***
While most upperclassmen buzzed about upcoming exams, a smaller, more captivated group paid little mind to textbooks.
Their focus was solely on the audacious first-year—the kohai—who had dared to wander into their second-year building. Their murmurs, however, were nearly drowned out by the desperate clamor of others, pleading for any scrap of information.
It took Nagumo's calm demeanor to calm the frenzy, offering just enough detail to pacify them and promising more reveals in due time. Slowly, the crowd began to thin.
"Oh my gosh, Sakanoue-san," sighed a dreamy-eyed girl, clutching her books to her chest as if they were a lifeline to sanity. "When do you think we'll get to see that handsome Kohai again? Just thinking about him…" She trailed off, a blush creeping up her neck.
'He was like something out of a manga,' she mused, too perfect to be real. That quiet intensity…'
"Actually, it's Fushiguro-kun. 'Sakanoue Toji' is just his stage name, you know." A nearby girl, a knowing glint in her eye, corrected her with a smug little smile.
"Ehh? No way! How did you find that out?" The first girl's eyes widened, a fresh wave of excitement washing over her. Her voice was a low whisper, leaning in closer.
'Fushiguro-kun… it sounds even cooler,' she thought, a thrill zipping through her. Imagine being on a first-name basis!
The name 'Sakanoue Toji' echoed with a certain mystery in the entertainment world. While his true surname wasn't exactly a state secret, few bothered to dig beyond the dazzling stage persona. Details about his personal life, his past, were notoriously scarce to the point non-existent, adding to his enigmatic appeal.
"I overheard some first-year girls from Class B," the second girl explained, unable to keep the triumph from her voice. "They were heading to the mall, absolutely gushing about him.
"Apparently, they saw the name on his desk or something. Spilled the beans to practically everyone within earshot!" She smirked. Score one for me, she thought.
Catching sight of the hushed, excited group, a girl with waist-length chocolate-brown hair, casually pinned back with a sunflower clip and a couple of ordinary ones, strolled over. Her purple eyes scanned them, a playful smirk already tugging at her lips, perfectly complementing her slightly playful aura.
She wore the standard ANHS uniform with an air of relaxed confidence, clearly having missed Nagumo's earlier interaction.
"Hey, what's all this whispering talk about? You guys look like you've seen a ghost… or maybe a pop star?" she asked, her tone light and curious.
"Ah, Asahina-san! You weren't here, were you?" Girl-One, her voice still soft and a little star-struck, turned to her. "You know the model, Sakanoue Toji? The one who's, like, everywhere?" Asahina casually leaned against a nearby wall, tucking a stray strand of hair behind her ear.
"Oh yeah, Sakanoue? The model guy? Yeah, I know him," she said, her voice easy and familiar. "Pretty face, everywhere you look." She chuckled softly.
"What about him? Don't tell me the famous Sakanoue Toji actually got himself inside this school and was lost in our building?" She expected a laugh, but to her surprise, the girls around her practically vibrated with affirmative nods and wide, knowing smiles.
"He did!" Girl-Two chimed in, eager to share the gossip. "He actually came here, looking totally bewildered! Told Nagumo-kun he was lost."
The girls then launched into an enthusiastic, slightly overlapping retelling of the event: how Nagumo, ever the smooth upperclassman, had kindly guided the flustered Kohai; how Toji—or rather, Fushiguro-kun—had been endearingly shy and almost bashful when speaking to him. They painted a picture of a handsome, slightly vulnerable idol, lost in their midst.
Asahina listened, an amused glint in her eyes, occasionally letting out a "Seriously?" or "No kidding?" at the more dramatic parts.
"Heh," Asahina finally grinned, pushing herself off the wall. "A lost, cute Kohai, huh? Sounds like prime teasing material." She shook her head playfully. "Seriously missed out. Gotta see this for myself. Think he'll wander back this way?" A mischievous thought flickered across her face – it could be fun to see if he was as easily flustered as they said.
