《Memoirs of high school students》 Lateness, Applause, and a Seat in the Corner: A Tale of the First Day Chapter One: Lateness, Applause, and a Seat in the Corner: A Tale of the First Day _________________ _________________ The sound of students filling the large gymnasium was in full swing as preparations for the reception of the new students were in full swing. The hall was packed with students; a mix of newcomers and old students, all excited for the annual reception. The students were spread out around the hall, chatting excitedly. "I can''t believe I got accepted here!" "Sure, this is the best high school in the country!" "It''s a priceless opportunity!" One of the girls interrupted the conversation, with a sarcastic smile. "Stop acting like you won the lottery!" Her friend replied firmly. "Come on, don''t spoil the mood for them!" Everyone continued to chat, as it was clear that the students had already started forming their own groups. Man has always been a social being by nature. Meanwhile, a student entered wearing a red ribbon around his shoulder, indicating his position in the school. The hall gradually fell silent, and all eyes were on him. Yoshida Tanaka, a student, walked steadily towards the platform. "Click... click..." The sound of the microphone clicking caused complete silence, as all eyes turned to the tall young man with unique green hair and dark green eyes. "Everyone please take your seats." Despite his sharp looks that added tension, his polite and serious tone of voice aroused everyone''s respect. One of the new students whispered to his classmate next to him. "Who is this person?" His colleague replied in a low voice. ¡°It''s Yoshida-senpai, the head of the Disciplinary Committee. He''s very strict, so you have to be careful not to break any rules.¡± Everyone found their seats and sat down in order. Suddenly, drum music began to play in the hall, causing a murmur among the students, but one look from Yoshida quickly restored the silence. Two figures entered the hall door. The two walked confidently through the rows of students. The first was a young man with sharp green eyes and dark brown hair, with a gold chain hanging from the top of his shoulder to the pocket of his jacket on his chest, followed by a girl with long brown hair, and bright blue eyes. Their attractive and determined appearance made everyone in the hall focus on them, the audience became more excited than before. The two arrived at the platform, Yoshida coldly addressed them. "You''re late, student council members." Miyaki replied with a wide smile. "Sorry," they said, then continued on their way to stand on the platform. The student council president, Miyake Kenzaki, calmly walked up to the microphone and began speaking. "I am student Miyaki Kenzaki, third year. I am pleased to welcome you and explain our ancient school system." His grave tone was enough to catch everyone''s attention. Some of the students whispered: "How wonderful¡­ Kyah!" "Did you see the beauty of the girl with him?" "I hope the council president isn''t dating one of them!" Kenzaki continued, encouraging everyone to do their best. ¡°Your acceptance here is proof of your excellence, so I congratulate you on this achievement.¡± As the students were moved by his words, Kenzaki turned to continue. Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. "But now begins your journey to find out if you are a real diamond or just a piece of..." He was interrupted by a light slap on the head from the Vice President, who continued speaking. "What the president meant was that you should explore your potential, or about our school''s library rules." She was trying to usher in the end of the party. "Uh¡­ did you forget something?" Kenzaki spoke from behind his deputy, reminding the girl directly of one of the important points of the day. She quickly adjusted her stance, stared at the students in front of her, smiled slightly, and then announced the main event. "Today means a student has achieved a special accomplishment this year in our school. Today we have a student who was able to pass the entrance exam with full marks. He is requested to come up to the stage." "Rio Nakamura." There was a heavy silence in the hall, and no one appeared. The Vice President called again. "Did you hear that? Is that really true?" "What kind of person would he be?" "Rio Nakamura!" There was no response. Kenzaki spoke. "He may be absent today. We have to get over this event." At that moment, the door opened forcefully, letting in a gust of fresh air into the hall. Three young men entered, one of them tall with black hair and pitch black eyes with a strange gleam, a smile pulsing with confidence. Next to him was Shoyo Nomura, with white hair and sharp red eyes, his serious appearance aroused tension. The third, Itsuki Akazawa, was distinguished by his golden hair, blue eyes and slight smile. The three created a strange atmosphere in the hall, both tension and anticipation. The three were more like a gang than students. As he approached the platform, Ryu walked towards the platform alone, while Nemuro and Itsuki took a seat to sit on. Rio stopped in front of Yoshida, who asked him cautiously. "Are you Rio Nakamura?" "Okay." Rio answered the question confidently and went up to the stage. He looked at the audience in silence for a minute, then two, then five minutes. Suddenly, Nemuro and Itsuki stood up and started clapping loudly, surprising everyone. ¡°A truly inspiring applause!¡± said Namuro, wiping his eyes dramatically. The enthusiasm spread to the students, and everyone started clapping. Even some of the female students were moved and cried. Kenzaki looked at Ryu in surprise and lightly patted his shoulder. "What an inspiring way to get your message across. I didn''t expect this from you!" "And here we have completed all the events of the day." Kenzaki completed the ceremony briefly, but most of the students were busy. With Rio''s "silent" message **************** Later, Rio sat with Nemuro and Itsuki in the corner of the hall, where there was an atmosphere of fun and comfort between them. Shoyo let out a strange laugh, almost like a strange roar: "Haha... hahaha!" Then he added with a sly smile: "Great entry, Chick!" "Help my loser friend, Chick!" "Perfect plan, Chick!" Rio suddenly interrupted the conversation with a stern tone. "Who do you mean by loser?" Namuro looked at him seriously, interlocking his fingers in front of him. "You, and who else?" Rio narrowed his eyes, leaned back against the chair and crossed his legs, a light sigh escaped him. "Unfortunately... you''re right." Shoyu''s eyes gleamed mischievously, as if he had discovered a great