Intro 7 (Part 1): Ayaka to Arata
One morning in a middle of in Mizuno household, all the children, except one, were having breakfast at the dining table, because Yuuichi, wearing an apron, was still standing behind the kitchen counter cooking some other dishes.
Although he was focusing on cooking, Yuuichi saw a figure passing the entrance of dining room from the corner of his eyes.
He turned off the stove, and quickly chased that figure that dressed neatly in black office suits, already done wearing his shoes and on his way to grab the doorknob.
"Tou-san,... today... how about a breakfast... together?"
Although he was nervous, Yuuichi still forced himself to extend the invitation to eat together to his father.
The father, with his back facing Yuuichi, went still for a second, but shook his head and reached to grab the doorknob.
"No need, I have an early work today. Maybe some other time."
The door went open with a 'click', and seeing his father will go without even a look at him, Yuuichi tried one more time.
"Then, um, can you wait a minute? I, I will pack a bento–"
"I said, 'No need'! Just... just eat with your brothers."
Click!
The doors closed with any further words.
Yuuichi was left standing alone on the entranceway, feeling disappointed that his offer once again got rejected by his father, and a very tiny bit dissatisfaction toward him too.
"And just like that, he was once again got turned down, for only God knows how many times similar conversations already happened in the pas– Ouch ouch! Haru-nii, it hurts! You're going to tear my ear off!"
"Don't start monologuing the situation. Repent already, you insensitive brat."
Yuuichi turned around to see two heads peeked out and making noise at the entrance to dining room. It was Haruka and Yuuki, with the latter having one of his ears pulled by the former.
"You two, how long you been standing there?"
The ruckus between the two instantly went down, they looked at each other before Yuuki opened his mouth.
"From the beg– mmphh!?!?"
"Just now, the moment Tou-san stepped out of the door."
"Is that so?"
Yuuichi tilted his head at the sight of Haruka covering Yuuki's mouth with a very innocent smile.
"....."
"Alright then. Just go back and finish your breakfast."
Although Yuuichi still felt unsure with Haruka's answer, but in the end he shrugged it off and pushed them both inside while he went back to the back of the kitchen counter.
★
Meanwhile in the other side with the father, he right now has boarded the train that would take him to his workplace.
The train wasn't super crowded as usual, but all seats were already taken by others with similar outfit like him, and some youngsters who looked like they were on their way to enjoy their spring holiday.
So all he could do now was the same with everyone in the same situation, riding the train while standing.
As the door finally closed and the train started moving, he put his hand on hand holder above him to stabilize himself.
His mind wandered to the previous conversation with Yuuichi, the moment of lapse where he raised his voice toward his son.
["What a bad father. Even after all these years, you still haven't moved on from your slump."]
He raised his head, looking at the glass window that showed the scenery outside and a blurry reflection of him–
No.
That's not quite right.
Sure, for people other than him, the reflection in that glass window was just a normal average office worker.
But in his vision it was different.
The one standing as his reflection wasn't himself. It was a woman, with flowing black hair and red eyes as ruby.
It was her.
Her figure looked at him with cold stare filled with contempt on her beautiful face.
["You truly disappoint me, Arata."]
"....."
He couldn't say anything back. Not even dare to call out her name.
He is.... No, he has long been unworthy to even utters her name with his mouth.
The train shook, and the scenery outside gone as they went inside the tunnel, and when he looked ahead again, her figure was gone, replaced with the ordinary him.
He didn't understand his own feeling right now.
There was a heart wrenching feeling just to the thought of disappointment in her eyes, but the moment her figure disappeared, another kind of pain seemed filling his inside.
'Ayaka.'
A name that could only be said in his mind.
★★★
[Past: 25 Years Ago]
One morning at the Seiran High School, a brown haired guy in white and black school uniform walked the road to the school building while looking around with amazement.
His steps stopped and he looked down at the sheet of paper in his hand.
"That old man, he only said to give the file to the principal in his office, but...."
He looked up, stand tall and huge before him, the entrance of the first building of this school. A three-story building, spread wide to both side as far as he could see.
Even before entering the school front gate, he already imagined just how BIG the school who hold the title of one of the best school in the world was. But standing in front of the first building, he felt his imagination was a bit lacking compared to the reality at field.
"How I'm supposed to find one specific room in this place?!"
Because it was morning, there are many other students and some school staffs around. Most just went on their way without even noticing his presence, some were giving him a quick glances, but ultimately, no one approached or talked to him.
Feeling the occasional gazes a bit prickly, he decided to try asking the passing student. "Um, excuse me, do you–"
But before he could ask, a rapid footsteps of someone running echoed from behind him, and just when he realized it, ....
'Thump!'
... the collision already happened. The guy staggered forward, the paper on his hand fly away with the wind.
Meanwhile, the person who bumped into him, a black haired guy wearing the same uniform as him, looking at him apologetically without stopping his running.
