Vol. 1 Chapter 5 – Eccentric or Genius?

“So~o, it turns out you’re Akari-chan’s friend.” (Mom)

Mom looked somewhat disappointed for some reason. The situation was enough to make you catch a cold from the temperature difference: Mom, Murai-san acting like a cat in a new place, and Akari relaxing on the sofa at her own pace.

“But I’m glad. Even if it’s through Akari-chan’s introduction, Yuuto made a friend too. I was a little worried, you know~. Yuuto can be kind of low-energy.” (Mom)

After asking for their preferences, Mom served tea to Murai-san and me, and without asking, poured orange juice for Akari. And Akari even responded with, “Thanks~ Yuuto Mama~” while lounging around. …Isn’t this girl more relaxed here than in her own home? As I harbored this suspicion internally, Murai-san, sitting next to me hunched over timidly, tugged at the sleeve of my uniform.

“Um, are we friends?” (Hinata)
“…Don’t know.” (Yuuto)

Where does friendship begin? For those lacking high communication skills, it’s an eternal theme. The essence of this theme is “Would they dislike being considered my friend?” Where does friendship begin, and where does morning end? Ambiguity always confuses people.

“First off, where does ‘friend’ even start?” (Yuuto)
“…Someone you talk to often at school is a friend?” (Hinata)
“Then are we friends?” (Yuuto)
“…Aren’t we?” (Hinata)
“I see. Mom, actually, we’re not officially friends. So my result for today is zero friends made.” (Yuuto)
“Oh… is that so… Well, it’s okay! There’s still tomorrow! Surely…” (Mom)
“We are friends! Friends! Right!” (Hinata)

Perhaps feeling bad for Mom, who looked slightly sad, she denied not being friends with emphatic gestures.

“So we were friends.” (Yuuto)
“You made me say it… just now.” (Hinata)
“Honestly, I wanted a friend.” (Yuuto)
“Then you should have just said so… You’re sly, aren’t you.” (Hinata)

She chuckled, still resembling a cat.

“Whoa~, it really hasn’t changed at all~” (Akari)

After some general chat, Akari suggested we go to my room. Akari, a regular visitor, flopped down without hesitation onto the ‘person-ruining’ type sofa she had brought over herself.

“Here, Hinata-chan, come over! This is mine, so.” (Akari)
“Why are Akari-chan’s personal belongings in Aoi-kun’s room…?” (Hinata)

Despite saying this, she lay down next to Akari with a curious look on her face. The rather large sofa seemed comfortable enough even with both of them lying on it.

“Well, I come over quite often when I’m bored~ Oh, the manga and games over there are mine too.” (Akari)

Separate from the novels and textbooks, another bookshelf was almost entirely filled with Akari’s manga. And the TV bought last year for watching movies had a game console connected to it by Akari on the very day it was purchased.

“You two are close… I’d think you’d be a bit more conscious about being in a boy’s room…” (Hinata)
“Ah~, Hinata-chan, you seemed kind of nervous before coming in~” (Akari)

Laughing “ahaha~,” she selected a manga she had brought and picked it up.

“Don’t laugh! Of course, it’s my first time entering a boy’s room other than my little brother’s…” (Hinata)
“But to me, Yuuto is like a little brother, so maybe it doesn’t feel much different~” (Akari)
“Why’s that? My birthday is earlier than yours.” (Yuuto)
“Ah~ yes, yes, so picky~… ‘Big brother.’ There, is that better?” (Akari)
“I wasn’t asking you to call me big brother, it’s just a fact.” (Yuuto)
“Do you two always interact like this…?” (Hinata)

Murai-san asked, half confused and half exasperated, at the similar exchange that had happened countless times today.

