The Solidarity of Misfits

“…….”

Where on earth did he see a resemblance? I had to ask.

“Where exactly do we look alike?”

“That’s strange. It’s obvious just by looking at them.”

I couldn’t see it no matter how hard I stared, but my mood lifted slightly. I sat up straight.

“Thanks. Looking at the flowers makes my head feel a lot clearer.”

“I’m glad.”

Watching us from behind, Ronia clicked her tongue.

“Look at you two, acting all lovey-dovey. Why don’t you just set up a honeymoon home right here in the dorm?”

“Don’t be like that. I prepared something for you too, Ronia. Here, this is for you.”

Michael held out some candy.

“I got these for helping a professor today.”

Ronia’s expression brightened instantly as she took the candy.

“Thanks. For me, practical gifts are always the best. Don’t you ever give me flowers.”

“Don’t worry. I’ll only give you practical things from now on.”

I grabbed Michael’s shoulder and chimed in.

“Unlike her, I’m sentimental, so I love gifts like this.”

“How could I not know your taste? Don’t you worry either.”

“Seriously, I’m so, so grateful to both of you.”

I threw my arms around their shoulders.

“You know I love you guys, right?”

They answered simultaneously.

“I know.” “I don’t.”

“Let’s go. Time for dinner.”

I led them out of the room, still draped over their shoulders. Once we reached the dining hall and our food arrived, Michael began cutting the side of roasted potatoes that came with his steak into small pieces.

“Cecil, want some roasted potato? You love these.”

I immediately opened my mouth. “Aah~.”

“Can you two stop acting like a newlywed couple for just one meal?”

“These potatoes are seriously delicious.”

“Want to try some with the sauce too?”

As I ate a delicious dinner with the friends I loved, I steeled my resolve. Right. A group project is nothing.

“We need to have a meeting for our group project. What does everyone’s schedule look like?”

Excluding Zeno, every single group member avoided eye contact and remained silent. Someone please just say something, I pleaded internally.

“Then how about after class tomorrow?”

“I have another class.” “I have to work on a different assignment.”

…Right, of course you only speak up to say no. I tried again.

“Then how about meeting tomorrow after dinner?”

“I have plans then.” “I have work to do at that time as well.”

“Then, how about this week—”

“Excuse me,” one member interrupted. “Why are you trying to rush things so much? Group 1 hasn’t even presented yet.”

“Wouldn’t it be better to get a head start? Everyone is going to get busier as time goes on.”

“Still, all the other groups are taking it slow. Let’s just take it slow too.”

Then you should have said that earlier. The thought flared up, but on the other hand, I realized they weren’t entirely wrong. I nodded.

“Fine. Then how about after class next week?”

“I think something might come up for me then.”

“……”

Given the presentation schedule, we absolutely had to meet next week. I worried for a moment before saying, “Then everyone, please show me your timetables. A time that works for everyone—”

“Hey, do you really have to talk like that?”

“Pardon?”

“No, it’s just… you sound like you’re giving orders, and it’s a bit unpleasant.”

“……”

I hate class-based societies. Just as that realization hit me afresh, Zeno opened his mouth.

“Tomorrow works for me.”

The atmosphere froze instantly. The students who had been united in expressing their displeasure at my “orders” shut their mouths at once. I looked at Zeno, surprised. He repeated himself.

“I really don’t mind doing it as early as tomorrow.”

“Oh, th-then let’s do it tomorrow.” “Yes. Let’s meet tomorrow.”

I looked at them with bewildered eyes. “But you just said you had plans…”

“It wasn’t anything important. I can just cancel it.”

“……”

I really, really hate class-based societies. As I stared with loathing at the students who had flipped their attitudes the moment Zeno spoke, someone placed a hand on my shoulder.

“Is Group 3 doing well?”

I turned around. The professor was standing there with a beaming smile.

“Student Cecil, how is being the Leader? Is it going smoothly?”

“Ah, yes.”

“Hmm, from the look of the atmosphere, it doesn’t seem like it. Cecil, you know well that the Leader’s role is to coordinate when there are differing opinions among members, right?”

“Yes.”

The professor pumped his fist in a “fighting” gesture.

“Keep an open mind and be flexible! I know you can do it, Cecil.”

This is hopeless. I felt a sudden urge to jump out the window. The professor probably thinks he’s providing “special management” to a student who needs it, but why doesn’t he realize that the more he does this, the more I look like the one in the wrong? I haven’t done anything wrong today. Why is everyone being so crooked with me?

I clenched my fists in frustration. The professor gave me one last smile, and the bell rang to signal the end of class. As soon as Zeno left the room with his friends, the remaining students began grumbling as they packed their bags.

“Ugh, seriously, what is up with that person? Why did he have to say let’s do it tomorrow?”

