Chapter 1: The New Ice-Queen in Town.

 

It’s the month of April, months after November, and the winter season passing by, with the spring season right around the corner.

I’d say that the spring season is supposed to be the most lively out of the four. Yet I couldn’t help but think that it’s probably the most normal season too. The season isn’t too cold nor too hot, and yet its also the perfect season for any living thing to freshen up and become somewhat lively. Summer is the hottest season, beaming down on the green trees, feeding any living thing more sun light and heat than usual. Autumn picks up the cold for the upcoming winter season, changing the green leaves into orange before it falls far from the tree. The winter season comes with its cruel low temperature, leaving the trees to fend for themselves and suffer from the cold without any leaves to dress it, but its also the season that ends a year and starts a new one.

The spring season isn’t particularly iconic in a way where its temperature is too cold or too hot. However, just like the porridge of the small bear from Goldilocks, the temperature seems to be just right. It’s also the season where it gives the trees a chance to recover and rejuvenate, blooming with new leaves and all.

Anyways, enough about that. The spring season doesn’t just bring us fresh new trees, but it also brings me a fresh new year of classes after the winter break. I am now a second-year student in highschool. A sophomore if you will. So, after this year, I’ll be a third-year student, or a senior, and the year after that… well… there will be none, I should be graduating highschool at that point, and I’ll probably be in college as well.

“Hm…”

That reminds me… I have this upperclassman named Aozameru Kuroji. He’s popular in this highschool to be known as the Ice-King of Attakai Tenki Academy. Since he’s a year ahead of me, shouldn’t this be his last year before his graduation…?

 

????     ????     ????

 

Speak of the devil and he doth appear.

I’ve just been walking down the school’s hallway with my group of friends consisting of Haruhi Yuuta and Megami Shin, when I began noticing a pattern…

The previously mentioned Kuroji Aozameru isn’t just known from his glare that constantly triggers the suspension bridge effect. But apparently, he’s the top of his class if him being tall, and handsome and hot isn’t enough. That I admit. However, I believe that there’s no such thing as a perfect human being. And him being a human being, then no matter how he or his reputation looks, then he must have some kind of flaw to him, right…?

Yep.

I’d rather not consider his obvious flaws like him being scary or relatively antisocial. Putting those aside, the other flaw I could think of and the flaw that only I seem to be aware of is the fact that the Ice-King of higschool is weak against the cold temperature.

His vulnerability is an oddly high freezing point where he’d freeze up the moment he feels even the slightest of the cold breeze passing by the hair of his skin.

 Well anyways, the pattern I’ve regularly observed these days have always occurred in this same hallway. As if the number students filling up this hallway isn’t enough, whenever Aozameru would enter the scene, he would attract an unusual cluster of students crowding up to get his autograph or whatever. When I mentioned that he’s popular, it almost seems like an understatement. He’s more like a celebrity.

Some of the male students would want to hang around him because he attracts the ladies, and the ladies would want to hang around him because he’s hot. And this would always end the same. Aozameru would want none of it, and he would disperse the crowd by exclaiming how pissed of he was.

Oddly enough, the student body of this school is persistent to the point where this practically happens every single day, with not one student getting tired of it unless it ends with his graduation.

Perhaps his weakness to the cold isn’t too apparent from the warmth of the crowds he’s gathering around him.

“Come on, let’s try to get around this again.” Haruhi hastily suggested. “We’ll be late for class.”

“Agreed.” Shin affirmed to Haruhi’s suggestion. “Let’s go, Mayoi.”

“Hm…?”

“…Mayoi?”

I’ve noticed that today’s crowd seems to be commenting something differently about the center of attention than usual. Normally the fanboys would fantasize over what he’s capable of, like some sort of overpowered manga character, and that the fangirls would fantasize over marrying him. But this time… it doesn’t sound like they’re referring to the scary but handsome tall man I once knew.

“Woahh, she’s so pretty.”

“Her skin looks so smooth, does she even have pores?”

They seem to be referring to a lady.

“I want to make her mine. She’s such a beauty.”

“What would it take to be like her?”

“I wonder what her interests are.”

This time, the fanboys would be drooling over their creepy fantasies with her, and that the fangirls would idolize her.

“Shin, Haruhi. Go on ahead without me.” I suggested. “I’ll catch up with you later.”

The both of them then glanced at each other and nodded in response.

Now then…

The last time I witnessed a crowd like this, it’d usually be because of Aozameru. It seems like a new hotshot is in town, and I want to see how this goes down.

A single painful slap was heard, followed by a single loud thud. And from that, the rather large crowd in the middle of the hallway was silenced. It sounded almost as though someone slipped and fell down a fleet of stairs…. In the middle of the hallway.

The crowd was silenced and started moving to clear some way. Whoever is in the center of its attention, she’s parting the crowd like the red sea.

“Don’t fucking get close to me you disgusting mongrel.”

A demeaning voice of a lady was heard loud and clear amongst the silence of the crowd. Her exclamation made the crowd move along a little faster, and before me revealed… what I might describe to be Aozameru’s relative or something. However, it had nothing to do with her looks… kind of. Her key resemblance was her attitude, however more violent in nature than his. She seemed to be the same height as I am. With her arms crossed, she brushed off her silver blue, shoulder-length hair to her back, and she glared with eyes as green and as aggressive as a panther.

