Self-Introduction: That Part

"May I have everyone's attention for a moment?"

From the front row of the classroom, a boy with grass-green hair stood up and proposed with a smile:

"Since we're all classmates now, why don't we take this time to introduce ourselves?"

This was quickly met with agreement from many.

"I'll start, then. I'm Hirata Yousuke. You can just call me Yousuke. I love all sports and plan to join the soccer club. I look forward to working with you all."

Hirata Yousuke's voice and facial expressions were both incredibly gentle, and combined with his handsome appearance, he instantly became popular with the girls in the class.

"My turn next! I'm Kushida Kikyo. My goal is to become good friends with everyone, so please come and hang out with me!"

Kushida Kikyo tilted her head slightly, her ten slender, fair fingers pressed together against her full chest.

Her gentle voice, paired with a pure, innocent smile, made a group of people sigh at the sight of an angel.

Chihaya Rei watched this, laughing inwardly.

After all, he knew the demonic nature hidden within Kushida Kikyo.

But this Kushida Kikyo was clearly an extremely high-quality target for torment.

"My turn, my turn!"

"I'm Ike Koji. I like girls and hate handsome guys. By the way, I'm looking for a girlfriend at all times!"

Ike Koji's voice rang out impatiently. He wasn't very tall and wore his brown hair in a side-swept fringe.

His statement triggered a burst of laughter.

Yet, he looked incredibly smug, completely oblivious to the fact that many female classmates were looking at him with disgust—they were one step away from calling him a total creep.

"Hehe! I'm Yamauchi Haruki."

Yamauchi Haruki slammed his palm onto his desk and stood up, terrified that he wouldn't have everyone's full attention.

"I made it to the nationals for table tennis in elementary school, and in middle school, I was the ace number four for the baseball team. Unfortunately, I got injured during the national high school league, so I'm in recovery now..."

As his words fell, many students expressed shock and skepticism.

"Sounds amazing, is it for real?"

"..."

Chihaya Rei couldn't keep a straight face this time and laughed.

It could only be said that he was truly the masterpiece of the Black House, the great Lord Yamauchi.

His self-introduction alone was enough to break through his own defenses; even if Yagami Light were here, he wouldn't be able to hold back his laughter for more than a few seconds.

Yamauchi Haruki didn't even know the meaning of the word "high school," which was why he had made such a contradictory statement.

"Excuse me, Yamauchi-kun—"

Chihaya Rei raised one hand, his sudden interjection drawing everyone's attention.

"How did you manage to qualify for the high school baseball league before you'd even graduated from middle school? I'm quite curious."

Chihaya Rei put on an innocent, curious expression, as if he had asked the question quite unintentionally.

This guy... he's definitely doing this on purpose, right?

Horikita Suzune glanced at Chihaya Rei in surprise.

She mentally added a "nasty personality" label to him.

She didn't believe for a second that someone who had been in a tense standoff with her just minutes ago could be a simple, harmless lamb.

After Chihaya Rei's voice faded, the students who had been whispering among themselves turned to look at Yamauchi Haruki, their expressions full of interest.

Because Chihaya Rei had asked the question they all wanted to ask but were too afraid to voice.

Many of them had realized that Yamauchi Haruki was bluffing.

But in a place where everyone was obsessed with "reading the air," no one would easily commit such an offensive act, especially on the very first day of school.

However, Chihaya Rei didn't need to consider such things.

What others dared not ask, he would ask.

What others dared not do, he would do.

His original intention in coming here was to torment these "extraordinary" people; how could he be timid?

"Eh?? This..."

Yamauchi Haruki blinked, looking completely bewildered.

Caught off guard, he had used this script many times before without issue.

Yamauchi Haruki's face quickly flushed red, and as if he were about to break into a cold sweat, he hurriedly opened his mouth to explain:

"Slip of the tongue, slip of the tongue! I misspoke just now. It wasn't the national high school league, just a regular baseball league, ahahaha..."

"Okay. I almost thought Yamauchi-kun was the type of student who likes to brag without having any actual skills," Chihaya Rei said with a smile.

The classmates also began to laugh, and then it was Hirata Yousuke who stepped forward to smooth things over.

"Yamauchi-kun must just be too nervous."

Hirata Yousuke's smile was sunny and gentle as he took the opportunity to invite Chihaya Rei to introduce himself.

"This classmate, could you please introduce yourself as well?"

"Mn."

Chihaya Rei nodded.

