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BSCOTE 11: Karuizawa Kei
🕑 Added 2025-06-20 14:50:02 +0000 UTC“Yamamoto-kun!”
Hirata's voice rang out suddenly, startling most of the class. They turned bewildered looks between the charming Hirata and the somewhat ordinary Ryuji, who was mostly invisible in class.
“Let's go have lunch.” Hirata smiled and Ryuji looked at him before nodding. He got up from his seat amongst the confused looks and joined Hirata's group.
The girls that mostly followed him around were somewhat displeased. They couldn't understand why Hirata was calling for some random classmate so enthusiastically.
The group contained Matsushita Chiaki, Nene Mori, Maya Sato and Karuizawa Kei. By now this was the small group that had formed in three days of school. Perhaps Karuizawa's attitude and behaviour made the other girls hesitant to join, even if they wanted to.
Karuizawa in particular frowned at Ryuji's presence but she didn't say anything, treating him like air.
But much to her displeasure, Hirata seemed much more happy talking to Ryuji than she and the girls.
Ryuji stood beside Hirata and they talked in hushed voices leaving the girls in a bad mood.
…
“Seems like your best friend has abandoned you,” Horikita sneered as she watched Ryuji leave Ayanokoji behind, “Going to spend the lunch alone?”
“Well… not really, I'll just join Ike, Yamauchi and Sudo.” Ayanokoji shrugged, lifting himself from his seat.
“Those buffoons?” Horikita raised a brow in surprise, “Birds of the same feather flock together I suppose,”
“Is something going on with you?” Ayanokoji tilted his head in confusion.
Horikita, who was bringing out her homemade bento, paused for a brief second, “What do you mean?”
“You seem much more upbeat today, quite the contrast from yesterday.” Ayanokoji pointed out and Horikita was somewhat surprised, hadn't she just thrown a few jabs at him like yesterday?
How had he noticed her change from yesterday? Horikita wouldn't deny that yesterday's pep talk had eased her mind a lot. She realised there was no need to isolate herself or be needlessly rigid.
Must be a coincidence.
Horikita brushed him off and Ayanokoji wasn't bothered.
But as he left he suddenly slid his phone onto her desk. Horikita was startled. She stared at his phone screen in confusion before noticing he had a messaging app opened. Under the contact ‘Yamamoto Ryuji’ there was a long message that had been sent a few minutes ago.
[Yo Ayanokoji, I won't be able to join you for lunch today. On the first day of class, I asked Hirata to help me make friends since I'm a bit shy and I fucked my introduction. I also figured you might not enjoy the big group but tell me if you want to make more friends and join the group, I'll ask Hirata. Though if he refuses I'll stop hanging out with his group. The girls would probably become annoying soon lol. Your call.]
“???”
Horikita had several question marks over her head.
“You might not know this—having been without friends for a decade or so— but friends don't just abandon each other. Try making a few and you'll understand, I'll cheer you on.”
Ayanokoji's voice echoed in her ears as she stared at his leaving back in bewilderment.
He… he sounded somewhat smug?
And why did he know she didn't have friends since kindergarten!? Did Ryuji tell him? How much did he tell him?
How dare he!
Horikita’s lips twitched as she suppressed her anger, taking it out on the food.
She couldn't let these scoundrels ruin her mood, today she had to talk to her brother no matter the cost!
…
“Say Hirata-kun, is there anyone you like in class?” Sato asked curiously and Karuizawa perked up hearing this. She had been clinging the closest to Hirata.
No one knew the anxiety buried deep within her heart.
Only by becoming Hirata's girlfriend, at least in name, could she be truly safe from harm. She had gone through hell once and she vowed to never let herself get dragged into bullying.
No matter what she had to do, this time she'd protect herself!
“Uh?” Hirata was somewhat surprised by the blunt question but he smiled and shook his head, “Not really, I haven't paid much attention yet but I believe liking someone is too early right now, at the very least I'd love to be friends before we move to that stage.”
“You're so different from the boys in our class Hirata! Most of them look at us like we're pieces of meat, especially Yamaguchi or whatever his name was.” Matsushita groaned while praising Hirata like a normal young girl would.
She couldn't act too indifferent and isolate herself. But she couldn't deny that Hirata was truly a prince charming, even if she wasn't that interested in romance at the moment she could understand why the girls in the class swooned over him.
Karuizawa nodded immediately in response to Matsushita’s words, “Meh If only those horny idiots from class could act even half as decently as Hirata-kun they'd at least have a chance with some of the girls in class.”
Ryuji, who had been listening quietly, was astounded by Karuizawa's words. How incredibly venomous, almost rivaling Kushida.
At first, her words seemed normal but…
Her words basically meant that even if some of the boys were okay they'd only have the privilege of dating ‘some girls’ in class. These ‘some girls’ were obviously said in a degrading way, as if those boys could never be worth the attention of someone of her stature.
She had instantly set a hierarchy amongst the girls.
Of course, girls were more sensitive to these things and Matsushita, Mori and Sato too understood the meaning behind Karuizawa's words. Though they felt uncomfortable, they naturally excluded themselves from the distinction of ‘some girls’.
Karuizawa obviously couldn't be talking about them… right?
Matsushita felt it was a pity.
If those boys ever truly fell in love with one of them, the girls wouldn't dare accept them even if the feelings were somewhat mutual, fearing being labelled as a cheap and ugly girl by Karuizawa and her future group.
“Does Yamamoto-kun have someone he's interested in?” Hirata asked curiously, he was trying to include Ryuji in the conversation.
Ryuji's face palmed inwardly, this foolishly kind kid. You don't just pull a self-declared introvert into such a conversation. If Ryuji were truly as he said he'd be left stuttering and shy, not articulating himself properly.
He'd inevitably make a fool of himself.
But Ryuji knew Hirata hadn't done this intentionally. He could tell Hirata did not like the constant praises from the girls, it must've annoyed him somewhat. Plus he might've felt guilty for leaving Ryuji out of the conversation despite saying he'd help him.
Ryuji, who was suddenly drawn into the conversation, laughed, “Not really, it's only the third day after all. Most of the girls in class are very pretty, I suppose it would depend more on personality.” He suddenly turned to Karuizawa, “I think Karuizawa-san must have already had a few confessions by now?”
“Huh?” Karuizawa was instantly flustered by the question.
She had been intentionally ignoring Ryuji, and thankfully the girls behind her followed her lead. But because of this Ryuji's sudden address to her left her bewildered.
Plus his question satisfied her vain ego, she felt like she was on cloud moon. If even this guy thought like this then most of the class couldn't be different. It was a stark contrast to her past life.
Her image had formed wonderfully.
“Well…” Karuizawa intentionally stretched her words as everyone looked at her curiously, “There was one yesterday.”
“Really!? On the second day of school too! Wow!” Mori, being the young girl she was, was drawn into gossip.
“Yeah, I guess he was courageous.” Karuizawa shrugged, not betraying the slightest hint of a lie.
“So did you accept the confession?”
Ryuji immediately pressed her.
