Other than that, the girls all had a good impression of him. Despite having tremendous influence, his biggest flaws were only being a womanizer and skipping classes. That was already pretty good.
"Since it's settled, I'll head back too."
Seeing Serizawa Yukiha and Sagisawa Fumika whispering to each other, Takamine Ayako, dressed in a neat black teacher's outfit with a single ponytail, adjusted her glasses. She did not say anything either and turned to leave.
If it had been someone else, she would have questioned whether refusing supervision meant they were trying to shield that janitor with such a bad reputation.
But now it was the maid of Hachiman, who was closely connected to the Elf Princess and surrounded by daughters of politicians.
A janitor who could not even do his work properly was not on the same level as Hachiman at all, so there was naturally no need to worry about anyone covering for him.
"Wait, Takamine-sensei, are you free tonight?"
Hanamori Kotomi, with her red hair tied into a high ponytail and a mature figure, hurriedly invited Takamine Ayako to tonight's gathering when she saw her preparing to leave.
"It's about time anyway. How about joining Risa and me for tonight's teachers' gathering?"
"That's right. It's the weekend now, so you probably don't have anything going on."
The blue-haired teacher Kashima Risako, who got along well with Hanamori Kotomi, agreed from the side.
"Me too? There are probably people there who don't welcome me. If I go, I'll only get in your way."
Seeing that Hanamori Kotomi and Kashima Risako were sincerely inviting her, Takamine Ayako hesitated.
She knew about the gathering of young female teachers and had been invited before, but she had not planned to attend.
That was because her relationships with many colleagues were not very good. To some extent, her reputation was about the same as that janitor's.
But even though she had just had a small disagreement with Kashima Risako and Hanamori Kotomi over the janitor, they were still warmly inviting her. She really felt conflicted.
"It's okay. There'll be lots of people tonight. You don't have to stay with everyone. Just come with us."
Seeing Takamine Ayako wavering, Hanamori Kotomi's eyes lit up. She immediately moved closer and whispered into her ear.
"Takamine-sensei, don't worry about being unwelcome. Matsubara-sensei was invited too."
"Matsubara is going too..."
Takamine Ayako froze for a moment when she heard that. She had never expected Matsubara Miria to attend.
If her own poor reputation among students came from being strict, intolerant of wrongdoing, and unable to overlook problems, then Matsubara Miria's reputation, which openly discriminated against poor students, was below zero.
Back when Hanamori Kotomi and Kashima Risako had been working hard to help that delinquent student, Takamine Ayako had simply chosen not to get involved. Matsubara Miria, on the other hand, had publicly criticized the student multiple times.
That student did have some problems, so Matsubara Miria's remarks could only be called excessive. Now that the disciplinary action had been canceled and the student had been transferred away, they no longer had any source of conflict with Matsubara Miria despite seeing her regularly.
"I see... Who else is definitely attending tonight?"
Takamine Ayako was genuinely interested now, though she was still hesitant because she did not have many friends.
"Besides Kirisu-sensei, Chabashira-sensei, and Hoshinomiya-sensei who live in the apartment building, there's Haruna-sensei, Mizuho-sensei from my year, Ebihara-sensei who's engaged... and Shizuka-senpai and the others too."
Hanamori Kotomi counted them and realized just how lively tonight's gathering would be.
If Takamine Ayako did not come tonight, it would almost feel like they were excluding her.
After all, once the older teachers and the male teachers were excluded, almost every young female teacher would be there. Unless there was a special reason, anyone who did not attend might end up being unconsciously isolated.
"Not just that. We might even meet some of next week's new colleagues tonight," Kashima Risako added from the side.
For them, the gathering was partly for fun and stress relief from teaching, and partly to learn about changes in the profession and get to know new colleagues.
"Alright. I'll go with you two. If they don't welcome me, I'll just leave."
Takamine Ayako fell silent for a moment before finally nodding slowly.
She believed she had done nothing wrong and that her teaching results were quite good. The school had no reason to fire her.
But now the school was being run by students, and a group of new colleagues would be arriving next week alongside the new students. She was starting to worry about her position.
Normally, when there were only so many positions available, a large number of new hires meant quite a few old staff members would leave. Who knew if she would be one of them?
Hanamori Kotomi and Kashima Risako were popular with students, so they had no need to worry. But someone like her, with a poor reputation, should take the chance to learn more about the situation.
"Mm! Then let's go! Take my new car! We can buy some food and drinks on the way."
Hanamori Kotomi nodded repeatedly and pulled Takamine Ayako along to drive to the gathering.
The slightly serious expression on Takamine Ayako's face told her that Takamine was worrying too much. There would indeed be many new students and teachers at Sobu High, but firing them was the one thing that would not happen.
