9:10 a.m., in the Class 2-B classroom.
"Haha, Horikita, you're so funny." The girl with her hair in a bun rested her chin on the desk and spoke with puffed-out cheeks.
"Not really." Horikita Etsuka sat on a stool in front of them and waved a hand. "I've only just met you, so as a guy, I'm trying to find something to talk about."
Sakurajima Sweet covered her mouth as she laughed. "Horikita, you're really straightforward."
Watching the three girls take the initiative and start chatting with him, Horikita Etsuka couldn't help thinking:
Great, great. I've already managed to get acquainted with a little group. Now I just need to expand my reach.
"By the way, Horikita." Sakurajima Sweet took out her Student Terminal. "Shall we exchange contact information?"
"Sure."
After Horikita Etsuka gave her his student number, Sakurajima Sweet stared at the screen for a moment before sending him a request.
Horikita Etsuka opened his Student Terminal and was about to accept, but then he caught sight of her nickname.
Class 2-B's Sakurajima Sweet?!
Horikita Etsuka realized in an instant that he'd gone into the wrong classroom.
I got distracted by all the pretty girls on the way here...
He noticed more and more people in the classroom looking over at them, and finally stood up.
"Sakurajima, I've really enjoyed talking with you. See you next time."
Sakurajima Sweet blinked, then waved. "Yeah, it's about time your homeroom teacher got there. Bye!"
Horikita Etsuka waved back and left the classroom.
The girl with her hair in a bun paused, then reached out. "Hey, I haven't added him yet..."
Sakurajima Sweet stopped her. "Momo, don't bother. He's probably heading back to his classroom now."
Izawa Momo puffed out her cheeks. "But..."
"Oh, I'll just give you his contact information!" Sakurajima Sweet patted her on the back.
"Really?"
"Of course! We're best friends!"
"What about me?" the short-haired girl said unhappily.
"Hehe, of course I haven't forgotten our Lehua."
Inside the Class 1-B classroom.
The petite teacher with long brown hair blinked as she looked toward the empty seat by the back window.
"Oh dear, it looks like someone in our class hasn't arrived yet. Emmm, I guess I can't introduce myself just yet."
As she spoke, she pouted and lowered her head with a dejected look, seeming incredibly childish.
"That's okay, teacher." Ichinose waved a hand. "We can wait."
"Yeah, it's all right, teacher."
"Right, it's only a little while." The others chimed in, and the class seemed especially harmonious.
The teacher's eyes seemed to light up again. She smiled warmly and said:
"Mhm, you're all so nice. You understand how difficult things can be for your teacher.
"But... if waiting for a classmate means our class doesn't make it to the opening ceremony, the chairman is going to give me a real scolding!"
"Sorry, Hoshinomiya-sensei. I'm late. I'll accept whatever punishment you give me."
Horikita Etsuka stood at the doorway without coming in, beads of sweat dotting his forehead.
He didn't mention what he'd been doing just then. Instead, he immediately apologized and made it clear he was willing to be punished.
That gave the impression that something had genuinely held him up.
On the way over, he'd already found out his homeroom teacher's name. He'd also run the whole way, working up a slight sweat so he wouldn't look like a delinquent who'd simply been late.
The entire class turned to look at Horikita Etsuka. Some of the girls' eyes lit up, while the boys seemed less impressed.
After all, people cared about appearances, and the girls hoped there'd be more handsome guys like Horikita Etsuka.
Even if he wasn't their boyfriend, he was still nice to look at.
"Emmm, a punishment, huh?" Hoshinomiya wasn't at all surprised that Etsuka knew her name. She thought for a long while before saying:
"How about we turn it into a favor you owe me? Though I haven't thought of anything yet. Could you give me some time?"
Horikita Etsuka blinked. "Sure. If it's something a beautiful teacher wants, I'll do my best to agree."
"Haha." Hoshinomiya covered her mouth and laughed warmly, seeming to enjoy being called a beautiful teacher. Then she said, "Since you arrived late and haven't met everyone, I'll give you some time to introduce yourself."
Horikita Etsuka nodded at Hoshinomiya, whose face looked as young as a girl's. "Then thank you, teacher."
Hoshinomiya stepped aside, and Horikita Etsuka walked over.
He calmly picked up a piece of chalk and wrote four large characters on the blackboard: Horikita Etsuka!
He turned around and smiled at everyone.
"My name is Horikita Etsuka. I enjoy sports and other physical activities. We'll be together for the next three years, so I look forward to getting along with you all."
When introducing yourself in front of a group, you shouldn't say anything boastful—or anything that sounds boastful.
That sort of thing would make a bad impression. A simple, confident introduction was enough to draw plenty of attention.
Most students were still in a high-school mindset. Eighty percent of them would get nervous facing the eyes of thirty or forty classmates.
But Horikita Etsuka wouldn't. In his previous life on Blue Star, he'd been a student in a gifted class and had given a speech at an assembly of ten thousand people. This was nothing to him.
Applause filled the classroom. Everyone smiled, genuinely welcoming Horikita Etsuka.
Hoshinomiya looked at Horikita Etsuka with a hint of admiration in her eyes. She clapped her hands and said:
"Alright, Horikita, go back to your seat. I haven't even introduced myself yet, and you've already let the cat out of the bag! Hmph! You're really no fun, Horikita!"
Hoshinomiya seemed good at lightening the mood, and the atmosphere in the class stayed cheerful.
She picked up the chalk and wrote her name beneath Horikita Etsuka's: Hoshinomiya Chie!
She put down the chalk and blinked at everyone.
"Your teacher's name is Hoshinomiya Chie. If nothing unexpected happens, I'll be your teacher for the next three years. So let's get along, and don't you dare bully me!"
Hoshinomiya's liveliness put the girls in the class at ease. The last thing they wanted was a strict, old-fashioned teacher, and this teacher was exactly what they'd hoped for.
The boys in the class didn't act like perverts, either, but their hearts still couldn't help pounding.
Who could resist a cute, baby-faced teacher?!
Hoshinomiya smiled at everyone, then abruptly shifted to a more serious tone.
"Now, let me tell you about this school's rules!"
Before you continue