“Don’t tell me you are some sort of masochist.”

When the two first-year students arrived at class 1-C the girl from before, Aika Murakami was leaving the room and going to another class, “I wonder about what she was doing here.” Koshiro had a feeling that she was going to be important for the story.

“Excuse me.” Takayama and Koshiro announced together as they entered the room.

“You can come in” Sumiye uttered. “Your next class is about to start.”

The two of them went to their seats, Koshiro near Yasutake and Hirata while Takayama seated near the girl called Shimizu.

“Are you alright?” Hirata asked Koshiro.

“Fine.”

“Wanna talk about it?”

“To be honest, there’s not much to talk about.”

“Is that so? Hmm...”

“Yep, I should just let you know that this Takayama girl is crazy, she’s totally fake. Stay away from her.”

“Hayami is crazy, huh… you're probably just exaggerating.”

“I don’t think I am. Don’t worry, one day I’ll make sure everyone sees her true side.”

“Haha.” Hirata laughed awkwardly.

“What was that about? Did I say something funny?”

“Hmm. K-Koike-san.” Yasutake raised her voice, “We h-heard some disturbing s-stuff about you!”

“Let me guess, it’s about an inflatable bear?”

“Huh?” Yasutake tilted her head, “N-No bears, it was about h-how you e-entered the girl’s bathroom!”

Koshiro sighed and smacked his head, “It was the girl who was just here. right?”

“T-That beautiful girl with glasses h-has nothing to d-do with it, it was a girl that crossed the c-corridors sometime after the student c-council president came here!” Yasutake emphasized the “beautiful” part and glared at Hirata.

“Oh.” Koshiro remembered that there was another girl in the bathroom. “Wait, that girl with glasses is the president?”

“Yes!”

“Why did you have to add this ‘beautiful’ to describe her?”

“Oh, it’s because it’s true, and because Kazuhiko couldn’t take his eyes off of her.” Yasutake answered, apparently annoyed.

“Wow, she managed to say it without stuttering.”

“Hirata, please don’t be a pervert like Koike-san.” she was crossing her arms.

“Ugh.” Hirata’s cheeks were flushing, “It’s nothing like that!”

“Hey, I’m not a perv!” Koshiro complained.

“I-I know that you n-normally aren’t, but i-it looks like that f-fox messed with you.”

“You’re not totally wrong…”

Hirata frowned a bit: “Hey Koike-san, don’t tell me you are some sort of masochist.”

“What made you think that?”

“You got hit by her and then followed her to the bathroom, are you ONE HUNDRED PERCENT sure you didn’t fell in love?”

“Yes, I’m sure. I just fell out of the window.”

Hirata heaved a sigh of relief, “Thank god.”

“Why are you thanking for this?” Koshiro questioned.

“O-Oh, it’s because you... are such a good guy! I didn’t want you to go for this weird path.”

“I see.” “Does this mean another weird path is allowed? Oh no, now I’m worried about my future.”

“But Kazuhiko-kun, I don’t think he would tell us if he was a masochist.” Yasutake joined the conversation again.

“Now that you mention it, that’s probably true…” Hirata murmured while holding his chin.

“D-Don’t worry! I-I know a w-way to uncover the truth!”

“Really?” Koshiro asked. “So, what do you have in mind Yasuta…”

SLAP! Yasutake’s right hand slapped Koshiro on one of his cheeks

“AAAAAH! WHY DID YOU DO THAT??”

“T-Tell me Koike-san, d-did you enjoy that?”

“OF COURSE NOT! WHO WOULD LIKE TO HAVE HIS CHEEK SLAPPED LIKE THAT??!” Koshiro was yelling with his hands caressing said cheek. He was almost crying.

“A m-masochist w-would!” she raised one finger “And n-now we know t-that you are n-not one! Y-You should say t-thanks!”

“Thanks...?”

“You’re welcome.”

While Yasutake and Koshiro were talking about masochism, two girls were chatting a few rows from there:

“Are you alright, Hayamichi?” Etsuko Shimizu asked.

“I could be better… didn’t you read the last chapter?”

"No, I was busy paying attention to class."

"I see."

“Hmm... by the way you're acting, he must've mentioned that.” 

“He didn’t really, I’m probably just storming in a teacup.”

“Hey, it is a big deal, you shouldn’t overlook it.” Etsuko gave Hayami a soft hug.

“Don’t worry about it, I’m fine now that you’re here.”

“Oww Hayamichi!” the girl rubbed her face against Hayami’s.

“Okay, okay, that’s enough Shimizu.”

“That’s no good! I’ll stop when you call me correctly.”

