[9] The Silent Star
Chapter 9: The Silent Star
Despite the change in its name, the Kuoh High School remained a school that was mostly attended by entertainers. Thereafter, the entrance ceremony took a bit of time. It was mainly a speech from the school’s principal, where all the new students were gathered inside an auditorium.
“Remember, all of you would be receiving privileges. Some of you here are more famous than others, so the limit of privileges may depend on that – but don’t call it unfairness, it’s just how the world works. The more famous students amongst you require such extra benefits so that their careers and studies proceed smoothly. In this world of show-biz, you have to understand that and never complain. Additionally…”
Only out of pure willpower did I manage not to yawn. It was somewhat a different sort of speech than a normal school would give in the modern world, where blatant favoritism isn’t normal, but I am used to it. Sects in my 9th life did such things more openly than this; unless the Sect Leader was someone particularly strong, those from rich families received everything because he didn’t wish to offend any powerful clans.
Though this man in front of us tried to paint the picture in a more student-friendly way than what I am used to, it was all the same. Oh, and from the tint of red aura around him, he seemed to have made a contract with the Devils, understandable given whom the school actually belonged to, so he got no respect from me at all.
I was a lunatic killer in the past, a demon in human skin. Yet, I was a hermit in another life. I can claim to be the most benevolent in the world, and also the most heinous, and I’d be right both times. So no, I don’t have any prejudice towards evil, nor respect towards goodwill. I have unknowingly built a morality of my own over time, one which would be seen as hypocritical from an outside perspective, very understandably so, but it is one I follow.
The ceremony soon ended and the Principal dismissed us. I had been standing beside Ruby the entire time, and she’d been trying to whisper something the whole time but hadn’t dared speak out of pressure from the situation.
When we finally stepped out of the auditorium and into a spot away from the others, she pulled me to the side finally and asked what was on her mind.
“Hey, why are you unveiled? You’re always so nagging about it, yet you unveiled your Qi when we entered the school. Do I do it too?”
“No, leave it be. I am doing it to particularly attract some people, don’t worry they’re not a danger. You continue enjoying the day as normal.”
“Hmmm… Really?”
She gave me a squinted stare but had nothing to say when I just shrugged. Instead, both of us began to look around in search of any familiar faces. Naturally, the school was filled with actors, models, YouTubers, Voice Actors, and all sorts of other entertainers; even if they were young, some of them were recognizable.
“Classes start in 10 minutes, what do we do in the meantime? Ah, I know!” Ruby pondered aloud as she pulled me by hand and began to walk the hallways. “Let’s look around more!”
It was about then when she took a turn, and nearly bumped into a person. I managed to pull her back in time to barely stop that, but by then the other party was startled. Not that the older woman reacted much, with just an “Oh-!” she blinked and looked at us.
“Careful kids, no running in the hallways. Ah, wait, it’s you. Aquamarine Hoshino, right?” said the woman wearing a large overcoat over her vest-wrapped white skirt.
I instantly recognized her as the teacher who was positioned in the room of my written entrance exam. I didn’t get to ask her name, but she sure reacted amused when she saw the name on my paper when I deposited it. Apparently, it was amusing enough that she remembered me.
“Yes, that’s me. I am surprised that Sensei remembers.” I gave her a bow, the fifteen years here have made me accustomed to it, while I pushed down Ruby’s head to bow along. “Apologies for my stupid sister here, she was too excited.”
“My bad, I didn’t see!” The fool had the sense to apologize too, bowing down deeper.
The teacher just waved it off with a laugh, beginning to walk away. “It’s fine, you were careful enough to not actually bump. I am Shizuka Hiratsuka, by the way, Aquamarine-kun and I would see each other often since I am your Homeroom teacher. Now, enjoy your remaining few minutes, see you in class soon.”
Finally, she left the vicinity as Ruby and I stared at her. Huh, Shizuka Hiratsuka? Sounds familiar. She is my homeroom teacher, too.
Before I could place why she seemed so familiar, I heard a yell directed at me, originating from the person who’s been staring at me for the last few seconds, since the moment my name was taken by sensei.
“A-Aquamarine Hoshino?” a short little girl with pinkish red hair jumped in front of me, pointing a finger at me as she stuttered. “Are you really him? Aqua? Do you remember me?!”
“Ah!” Before I could recognize her, Ruby snapped her fingers. “The child genius who will lick a lying snitch!”
The girl flinched. “It’s the child genius who will flick a crying switch!”
Ah. It’s the arrogant little girl from 13 years ago. She seems… different.
[Image Here]
….
I took a few seconds off reality to recall something that seemed odd in my head. Only a few seconds later did I remember that this encounter was supposed to happen on the day of the entrance exam, canonically, when she would have invited me to act with her in a drama.
Not that I would have listened this time around, but it still feels odd for that scene to jump to here. Given the timeframe, the drama must have ended in a failure as it began, and from the drooped shoulders that she was wearing that seemed to be true.
By the time I finished thinking, the girl was looking at me, she was wearing a nervous expression.
“Don’t you remember? It’s me, Arima Kana. We’ve acted together before.”
“Yes, I remember. I am surprised you remember, it’s been a long time. Long time no see, you’re studying here?”
She put her hands on my shoulder, her eyes shakily looked into mine. “I am glad. I always wondered if you quit acting… Since you’re in this school, that must not be the case, right?”
I smiled. How relieved she looked, silly girl.
“Ah, no. I am in the General Education Program.”
I said while looking at her face, watching her expression shift from peace to confusion before she yelled in a horrific voice.
“Wait, why the heck?!”
