Hayato's eyes reflected the girl's face and figure.
Her features were delicate, unfairly cute. Shoulder-length black hair swayed with each step, catching the light from the windows. Her skin was pale, almost translucent. The black uniform and pleated skirt combo perfectly showcased that youthful high school girl aesthetic.
Her aura matched her name perfectly. Cool and distant like snowcold.
Yukinoshita Yukino noticed the shift in the classroom atmosphere but completely ignored every single gaze fixed on her. With light, graceful steps, she passed by the podium and headed to her seat. Second from the back in the row by the window.
Usually, seating arrangements had something to do with height. So why was Yukinoshita Yukino sitting way back here by the window? But thinking about how she was isolated by her classmates at school, her sitting in this particular spot suddenly made a lot more sense. Away from everyone else.
After setting down her books, Yukinoshita glanced at Hayato. It was a subtle reminder that he still hadn't looked away. Whatever changes Hayato was going through, as long as that man didn't involve her, she didn't care.
"Alright everyone, take your seats. Class is about to start."
A middle-aged man wearing glasses walked into the classroom carrying a stack of books and made his way to the podium. His footsteps echoed in the suddenly quiet room.
The bell rang shortly after, and class officially began.
Looking at the math formulas that felt both foreign and familiar, Hayato couldn't help feeling a wave of nostalgia wash over him.
This is high school life. He was actually attending high school again.
The nostalgic feeling lasted a few minutes before Hayato redirected his attention to the Death Game, mind already working through problems.
He started analyzing and thinking through things carefully.
Based on the fact that the authorities had dispatched a specialized department last night, the Death Game had clearly been around for quite some time. That meant there had to be high-level Players out there already. People who'd survived multiple missions gathered resources and gained experience.
There were probably dedicated forums and discussion groups on the internet, too. Places where Players exchanged information, traded items, and formed alliances.
He needed to gather information from those sources as well.
But no matter what, keeping his identity secret was absolutely critical. The moment his abilities became known, everything would change.
Kuroda Hikari had already lost his memories of the love hotel incident. The only people left who knew about his situation were Hoshino Ai and Tachibana Hina.
Both of them had already promised to keep the 'teleportation' skill secret.
Hayato trusted them, but if there was some kind of secrecy item available, that would be even better. Insurance was never a bad thing.
"The Death Game should have items like that, right?"
He couldn't help wondering.
Knock, knock, knock.
Suddenly, Hayato looked up to find the middle-aged math teacher standing right beside him. The man's shadow fell across his desk.
"Hayato, why don't you answer this question for us?"
Hayato froze for a second, immediately recognizing this classic light novel setup. The teacher calls on the daydreaming male student.
"Can't believe this is happening to me too."
Hayato muttered under his breath.
"Sorry, sensei. I don't know the answer."
Direct refusal. No hesitation whatsoever. No fumbling excuses.
That response actually made the middle-aged math teacher blink in surprise. His eyebrows rose.
He'd seen students struggle, seen them stay silent and hope the moment would pass, but a student who straight-up admitted they didn't know? Hayato was the first. Refreshingly honest, at least.
"Pay attention in class. This formula and concept aren't that difficult."
The math teacher didn't get angry. He just returned to the podium and started explaining again, chalk scratching against the blackboard.
This time, Hayato listened seriously. He cooperated and gave the teacher some face.
That made the middle-aged math teacher quite satisfied. A small nod of approval.
The second period was Hiratsuka's Japanese Literature class.
For this subject, Hayato genuinely had zero interest. He checked out completely, gaze drifting toward the window where cherry blossoms fell in lazy spirals.
Hiratsuka Shizuka watched him with gritted teeth but didn't explode or single him out. Her jaw clenched, but she maintained composure.
When the bell rang, class ended.
"Hayato, come to my office after school."
Before leaving, Hiratsuka let out a heavy huff and stared him down, her eyes clearly saying, "Don't even think about running." Only after Hayato signaled that he'd definitely be there did she leave, finally satisfied. Her heels clicked against the floor as she departed.
After the third period, lunch break started.
Most of the students left the classroom pretty quickly, their chatter filling the hallways. Leaving only Hayato and the cool, distant girl who was in no hurry to leave her seat.
Just as Hayato stood up, rapid footsteps echoed from outside the classroom.
"Tachibana-sensei."
He spotted the pretty teacher with chestnut-colored hair standing at the classroom door. She seemed to have rushed over. Her breathing was slightly uneven, her chest rising and falling subtly.
"Good, good, you're still here."
Tachibana's breathing was a bit irregular. She'd clearly hurried over, worried she might miss him.
"Sensei, did you need something?"
Wait, is that a lunchbox?
Hayato noticed what Tachibana was carrying. A convenience store bag with two bento boxes visible inside.
A little over the top, kind of surprising, but also pretty nice.
"Lunch. I prepared lunch for you. It's better than what the school cafeteria, right?"
Sobu High had a cafeteria, but the food was mediocre and overpriced. That's why a lot of students brought their own bentos from home.
"Sensei... you didn't make this yourself, did you?"
Something suddenly occurred to Hayato, and his words became hesitant. If he remembered correctly, Tachibana Hina's cooking skills were borderline disaster-level. Her younger sister, Tachibana Rui, was the one with actual culinary talent.
Eating this might actually land him in the hospital with food poisoning.
"What's with that look? You know, I went straight back to my apartment after saying goodbye this morning. Where would I have had time to make a bento? I bought this on my way to school! It'll taste better than the cafeteria food. Just make sure to take care of yourself from now on."
When she'd been buying lunch at the convenience store, she'd thought about how Hayato, with his amnesia, probably hadn't prepared a bento for himself. So she grabbed an extra one. A small gesture.
"Oh, that makes sense. Thanks, sensei. I won't hold back then."
Hayato quickly walked over to Tachibana. But because of the change in position, Tachibana Hina suddenly caught sight of the cool, distant girl sitting behind Hayato.
Wait, there's another student?
In an instant, a wave of embarrassment washed over Tachibana Hina's, and her body started trembling slightly. Heat rushed to her face.
Everything she'd just said had been overheard!