Chapter 1 : Lectio

Lectio

The gymnasium buzzed with a new kind of energy. Rows of first-year students sat neatly in their designated spots, eyes darting around at unfamiliar faces and uniforms. The school emblem of poised behind the stage, flanked by two towering speakers. A hush fell over the crowd as a student bounced onto the podium, waving enthusiastically as his black hair hairs flared the stage.

 "GOOD MORNING, my Feathers!!!"

A ripple laughter rolled through the crowd, that sent vibrations throughs the chilly April morning.

"I'm your student council president — Yuushin Roku!! Second-year, class 2-C, Blood type +B, zodiac sign Leo, and according to the vice president, dangerously single."

More laughter followed, this was a rarity, a rarity that most first-year girls wouldn't encounter in a thousand lives.

But Koemi, the student council vice-president flashed a grin, pleased, leaning forward towards the podium, like she as instructed to do.

"We, the student council, have spent a grand total of three days, preparing this welcome program. That's a new record. We usually start the night before, so really this is the definition of a VIP service."

 Koemi, glared her glasses, tipping it to her nose. With a prop clipboard she rose a paper and sighed dramatically, "Correction: I started three weeks ago, you started a day before."

 "I brought the lemon tarts for Kasumi-Chan," Yuushin started fingers pointed towards the ever so shy idol. "Without me, Dear Kasumi would have died."

 Kasumi, the student council secretory rolled her eyes in pink, and turned against the curtains. "Yuu-senpai" she pushed forward with a shuttering mouth.

And with just that Yuushin had the undivided attention, "Now, first years, I know that high school can be scary. New Classes, new teachers, new… strange upperclassmen." He guested theatrically to his fellow council members, who waved and posed ideally. "But don't worry! We're here to help you settle in. Unless you ask me for relationship advice."

The audience laughed, less nervously this time. "But really—this is a fresh start for all of you. Whatever your middle school was like, whatever mistakes you made, whoever you were—you get to try again here. High school isn't just about grades and clubs. It's about becoming the person you want to be." Then, almost immediately, he winked. "Unless you want to be like me. Then… maybe rethink that. There can only be one Yuushin Afterall."

作り笑い

"Now! On to the actual program. We've got a performance from the dance club, a tour of the campus and a special club program!"

Yuushin raised both fists "Welcome to Shirokawa High(アルガスシロクワ) ! Let's make it unforgettable!"

 The applause echoed softly through the gymnasium, Yuushin made his way off the stage, his bright and sunny smile firmly in its proper position on his face. He paused briefly to wave to a pair of teachers in attendance, then, with a look of mischievous charm, he threw a playful salute in the direction of a few first-years girls who desperately needed his attention. He slipped nimbly around the edge of the hall and made his way towards the Green stage.

 The Green stage was a pretty small, secluded practice room conveniently situated behind the auditorium, a room actually meant for the drama club rehearsals or to be utilized for backstage quarters for some performances. But today, it was his own hideout.

 Click.

He softly closed the door.

 He worked the lock with a soft key. The moment when the latch had clicked into position securely, but his smile was still on his lips, though it had been a bit tempered with an edge to it. His back was hard pressed against the cold, solid wood of the door, and his head was bent back in a way that conveyed both tiredness and resignation. But still the smile remained on his lips, but now frozen, without the warmth it had had before.

 He let out a soft, muted whoosh of air that filtered quietly out his nose, his eyes glanced in the direction of the mirror. In that glassy surface, his own smiling face smiled back at him. This was the "Yuushin" that everyone loved and cherished. He moved his head ever so slightly, gazing over the familiar face that smiled back.

"Still got it," he quietly whispered, not to anyone specific, but to himself.

He went up to the mirror, hands in the pockets of his blazer, more observing his own eyes than his smile. "They laugh at me, never with me." His fingers touched the edge of the mirror frame.

His eyes flashed for only an instant. A flicker of something less amiable. Pride masquerading as humility.

A gentle and almost tentative knock, knock on the door interrupted the silence.

"Yuushin," replied the unmistakable voice of Koemi in the same calm and crisp voice that always sounded so characteristically hers. "You've locked the Green stage up again?"

Yuushin hesitated for an instant, he slowly opened the door and then went on to nudge it half-open, nervously

"Koemiiiii-chan,"

 he said with a self-important tone of pretended innocence, 

"Do you think so little of me as to believe that I would not understand or value your suggestions?"

"Me? I believe I have just the right amount of respect for you," she answered in a flat tone "We are running behind schedule for the welcome show at the dance club."

"You were muttering to yourself again, weren't you?"

"No comment,"

*

The sun dipped behind the school rooftops. The laughter and footsteps of students heading home had faded into the distance, leaving behind only the occasional hum of cicadas and the soft shuffle of shoes on pavement.

The student council President and vice-president walked side by side.

Koemi's brown twin-tails bounced slightly with each step, tied neatly with navy ribbons that matched the trim of her school blazer. Her glasses rested low on the bridge of her nose, and behind them, her brown eyes flicked toward Yuushin

"You know," she said after a moment of companionable silence, "You're a very... inconsistent person."

Yuushin turned to her with mock offense. "Inconsistent? I prefer the word unpredictable."

She didn't smile, "You act like you've got two personalities."

"Oh?" he tilted his head, "Do tell, Vice President Kurosawa."

"You're loud in public," she began, ticking her points off with a finger. "Overly friendly. You make jokes like your life depends on it, and you have this way of making everyone feel comfortable."

"A gift," Yuushin said smugly, clasping his hands behind his head.

"And yet," she continued, ignoring his quip, "you hide in the Greenstage. You spend your breaks alone when you think no one's looking. You're quiet when the room isn't paying attention to you."

Yuushin didn't answer immediately. He simply walked beside her, gaze fixed ahead.

"I'm not criticizing," Koemi added, "It's just... fascinating. Most people pretend to be more reserved than they really are. You do the opposite."

Yuushin exhaled in a small chuckle. "Wouldn't you, if it made everything easier?"

"Easier for you, or for everyone else?"

He glanced at her. Brown eyes that didn't waver, sharp beneath her quiet demeanour. Despite her small frame and studious appearance, there was a unique hint of fear to it.

"You're scary sometimes, Koemi-Chan,"

"I just pay attention," she replied. "Someone has to."

The two of them reached a fork in the road. Koemi slowed, pointing toward the street that curved downhill past the train station.

"This way for me," she said.

Yuushin gave a little wave, already walking backward. "Then until tomorrow, my favourite scary person."

She adjusted her glasses. "Try not to burn and disappear out before midterms, President."