"Sorry, dude, whoever you are. I'll apologize properly later. But I need to survive first!"
After that person was gone inside the building, while the brown haired guy's mind was still loading, another figure ran past him while shouting:
"Get back here, you perv! I'll send you to your god!"
A female student with flowing green hair, went past him like a storm and disappeared inside the building following the previous guy's track.
Left alone, the brown haired guy looked over behind him just in case another figure would appear again. After ensuring that there was no more such a person, he looked ahead, his mind still somewhat trying to process what just happened.
".... What was that even about?"
Realized that the paper in hand was gone, he then saw it on the grounds a few steps in front of him. He walked and bent down to pick it up, when a pair of slender feet in black stocking came into his field of vision.
"Are you okay, Arata-kun?"
He froze on his track when he heard that question.
"I apologize on the behalf of those two. They're not really bad kids This is just the usual thing between them."
While saying that, the girl bent down, picked up the paper and hand it over to him.
It's only after he took the paper back that he raised his head and saw the person who picked it up for him.
A very beautiful girl wearing student uniform. With skin as white as snow, silky long golden hair, and deep red eyes like blood.
For a moment there, his mind went blank. "What... what did you say?"
The girl tilted her head, blinking her eyes innocently. "'They're not really bad kids'?"
He shook his head. "No, no. I mean the one before that. You said..."
Still looking confused, she asked: "Are you okay, Arata-kun?"
".... That...?"
"Hm?"
"No, I'm sorry but... Do we know each other, Miss?"
"Hmm... No? I'm quite confident with my memory, so I'm very sure this is our first meeting.... Eh wait, are you hitting on me?"
"No! What I meant to ask is how do you know my name?!"
"Name....? What name?"
"Eh?"
"Eh?"
"....."
"....."
Awkward silence ensued.
Five seconds
Ten seconds...
Fifteen seco—
'Clap!'
"Question, your name, is it 'Arata'?"
The girl clapped her hand in realization and then pointed her finger to him.
Bewildered by the sudden question, he unconsciously nodded.
Right after he nodded, the girl's expression contorted like she was trying hard not to laugh, which, in fact, failed.
"Pfft, hahaha, Arata-kun is actually Arata, hahaha!"
He didn't know what was so funny to make the girl in front of him laughed so hard while holding her stomach. The stares from all other students around them was also not helping.
Feeling like he was being ridiculed, Arata decided to ignore the girl and searched the office by himself.
"Wait!"
'Grab!'
Unexpectedly, that blonde girl stopped him by holding his hand.
Startled because his hand was grabbed by a girl, Arata shook it off and cautiously put a distance between them. The girl didn't look like she minded it, she smiled and gave an offer.
"You're looking for the Principal Office, right? I can show you the way. Consider it my apology for laughing earlier. How about that?"
Arata decided to take on that offer, partially because he doubt he could find the place by himself in this super big school.
•
•
In the hallway on their way there, Arata saw many students looking at them. Some were giving simple greeting of "Morning!" and "Good day!" to the girl beside him, and responded by her with a smile and some waving.
Arata wondered if she was someone special in this school.
"About earlier, I apologize. I didn't mean to laugh that hard. It just... the coincidence is too hilarious, hahaha, ah! Once again, sorry!"
Even while apologizing, she still smiled and laughed at him for some reason.
"No, I don't really mind, but... what do you mean coincidence?"
"I said that I'm confident in my memory, right?"
"Hm, you did. But what it have to do with this?"
"I know everyone in this school, be it either the students or the staffs, without exception. So when I saw you back then, someone I didn't know, wearing our school uniform, I concluded that you are ."
"... Ohh, I think I see the connection now."
"Right. 'Tenkousei' is too long, and calling you with 'Hey' or 'Yo' are too impolite for a first impression. So I decided on ''. But for your name to be actually 'Arata'.... Pftt, hahaha, I still can't help but laugh at this. Soo awkward, hahaha!"
"Aha....haha..."
Arata could only do a very dry laugh in this situation.
After a few more minutes walking, the girl stopped and pointed ahead to the end of the hallway.
"We arrived at our destination."
A big white door made of carved wood with a very conspicuous sign 'Principal Office' on top of it.
Arata wanted to thank the girl for guiding him, but a bell rang loud to the whole school.
"It's already the time huh. Well then, see you around, Arata-kun."
"Wait, ano..."
Hearing the bell, the girl quickly turned around and wanted to leave before Arata called out to her, stopped her in her track. The girl turned her head at him with question mark on her face. "Hmm?"
"T-Thank you for showing me the way,... etto... what should I call you?"
The girl blinked several time and then...
"Eh!? Did I never introduced myself the whole time?"
"Uhh, yeah...?"
She turned around, her back on him, holding her head on both sides and muttered something that couldn't be heard clearly.
