When Kyousuke returned to the classroom, Hiratsuka Shizuka-sensei was in the middle of organizing student introductions.
As expected, Sakura had already asked Kisaki to report his brief absence, using the age-old excuse—bathroom break.
The student currently speaking sat in the first seat of the second row.
Despite being interrupted by the opening door, he showed no annoyance and even offered Kyousuke a sweet smile.
"Go ahead and take your seat," Hiratsuka Shizuka said casually.
Kyousuke gave a slight bow and quickly returned to his desk.
Meeting the concerned eyes of Sakura and Shouko, he smiled and gave a small nod to reassure them he was fine.
"That boy is so cute," a girl nearby whispered.
If he remembered right, her name was Ebina Hina.
The boy she was referring to was even shorter than Eriri, with messy white hair and a delicate, almost fragile appearance.
His name was Totsuka Saika.
'Cute? Sure.'
'But a guy being that cute is honestly kind of scary,' Kyousuke thought to himself.
Come on, classmate—wake up. Totsuka's a guy.
And you're a guy too.
Kyousuke glanced around and noticed another male student near the door smiling dreamily at Totsuka.
"…I like tennis, so I plan to join the tennis club. If anyone shares the same interest, I'd love to connect," Totsuka finished his intro and sat down.
Tennis? With that physique? Two angled shots and he'll be gasping for breath.
It seemed introductions weren't going by seating order but student ID numbers.
After Totsuka, it was the dreamy-smile guy's turn.
"My name is Hikigaya Hachiman…"
He hesitated.
Should he keep his interests to himself? That seemed safest.
If he had to say something, maybe: "I like private things. I dislike things I don't like."
But yeah… that would definitely alienate him from everyone.
Struggling, he glanced around—at Totsuka's cute face, at the beautiful girls, and finally at Kyousuke seated near the back.
Gritting his teeth, he forced out:
"I like kendo. I plan to join the kendo club and hope to go to nationals with the upperclassmen."
That's right.
He used to be all talk, no action. But now it was time for a full-on evolution.
'Clap clap clap clap clap—'
Hatake Gorou was the first to applaud.
As a hot-blooded jock, he respected people with passion.
Going for nationals in high school? That's the spirit.
If it weren't for his turn coming up soon, he would've shouted a full-throated cheer to support Hikigaya.
Now that Hikigaya had gone all in, the next person sweating bullets was Zaimokuza Yoshiteru.
The self-proclaimed "second swordmaster" had originally planned a simple "Name, nice to meet you" and sit down—but Hikigaya's boldness betrayed their unspoken alliance.
His self-introduction sounded like something a man who had already won at life would say.
Damn him.
What should he do? Should he recite his name and sit quietly? Or boldly reveal his secret life as a protector of humanity from the world's dark underbelly?
To be fair, in today's Japan, being an otaku wasn't as stigmatized as it was a decade ago.
Sure, it was still part of subculture, but mainstream society was increasingly accepting it. After all, if it makes money, people love it.
As Zaimokuza pondered, two other boys casually mentioned they liked anime and gaming.
"I'm Zaimokuza Yoshiteru. The 'Yoshiteru' comes from the swordmaster general, Ashikaga Yoshiteru."
"My idol is Tokyo's top swordsman—Hojou Kyousuke. I hope to learn from him. That is all!"
'Clap clap clap—'
"My idol is also Hojou-aniki!" Gorou shouted from behind, so loudly that Kyousuke wanted to rush over and choke him.
Zaimokuza had transferred into Class F later, so naturally his number came just before Kyousuke and his group.
Now it was Gorou's turn, and he stood with pride.
"I'm Hatake Gorou. With aniki leading the way, I'll win three straight national titles, dominate the high school kendo scene, and get a full-ride scholarship to college!"
Someone like Eikichi Onizuka might have raw talent but would only get into schools with minimal academic requirements.
But guys like Gorou, who were both strong and smart, might actually have a shot at top private universities.
Now it was Kyousuke's turn under the spotlight.
As the whole class looked at him expectantly, he could only wear his professional PR smile and clap supportively for his self-proclaimed "followers."
At the front of the classroom, Hiratsuka Shizuka watched the lively scene with a deeply satisfied expression.
"I'm Yamauchi Sakura. The people I love are Kyousuke and Shouko. I hate homework."
She even added a playful desu~ at the end.
The class erupted.
Girls gasped in surprise, and many who had silently been eyeing Kyousuke as potential boyfriend material gave up on the spot.
The boys stared at him with envy and admiration.
Forget just being cool—did he really bring his entire harem to school with him?
