Chapter 48: Exchange Student Of The Storm
After the first period of Mizuki Nanaes Practical English class, the students crowded around Sasha.
As a gesture of consideration for her as an exchange student, Sasha was seated right next to the Class President. Overwhelmed by the barrage of questions from all sides, the visibly flustered President quickly vacated his seat.
How did you learn Japanese?
I taught myself by watching animations.
Are you pure Russian or half Japanese?
I am a proud daughter of Russia.
What do your parents do?
My father runs a company, and my mother supports him.
Is it true that you said you like Kim?
Its true. He has helped me a lot, and he is stronger than my father, who is my ideal man.
Wait, that last answer could cause a misunderstanding.
As I flinched and twitched, the students around Sasha started whispering.
Its Kim Yu-seong again.
Hes not satisfied with Kishimoto and Tojo; now hes adding another girl.
I heard hes also involved with the Student Council President?
Stronger than her father? Does that mean Sashas father already fought him?
Kim Yu-seong, what a frightening man
Stop it! Another bad rumor is spreading!
He and I are not involved at all!
Just when I thought the bad image was subsiding, it started twisting in a weird direction.
I looked at Rika in the next seat, hoping for help, but she was somehow narrowing her eyes and staring at me.
Ryu-chan, it seems like youve charmed another girl in my absence.
Wait, its a misunderstanding.
Thats what most romantic comedy protagonists say.
I had no words for the truth.
How did I end up in this situation?
Originally, all the attention that should have gone to Sakamoto Ryuji was coming to me.
I thought it was a small price to pay for changing the original flow, but wasnt this putting the cart before the horse?
I pondered this while reading the Jump manga in my hand.
Everyone, take your seats. The class is about to start.
Mr. Matsuda, the homeroom teacher, opened the classroom door and stepped inside.
Thanks to the timely interruption, the attention that had been on me quickly dissipated, allowing me to breathe a sigh of relief. Grateful to the teacher, I finished preparing for the study session.
With midterms around the corner, I knew I needed to concentrate even more during class.
Most teachers tend to drop numerous hints as midterms draw near.
Remember this part; its going to be on the test.
After a long morning of classes, lunchtime finally arrived.
Kim Yu-seong! How have you been?
As usual, Karen burst into our class and asked with a wrinkle-free smile.
It felt like quite some time had passed since I had last seen her.
Watching Karen casually drape her arm over my shoulder, Sasha, who had just risen from her seat, approached slowly and said,
Sorry, but could you step away from him?
Aang? On what grounds do you say that?
Sasha then laughed and placed her hand on her chest.
I am going to be Kim Yu-seongs girlfriend.
Karen blinked in astonishment and then suddenly exploded in anger.
Dont joke about that! Kim Yu-seong is Rikas boyfriend! What nonsense is this at the first meeting?
At Karens sudden declaration, whispers started to spread among the students in the class.
So they were in that kind of relationship?
No wonder they changed seats just a week ago.
Having become accustomed to such situations, I was about to set the record straight regarding Karens statement, but Rika was quicker to respond.
Haa? Ryu-chan and I are not in that kind of relationship! What are you talking about all of a sudden, Karen-chan!
Now, it was Karen who appeared flustered.
What? You two arent dating?
Ryu-chan and I are just normal friends.
How can this be? What misunderstanding have I had all this time?
As they continued their exchange, Sasha suddenly came up to me, linked her arm with mine, and said,
Then, I guess this guy is up for grabs?
Immediately, Rika became enraged.
Wait! Were talking here. Could you not jump ahead on your own?!
In Russia, we have a saying, The bear that gets up early eats the salmon.
Thats different from this situation!
even a bear gets a chance
I grew more and more confused.
I sent a pleading look to Satoru, who sat in front and was eating lunch with other friends.
Feeling my gaze, Satoru turned around, his expression hardened after surveying the scene, and said while munching on a potato,
Die. Real-life loser.
Why?!
Eventually, my lunch today was encircled by the original heroines trioRika, Karen, and Sasha.
Their hair colors were blue, yellow, and red, like a traffic light.
