Because of the unexpected "surprise" that was Sakakibara Kouichi, Miyauchi Hiyage not only checked once more whether there were any other familiar characters in the class, but even planned to find time to visit the archives and verify the names of every teacher and student in the school.
As their male homeroom teacher, a man in his fifties facing all manner of midlife crises, entered the classroom, it was time for the entrance ceremony.
After the principal and dean gave a string of utterly insubstantial speeches, the ceremony moved on to the student representative speeches, and Miyauchi Hiyage finally saw Kasumigaoka Utaha's true appearance.
Long black hair, a voluptuous figure, long legs in thigh-high stockings, and exquisite features that were slightly more mature than those of her peers yet more natural than those of working adults—Kasumigaoka Utaha was indeed flawless in appearance.
From the moment she stood up, she had drawn the eyes of countless freshmen in the auditorium.
Yet today, as this super-beauty who usually appeared quiet and aloof to outsiders, whose grades had never fallen below first place, delivered her speech as the second-year representative, her gaze repeatedly turned toward the first-year students.
Did Toyonosaki Academy's untouchable flower have an acquaintance among the first-years?
Quite a few people couldn't help wondering that.
After all, Kasumigaoka Utaha had never shown anyone special treatment over the past year. If someone who could interest her had appeared now, that would indeed count as major news.
Miyauchi Hiyage also noticed Kasumigaoka Utaha's gaze.
Was she looking for Aki Tomoya, or for Eriri and Kato Megumi?
However, Aki Tomoya was now wearing glasses and looked like an "ordinary male high school student," while Kato Megumi was still in her inconspicuous "completely unremarkable" phase.
Finding the two of them in such a huge auditorium would not be easy.
Miyauchi Hiyage had only barely managed to locate them by using his second sister as a landmark.
The only person who was truly easy to spot was Eriri, with her conspicuous blonde twin-tails.
Miyauchi Hiyage did not even need to think too hard about it. Other than Kasumigaoka Utaha onstage, nearly all the remaining gazes among the freshmen were focused on that petite blonde beauty.
Kasumigaoka Utaha onstage quickly discovered Eriri's location as well and confirmed her identity.
Could she and that Kato Megumi be holders of the Diary?
Kasumigaoka Utaha felt that if Eriri, known as the losing heroine, had obtained the Diary, her expression when looking at her would not have been so calm.
So she had not obtained the Diary?
Though we are both losers in the story, I have obtained the Diary now, while you have not.
For now, it seemed you were still more of a loser after all.
Kasumigaoka Utaha held Eriri's gaze through the air for three seconds. Before confusion could appear on the other girl's face, she shifted her eyes back to the speech manuscript in front of her.
Eriri below the stage found it rather baffling.
That woman had just been staring at her, hadn't she?!
Their gazes had even met in the air for several seconds.
She did not remember knowing that woman onstage, whose looks were no worse than her own.
And for some reason, the way the other woman looked at her felt strange, though she could not explain exactly what that feeling was.
"Could it be that woman knows about my Kashiwagi Eri identity?" That sudden exchange of glances gave Eriri an inexplicable sense of nervousness.
If anyone at school besides that guy found out about this, I might as well just drop out!
At that thought, Eriri's face began to burn.
However, in the eyes of those around her, that reaction took on another unusual meaning.
That pretty upperclassman onstage had looked over in their direction several times, and then this sweet and adorable girl beside them, who was no less attractive than her, suddenly blushed.
Was there something going on between the two of them?
Thus, on the first day of school, strange rumors about Kasumigaoka Utaha and Eriri quietly began to spread.
After the school entrance ceremony ended, it was naturally time for self-introductions in each class.
When it was Sakakibara Kouichi's turn to introduce himself, he openly stated that he liked horror works.
Miyauchi Hiyage felt that this guy was far too honest, exposing his niche hobby right from the start.
While some stories did feature protagonists revealing their niche interests, catching the attention of a heroine with the same hobby, and beginning a romance because of it, those were ultimately rare.
He guessed that in quite a few people's minds, Sakakibara Kouichi's introduction, combined with his somewhat gloomy appearance, had already earned him the label of "gloomy loner."
Though no one would isolate Sakakibara Kouichi just because of a self-introduction, it would have some effect nonetheless.
As he pondered that, it quickly became Miyauchi Hiyage's turn to introduce himself.
Miyauchi Hiyage's introduction was simple. He did not mention Asahigaoka, only saying that he had grown up in the countryside of Saitama and that his hobby was photography.
After all, he had spent three years filming videos in Asahigaoka, boosting his hometown's economy while turning himself into a billionaire.
With his graduation from middle school and enrollment in a Tokyo high school, along with the sudden appearance of a highly valuable mansion under his name—
There were probably still quite a few eyes on him.
In short, if he suddenly washed his hands of it after entering high school, people would inevitably find it abrupt.
He could reduce the frequency of making videos, but he still needed to keep doing it.
Toyonosaki Academy did not require students to join clubs anyway.
As long as his classmates did not learn that more than half of those rustic videos going viral online had come from him, it would be fine.
This persona would also make it easier for him to run around with a camera during his free time.
However, Miyauchi Hiyage seemed to have underestimated just how attractive a handsome photographer could be to girls this age.
After he mentioned liking photography, a pleasant-looking girl who had dressed up a little asked, "Miyauchi, what type of videos do you like filming?"