achievement. "My little boy is finally a man who accepts reality!" Itsuki who was in the corner clapped with a stern face, their expressions all quickly changed to seriousness. Itsuki pointed to the ceiling of the hall, speaking in a serious tone. "It was a special entrance, wasn''t it?" Rio and Nemuro answered at the same time, as if they had agreed in advance. "Okay." Itsuki continued, a wide smile on his face. "And delaying at the last minute was the best idea, right?" "certainly!" "but¡­!? " But a heavy silence suddenly fell after Itsuki''s "but...", making the atmosphere extremely tense. Both Nimro and Ryu swallowed their saliva, then asked him in unison. "But what?" Itsuki looked at them slowly, then said. "Why haven''t we talked to any girls yet?" Nimro was shocked, and shouted without thinking. "How did we not notice that?!" Rio tried to justify it. "It''s not that important..." But Shoyo and Itsuki interrupted him in a ridiculous unison. "When the adults talk...the children keep quiet!" A faint sound was heard, as if it were the sound of Ryu''s pride being crushed, before he headed to the corner of the hall, sitting curled up in a ball, facing the wall. Nemuro slapped Itsuki''s shoulder, speaking. ¡°I understand you perfectly, brother. Rio, that womanizer, won¡¯t understand our suffering.¡± Rio turned slowly, speaking in a low voice. "I hear you..." But Namuro completely ignored him, saying firmly. "Be quiet¡­!" Nemuro turned back to Itsuki, continuing in a dramatic tone. ¡°Remember that dark year we spent in a boys-only school. No one can understand the pain we went through!" Itsuki nodded in agreement. ¡°Yes, it has been a dark year indeed... but we can say that the fruits of our patience are now beginning to ripen.¡± While the two were engrossed in talking about their ''dark history'', a small shadow slowly appeared approaching them. The two turned towards the shadow to see a short girl with cute features and short, neat hair. She took hesitant steps towards them, looking directly at Itsuki. She spoke in a low, hesitant voice. "Sorry..." Itsuki''s heart started to beat like it was racing, and he was quickly overcome with tension. He tried to respond in confusion. "Yes? How can I help you?" The girl''s face turned red, and she looked at the ground, trying to gather her words. At that moment, Itsuki was lost in his fantasy world. ¡°Finally, my bachelor life is over! Now she confesses to me, I will tell her that I want to get to know her better. We will go out on a date, after the date is successful our relationship will develop¡­ then I will visit her family, then we will get married¡­ Oh, no no, marriage is too early. We have to enjoy life first. But what about our children¡¯s names? Should I choose a traditional name or¡­¡± While Itsuki was lost in his dreams, Shoyo began to analyze the situation. With one look, he could understand what was going on in his friend''s mind. He realized that he had already reached the "baby name stage." Shoyo stared at the girl, certain of the girl''s intentions. "Damn... that''s a confession!" The gears in Nemuro''s mind moving as a human witnessing all possible situations in life, he came to the final conclusion his friend is in the trap of ''fake confession'', he moved quickly, pulling a chair to sit nearby, following the situation as a spectator. ¡°I''ll save him at the last minute... but not before I enjoy the scene!¡± --- The girl approached Itsuki with small, hesitant steps, and tried to relieve the tension, saying in a broken voice. ¡°Excuse me¡­¡± she added quickly, as if she had asked a random question. "Can I know your name?!" Itsuki felt like the golden opportunity had finally come to him. He straightened his posture, proudly sticking out his chest, and raising his head. "Itsuki Akazawa." But suddenly, the shy expression on the girl''s face disappeared, turning into a mixture of confusion and shyness. Itsuki was surprised, and did not understand what was happening. The girl took a step back, bowed slightly and said. ¡°Sorry... I thought you were Ryo Nakamura.¡± At that moment, Shoyu burst into loud laughter. "Haha! Haha! Haaaah! Damn... I expected that!" Itsuki''s features froze, looking at the girl as if he hadn''t heard her well. "What did you say?" The girl repeated her words clearly this time. ¡°Sorry¡­ I thought you were Nakamura-kun.¡± She quickly turned around, walking away from the scene. A loud thud was all that was heard after that, as Itsuki collapsed to the ground, lying there as if he had lost all of his strength. Nemuro walked over to him as he tried to stifle his laughter in vain. "Are you well?" Itsuki grabbed Shoyo''s shirt collar, his eyes empty as if his soul had left him. "Swallow... swallow... swallow..." Shoyo slapped him across the face, bringing Itsuki back to reality. Itsuki didn''t hesitate to return the slap immediately, then stood up with a strict straight face, declaring. "Let''s get rid of that womanizer!" Namuro smiled wickedly and replied, ¡°We''re sorry, Rio... but this is for the greater good.¡± Their eyes turned to the corner where Rio was sitting, but they were surprised to find that the place was completely empty. They exchanged looks in astonishment. ****************** elsewhere "Hatcho... Hatcho!" Rio wiped his nose, talking to himself. "I feel like someone is talking about me." He let out a relieved sigh as he stood in front of a large board hanging on the wall, around which a large number of students were gathered, searching for their names in the class lists. {Chapter A -1} ?Rio Nakamura ?Tiger Shoyo Itsuki Akazawa ¡­¡­.. Ryo looked at his name on the list, then started walking towards his new class. Suddenly, he felt a strong tug on his hand, before he found himself being dragged into one of the halls. He glanced around the place, finding shelves full of books and a large desk in the corner. Then he turned his gaze to the person holding his hand. In front of him stood a girl with calm features and a stern look, wearing the student council badge on her arm. Rio smiled slightly, touching his chin with his hand as he stared at her. ¡°What a strange development¡­ The student council vice president herself? How can I help you?¡± Chapter 2: Lateness, Applause, and a Seat in the Corner: The Beginning of the First Day (1) Chapter 2: Lateness, Applause, and a Seat in the Corner: The Beginning of the First Day (1) ???????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????? ?????