I, who advocate giving up, feel like a disqualified person

Setting aside the fact that the photo shows a girl, the blonde hair and fair skin suggest she's most likely European or American, though South Asian is a possibility... Whatever the case, why did she suddenly decide to study here? With so many first-tier cities to choose from, why did she choose a town like this, with its lack of entertainment and no other attractions? Is it simply because the prices are lower? Or does she have family members living here?

It's a real hassle to speculate about other people. But what's even more unbearable right now is the constant heat and sweat pouring down my body... If I were to meet a girl, I'd definitely not want to be covered in sweat.

But generally speaking, the body positions of this type of people are larger... I looked at the photo in my hand again.

“Ding Di—”

A car horn sounded not far away.

The only reason to drive in all seasons in this weather is the car's air conditioning. After a couple of quick honks, the bus doors opened. A cool breeze blew, and passengers began to disembark, searching for their luggage. That's when I caught sight of a single blond hair amidst the sea of ​​black hair. And someone who looked like my middle school cousin. Europeans are generally taller, right?

"Let me help you." As I watched her slender arms struggling to drag out the huge suitcase, I finally realized what I had to do.

"...Oh, thank you~"

"..."

It was quite surprising that they spoke fluent Mandarin, considering that most of the foreigners I've known through movies, TV shows, and documentaries don't speak Chinese very well.

"If I'm not mistaken, you're the one who's here to pick me up... Yi Shaji, right?"

"Ah...hmm."

When I got closer, I found that she was still very short, only reaching around my neck.

"How kind! Just as warm as today's sun."

As she spoke, she took out a white and orange hat from somewhere and put it on her head. Then, she tore off her coat with one hand and stood in front of me wearing only a white shirt.

"Are you complaining about the high temperature today?"

To be honest, because her legs are very nice and relatively long compared to her height, I couldn't help but take a few more glances.

"Yes."

As she spoke, she had already tied her coat around her waist and turned to look at me. "I guess you already know my name... but I hope you can forget it."

"...what?"

I didn't understand what that meant. And the clothes covered the part of her shorts... I was observing the curve of her buttocks when I was interrupted and thought she had seen me.

"When in Rome, do as the Romans do. I didn't want people to call me by that weird name - so I gave myself a Chinese name."

"Ha..." Whatever, I'm not interested in other people's names anyway.

"I really like your comics... so I chose a name that's the same as the comic character. Just call me Aya-san."

"...Comics? Is that the protagonist's name?" I don't usually read comics, so I don't know where it came from.

"No, it's a supporting role."

"..." Perhaps they didn't want to fall into clichés, so they chose a supporting character's name. It's probably the same principle as giving nicknames in games. "Well, Aya...San-san. With this scorching weather, do you want to rush to school and sit in a stuffy classroom reading, or do you want to listen to lullabies in a stuffy classroom?"

"There's no air conditioning in the classroom?" She suddenly frowned.

"...The ancients didn't use that kind of thing to read, right? But they did have electric fans." However, the kind of fan that shook its head back and forth and made a monotonous noise only made me more sleepy.

"I know you have a saying about 'studying through the cold windows,' but is it really okay to study like an ascetic this way? Lack of water can lead to heatstroke, and this hot weather will only make you sleepier, right?"

Her puzzled expression did not disappear.

"That depends on individual awareness. No one forces them to sleep anyway. They succumb to temptation..."

"But I don't think summer fatigue can be eliminated simply by willpower... Lack of oxygen to the brain causes drowsiness. That's an established fact, and no one can change it."

"So?" I remained unconvinced. "Do you think installing air conditioning in the classroom will help them study well?"

"This isn't a question of whether or not to study hard. Since it's so hot in the summer, isn't it necessary to install air conditioners in the classrooms?" She said this when a thought suddenly occurred to her. "By the way, are there air conditioners in the staff offices?"

"...Ah." I seemed to notice, "There should be."

"This explains the problem. If teachers can use air conditioning in their offices, why can't students?"

I hadn't considered this question from the beginning. If you really want to know why, it's probably because I felt that as a student, even if I discovered a problem and raised it, it wouldn't be solved. Instead, I would be suppressed by the saying "learning is a student's duty."

Mind your own business, mind your own business, and focus on your studies. Can't you just focus on your studies? Adults always have reasons like these to shut me up, and I can't get rid of this identity anytime soon.

