Starting School

(All characters appearing in this story are adults.)

The April breeze swept through Tokyo, carrying a lingering chill and the faint, sweet scent of newly blooming cherry blossoms.

For most people, it was simply one ordinary spring day among countless others.

But for Kazehara Tetsu, sitting on a rattling bus, the streets rolling past outside the window heralded a grand opening.

His gaze drifted casually over the energetic "people his age" outside.

The memories of his previous life as an office drone—the gray days spent wasting away in a cubicle, struggling to breathe beneath the weight of KPIs—seemed like a black-and-white movie from the last century.

He had been reborn into the world of Jujutsu a long time ago, but it wasn't until he received his acceptance letter from Tokyo Metropolitan Advanced Nurturing High School that it finally felt real.

The bus was packed with new students wearing the same uniform as him, their faces brimming with anticipation and anxiety about the future.

It seemed he wasn't on the same bus as Ayanokoji. He looked around but didn't spot him.

The bus ride passed without incident, and they soon arrived at the school.

Kazehara Tetsu stood up and followed the crowd off the bus.

Beyond the gates lay the place where he would live for the next three years.

"Ding! Congratulations on becoming a student of Kōto Ikusei Kōtō Gakuin. As a special reward, the system grants you 100 Points."

A crisp notification rang out, and the system's voice sounded in Kazehara Tetsu's mind.

That's right. Kazehara Tetsu had not only been reborn, but had also brought a system with him.

The system interface was simple and clear, mainly displaying information about his abilities, quests, Points, and shop.

Abilities: Basic Combat Skills, Master Chef, Mastery of All Languages.

Items: None

Quests: None

Points: 333

Shop: ...

Kazehara Tetsu couldn't help but think that the system had offered very few Points before his enrollment.

He had worked hard on Side Quests for more than ten years to save up this many, only to receive half that amount as soon as he started school. It was almost enough to make him laugh.

Still, aside from the abilities he'd received as a beginner's reward, he had mainly relied on the experience and credentials he'd built up in his previous life to overcome difficulties over the years.

He wasn't in a hurry to spend the Points he'd been given.

After all, having been reborn, he already knew a fair bit about this world. Combined with his own abilities and hard work, that had been enough to get him into Kōto Ikusei Kōtō Gakuin.

He could save his Points for abilities or items he might desperately need at a crucial moment.

Kazehara Tetsu had not only accepted the system completely; he could even say he liked it very much.

With its help, he could adapt to this world more easily and improve his own abilities.

After all, in Jujutsu, there might be some mind games early on, but things would eventually devolve into an all-out brawl between vocational school students.

In that situation, relying on his own abilities alone wouldn't be enough. He also needed the system to keep improving his overall capabilities.

As he considered what to focus on next, hurried footsteps came from behind him, slightly to one side.

He didn't even need to turn around. His instincts, honed in the crowded subway of his previous life, let him roughly judge the person's direction and speed.

Kazehara Tetsu twisted around to see who it was, but the person showed no sign of stopping.

The next second, a soft, supple body slammed squarely into his back.

"Ah—!"

A cute cry of surprise rang out, and the fresh scent of shampoo enveloped him.

Kazehara Tetsu instinctively reached out with both arms and caught the girl, keeping her from taking a hard fall.

The sensation was astonishing.

Even through their clothes, he could clearly feel two soft, full mounds pressed tightly against his chest.

"I-I'm sorry! I'm so sorry! Are you all right?"

The girl in his arms hurriedly looked up, revealing a pretty face filled with worry and remorse.

Her pink hair curled up slightly, giving her a lively, playful look.

Ichinose Honami.

The Angel of Class B, and the future Leader of Class B.

A flicker of sharpness passed through Kazehara Tetsu's eyes, but his face showed just the right amount of surprise before settling into a gentle smile.

"I'm fine..."

His voice was deliberately lowered, carrying a hint of huskiness. His gaze, however, made no effort to hide as it swept over her startled face.

"But you seem to be in a bit of 'danger.' Good thing I'm pretty sturdy. If an ordinary person got hit by a 'Moon Weapon' like you, they might really end up in the infirmary."

His words were light and blunt, with an unmistakably teasing edge.

"Eh? A M-Moon Weapon?"

Ichinose Honami's face turned crimson in an instant, the flush spreading from her cheeks all the way to her collarbones.

She reflexively followed Kazehara Tetsu's gaze and looked down at her ample chest. Even she felt embarrassed by its astonishing fullness.

Only then did she realize they were still embracing tightly, her full chest pressed against his pectorals.

"Ah! I-I'm sorry! I didn't mean to!"

Like a startled little rabbit, she sprang backward, putting distance between them. She clasped her hands over her chest, as if that could make it less noticeable.

"See? I told you it was dangerous."

"I-I'm really sorry! I overslept a little this morning, so I was in a hurry..." Ichinose hastily explained.

"Well, it's no big deal..." Kazehara Tetsu held out his hand to her. "I'm Kazehara Tetsu, a student of Class A. Since I'm the victim of your 'attack,' at least let me know my attacker's name, okay?"

His words caught Ichinose off guard, and then she couldn't help letting out a little giggle. The tense, awkward atmosphere eased at once.

She took Kazehara Tetsu's hand. His palm was broad and warm, giving her a sense of reassurance.

"My name's Ichinose Honami, and I'm a student of Class B. I'd like to apologize again for my carelessness just now, Kazehara."

Her smile was as bright and warm as the April sunshine, full of charm. No wonder she could bring all of Class B together as its Core Figure.

"Ichinose Honami... That's a lovely name."

Kazehara Tetsu let go of her hand, though the soft sensation seemed to linger in his palm.

He fixed his gaze on her beautiful eyes, still touched with a hint of apology. "So, Honami, how about buying me a cup of coffee after school starts to make up for the emotional distress and physical impact of almost giving me internal bleeding? Let's call it the settlement terms for this 'accident.'"

He called her by her first name and took the opportunity to make an invitation that wasn't unreasonable, but did carry a clear purpose.

This was the first step in his plan: create an incident, make an impression, and establish a connection.

Faced with such a direct invitation, Ichinose Honami clearly hadn't seen it coming.

She blinked, looking at the boy before her, who grinned like a fox pleased with some mischief, and a blush rose on her cheeks again.

Refusing would seem rather cold, since she was the one at fault. But agreeing so quickly to an invitation from a boy she'd only just met...

"Well... I should make it up to you."

She hesitated for a moment, then finally nodded, wearing a helpless yet adorable smile. "All right, then. It's a promise, Kazehara."

"See you at school, Honami."

With that, Kazehara Tetsu didn't linger. He waved casually and turned toward the school gate.

Ichinose Honami stood where she was, watching him walk away. She unconsciously touched her still-burning cheeks, then looked down and murmured to herself:

"...Was it really that exaggerated...? What a strange person."