Off to a strong start.
By the time homeroom begins, I’ve already:
- Dropped my pen under the teacher’s desk.
- Said “you too” to someone who said “good morning.”
- Accidentally made eye contact with Aika twice and looked away both times like I was afraid she’d explode.
I am, as the cool kids say, thriving.
Then our homeroom teacher, Mr. Sakamoto, strolls in with a stack of papers and a terrifying sentence:
“Alright, everyone. We’ll be starting our new group project today.”
Instant panic.
Because Mr. Sakamoto doesn’t let you pick your partner.
He assigns them.
I watch him go down the list, slowly announcing pairs like a game show host deciding my fate.
“Daichi and Yamada.”
This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.
“Miki and Rika.”
“Souta and—”
Come on, come on, just not Aika, please. I need a few more days of mental recovery. Or years.
“Fujishiro and… Kazama.”
Time slows.
People turn.
Aika glances at me, her expression unreadable.
I die inside.
She smiles. “Hey. Looks like we’re partners.”
I nod. Too fast. “Y-Yeah. Partners. We’re… partnering. Together. In a group. That’s us.”
Why do I sound like a malfunctioning NPC?
She giggles softly, opening the project booklet. “You okay?”
I try to laugh. It comes out like a dying cat. “Yep! Fine! Great! I’m a totally normal person!”
She looks amused. “You don’t have to be nervous, you know.”
“I’m not.”
“You’re gripping your pencil like it owes you money.”
I look down. The pencil is literally bent.
Mr. Sakamoto explains the project: We’re supposed to “interview” each other and create a short introduction speech, complete with slides or photos or whatever “creative format” we want.
The project is some nonsense about “interviewing each other and presenting your partner to the class.” Mr. Sakamoto calls it a “get-to-know-you bonding exercise.”
I call it social doom.
Aika turns to me with a mischievous smile. “So, Yuuji… if I have to introduce you to the class, I need to know everything.”
I blink. “E-Everything?”
“Everything.”
She leans in just slightly.
I forget how to breathe.
There is now a 99% chance Aika Fujishiro will learn that I once cried during a hamster commercial.
I’m not built for this.
We start during class. I stare at my notes like they’re in ancient Greek.
Aika sets her notebook between us and smiles. “Okay, let’s start simple. What’s your favorite color?”
“Uh… soup.”
She blinks.
“I mean—blue.”
“Soup blue?”
“No—I mean my favorite food is soup and my favorite color is blue I just—got them mixed up.”
She laughs.
I die on the inside.
Meanwhile, Daichi, four desks away, is watching us with the intensity of a sports commentator. I can practically hear him whisper, “ABOLUTE CINEMA.”
To be continued…