Baka to Tesuto to Syokanju:Volume1 The Second Question

Second Question

Please write down the idioms which fit the following meanings:

(1)Fail to do something you are good at

(2)Encounter consecutive unfortunate events

Mizuki Himeji's Answer

(1)“Even monkey will drop from the trees”

(2)“Have a leaking rooftop in a rainy day”

Teacher's Comment:

Correct. There are other answers for the first part question, such as “Horses losing their front hooves”, “Even fishes may drown”; other answers for the second part question will be “Good things don't start coming, bad things never stop happening”, “A year full of misfortune” etc.

Kouta Tsuchiya's Answer

(1)“Even horse will drop from the tree”

Teacher's Comment:

That will be an incredible scene.

Akihisa Yoshii's Answer

(2)“Have a leaking rooftop and landslide occurs”

Teacher's Comment:

Aren't you too unlucky?

---

“What the... Isn't this room too large to be a classroom?”

Stepping into the third floor that I never had a chance to get to last year, a class room which is five times larger than usual is located right in front of me.

Maybe this is the Class A that people has been talking about? Let's see what is in there.

“Congratulations to everyone for making it to the second year. My name is Takahashi Youko and I am the homeroom teacher for Class A. Nice to meet you.[1]”

I stop and look into the classroom through the big window, there is an intelligent looking woman with spectacles standing in front of the classroom. She has her hair tied up together at the back of her head and dressed up neatly in suits.

When she stops her speech, her name doesn't show on the blackboard. Instead, it shows up on a plasma TV which is huge enough to cover the whole wall. How luxurious! How much money did they spend on that?

“First of all, please check the things that are given to everyone. Everyone should have a laptop, personal air-conditioner, fridge, adjustable chairs etc. Are they working properly?”

There are more than enough space, facilities and equipment that are enough for 50 students to use.

The fridges are filled with drinks and snacks. Every student has their own air-conditioner which they can change the temperature that they want.

If you look around in the classroom, you will notice that the ceiling is made of glass, high class drawings hanging on the walls with ornamental plants around the room, the interior design looks like the lobby of a five-star hotel.

“Beside the text books and the reference books, the food and drinks in the fridge are provided by the school, free of charge. If you need any other facilities or equipments, feel free to let us know.”

I can smell the fragrance of the red tea, it seems some students have started using the facilities and make some red tea.

“Now, let me introduce the class leader. Kirishima Shouko, please come forward.”

“Yes.”

The person, who stands up and answers the call, is a girl with black long hair and her outlook resembles a Japanese doll.

She is a gentle looking girl who has a beautiful face, along with a dignified aura around her which makes her look like she is free of secular affairs.

Everyone in the classroom is looking at her.

Class leader ---- the person who scored the highest in the class division examination in this class.

In other words, the smartest person in Class A is also the smartest person among the second years, that is why she is getting all the attention.

“My name is Kirishima Shouko, nice to meet you.”

Although everyone is looking at her, she still introduces herself as usual.

It seems everyone is staring at her eye, but when I look carefully, actually all of them are female. It seems the rumours are real!

She was very famous as soon as she enrolled into this school. Everybody knew how beautiful she was, and a lot of guys confessed to her. However, no one ever succeed.

Since then, there were rumours around saying she like girls-----I see, the tide doesn't start without wind.

“Everyone in Class A, please work together with Kirishima from now on till the end of second year and study hard together! The 'WAR' starts now, please don't lose to anyone else. ”

The homeroom teacher concludes the speech, Kirishima bows and returns to her seat.

Oh no, I should hurry to my classroom.

I quickly walk along the corridors with the extremely fast pace.

I stand below the sign with 'Year 2 Class F' written on it, stop there with some hesitation.

Will being late to class give my classmate a bad impression?

Is anyone in the classroom disgusting, scary or hard to deal with?

What kind of comrades am I going to have for the rest of the year? I begin to worry about this when I think about it.

“Well, maybe I just worry too much.”

It is just being late; there is nothing to worry about.

Come to think of it, we are classmates; there is nothing to be afraid of! Maybe they will start to worry about me that I am late because I am not feeling well (actually it's because I overslept).

Calm down, there is nothing to worry about. I need to trust the comrades that I will have to work together with from now on.

