My Story of Falling for the Class President

Chapter 4: Eccentric Boy

I was surprised by Kashii-san's cuteness, but since I was just a kid, I quickly forgot about it.

That's because, at the time, I was obsessed with the samurai boom and captivated by the passionate lives of warriors.

Strong, wise, ambitious, or deeply honorable—those kinds of men were what I, a fifth-grader, fiercely admired.

Because of that, I felt a complex about my shy personality, unable to speak my mind, and I confided in Acchan about my insecurities and my dream of becoming a man like those samurai.

"Sho, you're fired up! I think that's great! Become a samurai! Become a real man!"

Acchan's support reassured me.

I swore to become a man who doesn't do cowardly things, values honor, and protects the weak.

Around this time, I started referring to myself as "Me."

"Also, wouldn't it be good to talk back when someone says something or teases you?"

Sometimes, I got teased by the outgoing kids other than Acchan.

During class, when I couldn't answer a question and fidgeted, I'd get heckled, but at those times, I couldn't say anything.

I didn't want to fight, but isn't just taking it without responding unmanly?

Already, I was an indecisive man.

However, Acchan gave me advice again about this.

"Sho, you've got a kind side, so instead of arguing when someone says something, why not throw in a witty comeback?"

It was an eye-opener. Even without fighting, a witty comeback meant I wasn't just taking the teasing—I could respond without it turning into a fight. As always, Acchan was an idea guy.

The next day during class, I was called on and got the answer wrong. So embarrassing...

As expected, some of the outgoing kids

"So dumb!"

"Idiot!"

started throwing taunts. Normally, I would've just looked down, but today was the day! I opened my mouth.

'Could you wrap it in a little more tact?!'

The outgoing kids were stunned that I, who had never said anything before, talked back. It didn't get a laugh or any reaction, but I spoke up! I felt a sense of progress in myself.

Still, being naturally shy, I didn't want to say things that hurt or mocked others too much. I made an effort to choose my words carefully.

The next day in the morning, during PE class, we had separate marathons for boys and girls, but in the following class, I, being a sweaty guy, was still dripping with sweat and got teased by Koishi. Even though Koishi is in Acchan's group, he still annoys me.

"Tachibana! Aren't you sweating way too much?"

The outgoing kids laughed hysterically. Our homeroom teacher lightly scolded Koishi for suddenly interrupting class, and though I felt like looking down after being teased so loudly, I racked my brain.

Still laughing hysterically, I turned to Koishi and the others, wiping my sweat with the handkerchief I had that day, and tried to smirk as much as I could while saying,

'Seriously! Am I in surgery or something?!'

When I made that self-deprecating comeback, the whole class laughed for the first time. Acchan gave me a thumbs-up and laughed loudly while looking at me. Kashii-san was laughing too, and I felt a mix of happiness, embarrassment, and an exhilarating tickle.

Koishi, who had teased me, looked frustrated, which was amusing.

Realizing that a good comeback could get laughs felt like a whole new world opening up for shy me. Since I started responding every time I was teased, the annoying teasing gradually stopped.

Unless someone teased me first, I didn't make comebacks, but when a classmate shyer than me was teased and couldn't respond, I'd step in with a comeback to shut it down. The outgoing kids didn't seem to find it funny.

The outgoing kids were so bright, had lots of friends, and excelled at things, so they must've been confident, but I couldn't understand why they laughed at others, mocked them, or looked down on them.

Since I'd been like that too and Acchan had saved me, I wanted to pay it back, even just a little.

The outgoing kids didn't seem to like it, but for me, teasing someone who couldn't fight back felt worse to hear. I fancied myself a champion of justice, helping the weak and humbling the strong.

Later, what happened during this time would come back to me.

My classmates' impression of me was

apparently a boy who admired samurai and made witty comebacks. Honestly, there's no other way to put it.

Even on some assignment,

Future Dream: Samurai

I wrote and submitted that. I got laughed at, but I didn't make a comeback about it. I thought, whatever I dream of is my business. Of course, I knew there's no such job as a samurai.

By the middle of the first term, the boys centered around Acchan, and the girls centered around Kashii-san, forming that dynamic. Since neither Acchan nor Kashii-san liked bullying or teasing, the teasing in class decreased compared to before.

Whenever Acchan saw something like that, he'd go talk to both the weak kid and the teaser, pulling them both into the group. What incredible social skills!

Kashii-san was good at listening to the other girls' opinions, mediating, and handling things, so I felt she resolved issues before they even started.

I thought, what a great class.

In club activities, I still wasn't improving much at soccer. By fifth grade, Acchan was already a regular as a forward, and an amazing guy from the class next door, Sotomachi, was a regular as a midfielder. In fifth grade, those two were the regulars.

I was a substitute side back who couldn't play in matches, so watching Sotomachi pass to Acchan for a goal made me envious of Sotomachi.

I kept up with the endurance training after club activities as always. My stamina was improving.

I started to feel just a tiny bit of confidence in myself.

Summer break ended, and the second term started.

There was a seat change, and I ended up next to Kashii-san.

———————————————

Back when Sho's comebacks weren't quite polished yet

'Acchan, you're so cool!!'

'Sho... That kinda feels weird...'

For the first time, Acchan rejected something I said. I decided I'd never do that again.

The gag from Oriental Radio didn't quite land.