Elysian's Monogatari

Chapter 61: Life as Reimei Idol Trainee

Jun's POV

A week has passed since the start of school. Hundreds of years have passed since the equality of all people was declared right? I don't have enough knowledge about the specific though. But in this Reimei Academy a clear social hierarchy system still exists. In just one week i became painfully aware of this. Reimei Academy thoroughly investigates the students for their qualifications and abilities as idols upon admission.

Then we get categorized as honored students or extras. And the honored students are favored. Or should I say only the honored students are treated as proper students, as idols. While extras like us aren't recognized as respectable individuals. We're not even human beings in their eyes. I know Shiro-senpai said we have to work hard but we're tirelessly tasked with taking care of the honored students all day long.

We prepare their meals and clothes and clean and tidy up the training rooms for those esteemed honored students. From where we live and learn to what we learn, everything is vastly different from the honored students. We are utterly exploited to ensure that the honored students can live a comfortable life so that they can focus on idol activities.

But it can't be helped! We are not qualified as idols! We've been judged as such when we were applicants taking our entrance exams! Haaa...I guess i just don't have the talent. Even worse than i thought since i didn't get to be an honored student.

I tried very hard but my peers were playing games and having their parents take care of everything for them. I didn't even complain while working hard. Damn it, damn it, damn it! Ahh this is so annoying...

No one's POV

"Um...Jun-kun?" Ren's voice jolted Jun out of his thoughts. "Are you okay? You looked like you're thinking really hard." Ren asked with concern. "...I'm fine. I'm sorry for worrying you." Jun said.  "Really? If you're having troubles feel free to let me know! We're friends after all!" Ren said surprising Jun.

"Hm? What's wrong?' He then asked seeing his reaction. "Ah no it's nothing. I just didn't expect us to be friends within a week of school." Jun said. "True but we're fellow trash here so i thought it'll be better to get along well you know?' Ren said.

" Fellow trash...ahaha you sure have a way of words." Jun said with a sweatdrop. Just then Shiro entered the dorm. "Ah Nii-san welcome back! Done with your work?" Ren asked. "...Yeah. It took a little longer than I thought though." Shiro said. "Is that so? Working super early in the morning sure is tough. Otsukare-sama Shiro-senpai!" Jun said. "...Yeah thanks." Shiro said. 

"Good morning." A voice suddenly said scaring Jun and Ren, while Shiro turned to see a person who is taller than average lean build. He has slightly long neck-length mint green colored hair and purple colored eyes, as well as two moles under his left eye. "Where the hell did he come from?!" Jun asked.

"...Good morning. Kazehaya-san." Shiro greeted back. "Kazehaya...as in Kazehaya Tatsumi-san, the one who did the opening ceremony?" Ren asked. "Haha. Hai thank you for remembering my name." Tatsumi said. "And then? Um...What do you need?" Jun asked. "I just wanted remind you that you should finish getting ready and attend the morning greetings. If you don't get up soon, you won't have time to eat breakfast you know?" Tatsumi said.

"Yeah about that...I got into trouble the other day so the teachers ordered me to stay here. Ren-kun did nothing wrong but he got dragged into this just because he was beside me. They also ordered Shiro-senpai to keep an eye on us." Jun said. "Ah I do remember hearing something like that. A rebellious entrant who used violence against some honored students and his friend who just stood there not doing anything to prevent it." Tatsumi said.

"Har?! I didn't use violence! I just had an argument with them! What, did it become a story where I punched an honored student among you guys?!" Jun said clearly not liking the accusation made about him.

"And who the hell was just standing there not doing anything to prevent it?! I did try to help okay?!" Ren said. "...You guys..." Shiro said with a sigh. "Hm...That's just what I heard but looks like I was right it's not the truth." Tatsumi said.

"I can tell from your eyes you are definitely not the kind who would harm others without reason." He added. "...Har? The hell you know about us, you damn privileged honored student?" Jun said with slight irritation.

"Well, technically, yes I'm an honored student." Tatsumi said. "...What do you mean 'technically'? Not to be rude but isn't that the only thing that matters here at Reimei Academy?" Ren asked. "Absolutely not. You may say so but do you really think this is the right thing to do?" Tatsumi said confusing the Ren and Jun.

"If that's the case I feel utterly sorry for you. And for this environment that made you think that way." He added with a sad expression confusing the two even more.

"...Kazehaya-san enough with the talk. As you know this is the warehouse dorm where we, the non-honored students stay in." Shiro said. "Hai I am aware." Tatsumi said. "So why are you, an honored student, here? You'd get looked down upon by 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮 if they see you here you know?" Shiro asked.

"...That's what I wanted to ask too." Jun said. "Haha. I understand your concern. But I'm not particularly liked by the other honored students in the first place so it does not bother me whether they look down upon me or not." Tatsumi calmly said.

"Besides, another tragic fact is that the honored students are allowed to do almost anything at Reimei Academy. Even if we do something that should be severely punished like committing violence against another person, we won't get questioned as long as the victim isn't another honored student." He added.

"....Yeah we knew that. Or rather I was so shocked that the teachers seemed to have no problem with me getting beaten up by a group of honored students. And yet I got suspended for just talking back to an honored student. What utter bullshit it doesn't make sense. Makes me think if everyone here went insane." Jun said.

"....Yeah even I can't deny that. The honored students get to do whatever they want but peasants like us get the unfair treatment." Ren said with a sigh. "I understand your frustrations but it is not right to overly define others as if they were demons. Discrimination often starts with the thought that 'others' are different from us after all and such discriminations is sadly the seed of countless tragedies." Tatsumi said.

"Ah?! You guys are the ones discriminating others aren't you? You guys created the system of honored students and imposed it on us didn't you?" Jun asked angrily. "And that's why this kind of differentiation, this labelling of 'us' and 'them', is a flaw that all humans should work together to overcome." Tatsumi said.

"We are all equal under God. There is no 'us' or 'them'. You three and I are all human beings with strengths and weaknesses." He added. "Har? Why are you even saying this to us? Are you here just to give us suspicious lectures?" Jun asked. "Oh no, my apologies if i offended you. It's just that I've become accustomed to speaking this way due to the environment I grew up in." Tatsumi said.

"In fact I didn't come here to discuss such matters. I merely wanted to greet you all, my roommates, since I'm about to start living here today." He added surprising the three of them including Shiro. "Huh? Here? But don't honored students have those unnecessarily luxurious dorms?" Ren asked.

"Yes that is true. But I've opted out of it and decided to live here." Tatsumi said surprising the three even more. "Umm Kazehaya-san are you okay in the head? I mean why would you even do that?" Shiro asked with confusion clearly stated on his face. "Do not worry. I am perfectly fine. Besides I didn't do it on a whim. Even I have my own thoughts, or rather, a plan." "Huh?" All three of them said.

(Yes I am alive. Very much alive. This time I used the actual story from the game and make a bit of changes to it dk if you can tell though)