Next was Shouko.
To this day, Kyousuke vividly remembered that little girl with her puffy bob haircut and shy smile, holding up a notebook, trying to befriend everyone with handwritten messages.
She was shy but brave—standing in front of him once, trying to shield him like a human shield.
"My name is Nishimiya Shouko. I hope we can all become good friends." Her smile was bright and graceful as she faced the curious gazes around the room.
"I'm Hojou Kyousuke. Pleased to meet you. Thanks for the support, Zaimokuza. I hope we can all get along."
"Eh? Hojou-kun, don't be shy! Tell us more about yourself—everyone's curious!" Hiratsuka Shizuka chimed in.
"I think it's better to learn about each other as we go," Kyousuke replied with a warm smile and sat down.
With the entrance ceremony finished, the class ended shortly after the self-introductions.
When Hiratsuka Shizuka returned to the faculty office, she immediately saw her friend, Yukino Yukari, who had left in a hurry earlier.
She walked over and set her notebook on the desk.
"Yo, Yukari. You good?"
"Yeah, yeah. I'm fine," Yukari replied with a smile.
"Wait a second… did you go for a beauty treatment or something? You look way prettier all of a sudden!" Hiratsuka whispered excitedly, scooting her chair closer to inspect Yukari's face.
Her features were still delicate as always, but her complexion was glowing—like someone who had just sipped warm sake in the middle of winter.
"Of course not. That's not something I'd do," Yukari said, touching her cheek lightly.
"No way, you're totally hiding something from me! Come on, spill your secret—how did you get this pretty?"
"I've got a mixer this weekend, and I have to be the most popular one there!" Hiratsuka cried.
"I think you're already beautiful, Shizuka-san. You always get lots of attention at mixers, don't you? It's just that you…"
"Ugh…"
Hiratsuka's previous excitement instantly deflated into gloom.
At every mixer they'd ever attended, it was always the same: the two of them sitting in a corner, drinking silently.
The difference was, Yukari chose to be that way. Hiratsuka, on the other hand, seemed almost allergic to men.
Which is why… when it's time to fall in love, you should fall in love.
Otherwise, you forget how to love—and all that's left is pouring everything into your students.
"Yukari, I'm really glad you're here with me," Hiratsuka Shizuka cried.
She used to have the adorable little Miki for company, but that girl had fallen for that bastard Kyousuke.
At least Yukari was still by her side, bringing a sliver of comfort to her long and lonely single life.
Meanwhile, in the classroom, Kyousuke was explaining Yukari's situation to Sakura Shouko.
"I found someone really important to me," he began, then briefly shared how he had met Yukari.
He didn't go into detail about her hardships—only that she had lost her sense of taste due to emotional trauma, had wandered alone across the country, and had even spent three years hiding from him in Tokyo.
'This guy really is something else,' Sakura thought, watching as Shouko, already teary-eyed, was deeply moved by his story.
She let out a helpless sigh.
Some people don't have to do anything grand—just existing is enough to save someone.
Kyousuke was one of those rare types.
Shouko had never once shown any intention of wanting to be with him romantically, and could even laugh off his teasing.
Yukari-sensei seemed to be the same—she had managed to endure three whole years without approaching Kyousuke.
Sakura could even picture it:
Yukari standing quietly on the other side of a crosswalk, watching Kyousuke from afar before turning back, content with just that fleeting glimpse.
A single moment like that might be enough to carry her through the next month.
One word: tragic.
Two words: overly dramatic.
Honestly, what's the big deal? So what if she's a few years older than Kyousuke?
So what if there are a lot of girls around him? Everyone's nice and easy to get along with.
The more people there are to take care of Kyousuke, the happier she should be!
With that cheerful thought in mind, Sakura proposed they all have lunch together.
Shouko, still teary-eyed, even offered to share half her bento so Yukari, who hadn't had a proper meal in years, could eat more.
During the conversation, Sakura noticed a pink-haired girl seated ahead, sneaking glances at the three of them.
If she recalled correctly, her name was Yuigahama Yui.
Sakura chuckled to herself.
Kyousuke's charm really did know no bounds—it followed him everywhere.
Sakura decided not to greet her just yet.
There's no rush.
As everyone around him found like-minded friends and started chatting away, Hikigaya Hachiman felt like a snowman on the verge of melting in the heat of social interaction.
His dead-fish eyes scanned the room, desperately searching for a cool, quiet corner.
Well… the coldest place was probably right where he was sitting.
'Has my phone mutated into some kind of sound-absorbing mechanical life form?' he thought.
