A persistent, irritating trill from the alarm clock tore Jin from the arms of sleep. He had set it the night before, mechanically performing one of the rules hammered into his new memory: don't be late on the first day. Today was that day. The day he officially transferred to Kuoh Academy—the place where, according to his memories from a past life, many of this world's key events were supposed to unfold.
He sat up on the futon, running a hand through his hair. His body, rested and full of energy, showed no hint of yesterday's fatigue. The uniform, hanging neatly on a chair, fit his athletic figure perfectly, as if it had been tailor-made. A black blazer, white shirt, and slacks—a standard set that, on him, nevertheless looked like designer clothing.
In the kitchen, sipping cheap instant coffee, he counted the minutes until he had to leave. Tick-tock. Time was relentlessly bringing the moment closer, the moment when he would once again have to immerse himself in the very environment he had fled his entire past life. The school routine.
Unexpectedly, even to himself, he set the mug down, collapsed onto the small sofa, buried his face in his palms, and moaned like a child:
"I don't wanna go to school agai-i-in…"
His voice lacked its usual cold indifference. It held sincere, genuine anguish. He remembered just how suffocating the place was. Pointless lessons, hypocritical smiles, empty conversations, the need to conform, to be part of the system… The very thought of it made him shudder.
But the alarm on his phone chirped again, this time reminding him it was time to leave. Resigned to his fate, he sighed heavily, got up, and trudged to the door.
Slinging the almost empty bag over his back and covering a yawn, he ambled alongside the park toward the academy. The morning was clear and warm. Gradually, the street became livelier: morning clerks in identical suits hurried to work; joggers ran in the park. And the closer he got to the academy, the more kids he saw dressed in the same uniform as him.
Looking at this stream of students, Jin idly noted that the vast majority of them were girls. He remembered that, according to the plot, Kuoh Academy used to be an all-girls school and had only recently become co-ed. This fact also explained the heightened, almost unhealthy attention he was starting to feel directed at him.
The academy towered on a hill, majestic and imposing. It wasn't just a school building but an entire architectural ensemble, combining European austerity with Japanese elegance. Tall spires, arched windows, light stone walls, manicured lawns, and ancient trees—everything spoke of the prestige and status of this place.
The closer he got, the more stares he attracted. Girls, walking in groups or alone, slowed their pace, following him with curious, admiring eyes, and immediately began whispering to their friends. Thanks to his enhanced hearing, Jin heard every whisper, every sigh.
"Who is that?!? I've never seen him before…" "Is that the new transfer student in Class 2-B?" "So handsome! He's on par with Kiba-kun!" "Look, his eyes… they're violet! I'm going to die!" "He's so tall… and his figure…"
Jin heard all of it and tried to ignore it. His face remained impassive, but irritation was building inside. This world was simply obsessed with appearances. He quickened his pace and headed for the school gates.
There, at the entrance, as if waiting for him, stood two girls. As he approached, they stepped forward and greeted him with a polite bow.
"Izayoi Jin-san?" asked one of them. She was short, with close-cropped black hair and a stern, intelligent gaze behind her glasses. "Yes, that's me." "I am Sona Sitri, the student council president. And this is my vice-president, Tsubaki Shinra. We decided to meet you at the gate personally."
Sona glanced at her wristwatch. "Punctual. Excellent."
She introduced herself and her vice-president—a tall, beautiful girl with long black hair pulled back in a ponytail—and then took the folder with his transfer documents from Jin.
While Sona looked over the papers, Jin was once again convinced of just how beautiful people were in this world. Sona Sitri possessed a cold, intellectual beauty, her stern look only emphasizing her delicate features. Tsubaki, meanwhile, was the embodiment of classic Japanese beauty—tall, stately, with a flawless posture. 'The great wars fought in waifu battles were all for nothing,' a thought flickered in his mind.
"Everything is in order," Sona said, closing the folder. "We offered to escort you to the faculty room."
They walked through the academy grounds. At a junction inside the building, when they needed to go up to another floor, Sona stopped and pointed down the hall. "The faculty room is down there. They're already expecting you."
She was about to head to her own floor, where the student council office was, but suddenly stopped and shot Jin a stern look. "And one more thing, Izayoi-san. Our academy's rules do not encourage wearing unauthorized accessories that aren't part of the uniform."
She nodded at his neck, where a large pair of over-ear headphones rested. Jin just smiled and, instead of answering, gave them a lazy wave goodbye, then turned and walked in the direction he'd been pointed. Sona and Tsubaki exchanged a suspicious glance. His reaction was too casual, too confident. This new student wasn't so simple.
After meeting his new homeroom teacher—a young, slightly fussy woman—they proceeded to the classroom. Standing before the door, Jin paused for a moment. This was it. The point of no return. Beyond this door lay a new stage, a new game, new problems. There was no going back.
The teacher, seeing his momentary hesitation, was touched, thinking he was just nervous about meeting his classmates. She was about to say something encouraging, but Jin himself, with cold resolve, opened the door and strode inside. This slightly shocked the teacher, who once again misunderstood him. 'What a good boy,' she thought. 'He gathered his strength and pushed through it.'
He stood in the middle of the class. A sea of eyes—which is to say, everyone present—looked at him. A quick glance made it clear: the class was overwhelmingly female. There were only three guys, sitting at the back, who had the worst reputation in school. A member of this trio was the protagonist of this world, Hyoudou Issei.
The gazes were of two types. The girls, who reacted with extreme interest, immediately began whispering and comparing him to the local star, Kiba Yuuto. And the guys from the "Perverted Trio," who bared their teeth in envy, cursing their new competition.
"Please introduce yourself," the teacher requested.
Jin swept the class with his sharp, observant gaze.
"Izayoi Jin," his voice was confident, without a trace of nervousness. "As of today, I'm in your care. I hope we get along."
Short. Formal. And slightly arrogant. When the girls heard his greeting, a new image formed in their minds, making their hearts skip a beat. His voice was confident, his gaze sharp, and the aura around him made him seem unapproachable. If Kiba Yuuto was their "Prince Charming," then Jin was the "Haughty Prince" standing right beside him.
"Kyaaaa!" some of them mentally squealed, feeling shivers run down their spines.
Seeing how emotional the inhabitants of this world were, how easily they created archetypes and fell for first impressions, an unexpected thought flickered in Jin's mind.
"Huh, that's cool"