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????? Shoyo and Itsuki moved through the crowded school corridors. The scene was lively; the students'' voices intermingled with their quick footsteps, and the walls decorated with colorful advertisements gave the place a familiar feel. "We have to start looking for him now before he escapes!" Itsuki said with obvious anger, and his usual expression of agitation appeared on him. He was not good at controlling his nerves. Shoyu replied calmly as he walked through the students, skillfully avoiding bumping into them. ¡°Anger won¡¯t help us now, Itsuki . Also, why is he running away? I don¡¯t think he even knows we¡¯re looking for him. We¡¯ll have to think like Ryu if we want to find him.¡± The two of them reached a crossroads in the corridor. Itsuki raised his hand nervously, ruffling his hair as he tried to calm his thoughts. ¡°Okay, but shouldn''t we look everywhere to find him?¡± Shoyo looked at Itsuki with a look that carried a mixture of mockery. Itsuki quickly retracted his words. Shoyo clapped his hands, which caught the attention of the students in the corridor. Shoyo continued speaking. ¡°Well, let''s think about it. When we saw Rio this morning in front of his house, what did he say?¡± ¡°We have to come up with a solid plan. Think with me. When we met Rio this morning in front of his house, what did he say?¡± Itsuki took a piece of paper and a pen out of his pocket, looking around cautiously like a detective trying to solve a mystery. ¡°He said he was sorry he was late because he needed to use the bathroom. But what does that have to do with us looking for him now?¡± Shoyo laughed lightly. ¡°You really won¡¯t understand easily. But let¡¯s think like him; we have to think like Ryu if we want to understand where he could be right now.¡± Itsuki stopped writing for a moment, then raised his pen and pointed as if he had come up with an answer: "He bought water, juice, and some cookies." Shoyo nodded slowly, as if he expected the answer. "Excellent. Now, did you notice that he hasn''t been to the bathroom since he arrived?" Itsuki''s eyes lit up as he remembered, and he said excitedly. "That''s right! So, he went to the bathroom...!" But Shoyo cut him off. "Wrong. If he had gone into the bathroom, we wouldn''t be looking for him now. Of course he was dragged to a secluded place. A place not visited by many. The only place that fits that description is the library." Shoyo ran towards the library, but Itsuki Grab him by the shirt. "Enough with your imagination! Let''s go somewhere more logical... the school cafeteria." Shoyu suddenly smiled and said with exaggerated enthusiasm. ¡°Are you a genius?! How did I not think of that? Let¡¯s go!¡± Itsuki whispered to himself sarcastically, ¡°You should just admit that you were hungry.¡± Minutes later, as they walked through the hallways, the two felt a strange feeling. It was as if they were being watched. They exchanged worried glances without speaking. ¡°Do you feel what I feel?¡± Itsuki asked in a whisper. Shoyu nodded without saying a word, and their steps quickened. With each step, they began to hear the sound of other feet behind them, and the further they went, the fewer students were in the hallways. Think a little Worriedly . "Why are we scared? I''ll just look back." Boom... Boom... The lights suddenly exploded, and darkness enveloped the corridor. Shoyo screamed internally, "Damn me and look back!" Their bodies shivered , sweat pouring down their faces as they looked at each other in the dark. Shoyo whispered, ¡°We¡¯ll run when we reach a window.¡± Itsuki nodded , understanding the plan without needing to speak. They quickly walked towards the only window, through which the sunlight was dimly streaming in. With every step they took, the footsteps behind them quickened. As they approached the window, Itsuki felt a cold hand grab his wrist, suddenly pulling him back. While Shoyo ran quickly, ignoring his surroundings. Itsuki fell to the ground. He stopped moving, his eyes widening in the dark. ¡°Is this the end?¡± he wondered inside his mind. He closed his eyes, waiting for his fate. Instead, he felt warm air touch his face.The author''s content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. When he slowly opened his eyes, he found a girl kneeling in front of him, her face shining in the sunlight streaming in through the window. Her red hair was glowing a unique color, and her eyes were a mixture of red and yellow. The girl sat on her knees, panting as if she had been running for a long time. ¡°I''m sorry... I didn''t mean to scare you !¡± she said in a broken voice, trying to catch her breath. Itsuki internally scoffed at his previous attitude and said, ¡°Damn¡­ this is embarrassing.¡± He stood up slowly, a slight smile on his face, then asked, ¡°Why were you following us ?¡± The girl was a little confused and looked around before replying. "Well... I was trying to ask you through the school cafeteria." Itsuki shook his head in surprise and said. "But why did you run after us?" The girl''s face turned red and she spoke hesitantly. "I was scared, so I ran after you." Itsuki burst out laughing, trying to hold back his laughter, but he couldn''t. The girl puffed out her cheeks, still crouching on the ground, and said. "Stop laughing!" Itsuki extended his hand to the girl with a smile: ¡°Sorry¡­ pfft¡­ okay, let''s go to the school cafeteria.¡± The girl took his hand, her face slightly red as she said. "Can you stop laughing at me?" Itsuki pulled her gently, then smiled, saying. "Sorry, I wasn''t laughing at you." The girl stood up and started cleaning the dust off her clothes, ignoring his words and said. "Well, where is the school cafeteria?" Itsuki put his hands in his pockets and said. ¡°Come with me, I was going there anyway.¡± The girl hesitated a little, then smiled lightly and said. "Well, lead the way." The two started walking and chatting, and smiles were clear on their faces . As they walked together towards the cafeteria, the girl suddenly turned to Itsuki and said in a low voice. ¡°By the way¡­ I apologize for acting strangely a while ago.¡± Itsuki looked at her in surprise. "No problem, I understand why you acted like this?" She smiled shyly and added. ¡°I think I forgot to introduce myself because of the nervousness. I¡¯m Aoki Mitsui. I was a little hasty, but I was scared because of the explosion of the lights.¡± Itsuki smiled and said, "Ayuki , so? I''m Itsuki Kanazawa, just call me Itsuki. It''s okay, everyone gets scared sometimes." Ayuki felt a bit relieved and said with a gentle smile. ¡°Thank you for understanding, Itsuki .