After Majima Tomoya left, the classroom fell into a brief vacuum.
The new students exchanged glances, still immersed in the imposing afterglow of their homeroom teacher and the shock of those 100,000 points, momentarily unsure how to break this delicate silence. Some flipped through materials, others secretly sized up their classmates, a few gazed out the window—but no one took the initiative to speak or raise their voice.
Mazumi Mami took it all in.
Class A's quiet might stem from self-discipline, but the current daze and stagnation exposed that these "elite students," in a brand-new environment with unclear rules, equally lacked a clear starting point or leader.
"An opportunity."
The thought flashed clearly.
He'd wanted to jump up directly and grab everyone's attention in a more exaggerated way—like slamming the table and shouting, "All eyes on me!" or something similar. That fit his usual direct style of breaking deadlocks during certain missions.
But then he remembered his current "persona": Mazumi Mami, the frail, long-isolated heir of Mizuki Heavy Industries.
Too lively or aggressive a move wouldn't match this background.
So, he wore a perfectly measured, gentle smile tinged with a hint of frailty, and reached for the wooden cane leaning against his desk. The cane looked old-fashioned, one of the symbols of "Mazumi Mami's" weak constitution, but it hid a secret—a steel short sword concealed within, ready to be drawn if needed.
Leaning on the cane, he walked to the podium with movements that were slightly slow but steady.
This action alone, in the quiet classroom, was enough to draw attention.
Almost everyone's eyes followed his movement and focused on the podium.
Clearing his throat, he spoke in a clear but not overly loud voice, carrying a soft, "just recovered from illness" quality.
"Hello, everyone. There's still some time before the opening ceremony, and sitting here in silence seems like a waste. How about... we take this chance to briefly introduce ourselves?"
His gaze swept calmly across the room.
"After all, we'll be studying and living together in the same class for the next three years. Staying as strangers as we are now doesn't seem ideal. I think getting to know each other would be a good start."
This reasonable proposal instantly broke the stalemate.
Many students showed agreement and relief in their eyes, clearly feeling the need to do something but lacking a leader.
"Then, let me set the ball rolling."
Mazumi Mami gave a slight bow, his posture elegant, perfectly embodying the image of a well-bred young master from a major family, despite his "frailty."
He turned, picked up a piece of chalk, and wrote four neat characters on the blackboard: "Guan Yue Zhen Xun."
The soft scratching of chalk against the board was especially clear in the quiet room.
"My name is Mazumi Mami. Mazumi of Mizuki Heavy Industries, 'true' in true and false, 'seek' in searching and seeking."
He turned back to face his classmates, his tone sincere, even carrying a faint, perfectly placed hint of loneliness.
"Due to some health issues, I rarely had the chance to interact with peers my age or study in a school like an ordinary student. Getting into Yingtai Advanced Nurturing High School this time is an opportunity I've waited a long time for. I truly hope to become friends with everyone here and spend a meaningful three years together."
Sunlight streamed through the clean windows, falling on him.
At this moment, he deliberately suppressed all the sharpness and weathered traces belonging to Liu Zheng, revealing only the side of "Mazumi Mami."
The heritage of the Shenzhou Empire's imperial family—a thousand years of eugenics and genetic optimization—manifested in him as a near-perfect appearance and demeanor that transcended ordinary "handsomeness." His features were delicate without being effeminate, with a straight nose bridge and clear lip lines, combining into an indescribable harmony and allure. Most distinctive were his eyes, which in the sunlight appeared a deep amber-gold, superficially similar to his self-proclaimed "yellow pupils" but far deeper, as if containing stars.
And his unusually pale, almost bloodless skin stood out starkly in the sunlight, perfectly matching his claims of "frailty" and "rarely seeing sunlight."
This wasn't truly sickly pallor, but one of the hidden effects of his [Vector Manipulation] ability—automatically filtering and deflecting most harmful ultraviolet radiation from the sun.
Beneath his clothes, he possessed a body honed through countless trials, with smooth, powerful lines hiding astonishing strength. But now, wrapped in the well-fitted uniform and paired with his deliberately adjusted standing posture—slightly leaning on the podium, cane lightly tapping the floor—he indeed crafted a vivid image of a "frail noble son."
This sincere, slightly "vulnerable" self-introduction, combined with his striking appearance and prominent family background, immediately stirred a notable reaction among the students below.
