Chapter 1Fukagawa Mai, a girl who looks rather more mature than most girls her age, didn’t get much sleep last night. Her sister who was studying at a branch of the rival school, had fever last night and thus, she stayed up all night caring for her. She was running to catch the morning train, trying to get in school early. As the doors were closing, she managed to jump inside the train car before it closed. She then sat on a free seat nearest to the doors, not caring about the world. She was feeling dizzy, her head was faltering left and right. She then fell asleep, her head resting on a male student’s shoulder.
The male student in question was Hashimoto Naoki. He was reading a History Book he borrowed from the Library yesterday. Marukyu stopped reading then glanced at the sleeping Maimai on his shoulder, a faint smile forming on his lips. He then continued reading the book. Everything continued to be this way until they were nearing their stop. Marukyu then looked at Maimai. “Fukagawa-san, we’re nearing the Nogizaka Station. Please wake up.” Marukyu said with his usual stoic voice.
Maimai then slowly opened her eyes then saw that her head was resting on his shoulder. Shocked, she then rose from her seat then bowed at him twice. “I’m really sorry! I thought my head was resting at the glass!”
Marukyu rose from his seat. “It’s alright. Did you get enough sleep last night?” He asked, looking at her face, paler than usual.
“Not much. I had to take care of my sister. She was sick last night.” She rose from her bowing position, looking at Marukyu.
A slight frown could be seen on Marukyu’s lips. “You should go to the Infirmary later. I’ll go with you.”
Maimai shook her head politely. “It’s okay. I can handle myself.”
“NOGIZAKA STATION. NOGIZAKA STATION. PASSENGERS WHO ARE TRAVELLING TOWARDS NOGIZAKA PRIVATE HIGH SCHOOL, PLEASE ALIGHT AT THIS STATION.” The automated announcer sounded. The doors then opened.
Maimai walked out of the Train Car then tapped out her Train Card at the Terminal Exit. Marukyu followed her to make sure she doesn’t faint anywhere along the way.
Meanwhile in Shiraishi’s Apartment, he was woken up by his sister. “Ma~i! Wake up! You’re gonna be late again- Wait… WE’RE GONNA BE LATE AGAIN!” his sister said, panicking.
He opened his eyes slowly, then closed again, and then it opened in shock. “Oh geez! You should’ve woken me up earlier, Sayuri!”
“I have been trying to for the last 45 minutes. I was even thinking of performing an Apocalypto by slitting your throat and sacrificing it to Hatsune Miku!” Sayuri, or Matsumura Sayuri, Shiraishi Mai’s fraternal twin, answered. Their parents had been divorced since Middle School and their parents decided to let them stay together after Middle School because they’re really close to the point where some teachers think they were on the border of being close siblings and incest. However, it was clear between the two that they were just siblings. Sayuri, the younger twin, belongs to the Top 10 students of their section while Shiraishi belonged to the flunkers of the section.
“Oh come on. You love me too much to do that, Sayuri.” he said then dashed to the lavatory, showered for 5 minutes, grabbed some bread in the fridge then went back to his room.
Sayuri, who was already dressed up and ready to go, was still waiting for his brother to get ready. Her uniform, a white blouse with a violet lace, tied into a ribbon under a grey-colored vest, the skirt is the same color as her vest.
Shiraishi finally went out of his room. The boy's uniform consists of a Grey Blazer with white lines on the ends, a standard long sleeve shirt, a grey vest matching the color of their blazer, and a pair of grey trousers. Unlike normal students however, he seldom wears his long sleeve shirt and vest, and normally goes to school wearing a white t-shirt inside his blazer.
* * *
Inside the room, the class is further divided into 3 social classes. The Top notchers, the middle rankers, and the flunkers. The Top notchers are composed of their Class Valedictorian, Nakada Kana, the Class Salutatorian, Akimoto Manatsu, the geeky Ito Kai, the idolish Nakamoto Himeka, the extremely silent Suzuki Akira, the oh-so-perfect Hashimoto Naoki, the unfashionable Sasaki Kotoko, the normal-looking Higuchi Hina, the Student Council Vice President Ikuta Eric, and the happy-go-lucky Matsumura Sayuri. They were busy reading books for today’s lecture at the front seats.
The middle-rankers, Takarazuka Club’s Saito Chiharu, the parttime Office lady Shinuchi Mai, Archery club’s Matsui Ren, the overly serious Wakatsuki Yuuki, Softball Captain Eto Misa, the Cheerleader, Ito Nene, the motherly Fukagawa Mai, the perverted Saito Yuuri, the Student Council President Sakurai Reika, Otaku Club’s Ikoma Reito, the loud Nagashima Seiryuu, the wicked tongued Kawago Hiro, Otaku Club’s Nishino Nanase, Otaku Club’s Inoue Sayuri, and the singer of the class, Kawamura Mahiro. This group was concentrated on chatting with their friends and doing their various hobbies, with the exception of Ren because firing arrows inside the classroom is now a serious offense after he inadvertently hit a teacher squarely in the buttocks. That teacher in question was Himura Yuki-sensei, their teacher in Japanese Literature. He has been in the hospital for about a month now. They are positioned at the middle seats.