“Yuuto’s the one who picks fights~” (Akari)
“Sigh… Listening to her talk, you should understand just from today, right? She’s weird.” (Yuuto)
“True, Akari-chan is weird. In this case, Aoi-kun seems to be right.” (Hinata)
“Ehh~? Hinata-chan, you’re taking Yuuto’s side~?” (Akari)
“Well, the first thing you said when we met was ‘Cute! Want to come over to my place today?!’ That’s not normal. It’s weird. Weird.” (Hinata)

As expected of an aspiring actress, her tone and gestures mimicked the scene Akari described so well that I could easily imagine it, making me burst out laughing.

“Akari’s the same everywhere, huh.” (Yuuto)
“Ehh~? Am I really that weird?” (Akari)
“You are.” (Yuuto)
“You are.” (Hinata)

At their combined voices, she made an expression that looked like you could hear a dramatic ‘thud’ sound effect.

“But, I think that’s what’s good about Akari.” (Yuuto)
“Yuuto…!!” (Akari)

There are times when I’ve been saved by that strange cheerfulness when I’m feeling down. Being different from others is individuality, a strength.

“You really are a good big brother, Yuuto! As thanks, I’ll let you join the game Hinata-chan and I are about to play! Grab the controllers and turn on the game console! Oh, the game is the racing one!” (Akari)
“I have to set it up…? Murai-san, have you played before?” (Yuuto)
“Ah, I’ve seen my little brother play it.” (Hinata)
“So it’s your first time playing… Is the steering wheel easier?” (Yuuto)

When the game console arrived at my house, I wasn’t used to the stick controls, so I bought a steering wheel-type controller myself. I prepared that too and started the game.

“Alright~! I’m first place again~!” (Akari)
“Hey… Murai-san is a beginner, go easy on her or something…” (Yuuto)
“Can’t be helped~ Then Hinata-chan and I will team up and crush Yuuto!” (Akari)
“Doesn’t that just make me the pitiful one…?” (Yuuto)

‘Well, as long as Murai-san is having fun, it’s fine…’ I thought, dividing the teams.

“Ah, Yuuto. Are you eating at the cafeteria tomorrow?” (Akari)
“Yeah. That’s the plan, but?” (Yuuto)

The school has cafeterias divided by grade level to be able to cater to several thousand students. They offer a wide variety of options, are tasty, reasonably priced, and packed with elements popular among students.

“Hinata-chan is bringing a bento, but we’re going to eat together in the cafeteria, so are you coming too, Yuuto?” (Akari)
“Me? Is that okay?” (Yuuto)
“Well, you’ll just be eating alone looking sad anyway, right, Yuuto? If I saw that while eating, it’d be hard to eat.” (Akari)
“I don’t eat looking sad… Murai-san, is that okay with you?” (Yuuto)
“Ah, I don’t mind at all. I think it’ll be more fun with three people.” (Hinata)

Murai-san answered while exhibiting the classic beginner phenomenon of tilting her body along with the steering wheel. She seemed so engrossed and happy that I worried she might fall off the sofa someday.

“Well, if that’s the case, maybe I’ll join you…?” (Yuuto)
“Okay, so what should we do? Meet at the cafeteria?” (Akari)
“No, meeting up there would be a pain. I’ll come pick you two up at your classroom.” (Yuuto)
“Okay, do you know where it is? Second floor, the classroom at the very end?” (Akari)
“Roger.” (Yuuto)

“Fwaah…”

Time flies, and it’s before first period the next day. The same warm spring air streams in through the window, successfully bringing back the sleepiness that had started to fade during the commute.

“Hey, what’s your fetish?”

Surveying the classroom where conversations were gradually increasing, the hope that maybe today I could talk to someone grew slightly within me.

“Hey~? What’s your fetish?”

Some people were talking to friends they’d made, while others, despite just having finished entrance exams, were opening textbooks covering material beyond the scope of first-year high school.

‘So studious…’

“Hey~? Can you hear me?”

