"P-please... please welcome the second transfer student... Le... Lexon... to the stage..."
The young hostess seemed to have lost her composure, her voice trembling after Soma Yukihira's explosive declaration.
"It's your turn, Lexon," Soma reminded him.
Lexon gave a slight nod before stepping out from behind the curtain and walking toward the podium.
The moment he appeared, the righteous indignation of the students below erupted into even louder jeers.
"You're that bastard's friend, aren't you!"
"Get the hell off the stage!"
"Nobody wants to hear what you have to say!"
However, some sharp-eyed female students noticed Lexon's face and whispered to their friends, "Wait... he's... actually really handsome..."
A friend who had been shouting took a closer look and whispered back, "You're right, he is good-looking... Okay, I won't yell at him anymore. His name sounds Chinese; I'll try to introduce myself to him later."
"Sounds like a plan..."
Because they were packed so tightly for the entrance ceremony, these girls' whispers reached the ears of the nearby boys.
As a result, the shouting grew even louder.
The male students, in particular, were now screaming at the top of their lungs.
Lexon reached the podium.
'Soma really has a talent for drawing aggro. If I could bring him to other worlds, he'd be perfect for kiting mobs...'
Lexon thought to himself as he looked down at the sea of agitated faces.
Then, he placed his hand over the microphone.
[Ding...]
A piercing, high-pitched screech suddenly rang out through the assembly hall.
The students below, with the exception of Lexon, winced and covered their ears in discomfort.
The noisy chatter in the cherry-blossom-filled outdoor courtyard vanished instantly.
Lexon released the microphone, and the feedback subsided.
He wore a gentle smile as he faced the crowd, his voice projecting softly through the speakers. "Hello everyone. My name is Lexon, and I'm the friend of that idiot who just spoke, Soma Yukihira..."
'I should say something nice to lower their hostility... after all, I might need to contact some of these people for sign-ins later...'
'Building a good impression will make it easier to approach key targets...'
"Everything he just said was..."
[DING]
The cold, mechanical voice of the system suddenly echoed in his mind.
"...the absolute truth. We are destined to stand at the peak of Totsuki. All of you... are nothing more than our stepping stones."
Lexon maintained that gentle smile, using a soft, polite tone to deliver the most arrogant words imaginable.
Silence.
No one spoke.
But in the next heartbeat, the students below exploded with a reaction even more violent than before.
"What did you say, you transfer brat!"
"Come down here! I'm going to kick your ass!"
"And here I thought you looked decent! You're just as bad as that other jerk! I was totally wrong about you!"
"The ceremony... the ceremony is over! We're finished here!" the hostess shouted into her mic, trying to prevent a total riot.
"Nice job out there, Lexon!" Backstage, Soma Yukihira laughed and slapped Lexon on the shoulder as he walked down.
"It was alright," Lexon replied dismissively.
[DING]
[Side Quest: 'Public Enemy of Totsuki Academy' Completed]
[Reward: 50,000 Reward Points, 1x A-Rank Plot Reward]
The cold notification from the Main God surfaced in Lexon's mind.
'That's the first time I've received a side quest... the rewards are pretty generous. Glad I did it.'
That had been Lexon's thought when the quest popped up just moments ago.
It was simple, and the payout was high.
It was worth half of a main quest's reward.
So, he had followed through on a whim.
'Besides, thinking about it... there isn't anyone in this grade I urgently need to sign in with right now.'
'And even if there were, with my current strength, I could just force them into a Shokugeki to make sure they see me every day.'
"Nakiri Lexon!" A familiar, clear voice interrupted them. Erina Nakiri suddenly appeared backstage and called out to Lexon.
"What is it?" Lexon turned to her.
"'What is it?' she asks!" Erina marched forward, closing the distance between them. "I'll ignore the fact that you changed your surname for now! But what on earth did you mean by saying those things!"
She pointed a slender finger repeatedly at Lexon.
"It's his fault." Lexon shifted his gaze toward Soma Yukihira, throwing him under the bus without hesitation.
"Hahaha, everything we said is true, cousin!" Soma put his hands on his hips and laughed heartily.
"And you too!" Erina's fire immediately pivoted toward Soma. "I failed you that day! How did you even get into Totsuki Academy!"
"Hahaha, I just got the admission letter in the mail," Soma replied with a grin.
"How..."
"I was the one who gave him that letter, Erina." Suddenly, another figure appeared.
It was Senzaemon Nakiri, who had just finished his speech.
"Grandpa..." Erina murmured as she watched Senzaemon approach.
"Lexon, you did well," Senzaemon's booming voice praised him. "Passing the entrance exam in just two months—you truly are a genius! Hahaha!"
"I should thank you for the choice you gave me earlier," Lexon said, maintaining basic respect for this 'friendly relative' established by his background. He extended a hand toward Senzaemon in a gesture of gratitude.
Hmm?
Though Senzaemon Nakiri was surprised by his junior's direct request for a handshake, he didn't refuse. He grasped Lexon's hand warmly and gave it a firm shake.
"Work hard here at Totsuki! While rapid progress or lucky exam questions might show your talent and fortune, you must not grow arrogant. You must redouble your efforts!" Senzaemon encouraged him.
"Yes, I will," Lexon replied with a smile.
[Sign-in Successful]
[Congratulations! You have obtained 'Gourmet Reaction': After tasting various delicacies, you will automatically produce a reaction based on the quality of the food. Reactions range from blushing cheeks to partially torn clothing, and even full clothing explosions, adding a more authentic response to your dining experience!]
'What the hell am I supposed to do with this...'
Lexon thought as the information flashed before him.
The smile on his face slowly faded, and he let go of the old man's hand.
"The other students are going to hate you!" Erina, despite her arrogance, seemed willing to offer a few words of warning because of their supposed family connection.
"That's not a problem," Lexon and Soma said in unison.
"Enough, Erina. They know what they're doing," Senzaemon stopped her. He then turned to the two boys. "Your assigned dormitory is the 'Polar Star Dormitory.' Just follow the school map and check in."
"Honestly... if Grandpa says so, then I'm done with this..." Erina muttered one last time before departing with Senzaemon.
"We have classes soon. Let's go to the dorm after we're done," Lexon said to Soma.
"Got it!" Soma replied enthusiastically.