She could’ve looked like an idol if it weren’t for her cold personality.

She was standing before a fallen student. Judging by the looks of things, she might’ve been the one to shove him to the floor, while she’s backed up with a group of more scary looking girls behind her.

“May this be an example, no, a warning rather.” She declared. “My name is Hortensia Rei, a second year transfer highschool student and I don’t want to go on dates with you, I don’t want to hang out with you, I don’t want to go shopping with you or go to the karaoke or mixers and I have no interest in getting all chummy with ANY of you in general.”

“Tsk!” She clicked her tongue in frustration looking down on the student she shoved. “Stand up and get out of my sight.” She demanded.

 Hortensia stomped on the shoe of the fallen student as he got up and made a run for it.

“That includes you passersby, making an excuse to sneak glances at me.” She pointed at a student passing by.

“Hahahah, that’s kind of hurtful don’t you think? My name is Mizutum—”

“I don’t give a fuck.” She interjected. “Shut the fuck up.”

“Dasurv.”

“Eh?! You’re still here Yuuta?”

She said ‘dasurv’ out of nowhere. I thought she would’ve left to the classroom already.

“And you creepy bystanders. Staring at me next chance you get, burning an image of me in your degenerative fantasies.” Hortensia continued, pointing towards our direction.

What is she talking about?

“Is she talking about us?” Haruhi asked.

“Now scram!!” she exclaimed

And just like that everyone went and realized their own ways and businesses, dispersing the crowd, scattering into individuals and individual groups with a frowned upon expression on their faces. Muttering their disappointments to themselves and one another.

“Damn, what a bummer.”

“She’s such a hottie too.”

“I bet she’d look good if she tied her hair into pig tails.”

“If only she acted as cute as she looks.”

“I wanted to know more about her, and how she colors her hair.”

“She kind of seems violent though. Might be best not to get any closer from now on.”

Such rumors begin to spread… though, I suppose it’s only natural. I’ve met someone with a similar personality and found out that they’re actually quite vulnerable.

Everyone has a reason for the way they act, and I’m not gonna act like I know Hortensia and all, but my guess is that she’s tremendously vulnerable in some aspect too. Being attractive as her can be difficult after all. So, she had to make up an unfriendly tough front to fend for herself, fixing a glare, yelling slurs and making violent actions and she had to rely on her group of friends, all just to feel much bigger than the others and all.

Personally, this kind of thing doesn’t surprise me at school anymore since the event last winter with the Ice King of this school.

I’ve found out his weakness, and that he isn’t as much of a big deal as anyone thinks. And because of him not being a big deal or a special case, I suppose it’s only natural that he’s not that unique as to be the only person who acts as so. So, now that there’s an Ice Queen of Attakai Tenki Academy, I sort of expected that there would be more people like Aozameru anyways. Except, I don’t think the two of them can be completely the same.

“Speak of the devil—”

The crowd dispersed, as each individual lost interest, returning to their respective classrooms. Even so, this new Ice Queen seems to be loitering around the hallway as if she’s either still trying to make herself look bigger than others, or that she’s some hallway monitor… but as far as I’ve been in this school, we have no such thing as hallway monitors, so what the hell?

“I’ll get going now as well, are you still going to stand around here?” Haruhi asked.

“Well, go ahead, I’ll just get something from my locker.”

“Alright.”

And just as Haruhi exited the scene, another entered.

A tall young male student, who’s best known in this particular school for lots of things. He wears a stoic face with a fearful glare, though, it’s particularly odd to see him out and alone in the wild of the hallway like this considering that he’s usually surrounded by unwanted crowds.

The Ice King of Attakai Tenki Academy himself, Aozameru Kuroji.

For some reason I imagined the battle between two kaijus, a giant radioactive lizard and a giant gorilla. He seems to be approaching the new Ice queen in town.

“…or not.”

It turns out that she was standing near Aozameru’s locker. Oh, well. But with the Ice King minding his own business, then she probably shouldn’t have any problems with him, right??

“You must have some balls of steel you’ve got there for standing near me after my previous remark.”

“………”

Aozameru didn’t reply as he had his back facing her. Hell, he probably hasn’t noticed that she was talking to him as he was busy on what looks like organizing his things in his locker. Its unusual for him to be unapproached in the middle of the hallway, perhaps he was just appreciating that a little too much to the point where he’s blissfully ignoring his surroundings…

…or not. He is still wearing this stoic frowned upon glare on his face.

“Oi, I’m talking to you. Are you just so tall that your heads are in the clouds?” the Ice Queen provoked Aozameru, deciding to approach him. “You can’t possibly be so pretentious just because you’re tall and a little bit good looking” she said, getting a good look at Aozameru’s face, as he continues to ignore her.

“Tsk!”

A loud metallic bang was heard throughout the hallway, and frankly it was startling and ear-ringing even from where I was standing. And it came from Aozameru slamming his locker door, a strand of hair away from the Ice Queen’s face. Despite how sudden it was, it seems that she was still able to keep a front up. Not blinking a single time as she furrowed her eyes into a sharper glare.

