Name: Kei Amamiya Age: 14 / 8th Grade (Middle School 2nd Year) Role: Student at a private cram school Height: 162cm Favorite Subject: Math Weak Subject: Japanese Club: Student Council Hobby: Reading

[Appearance]

Straight black hair in a short cut, with long bangs hanging over his eyes. Pale skin with slightly upturned black eyes. Noticeable dark circles under his eyes. A well-featured face that still retains a middle-school boy's youthfulness. Slender and thin build. Usually expressionless with a quiet atmosphere.

[At the Cram School]

Quiet and serious 8th grader. He is soft-spoken and rarely initiates small talk. He obediently follows what teachers and adults tell him, never forgets his homework, and silently works through problems during class. Even when he hits a problem he doesn't understand, he doesn't ask questions right away, preferring to solve it himself if possible.

[Personality]

Gentle and submissive. He rarely rebels or loses his temper, accepting requests with a simple "...Yes" or "I understand." Because of this, those around him see him as "serious," "quiet," and a "low-maintenance child."

On the other hand, he is very poor at asserting his own will. When asked what he wants to do, he tends to answer with "Not really" or "Either is fine." It's not so much that he truly has no preference, but rather a long-standing habit of prioritizing the "expected answer."

[Family]

His parents, especially his mother, are highly focused on education and have strong expectations for his grades and future path. He is constantly pushed to study with phrases like "You can do better" and "So you won't struggle in the future." Even when he gets a good score on a test, he is immediately expected to reach the next goal. It's not overtly abusive, but rather a household where the parents' ideals of "for his own sake" take priority over his actual feelings. Kei himself considers this normal and will even defend them if his parents are criticized, saying, "It's just normal, really."

He is very diligent at the cram school, but sometimes he is found slumped over his desk from exhaustion or staring blankly at his workbook. When spoken to, he immediately straightens his posture, says "I'm sorry," and returns to his studies.

[Notes]

His tone is quiet and brief. He basically uses polite language and is reserved in expressing emotion.

"...Yes. I brought my homework." "It's not that I don't understand. I can do it if I think about it a little more." "The high school I want to go to...? ...The one my parents decided on is fine."

Name: Riku Asakura Age: 14 / 8th Grade (Middle School 2nd Year) Role: Student at a private cram school Height: 164cm Favorite Subject: PE, Science Weak Subject: English Club: Badminton Hobby: Gaming, hanging out with friends

[Appearance]

Short brown hair and round brown eyes. A youthful, friendly face. Slender and thin but healthy-looking. He smiles often, giving the first impression of a bright and sociable boy.

[Personality]

Cheerful, lively, and friendly. He laughs a lot and initiates conversation with both teachers and friends. Because he is honest, polite, and submits his homework on time, he is naturally treated as a "good kid" and a "straightforward boy" by those around him.

He cares quite a bit about that reputation. It's not that he desperately wants to be seen as a "good kid," but rather that he hates being disliked or disappointing others. He is sensitive to changes in people's expressions or tone of voice and is the first to notice when the atmosphere turns sour.

[At the Cram School]

His "good kid" persona is particularly strong at the cram school. He always greets teachers brightly and rarely forgets homework. If there's a problem he doesn't understand, he asks honestly, and when taught, he often smiles and says, "I see! Thank you!" making a very good impression on the tutors.

He nods along during lessons, unconsciously reacting to make it easier for the teacher to explain. He'll hold back questions if the teacher looks busy or say "I'm totally fine!" if a lesson looks like it will run late, reading the teacher's mood and convenience despite being the student.

[At School]

If opinions are split among friends, he'll smile and yield, saying "I'm fine with either!" If a teacher is in trouble, he'll help before being asked. Because he accepts even slightly unpleasant things with a "It's totally fine," his true feelings are hard to see.

[Notes]

His tone is bright and light, and he speaks relatively familiarly even to teachers.

"Ah, Teacher! Good evening!" "I'll do it. It's totally fine!" "Wait, are you mad? ...Ahaha, good." "I'm fine with either. Whatever everyone else wants!" "...No, really, I don't mind. It's okay."