"I really forgot the basic thing! What kind of impression will he have about me now? Ahh, I'm baka!"
"A-Anoo...?"
"Whatever! Now it comes to this, let's go all the way! Listen now, Arata-kun!"
She turned around, pointed her finger straight at his face with serious expression.
"Ah, yes?"
"Since you are a new students here, I'm giving you a Quest."
"Quest....? What?"
"Your first Quest; by the end of this day, make a new friend."
"No, what do you even mean by quest? I was just asking for your name."
"Ask it to your new friend, that is the reward of this quest. Don't worry. Just as I know everyone in this school, there is no one in this school who doesn't know me."
"Suddenly I regret ever asking."
As if she didn't hear that last comment, the girl smiled and waved before turning around and left. "See you later, Arata na Tenkousei, Arata-kun."
For Arata that day, that was definitely one of hell kind of meeting.
•
•
Long story short, Arata finalized the transfer procedure with the principal, then asked to follow a teacher who will be his homeroom teacher to their class.
Once in class, Arata was introduced by the teacher with basic introduction and asked to sit in the backrows and the lesson for today started.
•
•
After the bell signaling the break time and most students has walked out of the classroom, Arata cleaned out his desk and fell silent.
Still remembering the talk with that mysterious girl about making friend, Arata thought that there was nothing wrong in making friends in itself, so what he was about to do now was purely because he wanted to make a friend in this new place.
Definitely nothing related to that quest thing!
Done convinced himself, Arata turned to the seat beside him, where there is a guy slumped on the desk seemingly asleep.
"Hello, my name is Mizuno Arata, nice to meet you..."
When he was saying that, the guy woke up and turned his head to him and both of them freeze.
Two second laters, both of them shouted at the same time...
""The one from this morning!""
•
•
Turned out that the guy beside him in class was the person who ran into him from this morning.
The black haired guy, who introduced himself as Iwagashi Suzuki, offered to treat him a meal at the cafeteria, both as compensation for the thing in the morning, and his welcoming for Arata.
Arata accepted and Suzuki ordered for both of them the most popular menu, before sitting at the only available table left in cafeteria corner.
While waiting for their order to be delivered, Suzuki asked something.
"So, what is it? The thing you want to ask?"
"You realized huh?"
"My job trained me to notice something like that. Ah, I would appreciate it if you don't ask about my job, though."
To be honest, all this time after parting with her this morning, Arata was still thinking about that girl. He didn't exactly know why, but there was something inside him who told him to know more about that girl.
So here, faced with the chance to ask those question, Arata didn't hesitate and described the appearance of that girl to Suzuki.
Beautiful girl, waist length blonde hair, red eyes.
Suzuki seemed to be deep in thought for a while that Arata couldn't help but ask.
"Is... is something wrong? Is my description too vague?"
"Ah, no, nothing like that. I know the the person you are talking about. But..."
"But?"
"Which one?"
"Huh?"
★★★
[Present]
It's a busy day as usual in White Star Entertainment.
Inside the Game Division's floor, to be precise in the Game Programming Department, full of people who was busy with their own job. Eyes glued to the monitor, finger flicking the keyboards, line of codes typed on one after another to create what one would call modern digital art entertainments.
[Kurosawa: Mizuno-san, have you done installing the codes for the Area F7 yet?]
And there is Mizuno Arata, one of the people responsible for the stage and environmental design.
A direct message was displayed in the below right corner of his monitor screen. Arata stopped what he was doing to reply to that message.
[Mizuno: Almost done. What's wrong?]
[Kurosawa: I got a report from several beta testers about an annoying bug in Area D3. Can you take a look and fix it?]
Arata blinked several times after reading the text. "Wait, D3 isn't my—"
[Kurosawa: I know it isn't your Area. The one in charge of that, Sasaki-san, is on sick-leave today. And I can't be calm giving this bug to newbie either. Please!]
Even before he could reply, Kurosawa, as if he could read Arata's mind, continued begging him.
Arata looked at his workload lists and the message from Kurosawa alternately, his hand hovering on the keyboard, calculating and considering everything, before his fingers moved to type a short reply.
[Mizuno: Just this time.]
[Kurosawa: Thank you! I owe you one! Contact me if you have any trouble!]
Arata let out a long sigh reading that almost instant reply. He closed his current tab to check the detail of the bug mentioned by Kurosawa.
"Let's see... Area D3.... a materials farming site... Ah, this one.... Huh, what?"
Arata's brows furrowed for a second before once again letting out a long sighs and scratched the back of his head.
After 5 minutes glued to the screen trying to find the problem in the sea of codes, he finally found it.
"That Sasaki-san, he gave the wrong multiplier to the normal mobs again," he murmured while giving it a quick fix here and there.
"I see. I'll be sure to scold him when he come back later."
"!?"
