"Hello everyone, my na is Chishima Akishin. I will be your PE teacher and your Mandarin teacher from now on. You can call Chishima-sensei, or Akishin-sensei!"
Akishin wrote his na on the chalkboard. His handwriting couldn't exactly be called beautiful, but it carried a strange, sharp edge to it, distinct from the writing of other teachers.
It was hard to explain specifically, but at least none of the elite students stood up to criticize it.
"The amount of ti I spend in your class is indeed very limited. This is only the third class I've visited at Sobu High, and this is my first actual lesson—and even then, it's not my primary duty as a PE teacher."
Akishin spoke with a light chuckle, which made the students feel a sense of approachability—this teacher seed nice enough, at least not the stiff, formal type.
Then, a female student with a short, brisk ponytail spoke up with a smile, "Sensei, we are an honors class, so it's only natural that we prioritize academic grades."
"Yes, yes, I understand." Akishin nodded with a smile, picked up the class roster, and said, "Well then, just like the other classes, please introduce yourselves so that I can get to know you. I look forward to working with you for the next two years."
"We look forward to working with you, Chishima-sensei."
The students all bowed their heads and spoke with firm, spirited voices. Akishin's smile widened; this kind of youthful energy was sothing you just couldn't find out in the real world.
Then, the students began to stand up one by one to introduce themselves while Akishin looked for their nas on the list.
This class really was impressive; even the student ranked last here would probably land in the top ten if they moved to Hikigaya's class.
...
Yukinoshita Yukino stared at Akishin on the podium. He appeared both friendly and in total control of the room's atmosphere.
The feeling Akishin gave her was different yet again. Back at the Service Club, he had felt purely terrifying, but here, he felt like a wise older brother figure.
His face wasn't strikingly handso, but the more you looked at him, the more captivating he beca. Many of the girls in class were staring at Akishin until their faces slowly began to flush.
Even Yukinoshita Yukino found herself affected. Her perception of him shifted once more—she realized it, and she was actively resisting the influence!
After the student next to Yukinoshita Yukino finished their introduction, it was her turn. However, she didn't react imdiately—it was rare for her to space out like this.
The other students cast their glances toward her. Most were indifferent, while a few carried a hint of 'mockery.'
Akishin looked up and called out, "Yukinoshita-kun!"
"Ah! Chishima-sensei."
Yukinoshita Yukino finally snapped out of it. She quickly stood up and apologized, "I am truly sorry..."
Akishin waved it off and smiled. "Don't worry about it. We already know each other, so there's no need for an introduction. Next student."
Yukino sat back down, her face slightly pale. Akishin noticed this and shook his head inwardly.
Her ntal fortitude was still lacking!
As long as that layer of ice on the surface was shattered, the seemingly perfect structure behind it was nothing more than a fragile, hollow shell.
By the ti all the students had finished introducing themselves, Akishin had morized every single one of their nas.
Yukinoshita Yukino wasn't the class president; that role belonged to a boy nad Hasegawa Tsubasa, one of the only two males in the class. His academic rank was second in the class and second in the entire grade; first place, of course, belonged to Yukinoshita Yukino.
Yukino was a mber of the study committee, but her work seed more like that of a class president.
Akishin called Hasegawa Tsubasa and Yukinoshita Yukino over to help distribute the Pinyin textbooks.
Hasegawa Tsubasa wore a warm, peaceful smile—the quintessential 'Normie' look!
The lesson began. Various initials, finals, and tones flowed from Akishin's mouth. Regardless of whether the pronunciation was perfect or not, it sounded very formal and was easy to follow.
A few students who had initially objected to the toddler-level textbooks eventually settled in and followed the lesson well—they were honor students, after all, and the most important thing for an honor student was to study well.
Once the Pinyin lesson was over—the first hour being primarily to socialize them into the importance of Pinyin—the second hour was also Akishin's: PE.