'Zaimokuza, weren't you yelling just a minute ago? Why so quiet now?'
"Hey, Zaimokuza, say something. If we don't talk, it's just going to feel like middle school all over again."
Hachiman leaned against the wall and turned to Zaimokuza Yoshiteru behind him, who was hunched over his desk like a wannabe ninja, observing the class from the shadows.
He didn't look like a proud warrior—he looked like a sneaky spy who wouldn't even make the cut in a ninja movie.
"Ah, ahem! Ah-hem! So it is my noble comrade, the great Bodhisattva Hachiman! What business hast thou with me?"
Zaimokuza lit up like he had just found a fellow comrade in arms. No longer a lonely chuunibyou, but a proud chuunibyou with a trusted ally.
"Just keep your head down and keep living in your Sengoku ninja fantasy," Hachiman sighed.
He gave up.
After all, two lonely people clinging to each other for warmth only made their loneliness even more obvious.
Might as well befriend his own shadow—at least they'd have perfect synchronization.
Heh.
Just kidding.
Honestly, having a friend you could banter with, toss jokes back and forth with like ping-pong—it was amazing. This had to be paradise.
"Oh? Are you talking about that new ninja anime that just came out?" Zaimokuza suddenly grinned, his face turning unbearably pervy.
"I wasn't, but yeah, it's really damn good, right?"
"…."
Sure, he was jealous of Kyousuke being surrounded by girls, but after being rejected when he confessed his feelings in middle school.
Hachiman had decided that romance was a path of suffering. His life was better off free of emotional highs and lows.
"Hikigaya-san"
"Huh? Something up, Totsuka?"
Hachiman pushed away Zaimokuza's increasingly creepy face and quickly replaced his own expression with a dazzling smile as he looked up at Totsuka Saika, who was standing in front of his desk.
They had already become friends during the entrance ceremony earlier, since Totsuka sat just one seat ahead.
Sorry, Zaimokuza, but Totsuka's friendship level had skyrocketed past even the "best friend" rank.
"Well…"
Totsuka's face flushed a deep red.
With his delicate features and anime-protagonist looks, the sight of him blushing made Hachiman's own cheeks heat up as well.
"Back at the entrance ceremony, you said you really liked playing tennis, right? I was wondering if you'd be interested in joining the tennis club, but then I heard you're planning to join the kendo club…"
'Oh no.'
Hachiman cursed himself for boasting earlier.
In a rush of excitement over someone actually wanting to talk to him, he'd exaggerated how hard he practiced tennis back in middle school.
The truth? It was all based on anime. Sure, he could describe world-destroying tennis techniques for three hours straight, but actual playing? Total bluff.
Sure, you could technically join two clubs—but realistically, you only have so much time.
Especially for athletic clubs, where early morning practice and weekend training camps are common.
Doing both was nearly impossible unless they were closely related, like baseball and softball.
Or unless you were someone like Kyousuke, a kendo prodigy with time and talent to spare.
But him? No chance.
Looking into Totsuka's hopeful eyes, and remembering the bold claims he made during his self-introduction, Hachiman felt like he'd stepped into an impossible dilemma—a true crossroads of love and duty.
No wait, scratch that.
'Totsuka's a guy! Dammit, stop narrating my thoughts, you omniscient voice! And Zaimokuza, stop jabbing me in the back with your pen.'
'It tickles. I get it, I get it—I'm going to the kendo club, okay?!'
"Sorry, Totsuka. Tennis does sound fun, but joining the kendo club has been my plan since middle school," he said, giving an apologetic smile.
'Onii-chan finally learned how to say no. This is the first time Komachi's seen it happen. That last line scored super high with me~'
He could practically hear his little sister Komachi's voice in his head.
'Wow, Hachiman, when did you become the kind of guy who can turn someone down? What an impressive level-up.'
"It's okay," Totsuka said with a warm, heart-melting smile. "Honestly, I'd be happy just playing tennis together during P.E."
"I'm definitely picking tennis for PE!" Hachiman Hikigaya declared firmly.
At that moment, the pen that had been poking his back suddenly pressed harder.
'Zaimokuza, you should pick something like running… Wait, no, stretching in pairs is part of that too.'
'Better stick with solo training after tennis. I've got a great idea—you can just hit the ball against a wall by yourself.'
Between career and love, Hikigaya might hesitate.
But between Totsuka and Zaimokuza? Even an idiot would know the right choice.
"Alright then, it's settled!" Saika Totsuka beamed, hands behind his back as he cheerfully walked off.
"...What's with that look, Zaimokuza?" Hikigaya asked.
