The students lined up and followed the Teacher towards the gymnasium.
Among all the lines, their Year 1 Class 3 line was relatively the quietest and most orderly, forming a stark contrast with the boisterousness of the adjacent class.
The class Teacher for Year 1 Class 2 was a female Teacher, and she didn't look old, nor was she tall. Some students with beards looked more mature than her, and her voice was rather timid and fierce, completely lacking in deterrence.
At this moment, she was standing on her tiptoes trying to maintain order, but her wavering voice was quickly drowned out by the laughter of the adolescent students.
The result was that she could only barely gather the line into a group, like leading a flock of quacking, disobedient ducks.
It wasn't until Ikeda appeared silently like an iron tower behind the female Teacher that everyone quickly fell silent, the noise as if the pause button had been pressed.
The new students even unconsciously sucked in their stomachs and straightened their chests, their breathing becoming lighter – the ducks were cooked.
"Phew, yes, keep quiet, everyone, don't whisper..." The petite female Teacher wiped the sweat from her forehead.
This was her first time being a class Teacher, and it really wasn't going well, but at least they had quieted down.
There was nothing new at the opening ceremony. The Principal stood in the present, looked back at the past, and looked forward to the future, addressing the students...
When the Principal used the term 'favorites of the new era' to describe the students below for the third time, Dongshan Shen stared blankly at the bow in the hair of the girl in the front row, his mind wandering.
Thinking about what new games the system might refresh the day after tomorrow, and whether there would be a sequel to the game Soul Exchange.
After the Principal, there were speeches from student representatives, and so-and-so, and so-and-so. They finally endured until the end, and the morning was already halfway over.
Afterwards, they took a few photos, received their textbooks, and finally returned to the classroom.
Although Dongshan Shen's current physique was entirely like that of an athlete, at the moment he sat down, a hint of fatigue showed.
It was too mentally draining.
Something that could be summarized in three sentences had to be talked about for two hours.
If he had the chance in the future, he would secretly cause trouble every time he saw a leader giving a speech.
In the classroom, the students had now more or less adapted to the presence of Ikeda-sensei. During free time, they at least dared to... move around.
"Lunch break starts now. Afternoon class times are on the schedule. If you have time, get to know each other. We need to select class representatives during the morning meeting tomorrow. Those interested in becoming the class committee chairman can come to the office to find me in advance."
Ikeda said in a deep voice, looking around at everyone.
"...Yes!"
Ikeda left, and all the students in Year 1 Class 3 finally collectively breathed a sigh of relief. The surrounding atmospheric pressure seemed to have eased considerably.
"Are you going to be the class committee chairman?" Chiba asked.
"No, I'm tired of it. Three years in junior high have exhausted my enthusiasm for management." Dongshan Shen had been the class committee chairman for three years in junior high and was sick of it.
In Japan, schools generally reclassify students every two years in elementary school, and every year in junior high and high school.
But this isn't absolute. For example, Komagome Academy adopts a three-year consistent system, meaning that students don't change classes for three years of junior high and three years of high school, except for promotion, so once you take on a role, you can basically forget about stepping down.
However, the more important reason was that his golden finger hadn't arrived before, but now everything was different, and he was no longer interested in playing house.
He might even withdraw from two or three club activities, leaving only the Archery Club... However, considering that the golden finger was related to games, he might have to keep the e-sports club as well.
The reason he didn't want to withdraw from the Archery Club was that he enjoyed the process of aiming at a target and then hitting the bullseye.
It's normal for men to like shooting something, right?
Chiba Shion's gaze changed slightly. After a few seconds of silence, she spoke.
"I feel like you've changed a lot since the spring break."
"...Of course, I've changed from a junior high student to a high school student."
He calmly used a joking tone to cover it up.
It must be said that Chiba's understanding of him was indeed deep. The slightest abnormality would be noticed, much more sensitive than that foolish younger brother.
