After about a handful of minutes, we reached our destination.
It's a massive building. At the entrance, a huge lobby greets us, with a pretty fountain in the center where you can relax if you want, since plenty of armchairs are set up around it.
"Wow! This is seriously amazing."
Hasebe couldn't hold back her awe.
It's honestly impressive. I haven't seen everything yet, but it already feels like you could find anything you need here.
Without wasting time, we started our tour.
The mall has five floors.
On the first floor, a hypermarket with all its sections welcomes us, offering everything from groceries to a fish counter and a bakery.
The second floor has several clothing and household goods stores. The place is inviting, bright, and well-organized, with harmonious decor. We decided to stop here to do some shopping.
Just like with Hasebe, I advised Sudō not to overspend, which he accepted without much fuss.
Hasebe bought some clothes and a few small women's accessories. She wanted to grab more, but I suggested she wait until she's seen her dorm room.
Sudō wasn't too interested in this floor, though he did pick up some snacks from a bakery in the hypermarket.
As for me, driven by this body's impulses, I bought some toiletries. I was about to grab beauty products but remembered I wasn't alone and held back.
With our shopping done, we continued the tour.
The third floor is an electronics haven, called "Sivcamera." Anything tech-related is sold here, plus there are warranty and repair services. My two companions' eyes lit up with excitement, but I quickly stopped them from blowing their points on impulse buys.
Then came the fourth floor, the leisure zone with arcades, a movie theater, and karaoke rooms. I was genuinely surprised by all the attractions. The school really went all out to make sure students don't feel trapped.
The fifth floor is a relaxation area with cafés, massage services, beauty salons, and more. I have a feeling I'll be visiting this floor a lot.
Tour over, we headed back to the first floor and took a seat on one of the benches around the fountain. Sudō shared his snacks with us. Pretty nice of him.
"No doubt about it, this place is paradise!"
"It's crazy how much effort the school put into all this."
Hasebe and Sudō swap their thoughts.
The tour seems to have brought them closer, and there's no real tension between them anymore. I'm not sure if Hasebe's just going along for my sake, but I'm certain Sudō's being genuine.
"Hey, guys, I'd like your take on something."
I decide to cut into their conversation.
They stop and look at me, signaling they're all ears.
"I'm thinking of suggesting study groups to the class starting tomorrow. What do you think?"
Knowing the novel's plot, this is critical to my plans.
"Uh… Don't you think it's a bit… early? I mean, classes haven't even really started yet."
Hasebe responds.
She's not wrong.
'It's definitely early. But if we don't do this now, the class could…'
I shift my gaze to Sudō, who doesn't seem eager to chime in.
"What about you, Sudō-san? What's your take?"
Caught off guard by being called out, he scratches his head, a bit embarrassed.
"Like you said in class, Kōenji-kun, you nailed me. Me and studies… it's kinda rough. Honestly, I'm not that into it."
"But you passed this school's entrance exam, didn't you?"
Hasebe asks.
"Truth is, I have no clue how I pulled that off. I bombed every other exam except this one."
After hearing their views, it's my turn to speak.
"I agree with you, Hasebe-chan, it's really early. But I believe in the saying, 'the early bird catches the worm.' The sooner we prepare, the better off we'll be, don't you think?"
My argument leaves Hasebe hesitant but half-convinced.
"As for you, Sudō, I know your only goal is to go pro in basketball. But think about it for a second. This school claims a 100% acceptance rate for graduates into any career. And last I checked, being a pro basketball player is a career, right?"
"Wait… You mean if I graduate here, I could join any team in the future?"
I didn't even need to finish—Sudō caught my drift.
'I'm not sure if it's *that* straightforward, but based on the school's hype, it should be possible to some extent, right?'
"I don't know if *every* team would open their doors, but don't you think it's a chance worth taking?"
Sudō pauses to think, mulling it over for a bit. Then, with a determined look, he places his right hand on my left—since I'm to his right and Hasebe's to his left.
"Kōenji-kun, I'm in. For the love of studying!"
"You really think we're buying that? It's obvious something else is driving you."
Hasebe teases the fired-up Sudō.
"No matter what you say, Hasebe-san, you won't stop my study grind."
"That's rich, coming from you. Anyway, I'm in too, but convincing the class…"
"Don't worry. I'll handle convincing them like I did with you two."
Truth is, I'm confident I can sway the class after pulling it off with these two.
Hasebe represents the lazy crowd, and Sudō the less academic one. If both groups buy into my idea, the others who don't struggle with studies should follow. At least, that's how it should go.
After that, we chatted about lighter, more casual stuff.
Around 5 p.m., we left the Keyaki Mall and headed to the dorms.
Once there, we exchanged a few final words before parting ways.
Students are assigned to one of four dorm buildings. Each is a 15-story structure with at least 140 individual rooms split among students. The first seven floors above the ground level are for male students, while the top seven are for female students.
While Hasebe and I are in Building 2, Sudō's in Building 3.
Since her room is on the upper floors, Hasebe and I split up at the third floor, where my room, 306, is located.
Using the key card I got at the front desk, I unlock my room.
It's a spacious setup with a living area, bedroom, bathroom, and kitchen. Basic appliances like a bed, fridge, and oven are already there.
I drop my stuff and flop onto the pre-made bed.
"What a day."
Just a few hours ago, I was on a bus heading home from work, and now I'm in this world.
"So far, I haven't woken up. Is this really my new reality?"
I still can't fully grasp what's happened.
It's honestly insane. But I'm living it. No point overthinking it.
Yeah, that's right, no point. In the world I came from, I screwed up my life, with no friends or family.
"There's nothing waiting for me back there, so I might as well start fresh here. A complete do-over. A new life."
I'm so pumped I can't calm down. My eyes stay wide open, staring at the ceiling…
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