MTLNOVEL Chapter 9
Chapter 9: Hero Absent
It was the third term of sixth grade. Graduation was coming soon.
I'd be starting middle school, but since this area doesn't get students from other districts, everyone from this elementary school would move on to middle school together.
Acchan, who had been a central figure in our class, transferring away had all sorts of effects.
The old Acchan group (temporary name) split into two popular cliques, messing around during class or thinking they're cool by talking loudly or picking on the quieter kids.
Both groups started messing with Kashii-san's group, who kept the girls together, and some of the girls' groups went along with it, making the class atmosphere worse.
I was kind of invited to join both groups, but I turned them down since I knew I wouldn't fit in.
I hung out with Kousuke a lot. But Kousuke had plenty of other friends besides me.
Even so, he always stayed close to me.
As usual, I'd throw in a witty comeback if someone teased me and tried to support the quieter classmates, but since Acchan was gone, the popular kids started picking on me relentlessly.
Back when Acchan was around, if there was teasing, he'd step in and mediate, and somehow those guys would end up feeling like part of the gang, but now there was no unity.
Even without Acchan, I was still seen as the annoying guy trying to play the witty comeback role for the old Acchan group.
Kashii-san also noticed the change in the class atmosphere and tried to do something about it. The girls weren't affected much, except for a few loud ones, but the boys were getting rowdy.
Just two months ago, I thought this was a great class, but now it had turned into a toxic environment where people were quick to nitpick or start teasing.
The class president chosen in the third term was pretty much invisible.
I couldn't balance the class dynamic. I understood the difference between Acchan and myself.
And then, we had our graduation ceremony and graduated from elementary school.
I'd be starting middle school with the same familiar faces, but since we'd be in new classes, I hoped to end up in a good class with a positive group of people.
I was surprised to see my classmates in student uniforms, different from the casual clothes of elementary school, as I checked the class list.
When I looked at the members of my new class, I realized:
Kashii-san was there, Sotomachi-kun was there, there were a lot of popular kids, even Koishi was there, but Kousuke wasn't.
(...I've seriously become a loner...)
And so, my middle school life began. From the very first day, the popular kids formed a group around Sotomachi and started teasing me. Teasing me on the first day?
A few days later, I was nominated for class president, and with Kashii-san's support, I somehow managed to get through the committee selection.
(Acchan, middle school is a terrible place...)
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When I went to the new classroom, the seats were arranged in alphabetical order.
Sotomachi Kazuya
Tachibana Sho
Since it's in alphabetical order, whenever we're in the same class, our attendance numbers are always next to each other.
(Sotomachi-kun is nice to everyone else, but he always glares at me, so I'm not good with him...)
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Starting next time, Kashii-san will begin to take action.