Classroom Heartbeats

Chapter 7. The Hidden Clash!

The wind rustled through the sakura trees outside Building 5, their leaves dancing in the breeze, creating a symphony of nature that seemed to lift the spirits of anyone nearby. The natural melody drifted into Classroom #1 through the open windows, where Kibin and Kentaro sat side by side, engrossed in their books. The tension between them was palpable, but the soothing sound of the leaves seemed to mask their unease, creating a serene atmosphere.

Professor Smith, their Comparative Political Science instructor and advisor, had just finished her lecture. He stood at the front of the classroom, his voice steady and authoritative. "Tomorrow, we will hold the class officer elections. I urge you all to choose wisely for the benefit of the entire class," she announced before exiting the room, leaving a murmur of anticipation among the students.

As soon as Professor Smith left, Mikoto, a classmate of Kibin and Kentaro, sprang up from his seat with a confident grin. "Guys! I'm running for class president. Make sure to vote for me, alright?" he declared. Mikoto, who came from a wealthy family, wasn't known for his intelligence, but he had an undeniable air of arrogance about him. Despite his good looks, his demeanor often rubbed people the wrong way. (Funny how he acts like the main character even though he isn't, huh?)

Kentaro, feeling the weight of the day's events and wanting to avoid any confrontation, grabbed his bag and stood up. As he made his way to the door, Mikoto's voice rang out, cutting through the chatter. "Kentaro, don't even think about running against me in the election. I'm the only candidate," he warned, his arm outstretched, finger pointing dramatically.

Without a second glance, Kentaro walked out, his expression stoic. The classroom fell silent for a moment, the tension thick in the air. Mikoto's words hung heavily, but Kentaro chose to ignore the challenge, his mind elsewhere.

Kibin made his way to the Office of Student Affairs (OSA) to speak with Mr. Sato about the email he received. The campus was quiet, with most students either in class or enjoying their free time elsewhere. The cold wind blew against him as he walked, making his face tingle from the chill. Despite the cool air, beads of sweat formed on his forehead, a clear sign of his nervousness as he approached Mr. Sato's office.

The anticipation of learning his exam results made his heart race. He hoped for good news, and the thought of it intensified his anxiety. The only sounds he could hear were the echoes of his footsteps and the pounding of his own heart.

As he reached the door of the OSA, Kibin paused for a moment, taking a deep breath to steady himself. He knocked lightly and entered the office. Mr. Sato was seated at his desk, a stack of papers in front of him. He looked up and greeted Kibin with a warm smile.

"Ah, Kibin, come in. I've been expecting you," Mr. Sato said, motioning for him to take a seat.

Kibin sat down, his hands gripping the edges of the chair. "Good morning , Mr. Sato. I received your email and... I'm here to discuss the results of my exam."

As Kibin spoke with Mr. Sato, he suddenly noticed someone sitting quietly to the side. It was Kentaro, his expression unreadable as he watched their conversation unfold.

The sight of Kentaro caught Kibin off guard, adding another layer of tension to an already intense moment. Kentaro's presence seemed to cast a shadow over the room, making Kibin even more acutely aware of every word he said.

Mr. Sato, noticing Kibin's brief glance toward Kentaro, continued to speak, his voice steady and reassuring. But Kibin's thoughts were now divided, his mind racing with questions about Kentaro's unexpected appearance.

Mr. Sato nodded, his expression thoughtful. "Yes, of course. I have your results right here," he said, picking up a folder from his desk.

Kibin's heart skipped a beat. He wasn't sure if this was a good sign or a bad one. "Okay," he replied, trying to keep his voice steady.

Kibin held his breath as Mr. Sato opened the folder and pulled out a sheet of paper. "You've passed the examination. Congratulations."

The tension that had been building inside Kibin suddenly released, and he let out a sigh of relief. "Thank you, Mr. Sato. I was so worried..."

Mr. Sato smiled, leaning back in his chair. "I could tell. But you've worked hard, and it shows. Keep up the good work, and I have no doubt you'll continue to excel."

