Because he had spent too much time chatting with Mayumi-senpai, by the time Yotsuba Mahiro finally entered the auditorium, almost everyone had already taken their seats.
Although the entrance ceremony didn't have assigned seating, the situation made it obvious: the Course 1 students, the so-called Ichika students, occupied the front rows in neat formation. Meanwhile, the Course 2 students—mockingly called weeds—had settled in the back.
It wasn't a rule written in the handbook. Yet the divide was clear, almost like an invisible wall no one dared to cross.
Mahiro, however, wasn't the type to care about unspoken rules or superficial divisions. What a pain... With his usual quiet indifference, he strolled to a secluded corner in the back row and sat down, intending to sneak in a short nap.
"Um…"
Just as his eyes started to close, a soft and hesitant voice drifted beside him. Blinking, Mahiro turned his head—only to see two girls standing there.
"Excuse me," the girl with glasses asked politely, "is the seat next to you free?"
"Yes," Mahiro replied without hesitation, his tone gentle. "Please, sit."
"Thank you."
The two girls smiled gratefully and settled down beside him, despite the fact that plenty of empty seats were scattered around the area.
Mahiro tilted his head slightly, curiosity flickering in his gaze. Out of all the free spots, they chose right next to me? Maybe they're also trying to hide from this boring ceremony.
A brief introduction followed.
The bespectacled girl with short bobbed hair and a very generous bust introduced herself as Shibata Mizuki. Her glasses weren't normal—they were special devices that suppressed her hypersensitivity to psion radiation.
The other girl, with fiery red short hair and a lively, almost tomboyish presence, introduced herself as Chiba Erika.
Mahiro raised an eyebrow at the name. The Chiba family was well-known—one of the Hundred Families, wielders of powerful sword techniques and magic.
First High really doesn't lack talent…
In terms of appearance, Erika could easily rival Miyuki's charm, though her aura was completely different—more brash, more fiery.
With a polite smile, Mahiro introduced himself.
"Nice to meet you, Shibata-san, Chiba-san. I'm Yotsuba Mahiro."
That single name instantly changed the air around them.
"Ehh?!" Erika exclaimed so loudly it made Mahiro's shoulders twitch. "Y-Yotsuba? Wait, the Yotsuba?!"
Her reaction was nearly identical to Mayumi-senpai's earlier, and Mahiro couldn't help but sigh inwardly. Seriously… just what kind of monstrous reputation did my mother leave behind for the Yotsuba name?
Erika's exclamation quickly drew stares from the students sitting in front. A few Course 1 students even turned around to glare disapprovingly.
"Ah… gomen, gomen." Erika scratched her cheek, whispering an apology before slumping back into her seat.
Mizuki, blinking in confusion, tugged on Erika's sleeve. "Erika-chan… is there something wrong with Yotsuba-san? Did I miss something?"
Erika leaned close, whispering quickly into her friend's ear. Mizuki's eyes widened, her mouth forming a small "ah!" before Erika hastily clamped a hand over it to prevent another outburst.
Mahiro gave a helpless smile. "There's no need for such a dramatic reaction, right? Children of the Ten Master Clans are still human. We go to school just like anyone else."
"B-but…" Erika muttered. "Still, it's not like we're used to meeting someone from that family casually…"
Mahiro shrugged. "Saegusa Mayumi-senpai is Student Council President, and Juumonji Katsuto leads the Club Activities Group. They're both from the Ten Master Clans and study here too. So it's nothing unusual."
"…Fair point," Erika admitted grudgingly, though her expression remained complicated.
But soon her usual energy returned, and she jabbed a finger at Mahiro with a teasing grin.
"Still, Yotsuba-kun, you're clearly a Course 1 student. So why'd you wander over into the weeds' territory, huh? Trying to steal our seats?"
Her words were playful, but she also pointed to the emblem on his chest—the eight-petal bloom symbol of Ichika. Unlike her and Mizuki, who had none.
Mahiro smirked faintly. "Isn't 'stealing' a bit much? Besides, is there a rule somewhere that says a Course 1 student can't sit here?"
His calm confidence carried through his voice, leaving Erika momentarily speechless.
