Classroom of the Elite: Free Will

SS33: Akabane Karma - Bowling Day

The gentle hum of bowling balls rumbling down the lanes mingled with the cheerful chatter of students as I stepped into the bowling alley, the familiar scent of polished wood and shoe polish filling my nostrils.

It didn't take me long to see the guys as they waited before the counter to get their shoes. As I joined them, Kanzaki was the first one to notice me.

"So, you actually came."

"Heh? I wouldn't miss this."

"You're still injured, though. Are you sure you can play?" Matsuo asked me, looking me up and down. It was true that my body still ached, and it was better if I didn't move too much.

"I just need to throw a ball, no big mystery," I shrugged.

I tried to get my shoes, but Yuki took them from the employee and stated that she would help me. While she helped me with my shoes, I couldn't help but notice a thick tension as everyone got ready. Glancing at Kanzaki and Matsuo, the disdain in their faces was evident. My relationship with them is still at an all-time low. The idea of spending an afternoon with them in a confined space like this, surrounded by the clatter of bowling balls and the cacophony of voices, made my stomach churn. But Yuki, Mako and Honami had insisted, promising a fun-filled afternoon of laughter and camaraderie.

"Guys, please, we're here to have fun." Honami declared, standing up and clapping her hands as she looked at us.

I sighed, resigned to my fate. I had accepted to come so might as well have fun. A little bowling couldn't be that bad, right?

We headed to our lane, the six of us settling into our designated positions.

"Alright, let's do this!" Mako exclaimed, her eyes sparkling with excitement as she picked up a bowling ball.

We each took turns rolling the ball down the lane, the satisfying thud as it hit the pins echoing through the alley. Each strike was met with cheers and applause, and each gutter ball was met with groans and playful teasing. The girls were really the ones carrying the game with their cheerfulness and banter.

Then, before my fourth try, an idea came to my mind.

"Hey, Kanzaki, Matsuo..." I called out to them. "How about a bet?"

"Karma..." Yuki warned but I ignored her and continued.

"If I win, we start over as if the last year didn't happen. If you win, I do whatever you two want, what do you say? Sounds fair, yeah?"

They looked at each other and then Kanzaki asked me "Why the sudden interest in starting over?"

I shrugged. "I don't really care if you despise me or whatever. Still, the girls want us to get along and the Class would benefit from the two of you not rolling your eyes at my every word. I know you're quite fond of me, but please our classmates don't need to see it."

The seemed to actually think about it. They studied the monitor where my first three tries were displayed and decided that odds were in their favour. After all, so far, I was last among the six of us.

"Fine, we're in," Matsuo spoke. "And stop saying nonsense, no one in this school is fond of you."

I smirked, ran over the lane and threw the ball copying what the third-year guys next to us were doing. My body ached everywhere from the effort, but it was worth it since it resulted in a strike.

When I turned back, I found my five companions with their eyes wide in shock.

I met Matsuo's eyes and showed him my best grin. "You'll always be fond of me, Matsuo. I represent all the sins you've never had the courage to commit."

The game continued from there, our competitive raising. I really had to put in a lot of effort since Matsuo and Kanzaki were actually pretty good. At first, the girls seemed worried, but as our competition unfolded, Matsuo, Kanzaki and I kept taunting each other and eventually began laughing at our words and mistakes, so Honami, Mako and Yuki relaxed and began to enjoy the game again.

I couldn't help but notice Honami's determination. She wasn't the most skilled bowler, but she approached each throw with a focus and concentration that were admirable, thus her score was more than respectable. Mako always up for a challenge, wanted to compete with us so she kept asking our advice to improve and at some point managed to do four strikes in a row. Yuki was a lost hope of course, she rarely managed to knock a pin, most of her throws going wide.

Matsuo was the epitome of laid-back cool. He played with a nonchalance that made it look easy. Kanzaki, on the other hand, was fully focused on his game, he offered advice here and there and laughed with us, but when it came down to it, it was rare for him to miss.

As the game progressed, the competition grew fiercer and we played several games, never wanting to stop. Kanzaki won both while I came in second the first time and Mako was second in the second game. Matsuo completed the podium both times.

Like that, Kanzaki won the bet, but to my surprise, when I asked him what he wanted me to do, he just asked me to pay for dinner amidst laughter.

So, as the afternoon wore on and we left the bowling alley, we went to eat something. We ordered pizza and drinks, the laughter and chatter growing louder. It was a stark contrast to the usual cutthroat competition we faced in class, a refreshing change of pace.

That night, I couldn't help but smile. It was a small thing, a simple outing to a bowling alley and some pizza, but somehow, I managed to connect with Matsuo and Kanzaki. In the midst of the challenges and pressures of ANHS, I was glad the girls convinced me to go.

"So, this is what it feels like, huh? To be a normal high-schooler," I heard myself mutter as I drifted off to sleep.