From the moment Phoenix-in Chinatsu stepped through the gates of Raizen High School, she realized how ridiculous her hope for "low-key" was.
She felt like a giant panda who had wandered into a human market, and one wearing a bodysuit at that.
"Buzz—"
As if a mute switch had been pressed, the previously noisy school entrance fell silent for a second.
Following that was an uncontrollable flood of gasps and whispers.
"Hey, hey! Look over there!"
"Who is that?! Is she from our school? Impossible! How have I never seen her before?!"
"That figure... those legs... Is she a model? Or a new transfer student?"
"Our school uniform... it can actually look like that?! (Looks down at self)"
"Are those proportions... actually real?!"
Chinatsu felt her cheeks burning intensely beneath the mask of the fool.
She struggled to maintain a poker face, wishing she could transform into a mole and dig a hole to escape immediately.
Gazes, countless gazes shot toward her from all directions, focusing on her like searchlights.
Chinatsu felt her cheeks beneath the mask were hot enough to fry an egg, and every step she took felt like walking on needlepoints.
She could only struggle to maintain a straight face (thankfully the mask covered her), while her insides were churning.
(What are you staring at! Haven't you ever seen a poor unfortunate soul tricked by a rogue deity?!)
(Where are the school rules? Where is the discipline committee? Isn't anyone going to stop this?! Are you just going to gawk at a beautiful girl like this?! Bah!)
Just as she attempted to accelerate and skim low past this danger zone, three figures, swift as cheetahs, suddenly darted out from the flank, accurately blocking her path.
"Ultra-rare, unknown beautiful girl individual detected!"
The energetic Yamabuki Ai rushed up first, incredibly naturally linking arms with her left arm, her eyes sparkling.
"This astonishing structure! This presence that defies common sense!"
The glasses-wearing Yozakura Mai simultaneously linked her right arm, pushing up her spectacles as if observing a strange creature.
"Seriously."
The cool-faced Fujibakama Mii had already raised her phone, the lens aimed at her, the sound of the shutter clicking incessantly.
"Hey, hey! Are you the new transfer student? What's your name? Which class are you in?"
Aoi fired off questions like a machine gun, her arm linked tightly.
"This uniform is causing a strange chemical reaction on you!" Mai commented.
"Don't move, the lighting is perfect," Mii instructed.
Chinatsu froze completely, attempting to pull her arms free, but to no avail.
(Seriously?! Do you three have some kind of beautiful girl radar?! Let go of me!)
"I... I am Phoenix-in Chinatsu..."
She tried to pull her arm out, but found it was linked too tightly, her voice thin as a mosquito's buzz.
"Pleased... pleased to meet you..." (Pleased to meet you, my ass! Let go of me quickly!)
"Phoenix-in? Are you related to Classmate Hōōin Chika?"
"Could she be his sister?!"
"Both siblings are so unique?!"
This commotion finally attracted the Physical Education Teacher on duty at the school entrance.
"Hey! You few! What are you doing gathered here?! Don't block the school entrance! What kind of behavior is this!" the Physical Education Teacher's loud voice carried authority.
The trio immediately stood at attention, obedient.jpg: "Yes, Teacher! We'll leave right away!"
The Physical Education Teacher nodded in satisfaction and turned to maintain other order.
However, as soon as the teacher turned his back... "Quickly! Now's our chance!"
Aoi and Mai immediately clamped onto Chinatsu's arms again, one on the left and one on the right, even tighter than before, practically dragging her along (mostly pushing her).
"Target, Faculty Office! Advance!" Mii led the way, continuing her duties as photographer.
"Wait... wait a minute! I can walk by myself..." Chinatsu's protest was useless.
Thus, a strange sight appeared on campus: a stunningly well-figured blue-haired beautiful girl, being "held captive" by two girls walking forward, while another girl continuously took photos in front of them.
The gazes and gasps attracted along the way increased exponentially.
"Wow! They passed by!"
"Is she really a transfer student?"
"She got entangled with Classmate Yamabuki and the others... How pitiful, yet how enviable..."
"Those legs... those curves... are they truly real..."
Chinatsu felt like a rare, exotic beast being dragged through the streets for display.
Her heart was already numb. (Kill me... right now... or maybe a Spatial Quake could just take us all away...)
The trio grew even more excited, practically half-dragging her into the teaching building, attracting even more gazes and discussion along the way.
Chinatsu (Internal): (Help me! This is more terrifying than being chased by Ellen!)
...After finally managing to shake off the overly enthusiastic trio at the office door, Chinatsu felt like she had shed a layer of skin.
However, before she could catch her breath, she realized the corridor outside the office was completely packed with people.
