Youkoso Jitsuryoku Shijou Shugi no Kyoushitsu e

Volume 4.5, Chapter 1: IKE AND KOMIYA, Part 1

“Whoa, there’s loads of people.”

Sure enough, the rest area near the fitness gym where the test results were disclosed was crowded with students. A large sign beside the monitor read, “Photography is strictly prohibited” and there were two adults watching the students who were probably related to Tsukishiro.

The rankings and scores were displayed as a list on the monitor, which seemed to be scrolling automatically.

Right now we could see the group members and scores for the groups ranked 50th through to 60th.

“…Huh?”

Suddenly, I felt an incredible sense of discomfort flowing through my body.

What is it?

I couldn’t immediately figure out what it was, but I felt an indescribable kind of sick feeling.

“I wanted to get a closer look at the results, but I don’t think I can concentrate with all this.”

Ishizaki, who wasn’t feeling the same discomfort as me, looked at the monitor and muttered in disgust.

“There’s no helping it. I’m sure a lot of people wanted to know the detailed results of the exam.”

Ishizaki clicked his tongue in frustration and had no choice but to stare at the results from the spot.

Although he has a bold personality, he won’t push the upperclassmen to get to the front.

The trouble is, even though it’s an auto-scrolling monitor, you can touch it with your hand to hold it in place or scroll to look at any order. Currently a third year student was operating it.

Therefore, it is unlikely we will see the top results that Ishizaki wants to see anytime soon.

“What shall we do?”

Even if we waited for a long time, it would be a while before our turn would come.

“I’m curious, but let’s not overdo it. We can look at it later after all.”

That’s what I said a few minutes ago but…If he understands, then it’s fine.

“By the way, do you notice anything?”

“Hm? Notice what?”

Ishizaki, who was about to turn around, didn’t seem to notice anything.

This bizarre atmosphere.

The number of gazes directed at me.

It’s not something that can be dismissed as just my imagination.

It’s not that Ishizaki next to me is too slow and unaware of it.

It’s not Ishizaki, or any other students. The gaze is focused entirely onto me.

They are watching my every move, with no apparent intention to hide.

All of the students looking at me had one thing in common. They were all third years.

I don’t know all the details yet, but I am certain that Nagumo is involved in this.

I guess this is one of his plans that he has set in motion after putting it off in anticipation for the exam.

“What’s up?”

Apparently, I was so lost in thought that Ishizaki was worried about me.

“No, it’s nothing. It looks like a lot of other students are coming to check it out, so let’s head back.”

“Oh, yeah you’re right.”

I’d imagined he’d try something sooner or later, but this is a bit troublesome.

It would have been much easier to deal with if Nagumo had decided to confront me directly.

He got me with something I hated to deal with right from the start.

“Hey, you haven’t eaten lunch yet, right? Let’s eat together.”

“What? Ah, yeah I haven’t eaten yet, but…”

I started to walk away, and there was no sign of the third year students following after us.

In the end, all they did was watch me.

It doesn't feel great to be stared at relentlessly.

“What’s the matter with you? You don’t want to eat with me? You’re a rude guy.”

“It’s not that. I was just thinking about something unrelated.”

I couldn’t involve Ishizaki in this, but if they don’t come after us, we’ll be fine.

“It’s rude to think about other things.”

He’s got a point. Let’s forget about the third years for now.

“Are you fine with it? Eating with me?”

“Who cares? We’re just eating a meal together.”

I can’t deny that I’m feeling some pressure, but it doesn’t feel bad at all.

I just can’t get over the fact that Ishizaki is treating me as a friend.

“I don’t know if I’ve said this before, but I’m not inviting you out like this just to get you to join our class. It’s ’cause I like you as a friend, okay?”

Without hesitation, Ishizaki said something that made me feel a little uncomfortable.

But then, as if realizing something, he turned around.

“…Am I bothering you?”

“That’s not the case.”

“Right!?”

For a moment, Ishizaki seemed to wonder if he’d been acting selfishly, but then he quickly smiled as he replied. Well, I already knew that he had this kind of personality.

I don’t feel bad at all, so I’ll just go along with Ishizaki.

As the two of us left the area and started to move, we heard footsteps running towards us from behind.

“Ayanokouji-senpai!”

The owner of the footsteps was Nanase, who I had been working with for the first half of the uninhabited island exam.

“Senpai came to see the results of the exam too?”

“Yeah. Saying that, because I couldn’t slowly go over them, I gave up.”

“Is that so? Right now the third years are operating the monitor, so we underclassmen will have to wait a while before we can view it freely.”

Apparently, Nanase also wanted to know more about the results, but decided against it.

Ishizaki was watching our conversation with curiosity.

Thinking about it, Ishizaki probably hasn’t had any direct interaction with Nanase.

“Oi, oi Ayanokouji. When did you get to know this cute girl?”

“A lot happened.”

It’s tedious to explain from scratch, so I gave him a summary.

“Oi, don’t tell me you’re…dating an underclassman, are you?”

“That’s a big leap. It’s just a normal senior and junior relationship.”

It was unusual for me to be brought into this sort of thing.

I had thought that Ishizaki wasn’t particularly interested in relationships with the opposite sex, but not so much, apparently.

“Did you want something from me?”

“No, after I saw senpai, I just wanted to come talk to you.”

She spoke without hesitation as she looked at me with bright eyes, despite the contents of her reply being somewhat embarrassing.

“Sorry for bothering you. Excuse me!”

One minute she was running up to me, and the next, she was running away. The interior is the same as the school corridors, in that she shouldn’t be running here, but I guess she was just about safe.

“She was a cutie. And her…you know was pretty…you know”

I’m sorry, but I guess I’ll just skip over that.

“You’re really not going out with her, right?”

“No, we’re not dating.”

It would be annoying to have people misunderstand and spread the story.

That’s why, once again, I firmly pushed Ishizaki so that he would not talk.