Then that was when they finally met eyes. The two of the most ice-cold, soul-piercing glares, staring into each other.

“The fuck is wrong with you?” Aozameru finally responded. “I heard you and you announcing that you don’t plan to be friendly to the entire school. Did you get a stick so far up your ass that you’ve become a pain and a bigger fucking asshole?” He said, moving his face closer to hers.

“Hmm… so you’re the so-called Ice King of this school.” She replied. “I suppose the rumors were right. Your breath is as cold as the winter season, and you don’t mince your words.”

The ice queen then tugged Aozameru’s necktie, giving me the impression that she was pulling him towards her to go for a kiss.

I clutched onto the books I was holding close to my chest even tighter. For some reason the idea of the ice queen seducing Aozameru. pisses me off, as I started feeling this urge to murder her swell up from within me.

Though before Aozameru’s face could touch the ice queen’s, he grabbed onto her shoulder to stop her. Then another loud metallic bang was heard, just as loud as the last, and the ice queen let go of his neck tie.

Aozameru shoved her shoulder into the steel lockers. Though, her expressions don’t seem to match how painful it sounded, nor does she look like she was putting up a front and enduring the pain either. Instead, she fell silent, turning her head downwards.

Aozameru let go of her and walked away before causing any more trouble. He walked past the Ice Queen’s group of friends whom seem to have grown wary of him.

I could’ve sworn I saw blood trickle from his knuckles. Perhaps the reason why the Ice Queen didn’t seem to be in pain was because Aozameru’s fist is what caused the loud metallic bang, and also what absorbed the impact.

 

As much as an asshole of an Ice King Aozameru seems to be, perhaps he’s just kind of a gentlemen sometimes.

 

 

Chapter 2: The Ice-King of Highschool isn’t himself.

 

It was already lunch break and I was accompanied by Shin to walk to the cafeteria, while we left Yuuta back in the classroom. She asked us to buy something for her and we were on our way there. Yuuta’s birthday is coming up soon, so Shin and I decided to talk about that when she’s not here to make conversation and plan what to do for her.

“So, what should we do for Yuuta’s birthday?”

“At the end of class I could ask our classmates for a surprise party in the classroom.” Shiro suggested.

“Sounds like a plan.”

“Though, we’d have to stall her far from the classroom till then.”

“Sounds simple enough.”

Our homeroom teacher would make the entire class greet a classmate whenever its their birthday. Surely our classmates would’ve acknowledged and remembered Yuuta’s birthday then. And it shouldn’t be a problem to stall her since it’s only natural for us to hang out and kill time together here and there.

We were around the corner of the hallway to the cafeteria.

That was when I found Kuroji, staring out the window again. Except this time, he doesn’t seem to be brooding. The last time I found him glancing out the window, he had this stoic expression on his face and it turns out that he was just worried about the cold weather. However, it’s no longer winter, nor was it cold out. As a matter of fact, the sun shone brightly outside. Other than the cold breeze back in the hallway, the weather doesn’t seem to be too cold nor was it too warm. It was just right in the middle.

But something really felt off with him. He had this somewhat bored or depressed expression on his face and he sighed.

“What’s up with him?” I asked Shiro.

“Why do you ask me?” she answered.

“Well, it’s just that… you seem to know him longer than I do. You call him by his first name and all.”

“I see… I suppose it’s only natural to assume that however…”

“However…?”

“This has sort of been the first time I’ve seen him like that.”

“Really?”

“…” Shiro replied with a nod. “Are you sure that’s him…? Honestly, it could’ve been someone else.”

“No no, I’m sure of it.” I replied, reassuring. “Observe, his height, black hair and his… usually mean blue eyes.”

“You know, he could hear us, right?”

“Yeah, but he doesn’t seem to care or notice at all. Do you happen to feel cold today?”

“Why do you ask…?”

“”…………””

It’s either Shin is playing dumb or she genuinely doesn’t know what the cold weather does to Aozameru.

“You go ahead to the cafeteria without me. I’ll catch up”

“Alright.”

I then approached the Ice-King of Highschool. He doesn’t seem to notice me up until I greeted him. And since last winter season, we’ve sorta got well-acquainted with each other… or at least better acquainted than we first met. I no longer feel the cold shiver up my spine by just approaching his familiar figure.

“Nice weather we’re having today.” I greeted.

“Thanks.”

“…what?”

“What?”

Something’s definitely off with him. He seems so… well, I have a feeling his mind is so occupied.

“Anything the matter…?” I carefully asked, concerned for him. “Are you perhaps feeling down from how coldly the Ice Queen treated you earlier?” Maybe he’d even feel guilty for lashing out his frustrations and scaring her.

“Who…?”

“That… nevermind.”

He’s already forgotten about her. That’s cold.

“……maybe I’m just getting a little depressed.” He confessed.

Eh…? Is he actually going to open up to me? The one bestowed the title of Ice-King? And here in the hallway of all places?!

“It was just a few months since the winter season began right…? Which also means that it’s only been a few months since last year…”

“What do you mean?”

