Chapter 1:The Class of Hypocrites

"Maa, I'm leaving."

"Alright! Have a great day at school, Abe! Be careful on the way!"

Tch. Useless encouragement. I hate it.

I stepped out of the house without another word. The morning breeze was cool, but it did little to improve my mood. The streets were already bustling with students heading to school, their cheerful chatter filling the air.

To me, it was just noise. Meaningless. Fake.

My name is Arataki Abe. People might see me as cold, pessimistic, or even rude at first glance. But I don't care. I despise people who talk about love, justice, and hope. Why? Because they're all hypocrites.

I've seen it too many times—smiles that hide malice, words that mean nothing, and promises that are destined to be broken. The world is full of liars. That's why I don't expect anything from anyone.

As I walked toward my new school, Shiroku High, I sighed. Another pointless cycle was about to begin.

Would this school be any different from the others? Probably not.

Arrival at Shiroku High

The school building loomed ahead, a grand structure with towering windows and neatly kept grounds. Students milled about the entrance, chatting with their friends, completely absorbed in their tiny, insignificant lives.

As I approached, my eyes caught sight of a girl—a rather eye-catching one.

She had vibrant pink hair tied into a high ponytail, giving her a lively appearance. There was an air of energy and optimism around her, though I noticed something else—a slight stiffness in her movements, a forced enthusiasm.

"Another pretender."

"Ah! I'm almost there! Thank goodness!" she muttered to herself as she rushed toward the school gate.

Just as she turned her head, her eyes landed on me. A boy with jet-black hair, expressionless, walking with slow, deliberate steps.

"Huh? Who's this guy? A new student?"

For a brief moment, her brows furrowed. Then, as if making a decision, she quickly approached me.

Without hesitation, she lightly tapped my shoulder.

"Hey! Are you a new student? Which class are you in?"

I turned to face her, my expression blank.

"Oh. Yeah, I'm new. I'm in the second year. Is that all you wanted to ask?"

Without waiting for a response, I turned back and continued walking.

"Ah… U-uh, I see… Well then, have a good day!"

I didn't bother responding.

Behind me, the girl stood there, looking slightly puzzled.

"What's with him? Did I say something wrong?"

I pushed the encounter out of my mind and headed toward my classroom.

Class 2-B

"Here it is… Seems a bit noisy, but whatever."

Just as I reached for the door handle, a voice called out behind me.

"Ah! You must be Arataki Abe. Wait a moment, you need to introduce yourself first!"

I turned my head to see a young man with an easygoing smile. He had messy brown hair and wore a loosened tie, giving off a relaxed vibe.

"Let me guess… our homeroom teacher?"

"Oh. Right. I forgot. You go first, Sensei," I said flatly.

"O-okay… Well, thanks, I guess?" The teacher chuckled awkwardly. "Anyway, my name is Aki, so feel free to call me Aki-sensei!"

I simply nodded. "Oh. Okay, Aki-sensei."

"I-I see… Haha… Don't be too nervous during your introduction, Abe-kun!"

Nervous? As if.

Aki-sensei stepped inside first.

"Alright, everyone! We have a new student today!"

I followed him in.

The moment I entered, the chatter in the room died down.

Dozens of eyes turned toward me, scanning, judging.

Some students looked indifferent. Others seemed mildly curious. And then there were those with forced smiles—the kind that made my skin crawl.

"Fake."

I let out a silent sigh and delivered my introduction in a monotone voice.

"Hello. My name is Arataki Abe. Nice to meet you."

Silence.

For a few awkward seconds, no one spoke. Some students exchanged glances, as if waiting for me to say more.

But I had nothing else to say.

"Alright, thank you, Abe-kun! You can take a seat now," Aki-sensei said, clearing his throat.

Without another word, I walked toward the back row and took an empty seat by the window.

"Finally. Some peace and quiet."

Or at least, that's what I thought.

The Persistent Girl

Just as I got comfortable, someone whispered beside me.

"Arataki-kun, do you remember me?"

I turned my head slightly.

It was her.

The pink-haired girl from earlier.

She was sitting right next to me, smiling expectantly.

"Huh? Who?" I asked, my face unreadable.

"Hah!? You don't remember!?" she pouted. "I was the one who greeted you this morning near the school gate!"

I sighed.

"Oh. You. Sorry, I wasn't really paying attention."

"Hmph! Well, anyway, my name is Masamune Serin. Nice to meet you, Arataki-kun!"

"...Nice to meet you, Masamune-san."

She grinned. "Heh, you're really formal, huh?"

I didn't respond.

Masamune leaned closer, resting her chin on her hand.

"You know, I get the feeling that you're not really the social type."

"You don't say," I muttered.

"But that's okay! I'll just have to befriend you myself!"

I stared at her, unimpressed.

"…Why?"

She tilted her head. "Why not?"

A part of me wanted to push her away. But another part—the rational part—held me back.

It was better to play along than to make unnecessary enemies.

I sighed. "Fine. Do whatever you want."

She beamed. "That's the spirit!"

I glanced around the room.

Some students were watching us, whispering among themselves.

For some reason, it felt like I had already drawn too much attention.

"Why do I feel like something is off with this class?"

And just like that, my first day in Class 2-B began.

A class that, despite its normal appearance, felt... unnatural.