After I make up my mind, I push the door open and greet to the classmate in the room with my most sincere voice.

“Sorry, I am a bit late.”

“Hurry up and sit down you Itsuki.”

My perfect image is ruined!

“Didn't you hear what I have just said?”

Come to think of it, this person speaks really rudely. Being a teacher doesn't grant you the right to speak in this impolite way.

I glare fiercely at the guy who is standing on the podium.

He is unexpectedly tall, probably close to 180 cm! His body is slim but not thin, which make him looks like a ruthless boxer. Slowly looking up, I saw a pair of eyes filled with will power, wild looking handsome face, and the short hair on his head looks like mane.

“Yuuji, what the hell are you doing?”

This guy is not a teacher; he is my bad friend, Sakamoto Yuuji.

“I am taking the place of the teacher on the podium because the teacher is late.”

“You take the place of the teacher? You? Why?”

“Somehow, my score is the highest among all of us in Class F.”

“So that make you class leader?”

“Yes, that's right.”

Yuuji cunningly smiles. After listening to what he has just said, I smile as well. In other words, if I can take care of Yuuji, no one can stop me doing anything in this class.

“Therefore, everyone in this class is my subordinate.”

Yuuji proudly overlooks the classmates who are sitting on the ground.

---

Yes, everyone is sitting on the ground.

Why? The answer is very simple, because there are no chairs.

“On the other hand ... This classroom really befits the name of Class F.”

I should find a place and sit down first.

“Sorry, please let me through.”

Suddenly, a weak voice comes from my back.

A stupid looking old man, with untidy hair, dressing in wrinkle shirt is standing there.

“It is homeroom meeting now; can I put a chair there?”

Since he doesn't wear the uniform, and look far from being a teenager, I think he should be the homeroom teacher for this class.

“Roger that.”

“OK.”

Yuuji and I answer him separately and return to our seats.

The teacher waits till we are seated, then stands on the podium and speaks slowly:

“Good morning everyone, my name is Fujihara Shin; I will be the homeroom teacher for Year 2 Class F. Nice to meet you.”

Fujihara sensei originally plans to write his name on the dirty board, but he fails to do so. Oh my god! The school doesn't provide chalk?

“Does everyone have a washiki table[2] and cushion? Please raise your hand if you don't have any of them.”

There are around fifty students squeezing in this small little classroom, without writing tables. There are only tatami[3], washiki tables and cushion. What a brand new and luxury set of facilities! Although I have been informed from first year, but seeing the real thing still shock me.

“Sensei-----My cushion doesn't have any cotton in it.”

There are numbers of students’ reports to the teacher with regards to the faulty equipments.

“I see. Bear with it”

“Sensei, the leg of my washiki table breaks into half.”

“Did they give you the glue? Stick it back yourself later.”

“Sensei, the wind is blowing in from the broken window, it is very cold here.”

“I see. I will report to the school and request for plastic bags and cellophane tape to repair it.”

In the corner of the room, spiders are webbing around freely, and you can't find somewhere on the wall that is clean and free from drawing or writing. This is terrible, is this an abandoned house?

“If you need anything else, try your best getting it yourselves.”

The smell of mildew coming from somewhere is filling up the classroom; it must be caused by the mildew below these old tatami.

“Let's start the self-introductions! We will start from the person sitting beside the corridor.”

When Fujihara sensei finishes his speech, among the students who are sitting in a circle, one of them stands up and starts the self-introduction by telling his name.

“My name is Kinoshita Hideyoshi, a member of the drama club.”[4]

I was wondering who is speaking, so it's Hideyoshi.

He has a unique way of speaking, with a slim body and loosely tying his shoulder-length hair at the back of the head, even I who already know him have a glimpse at ----- No, even when I look at him carefully, his cuteness can easily make me think that he is a girl. That's right, that is Kinoshita Hideyoshi, my classmate last year.

On the other hand, if he dressed up in a female uniform, and changed his way of speaking, he would definitely be treated as a girl. This could happen easily in a class full of smelly guys like this.

“Therefore, nice to see you.”

Hideyoshi has a subtle smile, and ends his self-introduction. So... so CUTE! Wait a second Yoshii Akihisa, don't fall for the trick! He is a guy!

