I Need to Stay on Alert

The warm breeze filtered through the open window, rustling the edges of the curtains lazily. As I gazed outside, a row of sleek black buses pulled up near the school entrance, their polished surfaces gleaming under the midday sun.

A moment later, the doors slid open, and students in red uniforms began to step out. The color stood out against the usual dull palette of Sobu's schoolyard—like someone had taken a brush dipped in red and smeared it across an otherwise monotone painting.

Their blazers were pristine, tailored perfectly to fit, and there was this general air about them that screamed "Look at us. We're important."

Advanced Nurturing High School. High academic standards, rigid structure, and relentless competition were the norm. From what I'd seen of their Student Council President, it felt less like a school and more like the setting for a high-stakes reality TV show. It was Sobu's overachieving cousin, the one your parents couldn't resist comparing you to at every family gathering.

As I was piecing together the mental hierarchy of ANHS based on blazer length and accessory placement a familiar voice called out behind me.

"Hikigaya."

I tensed up reflexively. Only one person could make my name sound like a direct accusation.

I turned to see Hiratsuka-sensei approaching, hands in her pockets, eyes sharper than usual.

"Sensei." I nodded slightly. "You know, I don't think it's good for your health to sneak up on your students like that."

Her brow twitched in response. "I called your name three times, Kid."

"Selective hearing. It's a defense mechanism."

She sighed, rubbing her forehead like she was already regretting this conversation. "Okay, enough jokes. We need to talk."

I raised an eyebrow. "Am I finally getting a detention? I didn't think staring out of windows qualified as grounds for dismissal yet."

"Stop wasting my time and listen carefully," she replied flatly, her no-nonsense tone I rarely heard these days firmly in place. "You and the other selected students need to be on high alert during the next few days of class. The material you'll be covering isn't just difficult—it's designed to push you to your limit."

Her gaze hardened like she was silently daring me to brush this off as a joke.

I crossed my arms. "I figured as much. Nothing screams 'enriching academic experience' like cramming for five subjects in two days."

Hiratsuka-sensei let out a brief exhale, almost like she agreed but wasn't allowed to admit it.

The truth was, this wasn't exactly listed in the official breakdown of the Special Exam. Sure, the exam was structured as a collaborative event between Sobu and ANHS, but the fine print was that for the first two days, Sobu-selected students would be attending the full day.

The rest of the school? Free vacation.

Meanwhile, lucky few like me would be stuck in intensive prep courses covering everything from math to social sciences. Five subjects in total. And if you were feeling ambitious, you could try studying for all of them.

The catch? One partner could theoretically cover everything while the other just coasted. That part wasn't directly stated either, but the implication hung heavily in the air.

Two days. Two people. Five tests.

Simple math, right? Except it wasn't. No amount of cooperative spirit or last-minute cramming was going to magically turn anyone into a genius overnight. I was fully prepared for the realization to hit me like a freight train.

Now, Hiratsuka-sensei was essentially confirming what I'd suspected all along.

"Any other helpful survival tips?" I asked, looking at her.

"Don't get scared," she replied dryly. "And try not to drag your partner down with you."

"Harsh. I'm not that hopeless."

She glanced at me sideways. "I never said you were. But I know you, Hikigaya. You'll try to shoulder everything yourself if you think it'll make things easier."

I didn't respond. Mostly because I couldn't argue with that.

"I'm serious," she added, softer this time. "This exam isn't just about academics. It's the test of whether you can work with someone else—even if they don't operate on the same wavelength as you."

"That's asking a lot."

"It is," she admitted. "But that's the point."

Her words lingered as she stepped back, her usual expression returning. "Get to class. You'll find out who your partner is soon enough."

I watched as she walked off, leaving me standing alone by the window.

I glanced back outside at the ANHS students, who were now making their way toward the school entrance.

For two days, we are attending the same lectures but in different classrooms.

I could already feel the headache forming.

I headed to the class with cautious steps.

The classroom was quiet, too quiet. The kind of quiet that usually preceded something bad, like a pop quiz or being called on when you weren't paying attention. I sat at my desk, surrounded by unfamiliar faces. It seemed Yukinoshita and Yuigahama had been placed in different rooms.

Of course. Wouldn't want me to have any emotional support during this academic gauntlet.

I glanced around. A few Sobu students I vaguely recognized from passing in the hallways were hunched over their desks, already scribbling furiously in their notebooks. Others looked like they were trying to decipher ancient runes.

The first lesson? Japanese.

Shouldn't be a big deal, right? We speak Japanese every day. How hard could it be?

Very.

As it turned out, this wasn't your typical high school Japanese class. The material was brutal—advanced literary analysis that felt more suited for third-years or even university students. We weren't reading simple essays or poetry. No, we were diving straight into classical texts filled with outdated kanji and convoluted metaphors that made my head spin.

I flipped through the foreign textbook, scanning the lines, and could practically feel my brain cells waving white flags in surrender.

"Is this even still Japanese?" I wondered, squinting at a sentence that seemed to have more kanji than I thought legally allowed.

