Chapter 2

I wanted to ask Mr. Ichijo why I was called the villainous young lady, but I couldn't afford to be late for the entrance ceremony. I borrowed a spare uniform, changed into it, and headed to the large auditorium where the ceremony was being held, accompanied by Lady Sara. The auditorium is in the Art Deco style. The middle school I attended didn't even have an auditorium, and the gymnasium had a leaky roof. Yes, it was closed halfway through because asbestos was found. Well, I hardly attended school due to taking care of Lady Mari.

The current student's congratulatory speech is given by the student council president, and the new student's response is given by someone who served as the student council president in the middle school.

The third-year student, Lady Mariko Myoujou, who gave the congratulatory speech, is a handsome prince, and cheers rise from all around. This place is supposed to be only for young ladies. Ah, young ladies are just ordinary young girls, I see.

Then, the response is given by Mr. Ryou Otorii. He looks a bit rebellious but is actually serious, Lady Sara, who is sitting next to me, tells me. Well, it doesn't really matter. He also gets cheers, though not as many as Lady Myoujou. It seems that as long as they are handsome, the young ladies are happy.

"Are you thinking they are popular because they are handsome?"

Lady Sara says something as if she can read my mind.

"Isn't that the case?"

"Yes. They are good-looking, but they also come from good families. They are especially popular because they don't have fiancés yet."

Fiancés in high school! I'm surprised. I spend my days thinking about what to eat, going to the mountains to pick wild vegetables, or digging bamboo shoots. Oh, I left the bamboo shoots soaking! I'll make Tosa stew when I get home. I wonder if I have any dried bonito flakes. I think I do.

While I was thinking about the dinner menu, the entrance ceremony was over.

Since I was in the same class as Lady Sara, I moved with her again. Lady Sara is a very caring and motherly person. She has a cute, beautiful face with a flashy vertical roll hairstyle, cat-like eyes, and a pointed nose.

When we entered the classroom, more than half of the students were already seated, and I decided to sit in my assigned seat. The desks are also made of heavy material. Are they oak? The chairs are also comfortable. Oh, there's an air conditioner over there! We can study in a comfortable environment, cool in summer and warm in winter.

While I was looking around, the homeroom teacher came in. She doesn't look well, I wonder if she's okay? I guess teachers at such schools have a lot of worries.

The self-introductions began, starting with the homeroom teacher. Ms. Kawamoto is a middle-aged English teacher, a very ordinary teacher. After encountering the sparkling students and doctor at this school today, it was a relief to see a normal teacher.

"Good afternoon, I am Sara Honjo. Of course, you all know, right?"

Lady Sara said that and sat down. Isn't a self-introduction supposed to be more fidgety or shy? Or maybe to get a laugh. I always got scolded by Lady Mari for having such commoner-like thoughts. But I am actually a poor person, so I can't help it.

"I am Shuuji Honjo. Nice to meet you."

Oh, another Honjo. Shuuji and Sara Honjo. They have a similar atmosphere. Lady Sara is a twin.

After the internal students' self-introductions, it was the external students' turn. Unlike internal students, external students are not familiar with the school, so they are treated as a group. There are seven external students in this class, and I am one of them.

"Nice to meet you. I am Reiko Kujou. Please take care of me."

I bowed and sat down. I heard from my middle school teacher that external students are ignored even during self-introductions at this school, but no one ignored me. The teacher's information must have been wrong.

Just as I was thinking that, the next person, Miharu Kyou, was completely ignored. Kyou is an external student like me but not a scholarship student, so she must be a wealthy ordinary young lady. It must be painful to be ignored. I won't ignore anyone! We are companions! No, we are not companions. I am a poor person. All the other external students were ignored.

After the homeroom ended, I tried to talk to Kyou to see if we could become friends. But a girl from the next class, Yuria Sakurada, forcibly pulled her away.

"Where are you taking Kyou!"

When I said that, Yuria Sakurada glared at me and answered in a low voice.

"I'm protecting her from being bullied by the villainous young lady."

She must think I'm bullying Kyou. Since she can't recognize her delusions as delusions, it's reality for her. While I was thinking about this, Lady Sara came to my seat.

"Are you okay, Reiko? Did Yuria Sakurada do something to you again?"

"I was called the villainous young lady again."

"That woman!"

Lady Sara is angry again.

"You look better when you smile. Your beautiful face is ruined."

When I said what I was thinking, Lady Sara blushed and looked embarrassed. She's cute.

"Sara is melting."

Behind Lady Sara, Shuuji Honjo was standing. Lady Sara's eyes turned triangular.

"Are you twins?"

"Yes, is there a problem?"

When Lady Sara answered, Shuuji laughed. I want to ask what's so funny, but I can't be rude.

"It's rare to see Sara melting. Sorry, I'm Shuuji. Sara, did you become friends with her?"

"Yes, is there a problem?"

I got it! This "Yes, is there a problem?" is what Lady Sara says when she's melting. Haha, they are close twins!

"Hey, Reiko. Let's go to the infirmary after school and talk to Mr. Ichijo. We can't overlook Yuria Sakurada's attitude."

"That's right. I'm called the villainous young lady, but I have no idea why. If you come with me, I'll feel much stronger."

"Sounds interesting. Can I come too?"

Lady Sara glared at Shuuji again, but once you see her as cute, it's like a cat hissing, and it looks adorable.

