Bab 6: Chapter 5 - Kamikaze
"Good morning, Yamauchi!"
"Good morning, Ike!"
Ike and Yamauchi, the two problem children of my class, were greeting each other with big smile. A week had passed since school began, and every day they'd always come at the last minute. Today, though, they were early... oddly so.
"Man, I've been waiting for today like crazy," Yamauchi beamed. "Didn't even close my eyes last night!"
"Yeah, this school's unreal! Can't believe it's finally time for swimming class!" Ike grinned. "And when I say swimming, I mean the girls. And when I say girls, I mean the swimsuits!"
"..."
I watched them, unimpressed, as they jabbered about the upcoming swimming class. Clearly, it was a coed session... an opportunity they weren't going to waste. The way they huddled together, quivering with excitement they could barely contain almost made me laugh.
"Professor, c'mere!" Ike called out.
"Uh, you called?" 'Professor' Sotomura with his burley stature approached them slowly.
He was called 'professor' because of his unconventional way of speaking. For example, he would use 'dono' honorific when referring to someone, and would always end his sentences with '-de gozaru' prefix. Trying to mimic the ancient imperial speech, I think..?
"Can you, uh, record the girls in their swimsuits for us?" Ike asked, voice barely a whisper.
"Leave it to me," Sotomura grinned. "I'll act like I'm sick, stay out of class, and 'observe.'"
Just then, Ayanokouji, who had somehow stayed unnoticed, glanced over, looking confused. "Record them? What are you planning?" he asked, feigning innocence.
"The Professor is going to rank the girls' breast sizes for us. If we're lucky, he'll get some pictures with his phone." Ike explained audaciously. Give him a loud speaker at this point.
"Hey, hey." Sudou stopped Ike from explaining any further. Seeing some common sense in him was a welcome sight, though it was for a 'not-so-respectable' reason.
But their conversation hadn't gone unnoticed. The looks from the girls across the classroom ranged from contemptuous to outright murderous.
"Ayanokouji!" Ike suddenly turned, calling to him.
"Wh-what?" the masterpiece of the white room stammered, almost instinctively stepping back.
"Place your bets!"
"On what?"
"To tell you the truth, we're taking bets on the girls' chest sizes." said Ike.
"..."
Ayanokouji stared blankly back at him, clearly at a loss. He was hard to read as always... maybe more so today. I could tell he wasn't interested in the 'plan', but he was careful to show no obvious reaction.
"We've come up with some probabilities." Professor further explained as he took out a tablet and opened a spreadsheet. Being curious, I also took a peek at it.
The names of all the girls in our class were listed there. A rough estimation of their cup sizes were mentioned as well. It was criminal to have something this well made for something so stupid.
"Hah~" I huffed in defeat.
Wouldn't call them bad people just for that, though. They were all just hormonal teenagers who were, a bit 'extra' curious about the opposite sex. Puberty makes you do some of the most questionable things in existence. I'm sure in the future, some of them would reminisce about this day and would mentally kill themselves out of cringe.
Regardless, I distanced myself from the gathering as it seemed like the smartest thing to do.
"...?!"
As I was heading back to my seat, Horikita happened to be walking in front of me after she entered the class. Perhaps she'd noticed my presence behind her, because she suddenly blocked the path and turned around.
"Why are you following me?" she asked with a glare.
I could sense the suspicion stuck with the tone of her question. Of course, she'd assume this had something to do with her.
"You're overthinking it. I have just as much freedom to move in the classroom as you do." I kept my voice neutral, but there was no hiding my amusement.
"Are you mocking me?"
"A stupid question deserves a stupid answer." I shot back. "I was not following you."
I raised my backpack to show her my destination: my desk.
The sarcasm was obvious, and I half-expected her to ignore it. But instead, she seemed to ponder about something.
"Why not join them?" she pointed toward the idiot trio and the gang. "It looks like they're having fun. Seems you might need some friends around here, no?"
"Not desperate enough for that," I replied.
"My, weren't you the one who said not having friends is a sign of insecurity?" she sneered with a hint of sarcasm in her tone.
