Application

The morning classes slipped away in the blink of an eye.

It was now midday, and the bell for the end of class had just rung.

Satoshi Ritonaka stretched his back, stood up, and looked toward the back of the room: "Dongfang, let's go to the cafeteria together."

He intended to use Dongfang Yi as a human shield to ensure he could enjoy his lunch hour in peace.

Unfortunately, things did not go as he had hoped.

"Hm? Dongfang?" He scanned his surroundings, looking somewhat puzzled.

In front of the desk that had been marked with the owner's declaration, the figure he was looking for was nowhere to be seen.

Yet, in a dark corner of the classroom he had overlooked, someone had happened to witness the entire scene.

At this moment, Dongfang Yi was heading to the faculty office to apply for a part-time job with Tomoya Mashima.

Once the application form was filled out, he still had to act as a witness and accompany Airi Sakura to report the issue of the school stalker to Sae Chabashira, the homeroom teacher for Class D.

As far as he was concerned, his schedule was actually quite tight.

He had now reached the entrance of the guidance office. Looking inside from the doorway, he saw the four first-year guidance counselors sitting across from one another, two men and two women.

The man opposite Mashima was likely Kazuma Sakamoto, the homeroom teacher for Class C.

If Dongfang Yi guessed correctly, the woman behind Mashima, dressed in casual clothes with exquisite makeup, should be Chie Hoshinomiya, the homeroom teacher for Class B.

And the woman in the business suit sitting across from Hoshinomiya was the Class D instructor, Sae Chabashira.

It was a strange office layout.

After all, based on Dongfang Yi's experience back home, larger schools usually assigned offices based on academic departments to facilitate communication and improve teaching capabilities, rather than grouping homeroom teachers together to let them study their own students.

However, considering the unique, game-like nature of this school's exams, Dongfang Yi felt that such a discrepancy was still within an acceptable range.

Besides, it didn't have any impact on him.

Dongfang Yi deactivated his stealth state, knocked lightly on the office door, and walked in after receiving permission.

"Mr. Mashima."

"Ah, it's the Wise One... cough... it's Dongfang. Is there something you need?"

Tomoya Mashima seemed to be in a good mood, not even minding a little joke.

Aren't you supposed to be the stoic type? You actually care about the little things I write? Dongfang Yi felt a bit confused.

"The Wise One? Little Tomoya, what's this about?" The teacher behind Mashima leaned over: "How rare, Little Tomoya actually giving a student a nickname."

The person who had arrived had medium-length, wavy brown hair that rested casually on her shoulders. She was dressed in a girl's pink loungewear and looked quite young—a very gentle and charming lady.

Class B homeroom teacher, Chie Hoshinomiya.

But according to the original work, she was essentially a version of Kikyo Kushida that had fallen into adulthood and been buffed.

In short, a hopeless version.

If she left a gold mine unattended, would her future end up like this? A boozy, "bodhisattva" landmine of a woman?

Dongfang Yi's thoughts drifted away.

"I didn't. You heard wrong." Tomoya Mashima denied it without changing his expression.

Dongfang Yi suspected that Mashima's poker face had been trained by this "large-sized" Kushida, but he had no proof.

"Eh~ seriously, Little Tomoya is actually lying to me." Hoshinomiya complained in a spoiled tone, then leaned toward Dongfang Yi: "What's your name?"

As she spoke, she even tried to poke Dongfang Yi's face with her finger.

There are always treacherous people trying to harm me! Are those long manicured nails for real?!

Dongfang Yi stepped back silently, easily avoiding her claws:

"Ms. Hoshinomiya, I am just an ordinary student from Class A, Dongfang Yi."

"Eh?"

Chie Hoshinomiya froze, a beat behind, while Chabashira and Sakamoto also cast their gazes over without a trace.

One had to realize that school had been in session for less than a day, and they hadn't even introduced themselves to the other classes yet.

Yet, the student before them knew exactly who they were.

A bit unexpected.

"Ara, Little Dongfang actually knows who I am. Teacher is so happy~" Hoshinomiya gave a wink and took the opportunity to press further: "Where did Little Dongfang learn Teacher's name?"

"After all, Ms. Hoshinomiya of Class B is quite famous in the school. As for Mr. Sakamoto of Class C and Ms. Chabashira of Class D, I'm not very clear on them." Dongfang Yi laughed it off and bowed to the other two teachers in order of their names.

I can see you know perfectly well, you brat.

Hoshinomiya, who considered herself a beautiful girl, had hit a wall. She knew clearly that the boy in front of her was fobbing her off with insincerity, but as a teacher, she couldn't act like a child and keep digging for answers.

So annoying!

"Dongfang Yi, you really are a bad boy." She pouted slightly, putting on an act of forced cuteness.

No matter how much you act cute, you're still an aging saint, sensei.

Dongfang Yi blinked, resting his right fist against his head: "Ehehe~"

As for sticking out his tongue, forget it; it was too embarrassing, he couldn't bring himself to do it.

Hoshinomiya was left speechless by his antics.

Just then, a young girl lightly knocked on the office door, and a voice as vibrant as a spring mountain stream rang out: "Hoshinomiya-sensei, the class has some questions regarding clubs. Could we discuss them with you?"

"Certainly, let's go over there to talk."

Hoshinomiya replied, taking the opportunity to glare at Dongfang Yi with puffed-up cheeks before walking past him toward the girl at the door.

Mashima Tomoya remained in his seat, seemingly enjoying the show; he was currently sipping water with a relaxed air and even shot Dongfang Yi an encouraging look.

If you wanted to encourage me, you should have stopped her just now, you jerk!

Dongfang Yi sighed with a rather zen-like attitude and got straight to the point: "Mashima-sensei, it's like this: I'd like to apply for a part-time job, so I've come to fill out the application form."

"Cough, cough, cough." Mashima Tomoya was startled by his sudden declaration, and his demeanor became visibly serious: "May I ask the reason?"

"Better safe than sorry." Dongfang Yi's reply was concise and to the point.

"But Dongfang-kun, the school has a large and rich variety of clubs. There's even a club recruitment event at the gymnasium this afternoon. Won't you go take a look?" Mashima Tomoya tried to persuade him.

After all, part-time jobs were meant for those poor kids who hadn't received any points for months and weren't in any clubs.

As a student of Class A, he shouldn't be fighting for scraps with the guys from Class C and Class D, right?

"Sensei, I have no intention of joining a club for the time being. Besides, my part-time job will only last for this month; it won't be long."

"Since you have it all figured out, Dongfang-kun, then I am relieved."

Although Mashima Tomoya felt surprised, he still dug through a pile of dusty part-time job applications and pulled one out to hand to Dongfang Yi.

But while Dongfang Yi sat down to fill it out, he couldn't help but ask one more question: "Have you already decided on a workplace, Dongfang-kun?"

"At Palette Cafe. I've already spoken with the person in charge."

Mashima Tomoya naturally knew which place he was talking about; it was a spot with extremely high popularity among all the students in the school.

The purpose of this student going there was self-evident.

He lowered his voice, once again probing indirectly: "If you want to get to know upperclassmen, wouldn't it be better to do so through clubs?"

"Sensei, I am merely collecting some information." Dongfang Yi handed back the completed form.

"One month is enough."