Chapter 12: Beautiful Girl, Enrolls (Part 1)

Today is the entrance ceremony.

Even though I promised Ryoji yesterday that I’d ride to school on the back of his bike, I’m currently on the bus with Mom.

Ah, right—of course. I called him yesterday to say, “It’s fine, I’ll go by bus today!” Totally forgot that parents were supposed to come along.

Even on the bus, at the station, and in the train—I can feel people’s eyes on me for some reason.

Yesterday, Sakurako and the others mistook me for someone younger, too. Maybe I just look weird in a high school uniform?

Mom, meanwhile, looks all smug about it. Why is she grinning like that? Ugh, it’s so embarrassing.

Mikawa Prefectural High School’s nearest station is two stops from ours.

Since the school is only a five-minute walk from the station, everyone walks there together.

So, the street from the station to the school is packed with Mikawa students during the morning rush.

As I walk down the crowded sidewalk, I can feel those eyes on me again.

"Hey, Mom. Do I stand out that much? Do I look weird or something?"

"Heehee♪ Oh yes, you definitely stand out. You’re just so cute! Honestly, if no one were watching, I’d drag my little Ayumi-chan into an alley and do something naughty!"

"That’s a crime, you know!"

"Oh my, is it? What a shame. Well then, let’s just take a bath together tonight."

"How did you even make that leap!?"

"Because you said the alley’s not allowed…"

"Well yeah, obviously! But how does ‘no alleys’ turn into ‘let’s bathe together’!? What kind of logic is that!?"

"Ayumi-chan, if you raise your voice like that, you’ll stand out even more♪"

Ugh… guh… She’s right. I look around—everyone’s staring.

Mortified, I cover my mouth and lower my head.

"Aaah~ Ayumi-chan, you’re adorable no matter what you do."

Mom looks absolutely delighted.

Meanwhile, I’m dying inside. I already stand out enough—this is torture.

We finally reach the school gate, and it’s swarming with people taking commemorative photos.

Parents and new students are supposed to split up here.

"I’d love to take a few more pictures of my adorable, adorable Ayumi-chan, but we’re running out of time. Go on ahead."

I nod and follow the path for new students.

We wouldn’t even be cutting it close if Mom hadn’t spent half the morning snapping photos at home…

The area for new students is being managed by upperclassmen.

A male senior is guiding freshmen toward a reception tent further ahead.

At the reception, they’re handing out class assignments, the ceremony schedule, and little flowers to pin to our uniforms with safety pins.

I walk toward the guiding senior.

"Alright, freshmen, come here and tell us your name to receive your flo—"

He freezes the instant he sees me. His eyes go wide.

"Well, well, that’s Ayumi for you. Just one glimpse and people are already speechless."

And there’s Ryoji. Where the heck did he pop up from?

"What’s that supposed to mean? You make it sound like I’m some kind of weapon."

"Doesn’t matter the gender—if your presence makes people’s hearts race, that’s basically a weapon."

"Whatever. More importantly, how’d you even find me in this crowd?"

"You’ve been ignoring me a lot lately, you know. It’s honestly hurting my feelings a little."

"Really?"

"No, actually, it excites me."

"Ugh." I couldn’t hide how disturbed I was.

"…Anyway, finding you’s easy. Just look where everyone’s staring, and there you are."

Why though!? Is it because my face looks young, or because I’m short for a high schooler?

Still, just because something looks unusual doesn’t mean it’s polite to stare!

So this is how foreign tourists must feel when people gawk at them in Japan. I swear—I’ll never stare at anyone like that again.

"Freshmen, please come this way!"

This time, it’s a woman’s voice calling out from the reception tent.

We’ve got to check in over there.

The line moves slowly—two separate queues have already formed in front of the tent.

After finishing reception, everyone loops around and heads toward the school entrance.

"Did you see that girl just now? She was gorgeous!"
"I heard she’s the student council president!"

That’s what I overhear from some boys walking back from the tent.

A gorgeous girl, huh? I’m kind of curious now.

It’s only natural for a former guy to want to see a beautiful girl, right?

I lean to the side, trying to peek at this “beautiful student council president.”

Hmm, can’t see—oh, wait, there!

Whoa, she really is beautiful! And she’s wearing glasses! The perfect cliché student council president!

This’ll probably be the first and last time I ever see her in person.