¡± Itsuki and Ayuki arrived at the cafeteria, and looked around in admiration. The design of the cafeteria was distinctive, with various decorations on the ceiling, circular pillars, and rectangular tables spread throughout the place. Each table had six chairs arranged around it, and large windows ran the length of the hall, overlooking the school garden. But that wasn''t what caught their attention specifically. After they exchanged silent glances, Itsuki broke the silence. "Why is the place empty? I thought it would be full by now!" Ayuki agreed with him, and they each took a plate of the delicious food that looked delicious. They discovered that the food was free that day, so they took as much as they could eat, hoping to make up for their efforts from running earlier. As they sat down to eat, Itsuki''s attention was caught by a white-haired boy sitting alone in the corner of the table, silently eating his food. Itsuki approached him and put his hand on his shoulder, saying. "Isn''t this my loyal friend, Shoyo?" Shoyu stopped eating, looked up and said with a small smile. "Sorry... I was really going to come back for you." Itsuki laughed and said sarcastically. "Hahaha... after eating, right?" Shoyo smiled and said. "You know me well." Aiuki piece this interaction with a faint cough-like sound. "Ahem... ahem..." They both stopped and looked at her, and Itsuki said apologetically: "Oh, I forgot! Shoyo, this is Aiyuki Mitsui. Aiyuki, this is my friend Shoyo. Nomoro . Shoyo replied coldly as he continued eating. "Hey, you." Ayuki sat next to Itsuki hesitantly, then asked him in a low voice. "Why is the place empty?" Itsuki replied . "I''m not sure." Shoyo interrupted them with a sarcastic smile: "It''s clear. Everyone is in the classroom now. Are you part of the group of class skippers?" His words shocked everyone in Itsuki. And Aiyuki , and the signs of confusion were drawn on their faces. Aiuki said in a troubled voice. "Does that mean I missed my first class at school?" A frown appeared on her face, while Itsuki tried to comfort her, saying with a reassuring smile. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, we can go back now. I think the teachers will understand if we explain the situation to them.¡± But before he could finish speaking, the sound of the end of school was heard. Students suddenly streamed into the cafeteria, and the place gradually began to fill up. A loud laughter erupted from one of the tables, as Itsuki looked around with some embarrassment. Shoyo commented sarcastically. ¡°So, all your hopes are cut short. Just enjoy the food and leave your dreams aside!¡± Ayuki laughed shyly, while Itsuki looked at Shoyo with an exasperated expression, then joined them in laughing. "Did you forget that we are looking for Rio?" Shoyo asked. Ayouki looked at him, "You mean the black-haired boy?" Itsuki and Shoyo both responded simultaneously, "Yes." She tried to collect her thoughts and remember before she said. "Yes, I saw him enter the library." Shoyo shouted excitedly, "You were right, I knew that... uhm, I mean I expected that." "Maaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!" Itsuki shouted , surprised. ???????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????? ???????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????? An atmosphere of calm and tension prevailed in the library, as Ryo stood waiting for Vice President Miko''s response with a mixture of patience and suspicion. ¡°Sorry...¡± Miko said hesitantly, trying to get her words together. Ryo quickly interrupted her, raising his hand casually: ¡°Sorry, Senpai, I already have someone I like.¡± Miko was confused for a moment, then looked embarrassed. She waved her hands randomly, trying to explain. ¡°No, no! You got it wrong. I didn¡¯t bring you here for that.¡± A question mark appeared on Rio''s face, and suddenly he took a sudden step back. ¡°Sorry Senpai, I misunderstood you¡­ So, what did you want from me?¡± Miko''s smile didn''t disappear, but she tried to maintain her composure, though her voice showed some annoyance. "Why did you suddenly move away?" Ryo turned his face and replied evasively, ¡°Nothing, senpai.¡± While Miko was staring at him with a face dissatisfied with his answer, someone opened the door to the library. A tall young man with green hair walked in. "Sorry for the delay, Miko." Miku''s expression changed as she said in an angry voice, "How many times do I have to tell you, just call me Miku, Kenzaki-kun!" Kenzaki laughed a little at her funny reaction. "Well, Miko... am I late?" ¡°Don¡¯t think I¡¯ll forgive you that easily,¡± Miko replied annoyedly, her arms crossed. The two began exchanging words as if in a normal conversation, and little by little the conversation turned into light flirting. Rio sat watching the scene in front of him, staring at them with a sharp gaze as his presence was completely ignored. Finally, he stood up and said in a loud tone: "Sorry Senpai! But I''ve reached my limits." Both Miku and Kenzaki stopped talking, feeling Ryu''s intense stare. Kenzaki looked at Ryu and said with a slight smile: ¡°Well, forget about it. I''ll tell you why I brought you here.¡± Rio turned his body around without caring: ¡°As if I care now.¡± Miko spoke in a sarcastic tone, "Is he a child?!" Kenzaki folded his arms across his chest as he thought. ¡°Do you want to play?¡± Ryu turned around with sudden excitement before Kenzaki could finish his words. "Let''s play a game, the loser does one thing for the winner." Although he felt like he was being manipulated, Kenzaki immediately agreed, saying, ¡°Okay, what¡¯s the game?¡± Ryo smiled broadly and said sarcastically, ¡°You seem very confident, Student Council President.¡± Kenzaki replied with a calm smile, with a strange gleam in his eyes: "Why wouldn''t I be?" Ryu pointed towards a table on which a medium-sized chess set was placed. "Chess. To make it more interesting, we''ll make some extra rules." Miko tried to intervene to warn Kenzaki: "Hey, hey. Kenzaki, shouldn''t you think before you agree to his rules?" Kenzaki smiled confidently, saying, ¡°You don¡¯t understand. He¡¯s trying to make fun of us, the student council members. We can¡¯t ignore this.¡± Miko sighed deeply and said with a serious face, ¡°Stop playing along, just play fair.¡± Rio replied in a provocative tone, "There''s no need to argue. We can always find solutions... for cowards." Both Miku and Kenzaki''s expressions changed noticeably. The two sat in front of Ryu, their gazes filled with defiance and anger. "Well, what are your rules?" Kenzaki said. Rio began explaining the rules: "The rules are simple: at each move, your opponent can ask a question. If you take a piece from your opponent, he must answer your question, or he loses immediately. Of course, the loser carries out one request of the winner." He looked at their faces and added with a smile, ¡°Any questions?