Saegusa-sensei let out a long sigh.
"Go to the infirmary and change into spare uniforms."
"Yes, Sensei," Akira replied briefly.
She gave a small bow, then turned and walked out of the classroom.
Aizen didn't say anything.
He simply glanced forward, then followed behind her in silence.
The door closed.
And—
in an instant, the atmosphere in the classroom changed.
Whispers began to rise from all directions.
"What just happened…?"
"Their clothes were completely wet…"
"Could it be… they got splashed?"
"…Seriously?"
"But that's Tenshou Aizen, right?"
"Yeah… who would dare do that?"
"…Or—"
The voice lowered.
"—was it actually meant for Kanzaki Akira?"
A brief silence.
"…That makes sense."
"She's a scholarship student…"
"She's been standing out too much since the beginning."
"But if it involves Aizen…"
The tone shifted, quieter.
"…then it's not a small issue anymore."
My gaze unconsciously fell on the two empty seats.
…This is different.
Faster than it should be.
"Quiet, please."
Saegusa-sensei's voice cut through all the conversations.
In an instant, the classroom fell silent again.
Saegusa-sensei's voice cut through all the conversations.
In an instant, the classroom fell silent again.
His gaze swept across the entire room before finally pausing for a moment.
"Matters like that are not your concern."
His tone remained calm.
Yet firm enough to quell the curiosity that had begun to spread.
He then picked up several sheets of paper from his desk and handed them to a student in the front row.
"Let's continue. Please pass them to the back."
The atmosphere returned to order.
"This handout contains the school's history, rules, and layout. Each student has 120 points, which will be renewed every year. Any violations will reduce those points. If your points fall below the minimum threshold, you will be expelled from the school. So, make sure to read it carefully."
Shirayuki began flipping through the handout, reading its contents.
It clearly listed the school's history, various regulations, and a detailed breakdown of violations along with the number of points deducted. Even the school layout was drawn neatly and in detail.
As expected from an elite school.
"Does anyone have any questions regarding this?"
A few seconds passed in silence.
The students glanced at one another, but no one raised their hand immediately.
Until—
a voice came from the right side of the classroom.
"Sensei."
A student raised his hand casually.
Kirishima Ryuusei.
Saegusa-sensei shifted his gaze toward him.
"Do you have a question?"
Ryuusei leaned back in his chair, his expression not particularly serious.
"What's the minimum threshold?"
His tone was light.
As if he were merely curious.
"And… what kind of violations reduce points the fastest?"
Several students immediately turned to look at him.
The question sounded simple—
but it was sharp enough.
Saegusa-sensei looked at him for a moment before answering.
"The minimum threshold is 80 points."
The atmosphere in the classroom shifted slightly.
Some students exchanged glances.
"As for violations," he continued calmly, "that depends on the severity of the offense."
He picked up one of the handouts.
"Minor violations, such as being late or not wearing complete attributes, will usually deduct 1 to 5 points."
He paused briefly.
"However, for major violations—such as fighting, bullying, or actions that tarnish the school's reputation—the deduction can reach 20 to 50 points."
Silence.
The word bullying felt heavier than the others.
Some students unconsciously fell quiet.
Ryuusei nodded slowly.
"…That's pretty harsh," he muttered.
"Rules are made to be enforced," Saegusa-sensei replied briefly.
Then—
another hand was raised.
"Sensei."
Mikazuki Yuu.
His tone was gentler.
"Can points be restored?"
The question sounded much more… careful.
Saegusa-sensei nodded.
"They can."
Several students immediately looked somewhat relieved.
"The school provides various activities and academic achievements that can increase your points."
He looked across the entire class.
"However, don't expect them to easily make up for major violations."
Yuu nodded lightly.
"Understood, Sensei."
The atmosphere settled again.
And the consequences felt far from trivial.
"If there are no more questions—"
"Excuse me."
Slide—
The classroom door opened.
All attention immediately shifted toward it.
Two figures stood there.
Tenshou Aizen.
And—
Kanzaki Akira.
Their uniforms were neat again.
But their slightly damp hair still bore traces of what had just happened.
Silence instantly filled the classroom. Some students began whispering softly.
Saegusa-sensei looked at the two of them without expression.
"Are you done?"
"Yes, Sensei," Akira replied briefly.
Aizen said nothing.
His gaze remained straight ahead.
"Come in."
A single word.
The two of them stepped into the classroom.
Akira walked in first.
Her steps were calm.
As if nothing had happened.
Her gaze remained straight ahead, ignoring the whispers around her.
She sat in her seat without hesitation.
Not looking to the right.
Nor to the left.
Aizen followed a few steps behind.
His steps were slow.
Measured.
As he passed between the rows of desks—his gaze shifted.