"Ooh, yeah, she’s definitely pretty—but I still think Ayumi-chan’s cuter."

It’s Sakurako—she’s suddenly right behind me! When did she get here!?

Which means… Moeka’s probably around too, right? I glance behind Sakurako—

"Looking for me~?"

Her voice comes from somewhere completely unexpected, making me jump. I turn back forward—and there’s Moeka, right in front of me!

Are my friends ninjas or something!? Why can’t they just show up normally!?

"Wait, wait, Ayumi-chan! We weren’t trying to scare you! You just didn’t notice us at all! Isn’t that kinda sad for us!?"

Moeka flails her hands, panicked.

"Yeah, totally! We were about to line up when you walked right between us and ignored us completely! So mean!"

"Ah, I see… sorry about that."

I apologize honestly. I was so focused on catching a glimpse of the student council president that I didn’t notice a thing.

"If you’re sorry, then let us pet you!"

"Yeah, let us pet you!"

"Whoa, Ayumi-chan’s hair is sooo soft!"

"How can we both be human and yet have such different hair!?"

I’m sandwiched between them, my head getting ruffled from both sides like I’m some kind of toy.

Well, I guess it’s my fault for not noticing them. Whatever happens now, I’ll just accept my fate.

…Wait. Did I also completely ignore Ryoji?

Feeling a little guilty, I glance toward the parallel line where he’s standing.

"Don’t worry about it. I was just following your ass, anyway."

"I—see."

Unshakable and reliably hopeless, as always.

"That student council president sure was beautiful, but Ayumi-chan’s on a different level, you know?"

"Yeah, yeah—she’s glowing!"

Aura! There it is again! Mom said the same thing earlier.

What even is that!? Why is everyone talking about “aura” like it’s some kind of real-life stat that I’m the only one who doesn’t have!?

Is this a trend or something!?

While I’m still grumbling to myself, Moeka reaches the front of the line.

When she says her name, the student council president gives her a warm smile and tells her her class.

Wow, that smile. The guys don’t stand a chance. Honestly, neither do I.

Looks like Moeka’s in Class A.

“I’ll wait for you in the back, okay?” she says, waving before leaving the line.

Next up—it’s my turn.

"My, what an adorable girl."

The moment I step up, the student council president says that while staring straight at me.

Being looked at by such a beautiful woman for no reason makes my face heat up instantly.

Then, she gently touches my cheek.

"Um…?"

W-wait, what’s going on? Now she’s patting my head!?

Seriously, why is everyone patting my head lately!? It feels nice, sure, but when people keep doing it, it starts making me wonder if they think my head’s some kind of lucky charm!

"Oh, forgive me. Please tell me your name."

When she realizes I’m frozen, she blinks in surprise and quickly pulls her hand away.

The president’s taller than Sakurako, with a slender but perfectly balanced figure. Her face is small and refined—like a model’s.

She has sharp, elegant features and gives off an air of confidence and capability. She’s probably top of the class too—a total superwoman.

"Ayumi Sakura," I tell her.

"I see, Miss Ayumi. I’ll remember you."

"Eh?"

Why would she need to remember me?

"Let’s have lunch together sometime. Your seat will be on my lap, of course."

"…What?"

Where did that come from!?

"Hey! President! Ayumi’s seat is on my lap! I’m not giving that up!"

"Don’t butt in from the next line!"

Ryoji, still waiting in the line beside me, just jumps into the conversation like that.

And for the record—I’m not sitting on anyone’s lap, thank you very much!

"My apologies for getting sidetracked. Miss Ayumi, your class is A."

Same class as Moeka! Yes! I won’t have to start school all alone!

I can’t help but pump my fist in victory.

That means I can avoid that mysterious phenomenon where everyone instantly forms cliques, leaving the loners stranded on day one.

I’m still a little nervous about fitting in with the other girls, but it’s definitely better than sitting alone in silence.

"Heehee, are you really that happy to be in Class A? Even your joy is adorable. Honestly, I could just eat you up right now."

Her words are polite, but her gaze… is suspiciously intense.

I can tell—she’s giving off the same kind of dangerous energy Mom does.

Wait—that’s what they meant by “aura,” isn’t it!?

For everyone else, she just handed over the flower pin.
But for me, she pins it on herself.

And then—she suddenly hugs me tight.