To increase the number of young female teachers, Shizuka-senpai was even helping Hachiman recruit new teachers.
But after finally convincing Takamine Ayako, saying too much might only make her suspicious, so she chose not to explain further.
She genuinely wanted more people at the gathering because she knew Hachiman would show up at the apartment later.
With so many people around, Hachiman probably would not dare do anything reckless. At the very least, he would not do anything in front of everyone. That was enough.
Mmm... She knew Hachiman had invisibility magic and soundproofing magic, but at least not in front of her coworkers.
It would be far too embarrassing in front of Kashima Risako and the others. If it was done secretly, she felt she could still put up with it.
"Then I'm leaving too. See you, Fumika."
Watching Hanamori Kotomi, Takamine Ayako, and Kashima Risako leave together, Serizawa Yukiha withdrew her gaze, smiled, said goodbye to Sagisawa Fumika, picked up her school bag, changed her shoes, and left the school.
It was the weekend. The teachers were busy, and so was she. She had to attend a family gathering.
This time, not only would her middle school cousin Asahi be there, but Miki from St. Toku Girls' Academy would also be coming. She said she wanted to learn about Sobu High.
Well... Yukiha understood. Ever since the Elf Princess appeared at Sobu High, the school had been receiving a lot of attention. However, outsiders were not allowed in, and security had been set up around the school. Anyone who had not already been a teacher or student found it difficult to enter.
She had simply been lucky enough to attend the same school as the Elf Princess and many demi-humans.
Still, St. Toku Girls' Academy, where Miki studied, was a famous elite girls' school. It was surprising that it was interested in Sobu High as well.
'Could Miki really be planning to transfer for the Elf Princess?'
'Or was she already invited by the school?'
Thinking about the rumors of a large group of new students arriving next week, Serizawa Yukiha suddenly felt that the Serizawa family might be moving up in the world.
Unfortunately, her cousin Asahi was still in middle school. No matter how many invitations Sobu High sent out, it would not be Asahi's turn yet. If Asahi attended Sobu High too, the three of them could go to school together.
"Mm... I need to go to work too..."
Watching Serizawa Yukiha leave, Sagisawa Fumika quietly murmured to herself. Carrying her school bag, she left the school, took a ride, and arrived at a huge talent agency. After swiping her card through the security gate, she walked toward a tall building.
———
This was 346 Production.
Hundreds of female entertainers with different backgrounds and personalities gathered here: actresses, idols, singers, comedians, and more.
The upper floors contained many training rooms and performance halls. The restaurants downstairs were operated by the agency itself and provided support for idols and staff.
If necessary, agency members could even apply to live in employee dormitories or idol dormitories near the agency.
Mm... No one knew that Sagisawa Fumika, the literary girl with long black hair who dressed plainly at school, always kept her head lowered while reading, and whose eyes were half-covered by her bangs, was actually an idol.
Becoming an idol had been an accident. She had not been one for very long and had not officially debuted yet.
Rather than an idol, she was more like an idol trainee.
A small trainee who had not debuted yet was naturally worlds apart from the world-famous mermaid divas whose concerts sold out every time.
But Sagisawa Fumika had already gotten used to it. She had always been unremarkable. She had no special talent worthy of praise. It was like that at Sobu High, and it was the same at the agency.
Although she had become an idol partly because she wanted to change herself, there were many trainees who started at the same time as her. There were also many idols from other projects. The most likely outcome for her was still failure and continuing to be the same unnoticed person she had always been.
This period as an idol trainee was merely a decoration in her high school life.
"Fumika, you're here!"
"Did you hear? Executive Director Mishiro is holding a meeting today. Everyone has to be there."
"Mm... Takagaki-senpai said that because the agency was acquired some time ago, the management policy has changed. We're all going to be assigned to the same school. I think it's Municipal Sobu High."
"Not just our agency. Some idols with friends in other agencies said those agencies have already arranged transfers for their high school-aged talents."
"Huh? Transfer? Sobu High..."
While waiting for the elevator on the first floor, Sagisawa Fumika suddenly saw the Cinderella Project trio, Shimamura Uzuki, Honda Mio, and Shibuya Rin, come over and talk about the agency's decision.
She froze, wondering if she had heard correctly.
What was going on?
The idol coworkers from her agency, including Shibuya Rin and the others standing before her, were all going to become her classmates?
———
[Hikigaya Residence]
Two cars slowly stopped outside.
"So this is the Hikigaya house?"
Kirisu Mafuyu sat in the driver's seat. Her cherry-colored hair reached her waist, and she had a tall, slender figure and refined features. Wearing a loose tracksuit, she lowered the window and looked at the family name on the doorplate to make sure she had come to the right place.
"That's right. Hikigaya lives here."
