Another Like Me - Part I (CoTE x OC) ?

Chapter 68 - The End of the Beginning

"Wait, what announcement is this? This is getting kinda scary," Kei Karuizawa said softly from the first bench. Chabashira-sensei grimaced.

"Listen up carefully."

She stood up straight.

"From today onwards, Keisuke Takeyama is no more a part of Class C."

A pin drop silence. I stared at the teacher, unable to comprehend what I had just heard.

"C-come again?" Hirata gathered the courage to break the silence. "I think we misheard you, sensei."

"You didn't," Chabashira-sensei replied. "From today onwards, Keisuke Takeyama is no longer a part of Class C. He has been shifted to the experimental Class S, along with Ryuuen Kakeru, Ichinose Honami and Sakayanagi Arisu."

"Wait, wait!" Matsushita-san screamed. "Kei-chan didn't tell me anything about this!? What the hell?!"

"Sensei, if this your idea of a joke, it actually isn't funny," Sudo-kun spoke up to my right. "Takeyama is our Class Leader. We've reached this far all because of him. And now you're telling us that he's not a part of our class anymore?"

"Unfortunately, it's true. Why would I lie about something this serious?" Chabashira-sensei furrowed her eyebrows, and sighed. "I'm as confused as you are. For your information, there will be a seminar at the school auditorium, where Chairman Sakayanagi will go through the details, reasons and modifications that the school will undergo post this shift. Takeyama is currently in the Chairman's Office along with the other students, filling out official forms regarding the class transfer."

"B-but sensei, this is absolutely outrageous!" Hirata spoke up, and you could even sense the anger in his tone. He wasn't trying to hide it. "We've been together for almost an entire year! Keisuke has been the driving force for our class's revival! Why did the school take such a decision in the first place!?"

A few students shuddered at the sight of an angry Hirata. I kept to myself, still unable to come to terms with this preposterous arrangement.

"I'm afraid I don't have the answers to your questions, Hirata. If you have any queries, don't hesitate to ask the Chairman during the seminar. He'll definitely welcome questions."

And like that, Hirata was shut down almost instantly.

I pursed my lips. My mind went blank as I tried to form the questions. I had a million questions in my head. Why? How? But I just couldn't form a meaningful question.

Keisuke Takeyama was my first friend.

He was the person who showed me the importance of having friends.

He was the person who pointed out my vital flaws, and strived to help me fix them.

He was the person who mended my strained relationship with my elder brother.

I thought back to the times when he would just crash by my room for no reason, and ask for a drink like he owned the place.

I thought back to the countless times Keisuke saved me from disastrous situations involving Ryuuen or Kushida.

Is this how it's going to end?

Is this how the person, who has had the greatest influence on me in a single year, leave me?

Will I lose my one and only true friend?

I grit my teeth. My closest friend..... is going to become my enemy?

"Suzune?"

I opened my eyes, and looked towards Sudo-kun, who had called out to me.

"Suzune, you're..... squeezing your pouch too hard," he said, staring at my hand. "There's a compass inside, you know? You might get hurt."