Zaimokuza's eyes burned with a deadly glare.
Hikigaya instinctively shrank back.
The way Zaimokuza's hands hovered near his waist, it looked like he might suddenly draw a legendary sword, something like the real-life Ōdenta Mitsuyo once wielded by a swordmaster general.
"Prepare yourself, Hikigaya Hachiman!" Zaimokuza roared, lunging at him.
The new school term had only just started, so classes were light—mostly the teachers chatting rather than teaching.
The morning passed quickly.
At Soubu High, classes ran from 8:45 AM to 12:35 PM, with four periods in the morning.
In the afternoon, there were three more from 1:20 PM to 4:10 PM.
Public schools with lighter schedules ended at 3:10 PM.
Eating lunch in the classroom wasn't allowed—not even cold food.
Only bread was permitted.
After heating their bento boxes in the school oven, Kyousuke led Sakura and Shouko to the spacious rooftop of the special wing.
"Huh? Is that a flag from the sports festival ten years ago? The Fantasy Research Club? Even their nameplate got dumped up here—don't tell me the club's been disbanded?"
"That's a shame. And what's this little wooden statue for? It'd look great on that fake mountain in the pond..."
What looked like a cluttered stairwell to Kyousuke was a treasure trove in Sakura's eyes.
She showed zero concern for the dust, eagerly examining each item and picking up anything that caught her interest.
"I'll take you to the flea market near the Oi Racecourse when we have time. For now, let's eat lunch before we get buried in dust."
"If we're talking antique markets, the ones in Kyoto are more fun. Next break, we should visit Kitano Tenmangu or Toji Temple's Kobo Market."
"There's way more interesting stuff there," Sakura said, brushing the dust off herself and putting the object down.
In Japan, "antiques" usually meant outdated or unused items, not priceless heirlooms.
A few wispy clouds drifted in the sky, casting shadows across the rooftop bench.
Yukino Yukari sat there, her hands neatly holding a bento on her lap, legs together.
She listened to the approaching footsteps behind the rooftop door, her previously excited expression slowly turning anxious.
Kyousuke had mentioned he'd bring friends, but she still felt nervous.
'Maybe I should tell him my taste has come back…?'
But… she didn't want to give it up just yet.
She still wanted to be fed by Kyousuke-kun.
Yukino's elegant eyebrows knit together as she struggled with herself.
"Sorry to keep you waiting, sensei," Kyousuke called with a smile as he opened the door.
Yukino stood up, smiled, and silently shook her head.
Dressed in a sharp black suit, her short black hair fluttered gently in the midday breeze.
Her deep black eyes, framed against the blue sky, made her look even more stunning.
Honestly, if someone like her was waiting to eat lunch with you every day on the rooftop, who wouldn't look forward to school?
"Hello~~!" Sakura peeked out from behind Kyousuke and greeted cheerfully. Shouko raised her small hand in a wave as well.
"Nice to meet you," Yukino bowed politely. "I'm Yukino Yukari, your classical literature teacher."
'Why would you introduce yourself like that now?!'
In her last school, she occasionally had lunch with close students, but this situation was totally different!
Yamauchi Sakura blinked, watching Yukari's flustered expression.
Recalling what Kyousuke had said earlier, she immediately figured out what kind of person Yukino Yukari was.
If Yukari had been someone like Eriri, she'd probably have bowed and respectfully greeted her as "Sensei."
But instead, Sakura just gave Kyousuke a playful push, walked up beside him, and said dramatically:
"You're so beautiful, I thought you were a music teacher! You've got that classic, elegant beauty vibe~"
Shouko, still a bit nervous, nodded enthusiastically in agreement.
Even though Yukari had a modern short haircut, her presence made you want to quote poems from The Manyoshu, or maybe write a haiku—ordinary words just didn't seem worthy of describing her.
Yukari giggled softly behind her hand.
'Just as Kyousuke-kun said—they're really easy to get along with.'
After some casual introductions, the group sat together on the bench.
Naturally, Kyousuke picked up a piece of broccoli from his bento and offered it to Yukari's mouth.
Yukari was just about to accept it when she noticed Sakura and Shouko's eyes gleaming with curiosity.
Their expressions clearly said: "Wow, impressive!" and "I wanna be fed too!"
'Ahhh! This is so embarrassing…' Yukari screamed internally.
But she hadn't told them her taste had returned—if she suddenly revealed it now, she'd look like a liar.
'What do I do…? Kyousuke-kun said I'd be moving into his place today… Am I going to have to be fed again in front of everyone at dinner too?!'