“Tsuchiya Kouta…”

I keep mumbling the same warning I have been telling myself numerous time from last year, and the next student already started his self-introduction.

Who is it? Ah, I know this guy as well.

He is still as reticent as usual. He doesn't have huge body, but you can see that he is good in sports from the muscles he has. I don't know why he is so shy, is it because he doesn't want to stand out too much and get into troubles? Well, there are all sorts of people in the world.

However, I can only see guys in the class room. Is it the same in the world that there are hardly any girls in the last class?

“...is my name. I grew up overseas. Although I can speak Japanese, reading is still a bit hard for me.”

When I am thinking about other things, someone already started the self-introduction.

“My English is very poor because I grew up in Germany. My hobby is ---”

OH! It is a girl this time; it is a precious treasure to the whole class. Finally, at least there is one girl in the class.

“My hobby is beating Yoshii Akihisa.”

Who is it? Who has this extreme, special and dangerous hobby?

“Hello---”

The person smiling and waving at me is---

“Ah, Shi---Shimada, it is you!”

“Yoshii, nice to see you again this year”

Another person that I know, and my natural enemy from last year---Shimada Minami.

Why? Why so many people that I know are in the same class? Isn't it strange? Is it what we call birds of feathers flock together? I can't believe I actually have the same level as these people!

“Nice to see you.”

OK, it seems the person in front of me has just finished his self-introduction, it is my turn now.

I take a breath and stand up from the ground.

Let's start my self-introduction! The first impression is very important, in order to make a lot of good friends, I must stress that I am a positive and optimistic person.

Suddenly an idea just runs through my mind, so I decide to use a relaxing joke to start my speech. I try my best to speak in a funny way, and start my self-introduction.

“Er, my name is Yoshii Akihisa; feel free to call me 'Darling'.”

“DAR--LING!”

It sounds like a huge chorus formed by rough voices, it is more disgusting than I can ever imagine.

“Sorry, I take back what I have just said! Nice to see you.”

Although I have a fake smile on my face and return to my seat, I still feel like I am going to vomit. I never imagine that they will really use that to call me, Class F is really horrible.

The self-introduction doesn't seem to stop because of my feeling.

Just when I nearly fall asleep because the self-introduction seems to continue endlessly with just stating the names, someone opens the door. A girl stands at the entrance, putting her hand on her chest and trying to catch her breath.

“I, I am sorry...I am la..late.”

“What?”

Everyone shouts out in shock, this is normal. Normally when this kind of things happens, everyone will be shocked.

“Actually you are coming at the right time, we are having self-introduction now. Please introduce yourself to the class, Himeji.”

“O..OK! My name is Himeji Mizuki, nice to meet you....”

Himeji used a smaller voice than her small body and said that.

Her skin is as white as the new snow, the long and soft hair at the back shows the gentle nature of the owner. With the cuteness of her appearance, she really stands out in the class full of guys.

However, her beautiful outlook is not the reason that causes everyone to be shocked.

“I have a question!”

One of the guys who have finished his self-introduction raises his right hand.

“Ah, ye...yes, what is your question?”

Being questioned immediately after stepping into the class room, Himeji can't hide that she is in shock of what is happening, but her action is similar to a cute little animal, it is so cute.

“Why are you here?”

The first question is very impolite.

But this is the same question everyone in the class wants to ask.

Her cute outlook does attract other's attention, more importantly her result is very good. Her result of the enrollment examination is the 2nd highest, and her result is always among the top ten.

A good student like her shouldn't be in the lousy class like Class F. No matter whom you ask, the answer will be she belongs to Class A.

“About this...”

With a nervous look on her face, Himeji’s body stiffen up and she says:

“I had a fever during a class division examination...”

After hearing that, everyone in the class nods and says “So that's why.”

Leaving in the middle of the examination will result in zero. In other words, she didn't finish the class division examination last year, so she was allocated to class F.

Listened to Himeji's answer, many people in the class start to say their own excuses.

“Now that I think of it, I am allocated to Class F because of fever as well.”

“Yeah, it was chemistry right? That was hard.”

“I didn't do well because I heard that my brother was involved in an accident.”

“Shut up you singleton.”

“My girlfriend didn't let me sleep the night before examination.”

“Yeah right, that's the biggest lie I ever heard of this year.”

These guys are more idiot than I can imagine.