Kibin nodded, a genuine smile spreading across his face. "I will. Thank you so much for your support."

Mr. Sato leaned back in his chair, his expression grave. He reached into a drawer and pulled out an envelope. "However," he began, "you will not receive your certificate for passing the Japanese language examination."

Kibin's eyes widened in confusion. "Why not, Mr. Sato?" he asked, trying to keep his voice steady despite the rising anxiety.

Mr. Sato opened the envelope and held up the certificate. "Because of this," he said, pointing to the document. "That's why I asked Kentaro to join us here today."

Kibin turned to see Kentaro, who had been sitting quietly in the corner. Kentaro stood up and approached Mr. Sato's desk with a smug smile. Kibin's emotions churned-a mix of frustration, confusion, and a simmering anger. He tried to maintain a neutral expression, but it was a struggle.

"According to Mr. Maeda's report, you were absent last Saturday. You didn't attend the tutorial," Mr. Sato explained, turning to face Kentaro.

Mr. Sato addressed Kentaro, "Mr. Maeda, do you have anything to add?"

Kentaro, clearly enjoying the moment, replied, "Technically, last Saturday, Kibin wasn't exempt from the class because the exam results were being released today. He skipped class without notice," he said, his tone dripping with satisfaction.

Kibin clenched his fists, fighting to keep his composure. Mr. Sato then turned his attention back to Kibin. "So, what do you suggest, Kibin?"

Before Kibin could respond, Kentaro grabbed the certificate from Mr. Sato's desk, slipped it back into the envelope, and held it out of reach. "Mr. Sato, I will sign and give this certificate to Kibin if he attends class on Saturday for the last time," Kentaro said, his smirk widening as he locked eyes with Kibin.

"Alright, I agree with you," Mr. Sato said, nodding in approval.

Kentaro turned to Kibin, his voice tinged with sarcasm, "Do you have any questions or complaints, Kibin?"

Kibin met Mr. Sato's gaze and replied, "I understand. I will attend class on Saturday."

"Okay, if there are no further clarifications, you may return to your classes," Mr. Sato concluded, signaling the end of the meeting.

Kibin was the first to leave the office, his brow furrowed with irritation. The cold wind outside bit at his skin as he walked, mingling with the frustration that simmered within him. He knew this was Kentaro's doing, the reason Mr. Sato refused to sign and hand over his certificate. But this only intensified Kibin's resolve to face the challenges ahead, determined to not let Kentaro's schemes get the better of him.

As Kentaro walked out of Mr. Sato's office, he couldn't help but recall the scowl etched across Kibin's face-a clear sign of irritation. This thought made Kentaro chuckle. He had succeeded in getting under Kibin's skin, and if Kibin was going to be angry at him for no reason, Kentaro figured he might as well enjoy the ride.

As he exited the building that housed the Office of Student Affairs, Kentaro spotted Kibin standing outside, waiting. Their confrontation was inevitable. Without acknowledging Kibin, Kentaro walked past him, head held high as if he didn't see him. But Kibin wasn't going to let him off that easily.

"Hey, what's your problem?" Kibin called out, his voice heavy with frustration.

Kentaro paused and turned to face him, a smug expression on his face. "What problem? Maybe you're the one with the problem," he replied coolly.

"You dragged Mr. Sato into your nonsense. I know you're behind his decision," Kibin shot back, his irritation palpable.

Kentaro shrugged nonchalantly, a faint smirk playing on his lips. "I didn't do anything wrong. Maybe you should look at yourself."

"You're despicable, an arrogant jerk. You really know how to get under my skin," Kibin fumed.

Turning away, Kentaro raised his right hand, holding the envelope high. "Just make sure you attend class on Saturday to get this envelope," he said over his shoulder before walking away, the smirk never leaving his face.

Kibin stood there, fists clenched in anger, jaw tight with frustration. He knew Kentaro had orchestrated this, ensuring Mr. Sato wouldn't sign his certificate. As he stood there fuming, Kibin received a message from Yuto, saying they were in the library with Kazuki. Kibin responded that he needed some fresh air to de-stress and would join them later for lunch in the canteen.

