The Beginning of a New Life (Part One)

(Karuizawa)

Before I knew it, two weeks had passed since the start of the school year.

I was gradually getting used to my surroundings, and, as usual, we gathered at Zelkova Shopping Center.

I was craving something sweet, so we chose Palette as our meeting place.

A message came through on my mobile device. The others were still in the mall restroom, touching up their makeup.

I was feeling a little peckish, so I thought I'd go ahead by myself.

I'd been thinking about the matcha mille-crepe cake here all through class.

"Hello, I'd like one matcha mille-crepe cake, please. Thank you."

"Sure thing. Keep an eye on the notification on your mobile device. We'll let you know when it's ready for pickup."

I nodded, then found a seat by the window.

While I waited for my dessert to be made, I opened the group chat.

Did touching up their makeup really take that long?

I was just thinking of telling them to hurry up when I suddenly noticed that something was blocking the ambient light by my seat.

Several girls had suddenly gathered around me.

I glanced at them.

None of them were from Class D...

A vague sense that they meant trouble rose in me.

They silently surrounded me, but none of them spoke first.

I pretended not to care as I replied to my messages, while quietly sizing them up.

Then a girl arrived a little later than the others, seeming to be their ringleader, and sat across from me.

Her makeup was a little over the top, and her collar was unbuttoned, boldly exposing her collarbones and skin.

She folded her arms across her chest, lifted her chin, and said:

"You're Karuizawa from Class 1-D, right?"

"Is there something you need?"

I frowned. Being interrupted while I was eating put me in a bit of a bad mood.

"A few days ago, here, you pushed Rika, didn't you?"

"Rika? I don't know anyone by that name."

I denied it.

"You're still denying it? Do I have to bring her here so you can face her before you'll admit it?"

"I'll say it again: I don't know this Rika you're talking about."

"You really are the type who won't believe it until you see the coffin, aren't you?"

As she spoke, she took out her mobile device, seemingly ready to confront me then and there.

For some reason, I recalled something that had happened a few days ago.

Business at Palette on Sunday had been booming.

No one enjoyed waiting in line, of course, but at least I was lucky enough not to have to wait alone.

A friend and I chatted as we waited in line.

At that time of day, every café was probably packed with long lines, but since it was the busiest time, there was no way I could say no.

We'd finally almost reached the front, but the girl ahead of us seemed unable to decide what to order.

I waited patiently for a moment, but she still looked just as conflicted.

The girls in our group were a little displeased. After all, we'd already been waiting in line for quite a while.

So I interrupted the girl, who kept going back and forth over her choice.

"You're really holding everyone up."

"You've had all this time and still haven't decided what to order? Other people's time is precious too. Do you really have to be so selfish and make everyone focus on you?"

"Or is this just your way of getting attention?"

After I questioned her like that several times, she looked flustered.

She apologized as she slowly stepped aside.

I'd thought of it as a minor incident and hadn't given it another thought.

Could that girl have been the Rika they were talking about?

For some reason, the girls around me all seemed to have a trace of hostility about them.

Was it really just because of that?

I couldn't stay here any longer.

They were like a pack of wolves that had been held back for ages and had finally found an opportunity to vent, ready to tear into their prey.

Given the way things looked, there was no way I could avoid backing down.

But if the girls from my class showed up and saw me, I'd find that even harder to accept.

If possible, it would be best to get away from this crowded place where anyone could overhear us.

I looked around, searching for an opening to slip away.

But someone caught that tiny movement, and a girl suddenly pressed down on my shoulder.

"Don't even think about running. You're not leaving until this is settled."

"D-don't twist my words. This Rika... I've never even heard of her."

She had already called Rika.

"Then bring her here and say it to her face."

I pretended to stop resisting.

Feeling the hand on my shoulder loosen, I pretended to rub it...

Then I wrenched her hand away with all my strength...

And escaped from Palette, just as I'd hoped.

"Don't think you can get away! You have to apologize to Rika today!"

I glanced at the girls chasing after me and gritted my teeth.

No. I can't let them see me looking this pathetic...

There was no time to hesitate. I turned into the alley beside us and kept running.

The alley was a little dark, and even though I'd passed by it several times, I'd never really noticed it before.

I looked up at the sky and saw that it was hazy.

The streetlights along the main road were already on, but the lights in this alley had yet to come on.

It felt like I'd been cut off from the outside world. I lightly stepped forward and continued farther in.

I'll hide here for a bit.

Honestly, being caught up in something like this again so suddenly had left me a little flustered.

Had two peaceful weeks since starting school made me careless?

There should have been a better way to deal with it, but I'd still instinctively tried to run away.

Ah...

I crouched down by the wall and hugged my knees.