¡± Miko was the first to move. With eyes full of excitement, she picked out the black pieces. The game began, and Ryo quickly noticed that Miku seemed very confident, but he was ready to quickly drop her. After several moves, Ryu excitedly announced, "Checkmate." Miko was shocked to realize that she had lost so quickly, and her face turned red when she remembered Ryo asking her out on a date. ¡°Okay, senpai,¡± he said with a smile. ¡°I look forward to our next date.¡± Her face turned redder, as she began to think about his true motives. "It''s my turn now. Get ready," Kenzaki said in a calm tone. Rio, surprised, wondered inwardly. ¡°Is he serious now? Yes, come on, ask me to cancel the appointment now so I can lose. Yes, this will all be part of my plan.¡± Kenzaki smiled and said, "I won''t ask you to cancel the date with Miku, but I will ask you to join the student council." The second game began, and the library was surrounded by an atmosphere of challenge. The moment the match between Rio and Kenzaki began, the atmosphere in the library completely changed. Emotions between excitement and anger filled the air, while Miku watched the situation trying to calm down after her loss. Ryu carefully grabbed his first piece, then moved the soldier to e4 , smiling confidently. Kenzaki smiled wryly, and took his soldier to match his move at e5 , saying, "Boring move, Ryu. Is this your best?" Rio calmly replied, ¡°I won¡¯t need my best to defeat you.¡± The pieces began to move rapidly across the board, each move followed by words full of provocation or challenge. ¡°Ryu-kun, do you have any other plans besides manipulating this board?¡± Kenzaki said as he moved the knight to f6 . Rio laughed as he moved the elephant to c4 saying: "My plan is...and do you think I''m stupid enough to tell you about it?" Miko could feel the amount of excitement flowing between them, but she couldn''t ignore the feeling that Ryo seemed to be hiding something. The game moved quickly. The tension rose, and with each piece taken, increasingly intense questions were asked. Rio: "Kenzaki, why did you really invite me here?" Kenzaki: "Maybe to find someone smarter than you." Rio smiled coldly, then moved the queen to f3 , saying, ¡°You¡¯re very sure, aren¡¯t you?¡± But at an unexpected moment, Kenzaki made a bold move, sending the horse swooping around the queen. Rio paused for a moment, then smiled. "I''m not done yet." The two exchanged looks filled with determination. The match became more of a war of words and a clash of wits than a mere game of chess. Before Rio could make his final move, as the game reached its climax, the school bell rang, signaling the end of the school day. Kenzaki stood up with a smile and said, "Well, it seems you got lucky today. We have to go." Rio shouted angrily: "Wait! You can''t leave now. Come on, finish the match!" Kenzaki smiled coldly and grabbed Miku''s wrist, saying. "The day is over, and you know the strict school rules. Look at yourself how lucky you are that you are not a member of the student council now." The two left the library, leaving Ryu behind, feeling upset. Rio talked to himself as he was left alone in the library. "Damn... he beat me to this." He raised his eyes to the window, taking in the view outside. ¡°Anyway, today was fun. Speaking of fun, I wonder where Shouyou and Itsuki are? It''s strange that they haven''t looked for me yet.¡± ???????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????? Chapter 3: Izakaya Restaurant: A Long Night on the City Streets Chapter 3: Izakaya Restaurant: A Long Night on the City Streets ?????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????? As the last rays of sunlight disappeared, darkness enveloped the city. The twinkling stars painted a peaceful picture in the sky, while the full moon rose to occupy its center, casting a faint halo of light. The cool air that drifted through the streets was enough to send a slight shiver down your spine. Despite the quiet sky, the city below told a very different story. The sounds of hurried footsteps, teenage laughter, and the chatter of passersby filled every corner. Boys and girls in school uniforms gathered in scattered groups, their faces a mixture of excitement and exhaustion after a long day of school. Amidst the crowd, a small but eye-catching building stood out. The restaurant''s illuminated sign bore a simple name in elegant font: [Izakaya Restaurant] Despite the simplicity of the design, there was something about the shape of the building that made you stop and look. The lighting, the harmonious angles, and even the warmth you felt as you approached, all made the restaurant feel like it belonged to a different world from the hustle and bustle of the city. Inside the restaurant, preparations were in full swing. Itsuki, who was dressed in a smart waiter''s uniform, stood at the entrance, holding the doorknob. He looked inside seriously, then shouted in a clear voice: "Shouyou, Ryu... are you ready?" In the corner of the kitchen, Shoyo stood stoically in front of the stove, holding a cooking spoon and a sharp knife. His features were calm but reflected undeniable concentration. "ready." On the other side, Rio was standing in the middle of the restaurant, holding a board and a pen. He moved his hand quickly, reviewing the latest menu and organizing his thoughts, before answering in a clear voice: "ready." The voice of the responses was free of any hesitation. The words seemed like an announcement of the beginning of something special. With steady steps, Itsuki pushed open the door, shouting a greeting, extending his invitation to everyone who passed by: "Welcome to Izakaya!" That moment marked the beginning of a new chapter in the city''s night. Crowds of people started streaming into the restaurant, and the place quickly turned into a sea of customers, with tables filling up within seconds. The delicious smell of food wafting from the kitchen was enough to lure any passerby to try at least one meal. "Waiter, come here I want to order!" "Hurry up! I''m so hungry!" The noise of customers echoed throughout the place. It was very noisy, but in the midst of it all, Rio moved with precise steps between the tables. Despite the crowds and the increasing demands, his apparent calm and speed in dealing with customers was impressive. His calm and composed manner made everyone feel at ease. No customer felt ignored, on the contrary, it seemed as if each individual had special attention. "Can I take your order now?" "Sorry, we can''t prepare anything off the menu." "Just a moment, Grandpa, I''ll be there soon." Rio''s movements were lively and energetic. As he moved between tables, he took orders and answered