Many eyes showed sympathy, curiosity, even a desire to get closer.
This was exactly the effect Mazumi Mami wanted—establishing an initial, approachable positive impression to lower others' guard.
"The operation of any rule system relies on the collective of people—the class," he analyzed calmly in his mind.
"In a brand-new environment, the one who steps up first to unite people and provide a clear direction often gains the advantage, becoming a potential core. Since no one's acting now, I'll temporarily occupy that position. Controlling the situation is always better than passively adapting."
His self-introduction ended, with good results.
According to their prior understanding, it was time for his "maids" to step up, further solidifying and showcasing their group's image while observing other students' reactions.
"Then, I'm next!"
A spirited voice rang out. Chisato Nishikigi, with her golden short hair, practically bounced onto the podium, her movements a stark contrast to Mazumi Mami's "slowness."
Her ruby-like eyes sparkled, her smile so bright it seemed to dispel all gloom.
"I'm Chisato Nishikigi! I like lots of things—desserts, cute animals, fun games! And I'm good at plenty too: cooking, first aid, and a little bit of sports~"
She counted on her fingers, her tone light and quick. "If any of you ever run into trouble—whether it's everyday stuff or something else—feel free to come find me! I'd be happy to help!"
She suddenly shifted gears, grinning as she grabbed the arm of the slightly "helpless" Mazumi Mami beside her, practically hanging off him.
"But if the help you need conflicts with our young master's tasks or requests, I'll definitely prioritize him! After all, I'm his exclusive maid~ Loyalty comes first!"
"Whoa—!"
A wave of barely suppressed gasps and murmurs rippled through the audience.
Teenage boys and girls had never seen such a direct, "bold" master-servant interaction, especially between two people so strikingly good-looking.
Many boys' eyes went wide, while girls covered their mouths, their gazes darting between Mazumi Mami and Chisato Nishikigi, a mix of shock and excited curiosity.
"Chisato! Stop fooling around. Let go of the young master and do your introduction properly!"
Runa Inoue's cool, slightly exasperated voice cut in at just the right moment.
She walked up to the podium with steady steps, her violet eyes shooting a disapproving glance at Chisato Nishikigi before turning to the audience and giving a slight bow, her posture flawless.
"I am Runa Inoue. Also serving as Young Master Mazumi's maid, I am responsible for his daily care, schedule management, and some security work. I am not good with words, but I will do my utmost to fulfill my duties. I look forward to your cooperation."
Her introduction was concise and restrained, carrying the aloofness of a cold beauty and a professional air—a stark contrast to Chisato's warm exuberance, yet oddly harmonious.
"Exactly, Chisato, you're too reckless."
Walnut, hands shoved into the pockets of her slightly loose uniform, strolled up slowly and introduced herself in a lazy, electronic-tinged tone.
"If you're going to introduce yourself, do it properly. I'm Walnut. I handle the young master's information processing, data management, and some technical support. Also part of the young master's maid team. Yeah, that's it."
Walnut said.
The three of them took the stage one after another, clearly declaring their subordinate relationship to Mazumi Mami, each with their own distinct flair—the lively Chisato Nishikigi, the cool and professional Runa Inoue, and the tech-savvy Walnut.
This undoubtedly dropped a bombshell among the new students.
A "sickly" young noble attending school with three such outstanding and diverse maids?
This setup felt like something straight out of a manga or novel!
Surprise, curiosity, envy, confusion... all kinds of emotions filled the classroom.
The somewhat dazed atmosphere left by the homeroom teacher's departure was completely shattered, replaced by a surge of gossip and discussion.
Mazumi Mami stood at the center of the podium, bearing the focused gaze of the entire class, yet his heart remained calm.
"It looks like we're going to be famous whether we want to or not for a while."
He mused to himself. This was both expected and part of the plan.
A high-profile debut was sometimes the best disguise, and it could also faster attract the attention of specific targets—or... make certain hidden things surface on their own.
"But at least the class's energy has been stirred up. Step one, completed well."
He watched the students below gradually liven up, whispering among themselves, with some even looking eager to step up and introduce themselves. A faint, barely noticeable smile—one belonging to Liu Zheng—curved at the corner of his mouth.
Now, it was time to see what kind of characters would emerge from this "elite" Class A.
And whether the "ultimate masterpiece" that needed to be "tested" was also in this classroom, quietly observing everything.
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