The next day, Hidetoshi started home room as usual but he carried a box which had a hole on top. Yukio, Chisato, Kaede, and Ayaka knew what that is. His gacha box.
“All right everyone. I have something I want to do so you guys can get to know your classmates better, and of course improve your academics.”
He picked up his box and proudly showed it like a father showing off his baby. The students looked bewildered but paid no attention as he called everyone one by one to pick a ball with numbers inside the box. Starting from Chisato who got number 4. Kunihito and Makoto both got number 7. Yukio was hoping to get either number. When Ayaka got number 4, he could feel his sweat dripping. Chisato stiffened in her seat, unable to look at Ayaka who just scoffed. Kaede clicked her tongue next to Yukio.
“She doesn’t need to do that. I am not on Sanada-san’s side, but Misawa-san needed to keep her head down. Maybe all of her nutrition go to her breasts and butts so her brain has no way of acting like a grown-up.”
Kaede deliberately spoke a bit louder. Ayaka shot an icy glare while Kaede just smirked as if daring her to go. Hidetoshi cleared his throat and asked the class to continue the procedure to get this over with quickly. Then the last two would be Kaede and Yukio. The slots left were one each for number 4 and number 7. Number 4 had Chisato and Ayaka, while number 7 had Kunihito and Makoto. Yukio and Kaede looked at each other.
“Don’t be so sad, Yuki. We may not be in the same group, but our hearts are still one.”
“Ahaha...yeah...”
He really could not take this new sultry Kaede. Both picked the numbers at the same time and opened them together. Yukio’s eyes widened in surprise, while Kaede’s eyes lost all colors.
“I got 7.”
“4? You gotta be kidding me.”
This meant that all of Yukio’s childhood friends would be in the same group, and he would be with Kunihito, Makoto, and the class representative Toyama Rena.
“Now with that, all groups are now completed. You guys probably wonder why I did this. I like to experiment, and before I implement this in other classes, why don’t I give you the honor to participate in this? It’s not for nothing. I want you all to experience youth to the fullest, creating good memories, making new friends or passions, and even starting a new height for your already established relationship, if you catch my drift.”
“This isn’t because you had a boring and uneventful high school life, Tsuchi-sensei?”
The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.
Everyone was laughing at the quip from Kaede. Hidetoshi sheepishly rubbed the back of his next.
“Well, you could say that, Narita.”
Kaede could see his look was a bit off, so she wanted to ask Yukio.
“Yuki-”
“All right! Back to the white eyebrows, please! You see, I did not have a good youth like Narita said just no, BUT that doesn’t mean you can’t have that. Think about it again from the benefits you could reap from these small groups, from what I had said. Even if things don’t work out in the end, you will still get a valuable lesson, and you can start over again later. Now before I end the session, I would like you guys can move your seats to form your groups. Chop chop!”
Yukio sat next to Makoto in the second row, with Toyama Rena pretty much just moved from her seat next to her, now sitting directly beside Kunihito.
“Glad that we are in the same group, man. Looking forward to a good friendship.”
Kunihito offered a fist bump with a smile. Yukio bumped it with his fist, leaving the heir satisfied. Makoto simply gave a polite bow, and Rena cleared her throat.
“Seems you guys are well acquainted before I knew it. Never mind! You probably know me, I am Toyama Rena, your class representative. Nice to meet you, Okamoto-kun, Miyamoto-sama, and Koga-san.”
“Can you just call us with our first names? Also, no need to call me with -sama. Kunihito is just fine.”
Taken aback by his rare serious response, she repeated herself.
“Then I suppose, Kunihito, Makoto, and Yukio. Is this okay?”
All three boys nodded. Rena smiled in relief.
“You can call me Rena then! Looking forward to being with you, boys!”
A smile rose on Yukio’s face before stealing a glance at Chisato who was in a rock and hard place. Kaede and Ayaka were sitting next to each other. Kaede moved behind Chisato, with Ayaka next to her, and another student named Hatano sat in front of Ayaka. Hatano could be said living the dream since he was able to share a group with the three most beautiful girls in the class, but after the tense argument between Kaede and Ayaka from the day before, he wanted to swap with anyone if possible. Noticing his gaze, Chisato sent an SOS sign to Yukio,
‘Yuki-chan help!’
‘Sorry! I can only pray for your sanity.’
‘You meanie!’
The two exchanged words through facial expressions and hand signals, just like in old times. He looked back at his own group who were animatedly chatting except Makoto. Put the energetic class representative with the handsome guy who likes to mess around and you get yourself a loud party. Yukio and Makoto were there to balance the number of extroverts.
‘Maybe, being in a different group is not a bad idea after all. Also, I can observe how the other three are doing with Chi-chan most likely needs a friend to vent. That’s where I come in.’
Yukio had begun planning the reconciliation steps from now on. Being in the same group Rena, Kunihito, and Makoto. They were like answers to his prayers from above. The first part of their high school life had just begun.