“Time flies so fast, and change could really show the contrast of that. I guess I could find something depressing in that.”

“I see…”

Unless he actually wanted to vent about it, I didn’t want to ask any further upon the matter of which depresses him. He briefly explained it to me, and it can be confusing, however, I suppose I have my own understanding from it.

 

????     ????     ????

 

I noticed Aozemaru throughout the entire day. And he really wasn’t exactly his usual ice-cold self, however, it seems that the schoolmates around him doesn’t seem to notice. To them, he was the same Ice-King of our highschool. They treated him the same, as usual, asking him out and all, and as always, he’d turn their offer down. However, he didn’t seem to have this same ice-cold treatment towards them anymore. He seemed more tired. Though, it oddly doesn’t change the fact that they think of him any differently. They still scatter and tremble in slight fear just from being turned down. It was either an over exaggerated overreaction, or that they’re just acting as if they’ve been turned down from a love confession.

Another possibility would have been that my image of him just changes.

I approached him again, and he vented or started blurting out another depressing thought of his.

“Natsumi… do you remember what happened last winter season?”

“………”

“What? was that a weird question?”

“No, it’s just that…… never mind.”

He just called me by my name. it’s definitely not a first, but I just couldn’t quite exactly grasp or get used to him calling my name—which might be bad. It’s definitely something I need to get used to. I can’t always freeze or flinch every time I hear my name come from his mouth.

“I guess I do” I answered his question. “Why do you ask?”

“It’s well… I guess I’m just glad that you do. Remembering is important. And sometimes it’s foolish for people to just want to forget and move on so quickly. Time is precious and I don’t think people should waste it on…… because…… they might miss something…………”

“………”

“What?! Oh, never mind.”

He spoke to me more than usual today. Though, I sort of messed it up at the end there. I definitely have to get used to that the next time we strike up a conversation.

 

????     ????     ????

 

That ‘next time’ we were going to converse with each other arrived sooner than I thought, outside of class.

This time, I found Aozameru at the train station again. This time it wasn’t cold, nor was it too warm. The temperature seemed to be just right. Now, I wouldn’t know what would happen to him during a warm season, but I definitely knew that he’d just freeze up and stand as still as an ice sculpture or a really realistic wax figure during the winter season.

It was sort of truly a magical sight for me. you wouldn’t quite believe me when I say this but his hair would turn white and all.

I didn’t intend to use the train to go somewhere. I was just strolling around. But I suppose I just happened to stop by the train station again because it happens to be the place that I first met him. And he was standing at the same place too.

“!!!”

I just saw his hand move…!

Right, the weather’s not really cold anymore. His hair remains black and he at least looks livelier than a wax statue.

I approached him.

“Yo,” I greeted casually, which he actually noticed this time. I felt relieved.

“What are you doing here?” he asked with a nonchalant look on his face, not quite making eye contact, and looking straight ahead of him.

“I was going to ask you the same question. Why do you always show up at train stations, and why always stand in on the exact same peculiar spot?”

“I take the train home.”

“O…oh, is that so…?” I suppose I did frequently see him use the train the last time I saw him after school.

“Don’t you walk home? It should be more peculiar why YOU always show up at train stations.” He asserted.

“Fair enough……” Wait, why does he know that I walk home?

“…………”

The both of us just stood there in silence as we waited for Aozameru’s train to arrive. According to the schedule it shouldn’t be here till twenty-eight minutes.

Doesn’t he have another depressing thought he’d like to vent to me…? I wonder. And well, I’m worried because—unless it really is just me—I have a feeling that Aozameru’s not usually himself lately.

I stood beside him for about a solid twenty minutes straight. We just stood there in silent, not doing or saying anything. It was somewhat peaceful. Though, it was only after the twenty minutes that he’s decided to act out of character again to share his thoughts to me.

“People will always be irrational whether or not they see it in themselves, and that’s natural because they have feelings that make them decide irrationally. Some people are just extremely narrowminded. They’d claim to want something in general, fully acknowledging that they already want something specifically or in particular.”

Well, some of those points are debatable.

“Oh, it seems that the train decided to arrive five minutes early”

“Alright then. I’ll be off. See you tomorrow.”

“…………”

 

Chapter 3: Haruhi Yuuta’s birthday.

 

It’s the day we planned to celebrate Yuuta’s birthday in school. Even if it’s not much of a surprise party, it’d at least be some sort of surprise greeting instead.

After school I hung out with Yuuta to stall for time. just a casual strolling around the school grounds. Her request. And honestly, I was expecting that she’d invite me to play a game or something.

While our little stroll, I took frequent glances around our area. And I think Yuuta noticed it and found my actions conspicuous.

“You’re trying to find Aozameru, aren’t you?” Yuuta said all of the sudden.

“Hm? What makes you say that?”

“You seem to be getting along with him lately.”

“Yeah…? I suppose so.”

“……………”

The brief banter retreated back into the silence. I suppose Yuuta isn’t one to socialize at times, but she’s very talkative given an interesting relatable topic. I remember hearing her say that “socializing is so last year” one time.

“So, what’s the news with this masochist you blurted about last winter season?” I asked out of a brain fart.

“Hm…? What masochist?”

