Katawa Shoujo - Akira Satou Route

Act 3-3 Silent Comedy

The sound of a bell signals the beginning of the last part of the school day, much to the joy of the students who have just sat through a little over four hours worth of lecturing. Science, history, mathematics, and literature among others have skipped by in what I wish was the blink of an eye.

Luckily, like many of the other people here; I don't have to worry about an athletics period. My excuse comes from an inability to maintain a high degree of fitness without the risk of killing myself, but it's an excuse nonetheless. I've been referred to the track on numerous occasions by the head nurse, but... I'll get around to it someday. Before I'm already dead, if we're talking ideal conditions.

There are some men who can force themselves to wake up at six in the morning to go run around in a circle for an hour, and there are some men who just want to eat breakfast.

Each section of the room tingles with miscellaneous conversation, only audible as a mess of babble between the talk of after-school plans and gossip about popular kid of the week. Somehow, the only people who aren't talking are one: a student who I believe is physically unable to talk, and two: the loudest girl in class, her fingers flexing about as she signs to her companion.

I'd add in a three, but the person who qualifies for that position disappeared after lunch and hasn't returned as of yet. I'll assume that she decided to take the rest of the day off. It's not as if I can blame her, since the most boring class of the day is up next.

Before I've realized it, a mousy woman has taken her place behind the podium in front of the room, the word 'English III' written in both Japanese and the dreaded language up on the board.

I think it would be honesty to say that this is both my least favorite class and the least engaging subject offered at this school. It doesn't help that I've never paid attention in foreign language studies to begin with, so I'm about as behind as is possible.

"Hello, how are you? Fine, thank you." she announces to the class in English with about as much enthusiasm as a drowsy cat.

Welp, time to look out the window for an hour.

*************

"Hiichan~, you there?"

No, I'm not here. I'm asleep. I'm not Hisao if I'm asleep.

"C'mon, wake up~!"

Something nudges at my shoulder from the side, shaking me back and forth for no reason.

"Hiichan, Shiichan says you'll have to help us get ready for Tanabata if you don't wake up~!"

That's not how labor agreements work. That's like saying 'you're bound to follow this contract UNLESS you sign on the dotted line.'

I pull my head from the cool surface of the desk, having to squint to try and adjust to the bright, afternoon sunlight. Better to wake up than be conscripted to a week or two of doing something like building stalls or trying to get sponsor money from shops in town.

"Awww, I was hoping you'd stay asleep." Misha comments, her belongings already packed away and resting in a book-bag on the desk. Shizune sits beside her in much the same way, arms crossed as she peeks around her pink-haired companion.

I wonder if one is ever without the other. It wouldn't surprise me if they even slept in the same room or shared the same sets of clothing.

"What's up?" I ask as I try to shake the grogginess from my head, knowing full well that it'll take all of my wits to avoid falling into a 'stuck working for the student council' hole.

"Class ended ten minutes ago, Hicchan. If we hadn't woken you up, you'd be here all day~." Misha answers.

"So why are you two still here?"