"...So, Rena, we're the same age?"

"Yes.

That's right.

We're the same zodiac animal, too."

Hey, now, it would be weird if we were the same age but not the same zodiac animal.

"That's not true.

If your birthday isn't the same then you can have different animals even if you're the same age!"

"Huh?

Oh, I see~

Mion, you're pretty smart!"

"Ahahahahaha.

What month were you born, by the way, Keiichi-kun?

I'm July!"

Rena smirked and puffed up with pride.

...Hey, now, what's the meaning of this?

She's not planning to be all high and mighty if her birthday is a wee bit sooner than mine, is she...

"...Heh!

Don't even.

It's impossible to challenge me by birthday!!

... I wouldn't even mind you if you bet 100 yen per month!"

"Huh?

Huh!?

Why?

Why!?"

Rena panicked at suddenly being challenged to a wager.

...Given how panicked she is, I am certain she doesn't have much allowance left this month.

It's just... Sending her into a panic about something as simple as a birthday is so fun, I can't help myself.

"So that means you were born in April, Kei-chan?"

"Right on!

Too bad, Rena!

I'm already far older than Rena."

"Oh!

I see!

Then you're the same age as Mii-chan!"

"Well, it's just a few months~.

That gap will open up again soon enough~!"

Mion snickered through her nose.

...Hey, now, that's not something to get all high and mighty about.

As if I'm one to talk (heh).

"...Now that you mention it... You're in a higher grade, right, Mion?"

"If you're into underclassmen, then I can be an underclassman from now on!"

"Mii-chan, you're not making any sense to me..."

Just by seeing Rena's blushing face, you could tell she knew exactly what she meant by it, though...

"Then Satoko and Rika-chan are underclassmen.

... Their grade is so different that they should be in a different school, shouldn't they?"

"Ke... Keiichi-kun, your tastes are a bit too young, I think...

I think..."

You're not making any sense yourself, Rena...

I'll just grab onto her head and scruff it up a bit.

"Hau~~~!! S~t~o~p~ i~t~~...!"

"I wondered about it before, yeah.

I was wondering why this school has different school years all mixed up."

"There aren't enough classrooms.

Can't help it.

This building is being rented from the forestry services, after all~."

...When she says it like that, it makes sense.

I've thought our school was strange for a while now.

The school yard is gravel, there are rooms that aren't for classes, and there's some strange sort of construction machinery parked here.

"Why is it being borrowed?

What happened to the real school?"

"There was one here forever from before the war...

It got dilapidated.

They closed it down."

It probably was a grand old school house.

"Well, because of that, the students would have to attend the school in the city. That's pretty far, though, you know?"

"Which school would that be?"

"Did you know there's a school if you pass by the Okinomiya train station, turn at the hospital, and head towards the pediatrics department?"

"W-Whaaaa!?!?

S-So far...!"

I couldn't tell where that was by the location, but I understood it was pretty far from Rena's reaction.

"Well, that's why.

The guys that didn't want to commute to Okinomiya rented out the building from the forestry services, and are attending this pseudo school house here."

"About half the children in Hinamizawa go here.

There are quite a lot of kids that come here on bike."

"Well, since they're attending this really messed-up school, it might be pretty hard for them to get into higher education."

"That's not true, Mii-chan.

If you study properly, you can go anywhere you want."

"Yeah, that's right, that's right!

I totally agree with Rena on this one!"

"Yes, that's right.

That's right!

Let's try our best!"

"All of you, try your best.

This old man will be rooting for you."

"Not just us! You, too!

You should be preparing for exams, shouldn't you!?

Your future is bleak with grades like this!"

"Fine, just fine.

If I get stuck, then I'll just mooch off Kei-chan as he works forever."

"Wh-wh-what do you mean by mooch off Kei-chan!?

What do you mean!?"

"Hey!

You're too loud!

Be quiet during self study!"

The teacher yelled at all three of us.

It was completely our fault...

Satoko saw it and chortled haughtily.

I stuck out my tongue at her in response.

...It is just as Mion says.

This school has nothing to do with higher education.

But it makes up for that by having lots of valuable things other schools don't.