A short while later, the teacher rose from his chair and stepped up to the podium.
He cleared his throat lightly, his sharp yet calm gaze sweeping across the classroom.
"All right, everyone. Settle down."
The murmurs and chair-scraping noises came to an immediate halt. It was strange how a teacher's voice alone could so easily change the atmosphere.
"I'll be your homeroom teacher this year. My name is Takeda. I teach Literature, and I expect all of you to take this school year seriously."
His tone was steady—not too harsh, but not particularly friendly either. Just firm enough that no one would dare to take him lightly.
"I know today is just orientation, but that doesn't mean we're going to waste time. You're not in middle school anymore."
A few students shuffled in their seats.
I glanced over at Ren. He was sitting up straight, eyes focused on the teacher like he was absorbing every word. Classic Ren.
Then I looked at Ayaka beside me. She also sat upright, hands neatly folded on her desk. Calm and composed, like she was born to be the model student.
As for me,I was just trying not to look like a clueless new kid.
Mr. Takeda continued, "Now then, let's go around and introduce ourselves. State your name, where you're from, and, if you'd like, share a hobby or something about yourself. Keep it brief and to the point."
Ah yes, the classic self-introduction scene, an essential in every school anime or visual novel.
One by one, the students stood and introduced themselves.
My palms were starting to sweat.
It was almost my turn.
When the student in front of me finished speaking, Mr. Takeda gave a small nod and looked my way.
"Next."
I stood up, trying my best to keep my voice calm.
"I'm Hiro Sasaki. I'm from… Minamihara Town."
Totally made that up. It was the name of a place in one of the games. Hopefully no one would question it.
"I don't have any particular hobbies. I hope we all get along this year."
I gave a small bow and quickly sat down.
The class stayed quiet, aside from the soft rustle of notebooks and the sound of the teacher scribbling something down.
Simple. Short. Low profile.
I glanced over at Ayaka. No reaction. She just gave a polite nod.
Then she stood.
Ayaka Shirogane—elegant like a heroine straight out of a novel. Her long black hair flowed gently over her shoulders, swaying with her movements.
"My name is Ayaka Shirogane. I'm from Seito."
Her voice was gentle yet clear, laced with quiet confidence. Even without trying to stand out, she naturally drew everyone's attention—including mine, of course.
"I enjoy reading and cooking. I look forward to studying with you all."
That was it. A short, graceful introduction—no flair, no flaws.
She bowed slightly, then sat back down, every gesture exuding elegance.
From this close, I could see the sunlight glinting off the strands of her hair. A perfect image, just like the opening scene from the game.
And now, that very girl was sitting right next to me.
Ren's introduction, by the way, was pretty simple—just like mine.
After a few more students, the girl with soft pink twin-tails stood up. The moment she moved, the entire class atmosphere lifted a little.
"I'm Mizuki Tachibana! Nice to meet you all!" she said brightly, her voice bursting with energy and a radiant smile like spring sunshine.
She waved to the class, and I saw a couple of guys nearby blush slightly. I didn't blame them,Mizuki was the type of girl who made everyone feel at ease the moment they met her.
"I'm from Osaka! My hobbies are eating good food and sleeping a lot!" she laughed. "But don't worry I still study hard!"
The class chuckled quietly, and the mood instantly became friendlier.
Mizuki Tachibana—cheerful, warm, and always lighting up the room. In the fandom, she was ranked just below Ayaka. But unlike Ayaka's elegant aloofness, Mizuki was more down-to-earth and approachable—like the best friend who's always there for you.
She bowed, her smile still bright, and sat down. It felt like the whole class had just been recharged with positive energy.
And I was no exception.
After Mizuki, Kaori Minase—dark blue hair, round glasses,stood up.
She adjusted her glasses seriously and bowed her head.
"I'm Kaori Minase. I hope we get along."
Her tone was calm and reserved, fitting perfectly with the "serious bookworm" image I remembered from the game. No flair, no attempts to impress—pure Kaori.
She sat down quietly, and the class fell silent again for a moment.
And then… finally, the one I'd been waiting for stood up.
Shun Asakura.
Blond hair tousled like he just rolled out of bed, yawning as he walked up front.
He looked at the class with a lazy half-smile.
"I'm Asakura Shun. My hobbies are… sleeping and avoiding trouble."
A few students chuckled.
"My future dream is to become… a side character who lives peacefully every day."
I nearly laughed out loud.
Perfect. Exactly like in the game.
That half-joking tone, the couldn't-care-less attitude but still incredibly charming. That was Shun. The kind of character who seemed like a slacker but ended up winning hearts with unexpected depth.
He finished with another long yawn and walked back to his seat. A few more giggles followed, and the room felt lighter than ever.
I nodded to myself, a smile tugging at my lips.