After Majima Tomoya left, the classroom fell into a brief vacuum.
The new students looked at one another, seemingly still reeling from the homeroom teacher's imposing presence and the shock of receiving 100,000 points. For a moment, no one knew how to break the awkward silence.
Some looked through their materials, some discreetly sized up their classmates, and some gazed out the window. But no one made the first move or raised their voice.
Mazumi Mami took it all in.
Perhaps Class A's silence came from self-discipline, but their current confusion and inertia revealed that these "honor students" also lacked a clear starting point or leader in a new environment with unfamiliar rules.
"An opportunity."
The thought flashed clearly through his mind.
He had been about to jump up and draw everyone's attention with something more dramatic—like slapping the desk and shouting, "All eyes on me!" or something along those lines.
That suited the direct approach he was used to taking to break deadlocks during certain missions.
But then he remembered his current "persona": Mazumi Mami, the frail, sickly heir to Mizuki Heavy Industries, who had spent years isolated from the world.
An overly lively and aggressive act wouldn't fit that background.
So he put on a gentle smile, just right for someone with a touch of frailty, and reached for the wooden cane leaning against his desk.
The cane looked simple and old-fashioned. It was one of the symbols of "Mazumi Mami's" weak constitution, but it concealed a secret: when necessary, its core could be drawn out to reveal a short, tempered-steel sword.
Leaning on his cane, he walked to the podium, his movements slightly slow but steady.
That alone was enough to draw attention in the quiet classroom.
Nearly everyone's eyes followed him as he made his way to the front.
After clearing his throat, he spoke in a clear but not overly loud voice, softened with the gentle quality of someone "recovering from a long illness."
"Hello, everyone. There's still some time before the opening ceremony, and sitting around like this seems a bit of a waste. How about we take this chance to introduce ourselves?"
His gaze swept calmly across the class.
"After all, we'll be studying and living in the same class for the next three years. It doesn't seem right to stay as distant as we are now. I think getting to know each other would be a good start."
His suggestion was perfectly reasonable, and the awkward silence broke at once.
Many students looked relieved and nodded in agreement. Clearly, they'd also felt they ought to do something, but no one had taken the lead.
"Then I'll get the ball rolling."
Mazumi Mami gave a slight, graceful bow, perfectly embodying the image of a well-mannered young master from a prominent family, albeit one in frail health.
He turned around, picked up a piece of chalk, and wrote the four neat characters for "Mazumi Mami" on the blackboard.
The faint scrape of chalk against the board sounded unusually clear in the quiet classroom.
"My name is Mazumi Mami. Mazumi, as in Mizuki Heavy Industries; Mami, the characters for 'true' and 'seek.'"
He turned back to his classmates, speaking sincerely, with a hint of carefully measured melancholy.
"Because of my health, I've rarely had the chance to study and spend time with people my own age on campus like an ordinary student. Getting into Yingtai Advanced Nurturing High School is an opportunity I've waited a long time for. I truly hope I can become friends with all of you and spend three meaningful years together."
Sunlight streamed through the clean windows and fell across him.
He had carefully suppressed every trace of Liu Zheng's sharpness and the marks left by a life weathered by hardship. What he showed them now was the side that belonged to "Mazumi Mami."
The thousand-year legacy of selective breeding and genetic enhancement in the Shenzhou Empire's imperial family showed in his looks and bearing, which went beyond mere "handsomeness" and approached perfection.
His features were exquisite without appearing feminine. His nose was straight, his lips well-defined, and together they formed a harmony and allure that were hard to describe.
Most striking were his eyes. In the sunlight, they appeared a deep amber-gold. At first glance, they weren't far from the "yellow eyes" he claimed to have, but they were deeper, as if they held the stars within them.
His skin was unusually pale, almost bloodless-looking, and stood out even more in the sunlight, perfectly matching his claims of frailty and rarely seeing the sun.
Of course, he wasn't truly sickly pale. It was a subtle side effect of his Vector Manipulation ability: it automatically filtered and deflected most harmful ultraviolet rays and other radiation before they could reach his skin.
Under his clothes was a body honed through countless trials, with sleek lines that concealed astonishing strength. But now he was dressed in a well-fitted uniform, his stance carefully adjusted: leaning slightly against the podium, with the tip of his cane touching the floor.
It created a vivid image of a "frail young master."
His sincere introduction, tinged with vulnerability, combined with his striking looks and prominent family background, immediately stirred a reaction among the students.
