King of Highschool Vol 1

Chapter 6

Chapter 6 (Yua)

Back in elementary school, I was just a normal student. Came to class regularly. Did the work that I was asked to do. The only thing about me that was different was that I wasn't a social person. I... didn't really like talking to people. The other students were just so energetic that I was scared of talking to them. That's why I didn't really have anyone that I could call a friend. Luckily, we didn't work in groups, so I didn't have to talk, but... On the day when we started a group project.

"Eh? Hinako-san. Are you in a group?"

"..."

The other groups were all made already. Three pairs of five. I was the odd one out. When the teacher asked me that question, I looked up while trying to ignore the other student's gazes.

"No. Can I work alone?"

"Of course not. Don't suggest such a sad thing. Hmm."

The teacher glanced around until she eventually pointed towards one table. One that was three boys and two girls.

"How about them? Would you like to work with them?"

"..."

I didn't want to, but seeing I had no choice, I slowly walked over to the table and sat down. Slightly adjusting my glasses to see better. The assignment was to mold clay into something we enjoyed and present it to the class. Something I enjoy... The only thing I could think of at the time was this one manga I read. So I began to shape the clay into this one male character I really liked.

"Hinako-san?"

"...?"

One of the girls spoke to me. She was a young girl with twin pigtails.

"What are you making?"

Slowly looking at the thing I was creating, my hands stopped. Is it... really okay for me to say it? Probably. It's not like they'll know.

"M-Miyamoto... Musashi."

"Miyamoto Musashi?"

I nodded.

"Mmhm. He's someone I-."

"Ah! Miyamoto Musashi! The guy from that manga, right?!"

"?!"

When the boy chimed in, I wasn't expecting it. He... knew... He knew exactly what I was sculpting.

"So that manga, huh? But you're a girl though?"

"..."

"A girl reading manga. Kinda weird if you ask me."

"...!"

"She's quiet too. Hey, hey. She really doesn't talk a lot, right?"

"No, she doesn't."

"Mmh. And with those glasses? Doesn't that mean... she's a nerd?"

"Ohh. You're right! She's definitely a nerd!"

"Nerdy Yua! Nerdy Yua!"

"..."

I... never felt so embarrassed in my life. The rest of the class caught on to what the boys were saying and some of them began to laugh. Then... the entire class was laughing while singing the same things the boys were saying. Even the girls. They were all... making fun... of me...

"..."

The teacher apologized to me for the boy's behavior, but the damage was already done. I swore from that point on, I was going to change myself completely. I stopped wearing glasses. I threw out anything that resembled anime or manga to the outside world. The shirts. The jackets. I threw them all out. Anything so I could avoid that form of teasing again. The rest of elementary school, I refused to talk to anybody. Even after the students got tired of teasing me, I stayed quiet. Then in middle school, I began to hear whispers behind me. But because I couldn't hear them, I disregarded it. But then... in high school.