As we passed through the school gate, we saw many fresh-faced students who seemed to be freshmen.
Wearing brand-new uniforms, they walked with expressions ranging from nervousness to excitement or indifference.
“It feels strangely surreal. We’re already in our second year of high school.”
Shiho murmured pensively as she gazed at the freshmen.
“…This time last year, I never would’ve dreamed this would happen.”
Those words probably resonated more strongly with me than with Shiho herself.
To think that Kotaro Nakayama was walking alongside Shiho Shimotsuki… I wouldn’t have believed it if someone had told me a year ago.
After all, almost all the freshmen nearby had their eyes wide open, marveling at Shiho. Regardless of gender, they were captivated by her appearance… Although I had grown accustomed to it, the real Shiho was like a woman from the clouds, someone you could only see on TV or in magazines.
Being close to her now, I couldn’t express it in any words other than miraculous.
“I can’t believe I get to be with such a wonderful boy like this… It’s unbelievable.”
Shiho said, seemingly pondering similar thoughts to mine.
You’re the only one who rates Kotaro Nakayama so highly.
“…That’s my line. Frankly, being with a charming girl like you is the unbelievable part.”
“Haha, this conversation feels like something out of a cheesy couple.”
Shiho chuckled.
Indeed, it did. We laughed together at the cheesy dialogue.
Truly… I was in a much happier state than I could have ever compared to last year.
I wanted things to stay that way forever.
I was so fulfilled that I found myself wishing for it.
However, in a story… that state doesn’t last long.
A story with ups and downs is much more ‘interesting’ than a flat one.
And those ups and downs are typically seen through the ’emotional shifts of the protagonist.’
When the protagonist is happy, the readers who empathize with him are happy too.
When the protagonist suffers, the readers who empathize with him suffer too.
By utilizing this empathy, the story forms peaks and valleys to add emotional depth.
The movement of emotions. That’s what makes it interesting. Therefore, a story without emotional movement, a flat one, is often considered ‘monotonous’.
So, the state of ‘happiness’ cannot last forever in the structure of a story.
“Um… the class change announcements should be over there.”
We use the second-floor classrooms as second-year students, unlike the third floor we used as freshmen.
In the hallway of the second floor, there was a bulletin board displaying the class assignments.
“I-I’m so nervous… God, please, let Kotaro-kun and me be in the same class.”
I nodded strongly in agreement with her words.
I wanted to be with her for as long as possible.
So, it’s decided that being in the same class would be best.
Although there was some anxiety about being in different classes, deep down, I thought it would probably be okay.
(Thinking narratively, being in the same class makes events easier to happen… Probably, it’ll be fine, right?)
Usually, the main characters are placed in the same class even after advancing to the next grade.
So, Shiho and I… unfortunately, being at the center of the story, we’ll probably end up that way.
That’s what I thought.
But I still didn’t know.
“Our classes… are different?”
I asked in disbelief.
Check the classification sheet.
I checked the class assignment papers.
However, the Kotaro and Shiho names were written on papers for different classes.
What that means…in other words, the peaceful daily life part is over.
The happy state was over, and from now on, the story would enter a valley and we’d have to endure suffering… that’s what it meant.