It happens so fast I don’t even have time to react.

My face sinks into the softness of her chest. Oh no… this is way too much of a bonus event!

"Mmm… what a lovely scent. I’m starting to feel… naughty."

She murmurs something dangerously suggestive—and then her right hand brushes against my butt, slowly moving.

Then it trails downward, toward my inner thigh—

W-wait! I was too shocked by the chest thing to react, but this is definitely harassment!

Actually, not just harassment—this is straight-up molestation!

"Ohhh!"

And for some reason, cheers erupt all around. Seriously, what is happening right now?! Someone—anyone—stop this!

I flail and somehow manage to break free from the student council president’s arms.

"I wish we could enjoy this moment a little longer, but the line behind us is piling up," she says, looking genuinely disappointed.

Even though we’ve held up the line for quite a while, not a single complaint comes from the freshmen behind us.
Instead, when I pull away from the president, a collective "Aww…" rises from the crowd.

Great. First day of school, and I’ve already identified a dangerous person to avoid.

"Miss Ayumi, you’re in Class A, correct? I’ll remember that," the president adds sweetly.

She already knows my class!? Where am I even supposed to run now!?

When I finally escape to where Moeka’s waiting, she looks furious—probably because I made her wait.
Not that it’s my fault!

"Jeez! Ayumi-chan, your guard’s way too low! That weirdo president was totally touching your butt!"

"I—I had no idea what was even going on!"

Her description—"that weirdo president"—was so spot-on I couldn’t help laughing. It really was the perfect way to put it.

"But honestly, it kinda looked good, you know? I even got a little excited watching," Sakurako said, joining in.
She’d finished her own check-in fast.
Would’ve been nice if she’d stepped in before the butt-touching part, though.

"Hey! Sakurako-chan! Are you seriously okay with letting some random woman lay her hands on our Ayumi-chan!?"

Wow, Moeka—harsh.
I mean, the “random woman” in question was the student council president…
But since they’d only met a day apart, I guess it’s technically true.
Still, probably best if I don’t point that out.
Ayumi.exe has learned to read the room.

"The student council president, huh? Yeah, she totally gives off lesbian vibes. You better watch yourself, Ayumi-chan," Sakurako said, nodding seriously.

What a waste, though. She’s so beautiful!
Then again, I guess even girls who like girls care about looks.

As I’m thinking that, Sakurako suddenly pokes my side.

"Ah—! Hya!?"

Caught off guard, I squeak and jump in surprise.

"See? Moeka was right. Ayumi-chan’s got no guard at all—actually, not even no guard. She’s negative guard," Sakurako said.

"Right!? Like, if you just push a little, she’ll totally fold!" Moeka grinned.

"You seriously gotta be careful around guys, okay? Like, watch out for perverts and stuff," Sakurako warned.

I swear, my sides are sensitive!
And seriously—normal people don’t just touch others that easily!

Between the president and these two, I feel like I’m becoming some kind of plaything.
I puff my cheeks and turn away.

"See? Even her reactions are cute," said Moeka.

"That’s why it’s impossible not to tease her," Sakurako added with a smile.

I’m just… not used to this kind of attention.
No one’s ever teased me like this before.

And honestly, the president’s way prettier and more stylish than me anyway.
Wouldn’t she be a better target?
I mean, yeah, her personality’s a bit… unfortunate. But still—just looking at her is nice, right?

"I like small girls with flat chests and short height—the super loli type," Ryoji suddenly declared, barging into the conversation out of nowhere.

"You seriously jump into a convo just to say that!?" I shouted.

Ryoji had just finished his own check-in.
Before I could retort further, Moeka stepped between us, spreading her arms.

"Wait! Stop right there! Ryoji-kun, Ayumi-chan is off-limits!"

"I can’t give you my daughter’s hand that easily," Sakurako added solemnly.
Not that I ever became her daughter in the first place…

Meanwhile, Ryoji replied, "Father, I promise I’ll live up to your expectations," dead serious.

Man, his comedic timing is too good. No wonder he’s got so many friends.

Anyway, looks like we’ve all finished the check-in.

"By the way, which classes are you two in?" I asked.

"Me? A," Ryoji said.

"A as well," Sakurako added.

All of us in Class A! That’s awesome!

Suddenly, the idea of high school life didn’t seem so bad after all.