Hiratsuka Shizuka, wearing a white lab coat with long black hair draped over her shoulders and a biscuit hanging from her mouth, got out of the car directly. As she rang the doorbell, she gestured toward the neighboring house.
"The student council president Kaede lives next door. In the apartment building on the other side live his classmate Amai, plus Tsukinose from another class and Sakurase as well."
After Hiratsuka Shizuka got out, Mizuho Kagami, Shizumi Suzune, Ebihara Urara, and the others stepped out of the two cars as well.
Hearing Hiratsuka Shizuka's introduction, Mizuho Kagami could not help being surprised.
"There are actually so many Sobu High students living next to Hikigaya-kun's house? I only heard that the Elf Princess seemed to be staying with his family. I don't even know which student started that rumor."
Even though she had put on the maid outfit that became transparent when wet at Kirisu Mafuyu's house, and even knew that beautiful students like Karuizawa Kei and Kushida Kikyo obeyed Hachiman completely, she realized she still knew very little about him.
Not only did Hachiman have so many girls around him at school, but even at home he was surrounded by girls living next door.
"Anyway, we're just doing a simple home visit. No need to worry about that."
"That's right. I remember Hikigaya-kun saying his parents were sent on a trip by their company. There aren't any adults at home right now."
"Mm... After finishing the visit here, let's check on some of the students living nearby."
Hearing Mizuho Kagami's words, Hiratsuka Shizuka, Ebihara Urara, and Shizumi Suzune exchanged glances. Seeing each other acting as though they were unfamiliar with the situation, they all changed the subject at the same time.
In truth, they did not have to do home visits today.
There were many students in each class, and every student lived in a different place. There was no way they could finish in a day or two. They could simply work through them gradually.
The reason so many of them had come together was partly because most of them knew Hachiman well. Since his parents were away, they did not have to worry about awkward encounters with them.
Another reason was that Mizuho Kagami and the others would be attending a gathering tonight, and Kirisu Mafuyu and Hiratsuka Shizuka were giving rides to those who had not bought cars.
Though aside from Mizuho Kagami and Kirisu Mafuyu, Shizumi Suzune was already a goddess angel, and Ebihara Urara had become a magical girl. A fixed-point teleportation spell could take her anywhere.
"So many students live next to Hikigaya..."
Kirisu Mafuyu did not notice the strange expressions on the faces of the others. After parking the car, she looked down at her loose tracksuit and adjusted it before getting out. Standing at the entrance of the Hikigaya residence, she looked around, her gaze lingering briefly on the old apartment building next door.
She had mainly wanted to visit Hachiman's home and see what his family situation was actually like. She had thought his background was impressive, but it turned out he lived in an ordinary detached house.
"The home visit is really happening! Welcome, welcome! I thought Onii-chan was lying to me!"
"Hello, teachers! I'm Onii-chan's little sister Komachi, and this is Shion."
Before Kirisu Mafuyu and the others had to wait long, a short-haired girl with a cowlick on top of her head ran out from inside.
When she saw Kirisu Mafuyu, Hiratsuka Shizuka, and the others, she froze briefly before smiling. As she opened the door, she greeted the beautiful teachers standing outside.
She had expected maybe one or two teachers to visit. She never imagined that five would come at once, and several of them were familiar faces from the Service Club.
"I'm Hikigaya-kun's teacher, Mizuho Kagami. You can call me Mizuho-sensei or Mizuho-nee. This is a gift I prepared. See if you like it, Komachi."
Seeing Komachi appear, Mizuho Kagami quickly stepped forward and handed over a carefully prepared gift.
It was not anything expensive, but it should be something a young girl would like.
Hopefully Hachiman would bully her a little less for his sister's sake.
She had not targeted him at all. She had even accepted defeat and worn that embarrassing maid outfit. He could not keep picking on her.
"We prepared some gifts too. So many of us came together for a home visit today. Sorry for the disturbance. We hope you and Shion can forgive us."
"This is just a small token."
"Sorry for intruding."
After introducing themselves, Ebihara Urara, Shizumi Suzune, and Kirisu Mafuyu also took out their gifts and handed them to Shion, who had come out together with Komachi.
"Mizuho-sensei, Urara-sensei, Suzune-sensei, Mafuyu-sensei, you're all too kind. Of course we'll like the gifts you brought. Please come in."
Looking at Mizuho Kagami, whose smooth wine-red hair rested on her shoulders and whose figure was full and firm, Komachi realized she had never seen her in the Service Club before. She instinctively wanted to decline politely, but after seeing that Ebihara Urara and the others had all brought gifts as well, she could only accept them together with Shion.
Ebihara Urara and Shizumi Suzune did not appear at the Service Club very often, but she knew they were members. Since they were on the same side and had specially bought gifts, she decided to accept them all.