The Flunkers; Shiraishi Mai, Hori Mio, Ito Marika, Hoshino Minami, Saito Asuka, Yamato Rina, Kitano Hinako, Nojo Ami, Hatanaka Seira, and of course, the Queen of the flunkers, Wada Maaya. This group is busy checking their phones, doodling on the tables, and even sleeping. They are found sitting at the back of the class.
Okada-sensei then went inside the room. He then looked at the students at the front seat and at the students at the back seats. “Okay, everyone! Let’s start the homeroom! I’d like to discuss about the Flunkers’ Tutorial System!” Okada-sensei joyfully announced. This earned a unanimous sigh from the Flunkers. “Now, now… It’s not the usual Tutorial class wherein you’re all being taught by a Cram School teacher at the same time. I know you got sick of Osamu-sensei’s lectures, Wada-kun!” he added.
“Good! Now who’s going to be the tutor?” Wada asked.
“Good question, Wada-kun! You’re all going to be taught by the Top notchers of the section! Clap your hands, everyone!” Okada-sensei happily replied. There was an uncomfortable amount of silence in the whole class room. “Now, pair yourselves up!” Okada said then watched what happened.
Wada immediately went to Nakada, Nojo begged Hashimoto Naoki in dogeza form. As Maiyan was going to his sister, Sayurin was immediately hugged by the innocent Hoshino MInami from the back. Sayurin then pinched her cheeks and yelled, “Of course I’d be your tutor, you cute lil’ thing!” Hatanaka went to Higuchi Hina and begged for her help. Ito Kai approached his friend Hori. Kitano approached Suzuki in his seat and asked him to be his tutor. Suzuki replied with a nod. Ito Marika obviously paired up with Nakamoto Himeka. Yamato approached Ikuta, who was more than happy to help her. Sasaki, trying to find the last female who hasn’t found a partner yet, ended up with Saito Asuka.
Thinking that the whole flunkers had paired up with the members of the Top notchers, told them to write their names on the list. After the pairs had signed in. Okada counted the list. “Hey! This is only 9! I’m missing a pair-“ he then saw that Shiraishi and Akimoto hadn’t paired up with anyone. “Harvard-kun, you wouldn’t mind pairing up with Shiraishi-kun, right?”
Akimoto, also known as Harvard, who was calculating the angle of the her next physics experiment from her laptop, looked at Okada-sensei, nodded, then went back to what she was doing.
“Well then! Please start your tutorials today, students!” Okada then ended the homeroom and started his class, Trigonometry. The Classes went on smoothly.
* * *
The classes had already ended. Hashimoto went to the Student Council for their weekly meetings. The moment he entered, he saw Nanamaru sobbing. He went to her side and asked her what happened.
She then showed her left hand’s index finger. “I accidentally stapled myself, Hashimoto-kun.” Nishino answered, gently wiping the tears from her right eye.
Hashimoto then checked his pockets for a bandaid he had been saving for baseball practice. “Nishino-san, please endure this for a bit.” He then removed the staple and placed the bandaid over the wound. He then patted her head. “There, there.” Unlike the usual frown he shows everyone, a gentle smile could be seen on his face.
Nishino then beamed at him. “Thank you, Hashimoto-kun.” She then remembered something. "By the way, you’re not teaching Nojo-san today?” She asked.
Hashimoto then checked the books for something he could read. “She told me she had plans today so I’m attending the meeting.” He then sat down on the chair near him.
Ikuta then entered the room. He just looked at the two then did his signature move, the Ikutarian wave. “Ikuta~ria-“ Hashimoto then threw the book at him which hit his head. “Oww! Hashimoto-kun, I was just kidding!” he answered while touching the lump on his head. This made Nishino chuckle.
“Is Wakatsuki not attending today? What about Sakurai-san? What about Harvard?” asked Ikuta.
Wakatsuki then entered the room with Reika. Hashimoto then replied, “Two down, one to go.”
“Let’s start the meeting, guys. Harvard said she’ll be teaching her dunce today.” Reika said then sat on her usual seat in the room. The table was rectangular, Reika taking the center-most seat due to her status as the President. On her right, was Ikuta's, Nishino's, and Hashimoto’s seats. On her left, was Wakatsuki's and Akimoto’s seats. The meeting commenced without problems.
Meanwhile, at the library, Shiraishi was walking to a vacant seat when he saw his tutor carrying mountains of studying materials. He sighed and then grabbed more than half of what Akimoto was carrying. “If you need help, don’t be silent. We wouldn’t know you’re suffering if you just keep quiet, y’know?” He said as he continued walking.
