Chapter 62: Fight On, Against the Invisible Atmosphere. (Please vote for me!)

"I'm heading out."

"Be careful on the way."

After pulling the iron gate shut, another girl appeared from the neighboring Sakurakoji household. The two exchanged a glance and naturally fell into step together, heading toward the train station side by side.

Sakurakoji Sazakura stifled a yawn, tugged at the boy's sleeve, and looked at him with sleepy eyes. "Do we really have to go this early?"

"They're starting appearance inspections at the school gate today."

"With the upperclassman?"

"No, with Yagami."

"Oh, that girl from yesterday."

They entered the station together and waited on the platform for the train. The autumn wind carried a faint chill as it swept through, making the girl's side ponytail sway.

"Your tie is crooked."

"Hmm?"

His childhood friend reached out, unfolded the collar of his white shirt beneath his Western-style uniform, undid his neatly tied blue tie, and redid it properly.

He didn't call her out on it; he simply stood quietly, lowering his gaze to the girl in front of him. He could see her eyelashes trembling ever so slightly—adorable and enchanting.

If only he could fall for her again.

"All done," Sazakura announced, patting his collar and gently straightening his uniform jacket. She lifted her head, beaming at him.

"You'll be in front of the whole school, right? If you don't look sharp, how will you defeat them?"

"I'm not planning to defeat anyone."

"But there are countless people who want to defeat you, Tsuki."

"Perhaps."

"Don't lose, okay?"

Her voice was like standing at the bottom of a deep well hidden by tall grass—a well into which someone fell every few days. When you sat silently in that darkness, gazing up at the stars, that fleeting, brilliant meteor was her.

Even now, Tsuki Jinguuji still felt it was hopelessly foolish to go against the mood.

Before all this, he had only wanted to be the pill bug at the bottom of the crack, not really wishing to become human at all.

Curled up where the sunlight could not reach, crawling in the shadows, he needed no comforting from anyone, nor did he have to reach out to anyone.

But then, a girl had pushed him onto the stage.

And then, another girl told him not to lose.

The train screeched into the station, the conductor's voice sounded, and the crowd surged in and out beside him. His childhood friend's hand clung tightly to his sleeve, smiling.

"...Yeah."

They parted ways in front of the station; Sazakura took her own path while the boy walked alone up the morning slope. The emptiness was almost surreal—Tsuki Jinguuji had never come to school at this hour before.

The familiar hill was draped in a layer of ultramarine, and even the air seemed chillier than usual, so cool that breathing it in made him want to cough.

"Good morning, Senpai."

"Oh, good morning. I thought you'd be late."

"That's rude—I wouldn't be late on the very first day."

"So tomorrow I'll be on my own?"

"Are you afraid, Senpai?"

"Hmph."

"Ah! Senpai, you just laughed through your nose, didn't you? You did!"

At the school gate, they flashed their student council badges to enter. After dropping their bags off in their respective classrooms, they met up again at the entrance.

"Senpai, does it look okay like this?" Yagami Yoru spun in front of him, lifting her arm to show off her crimson armband, the words "Student Council" emblazoned in white.

Suddenly, she grinned with pride. "I'm a warrior! An honorary—ow, ow!"

"No playing around," Tsuki Jinguuji said, withdrawing his hand after giving her head a light knock.

Lately, her head seemed to fit his hand better and better—truly alarming.

"Ah, looks like students are already arriving," Yagami pointed toward the gate.

"Mhm."

"Ah! It really is Yoru-chan! Yoru-chan, good morning!"

Two first-year girls appeared at the gate, calling out cheerfully to Yagami Yoru.

"Good morning, Hina-chan, Mika-chan!"

Separated by the gate, Yagami chatted away with the two girls—classmates of hers, no doubt.

To Tsuki Jinguuji, she looked more like the one being visited in prison, which amused him so much he couldn't help but smile.

"Hey, Yoru-chan, is that Senpai the second-year Jinguuji?"

"Eh? That's right."

"Oh no... He's even more handsome than I imagined~"

"Is he smiling at Yoru-chan? Ugh... I might faint. Yoru-chan, I want to join the student council too! I want to be in the same room as Senpai Jinguuji!"

"So jealous, Yoru-chan. You get to work with such a cool senpai every morning."

"Huh? Are you crazy? Besides his looks, what else does that senpai have going for him?"

"His face."

"His face."

"........."

All three girls' voices carried straight to Tsuki Jinguuji's ears. He pretended not to hear, standing there expressionless, only to catch a few more remarks: "So cold, so cool."

When the time came, the guard pressed the button on the remote, and the school gate retracted with a clatter. Students filed in slowly, like a flock of sheep herded by sheepdogs across a meadow.

Tsuki Jinguuji and Yagami Yoru stood on either side of the gate, checking students' dress and appearance.

On the whole, the rules at Shinou Sakura High were not particularly strict. Besides the mandatory uniform, the harshest rule was the ban on dyed hair.

Boys could keep their hair a bit long, and girls could wear light makeup—it was not against the rules. Earrings and nail polish weren't strictly forbidden, but if a teacher or the dean saw them, a lecture was inevitable.

Even so, compared to neighboring Meguro High, Shinou Sakura High was already considered lenient.

And so, a new week began, and the duties of a student council member commenced.

Jinguuji’s reputation within the school was considerable, but his face was most recognizable among the second-years. So when the students with blue ties and bows spotted him, they wore expressions of disbelief.

"Isn't that Jinguuji? What’s he doing standing at the gate so early?"

"Shh, don’t you see his armband? He’s been promoted."

"Tsk, tsk, having your girlfriend as student council president really pays off."

"Hey—you're too loud."

"What? Can’t I say it?"

A group of second-years with blue bows walked into the gate together. Upon seeing their faces, Tsuki Jinguuji instinctively furrowed his brow, sighing inwardly.

Like the sun overhead slowly setting, the light that never used to reach him now changed direction, its burning rays setting his toes alight.

His next step faltered, just a little.

[Don’t lose.]

The girl’s voice echoed from deep within his mind. Tsuki Jinguuji slowly clenched his fists and stepped forward.

Yet—

A petite girl, standing straighter than anyone else, stepped out ahead of him to block their path.

"Stop right there!"