The player sprinted into the penalty area.
"Pass the ball, Maki! I'm open!" he shouted.
"Here you go, upperclassman!" Maki said, swinging his leg and sending the ball curving toward the goal.
His teammate leaped and headed the ball into the net with a sharp smack.
"Not bad! Nice pass, rookie!" the captain said with a grin.
"Yes, Captain!" Maki replied.
Class 1T buzzed with conversation. Chairs scraped against the floor, and laughter echoed off the beige walls. A crumpled piece of paper sailed across the room.
"Good morning, everyone."
Hayami-sensei stepped inside, her heels clicking against the tiled floor.
"I see you're all enjoying yourselves," she said, adjusting the strap of her bag. Her gaze swept across the classroom.
Several students straightened in their chairs.
"Good morning, Sensei!" the class replied.
The chatter died down.
"I don't have time to lecture you on your behavior, but let me remind you that you're at the top of your year. You should be setting a better example for the rest of the school."
"Right! We're sorry, Sensei!" the students replied.
Hayami-sensei sighed.
"Honestly..."
She leaned forward, resting one hand on the edge of her desk.
"Now then, for today's homeroom session, you'll be choosing your class representatives. Write the name of the person you want to lead the class on a piece of paper and drop it into this box. Once everyone's finished, I'll count the votes. Whoever receives the most votes will become the class representative and choose their assistant. Alright, get started."
Hayami-sensei placed a small cardboard box in the center of her desk.
Students reached into their bags for pens and scraps of paper.
"I know who I'm voting for! It's gotta be Takahashi. She's so cute!"
A boy grinned as he wrote her name on his paper.
"Are you an idiot? Word is, she's the student council vice president."
"Whaaat?! Since when?"
Pencils scratched against paper as students cast their votes. Folded slips rustled as they dropped into the box.
"Alright, now that everyone has voted, let's see who received the most votes."
Hayami-sensei began sorting through the slips of paper, placing them into separate piles as she counted.
Several students leaned forward in their seats, watching her hands move from one pile to the next.
After a few minutes, she set the final slip aside and looked up.
"It looks like Rie Morioka received six votes, the highest number in the class. She'll be your class representative."
Eh...? But why?
Rie glanced around the classroom, her fingers fidgeting in her lap.
A faint blush spread across her cheeks as she rose from her seat.
"Th-Thank you, everyone, for voting for me," she said, bowing her head slightly.
"Alright, Miss Morioka, choose who you'd like to assist you with your duties," Hayami-sensei said, folding her arms.
Rie's eyes wandered around the classroom, avoiding her classmates' gazes. Her fingers tightened around the edge of her desk.
Then her gaze settled on Shino.
He sat by the window, staring blankly outside, his shoulders relaxed as sunlight fell across his face.
Rie hesitated before raising her hand and pointing toward him.
The classroom fell quiet as everyone turned to look at Shino.
"I-I would like Katsuragi to be my assistant," Rie said nervously. "Is that alright, Sensei?"
"Huh?!"
Shino nearly fell out of his seat.
"N-N-No! Why me?! I can't do that kind of work! Speaking up for the class, making suggestions to the school board—I just can't!"
He blurted out the words, waving his hands frantically in front of him.
"I see. Perfect choice, Rie," Hayami-sensei said with a smile.
"Well, isn't that nice? The two shyest students in our class are the class representatives," a boy remarked.
"But, Hayami-sensei, I don't want to—" Shino began, only to falter under her gaze.
"Hm? What was that? Speak up. I couldn't hear you." Her eyes narrowed.
Shino swallowed hard.
"W-What I meant to say was... I'm happy to become her assistant!" he blurted out, sitting rigidly in his seat.
"That's what I thought," Hayami-sensei replied.
She's so scary... Shino thought.
"School isn't just about getting good grades and pursuing your goals. It's also about developing your character, building confidence, learning to stand up for yourself, and applying what you learn through experience. Being Rie's assistant will help you grow as a person in the long run, so stop complaining."
