Second Serenade: Chapter 01

While you may already be familiar with these terms, I’ve provided their English definitions for those who may not be. I’ve also changed the name order to First and Last, rather than the Last and First order used in the original Japanese text.

1. さん (san): This is a general, respectful suffix used to address or refer to someone. It's similar to "Mr.," "Mrs.," or "Ms." in English. It's commonly used for people of all ages and social statuses in both formal and informal contexts.

2. 君 (kun): This suffix is often used for addressing younger males, or in a more familiar or casual setting. It can be used with people of the same or lower status, and it's commonly used among friends, students, or in professional settings where there is a clear hierarchy (like between a superior and a subordinate). 

3. 先生 (sensei): This suffix is used to address or refer to teachers, doctors, professors, or other professionals who are considered experts in their field. It conveys respect and recognition of their knowledge or position. It can also be used more broadly for mentors or highly skilled individuals, such as artists or writers, especially in formal or respectful contexts.

Content warning: This novel contains descriptions of explicit sexual content. I will not be adding a trigger warning to each chapter with graphic content, so please consider this a general warning.

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It happened right after the class in the audiovisual room, while Takuma Aketo was trudging down the stifling, humid hallway. He thought he heard someone call his name and reflexively turned around. Sure enough, Sunahara was running toward him from the far end of the hallway.

Ugh, not this again... he clicked his tongue. He could already guess what this was about—probably the class project for the school cultural festival.

Since he had already turned around, it felt impossible to pretend not to notice. He stayed where he was, waiting for Sunahara to catch up. Among the crowd of students passing by in their white summer uniforms, Sunahara stood out in his rolled-up blue shirt sleeves. At about 160 centimeters (5’2’’) tall—a height that had no hope of increasing—this 24-year-old math teacher wove his way through the students, whose increasingly Westernized physiques only made his smaller frame more conspicuous. Watching him, one couldn't help but think, Man, that looks exhausting.

Finally reaching the student he was after, Sunahara looked up at Aketo, panting heavily.

"You're the class rep for 2-B, right? About the cultural festival project—you can't go with that idea. You'll need to come up with something else and report it to me by the end of the day."

"By the end of the day...?" Aketo replied, his voice reluctant and stiff.

“Yeah. Depending on what it is, the school might not approve it. The sooner, the better. Honestly, your class is getting way too lazy. Did you really think I was gonna approve something half-baked like a lounge area?”

Sunahara flicked the stack of printouts in his hand with his fingertips, just as the bell started ringing. Seizing the opportunity, Aketo cut him off before he could continue.

"Alright, we'll talk it over and report back by the end of the day."

With a quick nod, Aketo slipped back into the classroom, the blast of air conditioning instantly cooling his sweat-drenched body. July had just begun, and the classrooms had only recently started running their air conditioning, conveniently timed with the announcement of the final exam schedule. Schools could be so sneaky that way.

"Running away, huh?"

Kakegawa, who sat next to him and had apparently witnessed the whole exchange, grinned. Aketo let out a wry smile and sank into his chair. Honestly, he wasn’t good at dealing with that teacher, Sunahara. Sure, the guy was popular—he was fair with students, approachable, easy to talk to—but personally, Aketo had no patience for that hot-blooded, overly enthusiastic type. They were just on completely different wavelengths.

"It's a pain, you know? We all decided on it together, but I get the complaints."

"That's the fate of a class rep," Kakegawa quipped, turning back to face the blackboard.

The classroom door clattered open, and the first-period teacher stepped up to the podium. As Aketo pulled his textbook from his desk, he muttered to himself, If it weren't for my transcript, I would've never taken this class rep position...

◇:-:◆:-:◇

After school, as his classmates began to rise from their seats, ready to head home or hit the club, Aketo called them back, making sure no one slipped out. On the blackboard, he had scrawled Cultural Festival Project in large letters. Frustrated by the restless murmurs still swirling around the room, he clapped his hands twice, sharply. The loud sound snapped everyone's attention to the blackboard, then to him.

"Just throw out any ideas you've got. We're starting from scratch."

"We already agreed on a lounge area last time. What's going on, Class Rep?"

Grumbles erupted from various corners of the room. If anyone had the right to complain, it was him.