Arata in reflect turned his head to the side to see a gray haired woman in business suit looking at him with a smile.
"Mana-san, since when you are there?"
"I just arrived after the meeting with the other head departments. Rather than that, you haven't eaten right? Here."
She, Mana-san, without waiting for Arata's response, put a bento box covered in blue cloth on his desk.
"Wait, Mana-san, you—"
"Take a break and eat. This is your Chief Department's order."
Satisfied after her words successfully cutting him off, seeing Arata can't refuse, the smile on Mana's face deepened. She patted his shoulder and walked away.
Arata thought he could finish fixing the bug before taking a break—
"It's paycut if you continue even for a minute longer, Arata. Also for the others, stop gossiping and get back to work, or else, pay~cut~"
"No fair!"
"Abuse of power!"
"Favoritism!"
""Tyrant!""
Various howls of resentful voices reverberated in this enclosed space of an office the moment the Game Programming's Chief Department gave her verdict without looking back.
Arata could see Mana's back shaking, holding out a laughter, before she disappears behind the door of her personal office.
Although many people voiced their protest of this blatant show of abuse of power, called her a "Tyrant", they obediently and quietly get back to work the moment she was gone.
This is the usual life of Game Programming Department.
Arata sighed for the umpteenth time today, saved the progress of the bug fix, and turned off his PC to the standy mode.
["That girl, she definitely like you, isn't she?"]
The moment his monitor screen turned black, when it became a dark mirror, the one reflected wasn't his figure, but Her.
Arata ignored her. He quietly stood up, took the bento with him and walked to the cafeteria.
•
•
"Itadakimasu."
At the corner of a 'not-so-quiet' cafeteria, Arata sat alone eating he the content of the bento given by his head department.
Not to say this kind of thing happened everyday, but it was in fact already happened so frequently, span back to like 4 years ago.
No matter how he refused, she always found a way to shove the bento to his hand. At some point, Arata could only reluctantly accept while promised to pay her back some other way.
"This seat is free, right?"
Arata turned his head to the side, finding his co-worker from Game Programming department, Sawamura Fudou, stood there holding a tray filled with lunch set from this cafeteria.
Arata just nodded and continue eating, while Fudou sat beside him.
"....."
"....."
No one said anything more. They focused on eating their portion in quiet and calm.
When Arata finished his bento, opening the can of coffee he got from the vending machine in his way to the cafeteria, bringing it to his mouth....
"How far you have you gone with Uratora-san? Have you had sex?"
"Pfftt!!"
Fudou out of nowhere asked this absurd question, making the coffee that barely entered Arata's esophagus to get stuck at the wrong pipe and almost got him choked.
"Cough cough.... what the— Sawamura-san, please don't joke around like that. Some might misunderstand if they hear it."
Calming himself and cleaning the mess he caused by the spilled coffee on the table, Arata shot Fudou an annoyed glance.
"I apologize. My words were too blunt."
Fudou easily apologized, and Arata could only sigh and forgave him.
He knew Fudou didn't mean anything bad, he just have a very poor communication skills. He was famous for being a blunt speaker, having no delicacy, and other things. Despite all that, he is by no means a bad person.
Arata once again drank his coffee, when Fudou opened his mouth again.
"So, how is it?"
"What do you mean 'how'?"
"You and Uratora-san, how far have you two gone?"
"Pfftt! Cough! Cough! We're still on that?!"
Arata once again choked and put down the can on the table altogether, lest he would spurt it out when Fudou opened his mouth again.
Fudou didn't answer, but his stance clearly indicated that he was waiting for the answer.
Guess that just to be expected.
Uratora Mana, a young woman in her early 30s. She joined White Star Entertainment 6 years ago.
As a newbie at that time, she was put under Arata's care as her direct senior and supervisor and worked alongside him in several game projects in the past.
As a newbie, she could be considered a superstar. She was diligent and precise with her job, strengthen the team output, and accelerate the process of the projects development.
And 3 years ago, in this current game project, the higher-ups promoted her to the Chief Department position.
Her personality is easy-going, the master of communication, and kind to everyone. Many people, not only from the Game Division, but also other divisions in the company have a crush on her.
However, it was also a kind of public-secret that she put a 'little extra' attention to Mizuno Arata, leading to rumors that she liked him or that they've been dating in secret to be born.
"We don't have any special relationship. She is my boss, I'm her employee. Simple as that."
"Her concern for you, I think it's too excessive for a normal employee-boss relationship."
"That...."
"Have you known each other before working here?"
"No, I don't think we have."
Arata still remembered the day the first time Uratora Mana were assigned to him when she was a new recruit by the previous head department.
★
6 Years Ago, when the company was accepting new recruits, Arata was called to the Chief's office.
When he opened the door, he saw a gray haired woman stood with her back to him, talking to the Chief about something. When the chief realized his presence, he walked over to him and introduced her.
