After writing their names on the blackboard, prompted by the teacher, they introduced themselves.
"I'm Kurosaki Renya, just introduced. I only returned to Japan the day before yesterday. I might cause some trouble as I get used to things again, but I appreciate your patience."
The students fell silent at Renya's words. 'Have I messed up?' Renya wondered for a split second, but the next moment, the female students, primarily, erupted in excitement.
"Isn't he the hottie everyone was talking about this morning?! He was a transfer student!"
"He said he just got back to Japan! Could he be a returnee?!"
"And his eyes are so gorgeous! But he looks Japanese... maybe he's half?!"
"A hot, half-Japanese returnee?! What kind of shoujo manga is this?! Wow, he's a real find since Kiba-kun!"
Even if it was a former elite girls' school, they were young maidens in the bloom of youth. They squealed with delight at Renya's presence, some even starting to check their appearance.
The male students, conversely, looked displeased, but being a former girls' school, their numbers were small. Seemingly unable to openly defy the girls, their displeasure only showed on their faces. The academy's social hierarchy was quite clear.
"Alright, alright, everyone. I understand wanting to get excited over a handsome boy, but let's do it gracefully, okay? There are others waiting, too."
When the female teacher gently scolded them, the girls replied in unison with a cheerful "Okaaay!" and, as expected of young ladies, composed themselves with demure poise.
"Yes, good. Next, please?"
Prompted by the teacher, Orihime and Elfaria exchanged glances before Orihime stepped forward.
"Okay. I'm Inoue Orihime. It was a sudden transfer, but I'd be happy if we could all get along."
The male students cheered at Orihime's greeting. A friendly, gorgeous girl like Orihime was always welcome, it seemed.
"Alright, settle down, settle down. And last, please?"
"Yes."
Elfaria stepped forward to stand beside Orihime.
"I am Elfaria Serfort. I'm still unfamiliar with Japan, so I'd be grateful if you could teach me many things. I look forward to being with you all."
The male students erupted once more at Elfaria's public-facing demeanor, what their group privately called her "Saintess Mode."
At this, the female teacher let out a small sigh.
"Goodness... Now then, for Kurosaki-kun and the others' seats... let's see. Kurosaki-kun will sit next to Takarada-san. Inoue-san and Serfort-san will take the seats in front of and behind Kurosaki-kun."
Renya didn't know names or faces, but with three conspicuously empty seats, it was easy to figure out.
"Takarada-san. As class rep, I'm counting on you to help them with various things."
"...Mmkay, leave it to me, Sensei."
The beautiful black-haired female student, whom the teacher had called Takarada, responded with a somewhat languid but composed air.
Renya and the two girls took their assigned seats.
Renya realized that the girl called Takarada was, even within this class full of pretty girls, undeniably the cutest.
Proving her popularity, the male students looked at Renya with envy or resentment.
The other female students, conversely, looked at Takarada with envy, yet there was no friction, hinting at her personal popularity. Perhaps that was why she was chosen for the seat next to him.
Renya placed his bag on the desk, pulled out his chair, and said as he sat down.
"Kurosaki Renya. Nice to meet you."
"Yeah, likewise, Kurosaki-kun. I'm Takarada Rikka. If there's anything you don't get about the school, well... feel free to ask me anything."
"Thanks. I'm not used to a lot of things, so I appreciate the help, Takarada."
As Takarada Rikka extended her hand with a cool, slightly downer expression, Renya clasped it and nodded.
Rikka replied, her expression unchanged, "Well, let's get along, I guess." It was Renya's first time meeting a gyaru-style girl, but she seemed to be the opposite of the hyperactive type—a downer gyaru.
Renya sensed that while Rikka lacked the combat potential to be made a member of his peerage, and didn't trigger the kind of intuition of destiny he'd felt with Lavinia and the others, her looks were just as good, if not better.
And so, morning homeroom drifted along, turning into a Q&A session for Renya and the others until the first period began.
"Kurosaki-kun, they say you're a returnee. Where were you?"
"Ah, Rome, Italy."
"Kurosaki-kun! Are you half-Japanese?"
"Yeah, my mother is Japanese, and my father is... well, Italian."
"Hey, everyone. Bombarding him with questions is probably annoying. Take it easy, yeah?"
Renya answered the rapid-fire questions, mainly from the girls, without a single displeased expression.
It seemed their interest in a handsome young returnee was endless. Even his nonchalant answers were met with smiles and squeals.
Incidentally, calling his father Mephisto Pheles Italian was because the "Grauzauberer" base was in Italy, and his appearance and personality leaned that way.
Having an association in Italy, home to the Vatican, the seat of Christianity, might seem problematic, but magic was used within the Church despite mixed opinions, and Mephisto, as a Director, rarely appeared publicly, so it wasn't much of an issue. Perhaps they hadn't even noticed Mephisto's presence. His concealment skills were just that good.
"Ah, Rikka. Planning to hog the hot guy all to yourself since you're next to him?"
"No, not at all."
"Fufufu. Rikka-chan, you're not denying that Kurosaki-kun is hot?"
"Hey, Suzuka?!"
Rikka was teased by a female classmate, but when another girl leaned in from behind, her eyes widened in surprise.
The girl Rikka called Suzuka wore a slightly mischievous smile as she said, "Sorry," and stepped back, turning to face Renya.
"Nice to meet you. I'm Tsukimura Suzuka. I've been friends with Rikka-chan since elementary school. If anything comes up, feel free to rely on me, too, okay? Nice to meet you."
The girl who introduced herself as Tsukimura Suzuka, with long purple hair and a white headband, had an atmosphere that was the polar opposite of the downer gyaru Rikka—more like a refined, proper young lady.
"Yeah, nice to meet you too, Tsukimura."
Meanwhile, Orihime and Elfaria were being bombarded with questions from the male students nearby.
"Inoue-san, Serfort-san! Please tell us your type!"
"Um... Someone kind, strong, and cool, I guess."
"I also prefer someone kind, strong, and who treasures me."
The boys desperately tried to appeal based on Orihime's and Elfaria's preferences, but unbeknownst to them—blissful ignorance—both girls were already Renya's lovers, meaning they had zero chance.
That said, both Orihime and Elfaria kept glancing at Renya when describing their ideal type, so the more perceptive girls had already caught on.
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