As Mazumi Mami steadily cemented his nascent leadership in the Class A classroom with his informational advantage, crisis management, and practical solutions.
The entire scene unfolded before the eyes of the homeroom teacher, who had never truly left.
Around the corner of the hallway outside the classroom's back door, Majima Tomoya stood with his back against the wall, a silent statue. Sheltered by the wall and the shadows in the corridor, he quietly observed everything happening inside.
He saw how Mazumi Mami calmed his restless classmates, clearly laid out his deductions, proposed establishing a "Class Common Fund," and cleverly secured the entire class's support through an anonymous vote.
He also saw how Mami took the opportunity to entrust the key position of fund manager to his trusted classmate, Runa Inoue.
Throughout the process, Mami had displayed a calmness, decisiveness, understanding of people, and command of procedure far beyond what one would expect from an ordinary high school freshman.
Only after the vote ended and Mami began his final remarks, as the class atmosphere clearly shifted from panic and disorder to organized solidarity,
did the stern, rigid corners of Majima Tomoya's mouth lift almost imperceptibly into a faint but genuine smile.
A sharp glint of approval and anticipation flashed in his eyes.
"To gather so much information on the very first day of school, and even deduce this school's point system..."
"Mazumi Mami, it seems I really did strike gold."
Majima Tomoya thought to himself.
He didn't linger. Turning around, he walked steadily toward the teachers' office, clearly in a good mood.
"Oh my, Majima-sensei, you look like you're in a great mood! Did something good happen?"
As soon as he entered the office, a lively, cheerful female voice rang out, with a hint of playful sweetness.
The speaker was Chie Hoshinomiya, homeroom teacher of Class 1-B.
Her carefully styled chestnut-brown hair fell in bouncy waves to her shoulders, swaying gently as she moved.
Her violet eyes were always full of laughter, making her look lively and approachable.
Though only 155 centimeters tall, she had a curvy figure. Wearing a pink ruffled blouse and a light blue high-waisted miniskirt, she radiated youthful charm, and you'd never guess she was over thirty.
She was extremely popular among the students. She also served as the school nurse, and there were even rumors that some foolish students deliberately injured themselves just so they could receive her gentle care.
"It's nothing in particular, Hoshinomiya-sensei."
Majima Tomoya resumed his usual stern expression and walked over to his desk.
"Oh? So mysterious?"
Chie Hoshinomiya edged closer, undeterred, and blinked her big eyes.
"Let me guess... Something involving students must have put you in such a good mood, right? Have you found some especially promising 'talent' among this year's freshmen?"
Chie Hoshinomiya said.
Majima Tomoya's hands paused slightly as he arranged his lesson plans. He didn't deny it. "...You could say that."
"Really? Who is it? Come on, tell me!"
Chie Hoshinomiya's curiosity was thoroughly piqued. "If you've taken a liking to him and you're this happy, he must be something special! Which class is he in?"
"I'll keep that to myself for now."
Majima Tomoya's tone was even, but a glimmer of certainty passed through his eyes. "Still, I'm sure his name will soon spread throughout the entire first year. With his abilities and... his way of doing things, I doubt he'll be able to keep a low profile."
"Hmph! Making it all so mysterious!"
Chie Hoshinomiya pouted, but then lifted her chest with a proud air. "But you're not the only one with a good student, Majima-sensei! We have an outstanding kid in Class B, too! Her name is Honami Ichinose!"
At the mention of her student, Chie Hoshinomiya's eyes shone even brighter.
"On the very first day of school, her sincerity and cheerful personality won the affection and trust of so many classmates! Everyone wants to gather around her and listen to what she has to say. I'm sure it won't be long before the whole year knows her name, too! She definitely won't be any less impressive than the student you've taken a liking to, Majima-sensei!"
Chie Hoshinomiya said.
"Is that so?" Majima Tomoya smiled faintly, neither agreeing nor disagreeing. "Then let's wait and see."
"Majima-sensei, Hoshinomiya-sensei, are you talking about this year's standout students?"
Another warm male voice joined the conversation.
The speaker was Kazuma Sakagami, homeroom teacher of Class C.
He had neat, short black hair, with a little gray at the temples, and his face almost always wore a gentle, harmless smile that was even a little kindly.
When he smiled, his eyes narrowed into fine slits, and wrinkles gathered at their corners. Along with his thick black-rimmed glasses, the effect made him seem utterly harmless. His gaze was always so tolerant and indulgent that he seemed like someone who could never get angry.
But Majima Tomoya and Chie Hoshinomiya, who had worked alongside him for years, knew well that this good-natured appearance was merely a carefully maintained disguise.
When it came to class competition and opportunities for advancement, this seemingly mild-mannered teacher was neither simple nor lacking in guile.
"Funny you should say that. There's a student in Class C who's caught my attention, too."
Kazuma Sakagami pushed his glasses up at an unhurried pace. A glint flashed in his narrow eyes behind the lenses.
"His name is Ryuen Kakeru. Quite an interesting boy. On the very first day of school, he'd already managed, in his own way, to control most of the class's 'mood.' His methods... may not be the most conventional, but they're effective. I believe his future is limitless."
Kazuma Sakagami said.
"It seems this year's freshmen are indeed quite talented overall," Majima Tomoya concluded, a hint of appraisal in his tone.
"Yes, the competition is sure to be exciting!"
Chie Hoshinomiya clasped her hands together, looking forward to it.
"I just wonder which class will be the first to achieve internal cohesion and unity. After all, during this first month's 'Comprehensive Assessment Period,' the more disciplined and coordinated a class is, the greater its advantage."
