Before the first class of the morning.
Under his classmates' strange looks, Luo Shu walked over to his seat and sat down, then took out his phone and opened the LINE chat.
Several messages were already waiting in the chat.
[Eriri: A transfer student? I haven't heard anything. There's no buzz at all among the first-years~ Could you have gotten it wrong?]
[Kasumi Utako: So there's no news of a transfer student among the first-years?]
[Eriri: Nothing among the second-years either. I just checked through my classmates. Only the third-years are still unconfirmed.]
[Eriri: Speaking of which, an ability instructor from an official organization... Are you sure we can really keep our "secrets" from them?]
[Kasumi Utako: Although I shouldn't be the one answering this question, aren't you actually the best actress among us, Eriri?]
[Kasumi Utako: Am I right, Miss Eriri Spencer Sawamura, the Art Club's genius beauty of an artist and Toyogasaki's sapphire?]
[Eriri: Damn it, you definitely read those "friends" of mine this morning, didn't you? You definitely read their minds!]
[Kasumi Utako: I seem to have spotted someone secretly delighted about that. Was I imagining things?]
[Eriri: Damn it!! (angry.jpg)]
After skimming the messages, Luo Shu frowned and glanced at the classmates watching him nearby. Once he had driven them back with his gaze, he grumbled:
"Aren't little cliques supposed to chat and spill information at times like this?"
It might have sounded theatrical, but for high school students in Japan, who had to read the room every day, finding conversation topics was practically an essential skill.
And in Japan, a "transfer student" was a hot topic that could keep conversations going for quite a while. Otherwise, so many light novels wouldn't throw in a "transfer student arc."
Unfortunately, Luo Shu hadn't encountered that sort of plot. In fact, thanks to the rumors about him walking with Utaha Kasumigaoka yesterday and today, he was the current hot topic himself.
Luo Shu had already heard plenty of exchanges along the lines of, "Are those two dating?" and "Definitely. Loads of people saw them."
Fortunately, the students at Toyogasaki Academy seemed fairly "well-mannered," so no one had come up to Luo Shu and asked him outright yet.
[Luo Shu: If we can't find any news, there's nothing for it. We'll have to resort to an unconventional tactic.]
[Eriri: What unconventional tactic? (curious.jpg)]
[Kasumi Utako: ...]
Utaha Kasumigaoka sent an ellipsis, seemingly having some inkling of what he meant.
Just then, Luo Shu typed a message on his phone:
[Luo Shu: Utaha, go sound out the teachers after class.]
[Eriri: Uh.]
Eriri Sawamura seemed to have figured it out.
[Kasumi Utako: I'll have an answer for you before second period.]
Clearly, Utaha Kasumigaoka was very confident.
Seeing that, Luo Shu put his phone in his pocket and thought:
When I get a chance, I'll give her the materials to advance her ability. Hmm, I can just claim they're a reward for gathering information. An advance payment, of course, so she'll have to help with some of the later work for free.
Obviously, he couldn't simply give them away. He had to make it like a quest chain in a game: hand over the "reward" early, but require her to complete a "chain of quests" to truly earn it.
A little generosity bred gratitude; too much bred resentment. Utaha Kasumigaoka was smart. She would understand what Luo Shu meant.
Just as Luo Shu was making arrangements for Utaha Kasumigaoka, the class bell rang.
Although it was supposed to be English class, Teacher Takagi, who taught Japanese, walked in instead. Unexpectedly, a black-haired girl followed behind him, wearing a black Gothic dress. With the build of a middle schooler, she looked just like a doll.
Luo Shu froze at the sight of her. Before he could process what was happening, the class erupted into chatter.
"What's going on? A transfer student? I didn't hear anything!"
"Wow, she's so cute~~"
"A middle schooler? With that build, calling her a high schooler is really pushing it, isn't it?"
"Oh no, she's totally a legal loli~"
"Ahem. Quiet."
The balding Teacher Takagi tapped his textbook against the desk, then looked around at the students as they gradually quieted down and explained:
"Teacher Nanjo, who taught English, has been reassigned and will no longer be teaching our class. Teacher Nangong will be taking over your English lessons for the rest of the semester. Let's give her a round of applause!"
Before the students could react, Teacher Takagi had already started clapping away.
Not a single student joined in. They simply stared wide-eyed at the youthful-looking girl with long, straight black hair, their faces full of disbelief.
"A teacher?" × N
"You've got to be kidding!!" × N
While his classmates were still in shock, Luo Shu expressionlessly took his phone from his pocket, opened the chat app beneath his desk, and sent a message.
[Luo Shu: No need to go looking for the teachers. She's come straight to my class. As for the details, you'll definitely hear about them after class.]
Luo Shu had been typing accurately without even looking into his desk compartment when his brow suddenly twitched. He turned and met "Teacher Nangong's" gaze.
She seemed to give him nothing more than a casual glance and said nothing. Instead, after Teacher Takagi stepped away from the podium, she began writing her name on the blackboard: "Natsuki
Minamiya," in four Chinese characters.
Beside it, she added "24 years old" in a small column.
"That's all."
Natsuki Minamiya tossed aside the chalk and dusted off her hands. Although her features looked very youthful, she somehow exuded authority:
"I don't want to explain too much. Starting this semester, I'll be in charge of your English classes. Understood?"
The students exchanged glances, seemingly unsure how to interpret that.
Just then, Luo Shu sighed and called out softly:
"Understood!"
Natsuki Minamiya glanced at Luo Shu from the podium. At that, the other students also called out in a ragged chorus:
"Understood~~"
Teacher Takagi sighed with relief at the sight, then chuckled. "Looks like I'm no longer needed. I'll leave this lesson to you, Teacher Nangong. Sorry for the trouble."
"All right." Natsuki Minamiya nodded and watched Teacher Takagi leave. Once he was out the door, she swept a sharp gaze around the room, frightening everyone who had been about to speak up into silence.
"Open your textbooks to page 33. Now."
The classroom fell silent for a moment, then filled with the synchronized rustling of pages.
Meanwhile, Luo Shu narrowed his eyes as he flipped through his book and thought:
The Witch of the Gap, Natsuki Minamiya... So, another visitor from the Abyss?
Before you continue