Meanwhile, Kentaro arrived at the library, grinning broadly. Kazuki noticed immediately. "Why are you so happy?" he asked, curious.

Kentaro laughed. "I just had a little chat with Kibin. Let's just say he's not in the best mood right now."

Kazuki frowned. "What did you do to make him so angry?"

Yuto, having received Kibin's message, chimed in. "Kibin messaged me that he wouldn't be coming to the library because he's stressed. Now I know why."

Still laughing, Kentaro said, "He's always pissed at me for no reason. I might as well give him a reason to be annoyed."

Leaning in, Kentaro motioned for Kazuki and Yuto to come closer. He had something to whisper that was bound to stir the pot even more. The plot thickened, and Kentaro couldn't wait to see how it would all unfold.

Under the sprawling branches of a sakura tree near the stairs in front of the administration office, a wooden bench nestled snug against the wall. Kibin sat there, deep in thought, replaying the frustrating encounter with Kentaro from earlier. The cold wind rustled the leaves, mirroring the turbulence in his mind. Suddenly, his phone rang, pulling him from his thoughts. It was Yuto calling.

"I'm at the canteen, standing in line to get some food," Yuto said.

Kibin sighed, the frustration still evident in his voice. "I'll be there soon," he replied.

Upon arriving at the canteen, Kibin joined the queue at the counter, his eyes scanning the room for Yuto among the throngs of students. He couldn't spot him, so he took out his phone and messaged Yuto, asking where he was sitting. Yuto's reply directed him to look towards the glass wall in the middle of the canteen.

Peering through the polished, reflective glass, Kibin saw a figure standing behind it. As the figure stepped out, it was Yuto, raising his hand and waving slowly. Kibin noticed and returned the gesture with a thumbs up.

Walking over, Kibin saw Kazuki and Kentaro sitting at a four-person table. Kazuki and Yuto sat next to each other, leaving the seat beside Kentaro vacant. Kentaro looked up and gave Kibin a sly, provoking smile-the very smile that made Kibin's blood boil. Driven by irritation, Kibin chose not to sit there and instead went to another empty table nearby.

Yuto soon followed, carrying his tray of food, and sat down across from Kibin. "Why didn't you sit with us?" Yuto asked, though he already knew the answer.

Kibin sighed deeply, his frustration palpable. "You know why, Yuto."

This was all part of Kentaro's plan, which he had whispered to Kazuki and Yuto earlier in the library-to irritate Kibin as much as possible. Yuto felt a pang of guilt as he sat beside his friend, who was clearly simmering with anger from the earlier confrontation. The lively chatter and clinking of cutlery around them seemed distant, overshadowed by the tension at their table.

The gym class was scheduled to start at four o'clock, but their teacher hadn't arrived yet. The gym inside the building where they usually had their class was undergoing maintenance. Curious, the students asked one of the workers about it. The worker explained that the gym was being prepared for an upcoming sports event for the freshmen students of the Social Sciences department.

With no teacher in sight and the gym unavailable, the classmates decided to make the most of their time. They headed to a waiting shed on campus, located right in front of Building 5. They all sat down in a circle, brainstorming how to pass the time.

"What should we play?" one of the classmates asked.

"Have you heard of the game 'Actions or Questions'?" suggested one of the more energetic students, who seemed to always have an idea up their sleeve.

"We don't know that game. How do you play it?" another classmate inquired.

"It's similar to 'Truth or Dare,' but instead of using a bottle or stick to decide who's up, we write our names on small pieces of paper, fold them up so the names aren't visible, and draw lots. Whoever's name is drawn gets to choose between answering questions or performing an action," the student explained.

"Okay, I get it now," one of the classmates nodded.

"But this game is tougher than 'Truth or Dare' because if you choose 'Questions,' you'll be asked three questions. Any question goes, and you have to answer all three. If you don't, you'll have to perform an action. If you can't do the action, it levels up and gets harder," the student elaborated.

