Chapter 12

Now in third grade.

At Suiran Elementary, class changes occur in third and fifth grades.

During the spring break, I prayed every day, and it paid off; I ended up in a different class from the Emperor.

I beat the one-in-four odds.

My older brother graduated from the middle school and entered the high school.

Now that he’s a high school student, he seems even busier and spends less time at home than before.

It’s boring.

Yurie-sama and Aira-sama also graduated from elementary school and became middle school students.

Wearing the middle school uniform, they suddenly seemed much more grown-up, and I could feel the size difference between elementary and middle school students.

It’s only been a month since the spring break, but why does it feel like so much has changed?

Is this the magic of uniforms?

Hmm, the middle school uniform is cute, isn’t it?

The Emperor, who is now far from Yurie-sama in both the school building and the salon, is in a very bad mood.

Everyone is cautiously watching his behavior, as if to say, "Better safe than sorry."

The only one who can talk to the Emperor, who is radiating a dark aura, is Enjo.

Impressive. I could never do that.

I can understand the Emperor’s frustration as Yurie-sama grows more beautiful and the age difference becomes more apparent.

A four-year age gap doesn’t seem significant when you’re adults, but it’s huge when you’re kids.

A first-year middle school student and a third-year elementary student are just too different.

It’s unlikely that Yurie-sama would even consider me as a romantic interest.

And it seems that Yurie-sama, who fully understands this, emits a killing aura to warn off any boys who try to get close to her.

For Yurie-sama, it’s just the jealousy of a cute little brother, which is even more heartbreaking.

Sometimes, she even goes to pick her up after school. Emperor, you’re too brave.

And the cram school I’ve been attending since first grade now has a few Suiran students.

Suiran is an escalator system, so unless something extraordinary happens, students can move up to the next level.

Therefore, there’s not much sense of crisis regarding studies.

Most students have private tutors rather than attending cram schools.

However, some male students have started attending the cram school.

It feels like the thing I feared has finally come to pass.

“Kisaragi-san, you’re also in this cram school?”

A Suiran student from my third-grade class spoke to me.

“Yeah, I guess.”

“Can I sit next to you?”

“...Sure.”

I understand how you feel. When you go to a new place where you don’t know anyone, it’s reassuring to find someone you know.

It’s comforting, right?

But for me, this is a very bad situation.

“There are a few others who started coming this year, but on different days. I thought I was the only one, but I didn’t expect to see Kisaragi-san here. Oh, are you also starting this year?”

“No, I’ve been coming since first grade.”

“Really? That’s surprising. I didn’t think Kisaragi-san was the type to study so much... I mean, well...”

Yeah, it’s fine, don’t worry about it.

I don’t look like someone who’s been coming to a cram school since first grade, especially in Suiran, where I’m known as one of the leaders of the most ladylike group.

“I started coming because of my older brother’s influence.”

This is probably the safest answer.

It seems I’ve been labeled as a "brother complex" girl.

“Wow, I see. By the way, how is this cram school? Is it harder than the classes at the academy?”

“Well, yes. There are many students from prestigious schools, so it’s quite challenging.”

“I see.”

We continued to chat, but I found it increasingly difficult to ask questions that I should already know, given that this student already knew so much about me.

What’s your name?

I was in a bind.

It would hurt his feelings if I told him I didn’t know his name, especially after he had been so friendly.

I needed a hint... Ah, I know.

“Let’s get out our textbooks and workbooks. Have you reviewed the content in the textbook yet?”

“Ah, right.”

He rummaged through his bag and brought out his Japanese language materials.

What’s this? The name written in the workbook is—

“Akizawa Sho.” Got it.

The pronunciation is a bit tricky, but I’ll remember it.

“Akizawa-kun, what class did you end up in after the class change?”

I subtly let him know that I knew his name from the beginning.

“Oh, Kisaragi-san, you knew my name? I thought no one in your group knew about me. I’m in Class 4. And by the way, my last name is Akizawa, not Akisawa.”

...If you thought I didn’t know your name, you should have introduced yourself first.

I was worried that it would hurt his feelings if I, a classmate, didn’t know his name.

This kid is a bit forgetful, isn’t he?

The class started, so our chat ended.

The content was a bit advanced for a third-grade class, but I was still comfortable with it.

Akizawa-kun, who was also a bit nervous, listened to the lesson carefully and worked on the workbook problems.

And during the break.

“Phew, I was nervous! The classes here are more advanced than at my school.”

Akizawa-kun stretched and spoke to me as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

...Yeah, I know.

This is what I was afraid of.

If Suiran students join, they will inevitably focus on me, and their attention will follow me.

Or, like Akizawa-kun, they might even come up and talk to me.

I didn’t expect someone to be this friendly from the start.

But if this happens, I won’t be able to go to the convenience store anymore!

Ah, I knew this would happen...

“Yes, but in return, the classes at the academy will be easier.”

“Right. I didn’t know Kisaragi-san was such a good student. You didn’t seem like that at all.”

This kid is really forgetful. He’s too loose with his words.

“Do I seem so irresponsible?”

I’ll give him a little jab.

“It’s not that! It’s just, you know, you live in a different world from the students who study hard. The kids around you are like that too. And, well, there’s Pivoine.”

Yeah, that’s true.

I come from a strong family background, and in an academy that values tradition, the influence of a former noble family is significant. As a result, I ended up in a group of girls who naturally have the most presence.

They feel more like followers than friends, which is a bit sad.

I wish they would call me “Yurika-chan” instead of “Yurika-sama.”

Do I even have friends at that academy...

“I was surprised! You seemed so unapproachable, and I thought you wouldn’t even acknowledge me, but you’re so friendly.”

Akizawa-kun smiled happily.

Yeah, I guess I do seem unapproachable.

“Can I sit next to you again next week?”

If this happens, I probably won’t be able to go to the convenience store for a while.

And it’s rare to find someone who can talk to me without putting up walls.

“Sure, of course.”

Will Akizawa-kun become my friend?