It's really annoying, and it makes me feel bad. That's why I don't want to point out this kind of problem, because it's useless. I just have to endure it and it will pass. I have to think this way, and others also want me to be patient.

"I can't argue with you. Just say whatever you feel is most comfortable." I was too lazy to argue with her. Yes, this was also a choice of patience. "It can't change anything anyway."

"Oh, it seems our ideas collided right from the start~" After the verbal clash, she wasn't angry at all; instead, she sounded delighted. "I always thought that when you meet someone for the first time, you'd be polite and try to follow the conversation without raising any objections. But I never expected to meet someone as interesting as you."

"..." Are you praising me? Thank you so much.

"You just said I can't change anything, right?" She suddenly leaned in front of me. "Want to make a bet with me? I'm going to prove that some things can be changed—starting with the fact that our school doesn't have air conditioning. I'll convince the principal within a week and have the equipment installed in the classrooms."

"Well... I don't want to make a bet with you..." Although I don't believe she will succeed, I still hate troublesome things.

"Why? Since you think I can't change those things, why don't you just make a bet? Any bet is fine. Anyway, you already think you have a sure win, right?"

"You have so many questions." Are you the embodiment of question marks?

"Since you don't dare, then forget it~" She glanced at me indifferently, then gave a sarcastic smile.

"Let me be clear up front. I'm not being provoked, nor am I lacking confidence."

However, if you haven't personally experienced something like this, how can you directly conclude it's "impossible"? To change an established situation requires the efforts of countless people, and how much heavy, rotten stuff needs to be lifted...

"..." Her eyes gradually turned to me.

"I agreed to this bet because I want to see how you can achieve the changes you've talked about. If you can do that, you can ask me for anything."

Since then, I have never asked for anything.

Whether it is a seemingly fair phenomenon, the understanding and approach of others, or something that is related to beauty.

Just live a peaceful life, exist and disappear in the world without leaving any trace.

But why...are there always people like this around me?

"All right!! Since you say so, the bet is naturally established—if I lose, I can still promise you something. Although there's no written contract, I can sense you won't go back on your word. After all, I'm half this country's blood~ I'm not so rigid when it comes to sentimentality. Anyway, it's quite pleasant to meet you, Shaji-kun."

"...Yeah?"

I was the exact opposite. I didn't feel the slightest bit of joy at her appearance.

.....

"Don't you have to go back to school now?"

This girl seemed to take my helping her with the luggage as a voluntary act. Not only did she walk beside me with her bare hands, she also kept asking questions to me.

"You know where the school is anyway... If you want to go, just go back to school by yourself. Anyway, I was specially allowed to go back a little later because of picking you up, and you..."

"I don't know where the school is." She responded decisively.

"Then I'll tell you the address."

"I don't know the way. I'm an international student who just arrived here and I'm unfamiliar with the place. I can't understand complicated Chinese. Whenever I talk to a strange black-haired person, I want to speak Japanese."

"What the hell is that last one?" And doesn't she speak more than one language? Damn, I suddenly felt frustrated.

"Anyway, you can't abandon me."

Is this what she ultimately wanted to say? Seriously, she's been beating around the bush.

"Okay, okay, I understand. I'm going to the ice cream shop next, you can come too... but don't expect me to treat you."

"Oh, no problem, just pay for your own. After all, we are not friends yet." She didn't seem to care.

"..." If possible, I don't want to know you at all. "It doesn't mean that I will treat you if we become friends."

"..." She did not respond to this.

Anyway, after my recommendation, she and I each held a glass of cold drink and continued walking on the hot street.

"Can't we just rest in the store for a while?" I was already exhausted from the damn heat, but I still had to help her pull the damn suitcase.

"Hold on a little longer, we'll be at my place soon. Wouldn't it be easier if I leave this box at home before heading out?"

"So... your family members are here." It seems that her situation is similar to what I guessed.

"Not really." She retorted calmly, holding a straw in her mouth. "I don't have any relatives in this city. My family just found a room for me and I live alone."

“…That’s amazing.” Is this what they call independent living?

"It's nothing, actually." She blinked. "People always have to learn to be independent, otherwise what will they do in the future?"

"..."

At that time, my attitude towards this sentence was just disagreement.

"So, where should we go first?" I squinted my eyes slightly to look at the sun above my head. "I don't want to wander around for no reason."

"Then let's go to the nearby shopping mall first." She responded decisively.

