NOVEL NEXT chapter 33
33 Rival
Feeling that not taking the external entrance exam was a mistake occurred to me while climbing a steep hill, and the high school, located at a higher altitude than the middle school, had given up transportation convenience in exchange for a better view.
Once we arrived at the school building, the first-year students had classrooms on the third floor, so we had to climb up to the third floor with our tired legs.
There are quite a few external entrance students in the high school.
The ratio of external entrance students, which had been at most about one-third until now, became half of the class as soon as they entered high school.
I chose the advanced education course in the high school, so it seems to be about half (…), but it seems that there are more external students in the specialized education program.
External students.
Escalator students.
Since entering the high school, it seems that such divisions have become even more firmly established in daily life.
It seemed that the escalator students indeed had a kind of “pride,” and the external students seemed to have an incomprehensible sense of rivalry, saying, “It seems like the escalator students look down on us.”
There is no need to fight where there is no need to fight… Everyone must have received brainwashing after all.
The aristocratic atmosphere prevalent among the escalator students was indeed the “elite consciousness”.
This “elite consciousness” was the sweet nectar brought by the rulers, and by making it seem as if the intangible nectar was “existent,” conflicts arose.
The two parties engaging in conflicts failed to realize that their true “enemies” were outside of themselves. In order to protect their illusionary elite consciousness, they became deeply involved in fighting against the opponents who should have been allies.
Well, those who like to fight can fight as they please.
As for me, I certainly do not like to fight.
My goal is to “survive”. Therefore, I act with the purpose of “not standing out” and I deeply understand that “victory” means “winning without fighting”.
And I know this— the outcome of a battle is not determined by the number of allies, but by the number of enemies.
In other words, all of my actions should be focused on “not increasing the number of enemies,” and I should definitely avoid being carried away by the flow that elevates me as the representative of the escalator students just because I was the former middle school student council president.
By the way, I ended up being in the same class as Sheila, whom I reunited with.
“Hey, Rex… um, what? What do you call it? That…”
Right after we reunited, Sheila seemed to have something to say but couldn’t express it properly.
I often find myself responding with a similar attitude to her. “What’s that? What? What is it? What do you call it?… It’s embarrassing.”
After we were separated upon graduating from elementary school, she became a high school student and grew up quite a bit.
Of course, she became more composed, and her figure has become completely feminine, and she has a nice scent.
I became embarrassed and could only say things like, “You still have that hedgehog-like hair, huh?” or “Did you dye your red hair with blood?”
In response, Sheila would say things like, “You still have those dead fish-like eyes, huh?” or “Did you make any friends other than studying?” Our communication was made up of about 90% teasing remarks to hide our embarrassment.
While we were arguing like that, the students from the escalator group started to gather around me, and the students from the external entrance group gathered around Sheila. Our very personal argument turned into a battle between me, the representative of the escalator group, and Sheila, the representative of the external entrance group.
No, that’s not it.
Sheila and I are actually good friends.
But as soon as we see each other’s faces, we start arguing. We even tied for first place in the beginning-of-the-year test, resulting in a draw. Since then, we have been competing not only in grades but also in our responses during class.
Of course, I want to avoid conflicts.
For that, I should be the one to give in somewhere. If I do that, the battle with Sheila will end, and it will be my defeat. As a result, the students from the escalator group will start celebrating someone other than me as their representative.
Losing to Sheila here will lead to future victories.
Being the representative and facing each other head-on only increases unnecessary wounds. There is no benefit. I don’t engage in actions that bring no benefits.
Because I am not just a fifteen-year-old. I am a fifteen-year-old who has lived a million times. The level of mental maturity is incomparable to my classmates… For the sake of the future, I will lose now. It’s something that can be easily done.
“Let’s settle it in the next midterm exam. If I lose, I will listen to whatever the winner says.”
Huh? Did she just say “whatever”?
Let’s do this!
A match that cannot be lost has begun.
The classmates were in high spirits. The class, divided into two groups centered around me and Sheila, erupted in cheers, fueling our battle.
I didn’t want to lose to Sheila.
No, it wasn’t that I found “obeying everything” appealing. It wasn’t that at all. I felt that deliberately losing to Sheila, who would do anything for me, would tarnish the beautiful memories of our fierce battles in elementary school. It was a matter of etiquette.
I am a fifteen-year-old who has undergone a million reincarnations. “Surviving”… that remains my purpose. It remains, but because Sheila would do anything for me, I wanted to win.
Our battle became known to the class next door, and for some reason, bets were placed. It was revealed that the odds, set by the house, Martin, were roughly fifty-fifty.
I don’t like quarrels… but being looked down upon by the transfer students is honestly vexing. Fine, I’ll make Sheila regret betting on her.
I confronted the midterm tests with a fierce determination.
And—
I emerged victorious.
Thus, I obtained the right to make Sheila “obey everything.”
And I realized.
…When it comes to exercising this right, it’s incredibly troublesome!?