After the class had settled, the science teacher entered carrying a stack of consent forms. She placed them on the desk and addressed the students: "We are organizing a three-day educational tour to the Neuro-Observatory of Space. Those interested must submit 7,671.97 yen—equivalent to 4,500 rupees—to Mr. Uto by tomorrow. Further details are outlined in the consent forms." With that, she exited the classroom.
Yudashi rose and distributed the forms to his classmates. When he reached Saki at the end, a faint blush colored his cheeks. Unaware of his budding feelings, Saki simply replied, "Thank you." Yudashi returned to his seat and gazed out the window pensively.
The classroom buzzed with discussions about the upcoming tour. Michi turned to Saki and inquired, "Saki, will you be joining us?"
Saki met her gaze and responded, "Yes, I will come this time."
Overhearing, Yudashi turned and added, "Then perhaps I will join as well."
"I shall accompany you too," Dave chimed in.
"I'm in, then," Hensudo declared.
"Excellent! We can make it a group outing," Michi exclaimed with enthusiasm.
The bell rang, signaling the arrival of the Japanese language teacher. The students stood and greeted in unison, "Good morning, Sensei."
"Be seated," the teacher instructed. He continued, "Today, I will administer a surprise test. Yudashi, please distribute the answer sheets."
Yudashi handed out the sheets while the teacher wrote the questions on the board. Once finished, Yudashi took his seat and began working. The teacher settled at his desk, sipping his cold coffee, his gaze lingering pointedly on Saki.
When the bell rang again, students submitted their answer sheets on the desk. Saki approached, placed hers down, and turned to leave. The teacher murmured, audible only to her, "Meet me in my office during the break."
Saki nodded, puzzled. "Very well, I will see you then," the teacher added before standing and departing.
Saki returned to her seat, opened a book, and began reading. Suddenly, Hensudo approached. "By the way, what's your name?"
Saki looked up and replied, "My name is Saki."
"Ah, I once had a friend named Saki as well," he said casually.
Yudashi, feeling a twinge of jealousy, walked over and asked Saki directly, "Will you be my friend?"
She turned to him with a smile. "Yes, Yudashi."
Dave glanced back and teased, "Something intriguing seems to be unfolding here, hmm?"
Michi joined them and suggested, "If there's room-sharing on the trip, we could book one for four or five people."
"That's a splendid idea!" Dave agreed.
Saki interjected, "Sensei has summoned me, so I must go to his office now." She excused herself and left.
Upon reaching the office, she announced, "Yes, Sensei?"
"Ah, you've arrived, trash bin," the teacher sneered, deliberately invoking her derogatory label.
Saki endured the insult in silence.
"You're just as stubborn as your parents ever were," he continued mockingly.
Saki's hands clenched into fists. She whispered sharply, "Sensei, you shouldn't speak like that."
"Oh, really? And who are you to dictate how I address a trash bin—or the ones who produced it?" he persisted with cruel derision.
Saki's fingers twitched, her eyes fixed downward in mounting frustration. "I said stop, Sensei," she murmured through gritted teeth.
"By the way, trash bin, take these answer sheets and distribute them in class."
Saki collected the papers and exited, leaving a faint mark on the table where her fist had pressed. She reentered the classroom, handed out the sheets to her classmates, and returned to her seat.
She gazed out the window at the cherry blossom tree, now withered and bare. Michi called to her, "So, are you interested in being my roommate on the trip?"
Saki turned, noticing Yudashi blush once more as he thought to himself, She is just so cute.
"Yes, Michi, I would like to share a room with you during the trip."
"Then it's settled—we five will share a room," Michi declared excitedly.
"Agreed," the others responded.
The Japanese teacher reentered, clearing his throat. "Yudashi and Tison, you have both secured second place in the surprise test."
"What?" the class murmured in shock.
The teacher continued, "The student who has topped the class this time is Saki."
A stunned silence fell over the room before eyes turned to her. Tison protested, "This can't be—how could she top the test?"
The teacher departed, leaving Yudashi staring at Saki in awe, thinking, This girl is remarkable!
Tison approached Saki's desk aggressively. "If you come first next time, I'll make you regret it."
Michi began to rise, but Saki held her back and replied calmly to Tison, "Then you'll need to try harder to surpass me."
"Ooh, she just outwitted Tison," Hensudo jeered.
"You!" Tison snarled, stomping back to his seat.
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