Weeks flew by quickly since my sisters and I were "transferred" to this school. Although, to be honest, it's not like we really transferred by choice. The truth is, we couldn't maintain the necessary grades at our old school, and well... here we are now.
To be honest, this school isn't easy either. Even so, there's something different about it, something less suffocating. Maybe it's the more relaxed atmosphere or the fact that, for the first time in a long time, I have a lot of friends. But of course, not everything is perfect. Our father, worried about our academic performance, decided to hire a private tutor to help us improve our grades. We've had tutors before, but for one reason or another, they all ended up quitting. I don't blame them. Now we have this new tutor, and to top it off, he's our age. I don't have much hope for him, and if everything goes as usual, he won't last long. Better for me. I don't like him... and he seems like a pervert.
But putting that aside, there's something else that has caught my attention at this school. Or rather, someone. Osamu Kuroda, my classmate who sits right next to me. He's always asleep. No matter the time or the subject, he just lays his head on the desk and disconnects from the world. The funny thing is, none of the teachers say anything to him. Why? The answer is simple: he's a genius. A lazy genius, to be exact. Even though he never pays attention in class, he always gets the highest grades. I don't know how he does it, and honestly, it frustrates me a little.
However, what bothers me the most isn't his carefree attitude, but his personality. He's annoying. He always finds an excuse to tease me, to provoke me with comments that drive me crazy. But, as much as he exasperates me, there's something about our conversations that I enjoy. It's strange. I like talking to him. I like joking around with him. He's irritating... but somehow, I enjoy spending time by his side.
...
"Nino, have you seen Miku?" Ichika asked me just now while we were enjoying our break.
"I think I saw her buying that disgusting drink she loves," I answered, referring to a soda that, if I'm not mistaken, is called matcha or something like that. Seriously, that girl has terrible taste.
"Oh, thanks, Nino. I need her for... well, for switching, you know?" Ichika said, making a slightly nervous gesture. "Switching" was our code for one of us impersonating another. This time, Ichika wanted Miku to take her place.
"Are you skipping class again, Ichika?" I asked, crossing my arms.
"It's just that I have... some things to do," she replied, hesitating. Lately, Ichika had been acting weird, leaving the house late and coming back like nothing happened. Maybe she has a secret boyfriend she's not telling us about? So suspicious!
"Well, alright. See you at home later," I said goodbye, although the curiosity was burning inside me. But I decided not to push her. If it was important, I'm sure she'd tell me someday... right?
As I walked back to my classroom, I saw Kuroda-kun again, talking to another girl. Typical. That womanizer seems to have a natural talent for surrounding himself with girls. And for some reason I don't like to admit... it bothered me.
Most of the girls in my class have a pretty good opinion of him. They said things like "he's so kind" or "he's so handsome," and some even whispered they wouldn't mind dating him. Every time the topic came up, I quickly changed the subject. I didn't want to think about it too much.
When the bell rang, everyone returned to their seats. Even Kuroda-kun, who, before sitting down, flashed me a smile. One of those smiles that, damn it, always manages to make my heart race and my face feel like it's on fire.
I tried to keep my composure, pretending nothing had happened, that I was a mature and unshakable woman... but my hand trembled as I pulled out my notebook, and I'm pretty sure I looked like a red pepper about to explode.
"Calm down, Nino. It's just a smile. A simple smile! It's no big deal!" I kept repeating to myself in my head, as if that would fix anything. But every time I looked at him, the only thing I could think was how unfair it was for someone to be so shamelessly charming.
I slumped in my chair, hiding behind my textbook as if it were a shield. Sometimes I think that if I keep acting like this, I'll end up rolling on the floor like a fried croquette from pure embarrassment.
And of course, while I was struggling to regain my dignity, Kuroda-kun acted like nothing had happened, as if he hadn't just launched a missile straight at my poor teenage heart. So unfair!
I sighed, resigned. Another day surviving the battlefield called high school... and the emotional hurricane called Kuroda-kun.