Living in the Heart of Tokyo

Yuigahama Yui bit down on her pen, eyebrows tightly knit as she stared at her exam paper.

Her draft paper was already covered in scribbles that had absolutely nothing to do with the actual questions, and she still had no clue how to tackle question two.

She grumbled quietly in her heart, cursing the school.

'An exam in just the second week of the semester? This is inhumane.'

'Where is the human right!?'

If they wanted the class to prepare for the sports festival, couldn't they at least not schedule exams now? Total buzzkill.

All we do is test, test, test.

Like that's gonna make dumb people smarter!

Frustrated, she instinctively raised a hand to mess with her hair—then stopped midway.

She suddenly remembering how she'd spent a painstaking twenty minutes perfecting it that morning.

With a reluctant sigh, she toned down the motion and gently ran a finger through her bangs instead.

Last week, her top priority had been making friends.

During class, her biggest mental exercise was mapping out social dynamics, figuring out her place in the class, and how to approach others.

After a whole week of effort, she'd finally carved out a spot for herself in both Miura Yumiko's clique and Hojou Kyousuke's circle.

And now… boom—an academic thunderbolt from above.

Sure, being a little ditzy might be considered cute, but Shouko and Sakura had both told her that Kyousuke's circle was full of smart people.

If her grades tanked too hard, she'd probably get shunned, right?

Though she had been trying her best to think through the question, her brain had now completely veered off track.

Yui bit harder into her pen.

Head bowed, she stewed in anxiety.

Then suddenly, out of the corner of her eye, she caught a figure walking past her desk.

'Wait... already heading to the bathroom?' she wondered, but then something felt off.

The person walking by was wearing pants—not a skirt.

Her not-so-sharp brain suddenly switched into overdrive.

She hadn't even looked up yet, but her mind had already concluded who it was.

Hojou Kyousuke.

After all, he was the only boy who sat behind her.

Remembering the seating of your friends was a basic skill.

How else could she respond instantly when Yumiko whispered from behind during class?

Like, what if Yumiko said something super important and she didn't hear it because she wasn't ready? That would be a disaster.

Yes, maybe it was a little desperate, but maintaining her fragile circle of "friends" was Yuigahama Yui's personal survival strategy.

But now wasn't the time to worry about that.

If Kyousuke was heading to the restroom, then clearly he wasn't nervous about the exam—

'Wait… why is he carrying his exam paper!?'

'Hold on—he just handed it in?!'

'Don't tell me—'

Yui's head snapped up, then down, then up again, her eyes darting around in disbelief.

She glanced at her own sheet, which only had one question completed, and then looked toward the front where Kyousuke had already bowed to the teacher and was walking out.

'He actually finished!?'

Her bright pink eyes widened in shock, locked onto his tall, handsome silhouette until it disappeared from the classroom.

She then turned toward the back-right corner of the classroom, as if trying to confirm she hadn't just hallucinated.

She wasn't alone.

Yui noticed that plenty of classmates were reacting just like she was.

No—scratch that—basically everyone except Shouko, Sakura, and a few of Kyousuke's loyal followers from Higashi Middle School looked completely stunned.

Mouths agape. Eyes wide.

All of them staring at the now-empty seat of Hojou Kyousuke.

"Monster…"

The comment came from a student near the door.

Yui nodded slowly in agreement, though part of her felt it was a bit rude to call such a flawless, perfect guy a "monster."

She'd heard stories about him since middle school.

Rumors in magazines like Shuukan Bunshun said that he caused a "literary apocalypse" in the publishing world, and as a student, he was an unparalleled academic tyrant.

She remembered how Tokyo University had extended him a special admission offer.

Back then, she'd joined her friends in saying "That's amazing~" in awe, but she hadn't fully grasped just how legendary the name Hojou Kyousuke really was.

Now, staring down at her paper with only one problem solved, Yuigahama Yui finally understood what they meant by "unparalleled tyrant."

