The Pain of an Inferior: A Blistering Love Comedy That Begins After a Broken Heart - Chapter 3

Chapter 3 – Pain of an Inferior 3

Life at school was very painful for Haruka.

On the first day of school two months ago, Haruka was elated to find out that he had ended up in the same class as Miyako. He was really happy, thinking that it was the right decision to enroll in A-10 Academy, the most difficult high school to get into in the Kanto region. Without any regards for his lack of achievements, he just studied diligently in order to pass the entrance exam.

It was a stroke bad luck that Shun had also ended up in the same class as them. Though even if Haruka was the only one in the same class as Miyako, he had an inkling feeling that it would only end in the same outcome.

Haruka dreamed of a school life spent together with Miyako, but it turned out to be a living hell.

The days where he’s at the sidelines as he watched the dazzling and lively group of handsome boys and gorgeous girls, with Shun among them, were waiting for him.

The group where Shun and Miyako belonged in, the upper school caste, had naturally gathered classmates who had strong influence. Even if Haruka, who had no hobbies and was not good at speaking, could scoot his way into the group, he would be like a fish thrown out on the ground, unable to do anything and would surely die.

He ended up letting out a dark sigh for the umpteenth time today.

“You bought a new pair of earrings again, Haruka.”

Not wanting to see Miyako happily talking with another man, Haruka stared out the window to escape.

A boy sitting in the front seat turned around and starting chatting to Haruka in a casual way. It was Ise Ria, his only friend.

Ria touched the silver earrings on Haruka’s ears without hesitation. Haruka did not resist and let him to as he pleased, though he found it a little ticklish.

“Nee-san gave them to me yesterday. I wore them because I wanted to.”

“Your sister again? You guys are really close.”

Ria was a beautiful boy with back-length blond hair tied back in a knot, and a face that is beyond neutral and almost feminine. His eyes are slightly droopy and always sleepy.

He was tall for his feminine appearance, standing at around 173 centimeters. He had reached the age where his voice should’ve changed into a deeper tone, but his voice box was not noticeable, he even sounded like a woman.

In addition, he was wearing a schoolgirl’s uniform without any discomfort, as if it was natural. No one would be able to recognize that he was a man unless they would open his profile.

Although he possessed excellent communication skills and had a unique appearance that could’ve made him very popular, in this school, he held a reputation that was even lower than Haruka’s.

Despite his beautiful and charming appearance, this boy was carrying an incredibly dark past. He was a Rank E Citizen, which was practically unheard of. It was as if his rank was in stark contrast with his attractive looks.

While there were no specific rules disclosed to the public, Rank E was considered to be a red flag. Citizens bearing such a rank were considered to be very bad people.

According to a rough index of ranks, an ordinary law abiding citizen starts at Rank C. A minor offense would earn them a demotion to Rank D. Meanwhile, murders or r?a?pe? will have their ranks drop to Rank F, the lowest rank. With Ria being a Rank E citizen, he gave off an impression that he had done some terrible things.

Since the information on citizen ranks was easily accessible to everyone, Ria’s rank had become widely known not only within their classroom but throughout the entire school. It was quite rare to come across someone with bearing an E Rank, which indicated that one was a serious offender.

The propaganda that was often heard by everyone during their childhood was that for those who had committed crimes would be seen as equally inferior and should be treated coldly. They should not be treated as fellow humans.

Although Ria had not yet experienced being publicly harmed, he was still looked down upon with contempt by everyone around him.

As a Rank E citizen, there was no doubt in everyone’s mind that Ria must’ve done something wrong. But as someone who was observing Ria on a daily basis, Haruka had often wondered if he really was a kind of person who would do such a thing.

*He probably has an unimaginable hidden side to him*, Haruka thought. But still, Haruka ended up casually accepting his circumstances without thinking too hard about it. Ria was already exuding a mysterious aura, Haruka feared that poking around too much could reveal something that shouldn’t be known.

So far, Ria was the only friend that Haruka had gained at school. The two of them were so close that they had been spending most of their time together during the first two months since school had started. They would often hang out after school, even on weekends. Haruka wondered why they got along so much.

In the modern era, the citizen ranks of the ones they are associated with, let alone themselves, were considered important and affected their relationships going forward. As long as Haruka was involved with Ria, who was a Rank E citizen, he shouldn’t expect that he would gain any more new friends aside from him.

Nevertheless, the days he had spent with Ria was very fun and fulfilling. It would be a lie for Haruka to say that he doesn’t need any friends other than him, but was not dissatisfied with the current arrangement.

Only when Haruka was with Ria and his sister, can he forget about Miyako. Being with them was one of the few times that he could feel at ease. They were a source of salvation for him.

However, since Haruka’s older sister seemed to be busy with her work as of late, he ended up inevitably seeking Ria’s company more and more.

“Ria, do you want to go on a date with me on Sunday?”

“Another date? I don’t mind.”

“If I don’t do something on my day off, my heart will break.”

While saying that, Haruka plopped down on the desk. As if to comfort him, Ria gently stroked his head. Whenever Haruka expressed his worries, Ria would occasionally pat his head.

Haruka had a preference for skinship. He would feel his heavy heart melting away as he felt Ria’s body warmth on him.

“If it’s okay with you, I’ll be with you anytime… Cheer up, okay?”

“Thank you, Ria…”

Ria’s caress and kindness warmed his heart.

The teacher then entered the classroom, signalling the start of homeroom. Ria smiled at him, as he turned his head back at the front.

Haruka gazed out the window at the clear sky and sighed with a resigned look on his face, knowing that he would have to spend another painful day.

His life was tough and painful, his heart would always ache. Still, he couldn’t give up his feelings for Miyako.

For Haruka, love had became akin to a curse.

He hated himself for his inability to give up, his weakness, as well as the overwhelming sense of patheticness he felt.