Atsuko tried to calm the beating of her heart as the other students gave their introductions. She almost wished that her seat was earlier in the seating order. Somehow, she just got more and more nervous for every student introduction she listened to. They all seemed so… flawless. Each and every one of them seemed to be so perfectly, utterly ‘themselves’. Sure, Aino Hibari at seat number 16 had stammered and stuttered her way through her introduction, but that felt right as well. She was clearly the bookish, introverted type, after all, so that kind of uncertainty suited her. But Atsuko was the future star of the track club. She knew she had the skills for it. She placed second in the middle school nationals for both 200 and 400 meters last year, after all. But this wasn’t about skill. This was about attitude. In middle school, she’d mostly just focused on her running above all else. She had a couple of acquaintances, but no real close friends. She had some admirers, sure, but that wasn’t the point… Just having the skills wouldn’t cut it. In high school, she had a role to play. She was supposed to be the sporty, energetic type. The bright, indefatigable powerhouse that pulled everyone along in her wake. The type of person that could cheer everyone up just by working hard and always doing her best. That was the kind of person Atsuko was going to be in high school. In order to live up to the demands of that role, she had practiced this introduction over and over again. At home, with friends, even in front of her family. And that last one had been so embarrassing she just wanted to sink through the floor. She’d gone through it both out loud and quietly in her head over and over again. She’d practiced the proper stride, the gestures, even the right facial expressions for the kind of bright, passionate athlete she was going to become. And yet now, surrounded by all these other students, her heart was hammering in her chest, her palms were sweaty, her head was fuzzy. This was nothing like when she’d been practicing alone or with her friends. She kept repeating her introduction over and over in her head, but… “Number 26, Mikawa Atsuko.” At the teacher’s call, Atsuko stood up with a jolt, her chair pushing against the floor with a harsh scraping sound. “Hey everybody. I’m Mikawa Atsuko! I love exercise and moving my body, and I’m going to join the track club for sure. I’m aiming for the high school nationals, so if… um… if… I… L-line?” A huge groan erupted around the entire classroom. Yamamoto Kyoya, the class delinquent, slammed his hands against the desk. “Come on, Mikawa! This is the last day of rehearsals! The fuck are you doing messing up at a time like this?” “I’m sorry! I choked. The atmosphere is just way different when we’re actually doing it in the classroom! Couldn’t we have done rehearsals in the classroom before this?” The teacher cleared her throat. “I’m afraid that the renovations to the school were only completed yesterday. The production staff said there was an issue with the contractors.” “Well that’s not my fault, is it? Look, I don’t have any acting background like you guys. I got this role entirely based on my athletic ability. I haven’t acted out a script since my grade school play!” Kyoya scoffed. “Don’t act like you’re the only one without an acting background. Hibari hasn’t done any acting, and she’s playing her part perfectly.” “I don’t believe that’s a fair comparison.” Hibari replied in a flat tone, with no signs of stuttering or uncertainty. “I’m a high-functioning sociopath. I’m used to masking.” “Wha… For real? I had no idea.” “Of course not. I’m very good at it.” “Why the hell would the young lady’s old man pick you for this gig? I thought part of the point was making sure no dangerous people got close to her.” “Because he knows I wouldn’t do anything to risk losing the very generous wages he’s paying us for this.” “…Gross. I sure as hell hope you don’t get chosen as the love interest.” “I doubt the young lady would be drawn to the ‘bookish introvert’ classmate in the first place. But in the event that she is, I am fully prepared to maintain this facade for the rest of my life if it means inheriting the Nekoyama fortune.” Ikeda Yuuki, the drama club’s star-to-be, laughed mockingly. “As if you’re really in the running for that role. A well-bred young lady like Nekoyama Michiru would never choose some gloomy introvert. The only people who even have a realistic chance are starring roles like myself. My perfect, princely charm stands a decent chance at winning the fair lady’s heart. Or, what, did any of you truly believe she’d ever choose some foul-mouthed troublemaker or a girl who can’t do anything but run?” Atsuko had never seriously considered herself as a contender for the position of love interest. But something about being dismissed so easily by someone like Yuuki really rankled. “You don’t know that!” “Please. You can’t even recite scripted lines properly. You do realize that once the young lady gets involved, it’s going to be almost all ad-libbing and improvising, right? I give it a week before you start breaking character. If that.” “As if! It’s the scripted part that’s the problem! My character is basically just me but friendlier and more optimistic. It will be a piece of cake!” Yuuki was about to reply, but the teacher clapped her hands together loudly. “That’s enough chatter, all of you! We only have one day for dress rehearsal, and the class introductions aren’t the only scripted scene. We need this to be perfect by the time the young lady arrives for the first day of school tomorrow.” Matsumoto Taro, who played the role of an awkward pop-culture nerd, raised his hand. The teacher sighed, but nevertheless called on him. “Yes, Mr. Matsumoto?” “Well, as I understand it, the whole reason for this endeavour is that the young lady wanted to experience a ‘perfectly normal high school life’. However, it seems to me that everyone here is playing an exaggerated stereotype of a character…” The teacher sighed deeply. “Well, it can’t be helped, can it? The young lady’s entire understanding of ‘normal high school life’ comes from manga and television dramas.” Taro’s eyes widened as he considered the implications of that statement. “I see. I understand completely! I shall make sure to act appropriately insufferable. After all, out of the three boys in class assigned to nerd roles, I clearly best fulfil that side of the stereotype. Perhaps I should train myself to snort when I laugh…” “Thank you, Mr. Matsumoto. I’m sure our benefactor will appreciate your dedication. Now, let’s take the introduction scene again, from the top!” As the introductions started up again, Atsuko realized that the nervousness she felt before had been replaced with a burning determination. She was going to play her character to perfection! And not only that, she was going to do everything she could within the confines of that role to charm the young lady. Not because she was aiming for the vast fortune of the Nekoyama family. She didn’t give a damn if she ended up just being a high-school fling for the young lady. Just as long as she could shove it right in Yuuki’s smug prick face.