Mondays, Mondays, Mondays—
A day that causes me immense grief and anger. It goes by many names—The bane of my existence, the day that school continues and many other names.
It is the clandestine day that school begins—another thing I happen to hate.
You might ask, "If you despise them so much then why go to school on Mondays."
Oh, because of one simple answer, my friend.
Fear.
Throughout my stay at EHS, I had never been punished, however, I knew for certainty that when I did get punished it would be bad.
This was because of a certain adage that says, "The devil you know is better than the angel you don't know."
And because of that I had to go to school. However, my newfound hatred for Mondays didn't just come from nowhere, it came because of a certain someone.
Heugh, my beloved.
My beloved—aka Aiya, called me on Sunday evening by 11 PM and finished the call by 3 AM.
After I woke up today at 7 AM, I felt like not going to school but unfortunately, I had to, whether I liked it or not.
I walked with Ito to the school gate but the girls around him did their daily routine of giving that look that said "What are you still doing here?" So I walked ahead.
As I arrived at the school gate, I saw Aiya waiting for me. I had to say, nothing beats having a girl waiting for me—especially since it was my girlfriend.
"Hey," I waved at Aiya, smiling eagerly.
"Heya, Eiya," Aiya grinned, waving back. "So, how was your night?"
"Could have been better."
"Oh, why? Did something happen?" she asked, clearly concerned for my wellbeing.
"Well, calling me by 11 and finishing by 3 doesn't really give me the required 8 hours of sleep."
At this very moment, I feel like just lying on the floor and sleeping.
"Who doesn't want to be called by their girlfriend at night?"
"Me," I said plainly.
"You cannot mean that."
"I do."
"You're the worst," she pouted.
"I was joking—half joking at least," I mistakenly blurted that last part.
"I heard you," she looked away from me abruptly as if to say, 'I hate you.'
I was too tired to react, so I just continued walking with her at my side.
She must have been really annoyed because she didn't talk till we reached the hallway to class.
After Aiya pouted and walked beside me, I felt a pair of eyes burning into my back.
I brushed it off, but the feeling lingered. I noticed Inoue before he spoke. His cobalt hair, bulky build, and sharp eyer were hard to miss.
He looked... determined. I braced myself for whatever was coming.
"Suzuki," Inoue came in front of us as we were entering class.
"Yeah, what's up?"
"Please tell me this is a lie, but are you dating Nakamura?" Inoue asked desperately, trying not to accept the truth. "Like how can you date him? You know that he's not male, right?"
Why does everyone joke about my appearance? I know I'm not the tallest, have a cute face and have long eyelashes but that's not feminine, right?
Right?
Oh, who am I kidding?
"Yup, I am. Is there an issue?" She asked, bending her head slightly sideways in confusion.
"What does he have that I don't have?!"
Hey, I have many things you don't. Also, you're way too loud.
Inoue's deep, loud voice attracted the bystanders that came our way.
I didn't even know how Inoue knew we were dating; it was really shocking.
While I and Aiya didn't really hide it, we didn't just go around saying it.
Perhaps he realised from the constant dates.
Aiya and I's dates weren't held in secret so there was a possibility he just came to such a conclusion.
"For one, he doesn't create scenes," Aiya furrowed her brows, appearing visibly annoyed.
"Uh—"
"What's going on here?" a blond-haired boy asked.
As he walked in, it was like the air shifted. If Inoue was loud and messy, Akatsuki's presence was quiet but suffocating.
He didn't have to raise his voice to command attention.
He didn't have to dress specially for that despite the fact he dressed quite preppy, having worn his entire uniform except the blazer because he wore a sweater instead.
He dressed tame but something about him said he was someone I should stay clear from.
"What do you want Akatsuki?" Aiya asked, her voice not hiding her disdain–it was like just breathing the same air as him was a bother.
She really doesn't like this guy.
"According to my sources, you're dating Nakamura over here. So, this is him?"
"Where did you get that information from?"
"It's all over the school website, someone must have seen you on your little date and taken a photo. To be honest, I expected more from him, but he's just as underwhelming as his photo then again he is an extra."
"Stop calling people from my class extras," Aiya narrowed her eyes.
