star Color's job. He stuck to the principle of not dwelling on things that were only speculation. He grabbed some bandages, a rinse cup, toothbrushes, and other items from the shelf.

Star Color picked out reasonably priced shampoo and soap that suited his skin, then bought a few snacks, tissues, and other necessities.

Carrying a handbasket, Star Color reached the checkout, where the cashier asked to see his student ID. The cashier scanned the items' barcodes, then charged him by tapping his student card against the reader. So convenient. It seemed he could also pay by showing a QR code on his phone, so he wouldn't have to worry about losing his student card.

"Are you a fan of snacks, Star Color?"

Standing in line behind him, Tamiya Emi took stock of the items in Star Color's basket. A few were on the pricey side, while the rest were cheaper necessities. There were even some of the free supplies. Apart from those, the basket held snacks and things like crafting tools.

"Yeah. Snacks are the best!"

Since Tamiya needed to pick out some more personal items, Star Color didn't feel comfortable tagging along. So they split up to shop and agreed to meet at the checkout.

Holding his plastic shopping bag, Star Color stood quietly, waiting for Tamiya.

"All set. Let's go."

"Tamiya, want one? Sakura flavor."

Star Color held out a pink lollipop.

"Thanks... Ah, that takes me back. I haven't had one of these in ages. I got to try one at a festival when I was little."

Star Color had already unwrapped his own candy and was savoring the 'jumbo rainbow-colored lollipop' with slow, delicate licks, like a little cat. Then he bit off a corner.

Star Color's mouth made a 'crunch, crunch' as he chewed.

Tamiya Emi watched the way Star Color ate as they walked.

Noticing her gaze, Star Color met her eyes with his bright purple ones.

"Is there something on my face?"

"Ah... It's nothing. I just think you're really cute, Star Color."

"Huh? Thanks..."

Tamiya Emi felt herself growing warm. April had already brought them into summer, and the sun was bright. Maybe it was because she was wearing two layers of clothes. She suddenly remembered a line she'd once heard in a movie.

[A gaze is a spiritual kiss that doesn't touch.]

"You keep looking at me... It's embarrassing. There must be something on my face, right?"

The slightly confused look on Star Color's androgynous face gave it a hint of sensuality.

"It's nothing. Let's go."

"Wow, it's huge! This dorm is something else."

Star Color exclaimed in genuine admiration.

"One dorm building for each grade. That's amazing. The boys are on the lower floors, and the girls are upstairs."

"Huh... A co-ed dorm. That's a pretty strange design."

"Why do you say that?"

Tamiya asked curiously.

"Isn't a co-ed dorm just for making it easier to do those weird things? Sure, there are cameras, but it doesn't look like the place is managed that strictly. In the end, it's up to the students to behave themselves. Maybe the person who came up with the school rules likes peeking into the girls' dorms, so they deliberately left themselves a way in? If only I could get into the girls' dorm, my motives would be too obvious, so I'll grant every guy that privilege. Then I won't get caught! What a genius idea. Heh, heh, heh!"

When Star Color said "I," he changed his voice to sound like a lecherous old man from a Showa-era anime.

"That was such a weird thing to say, Star Color!"

"Um, sorry..."

"But talking with you is so much fun, Star Color."

Tamiya Emi smiled softly, enjoying the relaxed atmosphere.

The two stepped into the elevator.

"My room's on the fifth floor."

"Ah, mine's on the twelfth."

"Then... see you this afternoon?"

"Yeah, see you this afternoon."