After school.
Gymnasium 1.
At that moment,
a girl walked onto the stage.
Her shoulder-length purple hair was tied into two buns,
and her cute little face was set in an expression of seriousness that didn't match her appearance.
Her voice was also somewhat childish and soft.
"Freshmen, sorry for the wait. I'm Tachibana Akane, the Student Council secretary, and I'll be hosting today's orientation. Next, the club representatives will begin introducing their clubs."
With that,
Tachibana stepped off the stage.
One after another, the heads of various clubs took the stage, gesticulating enthusiastically as they tried to recruit new members.
Then a boy walked onto the stage. He was tall and upright, wearing black-rimmed glasses. He simply held the microphone and looked coldly down at the people below.
Tachibana gazed at the man onstage with admiration.
This was the Student Council President—
Horikita Manabu.
Cold on the outside, warm on the inside, and powerful.
The strongest man at this university!
"Hey, what's wrong?"
"Did you forget your speech?"
"Don't be nervous. Take your time!"
"Get off the stage! You can't even talk. This is hilarious."
However,
as time passed,
even those who had been encouraging or mocking him began to realize that something was wrong.
The entire gymnasium fell silent.
Even without being told, everyone instinctively sensed that they shouldn't speak.
Only then
did Horikita pick up the microphone.
A squeak.
Just then,
the gymnasium doors were pushed open from the outside.
Prince Ganlongdao walked into the gymnasium,
with Albert and Ishizaki following behind him.
Onstage,
Horikita Manabu, who had been about to speak, froze. His cold gaze fixed on the group that had suddenly barged in.
It had to be said,
Prince Ganlongdao was nearly two meters tall, and Albert was a huge Black man.
Their physiques alone were imposing.
For a moment,
everyone in the gymnasium turned to look at them.
The three approached the stage.
"Hey..."
Ishizaki glanced around and lowered his voice.
"Prince Brother, something feels off. Why's everyone looking at us?"
"Are you stupid? Why not just ask?"
Prince Ganlongdao gave him a light smack on the head.
He looked around,
then settled his gaze on a nearby expressionless boy with a fish-shaped haircut.
"Hey, what's your name?"
"Huh...?"
The expressionless boy seemed to pause, but his face remained blank.
"Class 1-D. Ayanokoji Kiyotaka."
"Oh?"
Prince Ganlongdao gave him a closer look.
Ayanokoji.
That was an extremely rare name.
Still,
Prince Ganlongdao vaguely recognized it.
The Ganlongdao family had a major client with the surname Ayanokoji. He didn't know if the boy in front of him was related, though it didn't seem likely.
"Tell me."
Prince Ganlongdao glanced around. "I remember the announcement said there was a club orientation here. Why's everyone so quiet?"
"Uh..."
Ayanokoji looked around.
Feeling everyone's eyes on them, he hesitated for a moment before explaining,
"There is a club orientation going on. I don't know why, but not long after that senior went onstage, everyone stopped talking."
"Huh? Why?"
Ishizaki looked baffled.
Without experiencing that atmosphere himself, it was hard to understand the power of silence.
"Whatever~"
Prince Ganlongdao casually rested his elbow on Ayanokoji's shoulder. Ayanokoji hesitated, as if he wanted to dodge, but ultimately gave up.
Feeling Prince Ganlongdao's elbow pressing down on his shoulder,
Ayanokoji Kiyotaka, to be honest,
wasn't used to people standing so close.
But as a new university student, he didn't know how to handle it, so he could only let the other man do as he pleased.
"Tell me about it."
Prince Ganlongdao kept his elbow on Ayanokoji's shoulder, then nodded at the Club Guidebook in his hands.
"What clubs does the university have? Any club presidents who left a strong impression on you?"
"Uh..."
This guy was way too friendly with strangers.
Was it really okay to strike up a conversation like this?
Feeling the people around them watching, Ayanokoji Kiyotaka looked awkward and hesitant.
"I wasn't planning to join a club, so I can't say anyone left much of an impression. If I had to say, there are a few pretty senior girls..."
"Heh~"
Prince Ganlongdao drew out the sound and raised an eyebrow as if he understood.
"How pretty?"
Seriously?
Ayanokoji Kiyotaka glanced at him.
He'd made himself seem completely useless, yet the guy still wouldn't leave him alone?
How could anyone be so friendly with strangers?
Ayanokoji Kiyotaka really didn't know how to deal with him.
After hesitating for a moment,
he still lowered his voice and said,
"Well... there's one who's especially tall, and has a really great figure..."
"..."
The entire gymnasium was silent.
The only voices were Prince Ganlongdao and Ayanokoji Kiyotaka's unrestrained conversation about women, drawing everyone's attention while Horikita Manabu was left standing onstage.
"All right, all right~"
Prince Ganlongdao patted his shoulder, looking rather pleased.
"You describe women like a palace eunuch—without a hint of feeling. Boring. Tell me what clubs the university has."
"Uh..."
Ayanokoji had an expressionless look on his face.
He'd been insulted, hadn't he? Even if he hadn't, the guy was definitely looking down on him, right?
And yet, after belittling him, he immediately asked him to keep explaining?
Even if he wasn't expecting any help,
Ayanokoji Kiyotaka couldn't help wondering if there was something wrong with the guy.
Still,
he'd never interacted with outsiders before.
Ayanokoji Kiyotaka wasn't sure what counted as normal behavior for a university student.
Maybe
someone like Prince Ganlongdao was normal too?
With a hint of helplessness mixed into his slightly troubled tone, Ayanokoji Kiyotaka explained,
"There are two major clubs: the Soccer Club and the Basketball Club. There are also some smaller clubs with just a few members. If you want to know more, you can have this Club Guidebook."
"No need. Read it to me."
"???"
Ayanokoji Kiyotaka was utterly confused.
He seriously suspected
there was something wrong with this guy.
They'd only just met, hadn't they?
He'd barely met him, and already the guy was ordering him around, asking him questions, insulting him, and making him explain the clubs.
Did he have no shame?
Did this guy have any shame?
Could Ayanokoji be getting bullied right now?
Ayanokoji Kiyotaka was a little confused.
But since he hadn't suffered any real harm, Ayanokoji didn't think it was a big deal.
After hesitating for a moment,
he lowered his head, opened the Club Guidebook, and began introducing the various clubs to Prince Ganlongdao.
The onlookers fell silent.
It looked as if that honest guy, Ayanokoji Kiyotaka, was being bullied.
The entire gymnasium
was silent.
Yet no matter how quiet everyone else was,
the two of them continued chatting and laughing without a care, their voices echoing through the gymnasium.
Horikita Manabu, left standing onstage, seemed more like a clown.
Someone sneaked a glance at Horikita onstage, then at Prince Ganlongdao below.
Whether or not Prince Ganlongdao had done it on purpose,
he'd undoubtedly slighted Horikita Manabu. Surely he'd get angry, wouldn't he?
Just then,
a girl beside Ayanokoji Kiyotaka finally couldn't take it anymore.
Her expression cold, she said,
"That's enough, Ayanokoji. If you don't like it, just say so. You're only causing trouble for everyone around you."
Before you continue