My Story of Falling for the Class President

Chapter 3: My Hero

I think I was a shy child, smaller than my classmates probably because I was born in March, not good at studies (still not good at them), and quite reserved.

My family consists of my parents, little sister, and grandparents living with us. Just an ordinary household.

Until around second grade in elementary school, I wasn't exactly bullied, but I had no friends, couldn't fit into the circle of classmates, and felt like a socially awkward kid whose only friends were books.

When I entered third grade and experienced my first class change, the kid next to me suddenly spoke to me.

"What's your name? I'm Atsuki Kanzaki!"

That was my first meeting with Acchan.

Even from a guy like me, Acchan looked cool, bright, funny, and was incredibly athletic.

He was popular, always at the center of the group, the leader of the class.

Above all, Acchan saw my love for books and my shyness in a positive light.

"You love books? That's awesome! I like manga! My dad's room has tons of old manga, so come over and read them!"

"Sho, sure, you're shy, but isn't that fine? Just talk to the people you want to talk to, and play with the ones you want to play with! Anyway, let's go catch some stag beetles!"

No one around me had ever said anything like that, so I was so happy I almost cried.

When I was with Acchan, people would gather around us right away. Everyone was smiling.

It was a completely different world from before, and in a corner of the community centered around Acchan, I found my place.

I was also glad that Acchan hated bullying, so most of the people around him didn't tease others either.

Still, aside from Acchan, the only other friend I made was the quiet Kousuke-kun.

Living in a residential area in the countryside, under Acchan's lead, we'd get drenched in sweat catching stag beetles, get covered in mud hunting crayfish, fish for crucian carp in the river, and play with all our might.

In winter, we'd build igloos so huge it was hard to believe we were just elementary school kids, and on days we couldn't play outside, we'd hang out at Acchan's place playing games or lounging around reading manga.

When we got to fourth grade, Acchan said,

"Let's start a basketball club!"

From fourth grade, boys were required to join either the soccer club or the baseball club, but Acchan, who had just read the manga Slam Dunk, said he wanted to play basketball.

I was also hooked on Slam Dunk because of Acchan's influence, so I agreed and we tried various things, but the gymnasium was occupied by the girls' club activities, and there was no space at school to play basketball, so it got rejected.

Though it was impossible, I was just amazed by Acchan's initiative to create a club if there wasn't one he wanted to join, since I'd never even thought of such a thing.

Even though we were in the same grade, I respected Acchan. To me, Acchan was a hero.

"Then, soccer's fine, right?"

I could barely keep up with soccer club practices. Even as a fourth grader, Acchan quickly started practicing with the upperclassmen.

I was terrible and lacked stamina, so I was only allowed to do basic drills, but I wanted to catch up to Acchan, who was already mixing with fifth and sixth graders in fourth grade, so I'd do extra running after practice every day until I was exhausted.

Even if it was impossible now, my goal was to stand on the same field as Acchan by the time I reached sixth grade, and if possible, to assist Acchan, who played as a forward.

My dream was to catch up to Acchan.

One day, Acchan caught me doing that extra running.

"Sho! You're doing secret training after getting so tired at club? That's super cool! Amazing! I'm gonna do it too!!"

If Acchan started doing extra running after practice, forget catching up—I'd just fall further behind! I held my head in my hands. When I told him secret training means doing it alone, he understood.

"If you come up with a killer move or something, show me!"

Nah, that's impossible.

By the way, the quiet Kousuke joined the baseball club.

On days without club activities, I usually played with all my energy alongside Acchan.

Other than Acchan, the only friend I had was still just the quiet Kousuke-kun.

We reached fifth grade. My only worry during the class change that happens every two years was being separated from Acchan, but we ended up in the same class. I was overjoyed.

For the first time, a girl named Rena Kashii was in the same class as me.

Since we were in the same year, I'd seen her before, but I'd never spoken to her.

She was so cute I did a double take.

That was when I first became aware of Kashii-san.