Classes officially began the day after the opening ceremony, and Class C was as lively as ever.
As soon as Natsukawa reached Class C's back door, he ran into Chuto Rika, who was holding books and studying ahead in the hallway, but was actually waiting for him.
Since she was so quick to lower her head shyly, Natsukawa saw through her purpose at once. She was probably here to ask to add him on the messaging app.
As it happened, Natsukawa also needed her help with something, so he stopped. His circle of friends was simply too small at the moment.
Chuto Rika mustered her courage and greeted him first in a quiet voice.
"N-Natsukawa, good morning!"
Natsukawa Tatsuya responded with a smile.
"Hello, Zhuteng."
Natsukawa's smile is so bright.
Not daring to meet Natsukawa's eyes, Chuto Rika took out her phone and lowered her head.
"U-Um, Natsukawa, could we add each other as friends? You suddenly changed seats yesterday, so I didn't get a chance to add you."
Chuto Rika: Please say yes, Natsukawa. Please don't forget me as a friend.
"U-Um, you're one of my few friends, Natsukawa, so I hope you'll agree! Of course, I won't bother you."
Natsukawa replied.
"Of course. No problem."
With Natsukawa Tatsuya handling it, the two exchanged contact details, bringing the number of friends on his messaging app to two.
"Speaking of which, there's something I'd like your help with, Zhuteng."
Delighted to have added him as a friend, Chuto Rika said,
"Yes, if there's anything you need help with, just ask, Natsukawa. I'll do everything I can to help!"
Having lived here for several years after transmigrating, Natsukawa had learned that most people in Sakurajima generally avoided troubling others. They were often too embarrassed to ask for help, worrying that they would cause others trouble or inconvenience. Of course, most people were also too embarrassed to turn down requests for help outright. It could be called a strange island...
Natsukawa wasn't one of them. Whenever he needed someone, he asked directly. Besides, he understood Chuto Rika's personality and had befriended her because she would make an excellent helper.
Natsukawa said with a smile,
"There's no rush. I'll tell you about it on the messaging app later."
"Mm-hmm, all right! I'll go back to my seat first, Natsukawa."
Unused to drawing other classmates' attention, Chuto Rika lowered her head and returned to her seat to study ahead now that she had accomplished her goal of adding him as a friend.
Natsukawa Tatsuya then walked to his King's Hometown and sat down.
The classroom was lively. Various little groups were sharing where they had gone to have fun using their points yesterday and what they had bought. Some students were also seriously reading the textbooks issued for the first semester.
Ishizaki Daichi, whose cheerful personality fit the typical hot-blooded idiot mold, approached with Komiya Yego, a friend he had made yesterday.
Ishizaki Daichi waggled his eyebrows and gave Natsukawa Tatsuya a thumbs-up, saying with a grin,
"Natsukawa, you're amazing! A girl was already asking for your contact details on the first day of school! Boo-hoo, I'm so jealous!"
Komiya Yego rubbed his forehead.
"Ishizaki, that's way too rude! Shouldn't you introduce yourself first when you talk to someone?"
Ishizaki Daichi said in a fluster,
"Oh, right, right! Sorry, Natsukawa. I'm Ishizaki Daichi. Nice to meet you!"
Ishizaki patted Komiya on the shoulder.
"This is my good friend Komiya Yego. Our dorm rooms are next to each other, and that's how we met."
Komiya Yego rubbed the back of his head and smiled.
"Hi, Natsukawa. I'm Komiya Yego. It's nice to meet you too."
"Don't take it personally, Natsukawa. Ishizaki's just an oblivious guy. He insisted on getting to know his classmates, but he was too embarrassed to face you alone, so he dragged me along."
Embarrassed, Ishizaki retorted,
"What nonsense are you spouting? It's not like I'm scared of Natsukawa! And I've been making a real effort to get to know our classmates. I've already added plenty of them on my chat app!"
Natsukawa replied,
"It's fine. I'm Natsukawa Tatsuya. It's nice to meet you both too. We're all classmates from now on."
Hearing Natsukawa's response, Ishizaki Daichi sighed in relief and laughed.
"I told you Natsukawa would be easy to get along with. Sorry, Natsukawa. I'm just not used to dealing with guys who are good at studying. That Kaneda guy..."
"And Natsukawa, I wasn't just flattering you when I said you were amazing. The way you changed seats yesterday seemed really clever and impressive!"
"Boo-hoo, what a shame. I couldn't bear to spend the points, or I'd have wanted to move to a seat I liked too."
Komiya cut in.
"Didn't I see you buying a whole bunch of manga with your points yesterday?"
The three added each other on the chat app and started chatting.
Ishizaki and Komiya found that Natsukawa Tatsuya wasn't the same type as Kaneda Satoru, and their conversation flowed easily.
Ishizaki even thumped his chest and declared that although he wasn't the smart type, his friends could always come to him if they needed help.
Noticing that Ishizaki and Komiya's faces still looked a little red and swollen, Natsukawa asked,
"Ishizaki, how's your fight with Ryuuen going?"
At the mention of this, Ishizaki said gloomily,
"Don't get me started. Ryuuen's a nasty, underhanded bastard! Yesterday, he actually ambushed me on my way back to the dorm from the dining hall!"
"It's a shame you're no good at fighting, Natsukawa, or we'd have another person to help us. Heh, yeah, this isn't the sort of thing a guy with great academic ability like you would be into. Just focus on your studies. Don't worry about us!"
Ishizaki continued,
"Anyway, I'll never accept Ryuuen trying to rule the class through violence!"
Natsukawa replied,
"I have no interest in who rules the class. I don't care who wins! Who knows, maybe you could become the leader, Ishizaki!"
"Haha, huh? Is that possible?"
Ishizaki sank into a fantasy of leading the class.
Komiya shook his head.
"Ishizaki, let's leave Natsukawa out of this. Speaking of which, I got ambushed yesterday too. Luckily, I was with Albert..."
Ishizaki said,
"Oh, that mixed-race Black classmate? He's seriously strong! And although he doesn't talk much and is a little slow, he's easy to get along with."
Natsukawa listened to their boasting with only half an ear, occasionally responding with a sentence or two.
Why are these two enthusiastic guys still hanging around my seat? No, I should say the enthusiastic Ishizaki Daichi.
Is this what a school life full of youthful energy is like?
I bet Ayanokoji, who wanted to learn how to make friends early on, would be terribly jealous if he saw this.
During this time, Shiina Hiyori arrived in the classroom and gave Natsukawa a sweet smile and a greeting.
Hiyori didn't seem to have any intention of making friends. After sitting down, she took out a book that Natsukawa guessed was a mystery novel and began reading.
Natsukawa sat in the last row by the window, while Shiina's seat was in the fourth row by the wall on the opposite side.
The two excitedly shared how they had spent their points yesterday before the conversation returned to Ryuuen.
Before you continue