The first class of the afternoon was the English lesson taught by Koizumi-sensei, who was temporarily acting as supervisor. She was explaining the dull grammar point of English past tense.
"This question tests the usage of insist."
Watanabe Tetsu's English had been decent in his previous life, so while his eyes stayed on the board, his mind was constructing the article he planned to submit.
Whenever he needed to take notes, he wrote two lines on the blank sheet tucked beneath his English textbook.
By the time class ended, he had written about half. He left his seat and walked toward Koizumi-sensei, who was surrounded by a group of female students.
He waited quietly. After answering the last question, Koizumi finally called out, "Watanabe," and headed toward the door.
Watanabe Tetsu followed her as they walked to the teacher's office.
Young, beautiful, and patient, Koizumi Aina was extremely popular. Students greeted her as they passed, and she returned every greeting with kindness.
Once inside the office, Koizumi sat at her desk—stacked high with books—and turned slightly toward him.
"Is this about the club?"
"Yes."
Compared to yesterday, Watanabe Tetsu noticed a few new pots of tiny succulents arranged on her desk.
Perhaps sensing his gaze, Koizumi Aina glanced at the small plants she had bought that morning while on her way to school.
"Did you find one?" she asked.
"Yes, it's called the Human Observation Club."
"That one, huh… Do you know what she plans to do with it?" Koizumi Aina gave a weary smile, as if he had made a foolish choice.
"No. And I didn't ask."
Though it was unusual not to know a club's purpose, meaningless groups were common. Besides, he could leave early, so Watanabe Tetsu hadn't cared.
"You didn't just join because Kiyono-san is pretty, did you?"
Faced with his female teacher's "you pervert boy" expression, Watanabe replied honestly:
"She is very pretty."
"I swear, you… never mind." Koizumi sighed. "Switch clubs. There's no reason to join the Human Observation Club."
"Why? Is it not a real club?"
"Oh, it is." Koizumi smiled. "Kiyono Rin was like you—she refused to join any club at first. So they gave her special permission to create a club of her own interest."
"Sensei, please allow me to create the 'Study-at-Home Club'. I will bring you my completed worksheets for review."
"Don't even think about it."
"Does this school have no democracy?"
"Kiyono Rin entered with the top score in the entire private academy. And you, my dear Watanabe?"
"…Third place isn't bad, right?"
"It isn't," Koizumi agreed with a nod, looking at him with an appreciative expression. "But her father is the president of a major company that sponsors this academy."
"I'm from a tiny village. Shouldn't society take special care of disadvantaged groups? Never mind waiving my tuition—shouldn't I at least get special treatment when founding a club?"
"Hahaha! This student is hilarious!"
The English teacher from the neighboring class—also Koizumi's best friend—burst into laughter, cutting in without a trace of feminine restraint.
Koizumi Aina glanced at her colleague, then gave Watanabe a gentle yet merciless smile that said:"You're old enough. Time to understand how dark society really is."
"Fine. But I'm still joining the Human Observation Club. I'm very interested in humans."
"Then tell me my full name." Koizumi leaned in slightly, staring directly into his eyes.
Watanabe Tetsu stepped back two paces."Sensei, you're too close."
"See?" Koizumi straightened her posture."Someone who doesn't even know his supervisor's full name shouldn't claim he's interested in humans."
At that moment, her colleague leaned her upper body over, practically draping herself onto Koizumi as she joined the conversation again:
"Student-kun, I can tell you her full name—if you call me 'Onee-san'."
"Akiko!" Koizumi snapped, pushing her friend's body upright.
"Okay, okay, I won't interrupt your teacher–student bonding." Fujiki Akiko grabbed her textbook and stood up. "I'm heading to class."
Koizumi Aina lifted her slender, fair wrist and checked the time, realizing that class was about to start.
She turned back to Watanabe Tetsu.
"If you insist on joining, fine. But you must participate seriously in club activities. I'll check with Kiyono-san."
"Understood."
"Go to class."
Though told to return to class, Watanabe didn't. Instead, he headed to the Home Economics room.
It was Wednesday—the last class was the weekly home economics lesson: cooking or sewing.
The cooking room was already full. Class 1 and Class 4 were merged.
Watanabe Tetsu was grouped with Kunii Shuuichi and two girls from their class. They assisted while the girls did most of the main cooking.
Watanabe was assigned to peel potatoes.