"'Not wanting to have friends'," I corrected, "The mentality is the issue here, not the physical condition."
"Making excuses now, aren't you?" she asked with a raised eyebrow, skeptical of my claims.
"Not necessarily." I shrugged. "I have at least two."
Her eyebrow arched slightly to my response. "Well, sure, Ayanokouji would qualify as a fellow recluse. But who's the other? Don't tell me... Hirata-kun?"
"Why not?" I said, unperturbed. "It counts."
"Mm." Her expression turned faintly smug. "I mean, you might claim it. But Hirata-kun's friends with practically everyone. You're just one among many, aren't you?"
"...It still counts," I replied, though I kept my tone light.
She smirked slightly. "That's just how you justify it to yourself, isn't it?"
I didn't bother answering, choosing to turn away and head back to my seat instead. Horikita and I had our usual clash of words, but today, it barely registered as a skirmish.
Even as I settled into my seat, eyes half-closed, I couldn't quite get the thought of the consequences of alteration out of my head.
The bell eventually rang, and Chabashira entered the class. Her sharp gaze settled briefly on each of us as she took her place at the front. Homeroom started, and the usual routine took over. But my mind wasn't entirely here. There was a tension at the edge of my thoughts—a feeling of being on the brink of understanding something deeper about this illusionary world.
I wasn't willing to wait. Not anymore.
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"All right! The pool!" Ike's triumphant shout echoed across the hallway as the lunch period ended.
It was finally time for what he and his crew had been waiting for, and they could barely keep themselves from sprinting there. It was contagious, to an extent. Even I felt it, a strange curiosity about what they found so thrilling.
"This place is incredible! This pool's like something out of a dream!" Ike's eyes widened as we entered the expansive indoor facility. "Way better than the city pool, right?"
The pool was impressive. A sparkling fifty-meter stretch of clear glassy water. The indoor setting meant that weather wouldn't interfere, creating an ideal atmosphere. It was perfect, almost too much so.
Another reminder of how this school seemed to be hiding something behind its luxuries.
"What about the girls? Aren't they here yet?" Yamauchi peered around, sniffing the air like a dog.
"They take a while to change, so they're probably not ready," Ayanokouji said.
"Man, I wonder what would happen if I just suddenly jumped into the girls' locker room?" Ike mused, half-jokingly.
"You'd probably get beaten, expelled, and then possibly arrested." Ayanokouji deadpanned.
"Yo, don't give me that deadpan reality check, Ayanokouji!" Ike whined.
"If they catch you staring, you know they'll all hate you."
"Oh, come on!" Ike shrugged. "It's not like guys can help looking. Ugh, what if I get a boner?"
"Then you'd better keep your composure," I chimed in with a dry tone. "Or get castrated. That should solve the problem."
"Fuwahaha! Good one, Levent!" the guys howled with laughter as Ike's face flushed.
As laughter broke out, I realized I hadn't exactly intended to throw Ike under the bus, but the words had slipped out on their own. Too late now. I stayed quiet as they finished their exchange. Thankfully, no one took it too seriously.
The amusement eventually faded, and the boys started walking around the pool waiting for the girls to arrive. Until..
"Wow! This place is huge! Way bigger than our junior high pool," A group of girls had arrived at the observation deck above, chatting amongst themselves.
Immediately, Ike straightened up with practically sparkling eyes. "Are they here?"
"Try not to be so obvious," I muttered, though I knew it was useless.
"Wait...is that...?"
It was at that moment someone noticed a commotion on the observation deck.
All of us looked up at the same time toward "Professor" Sotomura who was standing at the railing, looking down at us in confusion.
"B-behind you, Professor!" Ike pointed and howled.
"What?!"
The situation had become clear. Right behind Sotomura stood the girls, arms crossed, watching our group.
"What... what's going on?" he whispered, visibly crumbling as his gaze locked on them.
"Is this... some kind of punishment?" Ayanokouji muttered calmly, almost as if he'd expected it.
"No!" Ike was utterly shattered. He slumped down, burying his face in his hands. "All I wanted... was just to see... a little bit..."