Huh, was it that shocking? Well. I suppose it must have been, given how greatly humbled she was by my acting a decade ago. Hearing the person whom she lost all her arrogance to had stopped competing anymore must hit hard.
While Kana stuttered incomprehensible words under her breath, Ruby leaned over to speak. She was closer to my ears, but she didn’t exactly whisper her next words
“You know, I never really liked her.”
“Damn. You’re her Kohai now, you know? She’s a 2nd year in the Performing Arts Program."
Kana gagged on air hearing us, maybe also seeing how gently I was petting Ruby's head while talking.
“I’ve got ears, you know?! No, forget that. You, Aqua, why are you in this school if you’re not attending it for acting?”
Ruby took the moment to put a hand over her chest and smile proudly, with her nose hanging in the air. “Why, it’s because of me, of course. I am attending the Performing Arts Program, and although Onii-chan isn’t planning to be an entertainer, he can’t just go to another school leaving his sister behind.”
“Is he a sis-con? Gross.” Arima Kana took a step back and observed me closely. “Ah, seriously. Here I’ve been waiting to meet you for so long… If you were there on Sweet Today, then maybe…”
The last line wasn’t meant for us to hear, it was spoken too quietly. Though Ruby and I heard it, we pretended to ignore it. Uh, maybe Ruby didn’t hear it, she would have started asking questions if she did.
Instead, she shrugged and smiled at Kana, her next words made the girl flinch. “Well, what can you do? Let’s be friends, Loli-Senpai.”
“W-what? I’ll bully you, I really will! Show some respect!” The 4’11” tall midget yelled while the entire student body stared at us.
Soon, the bell rang and we rushed to our classrooms. Kana wanted to say something but changed her mind in the end. She really did feel down; her recent show must have been a bigger disaster than I expected.
Haah, how humorous the cosmos is. Good. She's been humbled.
* * *
Now, I initially thought this world just held DxD and Oshi no Ko, but after meeting Tsubasa, I realized perhaps some characters from other anime existed too if not all of those anime entirely.
Meeting Shizuka Hiratsuka and realizing who she really was, I thought I'd see others from Oregairu too in my classroom. However, much like the case with Tsubasa, she seemed to be the only one from that anime. At least in this school, maybe the others existed in another school somewhere in this country.
So I should keep an open mind in meeting just about anybody from any anime here, even if everyone from that particular anime doesn't exist.
When I came to accept that, I noticed the girl I've sat beside, may just be another of those cases. At first, I hadn't noticed any familiar faces in my class, but now maybe there was someone.
Inside the classroom, I wasn't the owner of the legendary main-character-seat, the one beside the window. Instead, I sat on the right side of that seat that was occupied by a girl.
"Everybody, I must announce something important. That student over there." My Homeroom, Shizuka sensei walked over from the podium and to the girl sitting near the window. The girl didn't speak and only nervously stood up, as Shizuka sensei patted her shoulders gently. "She is deaf. Please be careful to not cause any trouble for her, I will not tolerate any sort of bullying."
The students gave a variety of reactions, and the teacher met them all before looking at me.
"Aquamarine-kun, would you take care of her in case of anything? Since your seat is just beside hers."
I gave a nod. I was crazy, sometimes pure evil, but I always had a soft spot for people who were born a cripple. It's related to a past experience, but I don't want to talk about it.
"You can count on me."
"Thank you."
….
Later, classes have been going on for a few hours; I haven't bothered to talk to anybody till now. However, when the biology teacher left and we were allowed a 10-minute break before the next class, I decided to approach the girl next to me.
"Hey, you."
She had straight, dusty rose-colored hair that reached her shoulders. Her eyes were round, with large brown irises that gave her a welcoming look. Noticeably, the way her hair obscured her ears from view gave her a shy outlook.
When I called, however, she didn't seem to care to respond. She didn't even look back at me. She just stared outside the window, her eyes distant.
I didn't take offense given her condition. I gently placed a hand on her shoulder and watched her flinch reactively.
"Auua-!"
She made a very weird sound. I held back from smiling as I found it cute. Could this really be her?
She quickly stood up and nervously bowed to me, apologizing. By then, a few of the other students were looking at us. The girl quickly shoved her hand in her backpack and took out a notebook and pen.
For a moment, she hesitated for a moment, and then wrote:
—My apologies, I didn't notice you were calling. My name is Shōko Nishimiya. Is there anything I can help you with?
[Image Here]
So it was her, that girl from that popular movie, Silent Voice. I felt sad when I watched that movie in my first life, but over the reincarnations, my emotion for the crippled people only grew softer. I really felt towards her, honestly, but I didn't show it on my face. The one thing disabled people hate is the look of pity. Instead, I took out my own notebook and wrote something.
—It's fine, and no there is nothing I need. I was just trying to make conversation. I know Sensei said you can count on me, but I feel like I should tell you myself. Looks like some of the students are intimidated by me due to the height difference, so it would be a bother if you thought the same. My name is Aquamarine Hoshino by the way, but you can call me Aqua. Oh, and I know Sign Language if you want to talk with that.
As she read the text, her face gradually grew warm, until she turned her head in shock when she read the last line. She quickly moved her fingers around to form a question in sign language.
[–Really?!]
[–Yes.]
I replied with a small smile, watching her face grow bright. The few students who had been watching with intent, as if worried that I might bully her, all sighed and smiled. Two girls and three guys actually walked to us and introduced themselves.
Hey, the first day's better than I expected.
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Master4thWall Note: It'd be hard for me to hold back from adding so many loveliest characters, so expect to see some familiar faces. However, not everyone would receive screen time, sometimes more than just a mention, to keep everything balanced. That of course changes if that certain character becomes one of our main casts.