customers'' questions without missing a single detail. Ryo took a stack of orders and handed them to Itsuki, who was standing at the checkout machine. "These orders are ready, hurry up and send them to the kitchen." Itsuki took the orders and quickly hung them on a small window separating him from the kitchen, where Shoyo stood busy preparing the dishes. "Hurry up, Shoyo! The orders are increasing!" Shoyo didn''t look up from his work. One hand was cutting vegetables with a sharp knife, while the other was holding the frying pan, controlling the stove that was turned up to full. "Don''t rush me. Cooking is an art, not a race." Shoyu replied in a calm but confident voice, leaving no room for any further discussion. The atmosphere in the restaurant began to get more and more lively, dishes coming out of the kitchen at a rapid pace, moving from Shoyu to Itsuki, from Itsuki to Ryo, and finally to the tables. The smell of the dishes alone was enough to whet anyone''s appetite. With every dish Rio served, he added a touch of courtesy that made the customers even more satisfied. "Sorry for the delay. Go ahead." "Thank you for your patience." "This is your request. I hope you enjoy it." With every smile he offered, with every plate placed on the table, the restaurant became more harmonious. The food itself was a work of art, with its rich flavours forcing everyone to concentrate on each bite, which greatly eased the pressure of work. "The food is amazing! I will recommend this restaurant to my friends." "Send my compliments to the chef, his food is unforgettable." Some customers were paying their bills on the way out, and Itsuki was standing at the cash register with a kind smile. "Thank you for visiting. We hope to see you again soon." The restaurant gradually quieted down over time. The number of customers decreased until the place was completely empty. Eventually, the three entered a small room in the corner of the restaurant with a sign that read, ¡°Staff Lounge.¡± Rio sat on one of the chairs, sighing as he wiped the sweat from his forehead. ¡°Oh my god...that was a hard day.¡± Shoyo raised his eyes, as he dipped his hands in a bucket of ice to relieve the heat on his fingers. "Tired? What kind of tired are you talking about? Try working in the kitchen first, then talk about misery!" Rio smiled and replied. "What''s the problem? I can cook too." Shoyo looked at him with a mocking look and said sarcastically. "That''s what we usually say about someone who can''t tell the difference between salt and sugar." Rio smiled slightly. ¡°At least I don''t put too much salt in my food.¡± Shoyo replied sharply. "I''d rather put sugar instead of salt, like you did before." The argument between the two became heated, with each throwing words at the other. Itsuki watched them silently before patting their shoulders with a slight smile. "Great work today, may your efforts be blessed." At that moment, the three realized that despite all the fatigue and petty quarrels, they were working as a complete team, indispensable to each other. In a small restaurant that had recently started business, Ryo was quietly cleaning tables. There weren''t many customers, but the atmosphere inside the place was comfortable. Behind him, Shouyou and Itsuki sat at one of the tables, watching him silently. The silence between them was but a prelude to a question they both knew was inevitable. Shoyo, with a side smile, was the one to break the silence first. Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions. "Why did you suddenly become interested in working and making money?" Itsuki, in his usual manner, joined in as if reciting an agreed-upon script. ¡°Really, this isn''t the Rio we know.¡± Their eyes met Rio''s in what seemed like a test moment. However, Rio replied without hesitation, as if the answer was already ready: "Because I want to develop myself more." He was silent for a short moment, before continuing with a small smile: ¡°You must have noticed that I¡¯ve been slacking off lately. So I decided to open this restaurant¡­ You know me, I can get distracted easily if I don¡¯t keep myself busy.¡± Shoyo and Itsuki¡¯s expressions changed from curious to clearly blank. It was clear that they didn¡¯t believe a single word. But after a short moment, a faint smile appeared on their lips, as if they had reached an unspoken understanding. Without warning, they both wrapped their arms around Ryu''s neck in a coordinated motion, tucking him between them, while Shoyo began scratching his scalp vigorously. Itsuki wasn''t long in joining in the attack. "You made us worry about you for no reason." Shoyo, with a sarcastic laugh. ¡°Damn, I thought you were in debt to some gang and struggling to pay off your debt so they wouldn¡¯t threaten you with your friends.¡± Ryu was trying to free himself, but their grips were too strong. He shouted in an angry voice, trying to escape this unjustified punishment. "Stop! This hurts! Damn you, let go of my head!" While Shoyo and Itsuki continued to laugh, Ryo said nervously. "What gangs are you talking about? Where did you get all this from?" Despite his protests, the two were thoroughly enjoying his helplessness. It looked like they wouldn''t stop anytime soon, but a sudden sound ended the moment. "Ring...ring..." It was the sound of the doorbell. They both stopped, finally letting go. The three returned to their positions in the restaurant. Ryo quickly took the customer''s order, then Itsuki took it and passed it to Shoyo who immediately started cooking. The customer sat near the cash register, the aroma of the food wafting from the kitchen increasing his appetite. He could hear his stomach growling as he was hungry. Rio arrived just in time with the plates, and when he placed them on the table, the customer started eating immediately, as if he hadn''t eaten in a while. A smile spread across his face with every bite he took. After finishing his food, the customer paid Itsuki the money, then left the restaurant feeling happy. The three of them returned to the staff break room again. Rio clapped his hands, immediately drawing attention to himself. ¡°Uh...well, today has been a good day, so I suggest we close the restaurant early.