Ch. 128.1 - Kaede and Suzu Pt1
To prevent bullying caused by grade or age differences, Nichiya High arranged each year on a separate floor. Due to the school building’s layout, Class 2-1 and Class 2-3 were just a turn away at a T-junction.
After parting with Sato, Harutaki strolled leisurely toward Class 1, arriving at the neighboring classroom almost exactly as the bell rang.
He slowed his steps. Even though they weren’t enemies, he still believed in the principle of “know yourself and know your opponent.” So he quietly peeked into Class 2-1 from outside first.
Some students, neatly dressed and well-groomed, had formed small circles, chatting loudly about trending topics. The surrounding classmates seemed long used to it, showing no sign of annoyance. Another group sat around pushed-together desks, holding their phones and whispering among themselves, sharing whatever was on their screens.
It was obvious that after midterms—and with an event like the career guidance session—everyone had relaxed. A faint air of laziness drifted through the classroom.
This kind of liveliness was only natural.
With that thought, Harutaki continued scanning the room.
As for the last group—
The scene at the side of the classroom made him pause, then immediately understand why that unreliable old man had sent him here as an “envoy.”
“Let’s have Suzu-chan stay behind~”
Six people stood gathered near the wall, arranged almost like a basketball formation—three in front, one in the middle, and two facing them. The girl standing at the very front, hands on her hips and chin raised high, was clearly the leader of the “three.”
She pointed at the silent girl with her head lowered—the “one”—and said to one of the girls standing opposite:
“Yuina still wants to go see Class 3 with the student council president, right? So if Suzu-chan stays here, the four of us can form a group, and Yuina can go with President Asano. Doesn’t that work out perfectly?”
Harutaki only needed a brief glance at the two girls in the “two” position to conclude they were sisters—most likely twins.
These had to be the famous beauties of Class 1: Asano Kaede and Asano Suzu.
Asano Kaede
Asano Suzu
Now this is what siblings are supposed to look like…
He couldn’t help comparing them to his own family. The four Hoshikawa siblings were all over the place—different hair colors, different looks, barely any resemblance at all. And as for physique and development, the eldest sister Ayaka and youngest sister Fuyuno were worlds apart.
He’d even once suspected that their parents had “used up” all the nutrition—or maybe genetics—on Ayaka and Chiaki, leaving poor Fuyuno looking like an elementary schooler even now, just before high school.
Sure, she got half-price discounts at buffets and amusement parks thanks to her appearance, but she absolutely hated being so petite.
“But…”
The girl called Suzu-chan—Asano Suzu—looked up with wide amber eyes, her gaze filled with confusion as she turned to her sister.
“If you want to stay, then just stay in class.”
Her older sister, Asano Kaede, pursed her lips and brushed aside a strand of gray-blue hair from her cheek, looking completely indifferent.
“I don’t mind. Yuina, you don’t mind either, right?”
As everyone’s eyes turned toward her, the girl with her head lowered trembled slightly before giving a small nod.
“Then it’s settled.”
The leading girl crossed her arms proudly, like a soldier claiming victory.
Tch…
Harutaki clicked his tongue inwardly.
Something about this atmosphere was clearly off, yet none of the six involved voiced any objection. Even worse, no one else in the classroom paid any attention to what was happening in that corner—
As if the girl named Yuina wasn’t even part of the class at all.
Clearly, she was near the bottom of the school’s social hierarchy. Even if a group accepted her, she could be discarded at any time—a disposable presence.
Not far from them, however, someone had noticed something was wrong.
A young woman with softly curled hair, dressed neatly in a wrinkle-free suit.
That must be Fujimiya-sensei, the homeroom teacher Asama-sensei had mentioned.
Compared to that sloppy old man, she looked perfectly normal—almost pleasing to the eye.
So Asama-sensei really was the odd one out.
Fujimiya-sensei’s gaze shifted between the Asano sisters and the group leader, occasionally lingering on Yuina. She clearly sensed the problem, yet seemed completely unsure how to handle it.
With no one involved speaking up, and the situation hovering ambiguously between casual conversation and bullying, it was far too difficult for a young, inexperienced teacher to intervene.
She opened her mouth, then closed it again. Even her outstretched hand retreated halfway.
From the classroom door, she looked almost… helplessly endearing.
“Phew…”
Harutaki let out a quiet breath.
Was it bad timing?
No—if anything, his timing was perfect.
Might as well solve this in true Hoshikawa Harutaki fashion.
With that thought, he stepped into Class 2-1.
Perhaps because the atmosphere was already so lively, no one noticed him at first—or even if they did, no one wanted to be the one to break the flow.
“Yo!”
The noisy chatter froze instantly.
His voice cut through the room like a meteor streaking across the night sky, drawing everyone’s attention.
“Good afternoon, everyone~”
He strolled in casually, one hand in his pocket, the other waving as he greeted the class.
The next moment, murmurs erupted—
“Who’s that guy?”