The girls didn't need to say anything. Just a glance at them, and we all understood. A collective of disappointed, disgusted and disdainful gazes.
"Cheer up, man!" Just as I thought Ike would sink into the floor entirely, Yamauchi slapped his shoulder. "There are plenty of other girls out there, right?"
"Y-you're right... I can't lose hope now!" Ike replied.
"Bro." said Yamauchi.
"Bro!" said Ike.
They clasped hands, like soldiers forming a pact before a battle.
"Oh? What are you two doing? That looks like fun."
Just then, a familiar voice chimed in, one that turned every head in the vicinity.
"K-K-Kushida-chan?!"
It was Kushida, who had appeared right behind them. She was wearing her school-issued swimsuit... a one-piece that, to put it mildly, 'accentuated' her figure. She was a lot bigger than I'd thought. Within less than a millisecond, most of the boys' eyes were glued to her, trying (and failing) not to be obvious.
"Ah.." I didn't plan to join them, but even I caught myself staring a moment too long. Realizing, I quickly averted my gaze. I couldn't let myself get distracted by Kushida of all people.
I guess Ike was right about what he said, after all?
"Fuu~" I took a breath, only to feel a piercing stare coming my way. I glanced up and saw Horikita standing nearby, observing me with a raised eyebrow.
"What's with the face?" I asked.
"You look like you're in pain."
"It's called an internal battle." I rolled my eyes.
She studied me for a moment, then smirked. "Right. You look more like someone trying to avoid indigestion."
"On the other hand, you seem like you are checking me out." Without missing a beat, I held both hands to my chest with a mock-scandalized expression. "...Pervert."
"W-wait! That's not—" Her face flushed, and her composure cracked. "I'm not looking at you like that!"
"Then why the intense staring?"
She took a breath, as if forcing herself back under control. "It's just... I couldn't help noticing your arms. Your back muscles. You're more developed than I would've expected."
"Thanks... I guess?" I replied, a little amused.
Recovering her composure, she cleared her throat. "Say, Aozaki-kun... Do you exercise?"
"Not that much. Why?" I asked, genuinely curious where this line of questioning was headed.
"Well..." She hesitated, glancing briefly at my forearms, "Judging by the development in your arms and back, you're above average."
I raised an eyebrow, considering how best to respond to her probing. "I guess it's just... genetics." The words came out naturally, though I wondered how true they were.
"That's all?" Her tone carried a note of doubt, but she quickly hid it, shrugging it off. "Fine, if you insist."
There was a strange moment of silence between us. I'd known Horikita was observant, but her words carried an edge of curiosity I hadn't felt from her before. Especially about someone unrelated to the story like me.
"Are you a good swimmer, Horikita-san?"
Kushida, who had been following our exchange with barely concealed amusement, finally interjected. Her voice was cheerful as always, though her gaze lingered on Horikita a little too long.
"I wouldn't say I'm particularly skilled at it. I can manage." Horikita gave a flat answer.
"Oh, I see! I used to be awful at swimming in junior high, but I practiced like crazy. Now I'm not too bad," Kushida replied with an innocent smile.
"I see." Horikita nodded politely but quickly took a step back, making it clear she didn't wish to continue the conversation.
There was a quiet tension between the two of them. Kushida's eyes sparkled with her usual friendly zest, yet there was a glint of glare in her gaze that wasn't there before.
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"All right, everyone, line up!"
The loud, no-nonsense voice came from a middle-aged man with a body built like a tank. It was our PE teacher, apparently. He looked around at the group, sizing each of us up like we were fresh recruits.
"There are sixteen of you, huh?" he grunted. "Thought there'd be more, but we'll make do. Now, warm up, and then I want you all to swim for me. Let's see what you're made of."
One boy raised his hand hesitantly, barely able to look the teacher in the eye. "Um, sir? I... I'm not much of a swimmer..."
The teacher's gaze landed on him. "If I'm your teacher, you'll be swimming like a pro by summer. Don't worry about it."
