7
I’ve heard it said before that the persuasiveness of a statement depends entirely on the person saying it.
For example, if a loner like me with almost no friends were to raise my voice, I’d just get the stink eye from everyone.
But I think that’s only natural. I don’t make an effort to interact with people because I want to be that way. I just find it bothersome.
That’s why I don’t know anything about my classmates other than their names.
I mean, I don’t even know the personalities of the quiet kids or the ones who don’t really hang around the class, let alone the noisy kids who cause a ruckus in the middle of the classroom.
For someone like me who has almost no expectations or interest in other people to expect them to look at me favorably would be way too convenient.
Just like I don’t know my classmates, my classmates don’t know me either.
If a total stranger who just happened to be taking the same class as me suddenly started yelling, I’d definitely give them the stink eye too.
In other words, it’s easy to predict that anything I said would have the complete opposite effect. But what if it was someone who wasn’t like that?
The answer was right before my eyes. The entire class’s gazes were fixed on one of the boys standing by the classroom door.
“Shidou-kun…”
“I ran as fast as I could because I was going to be late, but aren’t there too many people crowded around our classroom? There were even people in the hallway. I was surprised because I thought something had happened.”
The student called Shidou was breathing hard, but he didn’t seem fazed at all.
If I had that much attention on me, my legs would definitely start shaking.
I’d be enveloped in such a heavy atmosphere that I’d hesitate to even breathe.
“HR is about to start soon, so I think the students from the other classes should go back to their own rooms. If you wait until the chime rings, the teacher might find you.”
But even so, Shidou didn’t lose his composure.
With a model-like face, a hint of bewilderment emerges.
He leisurely looks around as if to say, “You don’t like that, do you?”, and even the students from other classes seem to agree with him, as one by one they hurriedly leave the classroom.
“…”
I was half-stunned at the sight.
What I had wanted to do, but hesitated because I thought it was impossible, Shido had done it without a care in the world.
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With my mind still blank, Shido walks towards Mio.
The students around him step back to make way, and the students who were around Mio scatter in all directions.
It’s like a king’s triumph. You can see that they are being careful not to disturb Shido.
“Good morning, are you okay, Misaka-san? You’ve had a tough morning.”
“Ah… ah, thank you…”
When Shido speaks to her, Mio bows her head slightly.
She’s completely withdrawn into herself, and her voice is even smaller than usual.
“Don’t mention it. It’s all because of what was on TV yesterday, right? Kishima was making a fuss about it. Of course, people would gather, but it’s a surprise to be visited like that.”
Looking at Mio like that, Shido smiles wryly.
As if to say that she shouldn’t worry, he waves his hand lightly, then turns his attention to Kishima, who is still standing next to Mio.
“Kishima, don’t you think you’re overdoing it a bit? I understand that you’re excited because someone from our class was on TV, but…”
“But Shido-kun. This is also for Misaka-chan’s sake…”
“Girls may have their own way of doing things, but that was tough on her in the morning. Even a club competition would have been easier.”
Shido gently dismisses Kishima’s argument.
To anyone’s eyes, Shido has a higher status than Kishima.
“That’s…”
“It’s hard to be in the spotlight. Well, I won’t say any more than that. It’s time.”
Immediately after, the sound of the chime resounds through the classroom.
Hearing it, Kishima’s expression turns sour, but Shido walks to his seat as if he doesn’t care.
Calmly. Boldly.
Without any hesitation.
“Shido…”
Seeing that, I remember again.
That’s right, Shido Mitsuki.
The former soccer club ace, the student council president.
It took me a while to remember, but even I, who have no interest in other people, know his full name, so he’s a pretty famous person in the school.
In other words, he’s at the top of the school caste.
No student would dare to refuse Shido’s words.
His presence, the persuasiveness of his words, are completely different from those of ordinary students.
“…”
As a result, Mio was saved by Shido.
I should be happy about this, normally.
But all I felt at that moment was a sense of powerlessness, irritation, and an indescribable sense of defeat.