After Hoshinomiya-sensei left with her signature sweet smile, the classroom door swung shut with a light click. Bright sunlight streamed through the enormous floor-to-ceiling windows, bathing the classroom. Outside, the neatly trimmed lawns of the Artificial Island glowed a vivid green, as if covered in gold leaf. The sea breeze carried a fresh scent and swept away the tension of meeting for the first time. The S System's introduction and the "ding-dong" chime announcing the start of their new lives were like stones tossed into a tranquil lake, sending ripples of excitement through everyone.
Just then, a clear, lively voice with a hint of playfulness broke the brief silence. Without standing up, it came from the front row, brimming with laughter:
"Ahaha~ Everyone still looks a little nervous, huh?"
Everyone instinctively turned toward the source of the voice. Near the aisle in the front row, a blonde girl smiled brightly, resting her cheek in one hand while casually waving with the other. Her radiant, unclouded smile was like a beam of warm light, naturally drawing everyone's attention.
"I'm Ichinose Honami, and I'll be spending the next three years with all of you in Class B!" Her voice was clear and pleasant, full of natural warmth. "You can call me Honami or Ichinose! Just think, we'll be going on 'adventures' together on this special island for the next three years. Doesn't that sound fun? But," she added with a playful wink, "before we start our 'island exploration,' shouldn't we get to know our fellow adventurers?"
She looked around at her new classmates, whose faces showed curiosity and a touch of shyness, and her smile grew even brighter. "How about we all give a simple self-introduction? Nothing too formal—just your name, where you're from, or even your favorite food! I'll go first!" She stood up naturally, poised and confident. "I'm Ichinose Honami, from Tokyo, and my favorite things are making friends and trying new things! My goal is for all of us to make Class B the warmest, happiest class there is!" Her sunny declaration instantly lightened the mood in the classroom.
"Good idea, Ichinose-kun." Kanzaki Ryuji, seated beside her, voiced his support for her suggestion. He stood, moving with a scholar's precision. "I'm Kanzaki Ryuji. I graduated from Tokyo Metropolitan Aobadai Junior High School. I'm particularly interested in logical analysis and organizing data." He looked at everyone and managed a rare, faint smile. "I hope we can learn a lot together, work hard, earn good grades, and graduate from this school." Clearly, he agreed with Ichinose's suggestion and wanted to show his support. When he finished, he gave a slight nod and sat down, his posture still impeccable.
Everyone responded to his practical, upbeat introduction with friendly smiles and nods. Ichinose Honami immediately said, "Kanzaki-kun looks so reliable! Who's next? Go ahead!"
The introductions flowed through the classroom like a gentle breeze.
A girl with a cute bun and round cheeks stood up, her voice sweet. "Hi, everyone! I'm Kojou Yume... I'm from Kanagawa, and I loooove cats! My dream is to open a Cat Cafe!" She sat back down with a red face and a smile, drawing a few friendly laughs.
Next came a quiet-looking girl with long, smooth hair. "I'm Ninomiya Yui, from Kyoto Prefecture. I like reading quietly and taking care of plants. I plan to join the Horticulture Club." Her voice was soft, and filled with anticipation for the future.
The atmosphere grew more and more relaxed. Some students enthusiastically introduced foods from their hometowns, while others shyly shared their hobbies. Laughter rang out now and then, and the awkwardness of meeting for the first time gradually faded amid the warm conversation.
At last, it was the boy by the window's turn. He seemed to have been quietly absorbed in his thoughts the whole time, his gaze fixed on the vibrant lawn outside. Only when everyone's attention turned to him did he calmly look around.
He had handsome, refined features. His tousled black hair set off his fair skin, and his gaze was calm and deep, like a still lake beneath the sunlight. He stood, his posture straight and his bearing composed.
"I'm Shimiya Kuki."
His voice wasn't loud, but it carried clearly to everyone in the room. Brief and direct, without a single unnecessary word.
"Pleased to meet you."
With that, he started to sit down.
"Ehhh?!" A drawn-out exclamation, exaggerated with surprise and unmistakably teasing, rang out from the front row. Ichinose Honami turned around and leaned both hands on the back of her chair, her pretty eyes wide. With an expression that said, "That's so unfair!" she addressed Shimiya Kuki directly. "Shimiya-kun! Your self-introduction was way, way too short! It was even more concise than the S System's announcements! No, no, that won't do! Everyone needs to get to know you better if you want to make new friends!"
Her teasing was bursting with energy and entirely free of malice. It felt more like a joke between friends, and in an instant, the whole class turned to Shimiya with amused smiles. Kojou Yume even covered her mouth as she giggled.
Shimiya Kuki paused mid-motion, caught off guard by Ichinose's sudden "accusation." He looked at her, his expression still as composed as ever.
Ichinose Honami didn't care whether he was exasperated or not. Her eyes shifted as if she'd just remembered something, and her face lit up with the excitement of sharing a secret. She turned to the class. "Did you all know? On my way to school this morning, I saw Shimiya-kun do something suuuuper cool on a really crowded bus!"
Her vivid description instantly piqued everyone's curiosity. Even Kanzaki Ryuji looked at Shimiya Kuki with interest.
"There was an old lady with a cane who got on. All the seats were taken, and she was having a little trouble standing..." Ichinose's words brought the scene to life. "And right then—" She playfully pointed at Shimiya Kuki, her eyes sparkling. "Shimiya-kun! He didn't say a word. He just stood up naturally and gave his seat to the old lady! He did it so smoothly and looked so cool!"
A chorus of soft admiration and whispered "Wow" rose through the classroom.
"It's true! I was standing right next to him!" Ichinose nodded emphatically, as if trying to make everyone feel like they'd been there. "The old lady kept thanking him, and he just nodded calmly. It was so cool!" She paused and looked at Shimiya Kuki, her infectious, sun-bright smile blooming once more.
"So, Shimiya-kun! Even though you're being so 'stingy' with your self-introduction," she said, deliberately emphasizing the word "stingy" with a mischievous grin, "I saw exactly what you were like on that bus! When the sunlight fell on you, it was like you had a halo around you. You were so cool!"
Her clear voice brimmed with unrestrained admiration and a hint of smugness at having exposed his modesty.
"..."
The attention of Class B, filled with friendly smiles, curiosity, and warm admiration, focused once again on the boy standing by the window.
Shimiya Kuki stood there, bathed in the sunlight and his classmates' attention. His composed expression seemed unchanged as he met Ichinose's bright, laughter-filled gaze. In the end, he merely gave a slight nod in acknowledgment of her "revelation" and enthusiasm, then quietly returned to his seat, as if trying to tuck himself away in his quiet corner again.
Thanks to Ichinose's lively "revelation" and teasing, the classroom had grown even more relaxed and cheerful, filled with laughter. The introductions continued in a warmer atmosphere. Ichinose Honami returned to her seat, still wearing a warm, radiant smile like a little sun, lighting up the newly formed Class B, a group brimming with energy and possibility.
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