It’s either that she genuinely doesn’t remember, or that I’m just thinking about something else.

“Nevermind—”

“—Hey, is it cool if we stopped by somewhere to do something real quick?”

“Hm?” Before answering Yuuta, I checked my phone for notifications. Shin was supposed to message me when preparations are ready. Though, it turns out I got no such signal or message so far. “Sure!”

 

????     ????     ????

 

Yuuta led me behind the building of the school.

“So, what did you want to do?” I asked Yuuta.

“…………” she ignored my question.

Yuuta pulled out two things from her pocket. Some sort of cloth and a lighter. She started lighting the piece of cloth on fire and watched it burn till it’s reduced to ash.

“What’s that…?”

“……………” She ignored me again.

Yuuta then pulled out her phone from her pocket and just stared and inspected it for a while. She didn’t even boot it up. She just admired its features, staring at its off screen and just fidgeting with the device.

“Do you know how detectives detect fingerprints?” She asked me.

“Powder—”

“—Of course, with fingerprint powder”

“Yeah?”

“But do you know how fingerprint powder works?”

“…?”

Where is she going with this line of questioning?

“Fingerprints leave traces of oil.” She answered.

You are reading story The Ice King of Highschool Four Season Anthology at novel35.com

“That… actually makes sense.”

“Yeah…? That’s what I thought too.”

“Why bring it up here and now?” I asked.

Yuuta then reached out her phone in front of my face. She wanted to show me something on it. or that she wanted me to observe it.

“Could you tell which letters I’ve used the most to type on my phone…?” Yuuta then asked.

From the sunlight’s reflection, I could obviously notice and assume that the letters she used the most to type on the phone of her keyboard were W, Q, E, T, and possibly H.

“Hm… is it the letter ‘L’…?”

“Hmph.” I noticed her smirk ever so slightly for a second before she pulled back her phone, retracting her arm and raising it.

She threw her phone against the wall, smashing the device into pieces of glass, circuits, plastics and small wires.

I didn’t quite expect her to do that, it really shocked me that she decided to break her phone all of the sudden.

Was she mad at my answer…? I just thought of making a joke—

She joined her hands together. With a neutral look on her face.

“Let’s head back to the classroom and head back home, shall we…?” She said.

At least she’s not particularly mad at me… I think.

We were on our way back to the classroom. Leaving behind the littered junk Yuuta left behind the school building. A dust of ashes that was once…. Something, and a smashed phone.

“Why’d you do it?”

“Hm…?”

I mean, it’s alright if she doesn’t want to talk about it, but I’m curious.

“I was going to get a new phone anyways. that old phone always lagged when I played a tower defense game.”

“I see… well, good for you.”

“…?”

“About getting a new phone, I mean—"

 

????     ????     ????

 

I got a notification from Shin just before we entered the classroom.

The classroom looked incredibly deserted, not a single person in sight nor were there any bags on any chairs other than Yuuta and I’s.

“Seems like Shin went home without telling us.” Yuuta assumed.

“Yeah…?”

I was starting to get concerned myself too. It didn’t look like anyone prepared for a surprise or for a happy birthday greeting. There wasn’t a single décor nor a single sign adorned on any walls.

The first picture that comes to my mind when I think of a surprise party is a decorated room, but the room would be too dark to see anything until the lights are powered on and everyone pops out of nowhere to yell surprise!! But given how the large windows of the classroom illuminate the entire compartment, I don’t think it was possible to make the room completely dark in the first place. That would’ve required layers and layers of curtains.

If it weren’t for our back packs and belongings, we almost considered the possibility that we entered the wrong classroom. But then—

 

““Surprise!!!””

 

“GEEZ— FFF—"

All of the sudden classmates popped up from hiding places we never knew was possible before. And so many of them too!

 

“”Happy birthday!””

 

Many classmates greeted out loud and out of nowhere, making Yuuta flinch for at least a moment in shock.

Classmates in the background started adorning this huge sign at the back saying “Happy Birthday Haruhi Yuuta.” And some classmates approached her to talk, converse, socialize, catch up, and offered to play games. Though Yuuta had to turn down the games for now because they were mostly on mobile, and… well…

“I don’t have my old phone anymore, I’m sorry. Though, I’ll try download it again once I get home.”

“That’s alright. Hey, y’know what else we could do…? We could see if they’d let us use the computers down at the lab.”

“Yeah…?”

“Sounds like a plan.”

It sounds like they might just take this surprise birthday greet and turn it into a game party down at the computer lab. Though, unfortunately some has to leave early because it was dismissal hours for school after all. I on the other hand had already exited the classroom with my bag. What they plan to do may sound fun but for some reason I just have this epiphany to head home early. I felt like I couldn’t just stay for some reason, and I didn’t really know why up until what’s about to unfold a few minutes later.

“Hm…?”

When I exited the classroom there was a student I don’t recognize just loitering around outside. For some reason I got the impression that he was a freshman, though, I couldn’t quite point my finger on exactly why that is.

I looked around my area once more, glancing at the people who might’ve stayed after class dismissal.

“Huh…? is that… Aozameru…?”

I suppose I’ve observed that he hasn’t been himself lately… perhaps I should greet him.

