High School Hack and Slash Chapter 1.3

Pasifista

　Taking the internet tips on how to have a good conversation to heart, he straightened his posture and looked the other person squarely in the eyes, glaring.

　He was by no means an introvert type, so he enjoyed the game of catch namely conversations, he enjoyed it to the point of getting excited about it, so in order to avoid being rude, he lowered the tone of his voice and removed his facial expressions.

　As he thought that speaking in a frank tone to someone he wasn't close with was rude, he was being eerily formal.

　It was clear that Touma's coping method was wrong, but the other side was generally frightened.

　If Seiichi, his roommate, were not the sociable type, it was definitely something that would have made him apply for a room change on the first day.

「Oh, very well. This is the newest model of iPad, you see. But, you know, as expected there's no connectivity here.」

　Seiichi threw the tablet in his hand on the bed.

「Rather, like really, what kind of countryside is this that we can't even use our mobile phone?」

「Yeah, it's inconvenient.」

　Touma, who never had a cellphone, let alone a smartphone, spouted out a lie with a straight face.

　But in fact, the matter that shocked new students the most was the isolation from various communication networks.

　Now was the age where everyone took it for granted that no matter where they were, they were connected to the network through their mobile devices.

　Of course, there was a pay phone installed in the dormitory and, although there was a limitation to it, it was also possible to connect to the internet through wired connection.

　It was not like they were isolated from the outside world and information.

「There's a LAN port on the socket on the desk for connecting to the internet, though.」

「The academy put filters on it, so there's nothing worth looking at. I can't connect to the BBS, and there's even no result for swimsuit's search.」

「In other words, you want materials to jerk off to, huh.」

「… Well, you know, how about you filter your words a bit?」

　Touma, sitting on his own bed, slowly opened his mouth while looking up at the ceiling.

「It's not that I have no understanding of masturbation. As long as you let me know ahead of time, I think I'll tactfully excuse myself.」

「… Yea. We're good on that part.」

「Yeah.」

　As Seiichi, who was showing an awkward face, got quiet, the conversation died down there.

　The pressure Touma exuded as he looked for a conversation topic in distress froze the air in the room.

　The person in question was frantic, but not only was he unable to utter any words in fluster, he was still as expressionless as usual.

「… Gah, I get it, I get it, alright? Such a killing intent. I never expected to be found out on the first day, but I promise I won't start anything from my side.」

「Yeah.」

「Okay. As long as you don't say anything, I won't say anything either, Touma. Compromising to each other, let's get along well.」

　In response to Seiichi, who was taking a surrender pose while raising both hands, Touma also replied with a smile of congeniality.

　At least, that was what the person in question intended.

◇ ◇ ◇

　Honestly speaking, I think my student dormitory life, which I had been worried and helpless about, has gotten off to a good start.

　Especially my roommate Seiichi, he is a very nice guy.

　We call each other by our given names instead of our family names, so I think it could be said that we are friends or rather best friends now.

　Rather, there seems to be a strange local rule at this academy that basically forbids everyone from stating their family names.

　It is said to be a part of the academy's educational philosophy to encourage independence as an individual in the academy, without being bound by their birth or position.

　I think there was indeed a warning written on the enrollment pamphlet saying that it would be dangerous for our『real name』 to be known or something, but I honestly don't get it.

　If you take it as a way to build intimacy in a very natural manner, it could be said to be a superb rule.

　Different from middle school, perhaps this is the way adults associate with each other.

　Still in the state of high excitement, I woke up before dawn, so I wound up spending about an hour staring fixedly at Seiichi, who was asleep in the bed next to mine.

　Sweat was gushing out profusely due to him having a nightmare, so I couldn't help but wonder whether I should wake him up or not.

　There seems to be a bit of a problem with his sexual fetish, but I'm not so loose-lipped that I'd spread my best friend's secrets.

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　It was a surprise to learn that he's a peeping mania.

　I don't think there's any point in having one in my own room, though.

　No, I must not discriminate against my best friend due to prejudice, let's think of it from the point of view of an onanist with the kink of self-taking peeping footage.

　Most likely, he's a YouTuber.

『Self-created peeping footage in the boy's dorm chu☆ situation.』

　It must have been a live stream with that kind of title.

　The viewers were glued to his gallant shaking hand, his choice of myriad material that made you doubt his sanity, and his dexterous technique in utilizing all sorts of tools that were out of the ordinary.

　Perhaps, I don't think it would get much views.

　I do think it might attract a few core followers, though.

　As a roommate that doesn't want to get in his way, I think I'm going to just watch over him with lukewarm eyes.

　I'm starting to get used to the dormitory life, but school life is finally about to begin.

　Dressed in our brand new uniforms, we head to the entrance ceremony.

　Most of the school buildings at Toyoashihara academy seem to be using structures built in the Taisho era that have been reconstructed.

　The red-brick exterior is nostalgic and similar to the Tokyo Station building.

　The entrance ceremony was held in the gymnasium, and at any rate the speech of the principal was very long.

　In his speech, he repeatedly talked about carrying the country on our shoulders and being aware of our mission, which gave me the impression that he was quite right-leaning.

　Well, I guess what he was trying to say was that cosplay, err rather, the subculture that originated and had developed in Japan was a culture that we could be proud of in the world.

　The class division was announced in advance, so we moved smoothly to our classrooms.

　Speaking of the ratio of male to female students, it seems that there is a little more male than female.

　I thoroughly look around at the students who will become my classmates from now on.

「Yo, Touma. Quite a displeased look you've gotten already there. Are you looking for someone to strangle?」

　The youtuber, who turns out to be in the same class as me, makes such an incomprehensible joke.

　Is this an act?

　It ought to be an invitation for me to make a retort.

　Raising my elbow to ninety degrees in a snap, I launch a horizontal chop at Seiichi's chest.

「… yer wrong.」

「Cough, gaha… m, my bad, I was just kidding.」

　Kneeling down on one knee while coughing violently, Seiichi is teary eyed.

　I see, his reaction is so natural.

　It's simply so magnificent that it seems as though it has frozen the air of the boisterous classroom full of chatter, and brought about silence at once.

　It's said that the moment when everyone falls into silence at once like this is described in fairy tales as when angels or fairies pass by.

「Please hold yourself back a bit when making a retort. As expected, are you training yourself?」

「Yeah, I'm of the indoor faction.」

　I know various trivia.

　I've never had the chance to use it up until now, but I've trained myself to be able to respond to all sorts of topics during those solitary times.

　Be it British wit joke or the ancient martial arts I learned from the Internet, I'm perhaps master class.

　Staging small conversations while facing a mirror, I trained on no-tempo strike form and knee strike in my room, but it took me a few years to comprehend.

　I think I really am clumsy.

　I'm unable to learn things that everyone else can do easily unless I desperately train on them.

　Even so, that's my nature.

　In life, you can only play the cards you are dealt, such is the famous saying of the beagle dog, the preceptor of life.

「Well, let's leave it at that. But I hear things are somewhat different from the outside, so you'd better be careful.」

「Okay. I'll be careful.」

　In the end, while the delicate air in the classroom remains slightly awkward, I hear the chime of the clock tower ringing, announcing the beginning of the first period.

Chapter end