Just like before, once the warm-ups were done, they moved on to free activity.
Yukinoshita Yukino stood alone, radiating an aura that warned others not to approach. But after a mont of hesitation, she took the initiative to walk up to Akishin. Her reason was to apologize for spacing out during the previous period.
Akishin smiled. "Yukinoshita-kun, you really care about other people's opinions, don't you?"
"..."
Yukinoshita Yukino didn't speak, but her awkward expression said it all. Even if her mouth uttered grand words with a cold expression, at her core, she cared deeply about how others viewed her.
Or to put it another way, she was ntally fragile. She hungered for recognition—recognition from others, and recognition from herself. Being first in academics and founding the Service Club were, fundantally, all done for the sake of obtaining that recognition.
A classic case of youth syndro! (A lack of experience).
There was likely a family factor involved too, given that she ca from a prominent background; the things she had to consider were different from an ordinary family.
The corners of Akishin's mouth quirked into a strange sort of grin, and then he spoke again. "So, Yukinoshita-kun, compared to Hikigaya-kun, how do you think you're doing?"
"What is that supposed to an?"
Yukino imdiately looked up, her eyes pinning Akishin with a sharp glare.
Akishin waved his hand dismissively. "It doesn't an anything. I was just asking."
Yukino didn't answer and walked away. She felt there was no need to answer, or perhaps she felt there was no point in comparing herself to him.
Well, that was understandable. They had only just t this afternoon. Yukinoshita Yukino's impression of Hikigaya was still that of a gloomy Otaku with dead fish eyes.
After that, Yukinoshita Yukino returned to the classroom. For honor students, Japanese schools are quite lax; as long as your grades are guaranteed, skipping a class or two isn't a problem.
Of course, they still had to show up to school.
Once PE ended, it was ti to go ho. The international class horoom teacher sent him a ssage, letting him know he was free to leave.
By the ti he got back to the classroom, Yukinoshita Yukino was already gone.
Akishin only exchanged a few brief words with the others.
After school ended, there were still club activities. The mbers of the 'Going Ho Club' (students who head straight ho) were still very few. In Japan, going straight ho after school is often seen as being socially inept, an Otaku, or sothing similar; essentially, it lacks any positive connotation.
So, generally, students—even if they don't like it—will thicken their skin and join at least one club.
To Akishin, this already felt a bit unhealthy.
This situation even carried over into adult society. A man who cos ho early from work is seen as neglecting his duties, and it can even cause anxiety for family mbers who might think his career isn't going well.
Akishin brought the textbooks back to the office, noting that the other teachers were also starting to pack up. Hiratsuka Shizuka was leaning back in her chair with a cigarette in her mouth, though it wasn't lit yet.
Akishin pulled out a Ghost Fire lighter, flicked it on, and held the fla out in front of Shizuka.
"Ah! Thanks."
Shizuka reflexively lit her cigarette.
Akishin let go of the lighter, then promptly snatched the cigarette right out of Shizuka's mouth!
Shizuka froze, turning to stare at Akishin with a blink.
Akishin blinked right back at her.
"Chishima Akishin!" Shizuka hissed through gritted teeth.
Akishin handed the cigarette back to her, set the textbooks on the desk, then sat in his chair and said, "Hiratsuka-sensei, a lady shouldn't smoke. To be honest, I'm a heavy smoker myself, but I've already started preparing to quit."
Suddenly struck by a thought, Akishin gave a faint smile, leaned in, and said, "How about this, Hiratsuka-sensei? Let's quit smoking together. I won't smoke, and you won't smoke."
Shizuka crossed her legs, tapping the cigarette between her fingers, and asked with genuine bewildernt, "Why on earth should I quit smoking with you?"
Akishin smiled. "Because you and I are friends, Hiratsuka-sensei."
Shizuka put her cigarette away and turned back to tidy up her textbooks, preparing to head ho.
'...Friends, huh?'
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