It was a family’s job to cover for each other’s weaknesses
He was used to busily running around from the moment he got up
This scene was what Mutsuki considered a normal morning
School was normal as well
Morning Mutsuki
Morning Fujita
His normal route was a straight shot to school once he passed the train station and a few classmates called out to him on that last stretch He greeted them all with a smile
When he happened across a classmate on the way to school they almost always greeted him
Fujita Mutsuki’s grades were above average and his athletics were below average He looked
well-behaved and had a well-behaved personality to match so he did not stand out much but was considered easy to get along with
He naturally had plenty of friends
Hey Mutsuki Early again I see
Agh Ow ow Morning Sakae
A boy jumped at him from behind The boy landed on his back and placed his arm around his shoulders similar to a headlock
Tomono Sakae was a classmate with an eternally cheerful personality and a charming face just short of being traditionally good looking He had been Mutsuki’s childhood friend since elementary school While Mutsuki was well-behaved Sakae was the eternal optimist That difference may have actually helped them get along because neither of them would hesitate to call each other best friends
Damn it’s hot these days Why can’t it be summer break yet
I know what you meanAnd get off me Sakae
His friend’s expression of affection was invading his personal space a little too much
Oh hey hey Mutsuki Do you have some time later I’m the class rep so the teacher told me to come up with the class seating chart But you know how I hate details
That I do I’ll help you outbut you really need to get off of me
You will Khh that’s what friends are for Everyone needs a childhood friend who really gets them When I’m president of the world one day I’m making a law The childhood friend law If everyone had a childhood friend we’d definitely have world piece don’t you think Good luck And can you please get off of me It’s so hot today
His friend was invading his personal space and speaking so loudly first thing in the morning but Mutsuki smiled bitterly and put up with it because it was more annoying than unpleasant This tendency to go with the flow was likely one of the reasons he was considered easy to get along with And Hi Fujita
Gefh
Someone tackled him from the other side
It was a powerful blow but Mutsuki somehow managed to hold his ground since it was all transferred into Sakae behind him Sakae was sent flying though
Good morning Kurikara
Hii
The girl gave an innocent smile
The short hair signifying her high energy was roughly tied back by two bows and her white teeth made her beaming smile look all the more cheerful She was a little chubby which gave her some charming feminine curves Her name was Kurikara Saya and she was another of Mutsuki’s classmates She got along well with Sakae as they were the class’s two biggest talkers and that meant she spoke with Mutsuki a lot too She was more than an acquaintance but not quite a friend
Ow What was that for Kurikara
Sakae recovered after being knocked away
He did not particularly like getting that close so he did not place his arm around Mutsuki’s shoulder again Mutsuki gave Saya a look to tell her she saved him The white teeth she showed off to say you’re welcome were very cute After that the three of them continued on to school
Honestly I can’t believe this girl would violently attack THE Tomono Sakae the man who stands at the center of the world
Heh heh You’ll never be president of the world if you can’t respond to an emergency You’ll just end up blown away at your own inauguration
What How can you say that about THE Tomono Sakae the man with the world’s best crisis management techniques I’m definitely making a law about you All chubby girls will be shot on sight
Chub I can’t believe you Did you hear that Fujita This boy just stepped on a landmine
Ah ha ha
Mutsuki could only laugh bitterly at those two’s energy-filled morning
This was the beginning of an enjoyable day at school
The school buildings finally came into view at the top of a hill separating it from the residential area The large tower was the most noticeable feature
Mutsuki and the other two attended Megutono Academy a private school well known for its size and history It had a tradition of freedom it was well-known for the stylish uniforms for both boys and girls and it contained an elementary middle and high school The school grounds covered almost the entire top of the hill and it contained more than twenty buildings but falling birthrates had left less than half of it in use The size of the campus made the trip between classrooms a pain producing plenty of complaints from the students who joined at the middle or high school stage The most well-known feature was the clock tower in the center of the campus The giant stone hexagonal pillar was positioned at the back of the courtyard which was known as a place of rest
It was taller than any of the four-story school buildings and the entire academy was on a hill so one could see almost the entire town from the top of the clock tower
Its primary roles were to tell the townspeople the time and
Ohh ohh Look at ‘em run Keep up the good work
Sakae cackled in delight as he looked down from their classroom window
He was watching a wave of boys with navy neckties and girls with red ribbons hurrying into the school’s front gate
At 8 30 in the morning every Monday through Friday the hill was covered by the ringing of the clock tower’s bell so the students would know the school’s gate was being closed
While it almost never happened to Mutsuki Sakae was often pursued by that bell so he enjoyed watching the students gasping for breath as they rushed to school just in time As a side note
Saya had joined a group of girls once they entered the classroom
Oh She’s as amazing as always
Eh Oh
A single student drew the eye among the chaos at the gate
Sakae had spotted a girl walking calmly through the gate as everyone else rushed through
She casually passed by the educational guidance committee member who was already moving to close the gate Only two seconds after she passed him by the bell finished ringing Despite the close call she was not running or even walking quickly Sakae applauded her splendid performance But Mutsuki’s focus on her was due to more than mere surprise
See ya
After commiserating with the students who had arrived after the gate closed Sakae decided homeroom was about to start smacked Mutsuki’s back and moved over to his own seat by the hallway
Mutsuki sat in his own seat at the very back of the second row from the window
Morning Ibekusa You’ve still got that last second arrival trick down pat
(Here she is)
Mutsuki tensed up a bit when he heard Sakae’s voice by the hallway
A girl responded to her classmate’s cheerful voice with a slight nod of greeting
You sure cut it close day in and day out You could always get going three minutes earlier so why do you wait until the last second Playing a one-man game of chicken
Negative
I see That’s fine but as the class rep I’ve gotta tell you not to be late
Positive
Her response was almost mechanical Once she finished her unemotional exchange she moved in
Mutsuki’s direction Technically she was approaching her seat by the window
She was the polar opposite of Kurikara Saya She never asserted herself so her aura or presence was practically nonexistent and she did not stand out much At the same time she was brimming with a calm attraction that mysteriously kept one from looking away once they did look her way She tended to keep her transparent eyes narrowed and she had a tall bridge of the nose She did not seem to wear any lipstick but her lips had a natural glossy pink color The messy look of her curly hair was somewhat childish but the noble atmosphere of her expressionless face gave her a sense of dignity beyond her years She managed to hold both a child’s cuteness and an adult’s beauty Both boys and girls wore a blazer at Megutono Academy and that accentuated her slender figure