I learned something on the second day of school. The Advanced Course only has students with relatively high deviation scores, kids who are good at studying. Most people who are good at studying are those who put in the effort. About 30% of the class are the so-called ‘study grinds’ (gariben) who are still opening textbooks now. 60% are the type who do their self-study at home and maintain a balance. I’m in this group too. The remaining 10%, no 1%, no 0.1% are a different type. Geniuses, eccentrics.

“Hey~, Aoi-kun? Right? What’s your fetish?” (Souma)
“…We’re meeting for the first time, right?” (Yuuto)
“Our eyes met yesterday, so it’s the second time.” (Souma)
“Is that counting method correct?” (Yuuto)

The seat in front of me should belong to Aida-san, but this guy plopped down while she was away from her desk just now. I recognized him. From the Advanced Course with only 30 students, number 30 at the very end. Yamada Souma. I vaguely remembered him being the very last one to enter the classroom on the first day, cutting it close to being late.

“So, what was that?” (Yuuto)
“No, I mean, what’s your fetish, Yuuto?” (Souma)
“Isn’t your way of closing the distance incredible?” (Yuuto)
“Ah, Souma is fine.” (Souma)
“…Souma, normally, wouldn’t you ask something like ‘What middle school are you from?’ when talking to a high school friend for the first time?” (Yuuto)
“Eh? What’s the point of asking that? You gotta ask things you can use in future conversations.” (Souma)
“Is fetish usable in the future…?” (Yuuto)

In my entire life so far, no, even in my future life, I never thought I’d meet someone weirder or more self-paced than my childhood friend Akari. This guy is on another level. There’s a pressure emanating from him, like you can’t escape his pace, like he won’t let you escape. He’s the eccentric of eccentrics.

“So, what’s your fetish?” (Souma)
“…Sigh… Fine, what’s your fetish, Souma? It’s weird if only I say it.” (Yuuto)
“That makes sense. Me? It’s boobs.” (Souma)

Even an eccentric has the same sexual preferences as a normal person, no, isn’t he more normal than normal?

“So, Yuuto?” (Souma)
“Wait, why are you so interested in my fetish?” (Yuuto)
“Eh? I just thought, ‘Wow, there’s a super handsome guy,’ and isn’t it interesting when handsome guys talk about stuff like that?” (Souma)
“Weirdo through and through… Thighs…” (Yuuto)
“Hoh~ Is that so.” (Souma)

His reaction was so nonchalant that embarrassment washed over me unexpectedly. React more strongly! Give me a bigger reaction! Having a childhood friend who, while not quite on this guy’s level, is also self-paced, I already understood that saying anything was useless. It was my loss for not being able to ignore him.

“Could you stop having lewd conversations in someone else’s seat first thing in the morning?” (Yume)

Aida-san, who had been away, returned. The clear voice I heard yesterday now sounded somewhat frozen, and a cold sweat broke out as my body temperature plummeted. How much did she hear…? Imagining three years of being subjected to the disgust of someone who seemed to dislike that kind of talk made me feel slightly depressed.

“Ah, Yume-san! Sorry, I borrowed your chair!” (Souma)
“…Right. I don’t mind that, particularly.” (Yume)

Souma got up from the chair nonchalantly, seemingly unbothered. Aida-san, perhaps deciding there was no need to say anything further, retracted the slight displeasure that had leaked out and sat down.

“Well then, Yuuto, see ya later.” (Souma)
“Ah, yeah, later.” (Yuuto)

Are eccentrics just good at getting close to people? The casual way he used first names, and the names that came out so naturally, suggesting he might have learned all his classmates’ names in just one day, somehow gave off the air of a genius that people might admire.

After the fourth period ended, I quickly left the classroom and climbed the stairs right next to it. Weaving through the students heading towards the cafeteria and courtyard, I made my way to Akari’s class. Immediately to the left after climbing the stairs, directly above my classroom. Peeking through the already open door, I spotted the two of them chatting right in front of the teacher’s desk. Feeling the distinctly different, sparkling atmosphere compared to the Advanced Course, I approached them, trying my best not to stand out strangely.