"Mizuno, let me introduce you, she is our new recruit this year. Her name is Uratora Mana. I want you to be her supervisor and show her the rope."
The woman turned around and greeted him.
"Yoroshiku onegaishima—..... A-Arata?!"
"Huh?"
"Ah, no! I mean, yoroshiku onegaishimasu, Mizuno-senpai!"
"Likewise, Uratora-san."
★
After remembering it again, now Arata had a slight doubt.
He was very sure that it was his first meeting with Uratora Mana. However he also clearly remembered that she called his name even before he introduced himself.
'There is no way.... right?'
He never put in too much thought into it, but thinking about it, there were many occasions in the past where she acted like she knew him in personal level; like how many spoon of sugar in his morning coffee, picking his favorite dishes for him in company's dinner party, or dropping him off at his house that one time (even though he never told her his address)
'....Stalker? No, before that, why would someone her caliber be my stalker?!'
His line of thought started to become erratic.
"Mizuno-san?"
"Ah, yes? What is it?"
Fudou looked at him intently before get back to his meal.
"Nothing. You just spaced out for a moment there."
"I-I see. I'm sorry, seems like I was a little tired lately."
"Is that so... Back to the topic. Between you and Uratora-san, there is really nothing going on?"
Being asked like this again, Arata hesitated for a second, before shaking his head. "Yes, there is nothing."
"You won't try?"
"Haha, why would I? I'm a married man with 6 children."
"But your wife—"
"Sawamura-san, I always consider you a respected fellow worker. Don't make me reconsider it today."
".... I'm sorry. I overstepped my boundaries."
"....."
The atmosphere became quite heavy after that.
Couldn't hold it for much longer, Arata stood up, taking the bento box with him and left the cafeteria.
Sawamura Fudou left alone could only look at his back with regretful expression and uttered a short sentence under his breath.
"What a pitiful man."
•
•
["Fufu, your friend is right. Why don't you try things out with that girl?"]
Inside the men restroom, Arata stood in front of the sink, washing the bento box with flowing water. Inside the mirror on top of the sink, her figure stood with her back on him, leaning against the mirror.
"Shut up."
["Ara? You finally responded? That's a relief. I thought you couldn't hear me anymore with how you always ignored me lately."]
"....."
["Accept the reality, Arata. How long you're going be trapped in the past?"]
"Shut up."
["Ayaka is dead."]
"SHUT UP!"
In fit of anger, Arata's fist shot toward the mirror containing her figure.
["Hm?"]
However, that fist stopped a few millimeters from the impact. Arata was able to held back himself at the very last second, painting like he was running a marathon.
Ayaka glanced back at him with pitying gaze, said something before her figure blurred away and returned to become his reflection.
["What a pitiful man."]
•
•
"In this part of the map, change the texture of the terrain to charred ground effects instead of grassland."
"Eh why?"
"Blūme-san from Story Department told me there are several edits in the lore script. He haven't send me the new script yet, but I remember all the places he mentioned in the meeting. I'll send it to you when I get it, for now note everything I'm going to say."
When Arata came back to the office, the first thing he saw is the back of gray haired woman leaning against the a female employee desk, instructing her about some detailed part in the map creation.
"Uratora-san, could you come here for a second?! I want to hear your opinion about the movesets of this boss monster."
"Coming!"
Another employee calling out to her from another side of the room, and she hurried after making sure the female employee she instructed understand everything.
Arata could see how passionate she was with how expressive she is in their discussion.
Uratora Mana is beautiful, that is an undeniable fact.
Silvery gray hair, and blood red eyes, with great and proportional body that could even make magazine models cry with envy. Paired with her great personality. Although in paper and reality she is everyone's boss, she get along and always kind with everyone without exception. Always come up and help when someone calling for her, with the same enthusiasm and energy.
Usually in anime or manga plot, someone this perfect bound to have dark rumors or become target of malice from women who envied her popularity, but surprisingly, 6 years she worked here, no such a thing ever happened even once.
In contrast, her fans kept growing. Received many confessions from from men and women alike, even the people from other companies. Though all of that ended in polite rejection.
In their heated discussion about the movesets design, Mana's gaze met with Arata for a brief moment. He wanted to shifted his eyes elsewhere, but Mana already walked over to him.
"You're back, Arata. How is the bento?"
"Uh, thank you for the bento. It's delicious."
Arata handed her the bento box, already cleaned and covered in it's blue cloth, back to her. He became nervous all of sudden, mostly because the envious gazes from all-over the place looking at him.
"I'm glad you like it," Mana replied while taking the bento box, she smiled radiantly at him, while the dark aura from the other employees went even darker.
If stares could kill, Arata already died several times in this one minute alone.
Fortunately for him that it didn't last much longer because she received a call from someone, and excused herself to take the call inside her office. "See you later, Arata."