Sure, she considered herself a cute, slightly ditzy high school girl, but she had earned high enough marks to get into Sobu High fair and square!

"He really is a monster…" she muttered under her breath.

She glanced toward the back door, hoping to catch one last glimpse of him.

But found nothing.

With a defeated sigh, she scratched her head and bowed over her desk, diving back into the battlefield of exam questions.

Meanwhile, Yamauchi Sakura had been silently watching the classroom's reaction with a smirk, chin resting on her hand.

Through the small glass panel on the rear door, she saw a hand waving at her—just a little wave.

This was just a pop quiz, squeezed into morning reading period—from 8:00 to 8:30.

If the teacher wanted to make it more formal, they could extend it into first period for a full hour.

This, of course, was math.

Kisaki Tetta was the second to turn in his paper—only fifteen minutes into the test.

After the shock of Kyousuke finishing so early, the rest of the class could only think:

Of course. Hojou's subordinate is just as amazing, or Only someone like Hojou could manage people that good.

Once outside, Kyousuke headed straight for the rooftop of the school building.

He had a homemade snack in his pocket—a treat made by Mitsuha just yesterday.

He'd originally planned to eat it after second period as an energy boost, but now seemed like a good time to enjoy it.

The rooftop of the special activities building was bare concrete, dull and grey, but the main school rooftop was a bit nicer.

Though it didn't have actual tiles, the ground had been painted a warm brown-gray, and the wall corners were lined with soft blue.

It gave the place a strangely pleasant vibe.

Next to the rooftop exit was a central AC unit, though it wasn't running at the moment, allowing Kyousuke to enjoy his snack in peace.

He walked to the railing.

The concrete came up to his waist, with a metal safety bar installed on top.

Resting his hands on the railing, he slowly unwrapped the onigiri from its plastic wrap.

Yep, an onigiri—just a plain umeboshi rice ball.

Compared to the store-bought ones, it looked kind of rough, but the plum inside had been pickled by Mitsuha herself, and the rice ball was carefully shaped by her small hands.

Even if you weren't the protagonist, the rooftop still offered everyone the same sunlight and breeze.

Kyousuke's short, tousled hair didn't budge in the wind, but the plastic wrap on the rice ball fluttered slightly.

Down on the sports field to the left, two students were sprinting after a soccer ball, with a teacher shouting behind them.

Probably members of the soccer club forced into extra practice by the strict PE instructor.

Scenes like this played out every morning.

Sometimes it was the soccer team, sometimes the baseball team.

Occasionally, the music club would linger in the special activities building, filling the empty halls with melodies, creating yet another layer of school legend.

'Ah, youth...'

Kyousuke leaned lazily against the railing, absentmindedly watching the school below.

If the first period wasn't Yukino's classical literature class, he'd honestly just go back to sleep right there.

Skipping class to nap might sound like a waste, but hey—didn't someone once say that time you enjoy wasting isn't really wasted?

Besides, sleep is essential for good health.

"Hojou."

Someone else stepped onto the rooftop.

"Oh, it's you, Kisaki. Done with your test already?"

Kyousuke turned around, casually greeting him.

"You finished even faster than me, and way more dramatically too."

Kisaki Tetta walked over and leaned against the railing beside him, mirroring his stance.

The morning breeze carried a crisp coolness, pleasant against the skin.

Kisaki reached up and loosened his tie just a bit.

As he adjusted his collar, he glanced at his "boss."

Unlike Kisaki, who always wore his uniform properly, Kyousuke never wore his tie unless it was opening ceremony or something formal.

"I'm different," Kyousuke replied offhandedly.

Kisaki chuckled at that and said with a smirk:

"True enough. No one envies the sun for shining. Just like no one questions why the sun is the sun."

"Hojou, no matter how talented you are, people won't hate you for it. They'll just be drawn to your light."

"…"

Kyousuke had been quietly savoring his rice, chewing on grains mixed with plum, but at that, he opened his eyes and looked at Kisaki with a mix of amusement and exasperation.

