Chapter Text
Chapter 1
Ohananomitsu High School did not pride itself on standing out to others. Besides having a dazzling second year, whose elegance stood on a taller hill than that of superstars and a superstar of a singer attending there, it appeared to be a school of averageness.
But anyone in the academic world knew of one particular girl, a first-year with silver hair and crimson scarlet eyes, Nano Eiai. She, who can make no mistakes. One who can earn perfect scores on every test. She put all the other high-achieving students in constant ignominy whenever scores were released, as she never bothered to check what they were. Even the teachers can do nothing but find themselves tangled in dealing with her almost iron-willed defense against any questions thrown at her.
Hence, she gathered the reputation of being a robot in her conduct and successes because someone who operated like an unemotive A.I could never pull off stunts like that. At least not in the eyes of many. Not someone who was so charged with pride over her knowledge. Someone who is that good just couldn’t be human.
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Nano strolled down the first floor with steps echoing in the soothing Friday afternoon. The sunlight emitted gave the whole place a mild yet warm atmosphere. Indeed, it felt like a good time to walk down if you simply wanted to be caught up in the beautiful imagery. But Nano paid no mind to it. Tap, tap, tap, as she continued to descend.
Meanwhile, the tiny, delicate, soft-spoken Shizuka Yoshimoto was behind her. She was known for only using her cutely decorated phone to communicate with people, using quotations from the multitudinous archive of books she’d read. She saw Nano, her bolting pace, and desired to walk alongside her.
She started lightly jogging to catch up with Nano, desperately clinging to her phone and keeping her balance to avoid falling. For her, any physical activity was like hellish punishment, something she could never stand. Even this–a light jog–proved to be a Herculean task.
As she edged closer and closer, she clicked on her phone to emit a text-to-speech, “< Oi, oi,> < don’t leave me hanging! >”. And it did get Nano’s attention cause her head turned itself around instantly as if she couldn’t mistake who that was, only to see her friend attempting to walk alongside her.
Nano, even if only for a split second, couldn’t help but blush.
She hastily bobbed her head–ever so subtly so that Shizuka wouldn’t take note–before she spoke with a soft smile.
“It is nice to see you, Yoshimoto Shizuka.”
Despite her body being worn down from running, her spirits lit up like a spark from a lighter, her face growing into a wonderful smile when Nano greeted her. Her fingers searched the archives for a response, “< I greet you as well, > < Eiai-san. >”
When Shizuka caught up to Nano, they began walking the peaceful halls together.
As the two walked together, Nano asked, “I assume you’re traveling to the rooftop to meet with the others?”
Shizuka responded with a slight nod, “ < I yearn for the presence of my comrades…more than anything else. >”
Heading to the rooftop to hang out became a part of the daily routine for the many girlfriends–26, to be exact–and Rentarou. It acted as a hub for the ever-growing family, for them to have tea, smack each other in the ass with a baseball bat, test scientific discoveries beyond modern knowledge, or relish over the beauty of all kinds, whether gyaru or more traditional, it encompassed a nearly endless variety of individuals who’d all indulged in their own talents and specialties.
“I see. Do you want to work on the math assignment we were handed by Mr. Okazaki as well? I perceived that, during class, you had problems understanding how linear equalities worked.” Nano bluntly inquired, her perceptiveness seldom to spot what was written on the faces of those close to her, which made Shizuka jump.
“< You’re right on the mark, soldier. > < Never understood a damn thing about what they were saying. >”
“If you do not mind, I could show and explain the notes I took today and help you better understand linear equalities and equations.”
“< That would be wonderful, m’lady… >” With bombs of gratefulness hitting her mind, the tiny girl couldn’t help but give an affectionate smile.
“It is of no concern. Looking and studying notes with friends is an efficient learning method for students.” That articulate mind truly worked at its best hours whenever thinking of efficiency.
From that, it made Shizuka let out a light chuckle. The wooden reply didn’t chip at her. Rather, a cozy sensuality hugged her as she walked with Nano. Like a Siberian squill, her face blossomed into a lovely smile for Nano, to Nano.
“< Now, hurry along! The gang ain’t take kindly to lateness. >” The phone voiced as Shizuka eagerly sped up like a kid wanting to be first on the line (not enough for Nano to lose any lead, though).
As Shizuka walked faster, she didn’t get to see what expression her friend wore on that cold face of hers. And Nano took that for granted, given that, for a single second, a modest grin with cheeks blooming crimson sprouted.
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“Ahko, you wanna go see a movie with Hakari later today?” The tsundere asked the gal, sitting a few feet away from her and closer to Hakari.
“Like, totes. What movie you gonna see?”
“It’s Wonka, y’know. The movie about the chocolate-making dude.”
Hakari ejected into the conversation, “We figured that you’d love this time of movie.”