"Is everyone clear on the rules?" the student asked.

Everyone agreed, nodding enthusiastically.

They pulled out sheets of paper and tore them into small pieces. Each person wrote their name on a piece, folded it to hide the name, and placed it into a small box to be mixed up. They began drawing lots, ready to see what the game had in store for them.

The first name drawn was Kazuki's. When asked if he preferred Questions or Action, Kazuki chose Questions. The group leaned in, eager to see what he would reveal.

"Kazuki, are you a mama's boy?" one classmate asked with a teasing grin.

Kazuki laughed, shaking his head. "I love my mom very much, but no, I'm not a mama's boy."

The next question came quickly. "Does Kentaro see you as just a sidekick?"

Kazuki's expression turned serious for a moment. "Kentaro's been my best friend since elementary school. We've been through so much together. He's never treated me like a sidekick, ever."

The last question had the group buzzing. "Have you ever kissed anyone?"

Kazuki answered with a mischievous grin, "Yes." The group erupted into laughter and cheers, one classmate joking, "Kazuki must be a great kisser!"

The next name drawn was a classmate who chose Action. The task was to kiss the hand of their crush. The boy, slightly nervous, stood up, walked over to the girl who had suggested the game, took her hand gently, and kissed it. The group cheered louder, commenting on how sweet the moment was.

The third name drawn was Kibin's. The first question for him was whether he had ever had a girlfriend. Kibin shared his story, "I had a girlfriend back in the Philippines. The relationship lasted for a year, but she cheated on me."

A classmate responded sympathetically, "That must have been rough."

Kibin nodded. "It was, but it was a long time ago. I've moved on."

The second question was whether studying in Japan was harder than in the Philippines. Kibin explained, "Initially, it was challenging due to the new environment and culture. But once I learned Japanese, everything became easier."

The third question came from Kentaro, who had volunteered with a smirk. "Kibin, do you have anger issues? If so, why can't you control them? If not, why do you always seem angry?"

The group laughed at the bluntness of the question. Kibin felt his irritation rise, but he maintained his composure. He locked eyes with Kentaro, who smirked back.

"I don't have anger issues. If I did, I might have already punched someone," Kibin said coolly. "It's natural to get annoyed, especially when people are annoying or have bad attitudes. It's hard not to get irritated."

His classmates nodded in agreement, understanding his point.

"Okay, the next name drawn is Yuto," the classmate drawing names announced.

Yuto chose Action. His task was to give something from his bag to three friends. Yuto stood up, smiling. "I consider everyone here my friend, but I only have three pieces of candy. So, I'll give them to three people."

He handed the candy to Kazuki, Kentaro, and Kibin. "My favorite candy goes to Kibin because he's been my closest friend since we started this class," Yuto said.

Kazuki, Kentaro, and Kibin were pleased. Kibin whispered a thank you to Yuto and told him he was his best friend on campus too. They smiled at each other and shared a fist bump.

The name drawn next was Kentaro's. Kibin saw this as an opportunity for a little payback.

The first question for Kentaro was if he had ever had a girlfriend. Kentaro replied, "No, but some girls have confessed their feelings for me."

The second question was if he liked anyone at the moment. Kentaro said, "No, I'm focused on my studies. But I'm open to the possibility of a girlfriend if I ever feel a spark."

Kazuki joked, "How will you ever fall in love if you never start conversations and stay aloof?"

For the third question, Kibin raised his hand, volunteering to ask. He looked directly at Kentaro, "Do you have a superiority complex? If not, why are you so aloof and unfriendly? Why do you act like the center of attention? If this isn't a superiority complex, what do you call it?" Kibin asked with a smirk, locking eyes with Kentaro.

The atmosphere grew tense as everyone awaited Kentaro's response. The game suddenly felt more like a confrontation, with the sakura leaves rustling gently outside, providing a stark contrast to the charged emotions within the group.

Yuto, sitting next to Kibin, and Kazuki, beside Kentaro, exchanged glances, both keenly aware of the tension crackling between their friends. The air around them felt heavy, charged with an unspoken rivalry. Kentaro turned to Kibin, a smirk playing on his lips.

