Chapter XXXVII: Boredom
The classroom hums with an uneven rhythm—chairs scraping against the floor, distant laughter, the whirring of electric fans struggling against the heat. Sunlight slips through half-open windows, casting rectangles of brightness across worn desks etched with years of careless carvings.
Ryujin slumps backward in his chair, arms crossed, staring at the ceiling like it personally offends him.
"Man, I don't know why, but I think I'm dying of boredom," he mutters.
Haruto swivels his chair halfway around, resting his chin on the backrest.
"You said that like five minutes ago."
"And I mean it more now," Ryujin replies.
"Yup, that's what she said" (Haruto)
Hageshi lets out a dramatic sigh, leaning sideways with his elbow planted on his desk.
"Vacant periods are either legendary... or completely useless."
Inoshiro doesn't say anything at first. He just watches the ceiling fan spin lazily, eyes half-lidded, as if he's waiting for something interesting to happen by sheer force of will.
Nothing happens. Ryujin's hand slips into his pocket. A grin spreads across his face.
"Oh," he says slowly, "I think I know exactly how to fix this."
Haruto squints.
"Seriously dude, that tone never leads to good things."
Ryujin pulls out his phone. The screen lights up. The familiar icon of a meme soundboard app flashes into view.
Hageshi straightens instantly.
"Oh no. Is it what I think it is?"
"Oh yes," Ryujin says, already tapping the screen.
Inoshiro's eyes sharpen.
"Oh no, you didn't."
"I absolutely did. Cheers to vacant time-"
A split second later—
"BRUH."
The sound explodes from Ryujin's phone, echoing louder than intended. A few heads turn.
Someone at the back snorts. Haruto clamps a hand over his mouth.
"Ryujin dude—!"
Ryujin muffles his laughter.
"Relax. It's fine."
Hageshi scans the room.
"You say that like teachers don't materialize out of thin air."
Ryujin scrolls through the soundboard, eyes gleaming.
"Okay, okay. Which one?"
Inoshiro leans in.
"Do the Windows error sound."
Ryujin taps.
DUN-DUN—DUN-DUN-DUUUUN.
Haruto loses it immediately, bending forward, shoulders shaking.
"That sound alone is trauma," Haruto wheezes.
Hageshi laughs under his breath.
"My entire childhood just crashed."
"Well, maybe those sound might be Stephen Hawking's last words" (Inoshiro)
"Yup, might haven't upgraded from Windows 10 to 11, then PC crashed." (Haruto)
Ryujin smirks and lowers the volume.
"Alright, alright. New topic."
He swipes to another app and pulls up a browser.
"You guys checked the sub count today?"
Inoshiro's eyes light up. "Pewds?"
"Obviously."
They huddle closer as Ryujin refreshes the page. Numbers load.
Haruto squints. "Still ahead?"
Ryujin nods, triumphant. "Still winning."
Hageshi pumps his fist quietly. "Let's go."
Inoshiro grins. "Nine-year-old army never sleeps."
Haruto chuckles. "This rivalry is historic. Internet history in the making."
Ryujin leans back again, satisfied. "I swear, one day we're gonna tell people we were here when it happened."
Hageshi tilts his head, eyes suddenly lighting up with mischief.
"...You know what we should do?"
That sentence alone is dangerous.
Ryujin narrows his eyes. "Define 'should.'"
Hageshi leans forward, voice dropping like he's about to reveal classified information. "Try Not To Laugh."
Haruto groans. "Dear God. No."
"Yes," Hageshi insists. "Instant regret playlist."
Inoshiro's lips twitch. "That's illegal."
"That's what yo mama said to Miran checking out Lolis over there in the corner" (Hageshi)
Ryujin's grin returns full force. "I'm in."
Haruto raises a finger. "You always say that and regret it immediately."
Ryujin points back. "That's the point."
Hageshi slams his palm lightly on the desk. "Rules are simple. No laughing. No smiling. Loser has to buy snacks later."
Inoshiro nods. "Challenge Accepted."
Haruto sighs, already defeated. "...Fine."
They crowd around Ryujin's phone as he opens the playlist. The first video starts. A man confidently steps onto a skateboard. Haruto bites his lip. The skateboard slips. The man falls in slow motion.
CRACK.
Hageshi explodes into laughter instantly.
"That was five seconds!" Ryujin shouts.
Hageshi clutches his stomach. "I didn't even last the intro!"
Inoshiro tries to hold it together—tries—but the replay hits.
He lets out a sharp laugh and immediately groans. "Damn it."
Haruto presses his lips together so hard his face turns red. Ryujin watches calmly. The next clip plays.
A kid confidently yells, "Watch this!"
Instant regret. The classroom erupts with suppressed laughter from nearby desks. Haruto finally breaks, laughing into his arm. Ryujin pauses the video.
"So," he says smugly, "I win."
Hageshi glares. "You cheat by having no soul."
Ryujin shrugs. "Skill issue."
Across the room, another conversation unfolds.
Kitsune leans forward, eyes sharp with excitement. "I'm telling you, the basement reveal changes everything."
Rikiyo nods slowly. "It redefines the entire conflict."
Saki sits between them, chin resting on her hand, eyes thoughtful. "What I love is how nothing is black and white anymore."
Kitsune gestures wildly. "Exactly! No one's purely good or evil."
Rikiyo sighs. "And the casualties feel real."
Saki's expression softens. "That's why it hurts."
They fall into silence for a moment, the weight of fictional tragedy lingering like a ghost between them.
At another table, chaos reigns.
"Bottom lane, bottom lane!" Okaki shouts.
"I'm lagging!" Miran snaps.
Takeshi's thumbs fly across his phone. "Focus!"
Aoto stares intently at his screen, jaw clenched. "I'm rotating."
Kuebiko chuckles. "Too late."
The screen flashes DEFEAT.
Okaki groans loudly. "Again?!"
Takeshi exhales. "One more match."
Aoto doesn't say anything. He just stares at the screen a moment longer than necessary.
The classroom door opens. Silence ripples outward. Dr. Aoshima steps inside. Instantly, chairs scrape, phones vanish, laughter dies. Students rush back to their seats.
Dr. Aoshima raises a hand calmly. "Relax."
The tension hesitates.
"I'm not here to scold," he continues. "Remain at ease."
Murmurs ripple through the room. His gaze settles on Aoto.
"Aoto Abe," he says gently. "May I have a word?"
Aoto stiffens.
"...Yes, sir."
He stands, heart pounding, and walks toward the front. The vacant hour suddenly feels very, very short. And whatever Dr. Aoshima wants to say— Feels like it has been waiting a long time.
ns216.73.217.39da2
and then Add to home screen.