“According to Statistics, 80% wouldn’t help anyway so I wouldn’t bother to try doing that…” Akimoto muttered. Akimoto Manatsu is the Class Salutatorian of their batch. She excels highly in branch of Mathematics. It is said that the school is planning to send her to Harvard and would back up most of her expenses if she passes the Entrance Examinations. Hence, she is most commonly known as Harvard in the whole school.
“Did you say something?”
“…”
“I’ll take that as a no.”
They then laid the books on the nearby table.
“So I’ll introduce myself just for formality. I’m Shiraishi Ma-“ before he could finish his sentence, Akimoto butted in with a monotonous voice.
“Shiraishi Mai. 17 years old. Birthdate: August 20. Belongs to Baseball Club as its Ace Pitcher. Has a crush on-“ Shiraishi butted in before she could finish saying her data.
“STOP! STOP! STOP! STOOOOOP!”
The librarian then looked at them.
“You didn’t have to shout. Sit down. My name is Akimoto Manatsu. Let’s finish this quickly.” Akimoto then opened the closest book to her.
“Well, it’s nice to meet you too!” Shiraishi replied.
“So where are you most vulnerable in the subjects?”
“Erm… I wouldn’t say I’m vulnerable at any subject. I just commit the tiniest of mistakes.”
“I’ve checked your papers. Grades like those aren’t caused by such petty mistakes, to be frank.”
Shiraishi’s face was then filled with rage.
“Just to tell you, a Closed Circuit Television Camera is recording us right now and its operators might be judging you right now. So don’t even attempt to hit me.” Akimoto added.
Shiraishi’s gritting teeth then turned to a smile. He then lazily offered his right hand in front of her. “Anyway, let’s have a good time in this tutorial thing. Nice to meet you again.” He said, flashing his 100-kilowatt smile that will sure capture the hearts of the ladies everywhere.
Akimoto just looked at him and then looked back at his test results. "I suggest we start at Mathematics. 1/100 sounds like a lot of work.” She said then handed him some handouts. “Try studying these for a day.”
Shiraishi removed his hand in disappointment then took a look on the handouts. But it’s not just some handouts. It was a 400 page handout. “ARE YOU FREAKING KIDDING ME!? I CANNOT LEARN THIS IN A DAY!”
The librarian then looked at them again.
Akimoto then sighed and picked up the study materials. “Let’s go to my house instead. Your preposterous bickering is not allowed in the library and you might even end up dragging me to being banned inside this area.”
Akimoto who was trying to carry all the materials was stopped by Shiraishi. Shiraishi carried all of her things until they arrived in their house.
At the doorway, Shiraishi’s eyes wandered and investigated the area. “You live alone?” He asked.
“That’s none of your business. Stay in the living room. Don’t ever venture to the second floor.” Manatsu answered then opened the door.
Shiraishi frowned in irritation.
‘Why must she become my tutor? I mean she’s smart but her tongue is so judgemental. Well... I would’ve become friends with her if she wasn’t so arrogant.’ He then entered the house. He then put down the studying materials on the table in Akimoto’s living room. Her house was quite modern. The second floor’s veranda on the rightmost part and the doors to the rooms in the second floor are all visible in the ground floor’s living room. One door had a pink-colored plate with the words “Manatsu’s bedroom” and the other door had the word “Library”. The door on the leftmost side’s door had the word “Closet” on it. There was another room without a Nameplate on it but it was a soundproof room judging from the exterior. Shiraishi started wondering if the girl was rich enough to have tons of clothes but he dismissed the idea because her house was too small for his standards.
Akimoto went upstairs to get her Math books. She then went out of her library with another mountain of books. Shiraishi’s jaw dropped because he hasn’t seen somebody reading those books. Let alone touch them. He saw a 5-inch thick Geometry book, a 6-inch thick Pre-Calculus and Calculus book. It’s as if his language wasn’t even his tutor’s language. He then looked at his frail-looking tutor who was trying her best not to drop a book.
“Whoa! Whoa! Lemme help you with those! You could’ve just told me!” He ran to the stairs but was stopped by Manatsu’s annoyed voice.
“Stay there! I told you not to go to the second floor! I can bring all of-“ The 5-inch Geometry book dropped on her toe, making her drop all her books.
Shiraishi just glared at the now embarrassed Akimoto. “I told you to just ask me for help. You didn’t. Do you now need help?” Shiraishi said as Akimoto was trying to arrange the books.
“I don’t need your help.” Akimoto then brought down the books one after another, avoiding eye contact with Shiraishi.
Shiraishi hissed then went back to the living room. Their tutorial then started but later escalated into a heated argument.