"Yes, Sensei... I understand," Shino muttered, his shoulders slumping.
"Alright, then. Rie Morioka, with Shino Katsuragi as her assistant, will serve as your class representatives this year. Any objections?" Hayami-sensei asked, writing their names on the board.
"No!" the class answered in unison.
A few students exchanged glances as faint murmurs spread through the room.
"Good. You two should take some time to get to know each other so you'll feel comfortable working together. It's going to be a long year," she added.
I finally get to spend time with Katsuragi! I can finally thank him for what he did that day. Maybe we can even become friends... and eventually, he'll notice me—
W-Wait! What am I thinking?!
Rie's cheeks burned as she covered her face with both hands.
How am I supposed to manage all this on top of my training? I'm not going to have any free time at all...
Shino tapped his foot against the floor, his knee bouncing restlessly beneath his desk.
Just as Hayami-sensei opened her mouth to begin the lesson, a sudden buzz from the loudspeaker cut through the classroom.
"Good afternoon, everyone. Sachiko Takahashi and Tetsuo Kawaguchi, please report to the student council room. I repeat, Sachiko Takahashi and Tetsuo Kawaguchi, please report to the student council room."
The announcement ended with a click.
Hayami-sensei's eyebrow twitched.
That girl... What could she want with Tetsuo?
She let out a faint sigh before turning toward the two students.
"You both have my permission to leave class and report to the student council room. You scored the highest on the entrance exam, so I expect you to return promptly. No loitering or skipping homeroom."
"Yes, Sensei. You have our word," Sachiko replied.
She glanced at Tetsuo.
"Let's go."
Tetsuo rose from his seat and followed her out of the classroom.
Sunlight streamed through the council room's wide windows, falling across the polished wooden table and neatly arranged stacks of paper.
In the corner, a kettle whistled. Hitomi poured tea into two cups before setting them on their saucers.
"I'm glad you could make it, Tetsuo Kawaguchi. Please, both of you, have a seat," she said with a warm smile, gesturing toward the chairs.
Sachiko moved toward the table, but Tetsuo remained by the doorway, his hands buried in his pockets.
"What do you want with me?" he asked.
"Straight to the point, I see. I like that about you. Well then, allow me to explain," Hitomi said, folding her hands on the table.
"As I explained to your classmates, the former student council members have graduated, and—"
"I wasn't listening," Tetsuo interrupted, turning his gaze away.
"Excuse me?" Hitomi raised an eyebrow.
"The information you were giving had nothing to do with me, so I ignored it. It didn't concern me anyway," he replied flatly.
Hitomi blinked, momentarily caught off guard. Her smile faltered for a split second before returning, thinner than before.
She cleared her throat.
"Anyway, the reason I called you here is to offer you the position of student council secretary."
She paused.
"If you accept, there will be several benefits. The school administration will extend your scholarship to cover both your second and third years. So, what do you say?"
She held out her hand.
"No."
Hitomi's hand remained extended for a moment before she slowly withdrew it.
"I see... May I ask why?" she asked, tilting her head slightly.
"What gives you the right to look through my file and find out I'm on a scholarship?" Tetsuo asked, his expression hardening. "And then use that information to try to manipulate me into accepting your offer?"
He turned his back to her.
"That might've worked on someone else, but not me. Besides, my sister has already helped me decide what I'm going to do."
He started toward the door.
"Well, it's about time I left."
Tetsuo walked out without another glance, and the door clicked shut behind him.
Hitomi's gaze lingered on the closed door. Slowly, the corners of her mouth lifted.
"That boy is certainly an interesting one..." she murmured. "I can't say I'm not intrigued by his opinion of me."
"I already told you he was going to reject your offer," Sachiko said, taking a sip of tea.
Her gaze drifted toward the door.
There's no way he's Tetsu-kun... That much is certain.