“Ah… I’m pathetic, aren’t I?”

Those are the words that come out of my mouth as soon as I get to where I am right now. Alone on the school’s rooftop, I have nothing else but my own thoughts to me.

What exactly am I doing? Getting riled up because of a simple girl, then showing hostility to a dude I’ve just met… None of that makes any sense. Is that buffoonery someone of my caliber … no, any normal person would do?

And not to mention, even through all of that, if I had won, it would probably be okay… but things weren’t like that at all. The fact of the matter is I lost. Completely, perfectly, and utterly, as a matter of fact.

“Generational talent…”

Those words echo in my mind, and on the empty rooftop. It was the first time when I actually saw the difference between those who were chosen and those who weren’t. All my life, I’ve lived under the belief that I was one of the former, but… I guess the truth hurts more than I thought.

Compared to him, I’m nothing. Just an idiot with money he couldn’t even keep. Those with talent can flourish, while those without can only wither away. It was a simple matter, and yet I’ve never noticed before, because I had money to spare. Under that umbrella, I wasted away my life doing nothing, but now… without the kind of wealth that I once had… what am I?

A sudden clacking sound comes from the other side of the door. Someone’s coming? But this place is off-limits to students. It’s precisely why I picked it to hide. It’s not lunchtime either, so it’s not like there will be someone suddenly in the mood to enjoy the breeze or something. Especially not under this summer heat.

Which leads to the only possibility of a teacher checking out this place for some kind of maintenance or disciplinary task. And that means I have to hide myself quickly, or else I’m gonna get in even more trouble than I already am.

But looking at this place… where else am I supposed to hide? This is an empty rooftop. There’s not even an AC fan or something of the sort.

Ah, this is just great … even more things under my plate.

Well, only one thing left to do, I guess. Maybe if I apologize properly, the teachers will forgive me.

I raise my hands up in the air, preparing for the worst.

As the door creaks open, two figures walk in, directly facing me. But they’re definitely not who I was expecting.

“See? I told you he would be here.”

“Amazing… How did you do it? Didn’t you two just meet only a few minutes ago?”

“I told you, right? My eyes are sharper than most people. How his mind works, I’ve already figured out somewhat from our clash just now, and nothing… oh, right, sorry for my manners.”

Of all the people, why does it have to be them?

“Let’s go back to class, Hakuen.”

“Why are you here?”

“Looking for you, of course,” The boy raises his eyebrows in confusion. “Why else would we come here?”

“I know that! But why?”

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“Why? Because the lady here is worried about you, obviously.”

A casual gesture towards the girl, whose face then blushes out of control due to the implications of those words.

“H-Hey, speak for yourself! I was the one who suggested leaving him alone, but you insisted on finding him!”

Before the accusation, the boy can only reply with an embarrassed laugh as he scratches his nose. “Well, it is mostly my fault that he acted the way he did, after all…”

Stop it.

Both of you were in the right. You should never have to apologize. What are you doing?

I already lost against them in abilities, am I now losing in being a decent human being too?

Is this God’s way of humiliating me even further? Repeatedly putting me in this kind of situation, so that I can see for myself what kind of a shitty person I am?

“Oh, right, Hakuen, I’m…”

“I’m sorry!”

I muster all the remaining strength in my body, swallow any meaningless petty jealousy I have left, take a 90-degree bow, and shout as loud as I can.

“... What?” Both of them utter a single word of confusion.

“I’m sorry for everything!” I continue. I have to, for if I stopped, I would never be able to say these words again. “Kuroba, it’s your first day at school, and I suddenly brought you trouble like that! I even belittled your performance without knowing any better! And Natsume, I’m sorry for breaking the rules again! I’m willing to face any punishment once we return!”

It’s time to face the facts. I’m just a good-for-nothing, shitty excuse for a human being. But even now, as I scream these words of apology out, I know that my heart doesn’t truly mean it. Deep down, the feeling of jealousy is still there, and the materialistic desires are still there. So, I have to do it. If I can’t change my awful nature, then I’ll at least do the right thing even if every fiber of my being goes against it.

But… why are they so quiet?

As I turn my gaze from the roof tiles to the two, I realize how they are almost baffled by my words just now. Eyes widened, heads tilted, they’re both confused and weirded out.

I can’t blame them. After all, just look at me. I’d feel disgusted at myself.

All of a sudden, a sound tears through the awkward silence we share. A heartfelt laughter, without any malice.

“I knew my hunch was correct,” the owner of that laughter, Kuroba, wipes the tears off his face and continues. “You’re an interesting guy, Hakuen! I like it! Let’s be friends!”

“... Huh?”

I can only utter as much. Is something wrong with him? I basically attacked him out of the blue, and now I just showed him my pathetic side, and yet…

“Like I said, let’s be friends!” Kuroba repeats himself. “You know what they said, yesterday’s enemies can be today’s allies. We may have fought, but thanks to it, we’ve understood a bit more about each other, no?”

“And it seems like you’ve learned from your mistakes,” Natsume adds. “It’s not like we’re so petty that we wouldn’t forgive someone who wants to be a better person. Oh, but you still have to finish your punishment.” The girl lets out a light chuckle.

“You two…”

“Oh, right. You already knew my name, but I haven’t formally introduced myself yet. I’m Fukuzawa Natsume in class 2-B. Pleased to meet your acquaintance.”

“I’m… Fuutsuno Hakuen…” I stutter before her sincerity.

“Kuroba Yoichi,” the boy once again introduces himself while offering me a handshake. “Nice to meet you, Hakuen.”

“Nice to meet you, Kuroba, but… we’re already on a first-name basis?”

Upon hearing my question, Kuroba wags his finger and shakes his head.

“No, no, Yoichi. Your last name might carry your ancestry, but only your name can show the real ‘you’. That’s why I use my first name, and I always call others by theirs as well.”

“Oh…” I let out an awkward laugh. So, back then he wasn’t trying to play a villain role by taunting me with first-name calling.

“And you can call me Natsume too, if you want,” Natsume also jumps in the conversation.

“Great!” Kuroba… ah, right, Yoichi raises his fist forward. “Since there are three of us, handshaking is kind of hard… so how about this instead?”

This guy… he’s surprisingly childish, huh?

I like it.

“Nice to meet you, Yoichi, Natsume!”

“Pleased to meet you too, Hakuen, Yoichi.”

“The pleasure’s all mine, Natsume, Hakuen! Here’s to a great year together!”