I looked back at the classroom door where I could hear a muffled conversation.

“Y’know, I wonder if it was a coincidence that I happened to be born on April. I feel like I’m named after the Spring Season.” I heard Yuuta say.

They should be fine.

I went to approach the Ice-King of Highschool in question, leaving Shin and Yuuta behind in our classroom.

 

 

 

“Happy Birthday, Yuuta…”

 

 

Chapter 4: The Spring Season is Calming.

 

Time flies so fast sometimes. And change such as the seasons are proof of it. It only felt like a few months ago since the environment around us were all snowy and cold, but it turned out that all of that is so last year already.

There are people who decide to forget and move on by any means necessary. Those foolish people who envy those who could forget easily. Though, remembering is often important. If one keeps forgetting and forgetting, and moving on and moving on then when will they ever remember how, when and where they’ve started? Another sad truth is that there are forgetful people who desperately want to remember again, remembering whether it’d be memories or feelings. Remembering is important and it’s sort of what makes a person, no matter how lost they’ve seemed to be on.

Remembering doesn’t only mean being trapped in the past. Remembering has many synonyms and definitions to it, and one of the most forgetful term for remembering is reminiscing.

People always remember their greatest fears or their worst pasts, but when they’re feeling at their worst, it’s because they forget about how to look back on memories and feel good about it. And it’s especially difficult to forget when people try or force themselves to forget, when time and change is already occurring so fast. Forget things, try to kill as much time as you’ve got and you might just miss something important.

People will always be irrational whether or not they see it in themselves, and that’s natural because they have feelings that make them decide irrationally.

Though, it may seem impossible to make up for those irrational decisions a person has made. I believe there should always be a way or method to make some amendments. Whether or not you’re lazy, or whether or not you’re anxious, too careful, or paranoid about taking responsibility. 

Some people are just extremely narrowminded. They’d claim to want something in general, fully acknowledging that they already want something specifically or in particular.

You can’t go back in time to take back those irrational decisions you’ve made in the past, but you can still make it right and make amendments in the present. You can still make it up to people.

 

????     ????     ????

 

I approached Aozameru… or rather, I just sorta followed him for a while. He seemed to be going the opposite direction of where the nearest train station is, so I don’t suppose he’s going home. It gave me an excuse to ask him where he’s going… though, it may not be my business. I guess I’m just curious.

“Aozameru, where are you headed?” I asked, greeting him.

“Hm…? I’m… going somewhere.” He replied.

“Can I go with you?” I offered.

“………”

He halted himself from walking, closed his eyes, narrowed his eyebrows and crossed his arms in deep thought.

“Sure.” He answered. “Is your home nearby?”

“Eh? Why’d you ask?”

“It’s after school hours. I’d hate to drag you out here in your school uniform if it’s an inconvenience.”

“I guess that’s reasonable.” I replied. “Though it’s not an inconvenience. If you just wanted to see me in casual clothes again, then you could’ve just asked directly.” I added to tease him casually and nonchalantly.

“…”

“…”

Wait, what am I saying?! He’s obviously not after me, and not like that! Or well, I don’t think he’s that kind of person at least.

This is kind of getting embarrassing. To save the humiliation, I should probably get going already.

“Once you’re done, meet me at the train station at the usual spot.” He scheduled. “I’ll wait for you for an hour there.”

“Alright, but I won’t take long. I swear.”

“Oh, and if you can. Bring your camera with you.” He added at the last minute.

Was he after my camera this entire time?! That’s sort of cold.

As soon as I got back home, I greeted my parents, informed them, made some sort of small talk and asked permission to head outside, which they granted my privilege to, shortly after. Though, they did ask me where I was going and I… well, the last time I didn’t have a plan on where I was going, my parents were concerned. I forgot to message them an update of where I was and they didn’t take it very well. At the end of the day, I got grounded. So, this time when they asked me where I was headed… I just knew I had to give them a straight answer somehow. But the thing is, I don’t exactly know where Aozameru wanted to go. All he said is that he’d want to meet me at the……………

“So, where are you headed?” My mother asked again.

“I’m meeting a friend at the train station.”

“Oh, alright, have fun then. just make sure to be back before it gets dark.”

“I will.”

I headed to my room, got out of my school uniform and changed into a much more casual attire. After that I looked at the mirror and I thought to myself…

I wonder if this is considered a date.

A date with the Ice-King of Highschool…… with or without context—it sounds like a scary thought, and in the first place I shouldn’t have such mindset to begin with.

I brought a small bag with me and hung it around my shoulder. Then I took of a beret from the hat stand/shack and wore it. Though, before I exited my room, I looked over at my desk to find my camera promptly sitting on it. I figured that my phone camera should be enough, but what if Aozameru wanted me to bring my camera for a reason? Perhaps we were going somewhere sightseeing with a great view that just needed to be captured well.

“Hmm…”

 

????     ????     ????

 

I ended up bringing my camera with me anyways. I wore it tied around my neck. I greeted my mother off and exited my home. I probably took like… twenty minutes or so, and to think that Aozemaru was planning to wait for me at the train station for an entire hour. The nerve. Showing up early should open his eyes.