"...what were you doing there?"

"Let's research what brand of air conditioner would be the most economical to buy, since it's going to be installed soon after all."

"You are really..." It can't be said that he is arrogant, but he has a personality that ignores the rules just like Haruhi Suzumiya.

"There's nothing wrong with having this kind of strong self-confidence. After all, if you don't do something, there won't be any results. Even if I can't do it, it won't be a real loss for me, right?"

She responded like this.

.......

It seemed to take her only half a day from introducing herself to integrating into the class - actually, it couldn't be said to be integrating, because she gave people the impression of being someone who was running around and couldn't sit still.

However, I am the only one who knows the reason why she is busy, and I have no choice but to help her... Although there is a gamble, being able to have air conditioning that keeps me warm in winter and cool in summer in the next few years is not a big deal if I only have to pay a small price.

However, the first application was rejected decisively.

Although the notice was brought by the student union, the guy who called himself Lingcan refused to admit defeat.

"It's only been two days."

She said this to me with a hint of resentment, while dragging me along to help. Strangely enough, I felt like my energy expenditure over the past two days had nearly equaled my energy expenditure over the previous two weeks.

However, her efforts over the past few days were not in vain, because she actually found a notice issued by the relevant department. As early as half a year ago, there was a notice stating that a batch of funds would be allocated to primary and secondary schools to install air conditioners.

"Primary and secondary schools refer to junior high and elementary schools, right? We're not in compulsory education anymore, so we shouldn't be eligible for this funding, right?"

After listening to my guess, she did not agree.

On the sixth day, she finally discovered the truth. Since she handled the matter on her own, I didn't fully understand the whole story. However, one thing is certain: since high school isn't compulsory education, it has to cover part of the installation costs. Plus, electricity consumption is bound to increase in the summer, so the school has no plans to install air conditioners.

After some negotiation, on the evening of the seventh day, the air-conditioned vehicles were parked in the playground not far from the teaching building. It was just after school, so I stood nearby and watched as the workers unloaded the machines one by one... Well, I think I deserve some credit for this.

"It's not what I expected... They chose a no-name machine, and they won't let me lower the temperature below 24 degrees. The school is really obsessed with saving money."

She stood beside me at some point and said to me.

"No matter what...it's better to have it than not to have it." And I also realized one thing, that I had underestimated her from the beginning.

"You've helped me a lot, so why don't we just call it a day? I don't want anything from you."

"...Is this really a good idea?" I didn't mind the suggestion, but losing is losing.

"Hmm...it's not very good after all." She frowned and thought for a moment, "Then let's put it aside for now. One day I'll find something to ask you for help."

“…I see.”

Then I really look forward to that day.

..... . . . . ......

It seems that all important things happen in the hot summer.

Whether it is the nerves that have been tense for a year, the nagging head teacher for three years, the scenery that you have long been accustomed to, or the textbooks and test papers flying in the sky.

The so-called youth may not be the sweat flowing in excitement, but the test papers floating in the sky like a flock of birds circling - it seems to carry some memories, but will eventually be forgotten by oneself like garbage.

As the crucial exam approaches for all high school seniors, everyone seems incredibly forgiving. Whether you're lost in thought, melancholy, or carried away by elation... no one forces you to study anymore, and I no longer feel the urge to make last-minute plans. I've been feeling lost since my freshman year, and now I realize I'm still feeling lost even now.

I couldn't see the road ahead, couldn't predict what kind of life I would be able to lead. School only gave me three years of knowledge, but it didn't teach me how to take responsibility for my own future.

When I think about it carefully, it seems that even the knowledge that was instilled in me was spilled a lot.

Maybe the school wasn't responsible for teaching me this kind of thing... Whatever. Anyway, it's already this time, and I already have my diploma—and by the way, the photo on it isn't very handsome at all. What kind of relationship do I have with the school? Thinking about it this way, maybe it's just an excuse to kill time and worry about the future later.

School must have its own gentle qualities... but what's inside isn't gentle at all; it's even cruel. I'm afraid this life of constant comparison will continue... so please let me live an ordinary life. I don't want to be judged after I die.

"...It's so hot."

I don't know what was going on, but after dinner, I took a short nap before leaving the house. After being scorched by the sun along the way, my mind wasn't quite clear, but it wasn't quite clear either. A wave of fatigue crept over me, and I languidly sat down at a rest stop near the exam center.