"I don't have a superiority complex, and I'm not arrogant," Kentaro began, his voice cool and measured. "I'm just not used to talking to strangers or initiating conversations."

He continued, his tone sharpening, "Sometimes, life experiences can change how a person interacts with others. That's something I've been through. Sure, I'm aloof, but I'd rather be that than someone who pretends to be nice but is really just a hypocrite."

The classmates nodded in agreement, though the charged atmosphere remained. The words hung in the air like a challenge, adding another layer to the simmering tension between Kibin and Kentaro.

Just then, their gym teacher arrived, cutting through the tension with his presence. "How are you all doing?" he asked, his voice breaking the silence.

"We're fine," the students responded in unison, their voices a chorus of relief.

The teacher nodded, surveying the group. "Because the gym is being prepared for an upcoming event, class is canceled for the afternoon. You're free to go home."

The students began to gather their belongings, the earlier tension slightly dissipating with the teacher's announcement. The sounds of bags being zipped and chairs scraping against the floor filled the waiting shed. The sakura leaves outside the window rustled softly, a gentle reminder of the ever-changing dynamics of their relationships.

As Kibin stood up, he couldn't shake off the feeling of unresolved tension. He knew this wasn't over, and the confrontation with Kentaro would resurface sooner or later. The rivalry and resentment simmered beneath the surface, waiting for the next spark to ignite it.

Feeling the weight of stress and frustration from his confrontation with Kibin on campus, Kentaro decided to go for a jog to clear his mind. The tension between them had been palpable, and he needed an outlet to decompress. The evening air was crisp, and with each stride, Kentaro felt a slight release from the day's pressures. The rhythmic pounding of his feet against the pavement was almost meditative.

Meanwhile, Kibin found solace in his favorite spot at the boarding house-the rooftop. To shake off the heaviness from his encounter with Kentaro, he sipped on a cup of coffee. For Kibin, coffee was a therapeutic ritual. Every sip seemed to wash away the day's troubles, helping him regain a sense of calm. The aroma mingled with the cool night air, creating a moment of peaceful reflection.

As night fell, Kibin decided to leave the rooftop and take a walk to the nearby market, hoping to find something to lift his spirits. He donned his favorite hoodie, the one with "Khen-khen" emblazoned on the back, and set out. The familiar sights and sounds of the bustling market were a comforting distraction.

At the same time, Kentaro was jogging back home. When he reached the park, he noticed a stranger wearing a hoodie with "Khen-khen" on the back entering the market. Intrigued, Kentaro felt an urge to talk to this kind-hearted stranger he had heard about, someone known for their willingness to help others without hesitation.

Determined to meet this person, Kentaro followed the stranger into the market. However, as soon as he entered, he lost sight of them in the crowd of shoppers. The market was bustling, the stalls lined with vibrant produce and the air filled with the enticing scents of street food. The throngs of people made it difficult to spot anyone.

Kibin, unaware of Kentaro's pursuit, continued to browse through the market stalls, his mind slowly easing with the rhythmic activity around him. The colorful displays and the chatter of the vendors provided a soothing backdrop, allowing him to momentarily forget the day's events.

Meanwhile, Kentaro scanned the area, weaving through the crowd, determined to find the mysterious "Khen-khen." The noise and movement around him added to his growing frustration. Despite his efforts, the stranger seemed to have vanished. Kentaro sighed, the fleeting hope of a meaningful encounter slipping away. He resolved to keep searching, feeling an inexplicable connection to the name on the hoodie.

As he wandered through the market, the cool night air offered a small measure of comfort. The lights from the stalls flickered, casting a warm glow over the bustling scene. Kentaro couldn't shake the feeling that this stranger, "Khen-khen," held the key to resolving some of his inner turmoil. Determined, he made a mental note to return to the market, hoping that fate would allow their paths to cross again. For now, he would head home, the tension of the day still lingering but tempered by a sense of purpose and curiosity.