I began to walk to the train station. The weather seemed nice, the temperature was neither too warm or cold. No one necessarily had to wear too much or too little clothing for the weather and it reminded me that this is what the environment around me looks and feels like during the spring season. Honestly it almost brought a smile to my face, though I suppose I don’t have a reason not to.

I walked past a few diners and I smelled the savory scent of cooking soy sauce.

I walked past the convenient store, and looked across the street towards the park where I built a small snowman during the winter season. Though it’s kind of a sad bitter feeling to think that it probably melted over time.

And that was where I met the cutest living thing I’ve seen all day. Standing on the same spot I built a former snow man seemed to be a lost white cat with its owner no where in sight. I could kind of tell it’s supposed to be owned by someone judging by its collar, and how its loosely wearing a bunny ear headband on its head.

I crouched down to pet it, gently scratch its chin, adjusted its bunny ear head band, rubbed its face and stroked its fur, and before I knew it I kind of got carried away, spending more minutes than I should have and ended up holding the cat with the both of my arms.

I think I’ll take it with me to the train station. The Park is deserted, and there didn’t seem to be anyone around looking for a lost cat.

The cat was resting comfortably on my arms and leaning on my chest. I stroked its fur while walking slowly to not disturb it.

 

????     ????     ????

 

I met Aozemaru at the train station, and it turned out that I did in fact almost take an hour to get here. I was wrong and Aozemaru had every right to wait for an hour for me here.

“You brought your camera?” He straightforwardly asked.

“Yep.”

“…” he stared at my chest for a while. “Is that supposed to be a rabbit or a cat?”

“It’s a cat, I picked it up when I found it lost in the street just now.”

“So, that’s why you took so long.”

Hey, it was his idea to wait for me for an hour here!!

“Well, why’d you pick it up in the first place? Don’t you think the owner would be trying to find it?”

“Well, I was hoping to find its owner on the way here.”

““………””

Aozemaru approached me and reached out his hand to pet the cat I was holding in my arms, however, it started flinching and hissing as soon as he laid a fingertip on it.

“What’s wrong?”

Does the cat not like him…? Do cats sense evil after all?

I grabbed his hand and turned out to be surprisingly Ice-cold for some reason. Though, I guess it should be expected from someone entitled the Ice-King. I wonder…

“Did you hold something cold recently?”

“I bought an iced boba drink while waiting for you.”

“Oh, I see…”

That makes sense.

“Shall we get going then?”

“Yep.”

 

????     ????     ????

 

Aozemaru Kuroji, entitled the Ice-King from our highschool. He led me to a different park I’ve never really been to before. It was a beautiful park filled with people and children. It was a park that people would visit during the spring season and frankly the reason behind that is apparent and could be seen in plain sight. The Park is beautiful, its land was bright green. Kites flew in the skies while some children play and run around or toss some frisbees. There would be couples or families having picnics too. The terrain was smooth and wide. It looked comfortable to lay or sit on. and the scent smelled fresh. I don’t exactly know how to explain or describe this, but the first word that comes to mind when I smelled the scent of this park is spring.

And the trees… the main attraction…

Aozameru led me to this road surrounded by freshly bloomed cherry blossoms. Looking up and around me, my vision was filled with a soothing pink color that somewhat heals my soul by just watching the tree and its reddish trunk and branches sway to the wind.

I looked over at Aozameru who’s already at a distance from me, gazing the pink trees up close. And just looking at his face gave me thoughts lingering in my head.

I’ve seen him get angry and Ice cold. I’ve seen him get kind of depressed and I heard his vents. Though now, in this very moment as he’s gazing at the cherry blossom trees. That was the first ever time I saw him finally leisurely smiling as if he’s in peace.

I put the cat down for now, letting it rest or run around in hopes of searching for its owner by itself.

I then picked up the camera promptly resting on my chest and booted it up to take a picture.

I’ve probably mentioned this before, but I couldn’t say it enough.

It was beautiful.

 

And that was also when I found out that……… perhaps…

 

 

The ICE King of Highschool is calm against the Spring Season

“Lovely weather we’re having today.” He thought out loud.

“Thanks.”

 

 

Epilogue

 

During lunch break I walked around finding Yuuta and Shin.

“Yuuta…?”

I stand corrected. During lunch break, I was finding Shin when I found Yuuta leaning on a wall, spying on some corner.

I called out her name and when she noticed me, she turned to my direction, lifted her fingers up to her lips and signalled to silence me.

“Shhh!!!”

For a while I just stood there and stared thinking… what is she up to…? I then joined her in spying whatevers around the corner, and when I took a peek—

“Aozameru…? And… the Ice Queen?

 

????     ????     ????

 

“Aren’t you tired of having the title of Ice King? Around here.”

“Didn’t I tell you to fuck off?”

“………”

“………”

Despite that, Hortensia, the Ice Queen, stayed and joined Aozameru, gazing out the window. And oddly enough, he wasn’t too bothered by it. He let her stay. However, having to make a rude remark with no response in return, Aozameru decided to fill the awkward air with small talk.

“I’m not interested in making anymore friends either.” He said. “I heard that people have been giving you an edgy 8^th grader dark lord or whatever.”

