The Daily Life of Class A

Tokyo Metropolitan Advanced Nurturing High School, Class 1-A.

With one week remaining until the midterm exams, almost every first-year student was immersed in an atmosphere of intense revision—

Except for a select few.

At the podium, homeroom teacher Tomoya Mashima stood with his back to the students. The chalk in his hand made a rhythmic "tap-tap" sound against the blackboard as he fluidly wrote out a long, complex English clause analysis. He adjusted his glasses and began explaining the nuances of the grammar in his signature, rigorous tone.

Masumi Kamuro was putting the essential skill of an East Asian student to use—doing math during English class.

She opened a densely packed math workbook, a collection of problems assigned to her by Arisu Sakayanagi. If she couldn't finish them before heading to the library after school, her fate would be miserable.

Unfortunately, she didn't seem to know how to solve them. Her posture constantly shifted between biting her pen and pulling at her hair, but she never quite managed to reach the state of writing furiously.

Tomoya Mashima couldn't even bear to watch anymore. This girl was simply too conspicuous, but considering that English was the only subject Masumi excelled in, he chose to let it slide.

The reason wasn't just that, however, because there were two even more brazen students sitting behind Masumi Kamuro.

"I bet 1,000 points that Kamuro will scratch her head in one minute."

While Tomoya Mashima was teaching English at the front, and Masumi Kamuro was grinding through conic section problems, Reigetsu Amasawa and Ran Morishita, sitting at the desk behind her, had been chatting for the entire period.

The first month had already passed, anyway, so whispering wouldn't result in point deductions.jpg

"Impossible. I'm betting on my grandfather's detective lineage—Masumi Kamuro should be biting her pen cap in a minute."

Ran Morishita cleverly shifted the stakes onto her grandfather.

"Do we have a bet?"

"We have a bet."

"If you win, I'll give you 1,000 points. But what if you lose?"

"If I lose, the bloodline of the great detective belongs to you!"

"Pfft, hahaha."

The two hooked their pinkies to seal the deal, and then, as if thinking of something amusing, Ran Morishita suddenly couldn't hold back her laughter.

"Morishita-san! Please stand up."

"Eek!"

Ran Morishita was startled by Tomoya Mashima and sprang up from her seat. What greeted her eyes was the homeroom teacher's darkened expression.

"Reigetsu Amasawa... save me..."

Ran Morishita cast a pleading look toward the innocent-looking Reigetsu Amasawa.

"Whistle, whistle, whistle."

Reigetsu Amasawa began to whistle an off-key tune as if to mask the awkwardness, the sound appearing particularly jarring in the somewhat dull English classroom.

Reigetsu Amasawa, hurry up and use your invincible mental induction to think of a way out!!!

Ran Morishita raged helplessly in her heart.

Reigetsu Amasawa turned his head slightly, not looking at Ran Morishita or Tomoya Mashima. His gaze drifted past several rows of desks and landed precisely on the corner at the other side of the classroom.

There, Arisu Sakayanagi sat at her desk. She had stopped moving her hand at some point, and her delicate, doll-like face was currently wearing a faint, intrigued smile. Her clear eyes held not a shred of awe for Mr. Mashima, but were instead filled with the playfulness of someone watching a good show.

"Teacher! He's whistling!?? He's actually whistling!! Aren't you going to do something about Reigetsu Amasawa!!"

"Morishita-san, please do not frame other students just because you made a mistake! Amasawa-kun was only providing background music with his whistling because he was afraid you'd feel awkward. Yet, not only are you ungrateful, you're even biting back at Amasawa-kun. I am so disappointed in you—get out and stand in the hallway!!"

Mashima-sensei, your character is breaking way too hard, isn't it!???

By now, Ran Morishita understood. Reigetsu Amasawa had long since started using his ability!! But it wasn't to save her; it was to push her into the abyss...

Then, could it be that even Masumi Kamuro—

The one-minute countdown ended, and Masumi Kamuro began scratching her hair right on cue.

Ahhhhhhh!!!! Reigetsu Amasawa, you dog!!!

Ran Morishita was dragged out by Tomoya Mashima, looking completely unwilling as she pointed at Reigetsu Amasawa's face and cursed.

"Remember to call me 'Daddy'."

After everyone graduated, someone compiled this experience into the Class A Chronicles.

Later generations rated this episode as: Top-tier psychological warfare.

Tokyo Metropolitan Advanced Nurturing High School, Keyaki Mall.

Arisu Sakayanagi leaned on her cane, walking slowly down the street accompanied by Masumi Kamuro. She liked this café; the quiet atmosphere and the desserts helped her thoughts flow smoothly, but today, clearly, she wouldn't get her wish. As she pushed open the door—

At the window seat sat the girl she thought about day and night, the girl she regarded as her nemesis—

Kiyoko Ayanokoji was sitting there quietly. And sitting across from her was none other than Reigetsu Amasawa.

Two steaming cups of coffee sat before them. Amasawa Reigetsu rested his chin in one hand, speaking to Ayanokoji Kiyoko. Kiyoko merely watched him quietly, nodding slightly from time to time, but the emotion in her eyes could not lie...

It was the gaze of a subordinate, of someone in a lower position.

In that instant, Sakayanagi Arisu felt as if her heart had been gripped tightly by an invisible hand.

How could this be? Rei-kun had conquered her fated rival, proving that the shared philosophy they walked by was correct; shouldn't she be happy?

Why did she feel jealousy, anger, and a sense of crisis?

"Kamuro, you go back first."

Arisu instructed softly, the emotions in her eyes complex, though mostly filled with confusion.

"Oh."

Thirty seconds left—no, ten seconds. I can start laughing once I'm fifty meters away. No, I still can't laugh...

Ten seconds passed.

"Hahahahahahahaha!!!! Amasawa, look at you now!!!"

Kamuro Masumi laughed until it hurt.

"Inhale—exhale—"

She adjusted her breathing, leaned on her cane, and forced herself to walk toward the window seat with feigned composure.

"Oh my, isn't this Ayanokoji-san and Rei-kun? What a coincidence."

Arisu stopped beside their table, a flawless, gentle smile on her face, as if she were truly just passing by to say hello.

Amasawa Reigetsu looked up to see that the newcomer was Arisu.

Beneath that gentle smile lay chaotic emotions; she looked quite cute when jealous, Little Alice.

"Would you like to join us, Alice?"

Alice? Ayanokoji Kiyoko's gaze turned instantly vigilant. Another one trying to steal my husband!?

Watching Kiyoko wear her inner thoughts so plainly on her face, they didn't know what Amasawa was thinking, but Arisu was certainly amused to the point of anger.

"Am I interrupting your date?"

Arisu pulled out the chair next to Amasawa Reigetsu, preparing to sit down.

"You are."

Kiyoko paused, having remembered something very important.

"Also, you are not allowed to sit next to Master. Sit here by me."