Suspicion flashed in Chiba's eyes, but quickly returned to normal. If it weren't for Dongshan Shen having spiritual fire eyes, she probably wouldn't have been able to tell.
"Let's eat. I'm hungry after standing for half the day."
Dongshan Shen casually changed the subject, opened the lid of his bento box, and a fragrant aroma of delicious food wafted out. Even without heat, it was still tempting.
He originally thought that Chiba Shion, staying with her Father, would have a bento prepared, so he only made enough for himself and his younger brother.
However, it was a good thing that the food in his bento today was easy to share, like braised meatballs, tempura shrimp and vegetables, karaage chicken, and vegetable salad. The main dish was a pickled plum and seaweed rice ball.
"Thank you."
Chiba took the chopsticks, her eyes bright. After Dongshan Shen picked up the first piece of chicken, she started eating.
"Want a rice ball?"
"What flavor?"
"Pickled plum."
"No."
"You're really a carnivore... Eat more salad."
"...Okay."
The two of them ate the same bento in the classroom as if no one else was around, causing people nearby to whisper.
"Are they a couple?"
"Definitely, otherwise why would they be so close?"
"That girl is Chiba Shion, right?"
"So it was her! She's really beautiful."
"Do men like this type? Am I the only one who thinks she's just average? She looks down on everyone, tch."
"Ahhh, Dongshan-kun, my Dongshan-kun..."
The two ate unhurriedly, sharing the food in the bento with great tacit agreement until it was all gone, except for the salad.
Chiba frowned tightly. The lettuce and cucumber made a crisp, juicy sound as she chewed, but her expression was like someone taking a bitter, thick medicine, serious and tragic.
Gulp.
After finally swallowing, she shivered almost imperceptibly. She let out a long sigh of relief, opened her mouth slightly towards Higashiyama, half-exposing her little tongue, indicating that she hadn't cheated and had swallowed it.
Dongshan Shen was used to it. This fellow naturally didn't like vegetables and wasn't even very interested in carb-based staples like noodles and rice. In the past, she would even shamefully waste food by hiding it in her mouth and secretly spitting it out when he wasn't looking. But luckily, under his influence, she was finally less picky.
"Are you full?"
"Six-tenths full."
"That's fine, don't eat too much." Dongshan Shen's appetite had always been considerable, and this much was only enough to make him four-tenths full, but he generally didn't eat too much, seven-tenths was enough.
"Okay."
Dongshan Shen picked up the bento box and walked towards the nearest restroom.
Chiba stared blankly as Dongshan Shen's back disappeared at the door. Only then, feeling the gentle breeze from the window, did she take out a foreign language novel from her bag, open it to the bookmark, carefully put away the metal bookmark, and begin reading.
Several new classmates had originally wanted to strike up a conversation and get to know her while she was alone. Seeing this scene, their expressions froze, and they awkwardly gave up the idea.
"How pretentious," someone muttered softly.
In some ways, she was very similar to Dongshan Shen; neither of them ever took these people seriously.
The reason Chiba read foreign language novels was also her mother's requirement. She was required to finish reading one novel in original English every month and write her feelings after reading it in English to give to her mother. If she didn't understand, she should learn; if she couldn't learn, she should look it up.
Once, Dongshan Shen was greatly inspired by this and made similar requirements for his younger brother, but only required him to read Japanese novels.
At first, he still needed to supervise him, but later he discovered that his brother actually started looking for books to read on his own and that they were quite literary. Dongshan Shen felt a sense of relief.
Maybe he had the hidden attribute of a great educator.
Just as he reached the vicinity of the restroom carrying the bento box, Higashiyama saw those three delinquent classmates walking out from inside with their hands in their pockets.
PS.
(Don't be misled by me. In the real Komagome Academy, except for two small classes, the others are reclassified in the second year of high school. The buildings, history, curriculum, and even the entire world within the novel's Komagome Academy are fictional. Please do not take it seriously.)