Arata get back to his desk to continue his work, ignoring the scrutinizing gazed on his back.
Arata is grateful to Mana for everything she done for him. Maybe it's her way of repaying him for taking care of her in her newbie years. But seriously speaking, he would be more grateful if she at least addressed the rumors between them clearly.
The fact that she never even once addressed the subject made Arata anxious and overthinking.
What was the meaning of all her attention to him?
Did she really like him? Or it's just pure a sense of repayments from a kouhai to her senpai who had taken care of her before?
Maybe she didn't know about the rumor?
She never said anything, and Arata himself didn't have the balls to bring it up either. So this status quo, with him taking the short end of the stick, has lasted for years with any confirmation.
★★★
[Past]
After school inside the library of Seiran High School, Arata sat in the corner of one table in the library, studying by himself.
It was a month since that day, Arata already familiarized himself with the school grounds, for most parts, at least. No matter how many times he see it, he always amazed by how ridiculously big this school actually is.
As it turned out, since this school is like, one of the best in the country, it's totally different from his previous school before coming to this city. The subjects taught here, although the essences remained, mostly, the same, there were still some parts here and there that felt like brand new.
So today, he once again holed himself in the library after school, studying intensely trying to catch up to the appropriate level of this school.
"This problem... where did I go wrong here?"
With various books towering at the desk in front of him, and the latest graded math exam paper in his hand with a 'not-so-bad' score of 90 marks, Arata scratched the back of his head in confusion.
"At the second line in your problem solving note, it should be '<' instead of '>'. I think you are too focused in the last 2 lines of the problem, and missing the little trap in the previous line."
A white and slender hand comes from behind him, pointing at the problem with wrong answer and his notes under it.
"Hmm, ah I see it now. So there is really a trap there. I really didn't notice that."
"That's Kiriya-sensei for you. It's normal for you to not know it since you're new here. But from now on, always expect at least one or two traps for every exam from him."
"I understand. Thank you for the tips Hana... Eh? Ha-Hanasaki-senpai?!"
Arata turned around to give his thanks for the advice from the kind upperclassman, but when he see the person, he couldn't help but exclaimed in surprise seeing her standing behind him.
"Haha, took you a while to realize, Arata-kun."
"Since when...?"
She giggled, amused with the reactions from Arata. A bit different from that day, now she's wearing a red framed glasses, giving her a serious and intelligent vibe.
"Well, I saw you entered the library from the start, but I was busy tortur— ahem, tutoring those bunch of lost causes."
She pointed behind her, to the 2 tables full of students, male and female alike, sprawled on the table like they had endured enough torture to last a lifetime.
"My head hurts."
"I'm grateful she's willing to teach us..."
"But isn't her method way too spartan?"
"Just seeing number now make me want to puke."
"At very least we're guaranteed to pass the remedial test, right?"
She turned around and shouted toward them. "If after all that study session you still can't pass the remedial, I'm increasing the level for the next session, you know?"
Arata could hear the groaning resentment in the air from those 2 tables, while the perpetrator herself chuckled and sat at the seat beside him leisurely.
"Now that it's done, tell me about yourself. Have you adjusted yourself with the school and this city, Arata-kun?"
"I haven't had time to fully explore the city yet, but for this school, I think I can say I mostly adapted, I guess?"
She smiled tenderly at him, looking like she was proud of him. "You made some great friends."
Arata was puzzled for a second, until he understood what she meant by that.
"... Yeah. They helped me a lot. I'm very grateful to them."
Other than Iwagashi Suzuki from his next seat, Arata also made friends with several great individuals like their class president, Kamisato Chihaya, and the vice president, Rikki Sato. There is also Suzuki's girlfriend, Matsuzawa Mayuri from other class, and several other nice students. They all were very nice and accommodating toward him the new student.
Arata in particular was very thankful toward Suzuki, who could be said had become his best friends in this school. The fact that he also very knowledgeable in all sort of information like school news and gossips, and his willingness to share with him, helped Arata greatly in adjusting to the school environment faster than he initially thought.
There was also the informations about this girl beside him.
Hanasaki Ayaka, second year from class 2B. True to her words, there was really no one who didn't know her, since she was practically a celebrity within the school grounds. A founder of a semi-official club called "Extra Club".
In Seiran High School, there's a policy that students cannot join more than one club. Something about joining more than one club would affect the said student's academic results. It's not a bad policy per se, but there were some students, could be counted with one hand in total, that felt that rule was restricting their freedom.
In more simple wording, those few students just want to have fun participating in all sorts of club without joining any.
No one knew how she made it possible, but one her first year a month after School Entrace Ceremony, Hanasaki Ayaka moved fast and created that club and got the direct approval from the principal, although as semi-official club, since the members are far too little to be a proper club.
