To Be a Power in the shadows part 2

chapter 145

Nishino Akane, an 11th grader in Sakurazaka Senior High, had a classmate she didn't like.

He had black hair and eyes and a plain face, yet he always looked tired, with deep bags under his eyes.

His name was Kageno Minoru. He was the boy that Nishino Akane really didn't like, and to make things worse, their seats were right next to each other.

Kageno Minoru, as his name might suggest, was ordinary to the point of blending into the background.

With below average grades in academics and athletics, this boy had zero participation in extracurricular clubs, had almost zero friends, but wasn't adverse to talking with others.

He was normal, ordinary, the type of student you'd see anywhere.

Akane hadn't disliked him at first. But neither did she hold any special affection towards him. She had assumed to know him as a classmate and just that.

Yet, after having interacted with him on multiple occasions, Akane had discovered an aspect to their relationship that she absolutely loathed.

This aspect being, their first greeting of the day.

Both Kageno Minoru and Nishino Akane would arrive to school each morning, barely as the gates were closed. Barely on time, every time.

And as such, they would meet at the school gates and exchange greetings.

"Good morning, Kageno-kun."

Today too, Akane greeted this most hated boy at the gates.

"Good morning, Nishimura-san."

Returned Kageno in his usual monotone.

It's Nishino, dammit!!

Screamed Akane in her head, maintaining her smile as she situated herself to her shoe locker.

They'd been in the same classroom three months now. This had gone on every morning for three months.

The first month, Akane had figured that he'd correct it eventually, so when this pattern had continued past Golden Week, she had all but run out of patience.

She still remembered that conversation.

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"Um, Kageno-kun. My name isn't Nishimura, you know?"

"Huh?"

Kageno blinked, several times, as if Akane had said something out of this world.

"Wait, wasn't it Nishimura?"

"No, it's actually—"

"Wait wait, I remember now. You're technically not an NPC, after all."

"NPC?"

Akane wasn't familiar with the jargon.

"Uh, nevermind. Don't worry, I make sure to remember the names of any major players, but I tend to mess up at times, sadly."

"It's fine, anyone can mess up."

Akane smiled seeking Kageno was genuinely apologetic.

That smile didn't last long at all.

"I'm so sorry, Nishitani-san."

Akane wanted to knock the daylights out of this idiot. Her hand was balled up in a tight fist, barely baring it.

"... Nishino."

"... Huh?"

"My name, is Nishino."