ACT I - Double Storm II

I followed behind Azuma-senpai, not daring to walk next to her. People on the corridor were scrambling to the sides to make way for her, all the while giving me looks full of pity as if I was on my way to be a human sacrifice. What was going on, seriously?!

I watched her silky long dark hair flow behind her, as I tried to come up with a good timing to ask what was this about, but the scarlet red student council badge on her arm made it difficult to question it. The teachers had sent her to fetch me, not just any regular student…!

I hadn't the faintest idea what I had done. However, I thought it'd be at least 'good manners' to apologize, so I opened my mouth to blurt out a sorry, only for it to get interrupted by her words.

"You're being called to take a short test of your academic level. Because you had a lot of mistakes in your homework sheets on the regular, the teachers got concerned if the Japanese curriculum was slightly higher level for you after studying in Canada, as the terms begin at different seasons of the year."

Oh.

I let out a sigh of relief, so it was just that…! It was actually only because of my myopia and now that it wasn't an issue anymore, I didn’t think I would face any difficulties with my lessons.

Also, was it just me, or did she actually sound a little softer and concerned with me just there—

"What are you sighing in relief for? That's not the only thing here. Your new glasses—they look awfully silly. And they look like they might be breaking school rules. I'm coming with you to check with the teachers."

Ah, it was back. Her demonic tone. Well, she did have a point, as the starry decorations might have been too much for a school setting. It could be a good idea to check up with the teachers, just in case.

I certainly didn't want any further trouble.

When we arrived, five teachers were sitting in their respective seats. The Japanese teacher spoke up first. "Oh, here you are, Seira-kun. Azuma-kun probably explained the test on the way, and don't worry, it's just for evaluation purposes. It won't affect your grades."

The math teacher nodded. "We are just worried if you might be having trouble readjusting to the Japanese education system."

The history teacher chimed in. "What's with the sudden image change?" He pushed up his own glasses and smirked. "Suits you, though!"

Ria took a step forward. "Sensei, are they alright?"

"Hmm? What do you mean, Azuma-kun? Didn't I just say they suit him?"

She blushed, with just a faint hue of pink. "N-no, I mean, I agree but I meant to ask if they're breaking the school rules…"

The Japanese teacher handed me the test papers and gestured towards a table I could use. "Hmm?" She looked at my frames for a bit and then stated her opinion. "Well, they're a bit flashy, but I don't think such glasses are no go?"

The chemistry teacher who hadn't spoken yet also joined the conversation. "Isn't Seira-kun in the track and field club? The chains might be useful so that they don't fall down and break down accidentally."

The biology teacher also spoke for the first time, as she opened the window. "He had different glasses before, so that's probably what happened with his former glasses. Right?"

Right. That was definitely how it went…

I went with it anyway.

"Ah, yeah… It'd be troublesome if I kept on breaking them, so I opted for these. They do serve a bit of a grandpa vibe, though…"

The teachers laughed. My, these glasses were really turning me into a serial liar. But the lies were harmless, so it was fine—probably.

The biology teacher looked outside from the window, leaned forward and shouted. "Oooooi, Seiten-kun!"

Oh, that was the third year Akito Seiten, somewhat of a school legend for being super handsome and stuff, who also happened to be the captain of the track and field club. His deep voice reached the teacher's room easily.

"Yes, I'm listening."

"We will be borrowing Seira-kun for today, so go on practice without him, okay?"

I guess that was my cue to start the thing. As Ria left the teachers' room, I dove into the questions my evaluation test...