The entrance that led me into hell until yesterday will lead me into heaven from today. Bye bye regular course, hello idol course!
At the beginning of every school year, the new students have to participate at an audition held by the headmaster and some teacher to see if they are getting further education at the idol course or send to the regular course. Gosh, if I were to go that audition they would send me back to my old class. My singing voice is worse than a dying bird. But I’m here to improve… right? Even if not that’s still better than staying in my old class.
I never understood why they made up an idol course in the first case. From what I heard the classes are ridiculously small; the biggest class only has eight students. The headmaster’s excuse for this will surely be something like ‘This is to focus on each student and improve their skills’ instead of ‘We know that the idol business brings a lot of cash but there aren’t as many people interested than we suspected.’. Enough of that, I should be grateful for the opportunity to transfer. This isn’t usual at all, I bet.
The way from the regular course building to the idol course building is really short. Both buildings had the exact same old but fancy look and are connected by a small passage behind the schoolyard that used to link middle and high school. They are also on the same height so you can practically see each other from several classrooms. Sadly, I never glimpsed an idol on that way. I think at least.
Surprisingly the big old glass door opened when I pushed against it. I always was of the opinion that idols get some special security treatment and every door is secluded with a special lock, kinda disappointing. I caught a glimpse at the notes I made when talking to the headmaster:
‘1-A
1st floor
Hamayotsu-sensei’
My handwriting lacks any structure, style or tidiness and the whole note looks like some sort of a difficult math problem. It’s not like I care, I work on the computer all the time anyway, but it really could be better. Especially when I have to come up with my signature. The note got thrown in the next trash bin.
‘I can trust my brain on memorizing these few keywords.’
Taking the first step in my new school overflew me with so many feelings and impressions I have not have in a long time. How will my class be? What will the lessons be like? Will I, who has only fancied idols yet, perform with real idols on stage? My shoes rapidly switched places with my uniform shoes and lead me the way to the staircase, up to the first floor.
'These are going to be some good years!’
The first floor in this building looks almost the same as in the other one. It’s like a shiny parallel universe. The wall on the right side consisted fully of huge windows that allowed the morning sun to color the whole floor in a beautiful palette of spring colors. It got interrupted by two classrooms while the left side looked pretty boring with its doors that lead to unlabelled rooms, probably storage rooms.
Suddenly I realized something. Something that could have made up in my mind earlier. Something that put me under more pressure than it should. It’s class time now. What if I interrupt the class? No teacher would be amused to be interrupted by a transfer student who just happens to swing in because he wanted to escape the heck out of his old class and begs to become an idol student although he can’t sing! Pressing one hear against the door of class 1-A I tried intently to hear something… and there really was a sound. It was muffled and not understandable but it was there! Taking a look at my mobile told me that it would take some time until the class is over. Should I wait? But it would be obvious if it takes me over one hour to get here.
My chest slowly rose and fell. One last breath before entering a new world. My hand got drawn to the doorknob automatically. The fancy wooden door opened slowly with a loud squeak. All eyes laid on me.
“Thanks, stupid door…”, I muttered.
Enough of glaring. I looked at the tall man in front of the ridiculously huge interactive whiteboard. He wore a colorful suit and his dirty brown hair kinda fits perfectly to it. He looked at me with a mixed expression of curiosity and kindness.
He laid down a white pen and smiled at me like I do when I get a new computer game. Slightly startled I took a step into the classroom and nodded. The headmaster must have already informed him. I peeked at the class for the first time.
The first row was filled with four boys who looked exactly like each other. All of them had the same blue hair, same wannabe-edgy hairstyle, same aqua blue eyes, the same smirk on their lips. Unbelievable. Is cloning already real? Has technology gone that far? Maybe they are even some kind of androids…
The one outside right must have noticed my intense staring as he waved at me, still smirking.
“I’m Hisakawa Ryu. But I prefer being called Nori. I was in the regular course before but transferred over here…yeah, that’s it.”
I didn’t expect any reaction except staring but suddenly the one outside right stood up, applauded and hoorayed. I had no idea how to estimate this situation: Was he really cheering for me or trying to mock on me? I bowed at him like a young maid who got invited for a dance would do.
“My name is Ryota Kisaragi. This next to me is Hibiki, my brother. And the other two guys are Chinatsu and Wataru, cousins.”, he explained to me while making weird gesticulations.
“We’re two pairs of twins.”, the outside left one added.
Suddenly the four rose from their seats, shout out their name like some superhero squad, and made a weird ending pose as Ryota chanted “We are two pairs of twins who look like each other. As this is a true miracle our unit name is Wonder!”
Okay, these four are some weirdos. Good to know. I stuck my thumb up for them in admiration. 'Wonder’ grinned as wonderful as their name.
Hamayotsu-sensei sent them back on their seats and me on my new seat: the second table on the second row. I threw my school bag on the table and sat down.
Unexpectedly a hand reached out for me and tapped my right shoulder. A pair of light green eyes looked at me curiously. “I’m so glad I’m not the only one here anymore! It’s so hard to see a difference between those guys. My name is Hirose Makino.” His brown almost black hair covered his forehead. My head beckoned at him and I introduced myself to him as well. Seems like my class is full of weird guys but it’s a kind of weirdness that’s funny and likable.
