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Kana estimated that since the last time she had gone out was during her junior high school graduation exam, and then the holiday after that was one month, and then the school has been in session for another month, it means that… nn, it really has been two months.
Staying cooped up at home for too long really make you lose your sense of time.
Although there was no way around it, walking outside was something that takes a lot of willpower out of Kana.
Chitanda’s home was located in a remote area, so the bus that Kana and Eru would use to go to school was used by only very few people, but that’s enough to make Kana involuntarily stretched taut.
“Nee, sis, look there,” Eru tried to start a converstation as she noticed her tension.
Kana followed her little sister’s finger and discovered a beautiful blond hair young girl. The young girl wore the same uniform as theirs, and cups in her hands the English edition of “Adventure Tigers”¹.
“That’s the book you wrote.” Eru said.
“No. Everyone knows it is your book.” Kana said, shaking her head.
“Adventure Tigers” was a book that Kana wrote specially for Eru to read. The curious and precious Eru really liked novels of this genre, and later published by a publishing house. The Japanese version was published by Momiji Shoten, and the English version was licensed by Tulare Publishing in the United States.
Nevertheless, Kana didn’t want get involved in the many advertisement campaigns, so “Adventure Tigers” was published under Eru’s name.
“It is a book that you wrote for me,” Eru playfully replied. There was a slight smugness in her tone, it was the same bragging attitude as when she received a present during her childhood.
Kana’s muscle relaxed immediately and returned her sister’s smile.
That blonde girl got off the bus two stops before Kamiyama High. She was waited by a few girls at the bus stop, one of which was wearing huge earrings and also had colorfully dyed hair, giving an impression of a pretty flower field. Some weird trend might have cropped up while she was coop up at home, Kana surmised.
The blonde girl ran down the busa little furtively and dropped a notebook with blue cover on the bus.
Eru, gotten curious, picked up the book. Flipping the cover, a name was written neatly on the first page. It said, “Kirisaki Chitoge”.
“So she was Kirisaki Chitoge-san.” Eru remarked.
“A girl you know?” Kana asked casually.
Eru shook her head, “I only heard that there will be a foreign transfer student that’s in our year. Actually, sis should also recognize her.”
“Why should have I known her?” Kana asked curiously, “Is she famous?”
“I don’t know whether she is famous or not,” Eru regretfully said, “but Kirisaki-san and sis are both in first year, class B. Wouldn’t you have know your classmates if not for you skipping the class for a month?”
‘Attending class wouldn’t necessarily mean I would know my classmates’, Kana internally grumbled.
“I will give it to you” Eru suddenly handed the notebook when they have reached the school gate.
“Why?” Kana held the book, confused.
“Of course for you to return the book to Kirisaki-san,” Eru laughed, “sis can also use this opportunity to make a new friend.”
“Ah, it’s one of Eru’s plan,” Kana said as she slipped the book into her own bag, not hoping to befriend her. Whether she return it or not, she will leave it to fate. If she sees her, she would return it, otherwise, she would forget about it.
Eru was a first year, class A student, right beside Kana’s class. However, Kana still have to make a trip to the teacher’s office to hand over the psychiatric evaluation to the homeroom teacher, Yamada-sensei.
Kana never keep her mental illness a secret because this gave her a lot of convenience. Yamada-sensei told her that her desk was in the last row. There’s only one desk in that row. Right behind her was the cleaning equipment closet.
Kana was quite satisfied with this arrangement.
It’s still early, so only a few students were in the room. The arrival of an unfamiliar student has attracted some attention, and they immediately gesticulate Kana and murmuring with themselves from afar.
Kana also didn’t have any intention to walk over and introduce herself either. She sat on her seat and opened her brand new textbook, planning to review the school material a little. Unwittingly, that blue notebook slide out of the bag.
Kana picked up the book and looked around for the blonde girl, but didn’t find her. She flipped open the book in passing? Kana thought that it was just a classroom notes, but it actually wasn’t anything like that.
“Yano Kyouko, born June 6th, class president, excellent academic result, good at writing essays, a little weak in mathematics, is gentle, a natural beauty that doesn’t doll up, so likely can’t be conversed with on the topic of fashion.²”
“Kaizaki Shintarou, born December 7th, representative of the gymnastic class, average academic result, good at basketball, very good technique. Behaves like a middle-ages man. The most uninspiring gym rep I have ever seen. A lot of girl have a crush on him. Just how bad are these girls’ eyesight?”
“Fukube Satoshi, a member of Executive Committee, excellent academic performance, very knowledgeable, always change his bag every day, more sophisticated than a girl. Probably a playboy. Participates in handicraft club, so that may be a good conversation topic with him.”
“Kawaura Mamoru, born September 2nd, low academic performance, but very talented in baseball. A typical all brawn and no brain. Should be easy to strike a conversation with him, except that I don’t understand baseball.”
“Orikihou Tarou, average academic result, average look, no expertise either, neither is there any fatal weakness. In short, he is one of those lousy roadie boys, ah, the most headache inducing of all, can’t find any common point at all.”
“Fukube Ai, born July 16th, above average academic result, very pretty looks, word on the street is that she has had a low of boyfriends. Some had said that she is a bad fellow and gang head, but I think that she is a comfortable girl to be around with, and she had taken the initiative to say hello to me.
“Chitanda Kana, the best of the class year, haven’t attended class since the first day, rumor says that she also didn’t attend class during middle school either. Hearing that she managed to be the first during the entrance exam despite that made me feel like she is a final boss. Nevertheless, since she doesn’t attend class, I can’t befriend her either.”
“…”
All in all, it is just a little girl student’s friend book. Kana has heard that some people do make it, but this is the first time she has seen the real thing. About half of the notebook has been filled, so there should be approximately a few hundred students written in this book. That covers all of this year’s student plus some more. This Kirisaki Chitoge sure was a very dedicated girl.
“Aah! Thief! Return my book!” A blond blob whooshed from the classroom door.
Kana responded with unpararelled speed, she kicked her table towards the assaulter’s belly and rapidly distanced herself.
Kana could only properly see the surprise rowdy person now. It was the same girl as the one she saw in the bus.
“You want this?” Kana asked, holding up the notebook.
“Return that immediately! Thief!” The blond girl furiously replied.
Kana chuckled. She said, “you want this? Don’t dream of it!”

1. Likely referencing a real book, “Adventure Tigers”, although the similarities might end there for reasons you will discover as you read further.
2. This is a Chinese novel, and trying to get a Japanese name from a Chinese romajinization takes time. If I consider a character to be important to the story, then I will spend the time to look for the intended name. However, that means that names might be updated as I discovered so, so please bear with it.