Even though the three of them had only just met, they surprisingly hit it off. Lin Zhi enjoyed chatting with his two new friends until the sound of the class bell brought them back to their seats.
Down the quiet hallway came the steady sound of footsteps, and soon a tall, graceful figure walked in. He approached the podium and wrote his name on the board with precise, elegant strokes before casually flicking the chalk into the tray—a display of effortless flair. Raising his head, he scanned the class with sharp eyes, adjusting his glasses with a fingertip.
"My name is Sakamoto Ryuichi," he said, his voice calm and confident. "From today, I will be your homeroom teacher. You may call me Teacher Sakamoto."
"Wow! He's so handsome!"
"No way… this guy's movements are way too flashy. Is he the protagonist from a light novel?!"
"Still… he really is handsome."
Whispers spread throughout the classroom as everyone turned to look at the new teacher. Even Lin Zhi couldn't deny he was impressed—the man exuded an aura of authority and style in every subtle movement, radiating the confidence of someone who was clearly a big deal.
"First, we'll select class officers," Sakamoto continued. "Once the bell rings, we'll head to the opening ceremony."
The students of Class 1A carried out the process efficiently. Lin Zhi, uninterested in class elections, sat quietly with his two new friends, who shared his lack of enthusiasm.
As one of the city's most prestigious private high schools, the campus was well-equipped. Besides the sports field, it had an indoor gymnasium, tennis courts, and more. The sheer scale of the student body meant the opening ceremony could only take place on the field.
"Not another long-winded speech, right?"
"Come on, it's high school. Get used to it."
Some students murmured complaints, resigned to the usual formalities. Boys and girls lined up separately, whispering to one another.
"Hi!" a girl beside Lin Zhi suddenly greeted him, drawing his gaze away from the crowd.
"Oh… hi," Lin Zhi replied, slightly surprised by her friendliness. The girl was strikingly beautiful, her delicate face lightly adorned with makeup, exuding the vibrancy of youth.
"I'm Iroha Iroha. What's your name?" she asked, her eyes glancing briefly at the principal on stage.
"Lin Zhi. Lin Zhi Yao," he responded.
"Lin Zhi Yao?" Iroha blinked, her curiosity evident. Lin Zhi, observing her constantly moving eyes, guessed she had a mischievous streak.
Iroha subtly pointed toward a girl standing straight and watching the podium attentively, whispering, "So, Lin Zhi, are you and Nishimiya a couple?"
"Couple…?" Lin Zhi's eyes widened, and he grimaced. They'd only known each other for less than a day—how had such rumors spread already?
"No, we're just neighbors and classmates," he quickly clarified.
"Neighbors? Then childhood friends?"
"Don't guess. We've only known each other for about a week."
"Oh… I see," Iroha said, a hint of disappointment in her voice, as if a hunter had lost her prey.
Lin Zhi couldn't help asking, "Do all girls gossip this much?"
"Huh?" Iroha lifted her head and batted her eyes at him, giggling. "Lin Zhi, you can't just call a girl a gossip like that, okay? But… honestly, there isn't a single girl who doesn't gossip."
"Next, we have the freshman representative giving a speech."
Amidst the crowd, sudden exclamations erupted.
"Kawaii!"
"Who is that?"
"She looks like she just stepped out of an anime! And those twin tails… I just want to touch them!"
"Pervert!"
Lin Zhi and Iroha instinctively turned toward the stage. A golden-haired girl with twin tails walked gracefully toward the podium. Her pristine skirt revealed slender, fair legs, while her delicate blue eyes and flawless face drew everyone's attention.
But Lin Zhi's expression turned strange—he knew exactly who was on stage.
"Eri Kashiwagi? No way!" he muttered, astonished. She was also at this school?
"Hmm? Could it be that Lin Zhi has a thing for delicate, doll-like girls?" Iroha teased, noticing his reaction, covering her mouth with a sly smile.
Lin Zhi decided to fire back. "Iroha, how close do you think you are to this standard?"
"Lin Zhi, are you a pervert? Saying that in front of an innocent girl?"
"Sorry, I think you're more like a mischievous heroine than an innocent one."
Iroha blushed, arching her elegant eyebrows.
Taking a deep breath, Lin Zhi spoke earnestly, "Iroha, you should try acting someday—you've got real talent."
"Oh? Should I take that as a compliment?"
"Up to you," he replied, wryly thinking that city girls really did have bold personalities.
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T/N:
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