Friday after Golden Week.
It’s my first day at school with my rainbow-colored hair.
…Saying it out loud is making my brain confused.
During my train commute, I often pass by people in the same uniform.
By the way, I don't have a single friend (despair).
So I commute alone.
――“…Huh?” “Who is that?” “Was there someone like that?”―― That's why being looked at by students from my own school is tough. I'm at max “invisible” level. Up until now, I've been good at blending into the background.
In fact, it was that very tendency to hide that led to me having zero friends.
And yet—my stealth skills are failing me.
There's no doubt that it's this hair color that's causing the commotion.
Since I had long bangs to begin with, the rainbow color keeps flickering in my view.
My world is rainbow-colored.
I'm not on any weird drugs.
“Approaching ○× Station, ○× Station――――”
And then.
The real hell begins.
The school route from the nearest station.
The moment I stepped off the platform—everyone around me is wearing the same uniform.
――“Hey, look at that.” “Even though hair color is free, that's…”――
――“Isn't that crazy?” “Is he some kind of band guy?” “For a foreign transfer student, his face is…”――
――“Who is that?” “That's the uniform from the same school, right…?”―― Our school is located in a prime area, just a 5-minute walk from the nearest station.
With a standard deviation over 60, it's not a school with a bad reputation.
Because of having so many exemplary students, hair color is generally free.
Schools with lower standard deviation that claim to be prestigious tend to be stricter, but not here.
Especially in modern times, it's rare for hair color not to be free. There are monster parents too.
――“Isn't that called unicorn color?” “It's pretty. But way too flashy.” “Doesn't it clash with his face?”―― I've been hearing that non-stop. It's rude.
And I'm neither a unicorn-like beauty nor a handsome guy.
I'm just a horse eating the grass there. No, that's disrespectful to horses.
I'm trash (correct).
…Even so.
To think that changing my hair color could attract this much attention.
Life is unpredictable.
What will it be like when I enter the classroom?
――“…”“…”“…”――
Result.
Time stopped.
It was fine when I pushed open the door with enthusiasm and stepped into the classroom.
But at that moment, the gaze of my classmates pierced through me.
It felt like the eyes of a truant student who had come back after a long time.
If it were the usual me, I would have just taken my seat and that would be it.
So I decided to follow that pattern.
Thanks, past self.
“Who the hell are you?”
I sat by the window, in the last row of the classroom.
In a classroom where time had stopped, the first person to move was the girl in the seat next to me.
She broke my time-stopping magic.
It seems the effect had worn off.
What's the cooldown time for a recast?
“…”
“Hey, I'm asking who you are.”
In an intimidating tone. Scary, help me.
She's Ichigo Yumesaki. A blonde gal. 50% Yankee ingredients. That's it.
On my first day of school as a second-year student.
The moment she realized that I was sitting next to her, she immediately moved her desk away.
My motto is: “There are no kind gals for introverts.”
“T-Toumachi…”
“Huh?” “No way, really? Is that you, Toumachi?”
As soon as I answered, Yumesaki-san's mouth opened wide, and she froze.
And then, stepping in from beside her was Rio Hiiragi.
With brown hair, despite being a high school student, her well-done makeup makes her look very lovely. Is she a “white gal”?
“Oh, but now that I look closely, I've seen your face before. Good morning, Toumachi☆”
“G-Good morning.”
Even now, I’m still amazed as she puts her hand on Yumesaki-san’s shoulder and greets me with a smile.
She's bubbly, and her speech always seems to be followed by little stars (my own imaginative touch).
In the second year, after Yumisaki-san moved away from my seat on the first day, it was undoubtedly her who came over from the side to apologize with her hands together.
《――”Ichigo is sorry☆”――》
I remember it well.
Just that act alone had restored my mental points beyond maximum capacity.
『A kind gal to an introvert does exist』.
This is my motto.
“……Tch, you startled me.”
“It’s an image change☆. Maybe a bit late for a high school debut.”
“Still, that's a bit over the top.”
