Kaori Asano, the Liar

I never want to meet this person.

That was the thought I had when Taizo High’s very own school idol gave her speech at the entrance ceremony.

Until then, the first day of my new life was going just as planned. Wading through the sea of beige school uniforms to find a spot among the other second-years, I kept my ear open to the thoughts of those around me.

Naturally the new me should be hearing compliments and getting lots of attention, right? I promise I won’t let it get to my head. When people notice the undercut I just got, or the confidence in the way I walk, I’ll stay cool and composed.

…Kinda stuffy in here.

So handsome! We got some cute first-years coming in~!

Wait, is that…!? Oh, nah, thought you were someone else. Sorry Mister Undercut.

Ugh, allergies actin’ up.

So, I got mistaken for someone else and the one compliment I heard wasn’t even for me. That’s encouraging.

Oh, well. I didn’t really expect people to start noticing me this early. There was plenty of groundwork to lay out before I could start to think of myself as popular.

It’s not like I should be reacting to people’s thoughts either way. I haven’t been the best about that in the past, especially around my parents, but since drawing up my three-step “Cheat Your Way Into Success” plan I’ve improved my poker face by leaps and bounds.

The plan? It’s simple; use my power of mind reading to cheat my way through tests, club activities, and popularity, in no particular order. I’m sure that doing well at the first two would naturally lead to the last, but if I can hear what people think of me and adapt my behavior in response, even better. But since it’s my first day back and I was basically invisible to everyone but my ex-girlfriend as a first-year, I’ll have to wait for good opportunities to fall into my lap.

Yep, to everyone gathered here I was just one more face, even with a slightly-trendier-than-average hairstyle. Their thoughts were disorganized and erratic, focusing on nothing in particular. Like a packed train car whose passengers try to keep themselves distracted while they’re forced together. That went out the window the moment a certain girl took the stage.

No way, is that…?

Wow, she’s beautiful.

Kyaaah~!

She’s like an actress, so pretty!

Hmph, I guess she’s not half bad… I’m prettier though!

It was like how everyone’s head turns reflexively in response to something loud. What were uncoordinated and distracted thoughts suddenly all focused onto one thing– no, one girl:

Kaori Asano. I remember her from last year. Always sitting at the #1 spot for test scores, being begged by club leaders and social groups to grace them with her presence, and practically famous for being pure, diligent, and attractive. It wasn’t a stretch to call her Taizo High’s very own school idol. She was generally the type I used to consider a different caliber of person entirely. That was, out of reach.

Not anymore.

Her blonde-tipped hair flowed and swayed along with her every step, and looked like something out of a model’s photoshoot or a movie set. Her violet eyes glanced out across the entire auditorium from behind the podium, confident yet optimistic, and her smile was pure enough to match.

So cute. I wanna protect that smile!

Isn’t she some kind of genius?

I want to be just like her.

Heheheh, I think she just made eye c-contact with me. Heh.

“To our new students,” she says, everyone hanging onto each word, “I am delighted and privileged to represent our staff and faculty in saying welcome to Taizo High School.”

Only the best students are allowed to make speeches for the first years. From what I had heard, she has the best scores of the entire school, not just her grade. That intelligence was apparent with how well spoken she was, delivering her speech perfectly in that melodic voice of hers. In truth, I almost feel bad knowing I’ll have to knock her down a peg to take her place at the top.

I guess I can take a small look into her head. I’ll just drown everyone else out and… Well, as long as I don’t start to feel bad for her when I take her spot, it should be fine. Such a sweet girl won’t beat herself up about–

All of you should just drop dead already.

Huh? It rang out, loud and clear in my mind; a voice that sounds straight out of an old Sukeban film, more suited to a delinquent holding a bat than the polite girl delivering a flawless entrance ceremony speech.

Ugh, it’s gettin’ hot in here. So many pigs packed into one room. The look on their faces makes me sick.

“Looking around this room, I see so many bright new students, and so many with the dedication to return and do their best.”

“HUH!?” My jaw literally drops at the contrast between her inner and outer voice. It was hard to even believe they came from the same girl.

What the hell is he surprised about?

Weird…

I bet he forgot something at home.

Thoughts from the people around me make themselves heard. I quickly shut my mouth and look forward, pretending to be as enamored with the wolf in sheep’s clothing as they are.

Mhm, smile and look out over the sea of dumb bastards to the left. I bet I look, like, super cute from this angle.

“Our eyes, of course, are almost always on the future. It is natural and very healthy for our vision to look toward what is to come. That is why, at a milestone in life such as this entrance ceremony, we need to look back at the past and reflect on where we are at the present moment.”

Can’t believe I gotta be up here like this… God, I want a smoke. How long has it been since I quit? Oh well, people hate the smell of cigarettes…

Since the day I woke up, I’ve learned that all people are liars. Everyone says things they don’t mean, their true thoughts and impulses hidden from view.

Even so, I’ve never seen someone like Kaori Asano. After only a few minutes of watching her, it’s clear that she’s the best liar I’ve ever seen. So much aggression and spite internally, with not a hint of it leaking into her expression or voice.

Realizing this, only one thought arose: I never want to meet this person.

Shut out her voice, avoid her at all costs. Now that I’m not hearing her thoughts, her voice is prim, proper, and sweet. Best admired from afar. Looking into her mind is just plain bad for my mental health. If even a little of that was directed at me personally, I don’t know if I could keep on living. I’ll just silently take her spot. Yup. No interaction needed, thank you.

The girl goes on and on, and finishes her speech to thunderous applause from the students and teachers alike. I clap along to avoid standing out.

Thinking about it logically, there’s no reason we have to ever cross paths. We just go to the same school. If I simply steer clear of her and work my way up, she’ll have no reason to seek me out… Right?