Many looked at him with sympathy, curiosity, or even a desire to get closer.
That was exactly the effect Mazumi Mami wanted: to make a positive first impression that would be easy to approach and put others at ease.
"The functioning of any system of rules depends on a group of people—in this case, a class."
He analyzed the situation coolly.
"In a new environment, the first person to stand up, unite the group, and offer a clear direction often gains the advantage and becomes a potential core figure. Since no one's acting, I'll take that place for now. It's better to control the situation than adapt to it passively."
His introduction was over, and it had gone well.
As they'd agreed beforehand, his "maids" would take the stage next, further reinforcing and shaping the image of their little group while giving them a chance to observe how the other students reacted.
"Then it's my turn!"
A spirited voice rang out. Chisato Nishikigi practically bounced up to the podium, her movements a stark contrast to Mazumi Mami's "sluggish" pace.
Her ruby-red eyes sparkled, and her smile was bright enough to chase away any gloom.
"My name's Chisato Nishikigi! I like all kinds of things—sweets, cute animals, fun games! I'm good at lots of things too: cooking, first aid, and a little bit of sports~"
She counted them off on her fingers, speaking quickly. "If you run into any problems, whether it's something to do with daily life or anything else, come find me and I'll see what I can do! I'd be happy to help!"
Then she abruptly changed the subject, grinned, and threw her arms around the "helplessly resigned" Mazumi Mami's arm, practically hanging off him.
"But if helping you conflicts with our young master's tasks or needs, I'll definitely put him first! After all, I'm his personal maid~ Loyalty comes first!"
"Whoa—!"
A wave of barely suppressed gasps and whispers swept through the class.
How could teenage boys and girls have seen a master-and-servant interaction so direct and "bold," especially between two people so good-looking?
Many of the boys stared wide-eyed, while the girls covered their mouths. Their gazes shifted between Mazumi Mami and Chisato Nishikigi, full of surprise and curious excitement.
"Chisato! Stop fooling around and let go of the young master. Give your introduction properly!"
Runa Inoue's cool voice, tinged with a hint of exasperation, cut in at just the right moment.
She strode up to the podium and shot Chisato a disapproving glance with her purple eyes before turning to the class and giving a flawless bow.
"I'm Runa Inoue. I'm also the young master's maid, and I'm responsible for his daily needs, schedule, and some of his security. I'm not good with words, but I'll do everything I can to fulfill my duties. I look forward to working with you."
Her introduction was concise and restrained, with the aloofness of a cool beauty and the air of a professional. It was completely different from Chisato's exuberant warmth, yet strangely harmonious with it.
"Exactly. Chisato, you're being too reckless."
Walnut, with her hands tucked into the pockets of her slightly loose uniform, also ambled up. She introduced herself in a languid, electronic-sounding voice.
"If you're going to introduce yourself, do it properly. I'm Walnut. I mainly handle the young master's information processing, records management, and some technical support. I'm also part of the young master's maid team. That's all."
Walnut finished.
One after another, the three girls took the stage, making their relationship with Mazumi Mami unmistakable. Each had her own distinct character: Chisato Nishikigi, lively and cheerful; Runa Inoue, calm and professional; and Walnut, with her techie vibe.
That undoubtedly dropped a bombshell on the new students.
A "frail" young master showing up at school with three such striking maids, each with a different personality?
It was like a setup straight out of a manga or novel!
Surprise, curiosity, envy, confusion... all sorts of emotions filled the classroom.
The dazed mood left behind by the homeroom teacher's departure was gone. In its place was a surge of gossip and eager chatter.
Standing in the center of the podium and meeting the attention of the entire class, Mazumi Mami remained calm inside.
"It looks like it'll be hard for us to stay out of the spotlight for a while."
He reflected that it was both expected and part of the plan.
Making a conspicuous entrance could sometimes be the best disguise. It could also draw the attention of specific targets faster—or... bring something hidden into the open.
"At least the class is lively now. A good first step."
He looked at the students below, who were beginning to loosen up and whisper among themselves. A few even seemed eager to introduce themselves too. The corner of his mouth lifted into a barely perceptible smile of satisfaction—one that belonged to Liu Zheng.
Next, he'd see what kinds of people would emerge from Class A, this gathering of "elites."
And was the "Supreme Masterpiece" he needed to "evaluate" also in this classroom, quietly watching it all?