Looking at the girl's bold manner, Miyauchi Hiyage swept his eyes over the classroom. Quite a few girls were also staring at him, seemingly very willing to become his models.
After spending more than a decade in the countryside, he had indeed somewhat forgotten just how easily photographers at conventions in his previous life could strike up connections with cosplayers.
In the end, his eyes settled on his good deskmate, Sakakibara Kouichi.
Sakakibara, before you might transfer schools in the future, let us become Toyonosaki Academy's best horror duo.
"I've always wanted to make a classic horror mystery film like The Shining."
"Sakakibara, I think we can discuss topics like that together later on."
Misaki Mei and the Calamity from the Dead
Sure enough, after Miyauchi Hiyage's explanation, the looks the classmates gave him became strange as well.
This student looked quite handsome and even liked photography, so why did he have to want to make horror movies?
If he liked filming the human body, then given his looks, dating him would not be entirely out of the question.
But why did it have to be horror movies?
The girl who had asked him the question now looked rather embarrassed as well.
Seeing that no one in the class seemed inclined to ask him anything else, Miyauchi Hiyage calmly sat back down.
Aki Tomoya had become famous by defying the school rules, clashing with the dean to hold an anime screening at the school festival, and ultimately forcing the school to compromise.
Miyauchi Hiyage had no intention of challenging school rules. As long as he did not plan to screen horror films at the school festival, this was not a big deal at all.
Though he seemed fairly conspicuous right now, people had only temporarily remembered his somewhat peculiar hobby.
After some time, once the class's social circles had formed, no one would pay attention to him and Sakakibara Kouichi, those two misfits, anymore.
Soon, it was time for school to end on the first day.
After cheerfully saying goodbye to Sakakibara Kouichi, who wore a strange expression and seemed to want to say something else to him, Miyauchi Hiyage left the classroom.
He had originally wanted to wait for Miyauchi Kouka, but after sending her a text, he learned that she had already found close friends in her class and was planning to go shopping with them after school.
Miyauchi Hiyage could not help inwardly complaining that girls became familiar with one another far too easily.
As he was about to leave the school gates, however, he overheard gossip about Kasumigaoka Utaha from people whispering nearby.
Apparently, Kasumigaoka Utaha had gone to find a first-year girl after school today.
They did not know what Kasumigaoka Utaha wanted, though, so they could only speculate.
Miyauchi Hiyage's expression did not change as he listened to those rumors. He only quickened his pace back to his residence.
After confirming that no one had entered or left the room while he had been out, Miyauchi Hiyage took out the Diary and began writing today's entry.
The weather was great today, so I played games at home all day. It was only during dinner that I remembered it was already the first day of school.
I'm really envious of you students. I kind of miss my school days too.
But if I had to go back to my senior year, I probably still would not want to. Once people become lazy, it is hard for them to change back.
I used to have what it took to get into the University of Tokyo. If I went back to senior year now, I would probably only be able to find work at a factory after graduation.
But speaking of that, @Evil Eye, did you run into that "Dark Flame Master" on your first day of school?
I think I should give you a warning first.
Although I do not mind what you use Ripple Aura Chi Kung to do, even someone with severe eighth-grader syndrome should know that some things cannot be casually revealed, right?
You would not use Ripple Breathing in front of others just because you wanted to show off, would you?
If you get taken to some research facility one day and dissected into slices, you cannot blame me for that.
But speaking of you, I remembered someone else who is somewhat similar to you. I wonder if she exists in this world too.
Her name is Misaki Mei.
Back then, because the two of you were both adapted into anime in the same year, people in my previous life often grouped you together as sisters.
Image attached below.
You use an eyepatch to cover the colored contact lens under your right eye and call it the Evil Eye.
Misaki Mei, on the other hand, had a malignant tumor in her left eye when she was young and had no choice but to have it removed. Later, she received a doll's eye.
Unexpectedly, that artificial eye allowed her to see other people's deaths, so she usually covered it with an eyepatch.
In other words, your eye is fake, while hers is the real deal.
Your stories are completely different as well.
You do not need to worry much over there. If things get bad, just cling to that "Thor's Hammer User" of yours. If you want more friends with eighth-grader syndrome, aside from the Black Cat in your group, you can also take the copy of Dark Grimoire in Thor's Hammer User's hands and find the class representative in your class.
As long as you call her Lord Mori once, she will do whatever you say.
Her story is far more terrifying.
I wonder whether you have watched the movie Final Destination. Misaki Mei's setting probably feels like that.
To put it plainly, Yotsuya Miko's side is filled with hideous ghosts, and she will be in danger as long as she reveals that she can see them.
Misaki Mei's side, however, is like a death ritual where everything has already been arranged.
Ahem. Those with weak nerves can close the Diary now and go watch In the Night Garden.
In any case, it all began decades ago.
That year, Class 3-3 at the middle school Misaki Mei now attended also had a student named Misaki. I do not know whether they were connected in any way.
In short, that Misaki from decades ago had been very popular in the class, but suddenly died for some reason.
The teacher and students in that class could not accept the fact at the time, and under some mysterious influence, they decided to "pretend Misaki was still alive until graduation."
Then, on the day of their graduation photo, when the photograph was developed, everyone was horrified to discover that Misaki had actually appeared in their class graduation picture!
From that point onward, a curse appeared in Class 3-3 of that middle school.
Before you continue