"Why won't I? Unlike you he isn't even beautiful, or is he? He is male, right?" Akatsuki laughed.
"Yes, he is."
"Never know, could be a girl. Maybe I should check him out or perhaps…I lay my hands on you instead, what do you think, Aiya?" He moved quickly toward Aiya, carefully about to touch her hair.
"Hey dude, back off my girlfriend," I held his hand.
"Your voice is really squeaky but at least I can say you're a boy because you have a backbone. I guess you're not like other extras."
"Akatsuki, don't you ever call me Aiya. Only my friends and Eiya can call me that, not delinquent scum like you," Aiya glared. "Also, what are you even doing here?"
"Deliquent scum, huh? Funny coming from someone who's only feature is a pretty face. At least my class is filled to the brim with idiots that barely managed to enter this school. Aren't you all just on the ledge? Can you even survive academically?" Akatsuki snapped, still keeping a faint grin and a calm tone.
"How dare you say that abou–"
Aiya stopped me with her hand, I supposed it was her way of saying it wasn't worth it.
In truth our class was idiotic but we weren't that bad that we weren't able to stay afloat academically, or so I believed.
"Also, this is also the way to my class—remember all our classes are in the same hallway. Anyway, I suppose I should be taking my leave. See you around Eiya," Akatsuki waved at me as he left.
Who is that guy? So, there are people like him in this school, huh?
His presence sends shivers down my spine.
I'm sure if I cross him, despite cameras and the prohibition of violence I'm sure he'll find a loophole to beat me up.
I definitely have to stay clear from that guy.
"Heugh."
I sighed out loud but didn't know I did until Aiya looked at me then turned away quickly before entering class, I followed suit.
On sitting down, I asked Aiya a question.
"Who is that guy?"
"He's someone you shouldn't cross."
"Yeah, don't cross him or you might get hospitalized," the student in front of me replied, her name was Aikawa.
She occasionally butt into conversations though she never started one by herself.
She also didn't speak much or loudly, however, something about her felt familiar.
Her voice sounds familiar.
"Scary," I replied to her.
A teacher abruptly entered class and began lessons, cutting our conversation short.
That teacher was our Math teacher who was none other than Jackson-sensei.
"Good morning class, I hope you are all doing well," her voice and expression said otherwise–being completely robotic. "I'm sure you know this is third week of the term and that means the midterm is close."
Everyone's expressions were darkened by those words, including mine because it meant I had to read.
"It goes without saying that you all should have started some form of preparation."
"Jackson-sensei," a student said.
"Yes?" her voice was as apathetic as usual.
"When is the midterm exam?"
"You know that I can't tell you that, don't you?"
"Oh, right. Sorry for asking."
It seems the date of exams are kept secret in the school.
"On that subject, I have prepared a test for you all. I will mark it in class when you're done. The test will be for 40 minutes—pass the handout to the person behind you."
The test didn't look that hard though that didn't mean I could answer everything—or most of them.
"You may begin."
I started, giving it my absolute best—but I turned the first page and the second then even looked at the back of the handout.
It was then I realized that out of the 50 questions, I barely knew 10.
There were some questions I was sure most normal high school students (people like me) wouldn't be able to answer, but then again, this school housed genius-level students or perhaps most were expected to be geniuses.
Of course, I completely failed those questions, unable to solve them at all.
After I finished the test, I submitted it to her and went back to my seat.
After she finished marking it, she gave us back our scripts. I got 27 out of 50, it seemed I managed to just go a little above what I supposed was the pass grade.
After everyone got their scripts, she wrote our scores on the board.
First was Ito with a score of 30, Second was Aiya with a 29, Third position was given to three people because they all got the same score, and fourth was given to me and Kagura.
Yoshida and Miyamura were twenty-third and twenty-fourth getting a 7 and 6, respectively.
Some people just got straight-up zeros.
Maybe Akatsuki was right about us.
I was very disappointed in the class, and also in myself of course. I didn't know the level of Class Espsilon till now.
People didn't pay attention in class but we had one of the best libraries in the whole of Japan, so it wouldn't be weird for them to be able to survive without direct teaching.
Also, about that class placement.
The class placement made more sense, it wasn't just a direct measure of intelligence they used, it was something else.