¡± Shoyo and Itsuki looked at him and smiled, not having any objections to the idea. Then they each went to clean up their own section: Shoyo headed to the kitchen where the smell of food still hung in the air, Ryo busied himself cleaning the tables that had been stained by a long day, and Itsuki took his place behind the counter, carefully counting the money. After they were done, they turned off the lights, leaving the place in a quiet darkness. They quickly changed into their work clothes, and changed into their usual everyday versions, free of the restaurant smell. "Clack!" Rio locked the door with the key and took one last look at the restaurant before putting the key in his pants pocket. The three of them started walking around the city. The street lights were shining everywhere, and the loud sounds of cars and passersby brought a different life to the night. Rio said as he looked at his two friends: "Right, what did you do at school while I was away?" Shoyu answered him, in an indifferent manner: "I forgot." Rio looked at him suspiciously, and sighed. ¡°Just say you don¡¯t want to talk. What about you, Itsuki?¡± Itsuki thought for a moment, as if recalling memories of the day, then said: "We were looking for you, and then we ended up in the school cafeteria." Rio raised his eyebrows in surprise: ¡°If you were looking for me, why didn''t you simply call me?¡± Itsuki hit his forehead with his hand hard as if he was blaming himself, but Shoyo didn''t let the opportunity pass and raised his hand to hit him on the forehead as well, which made Itsuki turn to him sharply. "Don''t you have a forehead to hit instead of mine?" Shoyo laughed lightly, then said: "Sorry, my head hurts. Isn''t it a friend in need who matters?" Rio smiled slightly, but rolled his eyes as if he wanted to end the subject. Itsuki suddenly spoke: "Well, where did you go, protagonist?" Rio couldn''t hide his smile, and began to tell his story: ¡°I was going to the bathroom, and then the student council vice president dragged me into the library. I thought she was going to confess to me, but it turned out the council president was the one who wanted to talk. Then I challenged them to chess; I won against the girl, but the president ran away when the end of school bell rang.¡± Rio finished his speech in one go without taking a breath. Shoyo and Itsuki stood still, exchanging glances. They both sighed audibly. Itsuki said: ¡°Sorry, but stop imagining. We know you''re a bookworm who never misses class.¡± Shoyo nodded in agreement: ¡°Chieh, don¡¯t get too cocky just because someone called you the protagonist.¡± Rio said, defending his previous words. ¡°Hey, but it¡¯s true! What¡¯s up with your attitude, Shoyo?¡± Shoyo put his hand on Rio''s shoulder in a dramatic manner and said seriously. "Don''t worry, I believe you... Pff!" Small veins appeared on Rio''s forehead as he tried to hold back his anger. "Try to hold back your laughter at least!" The two engaged in their usual argument, while Itsuki watched them with a small smile on his face, occasionally interjecting with a passing comment, but the discussion always returned to square one. The city streets were crowded, and the smell of street food mixed with the fresh air, making the atmosphere more relaxing. The colorful lights on the shops gave the street a special life, as if the city never sleeps. After a while of walking, Itsuki said in a warning tone: "Guys, enough talk. Continue your argument tomorrow." But a sharp crying sound suddenly interrupted their conversation. "Ahh... haha... haha!" Their eyes turned to the source of the voice. There, in the middle of the crowd, stood a little girl alone. She was holding a stuffed rabbit in one hand, while wiping away her tears with the other. Her childish face was red from crying, and her shoulders were shaking slightly. Shoyu quickly walked forward without thinking, and knelt down in front of her. With a gentle expression, he gently placed his hand on her head and said in an unusually warm voice. "What''s your name, little one?" Ryu and Itsuki exchanged surprised looks. Ryu whispered to Itsuki. "Is this really the Shoyo we know?" Itsuki replied, barely controlling his laughter. "Maybe an alternate version!" But Shoyo interrupted their conversation in a serious tone: "Stop joking and help me." Itsuki walked over and pulled out some candy from his pocket, smiling as he extended his hand to the little girl. "Would you like some candy?" The girl stopped crying for a moment, and looked at the candy with sparkling eyes. She took the candy hesitantly, then said in a low voice. "Thanks..." Shoyo asked her gently. "Why were you crying?" Instead of answering, the girl grabbed Rio''s pants and wiped her nose with them. Rio remained silent, but gave his two friends a warning look, as they tried to stifle their laughter. After a few moments, the girl spoke in a trembling voice: "My name is Rika Fujiura." She bowed slightly in a cute, childish way. Shoyo smiled and said: "Nice to meet you, Rika. I''m Shoyo, and these are Itsuki and Ryo." Rika raised her head with a small smile. "Then why were you crying, Rika?" Her eyes filled with tears again, but she tried hard to hold them back. Rio put his hand on her head and said, "Strong girls don''t cry." She held her breath for a moment, then said in a broken voice. "I... got lost... from my mother." Shoyo stood up, stretched his back, and placed his hands on his hips as if confidently announcing his decision: ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Rika, we¡¯ll help you find your mother. Right?¡± He looked at his two companions with determined eyes. Rio and Itsuki replied together. "naturally!" A shy smile appeared on Rika''s face, and she said in a small voice. "Thanks." With a reassuring smile, Rio gently lifted her up and had her sit on his shoulder. As she settled into place, her face lit up with excitement as she said happily. "Wow! It''s getting longer!" Rio laughed and said jokingly. ¡°So, Captain Rika, if you see your mother, tell us immediately!¡± Rika replied with childish seriousness, her eyes shining. "Science, ship cleaner." Rio opened his mouth in surprise and said, stuttering. ¡°M-Ship cleaner? Rika... you mean the captain''s assistant, right?¡± Rika nodded firmly and replied confidently. "No, ship cleaner." Shoyo laughed loudly and asked her. "What about me? What is my position?" Rika thought for a few seconds, then pointed at him and said: ¡°You¡¯re the ship¡¯s navigator, and he¡­¡± (she pointed to Itsuki) ¡°is the captain¡¯s assistant.