Chapter 57

I advanced to the second year.

This year, something more significant to me happened than my own promotion.

My cousin, Rina, entered the middle school division of Suiran Academy.

That kid was smart enough to pass the external entrance exam for the middle school division...

I had secretly underestimated her, thinking she didn't study because she always did as she pleased.

However, with Rina entering the school, my peaceful life seemed to be in jeopardy.

I hope she doesn't drag me into any trouble.

I wondered if she could make normal friends with her personality...

But it turned out that with her assertive and forceful character, she quickly gathered followers and formed a faction in no time.

Despite being a new external student, she strutted around the academy as if it were her own, which I had to admit was somewhat impressive.

Wow, Rina.

And another thing, my luck with class changes, which I had always been proud of, seemed to have taken a turn for the worse.

I ended up in the same class as Enjo.

When I saw the class list, I almost fell to my knees. It's over...

But at least it wasn't Kiyoharu. Enjo shouldn't be a problem as long as he doesn't become an enemy of my best friend.

Yes, he shouldn't be a problem.

—But he was a big problem.

The class is noisy. Not only the girls in my class but also girls from other classes come to hang around, making a fuss during every break. Hearing the high-pitched voices of girls from morning till night is quite damaging.

I had never been in a class with Enjo before, and my previous classes were peaceful and relatively relaxed, so this is quite tough.

Enjo mostly deals with the noisy girls casually and hangs out with his male friends, but the girls who want to be near him squeal and observe from around them.

This noise is nothing but a nuisance to me, an outsider, but Enjo doesn't seem to be particularly happy about the girls making a fuss either, so I felt a bit of sympathy for him. He must want some quiet time too. Ah, that's why he comes to Pivoine's salon.

His attendance rate is higher than mine.

I want to escape to the quiet salon too...

The teacher asked me to be a class officer again this year, but I declined.

When asked if I could be a vice officer if not the president, I refused. No way.

If it were a peaceful class like before, I might have accepted, but this class is beyond my control. I can see the trouble coming.

Being in the same class as Enjo makes even the simplest decisions difficult.

The seat change alone is a big fuss. The enthusiasm for the lottery is different. In my previous classes, it was just a matter of wanting a seat at the back or near a good friend.

The same goes for committee and role assignments. The girls want to do the same things as Enjo, so it's hard to decide.

But what a disappointment. Enjo didn't do anything. The girls who were making a fuss are disappointed.

That's right. I had forgotten, but members of the privileged Pivoine, like Enjo, rarely take on roles like class officers or other committees. They are on the side that is served, not the side that serves.

So why was I used so much...?

But Enjo was on the sports festival committee in elementary school. Maybe the teacher could have asked him to be a class officer?

In fact, it might have been smoother if Enjo, who is at the center of the fuss, had been a class officer.

The two who replaced me as class officers are already exhausted by April.

Last year, Miharu was in the same class as Enjo and was the vice officer, but the trouble must have cooled her enthusiasm for Enjo. Now is the time to aim for the girl officer. Go, girl officer.

Ah, it looks like it's going to be a tough year...

"Being in the same class as Shusuke is that difficult?"

Aira smiled as she listened to my story.

"Well, it's not a direct problem, but I'm not used to the noise..."

Today, the usual two are not in the salon, so I can talk to Aira like this.

Aira and the others are third-year students and will be busy with exams this year. I feel a bit sad thinking that the time they spend in the salon will decrease.

The same goes for Kiyoharu. Although he and Yurie are in different buildings, this is the last precious year they can spend together in the salon, but he is torn between not wanting to disturb Yurie's exam preparation.

He has become better at hiding his emotions, so he doesn't show his struggles.

But in return, he eagerly sends her to cram school. He is so devoted.

While we were talking, Enjo came to the salon. It's rare for him to come without Kiyoharu.

"Shusuke, are you alone today?"

"Yes. Kiyoharu went to send Yurie, you know that, Aira."

Saying that, Enjo came to us. Ugh.

"I thought it was rare for Shusuke to come to the salon alone. I thought you'd go home quickly if Kiyoharu wasn't here."

"I have something to do later today. Just killing time until then. It's too bothersome to stay in the classroom."

"I heard you're in the same class as Reika."

Oh, don't say anything strange, Aira.

Enjo smiled at me.

"Yes. But even though I'm in the same class as Rikazin, we don't talk much."

"That's true."

I have no reason to talk to her.

"Shusuke, don't cause too much trouble for Reika. Your followers seem to be quite energetic."

"They don't listen even when I tell them. So I ignore them unless they go too far. Rikazin, can you do something about them?"

"What? Why me?"

"Because you're the one who manages the girls. If you give them a stern talk, they'll calm down, won't they?"

Don't talk to me like I'm the head of the harem.

Besides, the most noisy group is Mankah's. The girls in our group are more restrained. Probably.

"I don't have that kind of power. If Enjo-sama says it clearly, it would be better."

"I do, but if I say it too harshly like Kiyoharu, some of them might cry, which is troublesome."

Enjo looked a bit exasperated.

He really isn't enjoying it.

"By the way, isn't Rikazin's cousin? I heard she's been getting close to Kiyoharu and has been in conflict with the second and third-year girls."

"What!?"

Rina! What are you doing!

Just don't do anything to drag me down!

My stomach tightened.

This year seems to be full of trouble.