Even after lunch in the student cafeteria, Karen and Sasha, who seemed to have a bad first impression of each other, growled like a dog and a cat and dispersed as soon as the class ended.
There was a saying that boys become friends through fighting, but I wasnt sure if that applied to girls, too.
Well, if they kept seeing each other, they would naturally become friends, right?
Time flew by quickly, and before I knew it, it was already the 6th period.
Since Mondays 6th period was physical education, all the students in the class changed into gym clothes and headed out to the field.
Oonuma Sensei, the physical education teacher, stood in front of the class with a distinctly unmotivated expression.
Uh thats what its called. Today, after a simple physical test, we will divide the class into two teams and play dodgeball. If anyone is sick, let me know in advance. Ill excuse you.
But everyone just glanced around cautiously, and no one raised their hand.
Then, lets start with the boys physical test. Move to the track over there.
The students of Class 2-B followed Teacher Oonuma in a swarm.
Teacher Oonuma, scanning us lined up in two rows divided by gender, flinched in surprise when our eyes met.
Uh Kim? Id like it if you could zip up your gym clothes.
Teacher, Im sorry, but the gym clothes are too small to zip up.
As I apologized and bowed, Teacher Oonuma muttered, Oh, really? It cant be helped then, and averted his gaze.
Then, well start with a sprint test today. Line up according to your attendance numbers.
Yes!
The first one is Akagi Shun.
At the teachers call, a boy with short hair took his place on the track.
He was Akagi Shun, the first male student in our class by attendance number.
Aware of the girls seated behind him, he tugged his gym clothes collar up to his neck and made his coolest face as he crouched at the start line.
Once he was ready, the teacher gave the signal.
Ready Start!
Beep!
With the stopwatch started, Akagi burst forward.
He moved smoothly from his crouch, accustomed to physical exertion.
After completing the 50 meters in a flash, Akagi swaggered back to inquire about his time.
Teacher, what was my time?
7.38 seconds, just average.
Akagi returned to his seat, his face flushed with a mix of exertion and perhaps a touch of embarrassment.
Indeed, there was a big difference between how fast one felt and how fast one actually was.
The sprint tests proceeded one after the other.
Beep!
For the first time, Teacher Oonuma expressed admiration.
Incredible. Thats almost athlete-level timing.
Sakamoto Ryuji stood out amongst the students as he broke into the 6-second range, upholding his status as the romantic comedy protagonist with ease.
Sakamoto-kun was quite cool, wasnt he?
Oh? You think so, too? Honestly, hes more than just an average face.
Maybe Ill try to catch up to him next time.
Amidst the girls adulation, Sakamoto returned to his seat.
Even though he appeared unsatisfied, it wasnt my concern.
I sat quietly on the grass, the last among the boys, waiting for my turn. After watching Satoru, who was just before me, return happily with a time of 7.18 seconds, I slowly stood up.
Somehow, the atmosphere seemed to quiet down suddenly.
Every time I do this, the other kids seem overly aware of me. Honestly, I wish they would restrain themselves.
Even being the one receiving attention was uncomfortable.
As I loosened up and took my place on the track, Teacher Oonuma approached with a serious look.
Please, just dont destroy the track.
Ill be careful.
I knew if I ran seriously, the problem wouldnt be limited to the track but would include attracting the whole schools attention, so I decided to exert as little force as possible.
Having fully rested during the rest of Golden Week, my body had completely recovered, but thanks to my experience with eating a red pill and suffering its aftereffects, I had learned to suppress my physical abilities to a normal human level.
Ready
As soon as I heard ready, I tensed my relaxed thigh muscles slightly.
Then, I leaned forward to reduce air resistance a little.
Once I was prepared, Teacher Oonuma swallowed nervously and pressed the stopwatch button.
Beep!
Ti
At that moment, I became like a gust of wind.
me!
Thud.
The physical assessment was over in an instant.
I casually looked back and asked,
Teacher, how many seconds was it?
Uh? Uh, well 5.38 seconds.
Fortunately, the time was just slightly above average.
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