The teacher in an overly formal suit wasn't helping either. She spoke at lightning speed, breaking down complex grammatical structures like it was the simplest thing in the world. I felt like I had to dedicate 1000% of my mental processing just to keep up and even that didn't feel like enough.

I wasn't alone. A quick glance around the room confirmed that everyone else was in the same boat. One student was rubbing his temples as if willing the knowledge to seep in through sheer force. Another girl had given up pretending to take notes and was now just staring blankly at the chalkboard, the light in her eyes slowly fading.

So this is why the list of penalties in the Special Exam was so detailed.

The thought lingered as I shifted in my seat, watching as even the brightest students seemed to falter under the weight of the lesson.

Horikita Manabu, the genius behind this exam, was undoubtedly insane.

I pictured him sitting in his office, calmly crafting this academic deathtrap with the precision of a mad scientist.

"He probably thinks this is too easy," I mused grimly.

By the time the teacher dismissed us, I felt like I had aged several years. I slumped back in my chair, exhaling slowly as if I had just survived a natural disaster.

If this was just the first class, I wasn't sure I'd make it through the next hours.

ㅤ

ᛚᛟᚾᛖᛚᚤᚲᚤᚾᛁᚲᚨᛚᛋᛟᚢᛚ

ㅤ

The hallways of Sobu High felt more crowded than usual even with more than half of the student body missing. A strange mix of red and black uniforms blended together, like two separate worlds forced into the same frame.

Students from Advanced Nurturing High School stood out in their crisp red uniforms, moving through the halls with a sense of purpose, while the familiar black-clad Sobu students lingered around them.

It was a strange sight. Like watching entirely different species forced into the same habitat. Natural selection would take care of the rest.

I walked past them, my gaze drifting lazily from one face to the next, not recognizing most of them. Yukinoshita and Yuigahama were nowhere to be seen. Figures. I guess it made sense we'd be separated. Wouldn't want me relying on the only two people who somehow tolerate my existence in this school.

As I turned a corner, I spotted a cluster of students gathered outside one of the classrooms, chatting with the kind of enthusiasm that felt entirely inappropriate for this hour. I hesitated, weighing the merits of backtracking versus braving the social minefield ahead.

Then I heard it.

"Hikki!"

I stopped.

Oh no.

I turned just as Yuigahama bounded toward me, waving like I was a long-lost relative returning from war. Her usual boundless energy seemed magnified in the sea of subdued students.

The girl next to her was unfamiliar. She had light strawberry-blonde hair that fell past her shoulders, soft features, and an effortlessly charming smile that practically screamed "I'm a nice person." She wore the ANHS red uniform, somehow making it look even more polished than her peers.

Her posture radiated warmth, the kind that suggested she'd never experienced the crushing weight of existential dread.

Meaning. The polar opposite of me.

"Yahallo!" Yuigahama greeted, her grin stretching ear to ear.

"Ah… What a relief," I replied dryly. For a second there, I thought I was having a good day.

"Ugh, rude!" she puffed her cheeks, but there wasn't any bite behind it. She was already used to this dynamic.

The girl beside her laughed lightly. "Yahahaha! You two are so funny!"

Her laugh was... melodic. Genuine. Like she hadn't been hardened by the grim realities of youth. I immediately distrusted it.

"And you are…?" I asked, shifting my attention toward her.

"Oh! This is Honami-chan," Yuigahama said, nudging the girl forward. "She's from ANHS. We got paired up for the Special Exam."

Ichinose offered a polite nod, her smile unwavering. "Nice to meet you! I'm the leader of Class B over there."

She gestured toward a group of ANHS students chatting happily with Sobu students. They looked like they had been dropped into the perfect after-school special—laughing, bonding, and exchanging contact info like this was some summer camp.

Ichinose Honami. Leader of Class B.

"Leader?" I repeated, letting the word hang in the air for a moment.

So basically, their version of class president. Or dictator. Same thing, really.

"Eh?" Yuigahama, why do you sound surprised?

"You say that like it's nothing," I tried to be calm. "Must be exhausting."

Ichinose laughed softly. "It's not too bad. Someone has to do it, right?"

Her tone was casual, almost dismissive because leading an entire class was as simple as organizing a group outing. Optimism or arrogance? Hard to tell.

Yukinoshita would've called her naive. Hiratsuka-sensei would've called her impressive. I called her trouble.

So this was the kind of person I'd have to deal with now.

"So, what brings you two here?" I shifted the conversation, hoping to avoid whatever convoluted explanation Yuigahama was about to launch into.

Yuigahama huffed, puffing her cheeks again. "Hikki, I told you already! You just weren't listening."

"Listening and remembering irrelevant details are two different things."

"You're impossible!"

Ichinose watched the exchange, her eyes gleaming with amusement. It was the look of someone who found us entertaining—a spectator enjoying the show without needing to intervene.

"I'm with Honami-chan for the exam," Yuigahama repeated, this time emphasizing every word like she was tutoring a particularly dense child. Wait, do you know who I am? "And we were just talking about our reque—"

Before she could finish, I calmly placed my hand over her mouth.