Students pretended to walk past, hand in homework, or discuss problems, but their eyes were all unanimously glancing toward the office door, trying to catch a glimpse of the legendary transfer student.
(...Should I immediately 'Lost' back to the neighboring world right now?)
She bit the bullet, and under the scrutiny of countless eyes, she walked into the Faculty Office, almost moving her arms and legs in unison...
In the classroom for 2nd Year, Class 4, rumors about the transfer student were already rampant.
"Did you hear? A super beautiful transfer student arrived!"
"Really? Is she prettier than Origami?"
"The style is totally different! She's the kind of... well... beauty that you can't take your eyes off of!"
"Her name seems to be... Phoenix-in Chinatsu? She shares a surname with Classmate Hōōin!"
Itsuka Shido, who was worrying about why his friend hadn't shown up today, suddenly raised his head when he heard the discussion.
(Phoenix-in... Chinatsu? His sister?)
(That Koushi guy... he never mentioned having a sister!)
(And... he just happened to get injured yesterday, and his sister shows up today? What a coincidence?)
The worry and confusion in his heart intertwined, and he couldn't help but join the discussion: "Um... what does the Phoenix-in Chinatsu you're talking about look like?"
"Wow! Classmate Itsuka is interested too?"
"I heard she has an amazing figure! The uniform can barely contain her!"
"She was 'escorted' to the office by Yamabuki and the others!"
Shido's feelings became even more complicated.
(Koushi's sister... she must be very troubled facing this situation alone... I have to go help her...) His inherently kind nature immediately sparked a protective instinct...
Outside the Faculty Office, quite a few curious students were still gathered.
Inside the office, the homeroom teacher, Tamae Okamine, looked at the new student who had caused such a huge uproar and wiped the sweat from her forehead.
Her face also held a hint of surprise and helplessness.
The transfer paperwork on the desk was flawless, but this student's appearance and... the commotion she caused, truly exceeded her small scope of management.
"I'm, I'm terribly sorry for causing trouble!" Chinatsu immediately bowed, her voice softer due to nervousness. "I, I will adapt as quickly as possible!"
"N-no problem. Um... Phoenix-in Chinatsu, welcome to Raizen High School..."
Teacher Tamae looked at the impeccable transfer documents in her hand (Jurisprudence Authority is truly useful) and tried hard to keep her voice calm.
"Regarding your situation... the documents mention some things, but could you elaborate? Especially your relationship with Classmate Hōōin Chika, and why you are coming here now?"
(Please end this quickly! I beg you! Let me leave this focal point!)
Chinatsu took a deep breath, and the prepared speech flowed out smoothly (with a carefully practiced timidness):
"Yes, Teacher. Koushi... is my biological older brother."
"Many years ago, due to the unexpected deaths of our parents, my brother and I... were forced to separate, adopted by different distant relatives, and lost contact..."
(Internal: I'm sorry to my never-before-met parents and relatives!)
"I... I've always missed my brother..."
"Recently there have been many Spatial Quakes in Amamiya City, haven't there? I was very worried, so I... I tried to come back and find him..."
"It turned out... just yesterday afternoon, when the Spatial Quake alarm sounded, I... I was too scared and ran in the wrong direction... I was almost caught in it..."
"And then... then my brother suddenly rushed out! He didn't seem to recognize me at the time, but... but he still protected me without hesitation and pushed me away..."
"But he himself... he got hit on the foot by falling debris and was injured..."
(Internal: Perfect! It explains the meeting, rationalizes the injury, and highlights the brother's heroism!)
"After that... we realized who the other person was..."
"My brother's injury requires rest, but he was worried about his studies... So... so I thought, I could temporarily attend school for him, and also... also take care of him..."
"I apologize for the trouble I've caused you!"
After speaking, she dutifully lowered her head, her shoulders slightly trembling, portraying the image of a sister who had endured hardship, reunited with her older brother, and felt guilt.
Teacher Tamae's eyes became slightly red upon hearing this:
"Oh, oh, I see! That's truly difficult! Classmate Phoenix-in is such a brave older brother! Classmate Chinatsu, you are very strong too! Don't worry, the school is fine with this! Welcome!"
(Nice~!) Chinatsu mentally gave a thumbs-up, but outwardly maintained a delicate, weak appearance: "Th-thank you very much!"
"Alright, I'll take you to your class now!" Teacher Tamae stood up.
As soon as she said this, the crowd watching outside the office stirred slightly, then quickly dispersed, preparing to return to their classrooms for the first wave of close-up viewing.
Chinatsu's heart sank to the bottom.
She knew that the real test was only just beginning.
Chinatsu's heart leaped again. (The biggest test... is coming... Shido... please be dense!)