“Oh, finally here, Yuuto~” (Akari)
“Did your class end early?” (Yuuto)
“Yeah, we were in the practical training wing, but it seems they let us return to the classroom early during fourth period. Because the cafeteria gets crowded.” (Akari)
“Huh~ Rough day.” (Yuuto)
“Aoi-kun, good work today too.” (Hinata)
“Thanks, you too. First time seeing you since yesterday.” (Yuuto)
“Yes, likewise.” (Hinata)
“Shall we go then?” (Akari)

The two, already prepared, left the classroom and started walking towards the cafeteria. I walked diagonally behind them, making sure not to fall behind.

“Hinata-chan makes her own bento, you know.” (Akari)
“Hoh~ That’s amazing.” (Yuuto)

I let out a voice of admiration while looking at the cat-patterned lunch bag Murai-san was holding.

“No, not at all. I just make it alongside my little brother’s portion.” (Hinata)
“You make your brother’s portion too?” (Yuuto)
“Yes, my mom works night shifts and seems busy, so I started making them when my brother entered middle school.” (Hinata)
“Hmm, Hinata-chan seems like she’ll be a good wife someday. Yuuto? Isn’t now your chance?” (Akari)
“Ah, handsome guys seem like they’d cheat, so maybe not…” (Hinata)
“I’m not looking for a wife. And could you stop rejecting me preemptively?” (Yuuto)

As we walked while having this conversation, we soon arrived at the cafeteria. Many seats were taken, but the area around the ticket machines and pick-up counter wasn’t that crowded. The ease of simply scanning the QR code on the student ID card at the ticket machine to order likely helped reduce congestion.

Murai-san, with her bento, made the helpful suggestion, “I’ll go grab us some seats first!” so Akari and I lined up together at the pick-up counter.

“Man~ Being with Yuuto really makes you stand out~” (Akari)
“Well, people tend to mistake us for a couple.” (Yuuto)
“That’s part of it, but you’re still clueless about the stares directed at you…” (Akari)

Covering her mouth with her hand, she made a whispering gesture, so I leaned in, slightly conscious of the eyes around us.

“Yuuto, you’re actually pretty famous in the Entertainment Course too, you know? Like, ‘that handsome guy I saw on the way to school, why is he in the Advanced Course instead of Entertainment?'” (Akari)
“…Isn’t that someone else?” (Yuuto)
“Nope. Kids from other classes asked me the name of the boy I was with, and my friend in the Advanced Course also sent a message like ‘This guy named Aoi is~’.” (Akari)

This girl… she already made friends in my class when even I couldn’t…? Even though she’s in a different class and course…

“I give off a pretty gloomy vibe, do I really stand out that much?” (Yuuto)
“You stand out. You had a childish look until middle school, but lately, you’re starting to resemble him, aren’t you?” (Akari)

“Yuuya-san.” (Akari)
“…What do you think?” (Yuuto)
“…Quite a bit.” (Akari)
“Honestly?” (Yuuto)
“A lot.” (Akari)

It seemed Mom saying I was starting to look like him wasn’t just parental bias. Akari knew the general situation. It started when Mom let something slip, but being middle schoolers at the time, she understood and has kept it a secret. Her words, which she usually avoids saying even as a joke, perhaps out of consideration, gave my delusion a touch of reality. ‘Maybe people will find out I’m Hokujou Yuuya’s son.’

Few people would jump to that conclusion just based on facial resemblance. But what if someone became suspicious? The thought was slightly terrifying.

“Well, right now, people probably just think I’m your girlfriend or something? If you’re alone, you’ll probably stand out a lot, Yuuto.” (Akari)
“…Got it. I’ll keep that in mind, just in case.” (Yuuto)
“…Okay, then good!” (Akari)

She returned to her usual carefree expression. I need to make sure I don’t stand out in a bad way… Watching the line move steadily forward, I thought this deep inside.