Faced with Hiratsuka Shizuka's absurdly unconventional "greeting" for a homeroom teacher, Hōjō Yoru simply sat down at the window seat in the back corner without bothering to respond.
He looked at her—still perched on top of a desk with her legs crossed like some delinquent collecting dues—and spoke with a grin.
"So… are you here to introduce yourself, or to charge me protection money? Planning to climb to the top of Sōbu High?"
As a longtime fan of hot-blooded delinquent manga, Hiratsuka instantly caught the Crows Zero-style reference. A flash of delighted recognition lit her eyes—she'd found a kindred spirit.
But the next second she remembered she was supposed to look dignified as a teacher. She cleared her throat twice and smoothly changed the subject.
"As a young teacher, I prefer to get along with my students."
Some distance away, Asuna—already seated—let out a small sigh and couldn't help complaining inwardly.
Get along with them?
Do you have any idea how terrifying it is to throw a heavy grenade like a baseball—fast enough to leave an afterimage—and still hit your target dead-on?
Also… does Hiratsuka-sensei even know Hōjō-kun's real identity?
She looked completely unaware.
Thinking about it, the "Devil Hunter" identity probably had to stay confidential, right?
At that moment, Asuna made up her mind.
She would never tell anyone about Hōjō-kun's true identity—not even her parents. It wasn't nearly enough to repay a life-saving debt, but at least it was a start.
"All right, it's about time."
Hiratsuka Shizuka checked her watch, hopped down from the desk, and stepped behind the podium.
"We're heading to the gym for the opening ceremony. You're high schoolers, so I'm not going to make you line up holding hands like little kids."
After dropping that bombshell, she strolled out of the classroom on her own.
From that brief interaction alone, Class A's impression of their homeroom teacher was pretty consistent:
As a teacher… isn't she a bit too freewheeling?
Just then, Hōjō Yoru stood up from his corner seat and walked out by himself.
Seeing that, Asuna's thoughts started racing.
He's going to the auditorium alone? He's not going with anyone?
Could it be…
He seemed outgoing when he was with her, but maybe he was the type who could only relax around people he knew—someone who resisted talking to strangers in a new environment?
A shy introvert?
With that idea, Asuna immediately got up and chased after him.
They'd only met recently, but she didn't want Hōjō-kun walking alone while everyone else moved in cheerful groups, laughing and chatting.
"Hōjō-kun—wait up!"
Hearing her call from behind, Yoru stopped. Once Asuna caught up, he resumed walking, teasing her with an amused tone.
"What's this? Not used to the first day, so you're already sticking to me? Don't tell me you're socially anxious, Yuuki-san?"
"Hmph…"
Asuna lifted her chin and brushed her flaxen hair back. She'd been about to snap, You're the one who's socially anxious, but she swallowed it at the last moment and changed her answer.
"If that's how you want to interpret it… then sure. Let's go with that."
Asuna had high emotional intelligence.
She'd already decided that Yoru left first because he didn't want to deal with strangers—so if she said it too plainly, she might hurt his pride.
There was no need to spell it out.
Just being there was enough.
At the same time, Yoru was thinking along the exact same lines.
Asuna's socially anxious?
It made sense. Because of the delay at the train station, they'd arrived at school late. She hadn't had the chance to get friendly with the other students. Choosing to walk with him was perfectly normal.
...
When they reached Sōbu High's indoor gym, Asuna noticed Yoru didn't go toward the lineup for First Year, Class A. Instead, he kept walking forward.
She couldn't help reminding him.
"H-Hey, where are you going? Our class is over here."
Yoru answered as if it were obvious. "Backstage."
Asuna felt a wave of helplessness and couldn't stop herself from asking.
"Why are you going backstage? Don't tell me you're going up to speak or something?"
"Actually… yeah."
"Huh?"
Seeing her adorably blank expression, Yoru laughed.
"I'm this year's freshman representative. Otherwise, why do you think I left the classroom first? I needed to get backstage early to prep."
"A-ah… uh… o-oh. I see…"
Asuna tried to act calm, but a very visible flush spread across her pale cheeks.
A girl's blush beats every love confession.jpg.
She was so embarrassed she wanted to crawl into a crack in the floor.
What was she even thinking? She'd assumed Hōjō Yoru was socially anxious, chased after him, and played out an entire "saving the loner" scenario in her head—like some self-directed white knight syndrome.
"You want to come backstage with me?" Yoru asked.
Asuna waved both hands frantically.
"N-no, no, no! I'm not going."
"Mm~?"
At that moment, Hiratsuka Shizuka's meaningful voice drifted in from the side.
The homeroom teacher looked at her two students. She had a very pretty face—yet right now she radiated the aura of a gossip-loving auntie.
"Yuuki, Hōjō… don't tell me… you two are dating?"
"Absolutely not."
Yoru rejected it without the slightest hesitation. Then he glanced at Hiratsuka's smiling face and spoke with the same blunt honesty as ever.
"Also, why is your expression so creepy? Don't tell me you're projecting and pretending you are the one in love."
"You…"
That "unintentional" jab landed perfectly on Hiratsuka's sore spot. She clenched her fist and shook it at him, glaring with a smile that absolutely wasn't a smile.
"Hōjō-kun. Could you try speaking a little more gently?"
"Heh. Threatening me now? Look at you—growing up."
"If you keep talking, I'll really hit you, you know?"
She said it, but clearly had no intention of actually throwing hands.
After all, she was a mature adult—
…at least, age-wise.
If they were close, some playful roughhousing would be fine, but this was their first day meeting. They weren't at the "punching each other" level yet. Verbal bullets were enough.
Meanwhile, Asuna was still stuck in shock, as if she'd been caught in some Mangekyō Sharingan illusion.
Hōjō-kun is this year's freshman representative…?
Seriously?
He didn't look like an honors student at all…
Join here to read ahead.
In Star Rail, Ultra-Beast Armored — Have I Caught "Equilibrium"? l (Chapter 80)
Uma Musume, But I Only Have Five Years Left to Live (Chapter 80)
Zenless Zone Zero: I'm a Doctor, Not a Bangboo (Chapter 80)
Ben Tennyson Wants to Join the Justice League (Chapter 80)
TYPE-MOON: Redemption Beginning with the Holy Grail War (Chapter50)
Yu-Gi-Oh! — Transmigrated into the White Dragon Girl (Chapter50)
"Is this chat group even serious?" (Chapter50)
I, Lord Ravager, Utterly Loyal! (Chapter50)
Can Playing Games Save the World? 10
Crossover Anime Multiverse: The Demon Hunter of an Unnatural World 10
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