Good grief. It was just a minor quarrel. Why were they making such a huge deal out of it?

Thinking of the way they'd looked ready to eat me alive, I couldn't understand it.

I thought back carefully to what the girls looked like. They seemed vaguely familiar—like the group of girls Sato had mentioned.

They were...

Students from Class C.

I remembered hearing them mention in passing that something had happened in Class C soon after the school year began.

I vaguely recalled them talking about a fight, some kind of violent incident.

I'd been in a bad mood over something at the time, so even though they were talking about something like that, I hadn't paid much attention.

I'd taken it as nothing more than afternoon tea chatter.

Thinking back to the girls' bottled-up expressions, it was hard to imagine they wouldn't do something reckless.

When people acted on impulse, they could do things they'd regret forever—even after they went to hell.

What a pain...

I'd gotten on the wrong people's radar.

I shook my head and decided to go back to the dorm first and think about it there.

I brushed the dust off my skirt and was about to stand when I heard footsteps around the corner.

Had they followed me here?

I cautiously poked my head out to check...

Why was President Horikita here,

with him?

I hurriedly pulled my head back.

They didn't see me, did they?

The footsteps didn't come any closer. The silence on the other side of the corner was a little frightening.

What would happen if they found me?

Wait! There was no rule saying students couldn't come here, was there? So what if they found me?

Why was I panicking like this?

It was because... because that incident had left me a little shaken...

Yeah, that had to be the only reason.

I calmed myself down, held my breath, and listened to their conversation.

The two of them made for a strange combination: one was the Student Council President, and the other was a first-year student.

What could they have to discuss that they'd arranged to meet in a place like this...

The evening twilight had already faded, leaving only the pale moonlight to shine on the ground.

"You've surprised me."

The silence was broken by a voice.

President Horikita started the conversation.

"You've already taken care of it, haven't you? So why come looking for me again?"

"Of course. I'd say things went somewhat beyond my expectations."

"If it weren't for that file, I wouldn't have been willing to get involved."

"But you still got it done."

"Does the president have a particular fondness for debriefing? You even picked such a secluded place."

Hajima-kun looked around, then spoke:

"Not just the streetlights. Even the cameras seem to be out of service."

"Temporary repairs to the facilities are perfectly normal."

"How's school been lately? Going well?"

"Thank you for asking, President. It's been pretty relaxing."

"But I'm rather busy. If there's nothing important, I need to return a book before the library closes tonight."

"You seemed eager to learn when you first started school, but now you don't seem to care at all."

"Honestly, it feels a little boring now."

"Oh?"

"School life is quite rich and interesting too."

Why did they seem close, but not quite close enough to be friends?

One moment they were talking about things I couldn't understand; the next, they'd veered into everyday school life.

I couldn't make heads or tails of it, but no matter what, Hajima-kun had made some kind of deal with the president.

Could I put it that way?

"Still, it's not as if there's no room for further discussion."

President Horikita said nothing, seemingly waiting for him to continue.

"I want to join the Student Council, and I want to be able to use its authority to make things easier for myself."

President Horikita frowned and said:

"Be more specific."

"That's hard to pin down. More or less, I want you to let me do whatever I want."

"That's impossible. The Student Council may seem to have tremendous power, but even I'm restricted in many ways."

"I see, President. It's getting dark, and I still need to stop by the library..."

"That's a rather outrageous demand."

"I told you, didn't I? Once you've used up your chance, it's gone."

"But without that last chance, we wouldn't be meeting this time."

"So you have to be prepared to take responsibility for that too, President."

As I listened to them talk, I tried to make sense of it, but then I suddenly realized they'd stopped speaking.

I instinctively raised my head and saw Hajima-kun staring straight at me.

!?

Had they noticed me?

"You avoided the Student Council office, didn't mention what you wanted to discuss on your mobile device, and didn't even bring Secretary Tachibana. This place is secluded, and the cameras happen to be under repair."

"Under the circumstances, I'd say my offer isn't unreasonable."

"If you're willing to be listed as a member of the Student Council, and understand that you'll need my approval before taking any action, I might consider it."

"Are you unwilling to give me any real authority, or have you already given nearly all of it to that person?"

Who was that person?

"Nagumo isn't capable of that yet."

"He is the vice president, after all. Unless something unexpected happens, he'll take over after you graduate. And you're still so relaxed about it?"

"He and you don't get along at all, after all."

President Horikita pushed up his glasses and didn't respond.

"Let's leave it at that for now. I'll find you if I need anything."

"What about the thing you promised me?"

"...I'll keep my word."

Even though I was still a little confused by the conversation, one thing was clear:

Hajima-kun had abilities that even President Horikita couldn't ignore.

There was no doubt about that.