The Forever Single Transfer Student

The English class after lunch passed quietly.

Rurouni was happy since Monika ma'am didn't ask anything this time.

The laughter from lunch had gradually faded, and the classroom had returned to its usual rhythm.

Only one person hadn't forgotten what had happened... Sara Sterling.

Every now and then, she glanced toward Seat No. 21 with a little bit of anger.

Rurouni wasn't looking her way.

He was staring out the window, his right hand resting against his forehead.

Sky-blue.

Rurouni let out another quiet sigh.

Just what the hell did that blue-haired girl do to me?

Monika ma'am went somewhere the moment the break between periods started.

Sixth Period.

The classroom door slid open.

Monika Kagenou stepped inside as the break came to an end.

Behind her stood a boy with a school bag slung over one shoulder.

He casually looked around the classroom.

Messy black hair.

An easygoing smile.

The same red locket hung around his neck, tucked beneath his shirt as though he were trying to keep it hidden from Monika.

His uniform looked brand new, almost as though he'd put it on for the first time that morning.

Everything was neat...

Except for his slightly crooked tie.

Monika cleared her throat.

"Class."

"We have a new student joining us today."

The classroom immediately came alive.

"Ooooh!"

"A new student?"

"I wonder where he's from."

Monika nodded toward the boy.

"Now then, introduce yourself."

The boy scratched the back of his head and rocked slightly from one foot to the other.

"...Uh..."

He suddenly straightened.

"My name is Kara Shirugae."

Kara paused.

Then added with complete seriousness—

"Forever Single Kara Shirugae."

The classroom went quiet.

A boy raised his hand.

"Uh... what's with the 'Forever Single' part?"

Kara's smile widened.

He leaned forward, resting his hands on his knees as if he were about to tell them the greatest story of his life.

"Once upon a time, my father was flirting with some girl."

Several students leaned closer.

"My mom saw him."

Kara's expression became dramatically serious.

"She uprooted a black iron pole from the ground..."

The class was already starting to laugh.

"...and proceeded to beat my father with it for seven minutes."

The classroom exploded with laughter.

Kara casually straightened up.

"So I decided to remain single."

He pointed at himself.

"I'd like to live a long life, after all."

The entire class burst into laughter.

Even Monika covered a smile, then asked,

"Okay, okay. Now tell us your hobbies."

Kara rocked back and forth.

"...I like sleeping."

"...I like food."

"And..."

He suddenly crouched slightly, his eyes lighting up.

"I really like cats and dogs."

He paused.

"...Especially the innocent ones."

"They're just so cute."

A few students smiled.

Monika chuckled a little.

"Anything else?"

Kara stared at the ceiling, then tapped his chin.

"Uhhh... I forgot."

The classroom burst into laughter again.

Some laughed so much that they started coughing heavily.

Even Monika couldn't help smiling.

She laughed very slightly along with them, almost like a kid herself.

"I suppose that's enough."

Monika looked around the classroom.

"There is one empty seat available."

Her eyes settled on the last row.

"Seat No. 22. Next to Rurouni."

Kara gave an energetic little nod.

"Got it, Mom—"

He suddenly stopped.

"I mean, ma'am!"

Shit. Looks like it's going to take some more time for me to adapt this place.

He awkwardly nodded toward Monika.

Then he bounced toward the back of the classroom, his bag swinging loosely from his shoulder.

When he reached his desk, he dropped the bag beside it and plopped into his chair.

Then he turned toward Rurouni with an easy grin.

"Yo."

Rurouni gave a little nod.

"...Hi."

For a few seconds... Neither spoke.

Kara suddenly stretched both arms over his head.

"Hey, do you know anything about me?"

"No."

Kara froze... Then his face lit up.

"Wow! What a coincidence!"

"I also don't know anything about you.”

Rurouni yawned a little, his eyes automatically shutting.

"That's a good one."

"...You're a quiet guy, huh?"

Rurouni shrugged, his eyes still closed.

"I guess."

Another brief silence followed.