“Aargh!” Hayami sighed, “That’s enough, Etsuko.”

“Chan!”

“Etsuko-chan.”

“Chi!”

“Aargh.” she sighed once again “C’mon Shimizu, everyone will look at us.”

Etsuko finally stopped, she moved her face away from Hayami’s and grinned like a kid: “Hehehe!”

“Why are you smiling?”

“I was just thinking that after the next cut it’ll probably be lunch break.”

“And? What's up with that?”

“I’m just hungry.”

“Huh?” Hayami tilted her head “That’s really it?”

“Uhum, my mother made me a wonderful obento for today!”

“Phew.” Hayami exhaled with relief, “I thought you were gonna hint at a major plot point.”

“Eh?” Etsuko was now the one to tilt her head.

***

BEEEEEEEEEE the bell rang announcing the lunch break. Students from all over the school quickly teleported to class 1-C where “The most beautiful freshman of all times” was.

Even without knowing her, the students praised her for being like an angel: slender figure, soft voice, above-average heigh (161cm), gentle smile, long waist-length dark-blue hair (with bangs falling just above her eyes), mesmerizing amethyst-like jewels (that others like to call eyes), generously sized bust, and so on. It actually got to a point where they started coming up with random qualities, so now she was also good at swimming, dancing, singing, cooking, laughing, playing games (haha), and much else!

“‘She’s clearly the perfect woman!’ That is probably what they are thinking” Koshiro couldn’t help but frown “Poor souls.” as he lamented for the others. 

“Hey, H-Hirata-san, Yasutake-san, do you want to eat with us??” a girl had broken out of the student crowd formed around Takayama, it was Etsuko Shimizu, grinning.

“A-a...” Yasutake hid behind Hirata.

“Oh my god, I’m sorry!” Shimizu bowed to them: “My name is Etsuko Shimizu, I’m sorry for frightening you! I hope we can have a great relationship!”

Hirata gave an awkward little laugh, “Nice to finally meet you, Shimizu-san.”

“C-Call me Shimizu-chan!” she gave him a thumbs up.

“O-Okay, Shimizu-chan.” Hirata turned to Yasutake and calmed her down: “Don’t worry Erity, she looks friendly.” 

“Hmm...” Yasutake gazed at Shimizu in a puzzled way, “N-Nice t-to meet you, I’m Yasuta E-Eri...” she stopped for a moment, and, realizing her mistake, spoke again: “I’m Erity Yasutake!”

“Oh! Erity? That’s a nice name!” Shimizu smiled, “How should I call you? Can it be Yasutake-chan?”

"Hmm..." Yasutake hesitated, looking at Hirata as if waiting for his permission, after he nodded, she did the same: "O-Okay."

“Great! So how about my proposal? Do you guys want to have lunch with us?”

“Shimizu-chan, who exactly is us?” Hirata asked.

“Etsuko Shimizu and Hayami Takayama!”

After hearing the reply, Yasutake and Hirata looked at each other and then at Koshiro.

“You don’t have to worry about me.” the boy said while heading to the door, “I have plans already.”

“You sure Koike-san?” Hirata leaned his head.

“Yeah. It’s fine.” after declaring this, Koshiro left the classroom, “I’ve to find the perfect spot to eat by myself. Maybe somewhere with a nice view so I can come up with great ideas...”

“I should’ve asked him too right? Now I feel bad…” Etsuko looked at Koshiro’s vacant seat while asking the other two, “He looked lonely and crestfallen, but I doubt he would admit it.”

“I don’t think you need to be.” Hirata answered, “I was probably being optimistic thinking that things would be different in High school.”

“Oh, so you know him from before?”

“Yeah.” he looked at Yasutake for a moment “We both do.”

“Uhum.” Yasutake nodded, “S-Since last y-year.”

“Last year?”

“Yes, we were both transferred to Koshiro’s school in the middle of last year.”

“So, you know him for what? More or less six months?”

“Uhum.” they both nodded.

“Hmm.” “I understand.” Etsuko pondered and nodded. Putting her hands together and smiling she uttered: “Hey, what about that lunch?”

Hirata looked at the crowd around Hayamichi: “I’m glad for the offer but looks like she's a bit busy.”

“No problemo, no problemo, we’ll figure something out!”

They ended up joining desks… with everyone in the class, trying to fit all the students of the crowd. There's no need to say it didn't work out very well.

Meanwhile, Koshiro found a vacant spot where he could eat his Anpan, a short stair behind the main school building that led into the soccer field... at least he hoped it was vacant because if anyone saw him alone with this version of Kuma-chan he’d probably have more headaches.