"But, uh... is it really necessary?" one of the arriving girls mumbled. "It's not like we're training for the Olympics or anything."
"You may not understand the importance now, but trust me, knowing how to swim will come in handy later in life."
They didn't think much of it at the time—none of them did. But looking forward, it was a hint. A hint of something big, waiting for us down the line. A test that most of them weren't ready for.
"All right," the teacher continued, "Fifty meters each. If you need to, feel free to keep your feet on the bottom."
I hadn't been in a pool in ages, but muscle memory kicked in, and I reached the fifty-meter mark without a problem. I waited as the rest of the group finished up.
"Heh, easy win!" Ike crowed. "Did y'all catch my mad swimming skills?"
"Well, seems like most of you can at least float," The teacher seemed unimpressed. "That's enough to get us started."
"Back in junior high, they called me 'The Flying Fish,' you know." Yamauchi puffed up his chest.
I suppressed a sigh. Somehow, I doubted that nickname ever existed.
The teacher didn't seem particularly impressed, either. "Good. Then you're ready for a little competition. Fifty-meter freestyle. I'll be splitting you up by gender."
"C-competition?" Yamauchi stammered, looking as if someone had slapped him with a fish.
"To make it interesting, I'm offering a special prize. First place gets 5000 points. And the last place..."
"...Last place?"
He gave a mischievous smirk. "Extra lessons every day until you improve. Now, get ready."
That got everyone's attention. With 5000 points, we could buy a lot. But in my mind, I saw the bigger picture of this setup. A system of rewards and punishments, just like in the upcoming special exams. A small competition now, but later, something far larger.
The girls were up first, and the boys' eyes gravitated almost instinctively toward the pool. Especially Ike, whose gaze was already locked on a certain someone.
"Kushida-chan, Kushida-chan!" he whispered, unable to take his eyes off her.
"You're making everyone uncomfortable, Ike," I muttered.
"But look at her! She's just... amazing, right?!" Ike's voice was hushed but with excited. "And those... uh... you know..."
Breasts, yes. I know.
"Keep that to yourself, Ike. Even Kushida's bound to get annoyed if you keep doing this," I replied, though I knew he wouldn't take the hint.
Ike turned to the other guys, even louder. "Everyone, burn these images into your mind! This is golden fap material!"
"Yeah!" the others joined in, throwing up a cheer that made Hirata look at them as if they'd lost their minds.
Only he seemed unaffected, focusing on the pool as if it were just another activity. As for me, I'd lost interest altogether. Watching high school girls with a bunch of giddy classmates? Not my thing.
I slipped out of the pool and found a quiet spot away from the others. I felt the water drip down my back, and let my gaze wander while collecting my thoughts.
"Hm.."
But my solitude didn't last long. Ayanokouji followed me.
"Levent," he said, settling down beside me. "Not interested in the 'competition'?"
"Enjoying something like that... it's not my taste," I replied evenly.
"Hmm." He inclined his head, as if giving it some thought. "I suppose I can see why."
And with that, The silence settled around us again. We sat there, watching the class without speaking.
",,,,"
If I was right, then this moment was anything but coincidence. I'd noticed Ayanokouji observing me before, which were often side glances and too carefully hidden to be casual. And now, there he was, right beside me. My mind was calculating the next step.
I'd need to take a risk—one that would undoubtedly test the stability of our interactions.
But the time had come to do it.
"Say, Ayanokouji... mind if I ask you something?"
He gave me a slight nod. "Go ahead."
It was time to end this quiet game of cat and mouse once and for all.
"'White Room'," I slowly twisted my neck toward his direction. "Does the term mean anything to you?"
"...."
The reaction was immediate. His eyes flickered, just for a moment. But it was enough. I saw the shift. His disinterest faded and was replaced with something sharper. His gaze locked onto mine, this time with an intensity he's never shown me before.
"You... Who the hell are you?" he asked in a low voice, edged with a faint trace of threat.
There's no turning back now. No second thoughts. No hesitation. This was the moment.
I locked my gaze with his, unfazed.
"Do you want to know?"
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