I woke up exhausted. It was already morning. I wiped the saliva dripping from my mouth.
“Feels like I only got five minutes of sleep, damn it…”
Almost three years had passed. I was already fifteen.
I hurriedly changed into my new uniform. No time for training today.
Once again, the nightmares had jolted me awake, and the insomnia kept me staring at the ceiling until barely an hour ago.
“Shit… at least it doesn’t happen every day,” I muttered.
As I passed Kota’s bunk bed, I straightened the sheets out of habit. I paused for a moment, staring at it.
There still hadn’t been any concrete news about him… or Kei.
“I’m going.”
I rushed out.
“It’s already late… First day and I’m already late. Great way to start.”
I reached the closed front gates of my new high school. Today was supposed to be my new beginning.
Luckily, the past three years had been peaceful. After the incident with Kazuki, I’d lived a relatively quiet life. Romance hadn’t exactly taken off—more like there was none. Most girls just looked right past me. Still a zero to the left. So no harem.
At least I’d finally gained some muscle and grown out of my short stature. I was 170 cm now, and honestly, I felt pretty proud of it. Mom always said I was just a late bloomer. Thinking about it, Dad’s almost 180 cm, so it made sense I’d end up somewhere around there… maybe even taller.
A small grin tugged at my lips as I imagined myself towering over everybody.
Then the teacher at the entrance barked at me, snapping me out of my fantasy.
“Hey! It’s the first day and you’re already misbehaving!”
Typical middle-aged, fat, bald teacher type.
“Sorry, sorry,” I said, bowing quickly.
Really? You have no love for your own body, fatso. You need to exercise more, I thought.
Once inside, they ushered us all into the gym with the other students. I couldn’t stop glancing at the girls.
A pair of thick thunder thighs in a short skirt just passed by—practically calling my name.
“Pheww, pheww… school uniforms really are the best.”
“Hey. Go join the other freshmen already,” the fatso teacher snapped at me.
This time I didn’t bow. I just glared back. A few students nearby turned to look our way.
The fatso actually took a step back for a second.
Oh no, fatso. Never show weakness—especially now that there are witnesses. That’s one of the first rules. Never forget it.
I took a deep breath, rolled my shoulders back, pushed my chest out, and walked like I owned the damn place. I spotted an empty seat, claimed it, and sat down straight, trying to make myself look bigger.
My eyes swept across the gymnasium, searching for potential enemies.
Right away I clocked a couple of first-years about my height—only those. The second- and third-years weren’t that much bigger overall… until my gaze landed on someone in the third-year section.
Wide shoulders. Thick neck.
Yeah… that’s the one I need to avoid.
Then a soft voice came from directly behind me.
“Hey, I can’t see. Gosh, why do you have to sit there?”
I pretended not to hear her.
“Hey, you. I’m talking to you. Change seats with me.”
The girl’s voice again, more insistent.
I yawned, acting bored, and lazily waved a hand behind me without turning.
“Don’t bother me.”
“Tch.” She clicked her tongue.
“If you want to see,” I said, still facing forward, “just come sit on my lap.”
My hand slapped my thigh for emphasis.
I threw it out shamelessly. My face stayed blank, but inside I was already cringing hard at the words that had just left my mouth.
I thought that would be the end of it, but—
“What?” The same voice again, now sharp with anger.
I kept staring straight ahead, pretending I hadn’t heard a thing.
Then a short girl stepped right in front of me, blocking my view. She wore a mouth mask, and a long chestnut hair framed her face. Arms crossed tightly, she glared daggers at me.
Without looking up, I tapped my thigh again—slow and deliberate—like an invitation.
Come on. Sit.
Outwardly, I stayed completely nonchalant.
Inside, I was dying of shame.
The students around us had gone dead silent, all eyes locked on the standoff.
“Really? How can you behave like that?” she snapped, voice rising with righteous anger. “A man should respect women. He should respect everyone and treat people properly.”
What? Is she some kind of feminist, or is she trying to run a campaign here?
“Wait a minute.” I stood up slowly. Our height difference hit hard—she barely reached my chest. She almost stepped back for a second but held her ground. Damn, she’s actually braver than that fatso teacher.
Well, if you ever run for president or some shit like that, I’ll vote for ya, I thought.
I leaned down, bringing my face closer to hers and squinting.
Hmm… that hair, that height…
“Alice… is that you?”
“Uh—” She turned her face aside, still clearly pissed.
I softened my tone and gave a small grin.
“It’s good to see you. It’s been a long time. I went to look for you girls back then at the store, but they told me your sister had already quit her job.”
The other students, realizing we actually knew each other, quickly lost interest. The whispers faded, heads turned away, and the silent standoff fizzled out.
I peered down at her height, then flicked my eyes over her chest and legs for a second. Flat as ever.
I shook my head. She barely grew at all.
“I’m sorry,” I said, actually feeling a little bad for her.
She looked surprised by my reaction—though I could tell she thought I meant something else entirely.
Without another word, I turned, gave up my seat, and moved to the one right behind it. She glanced at me one last time, then sat down and focused on the new school year ceremony.
From behind, I watched her. She was actually paying attention—nodding along to the speech like it mattered.
Meanwhile, the rest of us were bored out of our minds, just waiting to get the hell out of there.
Even so… her small frame and that childish demeanor stirred something in me.
I felt this strange urge to protect her—like she was some little kid who needed looking after...
Finally, the torture ended, and we were sent to our classroom. Oh, surprise—there she was. The little girl.
I saw her taking a seat near the front. I had planned to sit in the back of the room, but then I noticed a sketchy guy approaching her. He dropped into the seat right behind her.
“Hi, my name is Takeshi,” the guy said, already making his move.
Dude, she’s so small—calm down.
Before she could answer, I was already beside him. I glared down at him with my tired eyes.
“Oi, that’s my seat, buddy.”
The guy opened his mouth to say something, but my glare attack did the job. He reluctantly moved. He glanced at the seats beside Alice, but they were already taken by a couple of girls, so he gave up and left.
Good. Look strong and scary when you’re weak, and look weak when you’re not...
I took the seat, flopped onto the desk, and rested my head on it. Alice looked at me.
“You know that wasn’t very friendly of you, I-Iry— Taiyou-san… what you did to that guy.”
“Just call me Iryoku, like back then,” I said, closing my eyes for a moment. “And remember—not to trust every single person. Especially guys.”
I said it while trying to fall asleep.
For a minute, I didn’t hear anything. Then Alice muttered,
“We’re the same age. Please don’t treat me like I don’t know how to interact with people. I’m not weak.”
Still trying to sleep, I mumbled, “Never said you were…”