“Alright, that’s it for today. Get home safe~”

As soon as class ended and we wrapped up the homeroom session, Ecchan-sensei hurried out of the room.

“Well then, shall we go, Tachibana-kun?”

While everyone else packed up to go home, Tatara-hama-san held her notebook and pen, prompting me to follow.

Even though Ecchan-sensei told us to go home, as class representatives she and I had to attend the class rep meeting.

“Sure, sure. Ah, before we go to the meeting room, can we stop by Class 1?”

“Huh? Class 1?”

The moment I said that—

Every student in Class 2 instantly stopped packing and turned toward us.

“A-ah. I promised Haruto from Class 1 this morning that we’d go together. …Is that a problem?”

“No, not at all…”

Her words denied it, but Tatara-hama-san looked visibly unsettled.

Well, we did just have trouble with Class 1 recently, so the impression isn’t great.

But I have my reasons.

As the designated support character, I need to deepen my bond with Haruto.

Not just because of what I saw in that room…

I felt bad for the class, but I stuck to my decision and we headed toward the 1st Year Class 1 classroom.

“So this is Class 1…”

“It feels… intimidating…”

It wasn’t just the awkwardness of being in someone else’s classroom.

The actual pressure radiating from Class 1 was crazy.

“It feels so… luxurious.”

“Yeah… the room is literally twice the size of ours.”

As Tatara-hama-san gaped at the sight, I couldn’t help agreeing.

The entrance door looked like something from an antique mansion and the hallway was lined with a lush red carpet.

Is it even okay to step on this with indoor shoes?

In the game, Class 1 was always spoiled and I knew about their special classroom… but actually seeing it in person was nerve-wracking.

“Anyway, let’s go in. Heeey, Haruto! Are you here?”

I braced myself and opened the door.

“Haruto-sama, your tea is ready.”

“Haruto-sama, you must be tired from class. I’ve prepared a foot bath.”

“Haruto-sama, may I massage your shoulders and neck?”

Inside was just as extravagant as the outside.

What is this, a fantasy academy dorm? The vibe was totally different.

The room was huge—far larger than Class 2’s, even though both classes had the same number of students.

But despite the size, all the girls were gathered in one place.

At the center was, of course, Haruto.

“Oh, Tomoki-kun.”

“You’re pretty popular, huh, Haruto.”

It hasn’t even been a week since school started and he already controls his class like a king?

Cute face or not, the protagonist power is insane.

“Ahaha…”

“Since Kannonzaki-kun has to attend the class rep meeting, everyone, please prepare for your own committee work or club activities.”

Class 1’s female class rep, Ena-san, immediately moved in to peel the crowd off Haruto.

“Ugh, the annoying one showed up…”

“That stuck-up nerd only has grades going for her…”

Muttering complaints, the girls reluctantly dispersed.

“If you have a problem with me being the class rep, I’ll be glad to hear it.”

“Oh my, our Class 1 Rep-sama is always eager to accept a challenge, I see.”

Crackling tension filled the space between Ena-san and the other girls.

Girls are scary…

Wait—did they just call Ena-san a nerd? They’re saying that out loud?

In the original game, Class 1—the protagonist’s class—was all “We’re all best friends~!” energy. But behind the scenes… this!?

As a fan of the original, it hurts a bit…

“Um…”

Haruto was panicking, unable to choose sides without upsetting someone.

Sigh.

Guess it’s support-character time again.

“Come on now, don’t fight in front of us.”

“H-huh!? You from Class 2 have no… business… here…”

She had been full of attitude earlier, but once a boy spoke to her, her aggression deflated instantly.

“You’re all cute, so don’t make scary faces.”

“C-c-cute!?”

Acting deliberately shallow, I stepped between them with a bright smile.

“Haruto, you think it’s better when the class gets along, right?”

“Eh!? Y-yeah, of course!?”

“Just like us, right?”

I wrapped an arm around Haruto’s shoulders in a friendly gesture.

“““““GYAAAAAAA!!”””””

A wave of screams erupted from the Class 1 girls.

In this world, boys almost never interact intimately with each other.

If male friendships exist, they happen in rare male-only spaces.

So seeing two boys physically close like this was basically witnessing a miracle—or a forbidden scene straight out of fiction.

Nice! The BL chapter from that cram school prep course actually came in handy.

…But still—

“This might have been a bit too intense…”

Not only were all the Class 1 girls frozen, even Ena-san and Tatara-hama-san needed a reboot.

“Didn’t mean for it to escalate, huh Haruto? Haruto?”

When I looked down, Haruto was frozen stiff in my arm.

“Wait—why are you, a guy, frozen too!?”

Haruto’s slender body had gone rigid.

In my old-world mindset, getting physically close to another guy would just feel gross, but Haruto was an exception—he smelled nice, almost girly and I kind of felt my heart skip a beat.

Not that I’m admitting that out loud.