13 Chapter 3: Intro - Summer's almost here, a premonition of a fierce battle

The middle of June was gradually approaching.

There were no new special exams after the one in April, thus we were able to get on with our normal school lives for a while. The White Room student who was supposedly targeting me, also hadn't made any moves yet.

Up till now, the only thing that had affected me was the time when Amasawa came to my room. No major crisis regarding my expulsion had occurred.

However, that accident seemed to have left too deep an impression on us, so much so, that we hadn't yet found the right time to kiss again. No matter how conducive an atmosphere we created, there was always something akin to an invisible wall between us. Although I'd like to break that wall down to make further progress in our relationship, there was no need to rush. Over time, Kei would be able to remove that wall herself, thereby naturally moving onto the next stage. This would eventually help her grow.

As a high school student, I was living a fulfilling school life. At the same time, the season was changing into summer day by day.

Just like every year, the temperature outside slowly began to rise.

On a sunny day, the temperature could reach up to 30 degrees. Soon, the temperature began to rise, bit by bit, announcing summer's arrival over the spring's wing.

Having already spent a long time living an ordinary school life, there were topics that I often heard about. One of them was the repetitive topic of 'which season do you like the most'. However, that question was surprisingly interesting if thought about deeply.

People who were born and raised in the same place would have different favourite seasons.

After experiencing the change of all the four seasons at this school, I once again looked forward to the 'hot' season. If I thought about it, my favorite season was probably summer.

Maybe this was why the blue sky looked so beautiful and dazzling.

"Good morning, Ayanokouji-senpai."

As I was walking while looking up at the sky, I was greeted by someone in front of me.

Tracing that voice, it sounded like Nanase Tsubasa, a student of Class 1-D.

She seemed to be on her way to school by herself, as the people walking around her didn't seem to be her friends.

"Oh it's you. Good morning."

Since she was walking in front of me, did she just happen to turn around and see me, or did she deliberately wait here because she had something to tell me?

"Is there something in the sky?"

I didn't notice Nanase's presence because my attention had been on the deep blue sky. However, since she noticed that fact, she probably had been looking at me for a while.

"No, just looking up at the blue sky."

"Looking at the blue sky, huh?"

Nanase, who walked to my side, followed my example, and looked up.

Today's sky was cloudless, and mirrored a vast blue sea.

"What a beautiful day."

"Yeah. By the way, I haven't seen you for a long time."

Although we've passed by each other since, it's been a long time since I've talked to her like this.

"Yes, we haven't met for about a month and a half."

Nanase and Housen had jointly planned to get me expelled in the previous exam. Despite that, their behaviour towards me remained as nonchalant as ever, similar to Amasawa in that regard.

"I've always felt sorry for what I did to you, Ayanokouji-senpai."

Looking at the sky, Nanase said that.

It seemed like her thinking was deeper than I had originally thought.

"Senpai, do you hate me?"

"I don't have any reason to hate you. It was for the special exam, right? There was no way out of it. Besides, I saw how you tried to protect me, Nanase."

Nanase, even though she had joined forces with Housen, rushed out and stopped Housen at a critical moment, despite the danger she faced.

I still firmly remember the fact that she had confronted Housen, who was exceedingly hostile towards me.

"Is that special exam over? I didn't hear you mention anything about a deadline."

"No, the exam's still going on. It's deadline is the start of the second semester."

In other words, the special exam would still continue on for a little bit? Knowing that, Housen's and Nanase's silence on the matter seemed strange.

"Are you wondering why I haven't visited you since then?"

"It would be a lie if I said I hadn't thought about it. I'm still wondering if you're up to something behind my back."

"Because of what happened last time, I'm convinced that even with a well thought out plan, it might not work out that easily. Also, once we lost the element of surprise it was considerably harder to pressure you in your day to day life."

"Then are you waiting for the other years to have their special exams? However, what about the rest of your year?"

"I don't know how, but I think they already know that Housen-kun has made his move."

"Since they've seen someone with Housen's caliber fail, they've probably judged their efforts to be pointless without good preparation? In that case, being so badly injured wasn't that bad after all."