Looking straight at me.
My heart beat a little faster.
…Again?
But before I could think any further, he had already taken his seat.
Saegusa-sensei waited until the atmosphere was completely quiet again.
Then, he lightly tapped the desk.
"Alright. Let's continue."
His gaze swept across the entire class.
"Today, we will begin with brief introductions."
Some students immediately looked more tense.
"Introduce your name, hobbies, and your previous school."
He paused for a moment.
"We'll start from the front row, left side."
A student stood up stiffly.
Introducing himself with a slightly trembling voice.
One by one, they began to stand—stating their names and former schools.
---
"Next."
A student stood up.
His blond hair was slightly messy, his expression relaxed as if he didn't care much about the atmosphere around him.
"Kirishima Ryuusei."
His tone was light.
"From Minamitsuki Middle School."
Several students immediately glanced at him.
The name was fairly well known.
"Hobbies? Nothing in particular."
He shrugged slightly.
"As long as it's not boring."
Without waiting for any reaction, he sat back down.
---
"Next."
Another student stood up.
"…xxx."
His voice sounded ordinary.
"From… xxx Middle School."
His introduction was brief.
"Hobby… xxx."
He quickly sat back down without drawing much attention.
---
"Next."
A girl stood up.
Her long black hair flowed neatly, and her upright posture immediately drew attention.
"I'm Kanzaki Akira."
Her voice was clear.
Calm.
"From… Hoshinomiya Public Middle School."
Soft whispers began to spread.
A public school.
"Hobby… studying."
Her answer was brief.
Without hesitation.
She gave a slight bow, then sat back down.
---
The next seat—a boy stood up.
Silver hair.
Cold red eyes.
"Tenshou Aizen."
The atmosphere in the classroom immediately grew quieter.
"Seiran Private Middle School."
His tone was flat.
"Hobby? None."
Short.
Firm.
He sat back down right away, leaving no room for reaction.
---
My turn.
I took a slow breath before standing up.
"…Kujo Shirayuki."
Several gazes immediately turned toward me.
"From Seiran Private Middle School."
A brief pause.
"Hobby… walking."
"…"
For a moment, a thin silence formed.
One gaze felt more distinct than the others.
I didn't need to look—
I already knew.
And yet, unconsciously, my eyes shifted slightly.
Tenshou Aizen.
His brow furrowed faintly.
Not openly.
But enough to notice.
…Confusion.
As if something he heard didn't match.
My heart skipped a beat.
Wait.
…Walking?
I froze for a moment.
That—
wasn't Kujo Shirayuki's hobby.
That was mine.
My awareness felt slightly pulled back inward.
I… just answered as myself.
Not as "Shirayuki."
But—there was no way I could take back my words now.
I lowered my head slightly, hiding my expression.
"…Thank you."
I gave a small bow, then sat back down.
My fingers unconsciously clasped together on my lap.
…Careless.
---
Not long after—Mikazuki Yuu stood up.
"Mikazuki Yuu. From Minamitsuki Middle School."
His voice was gentle, easy to hear.
"My hobby is playing the piano."
He gave a small smile.
Warm.
Then he gave a slight bow before sitting back down.
---
After a while, Saegusa-sensei closed the papers in his hand.
"Alright. That will be all for introductions."
His gaze swept across the entire class.
"For the remaining time today, you are free to interact with one another and decide on your class representatives."
Some students immediately looked more relaxed.
But—not all of them.
"Once you've decided, the class representatives can report to me in the faculty room."
He turned and walked toward the door.
"Use your time wisely. For Tenshou Aizen and Kanzaki Akira—you two, come to the faculty room after school.""
Slide—
The door closed.
And in an instant, the atmosphere in the classroom changed.
Conversations began to rise from different corners. Some students immediately moved seats. Others started forming small groups.
But—I remained still in my seat.
My gaze was blank, fixed ahead.
…Careless.
That one word kept repeating in my head.
My stomach felt uneasy.
Nauseous.
A dull ache began to throb in my head.
I took a slow breath.
I needed to step away for a moment.
At least… to calm myself down.
I pushed myself to stand.
But—my steps stopped.
The view in front of me suddenly felt… unfocused.
"…?"
I blinked slowly.
But instead of clearing—it only grew more blurred.
The sounds around me gradually faded.
As if muffled.
My heart began to race.
No… this—
"Kujo-san?"
Yuu's voice sounded close.
"Are you okay?"
I tried to answer.
I opened my mouth.
But—no sound came out.
My vision darkened further.
My body swayed.
I lost my balance.
And just before everything went completely dark, a hand caught me.
Warm.
"Kujo-san—!"
The voice sounded panicked.
Distant.
Fading.
And in an instant, everything collapsed.