“Nice..nice to see you.”

Among the noisy discussion, she runs to the space beside me and Yuuji. I never thought that I can stay in the same classroom and sit so close to her. To tell the truth, my heart beats wildly. She is very cute; it makes me think that welcoming her in a lousy classroom like this is a serious crime.

“I am so scared...”

Himeji instantly sighs and lies on the table when she gets to the seat.

Great! Since we are sitting so close together, this is a great chance to talk to her! Our love will start from this incident, and eventually we will become the destined lover. That's right; this first sentence will be the key to the door of our happiness and future.

“Hime... ...”

“Himeji.”

Yuuji, who is sitting beside me speaks up and covers my voice. Damn you Yuuji! My future plan “From classmate heading towards the red carpet of marriage---The spring that we met---Six hundred and fifty four episodes” ended without playing more than two minutes! What do you want me to show the audiences for the rest of the six hundred fifty three hours and fifty eight minutes!

“Y...Yes. Is anything wrong?”

Himeji looks toward Yuuji in panic and carefully makes her skirt to be straight. Is it because sitting on cushion can easily make the skirt wrinkle?

“My name is Sakamoto, Sakamoto Yuuji, nice to meet you.”

“Ah, my name is Himeji, nice to meet you.”

She bows her head deeply and gives a salute greeting. From how she gives the greeting, her family education must be very good.

“Well, are you still feeling sick?”

“I would like to know as well.”

I unwittingly cut into the conversation. I was sitting beside her during the class division examination, she doesn't look too well at the time, I wonder if she feels better now.

“Yo..Yoshii?”

Himeji is shocked when she sees my face. Do you have to be shock like that? Am I that ugly? No way, this is impo----

“Himeji, sorry that Akihisa's ugly face scares you.”

What? What is going on here? Maybe Yuuji is trying to cover up for me, but I am not happy at all.

“That..That's not true! You see my eyes are filling with energy, my face is slim and beautiful, I am not ugly at all! Actually I...”

“Now that you mention it, your face doesn't look bad at all! I know someone who is interested in you!”

What? I never imagine that Yuuji will have such good information. I better confirm this with him.

“Eh? Who is ...”

“Who...Who is it?”

Himeji's voice cover my voice. Well it doesn't really matter since we are asking the same question. It seems like girls in this age are interested in topics like this.

“I remember the name is Kubo---”

Kubo? Who is the girl with the surname Kubo?

“Toshimitu I think!”

Kubo Toshimitu --> (Sex/MALE)

“......”

“Akihisa, are you crying secretly?”

I am stained now; I can't be a bridegroom anymore.

“Don't worry, half of that is a joke.”

“What? How about the other half?”

“Oh right, Himeji are you feeling well?”

“I am fine now.”

“Yuuji, how about the other half?”

Since Yuuji is ignoring me, I raise my voice to catch his attention.

“You over there, silent.”

The teacher knocks the table a few times, the knocking sound serves as a warning.

“I am sorry---”

(Crashing sound)

Suddenly, the teacher's wooden table turns into wood chips. The table can't even withstand a few knocks, how bad are the things we have here?

“....I will go and get a new table to replace it. Please be patient.”

The teacher feels embarrassed and quickly steps out of the classroom.

Once again I realise how lousy the equipment we have in this class.

“Ah ha ha...”

Himeji has a forced smile on her face.

Looking at her like this reminds me that, people like Yuuji and I deserve to study in a classroom like this, but it must be hard for her to study in a classroom like this.

Well, it is our own fault for not performing well in the examination. Being able to take care of our own health is a kind of strength as well. However, just because leaving the examination due to illness, and end up being allocated to Class F is just ridiculous, they should at least give her another chance right?

The anger towards the unfairness of the class division examination swirls up inside of my heart. If that's the case, we should try our best in getting some better equipment for her.

I talk to the class leader who is yawning at the moment: “Yuuji, come here.”

“What do you want?”

“We can't talk here, let's go to the corridor.”

“Fine by me.”

I stand up and walk towards the corridor. At that time, Himeji and I accidentally look at each other.

“Well, what's up?”

It is homeroom meeting now and no one is on the corridor, so we can speak freely.

“About this classroom...”

Of course it mean Class F classroom.

“Class F classroom? It is worse than what I can imagine.”