Kara's eyes wandered around the classroom before he leaned toward Rurouni.

"So... tell me, what's this I'm hearing about someone named Sara?"

Rurouni blinked. "...What?"

His reaction made Kara a bit surprised.

"Seriously?"

Kara waved his hand dismissively.

"The entire school has been talking about it since I entered."

Rurouni looked genuinely confused.

"...Who's Sara?"

Kara stared at him in disbelief.

"You're kidding, aren't you?"

Rurouni shook his head with innocence.

"Nope, I'm not."

Just then, Kara remembered something.

Wait a minute... I also heard there are nerds who don't care about anything other than anime, manga, and novels.

He coughed lightly and leaned toward Rurouni's ear.

"Tell me something."

"What do you like the most?"

Rurouni answered without hesitation.

"Fantasy novels."

Kara's eyes widened.

Immediately, he pulled out his notebook and began writing excitedly.

Mission 1: Investigate Nerdy Buddy

He quickly closed the notebook.

Then turned toward Rurouni.

"I'm new here, and I don't know anyone in this city."

Kara held out his phone.

"Can we exchange contacts? We can help each other out."

Rurouni nodded without thinking.

"Sure. Why not?"

Kara took out his phone and gave Rurouni a missed call.

Then, with one arm casually resting over Rurouni's shoulders, he grinned.

"Don't worry. You can think of me as your big bro."

"If someone bullies you, we'll beat her up."

Rurouni felt a jolt run through him.

"W-What do you mean by her?"

"Why would a girl fight with me?"

"And how are we supposed to beat her?"

"She's a girl, isn't she?”

Kara smiled and starts teaching him a lesson.

"No, no, no."

"You're saying that like girls can never be wrong and are always extremely weak."

"It's actually the complete opposite, bro."

Rurouni stared at him with confusion.

He couldn't believe what he was hearing.

Deciding that the conversation was becoming too strange, he picked up his water bottle and started drinking to refresh his mind.

Kara leaned toward his left ear and whispered,

"And what if a girl beat you or sell you off?"

Rurouni immediately choked on his water.

He lowered the bottle and stared at Kara.

Just who is this alien?

Before he could ask—

Someone cleared her throat.

Both boys froze... then slowly turned their heads.

Monika stood at the front of their bench, looking directly at them.

She cleared her throat again.

"You two can continue your extremely important conversation outside.”

Kara immediately nodded.

"Yes, ma'am."

Rurouni was devastated by what awaited him.

Wow! Amazing!

At this point, I wouldn't be surprised if she calls my parents.

There goes my peaceful school life.

The two of them stepped outside.

As they stood in the corridor, both secretly wondered the same question.

Who exactly is the guy standing next to me?

Kara reached into his pocket and pulled out two orange fruit toffees.

He popped one into his mouth and offered the other to Rurouni.

"Here."

Rurouni took it without a second thought. 

"You're interesting, by the way."

Rurouni unwrapped the toffee and answered honestly.

"Not as interesting as a certain someone who forgets what he likes, puts 'Forever Single' before his own name, and describes his mother like she's some kind of demon lord."

Kara paused, then nodded thoughtfully.

"Yeah. Because I am a good boy."

Rurouni ate his toffee and put the wrapper in his pocket.

"You say that like you're the one who got attacked by some girl."

Kara nodded as if it were a perfectly normal thing.

"Yup. Because I am."

Rurouni got surprised and shouted,

"...Are you serious?!"

Kara adjusted the red locket beneath his shirt, making sure it remained hidden.

Then he looked at Rurouni with a completely innocent expression.

"What? You think I'm lying?"

Neither of them spoke for a few seconds.

The corridor suddenly felt strangely quiet.

Rurouni looked at Kara.

Kara looked back at him.

Neither understood the other.

And somehow...

That made them even more curious.

Rurouni finally looked away, but his curiosity's remained.

Just who are you, really?

...

Meanwhile, he had absolutely no idea that something legendary had just taken off from the biscuit wrapper he had dropped yesterday...