"I don't know if it's worth your left hand, senpai."

Among the 1st years, Housen Kazuomi, for better or worse, was one of those students who attracted a lot of attention.

It was perhaps fortunate that Housen was the first to go against me.

The question was however, who exactly was behind this special exam. Although it would be easy to just ask Nanase here...

However, the few times I looked at her, she looked away, so I had no choice but to give up on asking her for now, and I looked ahead. Even if I asked her the question now, Nanase couldn't answer it. Within the remaining three classes lurked unidentified insiders. To maintain fairness, it was impossible for her to betray them. In the end, Nanase just admitted the existence of the special exam to prevent her own Class D from being disadvantaged in the special bounty.

"Thank you for understanding me."

Since I'd remained silent, Nanase said that, as though she understood what I was thinking.

Since we were going to school together anyway, I decided to talk about completely unrelated topics.

"You seem to be comfortable with life at this school."

From the way she conducted herself, it looked like she had shed the naivety of when she first arrived, and was fitting in well.

"Yes. I think the students in my grade, including myself, have become accustomed to the special situations that keep on occurring here. Although I don't know how much the upperclassmen know, we 1st years have taken our 2nd special exam at the end of May."

Just like how we 2nd years had our own battle, the 1st years had their own battles as well.

"Although I haven't heard from anyone directly, I've heard rumors that someone has already been expelled."

The 2nd years had also heard that there was a student who got expelled during that special exam.

"Ah, so you do know about it? One boy dropped out of Class C in the first year."

After all, that student disappeared from the OAA list. However, the one who dropped out was a student with an A in Academic Ability, so I guess he got some special penalty of sorts.

"There're always going to be rumors about such a big event."

"At this school, yesterday's friends who you were laughing with, could be mercilessly expelled today. Which's why I've come to realize that every day at this school must be lived without regrets."

Although right now was a matter of just watching and letting the others fight among themselves, there will be a time when Class 1-D has to face a similar situation. During which time Nanase's sense of crisis would be invaluable.

Even so, I had no way of confirming the other years' Class Points..

That's why I didn't know which class had won and which class had lost in the exam.

"How did your Class D place in the results of the exam?"

"The previous time, we came in last, even this time, we only got third place. Although, Class A and B battled fiercely, so the point difference created between the classes is very small."

Despite having Class-A and B as opponents, their class wasn't left far behind. On the other hand, the main reason why Class C came in last was probably because they had someone expelled.

"Is Housen better behaved recently? Or...?"

"It'd be a lie if I say he hasn't done anything. But it's true that he has nothing to do with this time's expulsion. He's only fixated on you now, Ayanokouji-senpai."

Nanase, who had been looking at the sky, finally looked towards me for the first time, with a bitter smile.

"Although it might be specious of me to say, I think it's thanks to you that he has become a bit more well-behaved. I guess you could say that he's taking some of the energy he had focused on the first year students, and placed it on the upperclassmen. Recently, he keeps saying things like, "Let me fight the 2nd years". That's just great."

This was indeed a good thing for a first year. But now that she said that, the fact that Housen would meet my eye when I passed his huge figure was really just a sign of provocation.

"There should be a chance to fight with you first years sooner or later."

Although we've only had one chance to work with them up till now, as long as Nagumo continues to pursue his policies, we would definitely compete with each other sooner or later.

"I hope I can spend my school life here without any regrets.

"That'd be good."

As Nanase said, the friends you were laughing with yesterday might not be with you today.

That was the kind of thing that could happen in this school.

That's why we can't take every day we live here for granted, instead we need to make the most out of them.

Because each day that passed was a day that would never return.

"You must not leave any regrets behind, Ayanokouji-senpai"

Her words seemed to suggest that I didn't have much time left at school.

Her eyes burned with determination.

"Of course, I'll do my best to leave no regrets."

After hearing my reply, Nanase forcefully nodded, seemingly satisfied.

"Then I'll take my leave."

Having almost reached the school building, Nanase bowed her head and left.