¡± Shoyo and Itsuki raised their hands in a military manner as they chanted together: "At your command, Captain Rika!" Rika smiled proudly, while Rio looked at everyone with an expressionless face. Shoyo said, trying to hold back his laughter. "Cleaner, did you clean the ship today?" Itsuki added with a sarcastic smile. "Don''t worry, you may soon be promoted to be the ship''s windshield wiper!" Rika puffed out her cheeks in anger and said in a stern, childish tone. "Don''t make fun of him! He''s very strong!" The three of them burst into laughter at her funny reaction, while Rika looked at them in confusion. After a few moments, Rio asked her in a calm voice. "Rika, do you know where you were going with your mother before you got lost?" The girl answered quickly. "We were going to the store to buy dinner ingredients, but I lost them." Everyone stopped to think for a moment, then Itsuki said as he looked around. "Maybe we should look at the nearest stores here." Shoyo objected, putting his hand behind his back. "I don''t think she''ll stay around. Maybe look for her somewhere else." Rio added confidently. ¡°Then the best solution is to go to the nearest police station. Maybe her mother thinks the same way.¡± Shoyo raised his finger as if to confirm his words. "Exactly, the police station is the most logical place." Itsuki said, pointing to a nearby street. "I know one, it''s seven blocks away." The three exchanged quick glances, then agreed in unison. "Let''s go!" With their enthusiastic steps, Rika began to feel more secure, and the fearful expression on her face gradually turned into an innocent, childish smile, as if she knew that these three new friends would not leave her alone. Shoyu suddenly stopped, his face showing strange changes. Ryu and Itsuki looked at him worriedly, both wondering at the same time. "What''s wrong, Shoyo? What happened?" Shoyo responded quickly and enthusiastically. "There''s an ice cream truck ahead, captain!" There was silence for a few moments, as the two began to lose interest in the matter. But Rika''s eyes lit up upon hearing the news, and she grabbed Ryo''s ear. "Quickly, let''s go there!" No one could say ''no'' to the amount of cuteness that appeared on Rika''s face. They reached the ice cream cart, and they all stood watching Rika as she considered choosing two types of ice cream. Itsuki asked gently. "Captain, what did you choose?" Rika shook her head in confusion, looking hesitant: "I can''t choose, they''re all delicious!" Itsuki thought for a moment before asking the vendor to mix the chocolate and strawberry flavors with a small ball. Shoyo asked him curiously. "Why are they all so small?" Ryo stared at him, and pointed to Rika sitting on his shoulder. Suddenly, Shoyo understood what Ryo meant. They each took their own ice cream cone, and it was clear that Rika had lost patience. She reached out to Itsuki who gave her the small ice cream cone that fit her small hands. Each of them played with the ice cream cone in their mouths, while Rika was the only one who continued to enjoy her ice cream on Rio''s shoulder. Itsuki said with regret: "I should have brought the medium size." Words of regret came out of his mouth before Shoyo responded angrily. "Shut up! It was your idea to buy the small size!" Rika stopped eating her ice cream and watched the discussion between the two with utmost seriousness. Then she said in a firm voice, "I won''t give anyone my ice cream!" The two stopped arguing immediately after seeing Rika''s cute actions. The streets were now more crowded, and as they approached the police station, Rika saw a large blue sign, and tried to spell out the words written on it. "Sh...sh... evil... shit." Despite the mispronunciation of the letters, her face showed expressions of joy and excitement, and her eyes even lit up. Rio, Itsuki, and Shoyo all smiled, and Itsuki said excitedly. "Let''s pick up the pace a little, we''re getting closer!" They arrived at the police station, and Rika spoke excitedly. "Put me down quickly, quickly!" Rio gently grabbed her hand and quickly lowered her, then Rika stormed into the center with a quick movement, searching for her mother among the crowd, but she did not see her. Shoyo and Itsuki followed her, while Ryo went to ask the policeman who was standing there. "Did a woman come here looking for her lost child?" The policeman answered kindly. "Yes, one came and said she would be back soon. Why do you ask?" Rio was surprised by the policeman''s question, but he answered him calmly. "Because we found her daughter, and she''s there." The policeman patted Rio on the shoulder and said with a smile. "Good job! I brought her here, I''ll call her now. Sit over there." Rio quickly returned to tell the group what he heard from the policeman. "Rika..." Everyone''s eyes turned to Rio, but before he could speak, a voice from behind him interrupted him, a voice that was broken but full of sadness and love. "Rika!" Rika started crying again, then immediately ran towards a woman standing at the entrance to the center. "My mom!" Rika jumped into her mother''s arms, while tears streamed down their eyes. The scene was very touching. The mother said in a voice choked with tears. "Where did you go, Rika? I was so worried about you!" Rika answered her in a weak voice. ¡°Sorry mom, I got lost, but my new friends helped me.¡± The mother wiped her daughter''s tears and asked her about her friends. Rika pointed to Rio and his friends. ¡°They''re the ones who helped me get here, mom.¡± The mother bowed and thanked them from her heart. "Thank you for bringing back my daughter, thank you so much." None of the three knew what to say except one word. "Excuse me, ma''am, this is our duty." The mother came back and took Rika''s hand. "Come on, say goodbye to your friends before we go home." Rika''s expression changed to sadness, then she said in a low voice, waving her hand at them. "Goodbye, cleaner, navigator, and assistant." The mother was surprised by this strange farewell, but she felt a bit of sadness in Rika''s words. Ryu, Itsuki, and Shoyo all smiled, while waving their hands as well. "See you later, captain!" As Rika and her mother walked away from the police station, the mother smiled and said to Rika in a tender voice. "Your crew (friends) said goodbye, so they''ll see you again." A wide smile spread across Rika''s face as she said excitedly. "Really, mom?" The mother answered tenderly. "Okay." The three continued to watch the mother and daughter walk away, before Shoyo broke the happy atmosphere by saying. "Damn! Heroes are hard. That''s why I prefer villains!" Itsuki said with a smile: "Yes, I''m with you on that." "Then next time, let''s kidnap a girl and demand ransom!" They all laughed together, but they forgot that they were in the police station. One of the officers shouted at them angrily. "Come on, go home before I lock you up here!" Shoyo, Itsuki, and Ryo all ran quickly after hearing the policeman''s words, while Ryo started laughing as he ran. Rio said with a laugh. "You know what''s funny now?" Both Itsuki and Shoyo answered with anticipation. "no." Rio said with a smile. "We have school tomorrow!" They all burst out laughing as the group dispersed, heading home as quickly as they could.