As the club name suggest, the purpose of the members of this club was to become an "Extra" member for other Clubs. For example in Basketball Club, when there was a practice match and one of the Basketball Club member absent on that day, one of the Extra Club members could fill in for them. As for the club that didn't need any substituning, they still could join the club activities if they wanted any time.
It didn't stop in just Sports-related Clubs, they could also joining or substituting for Cultural Clubs such as music, calligraphy, tea ceremony, drama, etc. without any noticeable problem.
The members include a young lady of a prominent Japanese family that specialize in all sort of art and traditional cultures related stuff, a son of a renowned international athletes couple that specialize in any sports field, then a son of a genius scientist and a famous mangaka couple who mostly prefer a more unusual niche clubs like idol, supernatural, anime club, etc.
And there is Ayaka, the founder and also the president of the Extra Club. The embodiment of boundless talent and skills compacted into an energetic ball of joy. Her physical capabilities maybe not as high as the other member who specialize in sports fields, but she was pretty nifty with her DEX stats.
Then what about the school's concern for student who engage in more than one club that it would affect their studies?
Naturally, it's a meaningless concern for these 4 individuals, because even with them 'playing around' with so many clubs, their academic rankings never fell from the top 10.
But why would the school let this kind of club exist? A club that's on the surface looked like it's exist just for a selfish desires of some privileged kids to 'have fun'?
Was it because the members came from some bigshots family?
Well, that was certainly one of the reason since everyone except Ayaka came from pretty powerful backgrounds. However that's not the main one.
Any official clubs that any of these 4 members of Extra Club joined in, at the end of the month would always show a significant improvement, be it either the motivation or the club performance.
The Extra Club, for what it's worth, was a club where all of it's members were very talented and mastered all sort of field knowledges corresponded with their backgrounds. They joined the other clubs activity to get the experience and mostly have fun, but at the end session, they always share their impression and some advices to improve that said club.
The "Extra Club" just brought enough value to the tables that warrant them the school and principal's undisputed support.
Few months after that club was founded, the name of the club along with it's members had become a very hot topic in this closed schoolground, earning them some nicknames like "Four Heavenly Generals of Seiran" or "Booster Pack" and several cringe worthy names.
At very first they were the one with initiative to choose which club to they wanted to join it's activities on, but after their fame exploded, many clubs raced to invite them to join in their activities.
They created that club to have fun, but because the way they have fun was too effective in many cases, they suffered from it.
They were no longer as free as before to join any clubs activities they wanted to, since from this year the Extra Club system are based on booking schedules.
"You don't have any club activity today, Hanasaki-sen—"
"Just use my first name like everyone else. The name Hanasaki usually refer to my brother. I sometimes didn't even realize when someone called me with that."
"T-Then,... Ayaka-senpai."
"Fufu, good boy~, I like obedient guy very much, yoshi yoshi~"
Ayaka grinned foolishly, with her elbow rested on the table supporting her head, her other hand reached out to Arata's head to give him few gentle pats.
Arata blushed, especially realizing the curious looks from few tables away of the students Ayaka had tutored. He shielded his head, stopping her action of patting him like a child. She pouted at first, but realizing she was kind of rude in a way, she reluctantly withdrawed her hand.
"Ahem, right. You asked me about my club activity, right? I'm doing it just now."
"Just now...? What club is it?"
"Ah, it's not a club. I'm substituting for Hagimura-sensei to teach these failing students for their upcoming remedial test."
"Even teachers are using the Extra Club?"
"Well, they said the students were more obedient to us than them, and these guys are quite special cases where many teachers already gave up on them."
As soon after she said that, Arata could hear several ashamed apologizes in the background.
"I'm ashamed of myself."
"My deepest apologize for troubling Ayaka-sama."
"Sorry for being unworthy."
"I will dogeza right away."
Ayaka turned her body around to shout at those people. "Ahh come on, I don't mean it like that! Anyway, make sure you all pass the test. Hon-chan was supposed to join your club next week, she will be so pissed if all the core members didn't pass the test and the club activity got suspended."
""Yes, ma'am!""
After making sure all the kids were behaved, Ayaka once again focused her attention on Arata.
"So, do you need some pointers for your study too?"
"No, no need! I don't want to trouble Ayaka-senpai over—"
"I'm done teaching those guys and I still have some time to spare before my next appointment. Think it as my reward for your quest completion. I'll even throw in some bonus of tips and tricks to deal with certain teachers' habit like Kiriya-sensei."
At first Arata was reluctant to let Ayaka give him a tutoring session, not wanting to take her time in her overly busy schedules, but when she said something about tips to deal with teachers, Arata reconsidered it.
In very broad technicality, a teacher is a student's opponent they need to learn from and eventually surpass. And just like what they said, "If you know the enemy, and know yourself, you will not fear the result of hundred battles," or something like that.
Arata thought by learning the habits of the teacher, he could be more confident in upcoming classes, improving his studies, and eventually reached something that he could never reached alone.
