I Will Return Again Chapter 17 (Part1)

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After I told an amazed Saki I would join the entertainment club, we went to the clubroom. Just as one would expect, an overexcited Akane hugs me, making me cry out, “Nyaa?!”

Akane and Hayate are delighted that I joined. It seems that the minimum number of members required this year is five, and I’m the fifth person. Akane, Saki, Hayate, me, and Saki’s relative, a freshman, who is not here at the moment due to errands. Apparently, they would have been downgraded to a club if I didn’t join.

Even with the situation as it was, it made me very happy that Saki told me I didn’t have to join; she really thought more about me than the club.

An elated Akane exclaimed, “We’ll have a welcome party for the new members tomorrow!” Although I generally expected this, it’s simply enough to make my heart skip.

With that, my first day of club came to a close.

　◇  ◆ ◇  ◆

“Hi, good morning, Yos.h.i.+nsan, Tsuka.s.san” (Izumi)

We ran into him again in the elevator. What was his name again? Izu... Izumi? Yes, that’s right, it’s Izumi.

(TN: Remember, it isn’t actually an elevator, but the area just inside the main entrance where they change their shoes.)

“Good morning.” (Miyuki)

“Good morning, Izumi-senpai.” (Tsukasa)

Miyuki looks at him with a dubious expression as I greet him.

“Izumi? Tsukasa, this person isn’t Izumi...” (Miyuki)

“I was waiting for you, Yos.h.i.+nsan. My name is Izumi. Right, Izumi.” (Izumi)

“…Huh?” (Miyuki)

“Tsukasa called me Izumi. So, now I'm Izumi.” (Izumi)

Miyuki’s forehead wrinkles and she looks at him with an expression that seems to be asking, ‘What are you talking about?’ According to what she’s saying, it seems he’s not Izumi after all. No matter how odd a person is, it’s best not to call them by the wrong name. I need to apologize here.

“I’m sorry. I called you by the wrong name.” (Tsukasa)

“It doesn’t matter. Besides, didn’t I just call myself ‘Izumi’? I don't mind at all.” (Izumi)

This self-proclaimed ‘Izumi’ brushes back his hair. He’s wearing cologne today and it smells good, but honestly, it’s a bit too much.

“Oh, this scent? I tried a new cologne today. What do you think?” (Izumi)

Even though I’ll say that I think it smells nice, I have nothing else to say. For me, blood and cologne are similar. So, please don’t spread your arms to brag. Besides, you’re going to get caught by the disciplinary committee for wearing too much cologne. There’s a limit on what you can get away with, even if the school rules are somewhat lax.

“Uh… I think it’s nice.” (Tsukasa)

I respond to him with my biggest eighteen-year-old university first year, salesperson smile. This is how adults do it.

“Oh, really? Do you truly think so?” (Izumi)

“Hii~, yes.” (Tsukasa)

Immediately, Izumi’s eyes begin to s.h.i.+ne brightly. His response surprises me, so I let out a small scream.

“Fufufu~ It’s going to be a nice day… Oh, Look at the time, it’s this late already. I’m sorry to have kept you. You should go to cla.s.s soon. Won’t homeroom be starting soon?” (Tsukasa)

“Oh, right. Please excuse me.” (Izumi)

I nod and head for cla.s.s. After taking a few steps, I look back to see Miyuki hit Izumi with her bag. Miyuki glances at me as I watch, so I raise my hand and give her a thumbs up.

    ◇ ◆ ◇  ◆

Since I’ve already graduated from here once, I’m already familiar with most of the curriculum, but second hour is a course that I find useful and extremely interesting. The course is not part of our compulsory education. The instructor is from a private university. The way he presents the cla.s.s is serious, yet he’s able to do so without boring us. Thanks to him, I happily listen to his lecture every day. After all, high school was always interesting.

…As if I was ever like that. Reading textbooks hour after hour and the spell of the b.u.t.terfly-like sandman as the white characters expand across the chalkboards makes me subject to a terrible drowsiness every time. Of course, I fought back against it with all my might. Huh? Did I lose out to my drowsiness? Naturally not, my notes are evidence of that. However, the chalkboard tells a different story since I should have it all copied, but I’ve been surprised time and again when I look back up to see everything on it has changed.

That said, what is this cla.s.s? Did I ever take this one? I have no memory of it at all. In order to get into the University I wanted to go to last year, I went back through all three years of my textbooks for a total review. Heh~, that’s right. I’m sure that all the lesson contents have been revised. That’s why this seems to be all new to me. No doubt that’s what it is. However, there seems to be many things I don’t understand. It must all be my imagination.

This is my second time in high school, so it should be easy. Maybe it’s possible for me to place in the top ten for out grade, which was impossible for me the first time around. Those thoughts lasted for several days after school started and then came to an abrupt halt. However, it’s true that I have a bigger advantage than the other students. The teachers in charge of each subject are the same and they should have the same tendencies when it comes to tests. Therefore, with this much of an advantage, I should be able to reach the upper tiers, even if the top ten is impossible. Miyuki will be stunned if she sees my name in the upper tiers when they post everyone’s scores in the hallway after our tests. Kukuku~

“Hmm, what's up? You suddenly started to laugh.” (Ritsuka)

“Kukuku~ Oh, it’s nothing.” (Tsukasa)

That’s dangerous. It seems I inadvertently laughed out loud. Ritsuka is looking at me with a strange expression. However, if I can do that, I’ll easily be able to pa.s.s the university entrance tests. Unfortunately, I shredded all of my notes from my last three years of high school. If I hadn’t done that, I wouldn’t feel so tortured over missing taking notes now and being so sleepy. That being said, having good notes is essential for reviewing, even the second time around.

During math cla.s.s, I’m busy doing my best to stay awake and copy everything into my notes and regretting my past action, when suddenly, the door is knocked on twice and slowly opens.

“The other cla.s.s is almost finished, so please come to the nurse’s office.”

The girl, who I can only half see, closes the door immediately after saying that.

“Mou~ This already? I don’t like this.” (Ritsuka)

Ritsuka says as she turns to me. The cla.s.sroom is noisy and the teacher stopped writing on the chalkboard, sits down, picks up a paperback book to ready and says, “Please, come back once you’re done.”

“Tsukasa, what are you doing?” (Ritsuka)

Ritsuka, who had already stood, is looking at me.

“Why are we going to the nurse’s office?” (Tsukasa)

“For our physical exam. Didn’t you hear them say that in homeroom?” (Ritsuka)

She tells me as we I prepare to leave the cla.s.sroom. I somehow feel like I didn’t hear about that.

“Oh, yeah. I guess you said that.” (Tsukasa)

“I didn’t say that. Up we go.” (Ritsuka)

She takes my hand and pulls me up to stand. We walk out of the cla.s.sroom into the hallway. When we arrive at the nurse’s office, a male nurse comes out to say, they’ll be doing the boys’ first, so we girls’ will have to be patient.

“Let’s go.” (Tsukasa)

I wave at Ritsuka as I turn into head to the nurse’s office.

“Wait a minute. Where are you going?” (Ritsuka)

She says as she grabs my arm. I thought, ‘Why wait a minute?’ Until I soon remembered that I’m a girl now.