Two days after Yuito went back to the past.

Yuito, who was attending the entrance ceremony, put on his school uniform for the first time in five years and headed to school.

The warm spring weather feels so pleasant.

The crosswalk that used to seem gloomy with offerings now looks bright.

However, as he approached the crosswalk, he heard a voice coming from the shadow of the building.

"Hey, just give me your contact info. Please."

"..."

A flashy student was hitting on girls from early in the morning.

Moreover, it was Hakari who was being hit on.

Hakari ignored the pick-up attempt with a sudden coldness, emanating an aura as cold as ice.

However, when she met Yuito's gaze, a smile blossomed on her face.

"Oh, Yuito-san. Good morning!"

"Hakari-san, good morning."

Hakari runs up to Yuito with a lively voice.

Two days ago, during the near-accident, he had briefly introduced himself to Hakari.

He has already confirmed each other's names and that they attend the same school.

"Tch, what's up with that? Waiting for your boyfriend or something..."

The guy who was hitting on the girls clicked his tongue and walked away.

―No, I'm not his boyfriend or anything...

As if making an excuse, Yuito mutters to himself, but there's no way it will reach anyone.

However, Hakari is mysterious. What was it doing in a place like this?

He waited patiently until the pick-up person left. It wasn't a big deal, right?

"Um, what's wrong, Hakari-san? You're going to be late for school!"

"Oh, no... I just wanted to thank you again, Yuito-san. I was so flustered two days ago..."

"You didn't have to worry about it..."

After the accident, they were immediately questioned by the police.

The time when Yuito and Hakari can talk is extremely limited.

Since they hadn't exchanged contact information, there wasn't time to properly thank them.

"Once again, thank you very much. Yuito-san is my benefactor."

"Yeah... you're welcome..."

Hakari gazed at Yuito with calm eyes that sparkled brightly.

Seeing that face makes him feel as if one of the burdens in his chest has been lifted, and he feels refreshed.

―I was able to save a person.

He felt like one of the regrets from his student days had disappeared.

"Yuito-san, would you like to walk to school together?"

"Huh!? Is that okay!?"

"Um, what are you surprised about?"

Heading to school with his classmates.

It's a very youthful event.

(The moment I was freed from the S-rank curse, it seems like I can finally build friendships... As expected, the S-rank is the worst...!!)

It doesn't matter if it's S-rank. Let's stop the rumors.

It is ultimately the result of Yuito's actions.

Because Yuito was silently brooding over his resentment towards the S-rank, Hakari raised her face with a worried expression.

"Could it be that you don't like it...?"

"N-No, that's not it. Actually, I'm really happy... Aren't you the one who's bothered being with someone like me, all alone?"

"If I didn't want to, I wouldn't have invited you, would I?"

Hakari chuckles softly.

His heart skips a beat at that somehow enchanting smile.

However, when the shadow fell across her face, she murmured softly.

"...Besides, if we're together from the first day, I can keep an eye on any unnecessary female cats."

"?"

He doesn't really understand what she's saying.

A warning to the cat? Is Hakari troubled by the cat?

Even if he thinks about it, he doesn't understand.

It didn't feel like something she should mention to Yuito, so she decided to just ignore it for now.

"Oh, the signal just turned green, so let's go."

"That's right."

Yuito begins walking to school with Hakari.

They walk through the city, chatting with Hakari in bits and pieces.

And then, Yuito immediately noticed the anomaly.

(Aren't we a bit too close?)

Hakari is closely sticking to Yuito's side, their shoulders touching.

He looks to the lower left, Hakari's face is very close.

If Hakari stretches a bit, they could almost kiss.

The male student passing by has been making a "tch!" sound.

It is a merciless click of the tongue.

"Um, Hakari-san? Aren't you a bit too close?"

"Is that so?"

Hakari tilts her head in confusion.

When she says that, he doesn't understand.

It feels like the distance between men and women is too close.

They're like a newly dating, lovey-dovey couple.

However, since Yuito has never walked down the street with his classmates, he might not even realize that this sense of distance is strange.

"By the way, Yuito-san, do you have time after the entrance ceremony?"

"Uh, yeah. Basically, I'm free, so it's fine."

"Would you like to go have lunch together if you're free?"

Lunch with his classmates!

Yuito's excitement skyrockets. This is yet another event that feels like youth.

For Yuito, who had always eaten alone during his student days, this was a delightful surprise.

"Y-yes. I want to go."

"Hehe... Well then, let's meet in front of the school gate after the entrance ceremony."

And so, while enjoying their conversation, Yuito and her headed to school.

◇ ◆ ◇ ◆ ◇

Upon arriving at the school, Yuito and her follow the teacher's guidance to head to the gymnasium.

The gymnasium was lined with rows of folding chairs.

Yuito found the chair assigned to him and took a seat.

After a while, the entrance ceremony began.

The entrance ceremony will proceed without any issues.

People take turns going up on stage and the speeches continue.

Soon, when the "Freshman Representative's Speech" began, a representative from the first-year students took the stage.

Smooth flaxen hair. A girl with a bright and friendly face.

Although Yuito had no friends, he remembers her.

"Jinguuji Kirika."

Beautiful, academically excellent, well-connected, and kind to everyone, an exemplary student.

She is the girl who reigns at the top of the first-year caste, the ultimate "real-life" achiever.

He remembers that she was always surrounded by people and stood out.

However, there is another reason why he remembers her.

(There she is, the "Seat Stealer"...!! I won't let her take my seat anymore...!!)

That woman, Jinguuji Kirika, always took Yuito's seat during lunch break.

Even when the seating arrangement changed, and even when the students in front, behind, and beside him changed, Kirika always took Yuito's seat without fail.

Thanks to that, Yuito never got to eat lunch in his own seat during high school.

He went to an unused empty classroom and had a solo meal.

By the way, he has never told Kirika to "give the seat back."

If a loner talks to the top of the social ladder, he'll get obliterated.

Socially.

Chapter 4: Aren’t We Too Close?