“What did you say Rina?”

“Rina-chan ?”

“Awawawa… Look at the screen…”

Rina trembles as if she has seen a ghost or worse… Finn…

Joking aside, her face turns white.

“”Did you spot which class you are in?”

“Yes…but you…YOU, I DON’T SEE YOU GUYS!”

“EH?! Wait, you mean we’re not together, in the same class?”

“Huh, is that right?”

Rina faints, she drops, flaccid and limp as a seaweed in Aya’s arms.

“RINAAAA !!!”

“You may be wrong Rina-chan, let me check that.”

Aya tries to revive her by slapping her cheeks.

“Ah, yes that’s right, we’re not in the same class as Rina-chan.”

“Eh? I was pretty sure the classes hardly changed between each year.”

“Rina-chan is in class 2-B. And we…”

“We… ?”

“We’re not together either.”

“Wait, does that mean the three of us are separated?”

“Yes, I am in class 2-A and Aya-chan, you are in 2-C.”

It’s the first time since they’ve known each other that they won’t be in the same class. Well really, there’s no need to be so dramatic, it’s only their third school year together since they’ve known each other, it had to happen eventually.

“Poor Rina, if anyone wasn’t expecting it, it was her.”

“We need to wake her up, we need to get to our classrooms soon for introductions.”

Aya continues to gently slap Rina’s cheeks.

After a few seconds, the eyes of the “Sleeping Beauty” open, dazzled by the daylight she says.

“What is it? Why am I on the floor? And why is Aya slapping me?”

“Rina-chan, you passed out right away when you saw that we weren’t in the same class this year.”

“Huh? So it wasn’t a nightmare?”

“Unfortunately not Rina, it’s the hard law of life, we don’t really have a choice…”

Rina’s face, almost teary after the news, shows a certain annoyance. Now she is sulking.

*Pout face*

“Arara, when she starts pouting like that, it’s over.”

“Um… I know! Rina-chan?”

“Humpf.”

“You know, this might be an opportunity for you to pursue your dream of becoming like your mom.”

“Eh? What do you mean?”

“Well, I mean, if you find yourself in a brand new class where there are only people you don’t know, you’re going to have to be charismatic and assertive in your new environment.”

“I know what she means. Rina, this is a godsend for you, take advantage of it to make lots of new friends, it’s by forging new relationships and being independent that we get to your mother’s level.”

“Hmm, that makes sense, I hadn’t seen it that way. Specifically, I’ll have to work my way through the unknown to lvl up in my social skills…”

“Lvl up your social skills?”

“Aaah, don’t mind Sophie, Rina often speaks in video game terms when she’s thinking. It’s even more blatant after the school holidays, she must have played for hours again when we weren’t around.”

The scourge of this century, endless video game sessions on summer nights… Even I know that. It’s hard to keep up when there are so many events… *sigh*

“I see where you’re going with this, both of you, thanks for the advice. But it’s still a shame that we’re all separated.”

“No problem. It’s an opportunity to meet new people, maybe you’ll find someone or something that will make you want to join a club who knows.”

“Yes, Aya is right, then tell yourself that we can see each other after school, during breaks and on weekends.”

“Yeah, that’s a good point.”

*School bells ringing*

The first bell rings, it is time to join the classrooms.

“I’ll leave you girls to it, I’ll go ahead. Heading to room 2-B!”

Rina takes off like a tornado leaving Sophie and Aya behind.

“She changes her mood so quickly it’s scary.”

“Rina-chan is just very happy that it’s finally back to school.”

“Yet classes and her are like chalk and cheese.”

“Haha, I have to say it’s not unpleasant to come here to study, there’s so much to do on campus and on the island.”

Aya and Sophie take their turn to go to their respective classrooms.

“I’m going right, for the 2-C.”

“Me on the left, see you later at the fountain?”

“Okay, see you later.”

In the meantime…

“What seat am I going to sit in?”

Rina is one of the first in the class, she does not recognize anyone yet. The choice of the seat is important at the beginning of the year, it will define the first classmates and potential friends of the young girl.

“If we take a manga logic, the heroine’s seat is at the very back, last row, window side. It’s the perfect seat… AH!”

The few students present look back at Rina, confused to hear this sudden scream.

“THE SEAT IS ALREADY TAKEN!”

The boy who was looking out the window turns around and stares straight into Rina’s eyes with an amused look.

“Haha, sorry, I’ve already taken the place of the main character.”

“And on top of that he has the same reasoning as me? Who are you then, you dreadful seat-stealer? Identify yourself!”

“Haha, that’s harsh of you, if you attended the conference this morning you should know me right?”

“EH! uh…”

“No?”

“Um… I remember Sana, the robots, the scientist, Director Kotegawa and…”

“And?”

“No nothing, blackout.”

“You mean you remembered everything but my part?! It wasn’t that bad, though…”

Sadness shows on the boy’s face, Rina makes no effort, it’s bad.

“Sorry, I know I nodded off a few times this morning.”

“Right during my presentation? Are we destined to be enemies?”

“No no not enemies, sorry if I offended you but I don’t remember.”

“Haha, I’m teasing you. To tell you the truth I was asleep in my seat too until my presentation.”

“A mate?”

“Of course.”

A budding camaraderie, it’s moving.

An exchange of winks later.

“I’m introducing myself to you again, I’m Ooshima Minato, former vice president of the student council last year and now your classmate for the upcoming year. I’m counting on you…”

“Rina, Shimizu Rina, older sister of the former student council president middle school section last year.”

“Sana-chan’s older sister? It’s true that there’s a little family resemblance between the two of you… but really a little resemblance then.”

“Hey what does that mean?”

“Haha, you’re going off the deep end, I’m teasing you again. Anyway, nice to meet you Shimizu-san. I can’t let you be the main character but I’ll let you be his right hand woman if you want.”

“Grrr, first come first served as they say huh? That’s fine with me, for now…”

“You got it right, haha.”

It starts well for our dear Rina who was dreading her first year in solo. She is already getting along with her first table neighbor.

“I wonder if there will be other interesting people in this class.”