He had a decent impression of Hirata Yousuke; the other boy was a good person whose exterior matched his interior.

However, he strongly disapproved of his extreme, almost pathological desire to protect every single person in the class, and felt it should be corrected.

Chihaya Rei slowly stood up and smiled.

"My name is Chihaya Rei, but please rest assured, I am not a 'severe' person."

"As for hobbies... I used to be in a band, playing drums and keyboards. I just don't know if that will be of any use at this school."

"Chihaya-kun, so cool!"

"A band? I like music too, can you tell us the name of your band?"

"Do you have any good songs from your band?"

"You have to perform for us sometime!"

Chihaya Rei's slightly fluffy black hair hung over his forehead, accentuating his sharp brows and clean jawline—he was the kind of handsome that felt both laid-back and edgy.

Having played in a band, a highly popular activity, he easily won the applause of the female students.

Afterward, Hirata Yousuke turned his attention to the few students who had yet to speak, inviting them to introduce themselves.

Ayanokoji Kiyotaka was the first among them.

After Ayanokoji stumbled through a few sentences of a self-introduction so plain it fell flat, Hirata Yousuke offered him some encouragement before looking toward the others in thought.

"Then, the next person..."

"BANG!!"

A sudden, sharp noise startled everyone.

It was a red-haired boy sitting near the back door who had violently kicked his desk.

Sakura Airi, who was sitting at the neighboring desk and was quite timid, was so frightened by the scene that she shrank to the left.

Chihaya Rei looked over with a calm expression.

With this, the final member of the Black House trio had arrived.

Ken Sudo glared at Hirata Yousuke and said in a very dissatisfied tone:

"What the hell is with these self-introductions! Do you think we're still in elementary school? If people want to talk, let them talk on their own!"

Hirata Yousuke's expression turned awkward.

He wasn't quite sure why the other boy had suddenly flared up.

Still, he walked forward and spoke gently, attempting to soothe the situation.

"I'm sorry, classmate. Perhaps I was being too enthusiastic; it's fine if you don't want to introduce yourself."

"Hmph!"

Ken Sudo snorted coldly and turned his head away, refusing to give him a pleasant look.

Because of his outburst, the lively atmosphere from moments ago turned silent.

Although many were dissatisfied with Sudo's behavior, upon seeing his physique, no one dared to stand up and provoke him.

"Hirata-kun, there's no need to apologize."

Chihaya Rei glanced at Sudo at that moment, his voice light and airy.

"The one kicking desks is the one who looks like an elementary schooler in my eyes."

"Besides, there's no need for an introduction anymore; everyone already knows you, and they know you're an ill-tempered guy."

Ken Sudo's face stiffened instantly, and upon seeing everyone looking at him with subtle expressions, he stiffened his neck and shouted back.

"So... so what? How annoying!"

"Ahahahaha! I quite agree with the band boy's point of view; such behavior is not gentlemanly at all, the ladies will surely dislike it."

Finding the scene interesting, Kogenji Rokusuke also spoke up with great interest.

Once one person spoke, others followed, and the students who had previously been afraid to voice their opinions began to mutter among themselves.

"Yeah! If you don't want to participate, you can just stay quiet; why kick a desk and start cursing?"

"What a terrible personality..."

"Good thing I'm not sitting near him."

"Chihaya-kun is so cool, thanks to Chihaya-kun..."

Sudo's expression turned even more unsightly in an instant.

However, it was right at this moment.

Dressed in a black professional suit with the collar of her white shirt wide open, her jet-black hair tied into a high ponytail, Sae Chabashira walked into the classroom with a stern expression and spoke up.

"All of you, return to your seats."

Seeing that a teacher had arrived, the class quieted down, no longer continuing the discussion about what had just happened.

Chihaya Rei also chuckled as he withdrew his gaze, checking the spoils of his recent torment in his mind.

[Successfully tormented Yamauchi Haruki, obtained 886 torment points]

[Successfully tormented Ken Sudo, obtained 901 torment points]...

[Current torment progress: 15%, rewards will unlock upon reaching 30%]

It was less than what he had gained from tormenting Horikita Suzune, but that was understandable; after all, he had only briefly retorted to the two of them, but it was better than nothing.

Chihaya Rei felt a slight sense of emotion in his heart.

For something as ordinary as a self-introduction, the three masterpieces of the Black House could stir up so much trouble.

Things would only get more interesting from here on out...

These guys really did bring him joy.