"Kisaki... have you given up on romance or something?"

"What? No way! I'm planning to get to know some girls during the sports festival."

Kisaki blinked in confusion.

"Let me give you a tip—chuunibyou like you never get sweet, fluffy romances. Not unless you find another chuunibyou."

"I can hook you up with a couple if you're interested."

And with that, Kyousuke activated "Love Advisor Mode."

Kisaki hadn't changed one bit over the years.

Sure, he no longer aimed to be the strongest delinquent in Japan, but it felt like he had just transferred that ambition to Kyousuke instead.

The chuunibyou vibes? Still going strong.

"Chuunibyou? Me? I'm not some nerd, how would I even be chuunibyou? Anyway, who're the two you're talking about?" Kisaki protested.

'Oh, come on. You're textbook chuunibyou—final-stage, no cure,' Kyousuke thought silently.

"I mean Hachiman Hikigaya and Yoshiteru Zaimokuza from our class. Prime examples."

"…"

Kisaki gave his bro a long, deadpan stare, then socked him in the arm.

"You bastard!"

"So it's finally time, huh? The day you overthrow me and take my place! I'm moved! Then the title of 'Rampaging Angel' is yours!"

"No way! I'm not just NOT overthrowing you—I'm turning Rampaging Angel into a family-friendly yakuza group and renaming it the Hojou Clan! So get ready!"

"Oh no, terrifying! Your ambitions have spiraled out of control, Kisaki!"

Kyousuke stepped back, struck a dramatic pose, and stared at Kisaki with a mock-shocked expression.

"That's right! My dream is for Hojou Kyousuke to rule over all of Japan!"

Kisaki's voice rang with shounen-level passion.

It had been a long time since he'd shared a moment like this alone with his big bro.

Back at Higashi, they'd hang out on rooftops all the time, trading stories and roasting each other.

But ever since high school started, Kyousuke had been acting like a married man, constantly talking about his "wives" at home.

"If that day ever comes, first thing I'll do is revise the marriage laws," Kyousuke said, almost too seriously.

For a moment, he actually seemed tempted.

"…Tch." Kisaki clicked his tongue.

Good times never lasted long.

"Hojou… you want me to step in and handle things with the performance group?"

Still, he decided to get to the point.

No one understood Kyousuke's total lack of talent in singing and dancing better than Kisaki did.

During group events, everyone would do their best to keep Kyousuke away from the mic and the dance floor.

Watching Yukino speak to him so harshly—and so casually—had already built up an entire Mount Everest of frustration in Kisaki. He knew his big bro's personality.

It wasn't exactly that Kyousuke was weak to pretty girls, but when a girl was kind to him, he just couldn't turn her down.

If that's why he was being dragged into humiliating dance performances, then Kisaki couldn't stay quiet anymore.

He wanted Kyousuke as the group leader to boost popularity—not to seem approachable.

The sun is the sun because it's untouchable, something you can only admire from afar.

Anyone who dared to disrespect Kyousuke… Kisaki Tetta wouldn't forgive them.

Even if it meant turning the dance routines into zombie moves or full-on robot dance.

"…You know," Kyousuke said, glancing at Kisaki, then down at his now-empty rice wrap.

The wind hadn't picked up or changed—it wasn't like Kisaki had floated in like Hayama Hayato, the Good Deeds Fairy.

Still… what was it with everyone lately? So nosy.

"Kisaki, do you remember the fourth thing you said after coming up here?"

Kisaki paused for half a second, then answered easily:

"I said, 'Nope. I'm planning to meet a few girls during the sports festival.'"

With his memory, that was nothing.

"Then stick to that plan. Focus on your grand romance."

Kyousuke patted him firmly on the shoulder.

Man, this guy… couldn't even see the obvious.

Never had a girlfriend—no wonder he was such a clueless idiot.

"Huh?" Kisaki frowned.