“I thought Geometry was all about measurements! Why the bloody hell do we have algebra mixed in here!?” Shiraishi, enraged, slammed his hands on the table then gritted his teeth in front of Akimoto.
Akimoto sighed, looked down on floor. “I’ll get my whiteboard. Just wait here.” She then stood up, went to the her bedroom in the second floor and then carried out a small whiteboard. She returned to the living room then put down the whiteboard on the chair in front of Shiraishi. Akimoto explained as thoroughly as she could the solution for the problems in Shiraishi’s test paper and gave him the important Formulas to jot down as well. After nearly 2 hours of lecture, Shiraishi yawned in exhaustion.
“I never knew these were so easy! You’re a genius, Akimoto!” Shiraishi held both of her hands in delight.
Akimoto coughed then nonchalantly removed her hands from Shiraishi’s.
“Well, enough of the Academic Subjects. Say… Do you have someone you like?” Grinning widely, Shiraishi looked excitedly at Akimoto who was fixing her glasses.
“Why would I tell you that?” Akimoto answered him with another question.
Shiraishi hissed. “Oh come on! I know you wouldn’t do this bloody things for free! Just tell me who and I’ll push you guys to each other!” Shiraishi smiled at Akimoto who was starting to blush a little.
“Y-you don’t need to know. I know he wouldn’t notice me anyway…”
“Is it Ikuta? Suzuki? Matsui? Wakatsuki? Ikoma? Nagashima? Hori?”
Seeing no reaction from her, he then muttered silently without breaking eye contact. “Hashimoto?”
She blushed as red as a tomato.
“I knew it! You’re another one of the Hashimoto Fags in the school!” Shiraishi snickered. “So what did you like about him? His perfection? Or his arrogance?” He added.
“That’s not nice... He might look arrogant but he’s secretly kind and nice to people. I think he might just be shy to show his kindness but… That’s what I like more about him. I wanted him to see me at least once though…” She answered.
“Not nice? Up until now, you weren’t being nice to me, stubborn couch potato.” Shiraishi preached. He then grabbed both of her hands which confused Akimoto. “Don’t worry. I’ll make sure he notices you. Oh, I know! Start by cooking him food tomorrow!” Shiraishi added then grinned widely.
“Why would he eat it?” Akimoto asked then pouted.
“Trust me. He’ll have no choice but to EAT it.” Shiraishi answered again with his 100-kilowatt grin.
Somehow, behind Shiraishi’s 100-kilowatt smile, Akimoto could see a really dark aura. But she dismissed it and then asked him back. “S-since you know who I have a crush on now… What’re you going to do about your Crush? She might be a little hard for you to reach though."
“Oh yeah, you did mention earlier in the library that you know who my Crush is. Say, who do you think she is?” Shiraishi’s excitement just rose from one level to another.
“Yeah, Eto Misa.” Akimoto answered without blinking.
“EHH!? How did you know!?” Shiraishi asked, shyly blushing.
"It was obvious to be very honest. It’s like… Everybody in the Student Council knows.” While saying these words, she remembered a certain Airhead in the Student Council. “Or do they?” She continued.
“EHH!? Hashimoto and Ikuta knew!? Even Sakurai and Wakatsuki!?” Shiraishi, still in a shocked state, asked.
“Yes. Student Council has an underground network of Students who gather information for them. One of us however, is pure enough not to check the affairs of other students. Well, I don’t really think she cares enough. Or maybe she just doesn’t know how to use it.” She answered while thinking of Nishino Nanase, the airhead of the Student Council.
“I don’t really care about the Student Council’s affairs but… How much do you actually know? How did you come to that conclusion that she’s a little hard for me to reach?” Shiraishi asked curiously.
“We don’t just ‘know’. We have had photographs and other evidences to support our claims. That’s why nobody has enough guts to stand up to the Student Council. Anyway, based on the information we have about her, she’s really hard to reach for people like you.”
“For real?”
She nodded.
“Even if we studied in the same Middle School?”
She nodded again.
“Even if we meet in the Coach’s office to discuss strategies a lot?"
She sighed and nodded once more.
“And why is that?”
“You’ll find out. In due course.” She then started cleaning up the studying materials. “Now go home. Tomorrow we’ll be tackling Social Studies. 4/100 is a bit funny for rich people like you.”
“Sheesh. Smartypants.”
“Mai-HiME.”
“Shut up. It wasn’t my fault that I was named like this. They were expecting a girl, not a boy.” He then grabbed his bag then walked towards the doorway with Akimoto. “By the way…”
Akimoto looked at him tiredly.
“You may call me Maiyan if you want.”
“Sure. Call me-“
“I’ll just call you Hazard like everyone else calls you.” Shiraishi replied with a smile then walked out of her house.
“It’s Harvard, idiot.” She silently answered then closed the door.
つづく
Topic: [N46] 世界で一番 孤独なLover (Chapter 2) (Read 7323 times)