Cote: Retelling

Chapter 3: Older Ladies and Money

The second day of school and the first day of classes. Most of the morning was spent on going over course objectives, not that they particularly mattered. Unless they spring some group project on me, I have no need to worry academically. What people were really surprised by was how lenient the teachers were. Sudo slept through half of the morning classes and the teachers didn't say anything about it. I could just see the look of disappointment on Horikita, who was probably losing faith in this being an "elite" school. However, that's not what's worrying for me.

What I should be worried about is how, upon the lunch bell, I am left alone by the rest of the class. I suppose social interaction wouldn't be easy as just saying I've lived in a different country. Of course, me calling out to anyone is out of the question. Sudo, the only considerable option, has already left. Perhaps I should have asked him if he wanted to hang out back at the convenience store. Either way, this is problematic. Though I want to conduct some investigations on the school, establishing connections with classmates early on is far, far more pressing. Well now, I must remedy this situation, but how?

"How pathetic."

"What. What's pathetic." Horikita, do you have a grudge against me?

"Look at you. Your thoughts are like an open book. "Please, someone invite me!" or "What am I gonna do?" is what your expression is saying."

"You say that, but isn't there "no art to read the mind's construction in the face"?"

"Perhaps, but you just make it painfully obvious."

"I think you're just jealous and spiteful that no one invited you either, so you're taking it out on me. Jealous souls won't be answered to, Horikita."

"I prefer to be alone." She says, taking a bite of her tamagoyaki. I peer over and see a well-made homemade bento with balanced nutrition. She certainly knows how to cook. Getting hungry myself, I decide to give up this time and head to the cafeteria. "Well, have fun with that." I say with attempted sarcasm that didn't show in my voice. But just as I walked out of the classroom, I was stopped by a pleasant voice.

"Umm, Ayanokouji-kun, right?" It was Kushida Kikyou, with...there are a multitude of things I could've noted about her, but my mind instantly noticed her skirt was just skirting around the bare-minimum of acceptable short skirt lengths, exposing her thighs. It was so distracting that I uncharacteristically said 'skirt' three times in one line of thought with poor grammar. Although the confusion only lasted for a fraction of a second, it was still unexpected. Do I have a thing for thighs?

"Do you need something, Kushida?"

"Yeah, I just have one small question. Ayanokouji-kun, you get along well with Horikita-san, don't you?"

"Horikita? At most we're casual acquaintances, and even that's doubtful. Why do you ask?"

"Um, well, remember how I said I wanted to get along with everyone? I wanted to get everyone's contact info, but Horikita-san turned me down this morning..." Get along with everyone, huh? As expected of the social valedictorian of the class.

"Then I remembered I saw you two talking after getting off the bus." She was towards the front of the bus, whereas I was around the back while Horikita was far back. She had gotten off earlier than us. "Is Horikita-san the type to talk a lot with her friends?"

"Even if she had friends, she would be succinct in what she says. I haven't talked to her that much, either. She just isn't good at interacting with others, nor does she want to."