I didn't believe academic records were the most important record, but I believed the students in Class Epsilon were there because of their personality issues.
But that wasn't the only factor; the government went an extra step so attitude to work and attentiveness were also probably factors.
They probably used the reports from the student's past schools to try and simulate how they would survive in Japan's present society.
Based on the scores they would put them in a certain class–though this was a theory, but a theory I firmly believed in.
After all, those guys can sure as hell pull something like this. I mean it's them, isn't it?
I sat down with a bit of a complicated expression that quickly dissolved as Jackson-sensei went to the large blackboard where she wrote our name and scores and drew a line under Ito's name.
"I'm really disappointed with this class. The highest grade was 30, and that was the pass grade. That means everyone other than Ito failed," Jackson-sensei voiced her disappointment.
"Then again, this is Class Epsilon, so I'm not surprised—you lot are students who basically account for nothing. I don't even know why I'm surprised. I've lost the energy to teach, I'm leaving," she left just like that.
Though shortly after the next class began like nothing happened, however, there was still that grim feeling from the class.
I was honestly surprised that there is no one higher than that, especially with people like Ito and Kagura.
I mean it didn't seem that hard of a test for people like that. However, it showed that every single one of us needed to study more.
After the bell rang for lunch, Ito came to the class podium to speak, he gave a deliberate cough to draw everyone's attention.
"Ahem. Guys, we really need to up our game. What happened today was—," he said.
"Hey, what happened today isn't our fault, she's the one who gave a surprise test, and she just expects everyone to pass," a girl cut him off.
"That doesn't excuse that we failed."
"Well, you didn't," someone said silently.
"I barely passed the cutoff mark. Anyway, I suggest we do study groups like last term."
"Aw man, do we have to?" some boys were annoyed by the idea, I personally was against them because I didn't want to fail.
"Yes, unfortunately we must. That means no one can go to their club. Is everyone on board? If there is anyone that can't attend, could you raise your hand?"
Many people were opposed to the idea, people like Matsumoto—who just made her club recently.
However, everyone still silently accepted Ito's words because today's scores showed an undeniable fact that no one could argue about.
I thought that maybe everyone would go along with it, unfortunately for me, not everyone went along with it.
Aiya raised both our hands with no instance of any hint of hesitation.
The study group was my one chance to blend in—to stop feeling like an outsider in my own class.
But her grin left no room for argument.
Why did she do that? I might not be failing academically but I'm certainly not the best.
Moreover, I've barely talked to anyone in this class, so I was looking forward to this.
"Aiya, could I ask why you and Nakamura can't attend?" Ito asked, worry dripping in his voice.
This guy really cares about his classmates well, he is the class president—he's a better man than me.
"We're a new and budding relationship."
"But–"
"Don't worry, we can handle it," Aiya grinned.
"I see, is there anyone who can't attend?"
It seemed I had to tough it out and study with Aiya despite my isolation.
Talk about tough luck.
And to anyone who says why didn't you just argue and say you wanted to go to the study group, I simply ask this question.
"Have you seen an angry Aiya?"
No? Well, me neither. And anyone who doesn't get angry easily, when they do get angry, it covers up for all the times they weren't.
Also, I don't want a repeat of what happened at the end of the double date.
At the end of the day, I'm a coward.
***
Author's Note:
This is the second time you are calling yourself a coward, like come on bro it's not that deep.
Also, I have to say this cuz I've lowkey been called schitzo more these days.
Basically you know how I do that gag where I talk like I don't know what happens next even though I wrote the book.
Well, some of friends jokingly asked if I went insane, and to answer that:
No…but it's kinda ironic that I'm playing Insane by Black Gryph0n.
Like come on bro it's just a gag, it's really not that deep!!!
That being said, another thing I wanna say is how I forgot to say something about what happened in 9.5.
I've kinda forgotten it. It was just a shower thought so yeah–also, I hate that misconception that writers don't take baths.
I bath a lot, well, not really but it's better than not bathing once a day which I'm sure every writer does (well, not every writer but infinitesimally close to that).
Anyway, remember to comment, share, and leave a review. Thanks for reading the chapter and see you in the next one.