"Are you insane?" I hissed, lowering my voice. "This hallway is full of people. Maybe hold off on discussing classified Service Club business until we're somewhere less exposed."

Yuigahama mumbled something incoherent behind my hand, glaring. I took that as my cue to let go.

"Let's find somewhere quieter," I suggested, already steering them toward the stairwell.

Yuigahama tilted her head curiously. "How do you even know about a spot like this?"

"Any self-respecting loner develops an instinct for these things," I replied proudly.

"That's not something to brag about, Hikki."

We slipped beneath the stairwell. The noise faded, replaced by the muffled hum of distant chatter. Yuigahama glanced around, unimpressed by the dim, cramped space.

"So?" I leaned against the wall. "Mind explaining why you were about to broadcast our operations to the entire school?"

Yuigahama scratched the back of her head awkwardly. "I was just talking with Honami-chan about the request." She looked guilty.

I sighed. "And it didn't occur to you that telling another class leader about that might not be the smartest move?"

"Well, I didn't know that until now!"

Seriously?

Ichinose stepped in smoothly. "Don't worry. I think it's admirable you're helping another class. Honestly, I'm kind of impressed."

I met her gaze.

"You do realize this is a competition, right?" I asked carefully.

Ichinose nodded without hesitation. "Yup. But not everything has to be cutthroat. Sometimes cooperation benefits everyone."

She said it so casually, like she truly believed in mutual success.

This girl… might actually be dangerous.

Her words hung in the air, the kind of sincerity that felt too good-natured for a place like this. If she were anyone else, I might've assumed she was trying to butter us up for some hidden agenda. But that wasn't it.

That was the problem.

She was nice. Almost annoyingly so.

"You know, being this friendly with the competition can backfire. Aren't you worried it might hurt your reputation?"

Ichinose tilted her head slightly as if the thought hadn't crossed her mind. "Reputation? Hmm… I guess I just don't think about it that way."

"Most people in your position would," I added. "Especially when their class is competing for the highest place. Must be nice, leading with zero regard for consequences."

"That's not true," she replied, unperturbed and still smiling. "I just believe that if I treat people kindly, it'll work out in the end."

Ah. Classic idealist.

I sighed internally. No wonder she's popular. She probably hands out good vibes like a vending machine spits out snacks. Too bad the world doesn't run on optimism.

"Well, good luck with that. Not everyone's that forgiving."

Yuigahama gave me a light nudge with her elbow, clearly not appreciating my cynicism. "Come on, Hikki. You're making it sound like she's doing something wrong."

"Technically, I didn't say that."

"You implied it."

"Implying things is one of my stronger skills."

"Ugh, you're doing that again." Yuigahama huffed before turning toward Ichinose. "Sorry, Honami-chan. I shouldn't have said anything about our request. It kinda just slipped out."

Ichinose shook her head. "Don't worry about it! I won't tell anyone."

Yuigahama sighed in relief. "Still… Hikki's right. I should've checked with him or Yukinon first."

"Wow." You actually admitted that I'm right. I might cry.

"Shut up, Hikki."

I smirked slightly but didn't push it further. At least she understood the weight of what she'd let slip. Knowing Yuigahama, she probably just got caught up in the moment.

"Next time, consult us first. I know it's asking a lot, but let's try not to spill secrets to the competition," I said.

"Yeah, yeah. Got it." She crossed her arms and averted her eyes from mine.

With that settled, I decided to shift gears. "By the way… have you seen Yukinoshita?"

Yuigahama thought for a moment, tapping her chin. "Hmm… I think I saw Yukinon earlier in one of the classrooms, but I can't remember which one."

Why would that be simple?

"That narrows it down to… the entire school."

"Hehe, sorry! I think she was near the second-year wing though. Maybe check there?"

I made a mental note to follow up on that later. "I'll figure it out. We can talk more after classes."

Unfortunately, as if on cue, the shrill ring of the school bell echoed down the hallway. I winced.

Yuigahama perked up. "Ah, we should head back. Don't wanna be late."

"Yeah, wouldn't want to miss out on the joys of education," I replied sarcastically.

Ichinose giggled softly. "It was nice meeting you, Hikki-kun."

I felt my eye twitch slightly. "That… nickname is not my name. Yuigahama came up with it."

Yuigahama puffed out her chest proudly. "It stuck."

"Like gum under a desk," I glared at my troublesome clubmate. "I usually go by Hikigaya."

Ichinose grinned, "Got it, Hikigaya-kun. I like you already."

"Can't say the same just yet. I'll reserve judgment."

She didn't seem bothered by my response, just continuing to smile as if nothing could shake her. As she and Yuigahama turned to leave, Ichinose glanced back over her shoulder.

"Oh, by the way… things aren't looking great in Class D right now."

Her tone was light, but there was something else buried beneath it. I couldn't quite place it. Concern? Just how bad was it?

Before I could ask, she disappeared into the crowd with Yuigahama.

I stood there for a moment, mulling over her words.

It left a bad taste in my mouth.

With a quiet sigh, I pushed myself off the wall and headed toward the classroom. Whatever was happening in Class D could wait until the next break.

I still had my partner to meet.