The Battlefield Named Socialising

"Hey!" I called out to him and stretched my hand for a handshake. "Edward Eckart, nice to meet you."

My bespectacled seatmate stared at my hands and then looked at me. The awkwardness of the situation was not hidden for even a small second.

I gulped, and the friend understood what had just happened. He quickly reached his hand out and returned a weak, feeble handshake.

"N-nash… hi."

"Nash, Edward."

"Yes, Edward. Got it."

A moment of silence followed, the two of us still had our hands stuck together.

Fuck…

He finally looked down at the table and pulled his hand back and I did the same.

"..."

"..."

I blinked twice.

"..."

"..."

I blinked again, this time slower than before.

"..."

"..."

HOW DO YOU TALK TO PEOPLE!?

I was not only unequipped for this, but I was also unprepared.

[My god. You are much worse off than I thought, host]

I bit my lips at the system's words and turned my head out the window again.

Nash had tried to talk once more, but I had looked away a moment too soon to notice him. I only saw him from the corner of my eye and now turning back to him felt even more awkward.

This was terrible.

I was sure both of us were going to appreciate the silence. We were both defeated soldiers on the battlefield called socializing.

It was a camaraderie that existed beyond words and relations. You won't get it.

[Were you always like this, host?]

The system's words forced me to look back. That wasn't the case, I wasn't always this awkward.

There was a time when I could make friends in a snap. But as I grew older, the ability faded away.

I also thought there was no need to have many friends. It was annoying to be pretentious and try to act friendly.

This time, I had a quest though. Despite not wanting to, I would have to make friends and hear their 'backstory.'

As far as Nash goes, toward that quest, I am going to call it quits for now. Another time, Nash, another time.

***

Not long after my slightly weird introduction to Nash, our homeroom teacher walked in. She was a lady who had started teaching a mere two years back.

Despite that, she seemed very laid back about teaching. She said she'll leave us to our devices for the most part since that's what kids like, but will have to do some important stuff.

"If any of you ever face any troubles, just come over to me, ok? There is never any shame in relying on someone."

She made that bit explicitly clear too. I was impressed, the faculty in a reputed school must be pretty amazing too.

"Now, take turns and introduce yourself. Don't be stiff, just tell us something interesting about you."

A handsome guy at the front of the classroom took the initiative to start.

After him, people took turns to introduce themselves. I listened to them with one ear and let their words out from the other.

It was all boring stuff like wanting to make friends or studying hard or their future aspirations anyway.

It was eventually my turn.

[Will you be okay? Your performance right now was terrible]

Foolish little system. Why do you think I was not paying attention to anyone's introduction?

Hmph. It was obviously because I was rehearsing my own.

"I am Edward Eckart." I began. "My family runs a cake studio, if you ever crave something sweet then give us a try! I can… um… get a classmate discount?"

Shit…

I flubbed it. I flubbed it.

I was expecting a brighter response. I thought I could smile brightly and speak with confidence, but of course not. All they returned was some dry claps.

I sat down before embarrassing myself further.

Right then, Nash who was sitting next to me leaned in and whispered.

"I've heard of Eckart studio, their cakes are famous."

Since I had initiated a conversation last time, he did it this time.

"Oh, thanks…"

And since he had killed it last time, I did it this time.

[Haah… kids… We have a long way to go…]

***

Homeroom ended soon enough and Ms Greene left the classroom.

After her, the teachers for the common classes streamed in. We would have to change classes later for the electives.

Bit by bit, the day passed behind us. I tried to talk to a few more people, the handsome guy from before immediately started going around to say hi after lunch break started, he even talked to me.

With him too, I barely nodded and the conversation ran dry.

Eventually, he was dragged out by a group of girls and guys from other classes. I didn't think much about others later and kept thinking of the response for Reversal.

As the school day ended, I got up from my seat and rushed out to the school's library.

I stepped inside the fort of books that were made by joining dozens of classrooms together. Even the tiles and the tables around resembled a professional bookstore more than a school. It was the image of a temple of knowledge.

The labyrinth that the many shelves made was another topic altogether. Dozens and dozens of shelves had lined up to make the most expansive high-school library in all of the city, which Calla Lily displayed on their homepage with pride.

Very few students had come to the library on the first day, and the next one was going to be interested in the philosophy section.

"The screen was getting to me. I need to read physical books."

[It's alright. Get one about Epictetus and if there's any then read some Lao Tzu too.]

I traced my finger along the philosophy section, mumbling the name 'Of Human Freedom.'

"It's right there, below."

When someone called out to me.

I turned back to find a girl with dim eyes and long black hair. Standing with her back against another shelf, she pointed a finger at the lowest rack.

"Of Human Freedom, Epictetus. Right there."