“Really…? I’ve heard them calling me by a different title. Ice Queen.”

“But it’s bothering you isn’t it?”

“………”

It seemed that Aozameru hit the mark.

“To answer your question, no. the title of Ice King doesn’t bother me at all.”

“Would you be bothered more if your title was ‘edgy dark lord’ instead?”

That question made Aozameru pause for a while before answering.

“Not at all. I’ve been with those people for a while now. Before I got the title of Ice King, before they got used to me yelling at them to fuck off. We’ve had a mutual understanding that I’m not interested. And eventually it became natural for me to expect them to be persistent despite the many times I’ve turned them down.”

“Is there a reason you’re not interested?” She asked. “In making anymore friends I mean.”

“I’ve made friends before. I just prefer not to make any more of it.”

“I see… but aren’t you tired of hearing people say that it’s difficult to have no friends, or when they say that you probably just haven’t met the right people and all—”

“As far as I’m concerned, it’s okay to not be interested in making any more friends.” Aozameru interjected. “Just don’t come off as pretentious.”

Some people just aren’t interested in making anymore friends. And at some point, it became a moral for many stories to do so. When making friends isn’t all that mandatory. People say you can naturally make friends and that’s true, but to those who are incapable or to those who actually don’t want to, they shouldn’t be afraid of being alone just because its importance is emphasized for many situations and circumstances

“So, do you think I should apologize…”

“Do whatever the fuck you want, why should I give a shit?”

“………”

“……It should be fine if you don’t though.”

Hortensia tends to attract all sorts of people, similarly to Aozameru. However, her self-defense mechanism seems to be travelling with and like a pack of wolves, and roaring to make herself look like a bigger person above anyone’s standards.

“I don’t give a shit about why you’re not interested in making friends. But I noticed that I don’t recognize any of the group of girls walking behind you, especially when the entire school usually forms a crowd around me. They seem like they’re transferees just like you. And if they transferred here just because of you, then it seems to be a sufficient number of friends already.”

Aozameru then goes on to give her advice, without stuttering or stammering or taking some time to rethink his words. Whatever’s coming out of his mouth, it all seemed to be coming out natural for him.

“So, whoever is astray or leftover in being persistent to trying to befriend you when you clearly aren’t interested. Turn them down however method you like. Kick all the ass you have to, or hell, even kill.” He advised. Though, he didn’t usually seem to be this talkative.

For some reason I actually felt a little contented with Hortensia accompanying Aozameru. He began talking to her as if the both of them really had something in common.

“And besides, being violently aggressive fits your name.” He added. “Hortensia, the name of the flower could symbolize apology or understanding, but it could also mean boastful or heartlessness. And I suppose your given name would actually be the best one-word description for you.”

“………?”

Hortensia then glanced at Aozameru with this fixed confused expression as if she couldn’t puzzle out what he meant. What could ‘Rei’ possibly mean to be the best one-word description for her?

“It’s Hyourei(Ruthless) isn’t it?”

“………”

Hortensia ended up squinting at Aozameru’s explanation. And I couldn’t help but squint at his answer either. He mistook her name and it ended up sounding like a horrible dad joke. Hortensia was clearly offended.

She slapped Aozameru across the face, the both of them then keeping a stoic expression, not moving an inch from where they have originally stood.

“It’s just Rei. You asshole.” She corrected, glaring at him before walking away. “So much for someone who’s named ‘black ink, turn pale’.” She muttered, sulking a little.

Aozameru then just stood there, left alone once again as he originally wanted and intended. Gazing out the window uninterrupted as he finds peace in watching the cherry blossom petals being carried by he wind while I admired him for a while, relaxing before such a calming sight. I almost want to join him, but I really should get going soon.

A cold breeze blew out of nowhere in the middle of the hallway. And all of the sudden, it felt like Aozameru was just standing there for a completely different reason now. He’s not moving a single limb, just standing there as frozen as a statue. The Ice King of Attakai Tenki Academy freezes up from the slightest of cold. And his black as ink hair, turns as pale as white snow.

 

 

“Eh? Where did Haruhi go?”

 

????     ????     ????

 

The next day, grim rumors start to spread.

Hey, didn’t you hear? Aozameru advised the new transfer student Ice Queen to start killing people.”

“What the fuck?!”

I wonder if Yuuta started this rumor. It seems that the student body completely misunderstood… but then again, I suppose Aozameru did kind of lowkey advised Hortensia that. Yep, that ones on you Aozameru.

Later that day, I noticed something odd. Odd than usual at least. Whenever Aozameru or Hortensia is in the hallway, no crowds are forming anymore. Though, perhaps for a couple of people who aren’t interested in any of them. I suppose they’d just prefer their personal space.

You can find story with these keywords: The Ice King of Highschool Four Season Anthology, Read The Ice King of Highschool Four Season Anthology, The Ice King of Highschool Four Season Anthology novel, The Ice King of Highschool Four Season Anthology book, The Ice King of Highschool Four Season Anthology story, The Ice King of Highschool Four Season Anthology full, The Ice King of Highschool Four Season Anthology Latest Chapter