"Kunii-kun, do you have a girlfriend?" asked Yamaguchi Naomi.
"M–Me?" Kunii Shuuichi looked flustered.
His hair was very short, his looks average, and he was always loud and rowdy—this was the first time a girl had asked him something like this.
"Yep~" Naomi nodded cutely.
"N-not yet…"
Kunii was no longer his usual boisterous self—he looked painfully shy.
"I see. Are you planning on getting one?"
"Huh? I—I guess so?"
"Hehe, Kunii-kun, you're really funny."
"R-really? Hehe…"
Then Naomi turned toward Watanabe, who was peeling potatoes.
"What about you, Watanabe-kun? Do you have a girlfriend?"
"No."
"Really? Then do you plan to get one?"
If she had asked this question before today's math class, Watanabe would have firmly answered "no." But now he hesitated.
"Not necessarily trying to, but if I meet someone I like… I'd want her to be my girlfriend."
The quiet girl with glasses finally spoke:"So, Watanabe-kun, have you met someone you like?"
"Not yet."
He chopped the peeled potatoes, rinsed them, and placed them on the cutting board.
"Thanks," Naomi said politely.
Suddenly, a loud clang echoed—someone had dropped a stainless steel bowl. The sharp sound silenced the entire cooking room.
"Hey! Watch what you're doing! Didn't you say you could cook when we made groups?"
"S-sorry, Tamamo-san! I—I didn't mean to!"
"Stop making excuses and pick it up!"
"Y-yes, yes!"
Minutes later, the room returned to its usual chaos—knives chopping, spatulas hitting pans, students arguing over cooking opinions.
"That's Tamamo Naomi from Class 1," Naomi muttered in a strange tone.
Kunii blinked. "I heard Tamamo Naomi isn't popular among the girls?"
The glasses girl replied,"A classmate from Class 1 told me she often takes money from boys."
"Takes money?" Kunii's eyes widened. "How?"
"How else?" Naomi replied, leaving the rest to their imaginations.
Kunii sucked in a deep breath, fascinated.
He leaned toward Watanabe, whispering excitedly:
"A real-life gold digger! My first time seeing one! Not manga or anime—real!"
Watanabe was surprised too.
It reminded him of his university days, when he suddenly learned a classmate was secretly a mistress for some older man.
He knew such things existed, and he was mentally prepared to hear them—but when it happened nearby, he couldn't help thinking:
This world is truly strange.
Watanabe glanced toward Tamamo Naomi. The same Western-style uniform somehow looked fashionable on her—she was undeniably cute.
Wait.
Just as he lowered his head to help Kunii with the carrots, a thought struck him.
He used his last activation of the [Detector] on Tamamo Naomi.
[Character: Tamamo Naomi][Intelligence: 5][Charm: 8][Stamina: 6][Info: Fashion-obsessed; materialistic; looks down on unattractive people; looks down on the poor.][Can be pursued]
After tasting the mediocre potato curry, home economics class ended.
Watanabe, Kunii Shuuichi, and Saitou Keisuke walked back to class together.
"Saitou! Naomi asked if I had a girlfriend and if I planned to get one!"
"Seriously?!"
"Of course! Ask Watanabe!"
"Yeah," Watanabe nodded.
"Damn, Kunii! Your spring romance is starting!" Saitou punched his shoulder. "Whoever gets a girlfriend first treats the others to a meal!"
"Deal!" Kunii agreed cheerfully despite the punch.
Saitou still looked doubtful. "Watanabe was there… and she still chose to talk to you?"
"Kunii's manly. It's normal girls would like him," Watanabe said.
"Exactly!" Kunii nodded vigorously.
Naomi didn't like Kunii—but what Watanabe said was still true.
Watanabe was handsome but too slender, and he often embarrassed himself in P.E. Meanwhile, Kunii excelled at basketball, soccer, long-distance running, and was a member of the popular baseball club. He looked good in sportswear too.
It wasn't surprising that girls liked him.
The three of them joked and walked back to Class 4.
As they passed Class 1, Watanabe noticed Tamamo Naomi at the back of the room, chatting with a few girls while packing her bag.
Then he suddenly remembered something.
"What's Koizumi-sensei's full name again?"
Kunii and Saitou, who had been scheming how to ask Naomi for her contact information, both froze.
They turned to stare at him with the expression:
"You seriously don't know?"