“What excuse am I supposed to give my friend now?”

“If I can’t submit my other assignments, it’s all that person’s fault.”

Why do I always seem to cause trouble wherever I go? At this point, I couldn’t help but doubt myself. Is it possible that the problem isn’t my environment, but me? Even after all the students had left, I couldn’t move. Someone seemed to whisper in my ear.

‘It’s all because you’re slow and stupid.’

My body began to tremble even more violently. I thought that after being reincarnated, I had become quite smart and quick-witted, but was I still just a slow, dim-witted child?

“…….”

I opened my bag and reflexively searched for something sharp, then quickly slapped my own cheeks. I was incredibly relieved no one was around to see it.

“……What is wrong with me?”

My head throbbed. I needed to get back to the dorm and lie down. As I left the classroom limply, I found Zeno standing there. What? Didn’t he leave with his friends earlier? I tried to pass him, but he stopped me.

“Hey, did you say your name was Cecil?”

I turned my head. Zeno continued.

“I heard your nickname is ‘Maltese’…”

I was already feeling sorrowful, and his words made my emotions surge again. I looked at Zeno, who trailed off, and snapped.

“Yes, I’m the ‘Crazy Maltese.’ It’s a nickname I got in my freshman year because I hit a group member in a fit of rage when they wouldn’t listen to me.”

“…….”

“I’ll make sure to act in a way that doesn’t inconvenience the other members this time, no matter what, so you can rest easy.”

Leaving him with that, I brushed past and ran all the way to my dorm room, burying my face in the bed. I didn’t know how to move forward. Incidents were piling up one after another since the start of the semester; how much worse would it get later? My stomach churned. I was pressing my palm against my mouth when…

Knock, knock.

“Cecil, can I come in?”

It was Michael. His practical training must have ended early today. I dragged my exhausted body up and opened the door.

“Cecil, my family sent over those cheese cookies you like. The three of us should eat them together after dinner—”

Michael’s eyes went wide. He looked at my lifeless face with concern, set the cookie tin on the dresser, and opened his arms. I collapsed into him, burying my face in his shoulder.

“I’m sorry.”

“For what?”

“For being like this again. I’m so annoyed with myself. I’m just acting like a spoiled child to you guys… You and the others are all doing fine with school life, so why am I the only one who’s so unusual?”

“……”

“……The reason I can’t get along with the other kids is because I’m slow and stupid.”

“Cecil.”

Michael pulled me closer. “You know the saying that ‘birds of a feather flock together,’ right?”

“……Yeah.”

“Well, you get along perfectly with us.”

Michael put on a mock-stern expression.

“If you’re the problem, then we—who get along so well with you—must be problems too. Is that really what you think of us?”

I shook my head. “No, never.”

“Then why think like that?”

Michael patted my back. “I guarantee it. You’re okay.”

“…….”

“Even if there really is a problem, it’s fine. Who in this world doesn’t have problems?”

I looked up at him. “Thanks for saying that, Michael.”

“Thank you for being honest and telling me you’re having a hard time, Cecil.”

Michael smiled, his eyes crinkling.

“Please keep telling me when things are tough. I love hearing whatever you have to say.”

The two of us shared a tight hug. Just then, the door swung open and Ronia walked in. She shook her head in disbelief.

“Setting up your honeymoon home again, I see.”

“Oh, Ronia……”

“Wait, hold on—!”

Ronia turned right back around and left. Still holding onto each other, we scrambled to chase after her but ended up tripping.

Our faces were suddenly inches apart. I stared blankly into his forest-green eyes and at his warm brown hair. Michael stared back at me just as intensely. Then, at the same time, we burst into laughter. It was quite a loud fall, but it was so funny that I didn’t even feel the pain.

Come to think of it, things like this happened often when we were kids. Back then, we would just stay down and roll around on the carpet. We were a bit too old for that now. Michael got up first and held out a hand.

“Let’s go.”

Michael’s hand was always leading me. I took it and stood up. Then, still holding hands, we chased after Ronia. As expected of a Magic Faculty student who spent all day cooped up in a lab without seeing sunlight, Ronia’s stamina was low, and she hadn’t made it very far. We shouted.

“Ronia, wait!” “Wait for us!”

Ronia covered her ears and shouted back irritably.

“I can’t hear you!”

“Michael said his family sent cheese cookies!”

“What are you doing? Hurry up!”

Before I knew it, I had completely forgotten about what had happened earlier. Truly, friends are a wonderful thing. As I was thinking that while munching on a cheese cookie, Ronia spoke up.

“Actually, you two aren’t just ‘friends’.”

We answered at the same time.

“Yes, we are.”

……Probably? I stole a glance at Michael. He happened to be looking at me at that exact moment. Unlike the pure laughter from earlier, I felt a strangely fluttering sensation.