“Oh, by the way, about the group date the day after tomorrow――”
And the two giddy gals return to their usual routine.
Looking around, the classroom was starting to get noisy again as usual.
…Well, the world doesn't change just because someone's hair turned rainbow-colored.
Besides――what matters about this hair color isn’t really for them.
…That’s right.
The one who always arrives just in time for the start of class―― “――Haa, haa…”
“『Ayano』, you're cutting it close again～”
“Just a bit.”
At that moment, it wasn't just me whose gaze shifted towards the door.
More than half of the class's boys――focused on her entrance.
『Ayano Kisaragi』.
With her long black hair swaying, and sweat beading on her refined face.
Like a scene from a movie. Undoubtedly the main heroine of it.
That person whom I “used to” like――
“Today, I met a cat on the way to school.”
“That's nice.”
To the rainbow-haired classmate, who's currently the center of attention (self-proclaimed) in the back.
Honestly, not even for a second.
Not at all did she glance in that direction, and took her seat.
…Ah.
I've been beaten by a passing cat.
Time passes, and it's lunchtime.
Normally, I'd blend into the classroom to eat my lunch… but today, that’s impossible.
With zero friends and my rainbow-colored presence shining brightly, I have no place in the classroom, so I move to the courtyard.
The cafeteria? There's no way I'm going to a place with only groups (introvert vibes).
On the other hand, the sunlight here is so intense that there are few people around.
There's only a small bench to sit on.
This school, being kind to loners, has a small one-person bench.
Perfect. Although, I'm the only one sitting here (worst-case scenario).
“……”
I munch on a jam-filled bread I bought.
It disappeared in an instant. Just like my life.
“……I'm bored, so let's do it.”
Normally, I'd head straight to the library after eating.
But for now, I'll just set up a thread.
【I think I’ll change according to >>5 Pert 2】
1: Username: 1
I've started it. Everyone, come gather.
2: Username: 1
Probably no one here on a weekday afternoon.
3: Username: Anonymous in Love
I'm here.
4: Username: Anonymous in Love
There's no way anyone's here on a weekday afternoon lol 5: Username: Anonymous in Love Really.
6: Username: Anonymous in Love
There's no way there are people like that.
7: Username: Anonymous in Love
…I'm starting to feel sad.
8: Username: Anonymous in Love
>>1
Hurry up with the school report.
9: Username: Anonymous in Love
Oh, right, I almost forgot.
10: Username: Anonymous in Love
Has the world turned rainbow-colored?
11: Username: Anonymous in Love
Wasn't it against school rules in the first place?
12: Username: Anonymous in Love
Oh, so you're going for a buzz cut now?
13: Username: Anonymous in Love
The contrast is too extreme.
14: Username: Anonymous in Love
Did someone just call me bald?
15: Username: 1
I'm not bald.
Anyway, I have one report to make.
16: Username: Anonymous in Love
Okay, okay.
17: Username: Anonymous in Love
Looking forward to it.
18: Username: Anonymous in Love
Were you ostracized in class? lol
19: Username: Anonymous in Love
It must have been a total shock, right? lol
20: Username: Anonymous in Love
Come on, it's okay to cry.
Every time I update the board, replies flood in.
It's overwhelming.
“This turnout is way too much…”
It seems more people have shown up than I expected…
Is Japan's future going to be okay? Yeah, it's definitely bright (screen brightness set to MAX).
Under the sunlight, I flick away on my phone, feeling triumphant.
Even a loner like me has a place on this board…
Right?
21: Username: 1
The gal sitting next to me spoke to me.
And there were two of them.
22: Username: Anonymous in Love
Huh?
23: Username: Anonymous in Love
Disappear.
24: Username: Anonymous in Love
Huh?
25: Username: Anonymous in Love
Boring. Disband, disband.
26: Username: Anonymous in Love
Damn it.
27: Username: Anonymous in Love
Ah, my lunch just got worse.
“……”
Indeed, Japan's future is dark. Completely dark.
I――I'm certain of it.