“You also think so right?”

“Of course.”

“Have you looked at Class A equipments?”

“Yeah, it is so different from ours. I have never seen a classroom as good as that before.”

On one side is a classroom that doesn't even have a chalk, with a blackboard full of cracks, on the other side is a classroom with an expensive plasma TV; nobody can accept the treatment difference like this right?

“I have an idea. Since we are second year now, let's have a 'Test Summoning War'!”

“A war?”

“Yes, and the opponent is Class A.”

“What is your purpose?”

Suddenly, Yuuji looks at me with wariness.

“Nothing special, it is just that our classroom is really lousy.”

“Don't lie to me. A person who is not interested in studying like you, now wants to have war over the equipment for studying? The possibility is lower than winning lottery.”

Damn! His sixth sense is still as good as ever.

“No..No, that's not right! If I don't want to study, I won't choose this school---”

“You chose this school because it has a high chance of getting to university, and the school fee is cheap right?”

Oh no! I talked to him about my reason of coming to studying in this school before.

“Ah---That's----It's because....”

What should I do? I can't think of a better reason.

“It is because of Himeji right?”

Shock!

My real intention is being seen through, I unwittingly straighten my back.

“How..How do you know that?”

“You are really simple! I just tested you a bit, and you just gave yourself out.”

The wary looking eyes disappear, replaced by Yuuji's smile. I am cheated!

“That's not the only reason---”

“Yeah yeah, you don't have to explain anymore, I totally understand the situation.”

“Just as I say before, it is not what you think!”

Damn! I can't communicate with this guy.

“Don't worry; even if you didn't suggest it, I already planned to declare war against Class A.”

“Huh? Why? Yuuji you are not studying at all right?”

That's why he is not interested in the equipments of the class like me.

“I just want to prove that, result doesn't mean everything in this world.”

“ ? ”

“Also, I have just thought a plan that we can use to defeat Class A----Oh, the teacher is back! Let's get into the class room.”

I walk into the classroom when Yuuji urges me to get in.

“Let's continue with the self-introduction.”

After changing the table (which is still a lousy one), the homeroom meeting continues.

“My name is Sugawa Ryou. My hobby is---”

The plain self-introduction continues as usual.

“Sakamoto, you are the last.”

“Roger.”

Yuuji answers the teacher's call and stands up from the seat.

He keeps his usual kidding mode and walks slowly towards the podium; it looks like he is filled with the dignity of class leader.

“Sakamoto is the class leader for Class F right?”

Facing Fukuhara sensei's question, Yuuji replies with a nod.

It is just the class leader for the worst class. Instead of saying it's an honour, it might actually be a shame.

But Yuuji doesn't think like that, he stands on the podium with self confidence and overlooks us.

“I am the class leader of Class F Sakamoto Yuuji, you can either call me Sakamoto or class leader.”

Most of the students in the class don't really care about who Yuuji is, because he is just the smartest among the idiots in Class F. For most people, it is just the same as the pot calls the kettle black.

“Now, I have a question for everyone.”

He looks at everyone's eyes, and speaks slowly.

Maybe it's because he got the timing right, everyone is looking at him now.

When he confirm that he have everyone's attention, he move his eye to every corner of the classroom.

A classroom with the smell of mildew.

Old and dirty cushions.

Washiki tables with dirt left by sweats

We follow his sight, looking at these one by one.

“Class A not only has air-conditioner, it also has adjustable chairs.”

He has a deep breath, and calmly says:

“Are you dissatisfied?”

“Of course!”

The cries from the souls of every member in class F ring through the corridor.

“Aren't you? Even I am dissatisfied with the current situation. As the class leader, I can see a big problem in here.”

“That's right!”

“No matter how cheap the school fee is, it is unthinkable to let us use such equipment! We must tell the school to improve it!”

“We pay the same fee as Class A, but the treatment is too different!”

Complains coming from everywhere in the class.

“You are right. Therefore...”

Satisfied with the reaction of the classmates, Yuuji shows a fearless smile on his face.

“As a class leader, I have a suggestion.”

Showing his tiger-tooth to his fellow comrades, he states:

“I plan to declare a 'Test Summoning War' against Class A.”

Class F leader, Sakamoto Yuuji, ignites the flame of the war.