The school cafeteria.
It was the peak of the lunch hour, and a swarming mass of students had descended upon the hall to perform the all-important daily ritual of refueling. Beyond the food, however, the cafeteria served as a prime breeding ground for the school's most restless gossips.
"Hey, have you heard? We've got five transfer students coming to our school!"
A shifty-looking otaku—the type who clearly spent more time daydreaming about his 2D "waifus" than studying—was boasting loudly. As if terrified of being ignored, he cranked up his shrill voice, ensuring the neighboring tables couldn't help but overhear his news.
Annoying as his tone was, the hook was effective. A few of his cronies leaned in, their interest piqued.
"Five? You're kidding. Five at once? Who are they? You got the deets?"
Seeing the spotlight firmly on him, the otaku's ego inflated. "I don't have the full dossier, but word is they're quintuplets—and they're gorgeous. Even from a distance, my 2D-loving heart skipped a beat..."
He paused for dramatic effect. "You guys don't know this, but I... uh... 'exhausted' myself too much last night, so I was dragging this morning. Woke up late and ended up behind schedule."
"But it was a blessing in disguise! While I was stuck standing in the hall as punishment, I saw them. Five identical sisters, breathtakingly beautiful, being personally escorted by the Principal. He was practically groveling! And get this—one of them was wearing a bunny-ear headband and gave me the most radiant smile..."
"Could it be love at first sight? Oh man, is my rose-colored high school life finally beginning!?"
Lost in the "Three Great Delusions of Life," the otaku began to drool. His blissful, vacant expression was so punchable that his friends looked ready to find a diabetic student to pee on him—just to give the idiot a literal wake-up call.
{Quintuplets? A bunny-ear headband?}
A young man passing by slowed his pace, lost in thought. The otaku had been shouting so loud that even a casual bypasser couldn't miss it. Though the information was shallow, it was more than enough for him to connect the dots.
As the young man moved past the group, the surrounding students finally noticed him. Remarkably, the news of five beautiful sisters wasn't enough to keep their attention once he appeared. The atmosphere shifted; the air grew thick with hushed, jagged whispers.
"Is that the Student Council President? I didn't think he'd eat in the cafeteria with the rest of us."
"Isn't he just the Vice President's pet? Why is he slumming it with the commoners?"
"Maybe he got cocky because she favors him, tried to 'make a move,' and got kicked out?"
Despite the mockery and the bitter, envious stench of their words, the young man remained unfazed. Caring about the opinions of children who knew nothing was a waste of energy. He had far more pressing matters to attend to.
{The Nakano sisters, huh? If the plot holds true, it has to be them.}
Steeling his resolve, he stepped up to the counter. "One Deluxe Set, as usual."
"Coming right up!" The lunch lady's face practically folded into a map of wrinkles as she beamed at him. Just a second ago, her hands had been shaking so badly she'd spilled half a student's side dish, but now, it was as if she'd downed a gallon of energy drink. Her hands were rock-steady as she plated his meal without spilling a single drop of gravy.
The tray was a feast: fried lobster and herb-roasted chicken drumsticks piled high. The stares from the surrounding students turned sharp enough to draw blood, looking as if they might hurl their own trays at him in a fit of jealousy.
The youth sighed and prepared to make his exit, but then, a voice—unexpected yet hauntingly familiar—rang out behind him.
"I'll have the same Deluxe Set as him, please!"
The young man's eyebrows shot up. He turned around, his expression a mix of "I knew it" and "Interesting."
Standing there was a girl with long, flowing red hair and a silhouette that would make every other girl in school develop an immediate inferiority complex. She held her tray with poise, and her meal was a mirror image of his—down to the very last drop of sauce.
He narrowed his eyes, observing her closely. While her striking figure and rare hair color were notable, his gaze lingered on two specific details:
The single ahoge—a stray lock of hair—standing defiantly atop her head like a crown, and the two star-shaped clips pinning back her bangs.
{Nakano... Itsuki? So it really is happening. Is everything following the script in my head?}
Sensing his gaze, the redhead lifted her tray and approached him with a polite, friendly smile. "Hello there. I'm Itsuki Nakano, a new transfer student."
The youth nodded. "I'm Izuru Kamukura, the Student Council President. Welcome to our school. If you find yourself lost or confused, I'd be happy to provide some guidance."
{It really is you! Perfect! This puts me one step ahead of my sisters!}
Itsuki's smile turned even sweeter. "How wonderful! I didn't expect to run into the President so soon. The Principal mentioned the Student Council President here was exceptionally capable and kind. He wasn't exaggerating!"
{The Principal has been talking about me behind my back?!} Izuru's face twitched.
Before he could respond, Itsuki dropped a bombshell. "To be honest, there's actually something I was hoping the President could help me with..."
Izuru suppressed his internal wariness and spoke slowly. "As long as it's within my power, I'll do what I can—"
{And if it's not, don't hold your breath.}
He had intended to finish the sentence that way, but Itsuki cut him off with practiced grace. "That's great! Let's find a seat and eat first. We can talk over lunch."
"Er... alright." Izuru nodded and turned to lead the way. He didn't see the expression that crossed Itsuki's face the moment his back was turned—a look of pure, calculated triumph.
{Perfect. Exactly as I predicted. It looks like I'm the one taking the lead this time!}