"It got rejected. They want something more concrete, something that gets everyone in the class involved."

The complaints grew louder. Tired of the endless grumbling, Aketo turned his head away, losing the will to manage the unruly crowd. Then, amid the chaos, a timid hand slowly rose.

"How about a film?"

"A film?"

Aketo tilted his head, repeating the suggestion. It had come from Hayashida, a member of the newly formed film research club. Quiet and unassuming, he didn't seem like the type to get excited about the noise and chaos of a school festival, so the suggestion caught Aketo by surprise.

The word film rippled through the classroom like a wave, drawing whispers and murmurs. Hayashida, his hands tightly clasped in front of him, continued with newfound conviction.

"It might be a lot of work to make, but on the actual day, all we have to do is screen it, which would be super easy. It could even be a nice keepsake. And we could try convincing last year's Miss Tozai High, Minako Otomo, to take a role..."

"That could work," Aketo replied immediately, seizing on the idea.

"A film, huh..."

"Sounds interesting. No other class is doing a film, right?"

The chatter around the room grew louder. It seemed no one was particularly against the idea, and the mood steadily shifted toward excitement. The two big selling points—a relatively easy setup on the day itself and the chance to involve the beautiful Minako Otomo—were clearly winning them over. Sensing the momentum, Aketo quickly called for a vote and settled the matter, then dismissed the still-fidgety class.

As he allowed himself a small, satisfied grin, Kakegawa sidled up beside him, leaning against his back with an overly familiar grin.

"Had a hunch you were into pretty girls, but I didn't peg you for a die-hard Minako Otomo fan."

Aketo bristled slightly. He didn't appreciate someone reducing his feelings for her to the shallow label of fan. He genuinely liked Otomo, and it wasn't just about her looks.

"Otomo-san isn't just a pretty face. She's stunning, graceful, and as delicate as a flower. I've never met another girl like her."

In his mind, a full-fledged romance was already unfolding—a love story between himself and the most beautiful girl at Tozai High, born from their shared film project. Aketo wasn't one to brag, but he had a fair amount of confidence in his appearance. Tall, with well-proportioned features, he might not have been a top-tier ikemen (a Japanese slang used to describe a good-looking man), but he figured he could at least pass as a solid second or third.

Snapping back from his sweet daydream, he looked over at Kakegawa, who tilted his head as if to ask, What? Though their types were different, Kakegawa was also good-looking. If Aketo was the pretty, smooth-faced type, then Kakegawa was the rugged, cool guy—a fitting contrast.

Wait... is he into Otomo too? Is that why he's been needling me about this?

Aketo peered into Kakegawa's eyes, trying to gauge his intentions, but Kakegawa seemed completely oblivious, grinning as he leaned in and said...

"Minako Otomo, huh? There's a rumor that she likes Sunahara-sensei, isn't there?"

"Sunahara? You've got to be kidding me."

Aketo covered his mouth with his hand, letting out a quiet chuckle.

"That's a pretty niche taste."

He could accept the idea of Otomo dating someone like Shibata from 2-A, Kashiwazaki from the third year, or even Kakegawa right beside him. But Sunahara? That short, scrawny guy with a face still dotted with the remnants of childhood freckles? An eternal kids' meal special like that? Out of the question. Aketo grabbed his school bag and slung it over his shoulder.

"Alright, see you, Kakegawa."

As he spoke, Kakegawa snorted through his nose, a smug little sound that set Aketo's teeth on edge for a moment.

"Sunahara-sensei's pretty popular, you know."

Aketo knew that already, but the tone Kakegawa used, like he was defending Sunahara, irked him. It made him want to push back, especially after that dismissive laugh.

"Yeah, but with that height and that face? His fans are all guys, I bet."

"Not necessarily," Kakegawa shot back confidently. But whether Sunahara was popular or not meant nothing to Aketo.

"You're just a sucker for pretty faces," Kakegawa added, smirking as he walked out of the classroom.

Why did he even stick around this long, anyway?

Aketo pursed his lips, irritated. So what if I like pretty people? If you're going to date someone, it's obviously better if they're attractive.

As he muttered, "What's the big deal about Sunahara, anyway? That ugly little runt," he left the classroom, unaware that his words would have sent Sunahara into a fit if he'd heard them.

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