A Rose-Colored Lie: COTE Reaction

Kiyopon's School Paradise

I disliked the entrance ceremony and imagined that many first-year students probably felt the same.

The first years clamored in overwhelming agreement. Some upperclassmen shuddered, presumably recalling their own torturous entrance ceremonies.

Meanwhile, Suzune took a deep breath, calming herself. 'Things will only get worse from here... I need to stay calm. I can't lose myself like I did in the last reading.'

The principal and the students exchanged excessive words of gratitude, there was far too much time spent standing in lines, and, with so many irritating things to deal with, it all felt like a huge pain in the butt. But those weren't my only complaints. The entrance ceremonies for elementary school, junior high, and high school all mean the same thing: the start of another major trial for children.

Arisu thinned her lips at that wording. 'While that's technically correct, I can't help but resent the definition of "trial" that that dreadful place has left you with.'

In order for students to enjoy their time at school, they must make friends, and there are only a few key days after the entrance ceremony to properly do that. Failure to do so signals the beginning of a rather tragic three years.

As someone who dislikes trouble, I decided I'd like to establish proper relationships. Unfamiliar with the notion, I'd spent the day before in preparation, running through different scenarios.

'Yeah, I bet you went over plenty of "scenarios".' Ryuuen scoffed. 'Proper relationships, my ass.'

A surprising amount of students turned to stare at me incredulously. What? Don't look at me like that. I couldn't have been the only one here who needed to practice socializing in advance. It was a perfectly normal thing to do.

Haruka did not appear to be aware of this.  She struggled to contain her laughter. "Really, Kiyopon? You prepared? That's a lot more intense than I expected of you."

Thankfully, Akito came to my defense. "I don't think Kiyotaka wants to hear that from the girl who pretended to sleep through class introductions because she was too nervous to intro-"

"I told you that in confidence!" Haruka hissed, clapping a hand over his mouth.

"A-At least you were making an effort." Keisei tried to comfort me awkwardly. "I didn't even try to make friends until you guys."

I nodded at him, glum. Perhaps I'd started out more socially inept than I'd thought.

For instance, should I burst into the classroom and actively start talking to people? Should I secretly pass around a slip of paper with my email address, so as to better befriend someone? Someone like me needed to practice, because this environment was so different from what I'd experienced thus far. I was completely isolated. I had ventured alone into a battlefield, and it was do or die.

The absurdity of that hyperbole earned a few snickers. I hadn't really been exaggerating, though.

Haruka's eyes lit up. "It got even more weirdly intense."

"So you considered this school a battlefield before you knew about the S-System?" Nagumo smirked condescendingly. "Ahead of the curve, I see."

"With all due respect, Vice President, I don't think we should belittle Ayanokouji-kouhai for his social ineptitude," Tachibana said.

...Thanks... I guess.

Nagumo just laughed. "You're right. I apologize. That idea you had of passing around your email address is truly innovative, kouhai. Dare I say genius?"