The Angelic Girl

After Hoshinomiya-sensei left with her signature sweet smile, the classroom door closed lightly. Bright sunlight flooded the room through the huge floor-to-ceiling windows, and the neatly trimmed lawn on the artificial island outside gleamed a vivid green, as if coated in gold leaf. The sea breeze carried a fresh scent, blowing away the tension of first encounters. The introduction of the S System and that "ding-dong" prompt tone announcing the start of life here were like stones thrown into a calm lake surface, stirring ripples of excitement brought on by the new environment.

Just then, a clear, lively voice with a hint of playfulness broke the brief silence. It didn't come from someone standing up, but directly from the front row, carrying laughter:

"Oh my~ Everyone still looks a bit reserved, don't they?"

Everyone's gaze instinctively turned toward the source of the voice. In the front row by the aisle, a blonde girl was smiling as she propped her chin on one hand, casually waving the other. Her face bore a radiant, cloudless smile, like a warm beam of light, naturally drawing the attention of those around her.

"I'm Ichinose Honami, and I'll be spending the next three years with all of you in Class B!" Her voice was crisp and pleasant, with a natural warmth. "You can call me Honami or just Ichinose! Just think—we're going to be 'adventuring' on this special island for three whole years. How fun is that? But well," she winked playfully, "before we start our 'island expedition,' shouldn't we get to know our fellow travelers first?"

She looked around at her new classmates, whose faces held curiosity and a touch of shyness, and her smile grew even brighter. "How about we all do a simple self-introduction? Nothing too formal—just say your name, where you're from, or even your favorite food! I'll start!" She stood up naturally, poised and confident. "My name is Ichinose Honami, I'm from Tokyo, and what I love most is making friends and trying new things! My goal is to work with everyone to turn our Class B into the warmest, happiest class!" Her declaration carried the energy of sunlight, instantly lightening the atmosphere in the room.

"Good idea, Ichinose-kun." Kanzaki Ryuji, sitting next to her, voiced his support for the girl's suggestion. He stood up, his movements carrying a hint of scholarly precision. "I'm Kanzaki Ryuji. I graduated from Tokyo Metropolitan Aobadai Junior High School. I'm interested in logical analysis and data organization." He looked at everyone and offered a rare faint smile. "I hope we can all study hard together, gain more knowledge, and aim for good results to graduate from this school." Clearly, he agreed with Ichinose's suggestion for self-introductions and expressed his support. After speaking, he gave a slight nod and sat back down, his posture still upright.

This practical and positive self-introduction earned him kind smiles and nods from everyone. Ichinose Honami immediately said cheerfully, "Kanzaki-kun looks really reliable! Next, please!"

Self-introductions flowed through the classroom like a gentle breeze.

A girl with a cute bun hairstyle and round cheeks stood up, her voice sweet: "Hello everyone, I'm Kojou Yume... from Kanagawa. I absolutely love cats! My dream is to open a cat cafe!" She sat down with a red-faced smile, drawing a few friendly chuckles.

Next came a girl with a quiet temperament and long, smooth hair: "I'm Ninomiya Yui, from Kyoto Prefecture. I like reading quietly and taking care of plants, and I plan to join the Horticulture Club." Her voice was soft, carrying anticipation for the future.

The atmosphere grew more and more harmonious. Some classmates enthusiastically introduced local delicacies from their hometowns, while others shyly shared their hobbies. Light laughter rang out from time to time, and the strangeness of first encounters gradually faded in the warmth of the exchange.

Finally, it was the turn of the youth by the window. He seemed to have been quietly immersed in his own thoughts, his gaze fixed on the vibrant lawn outside. When everyone's attention converged on him, he turned his head calmly.

His features were clean and handsome, his black hair contrasting with his fair skin. His eyes were calm and deep, like a quiet lake under sunlight. He stood up, his posture straight, carrying a composed dignity.

"I'm Shimiya Kuki."

His voice wasn't loud, but it reached everyone's ears clearly. Concise and straightforward, with no extra embellishment.

"Pleased to meet you all."

With that, he prepared to sit down.

"Eh—?!" A drawn-out sound of exaggerated surprise and obvious teasing came from the front row. Ichinose Honami turned around, her hands resting on the back of her chair, her pretty eyes wide open, her face wearing an expression that screamed "That's way too unfair!" She aimed her words directly at Shimiya Kuki. "Shimiya-kun! Your self-introduction is way too—too short! It's even more concise than the S System's notifications! No, no, that won't do! You have to let everyone get to know you better so you can make new friends!"

Her teasing was full of energy, with no malice at all, more like a joke between friends. It instantly drew the whole class's amused attention to Shimiya. Kojou Yume even covered her mouth with a light laugh.

Shimiya Kuki stood there, caught off guard by Ichinose's sudden "accusation." He looked at her, his face still wearing that composed expression.

Ichinose Honami didn't care if he was resigned or not. Her eyes darted as if she'd thought of something, and her face immediately lit up with the excitement of sharing a secret. She turned to the whole class. "Hey, everyone! Do you know? On the way to school this morning, on a super crowded bus, I saw Shimiya-kun do something super cool!"

Her vivid description instantly captured everyone's curiosity. Even Kanzaki Ryuji looked at Shimiya Kuki with interest.

"There was this old grandma with a cane who got on the bus. All the seats were taken, and she was a bit unsteady..." Ichinose's voice painted a vivid picture. "And right then—" Her finger pointed playfully at Shimiya Kuki, her eyes sparkling, "Shimiya-kun! Without saying a word, he just naturally stood up and gave his seat to the old grandma! His movements were so smooth and cool!"

A small murmur of admiration and quiet "wows" rippled through the classroom.

"Really! I was right there watching!" Ichinose nodded emphatically, as if trying to make everyone feel like they were there. "The old grandma kept thanking him, and he just nodded calmly. So cool!" She paused, looking at Shimiya Kuki, and her face broke into that incredibly infectious, sun-like bright smile again:

"So, Shimiya-kun! Even though your self-introduction just now was so 'stingy,'" she deliberately emphasized the word "stingy" with a mischievous grin, "I saw you clearly on that bus! When the sunlight hit you, you practically had a halo! So handsome!"

Her crisp voice carried undisguised admiration and a hint of playful triumph at "exposing" his low-key demeanor.

"..."

The eyes of Class B, filled with kind smiles, curiosity, and warm appreciation, once again focused on the youth standing by the window.

Shimiya Kuki stood there, bathed in sunlight and the gazes of his classmates. His composed expression seemed unchanged. He met Ichinose's sparkling, laughter-filled gaze, and finally just gave a slight nod in response to her "revelation" and enthusiasm. Then he quietly sat back down, as if trying to retreat into that quiet corner once more.

Thanks to Ichinose's lively "revelation" and teasing, the classroom atmosphere became even more relaxed and cheerful, filled with laughter. The self-introductions continued in an even more harmonious mood. Ichinose Honami sat back down, her face still wearing that warm, radiant smile like a little sun, illuminating this newly formed Class B, full of vitality and possibility.