"When you meet a girl who's willing to teach you to dance, step by step, you'll understand. Actually, that's not a bad idea. Next time we practice, try that strategy. There's plenty of cute girls in our red team performance group."

Even Onizuka had a girlfriend now.

How long was Kisaki going to stay in the dark? College?

"…So that's it, huh?" Kisaki sighed.

Classic Hojou.

Acting like he was suffering, but secretly loving every second of it.

"C'mon, time to head back."

Kyousuke crumpled the plastic wrap into a ball and stood up, walking toward the rooftop door.

"You're gonna make a fool of yourself," Kisaki warned one last time.

"No, I won't."

Without turning back, Kyousuke raised his left hand in a carefree wave.

His voice was clear and light, like the wind:

"Because I'm Hojou Kyousuke."

Kisaki Tetta stared at his bro's cool, departing figure and felt his heart stir for a third of a second… before shaking his head in disbelief.

If he hadn't seen him dance before, he might've actually believed that act.

Back in the classroom, the math teacher had already left, so there was no time for small talk.

The bell rang, and the English teacher walked in.

Back in junior high, Kyousuke had already decided English was the subject he'd ditch on his college entrance exams.

But then Miki had given him a "gift"—the ability to master the art of language.

Now, English was a breeze.

If he wanted, he could learn an entirely new language in under a week.

Effort really did pay off.

If he hadn't fallen head-over-heels for Miki from the moment they met, he'd never have gained this miraculous future.

"Hojou, read this passage for us."

Just as Kyousuke was stifling a yawn, debating whether to nap or work on his new novel, the English teacher called on him.

He answered lazily, stood up, and began to read aloud.

Ever since she heard him read aloud during the first English class, for some reason, the teacher had insisted on starting every session with his reading—like some kind of sacred ritual.

"Excellent. Take a seat. Next up, Nishimiya."

The English teacher nodded in satisfaction.

Hojou Kyousuke and Nishimiya Shouko—these two students were an absolute delight to listen to.

Even though their English had a distinct Japanese accent, that didn't stop her from enjoying their American-style pronunciation.

There was something uniquely pleasant in Hojou's tone—like silk laced with black coffee.

Rich, deep, and smooth.

Of course, she never encouraged the rest of the class to emulate them.

That simply wasn't realistic.

When her name was called, Shouko stood up with her textbook in hand.

The teacher's clear and commanding voice meant there was no need for further prompting.

Shouko's voice was soft but not too quiet, like a gentle breeze or drifting clouds—airy, yet with a transparent clarity.

Her pronunciation was precise, her pacing flawless.

It didn't sound like she was reading—it sounded more like she was whispering a melody.

Yuigahama Yui couldn't help but sneak a glance back at Shouko.

Despite having heard her speak many times, she was still in awe every time.

It was impossible not to be.

Seeing someone with a hearing aid speak so beautifully was surprising to anyone.

Yui was lucky—she had become friends with Shouko and knew more than most.

Looking at Shouko's calm, radiant smile and hearing her speak flawless Japanese, Yui had once assumed Shouko must have lost her hearing later in life.

After all, she had never seen someone with congenital hearing loss speak so fluently.

But over time, as their friendship deepened, she learned the truth.

Just four years ago, Shouko couldn't even pronounce her own name clearly.

And yet this gentle, graceful girl had shared her past so openly, without reservation.

That was when Yui began to understand Hojou Kyousuke too—how, after helping rescue her dog Sabure, he hadn't even left his name.

Later, when they met again, he acted like it was nothing.

To him, it really had been nothing. Just another moment in his life.

"Excellent, Nishimiya. You may sit."

The English teacher nodded again, clearly pleased.

Wonderful—this year's candidates for the high school English speech competition would be Nishimiya and Hojou.

No doubt about it.

————————————————————————

At lunch, as usual, Hojou Kyousuke brought Sakura, Yukino, and Shouko up to the rooftop to eat.

