Morikawa and Hoshida No finished the club registration in no time.
While they waited for the form to be entered, Hoshida No asked cautiously, "This school seems a little different from ordinary high schools."
Morikawa lowered his head to check the information. At that, he only glanced up briefly. "Everything is written in the student handbook." His voice was calm and even.
Hoshida No didn't press him. Instead, he asked a more practical question: "As a new student, is there anything I should watch out for once classes start?"
This time, Morikawa didn't hesitate. His pen paused over the paper. "Just do what a student is supposed to do."
It was common sense, after all: follow the school rules, get to class on time, and pay attention. Hoshida No understood that perfectly well.
Once he'd finished the registration, he stopped by the school shop to pick up some necessities. Only a few students were left inside.
The shelves were neatly arranged. Hoshida No's fingers skimmed the toiletries section, and his gaze settled on the free-sample shelf in the corner.
A few packs of tissues and travel-sized bottles of shampoo sat there.
He picked up a free bottle of shampoo and compared it with the cheapest one on the shelf. The free bottle was flimsy, its ingredients basic—barely good enough to use.
He still had eight hundred thousand Personal Points in his account, more than enough. There was no need to deprive himself.
Hoshida No simply picked up a mid-priced toiletries set, then grabbed two buns and a bottle of Coke. Finally, he took a large bag of White Rabbit candies.
The sound of the points being deducted at checkout was so faint he could barely hear it.
When he left the shop, the setting sun stretched across the path.
He had just started walking when a clear voice called out from the distance, bright with familiar excitement. "Brother No! Over here!"
Hoshida No turned. Karuizawa Kei was waving with one arm raised. Several students were with her, including Ichinose and Kushida Kikyo.
Kushida wore her signature warm smile and gave him a light wave.
Ichinose nodded in greeting, her expression gentle.
Hoshida No stopped and waited for them to come closer.
"What are you guys doing here?"
"Our class just went to karaoke together," Ichinose said first, lightly gesturing toward her classmates as she spoke in a soft voice. "We ran into Kushida on the way back to the dorms, so we walked together."
As soon as she finished, Karuizawa Kei took Kushida by the wrist and stepped forward half a pace. Her eyebrows lifted in mild reproach. "Hey, Brother No, there are such cute girls in your class, and you didn't even mention them?"
Kushida steadied herself, resting her fingertips lightly on Karuizawa's hand. Her smile remained flawless.
Her gaze swept over Hoshida No, her lashes quivering slightly. The flash of surprise lasted only a moment before giving way to just the right amount of embarrassment.
"So you're Hoshida No? When Karuizawa mentioned you, I didn't realize she meant you." Her voice was soft, as if she felt bad for not recognizing him, but her eyes quietly took note of his face.
Especially those dark eyes. They seemed familiar.
Hoshida No just waved a hand. "My introduction got interrupted right when it was my turn."
The evening breeze swept through the tree-lined path in the dormitory area, while the streetlights scattered flecks of light across the ground.
Kushida studied Hoshida No's profile for a moment. At last, unable to suppress her curiosity, she slowed her pace and asked with just the right hint of interest, "Um... Hoshida, have we met before?"
Hoshida No's steps faltered for half a beat. He'd planned to wait until he was back in class to find a chance to speak with her alone. He hadn't expected her to ask first.
He nodded. "Yeah, we have. I helped you find your cat when it ran off, and afterward, you treated me to a meal." As he spoke, his fingers searched his pocket for a moment before pulling out a neatly folded pink handkerchief. A sunflower was embroidered in one corner.
Kushida's pupils contracted slightly.
The boy covered in mud, holding a cat on that morning after the rain, and the tall, composed Hoshida No in front of her quickly became one and the same.
She hid a smile behind her lips, realization dawning in her eyes. "It was you! I never thought we'd run into each other here."
Her gaze settled on the handkerchief and stayed there. Her smile deepened a little. "You still have it, Hoshida. I was in such a rush back then, and this was the only handkerchief I had with me."
Karuizawa's eyes widened, and she instinctively grabbed Kushida's arm. "Huh?! You two knew each other already?"
Ichinose nodded too, curiosity in her eyes. The other girls with them exchanged surprised glances, their gazes darting back and forth between the two.
Unable to hold back, Karuizawa blurted out, "Come on, tell us! Finding a cat? A meal? What happened?"
Kushida explained everything in a clear, orderly fashion, recounting what had happened in just a few sentences. The others listened, looking enlightened.
Then she changed the subject, turning her gaze to Karuizawa and Ichinose. Her smile remained gentle. "So how did you two meet Hoshida?"
Karuizawa glanced at Hoshida No first. When he gave a slight nod, she answered as if it were obvious. "Brother No and I are kind of like siblings. Back then, my dad thought he looked decent, so he brought him home..." She gave them a brief explanation.
Ichinose smiled softly, her voice as gentle as the evening breeze. "Brother No helped me before."
She didn't go into detail, leaving it at that before adding, "Later, Kei and I happened to run into him at his workplace..."
The students around them listened, nodding from time to time. They'd certainly gotten their fill of juicy gossip today.
Hoshida No had never been particularly concerned with appearances. As long as these things didn't cross his boundaries, they didn't matter to him.
Three days had passed since the start of the school term. Announcements about club recruitment played on repeat across campus.
Hoshida No took a moment to visit the Martial Arts Club. After briefly greeting the new members, he returned to his classroom.
He sat in his seat and surveyed the room.
Some students were sleeping, others were eating or chatting. Some played games or read manga, and a few were absent. Only a handful were paying attention in class.
Taking in the chaos, he decided he should ask Chazhu Zuo Zhi to explain the school's rules.
He took out his phone, quickly typed a message, and sent it. "Sensei, I have a question about the school."
The reply came quickly. It was just one brief sentence: "Come to my office during lunch."
He put his phone away and resumed paying attention in class.
His deskmate, Ayanokoji Kiyotaka, had naturally noticed the whole exchange.
For the past three days, he had quietly observed everyone, taking in each student's words and actions. Hoshida No was undoubtedly one of the people he watched most closely.
Hoshida No always stayed focused in class, took well-organized notes, and kept just the right amount of distance in his manner and speech.
He neither joined in the chaos nor stood out. His calm self-discipline seemed completely out of place among the students in this class.
As soon as the bell rang, the noise in the classroom swelled.
Ayanokoji turned slightly toward him, his poker face still utterly blank. His voice was flat.
"Hoshida, don't you think there's something strange about this school?"