"Yeah, I was just thinking the same—" Girl-One started, then her words caught in her throat as if she'd remembered something crucial. She shook her head quickly, a faint blush returning. "I mean..."
"Hmm? Somethin' up?" Asahina asked, her playful gaze sharpening slightly, always quick to pick up on a shift in mood.
"Oh, it's nothing, really!" Girl-One waved a dismissive hand, a little too quickly. "Hey, why don't we all go grab something to eat? I'm starving! And who knows," she added, her voice regaining its dreamy quality, "maybe we'll bump into Sakanoue-san at the cafe!"
"It's Fushiguro-kun," Girl-Two muttered with an exaggerated sigh, shaking her head good-naturedly as the others chimed in with agreements to eat. The group began to move while excited chattering and a little but of anticipation.
"Oh yeah, let's scope out the first-year spots!" added Girl-Three, already looking around as if expecting cute Kohai to materialize from thin air. "Maybe there are other hidden gems we don't know about!"
"Absolutely not!" Girl-One declared, her voice taking on a fiercely protective, almost indignant tone, much like a devoted fangirl defending her idol. "There's no one else as cute and handsome as Toji-kun! No other Kohai even comes close!" To her, and clearly to a few others, Fushiguro Toji, or Sakanoue Toji, was simply in a league of his own. Superior, untouchable.
Asahina just chuckled, shaking her head at their fervor. "Alright, alright, easy there, fangirls," she teased gently, stepping closer.
"One Kohai at a time, right?" She nudged Girl-One playfully. "Come on, lead the way. If this Fushiguro kid is really at the cafe, I definitely gotta see him."
The other girls giggled, their earlier excitement reignited by Asahina's playful energy, and the group headed off, their conversation a lively blend of hopes, dreams, and the captivating allure of their 'handsome Kohai.'
***
'Right, what's the plan now?' Toji mused, the ennui already settling in. Roaming this sprawling campus held all the appeal of watching paint dry, and his stomach wasn't complaining yet. A sigh, almost silent, escaped him. This routine has already started to feel like a drag. Toji felt exhausted.
He fished out his school-issued smartphone, idly swiping through its neutered features. A curated list of approved apps, social media access shackled by so many restrictions it was practically useless for anything beyond school announcements.
As he ambled away from the second-year building, his gaze drifted towards a cluster of upperclassmen heading for their club activities. Not a huge crowd; the smart ones were probably already lining up for lunch.
Then, something clicked. His eyes, half-lidded with boredom a moment ago, flickered from the distant figures to the freshly credited 100,000 points gleaming on his phone's display.
A slow smile stretched his lips.
'An opportunity.' He nodded in satisfaction, altering his course, with a new purpose thrumming beneath his lazy saunter, towards the club building.
The structure was surprisingly well-maintained. Signs near the doorways clearly designated various club activities, each pointing to a space that looked more than adequate, No cramped shoe boxes here; these spaces were generous.
He paused, then, with a subtle inclination of his head, pushed open one of the wooden doors.
The immediate wave of heat, sweat, and exertion hit him. Inside, upperclassmen in pristine white judogi – tunic, pants, and belts of varying colors – were deep into their warm-ups. Some methodically stretched limbs that looked thick as tree trunks, others were drilling break falls, the rhythmic thud of bodies on the tatami mats a constant percussion.
The air in the dojo is filled with focused energy.
These weren't dilettantes; the intensity was palpable. A few seniors, clearly experienced, were patiently demonstrating Ukemi to less seasoned members, with a surprising display of camaraderie amidst the otherwise serious atmosphere. It gave off a warm filling inside, as the curious ones asked for additional advice.
There were some who seemed to be teaching other Break Falls (Ukemi): Practicing how to fall safely, by demonstrating them practically, it seems they are getting along with each other just fine.
The moment Toji stepped across the threshold, a ripple went through the room. Training paused. Every eye, sharp and appraising, locked onto him. Some are curious, others just dismissive. He met their gazes with a cool, unbothered look that seemed to slide right off them.
"Well now, a freshman, are we?"
***
End of Part 1.