Chapter 3 - Unexpected Allies

After the school assembly, I made my way to Class E, the last section according to the school's classification. Despite being in the lowest section, the principal's speech assured us that there would be no discrimination based on our class.

As I approached the classroom, I coincidentally found the girl who had been bullied earlier entering the same room. Destiny seemed to have placed us as seatmates.

"Uhm.. I'm sorry earlier that I left suddenly without thanking you properly," she apologized timidly.

"No problem. Earlier was tough, especially for you," I reassured her.

"Thank you. I'm Shiraishi Hasegawa. Nice to meet you," she introduced herself nervously.

"I'm Rei Kodokuna. Nice to meet you too, Hasegawa," I replied.

Our introduction was interrupted by one of our classmates, who suggested we all introduce ourselves.

"Hello, everyone! This is a little bit embarrassing, but I want to know everyone's name. Can we do an introduction to yourself?" he announced enthusiastically.

Several classmates introduced themselves, each revealing their unique talents and quirks. From energetic Hibiki Abe to the confident model Eri Fukunaga, the diversity in our class was evident.

When it was my turn, I opted for a neutral introduction, unsure of how to present myself in this new environment.

"I'm Rei Kodokuna. I'm just an average learner and didn't have a special background, but I'm pleased to meet you all," I stated simply.

The class responded with forced applause, highlighting the awkwardness of the situation.

Before the next introduction could begin, our advisor entered the room—a woman named Serina Kou, whose mature demeanor and imposing presence commanded attention.

"Okay, everyone sits down," she instructed, scanning the room with a keen eye.

As she addressed us, her demeanor shifted from stern to encouraging, though her piercing gaze lingered on me, sending a shiver down my spine.

"Okay, I'm Serina Kou. I will be your advisor for this year until you all graduate here," she announced, her tone authoritative.

After briefly summarizing the principal's earlier speech, she warned us of the consequences of failing to maintain good moral code within our class. The news of a classmate in trouble, Daiki Agamatsu, sparked a sense of urgency among us.

"Okay everyone, let's just help Agamatsu, for the sake of our classroom," Hibiki urged, rallying our classmates.

Determined to assist our fellow classmate, we sought out Agamatsu, only to find him being assaulted by students from another class, while a teacher looked on passively.

Despite the fear and hesitation among us, Hibiki and Fukunaga took charge, confronting the aggressors with righteous anger.

"What the hell are you doing to our classmates?" Hibiki demanded, his voice dripping with fury.

As tensions escalated, I felt the weight of our advisor's gaze upon me, silently urging me to take action.

Summoning my courage, I approached Agamatsu with a sarcastic question, diffusing some of the tension in the room. Hibiki followed suit, offering his support to our beleaguered classmate.

Our actions drew the attention of the aggressors, who responded with hostility. In a surprising turn of events, I found myself in a physical confrontation, gripping the hand of one of the assailants in a display of feigned self-defense.

The arrival of another group of students only added to the chaos, setting the stage for a turbulent first day at our new school.

As uncertainty loomed over us, I couldn't help but wonder what other challenges awaited us in the days to come.