Meanwhile, Yukinoshita Yukino had already arrived at the kendo clubroom.

Until the upcoming sports festival, the room had been lent to the Red Team for use during free periods.

As the team's vice leader, Yukino had a spare key.

She opened the door and glanced inside.

Empty.

Checking the time on her phone, she opened the "Service Club" group chat.

No new messages.

After a brief moment of hesitation, she decided not to call anyone for help.

She placed the roll she'd been carrying onto the floor and got to work.

Yamauchi Sakura had been the first person—well, the first client—she met at Sobu High.

As a member of the Service Club, Yukino considered it her duty to help Sakura lead the Red Team to victory.

Victory—not "enjoying youth" or "having fun"—was what mattered.

Only idiots said things like that.

If you're going to do something, then do it right.

In competitive events, losing was always a possibility—that couldn't be helped. Strength was built through long-term training, not short bursts of effort.

But for things like stage design, props, and curtains, everyone started on equal footing.

Even an international dance champion couldn't guarantee a win in a group performance.

In a way, this was the kind of challenge Yukino preferred.

But then there was Hojou Kyousuke…

Just thinking about him gave her a headache.

She had assumed their ideological clash would happen during one of the support cases.

That they'd butt heads and she'd use that moment to change his skewed worldview.

That's how she planned to fulfill Yamauchi Sakura's request.

What she didn't expect was for their first clash to happen over dancing.

And more surprisingly—that Hojou, who looked like he excelled at every sport, would be terrible at dancing.

The Service Club believed in teaching people how to fish.

Success depended on the individual.

Yukino wasn't a saint—she understood the darker sides of human nature.

Lazy people, even when handed a rice ball, would demand you feed it to them—and then complain you didn't do it right.

In her world of absolute fairness and justice, such people had no place.

The privileged should lend a helping hand, yes—but if the person being helped made no effort, nothing would change.

And yet… even after all her effort, Hojou Kyousuke still hadn't learned the dance.

By her standards, he should've been written off as someone unworthy of her ideal world.

But her eyes told her otherwise.

He was trying.

Even if he couldn't get it, he hadn't given up.

And so, if he wasn't quitting—then neither could she.

The material she had in her hands was the result of a day and a half of brainstorming.

Yesterday after school, not only had someone skipped dance practice, the rest of the group had too.

The kendo club had held their regular training session.

For the sports festival, club members weren't required to join the prep.

Everything had to be done in free time—otherwise, the sports clubs would riot.

And truthfully, that was a big complaint.

Athletic clubs already trained harder than anyone else.

To take away their rare breaks and force them to help with the festival?

Anyone would grumble.

So yesterday, Yukinonoshita—acting as the Service Club president—declared that today's activity was: go home.

Back home, she placed the bento she'd bought from the convenience store into the microwave, went up to her study, turned on her computer, and started learning how to create 3D human animations.

She still held to her original theory: dancing, at its core, was just a series of connected movements.

You didn't need to understand the meaning—just memorize each move and its order.

Like animating a series of frames—stitch them together, and you had a dance.

Her plan was to break down each movement even further.

She had researched Hojou's academic and physical abilities.

She believed he could handle it.

At one point, she considered filming herself dancing and using screenshots as a visual guide… but she gave up after three seconds.

A guy like Hojou Kyousuke, who had the nerve to like two girls at once?

She didn't trust him.

She was that cute, after all. It would be no surprise if Hojou fell for her just from staring at her photos.

'Sigh. If only I weren't so cute… then I wouldn't have to go through all this trouble.'

Staring at the complicated tutorial on her screen, she let out a soft groan—but deep down, she knew there was no avoiding it.

After all, it's because she was just that cute.

Of course, just in case… she still set up her phone and recorded herself doing the full "Yorunaki Dance."

That would be her last resort.

If nothing else worked, she'd hand the video to Hojou.

But only under one condition: he could only watch it when she was there.