And it was Ayaka herself who offered to help, and there was no loss in accepting, so might as well....
"I'll reluctantly accept."
"Hahaha, what's with that 'reluctantly'. You're on board to the bit. Anyway, what subject you struggled the most now?"
•
•
Almost an half an hour later, Ayaka stretched herself on her seat after explaining every perceptible habit of each teachers she knows of, and Arata still noted them down on his notes.
"You're done noting them down, Arata-kun?"
Arata wrote down the last tips she told him, closed his book and turned to Ayaka to thank her...
"Yeah, thank you for the tips Aya—"
.... before his words stopped when he see a girl standing behind Ayaka with cold look. A beautiful girl with long blonde hair, red eyes, and wearing red framed glasses. A girl with 1 to 1 similarities with Ayaka.
"What's wrong, Arata-kun? You stopped in the middle of your thanks?"
"....B-Behind you..."
"Behind me?"
Ayaka curious with Arata's reaction turned her body to look at the person behind her, and when she finally see her, Ayaka's face paled.
"A-Ame-chan, since when you.... *gyuuu~ Ahhh! Ame-chan, my cheek still hurts from yesterday. Please stop~"
Before Ayaka could even ask, the girl behind her pinched Ayaka's cheek very hard with a smile that didn't reach the eyes.
"You really take your sweet time, huh, Ayaka? I called several times but you never answer. Is it your rebellious phase now? Should I start disciplining you again?"
"Of course not, Ame-chan. I just forgot to turn off the silent mode. I didn't mean to ignore you."
The girl Ayaka called 'Ame-chan' sighed deeply and released her cheek.
"Whatever. I'll give you one minute to wrap up your business here, and then we'll be on our way."
She pulled back her hand and without even a second glance at Arata, she walked off toward the library door.
"Well, sorry you have to see that embarrassing spectacle, but I really need to follow Ame-chan now, or else she will get all sulky again. Let's catch up another time, Arata-kun."
Ayaka stood up from her seat and said goodbye to Arata with an awkward smile, before she trotted over to the girl who waited for her at the door.
"Ame-chan, can you stop pinching my cheek in public? It's embarrassing and hurting my image."
"Then you better be in your best behavior from now. Also stop with that 'Ame-chan'. I'm older than you."
"Don't wanna. Ame-chan is Ame-chan."
"Good grief, you're so insufferable."
"Hehe, but you still lo-ppfff!"
"Shut up and get moving already."
Ayaka complained while rubbing her still red cheek from the pinching, and as their conversation started getting out of the rail, the other girl shut her up with her hand, and her other hand took Ayaka's hand to drag her out of the library vicinity.
Arata saw everything, still in his surprised state. It's his first time seeing those two in one place at the same time after all. He still remember the first day Suzuki explained it to him and how he didn't fully believe him.
★
"I know the the person you are talking about. But..."
"But?"
"Which one?"
"Huh?"
"Look, by the characteristics, most likely you're referring to Hanasaki Ayaka. She is...."
Suzuki began to describe every public knowledge about individual named Hanasaki Ayaka, second years, energetic sunny type of girl.
"However, if we go by appearances only, there is one girl with same exact appearance with Ayaka-sama, or to be precise, it is Ayaka-sama who is the exact copy of her."
"Exact copy, you mean they're like twins or something?"
"Even the word 'twin' might not be enough to describe their resemblances. Anyway, her name is Amelia Springblood. She is the only daughter of Springblood Zaibatsu who controlled 40% of Japan economy. She is a third year student, and also the Student Council President of this school."
★
Seeing them both in one place today, Arata finally believed the story Suzuki's shared with him that day.
Hanasaki Ayaka and Amelia Springblood.
Both of them have blonde hair and red eyes. The exact same height and same voice. Put them side by side, you would think there's only one girl standing beside a mirror.
Thankfully, even though their appearance was basically the same, their personalities were the exact opposite, so people could still tell them apart.
Both of them are popular throughout the school, but for different reasons.
When Ayaka is an easy-going and magnet of people, Amelia is cold and serious person who kept people away at distance, except for Ayaka.
For a year since Ayaka was enrolled, there's always been questions among the students without any real answer.
Who is Ayaka? And why or how she was so similar with Amelia Springblood?
On surface level information, Ayaka was introduced come from a lower-to-mid level commoner family. She has one older brother who already graduated from Seiran even prior Amelia's enrollment. Her background was ridiculously clean and normal that it's weird.
Many rumors and theories regarding her background were often talked about in school forum or daily conversation among the students. Like Ayaka was an illegitimate child of the Springblood, or that she was Amelia's clone, and many other outrageous speculations.
However, since neither Ayaka herself or Springblood family ever clarified it, the rumors kept growing.
With that, Arata's second meeting with Ayaka once again left him with more questions than answers.
Author's Note
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