The classroom gradually settled as everyone returned to their seats. The girls who had surrounded Kaito casually moved back to their desks, though a few of them kept glancing in his direction with curious smiles.
Akane stepped down from the desk beside him, straightening her blazer as if nothing had happened. Before walking away, she leaned slightly closer to Kaito and whispered just loud enough for him to hear.
"Don't forget… after school."
Her fingers lightly tapped his desk before she turned and walked back to her seat, her long black hair swaying behind her.
Kaito quietly exhaled, rubbing his wrist where she had grabbed him earlier. Even now he could still feel the firmness of her grip.
She's definitely awakened… he thought again.
"Alright, everyone. Since this is the first day of the second semester, we'll begin with a short briefing."
Her sharp gaze scanned the students.
The teacher placed the papers on the desk and turned to face the class properly.
She looked to be around twenty-six, standing tall with a composed posture that naturally commanded attention. Her long chestnut-brown hair was neatly tied into a low ponytail, with a few soft strands framing her calm but sharp face. Her eyes were clear and observant, the kind that seemed to read a student's thoughts the moment they looked at her.
She wore a fitted black blazer over a white blouse, paired with a knee-length skirt that gave her a professional yet elegant appearance. Despite her young age, there was a quiet authority in the way she carried herself, making even the rowdiest students sit a little straighter.
"Good morning, everyone."
Her voice was calm and clear.
"My name is Mizuhara Aoi. I'll be your homeroom teacher for the second year."
She picked up a piece of chalk and wrote her name neatly on the board.
Mizuhara Aoi
Turning back to the class, her gaze swept across the students once more.
"As you all know, many of you have awakened during the break. This semester will determine your future paths—whether you enter academies, guild training, or support divisions."
A low murmur spread through the classroom as some students straightened with excitement while others looked nervous.
Kaito leaned back in his chair, listening quietly.
Mizuhara Aoi placed the chalk down and looked across the classroom calmly.
"As I mentioned," she said, folding her arms lightly, "many of you awakened during the break."
Her sharp eyes moved across the students.
"So let's confirm something first."
She paused briefly.
"If you have awakened, raise your hand."
For a moment, the classroom stayed quiet.
Then a hand rose.
It was Akane's.
Leaning casually in her chair, she raised her arm without hesitation, a confident smirk resting on her lips as if she had been waiting for this moment.
A second later, another hand went up.
Then another.
And another.
Within moments, every single girl in the classroom had raised her hand.
Rows of raised arms filled the room.
Meanwhile, not a single boy moved.
The boys sitting toward the back remained quiet, some looking away awkwardly while others pretended to be uninterested.
Kaito calmly watched the scene unfold.
Every girl… awakened.
It wasn't entirely surprising. In this world, women already possessed greater natural strength than men, and when they awakened, that difference only grew larger.
At the front of the room, Mizuhara Aoi nodded slightly as she looked over the raised hands.
"I see."
She wrote something down on her paper before looking back at the class.
"It appears that all the female students in this class have awakened."
A quiet murmur spread among some of the boys, but none of them dared to complain.
"You can put your hands down."
The girls lowered their arms, many of them sitting back with calm confidence.
The atmosphere in the classroom had subtly shifted.
It was clear to everyone now.
The balance of power in the room had completely changed.
The teacher picked up a file from her desk and continued.
"As expected, all the female students in this class have awakened."
A faint murmur spread among the boys at the back, but none of them spoke loudly.
Mizuhara Aoi didn't react to it.
"Since you have awakened, your schedule will be slightly different from the regular academic curriculum," she explained. "From today onward, you will begin awakener training within the school itself."
Several girls immediately straightened in their seats, their interest clearly sparked.
"This school has its own training facilities, combat halls, and controlled practice environments designed for awakened individuals," she continued. "You will learn how to control your abilities, strengthen them, and prepare for possible futures such as guild work, dungeon expeditions, or support roles."
Her gaze moved across the classroom.
"Your practical training sessions will begin soon. During those periods, the awakened students will be taken to the training grounds while the rest of the class will continue with standard lessons."
She paused briefly before adding,
"So from now on, many of you will be spending a significant amount of time developing your abilities here at the school."
The atmosphere in the classroom changed again.
For the awakened girls, it sounded like the beginning of something exciting.
For the boys sitting quietly at the back rows, it was a clear reminder of how different their positions were in this world now.
Mizuhara Aoi closed the file in her hands and looked toward the girls in the classroom.
"Since all of you have awakened," she said calmly, "your training will begin today."
At her words, many of the girls immediately began to stand up from their seats, stretching slightly or picking up their bags as they prepared to head to the training grounds.
Excited whispers spread through the room.
Some girls chatted with each other about what abilities they might train, while others simply looked eager to start.
Akane pushed her chair back and stood up as well, adjusting her blazer casually before glancing once toward Kaito with that same confident, playful smirk.
Meanwhile, the boys sitting toward the back watched the scene quietly.
Just then, a hesitant voice spoke up.
"U-Um… teacher?"
The room paused slightly as Mizuhara Aoi turned her head toward the back rows.
One of the boys had raised his hand awkwardly, scratching the back of his head.
"If… the girls are going for training," he asked nervously, "then… what are the boys supposed to do?"
A few other boys immediately looked toward the teacher as well, clearly wondering the same thing.
Mizuhara Aoi looked at the boy who had asked the question, her expression calm and indifferent.
"The boys," she said after a short pause, "will remain here."
A few quiet sighs escaped from the back rows.
"You will continue with your regular academic lessons," she added. "Your schedule has not changed."
The boy slowly lowered his hand.
But Mizuhara wasn't finished yet.
She set the file down on the desk and spoke again in a matter-of-fact tone.
"Additionally, this semester the boys will also attend household management classes."
A few boys blinked in confusion.
"Household… management?" someone muttered under their breath.
Mizuhara continued as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
"Yes. Cooking, cleaning, laundry, and other domestic responsibilities."
She turned slightly toward the class.
"In the future, many of your wives will likely be awakened individuals working in guilds, dungeons, or other demanding occupations."
The words hung heavily in the air.
"So it's important that you learn how to manage a household properly," she said calmly. "You should be able to support your wife when she returns home from work."
Some of the boys looked down at their desks while others exchanged uncomfortable glances.
Meanwhile, the girls who were still standing chuckled quietly among themselves before continuing toward the door.
Akane, already near the exit, glanced back toward Kaito again with an amused smirk before walking out with the others.
Within moments, the classroom felt far quieter.
Only the boys remained now.
At the front, Mizuhara picked up a piece of chalk and turned to the board as if nothing unusual had been said.
"Now then," she said calmly.
"Let's begin today's lesson."