Ahko’s already-existent smile grew ever so wider. Of course, she’d be into that type of stuff.
“Of course. I find the actor, like, supppperrr cute. Totally a movie I gooot to watch soon.” She brought her phone close to her chest and bounced a few times as she spoke to the others. She definitely didn’t want to be left out of this if she couldn’t.
Of course, you couldn’t talk about American movies without a certain someone arriving.
“Howdy! I heard y’all yapping ‘bout a certain candy-making magician!”
“Looks like the western-obsessed idiot has joined the fray.” Karane snarked.
As the four went on with their lively conversation, Nano and Shizuka sat on another side of the rooftop, diligently working on the math homework. The two knew that getting as much done right now would be the most efficient method, at least according to Nano.
“You can solve this by using the slope formula. Then apply your answer to the graph.”
“< Hey, hey! I’m starting to get the hang of this! >” The phone, despite being a computer, was overjoyed as its owner gradually came to comprehend the material in front of her.
It’s been an hour ever since the two reached the rooftop. When they got there, they exchanged their greetings to the other girlfriends and Rentarou before wasting no time to start on the math assignments.
As she observed Shizuka wear a smile that exuded confidence, she couldn’t help but feel proud, if slightly. Compared to when she had to tutor people like Karane and Hakari, their…” eccentric personalities,” as Nano kindly put it, made it a difficult task to get them to do anything, especially in group sessions. One second, peace. The next, Hakari and Karane are yelling at each other over utter, complete nonsense.
“This is likely a result of all the interminable hours she’s done of reading. Even if it’s fiction, she’s read more books here than anyone else. Her focus is astounding.”
Nano was a perfect girl. Someone who couldn’t, or rather loathed, the idea of slipping up in the slightest. Her life pathed itself like a glass floor; clear, with no obstruction. You could almost slip on it, and be taken away by how magnificent it was. However, Shizuka painted this glass road with a tint of blue, until it became a noticeable amount, and she wondered if it would eventually become endless, just as thoughts of her continued to pile in her mind. And she couldn’t figure out if she disliked all this.
Snapping back to reality, realizing she caught herself in this mingle of contradictions, she turned around to cough. Shizuka also snapped away from her hyper-focus like she was fighting a battle to the death with the homework, and turned to Nano.
“< Is something wrong, dear miss? >”
From her bundle of pride, Nano couldn’t tell her that her face had been flushed with red yet again. Not now
She shifted back to look at Shizuka with her usual stoic expression like nothing had changed. “No, everything is fine, Yoshimoto Shizuka.”
The pair solved a few more problems, approaching the end of the worksheet as another girl came along to join them.
“My my, if it isn’t Nano-san and Shizuka-san! How wonderful is it to spot you two together?”
Mimimi Utsukushisugi, the school’s second-year exquisite fashion girl.
“< Utsukushigui-senpai, > < tis’ swell to see you in such high spirits! >”
“It is good to see you as well, Utsukushisugi Mimimi.”
“Yes, it is good to see you too as well. I became intrigued by the hard studying you both were doing here. Of course, if you need a break by taking a look at my beauty, then you’re all welcome to, naturally!”
“That’s not what we need at a-”
But before Nano could even finish stringing her sentence together, Shizuka bathed in Mimimi’s excellence. How gullible.
“Hmm hmm, naturally!”
After Shizuka got her inner fill of Mimimi’s beauty, she typed on her phone to voice her well-intended thoughts, “< Anyway, > < you wanna join in, partner? >”
“Well, it seems that you too are already starting to finish, so there’d be no point in me suddenly jumping in. However, do you two desire to hang out after school?” She placed her left hand on her chin, her sophisticated, teal eyes staring down at the two, “Of course, this wouldn’t be for nothing. We will go beauty shopping, nothing but the finest areas and shops. I know this is a first time, especially for you, Shizuka-san. So, what do you say?”
Shizuka considered for a quiet minute, or even less. This was a first time for her. Shopping with others. Something she can only recall doing with Chiyo, Kusuri, and Rentarou one day, but even that was clearly different from what Mimimi referred to. Beauty shopping was not her forte.
She fiddled with her phone, her mind rushing around to think of an answer, any answer.
Nano lightly touches her arm, to stop her from panicking.
“I think she’ll be okay. Right, Yoshimoto Shizuka?”
After saying that, Nano gave Shizuka a rare smile of hers, which made the girl light up. She furiously nodded.
“Then I guess it’s settled! I’ll be waiting for you both downstairs!” The queen declared as she turned towards the stairs and walked in stride, her steps showing not a single hint of weakness.
But as Mimimi walked, for no one to see, her face became somber, with a droplet of jealously.
Why, oh why, could she not show that same affection for her?
Why?