She sighed, her voice taking on a petulant edge of exasperation. "Seeing our kids still so lazy and unconcerned about the crisis, I feel like calling out to warn them... but that wouldn't be allowed."
"Hoshinomiya-sensei, you're still too 'by the book.'"
Kazuma Sakagami chuckled. His voice remained gentle, but his words carried a deeper meaning. "There are always loopholes in the rules. A few... subtle hints that don't cross the line are tacitly permitted. Being too rigid can put your own students at a disadvantage."
"Hmm... I'll... think about it."
Chie Hoshinomiya nodded thoughtfully.
On the other side of the office, Sae Chabashira, homeroom teacher of Class 1-D, sat alone at her desk, expressionless as she worked through some paperwork.
Her long, dark brown hair was neatly tied into a practical ponytail, with side-swept bangs and long strands framing her face.
Her amber-brown eyes were devoid of warmth. Combined with her cold expression and simple, sharp attire, she gave off the air of a classic "ice queen"—someone best left alone.
Chie Hoshinomiya's gaze swept over Sae Chabashira. The playful friendliness she'd shown Majima and Sakagami quickly vanished, replaced by a complicated mix of contempt and coldness.
She stood and walked over with light steps.
"Oh my~ Sae, why are you sitting here working through paperwork all by yourself instead of joining our discussion?"
Chie Hoshinomiya's voice was still sweet, but her tone had taken on a deliberately high, probing edge. "Has Class D... really not found anyone worth talking about? Why don't you share with us?"
She leaned slightly toward Sae Chabashira's ear, speaking in a voice only the two of them could hear, her whisper openly mocking.
"Or is it... that you really can't find anyone worth showing off, and you're embarrassed to say so? After all, you're Class D."
Chie Hoshinomiya said.
Sae Chabashira's fingers stopped tapping at the keyboard. Without looking up, she coldly spat out two words: "You're annoying."
"Oh my, did I hit a nerve?"
Chie Hoshinomiya straightened, her voice returning to its normal volume, but growing even sharper.
"Then again, it is Class D. Most of them probably think this place is some kind of paradise for having fun, right? They're probably busy squandering their points, lost in a false sense of prosperity, without the slightest awareness of the danger."
She folded her arms, her gaze scornful.
"How could a 'defective' group of students who can't even manage themselves produce someone capable of uniting others and showing them the way? There's no point discussing something that doesn't exist."
Chie Hoshinomiya said.
"I'm going to class."
Sae Chabashira snapped her folder shut, stood with a cold expression, and picked up the textbooks on her desk. Her tone was icy. "Move. Don't waste my time."
Chie Hoshinomiya didn't move aside at once. She held Sae Chabashira's cool gaze for a second, then snorted and stepped out of the way.
Sae Chabashira left the office in a brisk stride without looking back. The door closed softly behind her, but it seemed to take all the warmth with it, leaving behind a stifling awkwardness.
The office was quiet for a few seconds.
"After all these years, you still can't let it go, Hoshinomiya?"
Majima Tomoya broke the silence and asked calmly.
"Let it go?"
Chie Hoshinomiya turned around. Her sweet smile had vanished, and unmistakable resentment and bitterness churned in her violet eyes. "I'll never forgive that selfish woman. Never."
"That's understandable."
Kazuma Sakagami interjected in his usual gentle voice, though his words were just as cold.
"After all, the perfect chance for Class D to rise to Class A back then was personally crushed by her. How many people lost their chance to advance? How many bright futures that should have been changed—or even destroyed?"
"In my view, the fact that Hoshinomiya-sensei has only harbored resentment, rather than doing something more extreme, is already a remarkable display of restraint and kindness."
He looked at Majima Tomoya and shook his head slightly. "Majima-sensei, you're still too idealistic and naive about some things."
Majima Tomoya fell silent for a moment, then finally sighed softly. "...Perhaps."
"Still," he said, looking at Chie Hoshinomiya, who had returned to her seat but still looked grim, and at Kazuma Sakagami, who wore a warm smile as if none of this concerned him,
"I hope the two of you can find a way to resolve your conflict as soon as possible. The atmosphere in the office shouldn't always be so tense."
Majima Tomoya said.
"Resolve it?"
Chie Hoshinomiya gave a cold laugh, her voice firm and decisive.
"It's simple. As long as she leaves this school, everything between us will be settled. Otherwise, as long as I'm still at this school, I'll do everything I can to stop her and her class."
"Her Class D will never get the chance to rise. It's what she owes those students, and what she owes... me."
Her tone was resolute, leaving no room for compromise.
Majima Tomoya and Kazuma Sakagami exchanged a glance, both seeing the same helplessness in each other's eyes.
They understood Chie Hoshinomiya's anger and obsession. From a certain point of view, her demand could even be considered "reasonable."
But this was a knot impossible to untangle, rooted deep in the past, continuing to affect the present, and inevitably destined to spill into the future—especially onto the new Class D students caught up in this longstanding feud between teachers.
Silence settled over the office once more, broken only by the faint hum of the air conditioner and the occasional rustle of turning pages.
Four homeroom teachers, four classrooms, one hundred and sixty freshmen—a grand game of chess interwoven with personal ambitions, class competition, teachers' grudges, and cruel rules had quietly begun with its first pieces.
And Mazumi Mami, Honami Ichinose, Ryuen Kakeru, and the unknown factors in Class D yet to reveal themselves would each begin their own struggles and efforts along separate paths at this unusual school.