"My sister is cute, right?"

"Really! A beautiful girl is cute even when she glares."

"What are you two talking about!"

Lady Sara is a beautiful, tsundere young lady. I thought I wouldn't make friends with anyone other than external students for three years, but unexpectedly, I became friends with the internal student, Lady Sara. On the other hand, I haven't even talked to other external students. There are no other poor people like me among the external students.

"Hmph!"

Lady Sara turned her face away. I apologized and somehow managed to cheer her up, but in the end, Shuuji also decided to go to the infirmary after school. Lady Sara and Shuuji have finished all their tasks for today, but the external students have a school orientation, so I have to attend it.

"But I have an orientation after this. I don't want to keep you waiting."

"It's fine. We can spend time in the salon."

"Right. When it's over, come to the east building where the salon is. Let's have lunch at the café on the first floor."

A café. There's a café? In the place where I live, a snack bar called Akemi recently closed, and the daughter opened an organic café, but it's empty. I think there's no demand for organic food in the countryside. This café must be different. When I think of a café, I think of waitresses. Waitresses, maids... I miss Fuki, whom Lady Mari called a maid. I wonder if she's doing well and happy.

"Reiko! You're in your own world again! Come back to me."

"I'm sorry. But I was listening."

We made a plan to meet later, and Lady Sara and Shuuji went to the salon. I attended the orientation for external students. There are fifteen external students. Five of them, including me, are scholarship students, so they are both comrades and rivals. There seems to be a hierarchy among the external students. I want to spend the three years smoothly.

"Nice to meet you. Kuma, I mean, Kyou Miharu. I just changed my last name, so I'm not used to it. I lived as an ordinary commoner until now, and I'm surprised to suddenly enter such a prestigious school. I think other external students are the same? Please be friends with me!"

Kyou Miharu, with a short bob and a small, animal-like appearance, gave a casual greeting, and the other external students started introducing themselves one after another. This time, no one was ignored. It was my turn.

"I am Reiko Kujou. Please take care of me."

I introduced myself in the same way, but everyone's gaze was cold. They all seemed to be looking at their smartphone screens and typing something, but I don't have a smartphone, so I don't know what they're doing. Is there something they don't like about me? I don't think I smell because I take a bath every day, and I try to maintain my appearance, so I don't think there's a problem with that.

After listening to the explanation of the annual events, we received a tour of the school. It's a tradition for second-year external students to give the tour, but this time, second-year internal students are also participating. They entered the classroom. Among them was Kaoru Katsuragi, whom I met at the school gate this morning.

The representative of the second-year external students addressed us first-year external students.

"I think being an external student is tough. But it's only three years. I hope you will do your best."

It sounds rather tragic. If you don't like it, you can quit. ...No, there must be reasons why you can't quit easily. Unlike me, who is alone and unburdened, you might have family expectations.

"External students can also enjoy it? Don't look so gloomy. Stand up straight!"

When I thought that Kaoru Katsuragi, a pure internal student, wouldn't be convincing, a loud voice rose.

"Katsuragi-senpai, I will do my best!"

It was convincing! Kyou Miharu made a fist and put it to her chest, determined. Her words encouraged the other external students to look at each other and cheer each other on.

Isn't that too simple, everyone? It reminds me of a brainwashing seminar I read about in the newspaper, and it's scary.

"Kujou Reiko, I'm sorry for Yuria's rude behavior this morning."

In the middle of this, Katsuragi suddenly apologized to me! It wasn't your fault!

"I'm not bothered by it. Mr. Ichijo in the infirmary will help me with the matter, so there's no need to worry."

Yuria Sakurada is sick. It's no use telling a sick person what to do. Thanks to Lady Mari, I have developed the skill to ignore unreasonable things.

"But..."

"Can I ask for the cleaning fee for the dirty uniform? That's enough for me."

"Got it. Then give me the uniform later."

"Wait, the fee is enough."

"I want to have it cleaned for you."

"...If you insist. Thank you."

The spare uniform will be lent to me for a while, so it's not a problem. However, the gazes of the external students were painful during this conversation. Ah, I see. It's because I became friends with the internal student, Lady Sara. Now, Katsuragi is talking to me personally.

And I found the decisive reason why I can't make friends with external students. I don't have a smartphone like everyone else. Therefore, I can't be part of the group. I guess in this school, external students can't chat casually without a smartphone. That's why a smartphone is essential for communication.

By the way, the home phone is still a black phone. It uses an analog line, so it can be used even during a power outage.

...I'm too poor to even socialize with external students. I'll give up. If I can get through the three years without any problems, that's enough.

I feel a bit sad. Being poor doesn't bother me when I'm alone, but it hits me at times like this.

"You can let me guide you."

"No, thank you. I'll follow everyone else."

Katsuragi, please don't treat me specially. Look, the external students are giving me harsh looks.

"Besides, I'm the villainous young lady, right? If I'm seen with you, it will cause trouble again."

"...You're right. I'm really sorry. I'll give her a stern warning."

"No, don't. If her world is denied, she might get even more excited. Please accept her without denying her."

Katsuragi was taken aback.

"I know it's tough for you, Katsuragi, but it must be even tougher for her. Please be kind to her."

In the end, I followed everyone from a distance. I'm used to being alone, but being alone in a group is a bit painful.