"…You're right." She finally admitted. The handbook didn't say anything about it—it was just another unwritten rule, born of pride and prejudice.
Mahiro leaned back in his seat, tone softening. "Honestly, it's the start of a new school year. Do we really need to cling so tightly to the Course 1 and Course 2 division already?"
Both Erika and Mizuki glanced at him in surprise. His words carried a weight that made them pause, even as the student council representative droned on at the podium.
Mahiro continued casually, his tone carrying an unusual calmness.
"After all, we're all just newly admitted students. Even if there are differences in entrance scores, who can say for sure that one person is truly so much better than another?"
Erika-chan gave no particular reaction, though her lips curled slightly in agreement. Among the freshmen of First High, those who could stand against her in combat were rare. The Chiba-ryū Kirikage Style wasn't for show.
But Mizuki-san's expression softened deeply at Mahiro's words. Behind her glasses, her eyes sparkled faintly. To her, his statement felt like a quiet rebellion against the system of discrimination between "Weeds" and "Blooms."
A challenge to the school itself.
…
…
…
"Oh? I'm in the same class as Miyuki-chan?"
After the entrance ceremony, Mahiro sat in his classroom, glancing around curiously.
Shiba Tatsuya had been assigned to Class E with the Course 2 students, while Erika-chan and Mizuki-san were also placed there.Mahiro, however, was in Class A, together with Miyuki-chan.
He stayed seated for a short while, but soon stood up and stretched.Since today was only the entrance ceremony, there were no formal classes. First-years only needed to familiarize themselves with their classrooms and classmates before being dismissed.
But Mahiro wasn't about to just head home.
After all, this was a Japanese high school! Clubs were part of the true experience!
The cherry blossoms fluttered in the air as he wandered down the main road. Colorful banners waved as upperclassmen loudly advertised their clubs, preparing for the upcoming recruitment week.
Yet after strolling around for some time, Mahiro still couldn't find one that truly suited him.
"Tch… a bunch of show-offs…" he muttered with a sigh.
Just then, a sharp cry cut through the spring air.
"Ha!"
Swish!
A wooden sword sliced through the atmosphere with a crisp whoosh.
Drawn by the sound, Mahiro peeked into the Kendo dojo. There, a striking girl with long black hair tied into a high ponytail was practicing suburi.
Her chest rose and fell with heavy breaths, sweat dripping from her brow to the polished wooden floor. Despite her exhaustion, her swings never faltered—strike after strike, unwavering.
She only stopped after what must have been a thousand repetitions. But after a brief pause, she moved to a wooden post, unleashing fierce strikes with even greater determination.
Even though Mahiro wasn't knowledgeable about kendo, he could sense the strength and conviction in her blade. Yet, within that strength, there was… something unsettled. A lingering doubt in each swing.
"Is there something you need, fellow student?"
The girl finally noticed him. Her tone was polite but cautious.
She was Mibu Sayaka, a second-year student. When her eyes fell on the emblem on Mahiro's uniform, however, her expression shifted ever so slightly.
That emblem marked him as a Course 1 student—an "Ichiko."Tradition dictated that if someone like him wanted to pursue swordsmanship, he would join the Kenjutsu Club, which fused combat with magical formulas.So why was he standing at the door of the traditional Kendo Club?
"Ah, gomen! I didn't mean to intrude," Mahiro said, rubbing the back of his neck sheepishly. "I was just passing by, but I got completely captivated by Mibu-senpai's amazing practice. Before I knew it, I'd been watching way too long."
His earnestness didn't carry even a hint of mockery. He stepped forward, bowing lightly.
"My name is Yotsuba Mahiro. I just enrolled today."
Sayaka-senpai studied him for a moment. Seeing no hostility—only genuine respect—she lowered her guard slightly.
"I see. I'm Mibu Sayaka, second-year. As you can tell, I'm not from Course 1."
Her words carried a deliberate edge, emphasizing her "Weed" status.
But Mahiro didn't flinch. Instead, his eyes met hers directly, steady and sincere.
"Mibu-senpai," he asked softly, "forgive my boldness, but… what is it you're struggling with? I could see it in your strikes. That uncertainty."