The first day’s classes ended by noon, and everything was basically just explanation-style guidance sessions.

“Alright then, students without club activities, make sure to head home safely.”

After the end-of-day homeroom finished, I slung my backpack over my shoulder while letting out a sigh and reflecting on the half-day.

In the end, I didn’t get any closer to the girls on the first day, and instead, by ending up next to the Prince, I was just disliked even more, looks like my high school life is already off to a bleak start.

“Saijou-kun, are you heading home already?”

Just as I was about to leave, Ayase called out to me again from beside me.

I’m happy to be spoken to by the Prince, but every time she talks to me, the sharp glares from the surrounding girls come flying at me, and that’s what worries me…

“I’m in the go-home club, so yeah, I’m heading back. What about you, Ayase? Come to think of it, are you in any club?”

“Nope, I’m also in the go-home club, but it seems like everyone wants to chat, so I’ll probably go home after that’s done.”

Ayase said that while glancing at the girls gathered around her, her brows slightly furrowed.

Guh… this normie!!

And those girls around her are all top-tier girls with insanely high looks, even if Ayase is a girl, I’m still insanely jealous!

At least give one flower from that lily garden to a poor virgin like me, Ayase!!

“Um, Reiya-sama!”

Interrupting our conversation, one of the girls in her entourage stepped in.

W-what’s with this girl, interrupting when someone’s talking.

“What’s wrong all of a sudden, Satou-san?”

“A-actually, Oguma-san went to the restroom earlier and hasn’t come back yet. She said she’d return soon, and her bag is still at her seat, so I don’t think she went home…”

She went to the bathroom and still hasn’t come back?

No way, that’s way too paranoid.

Unlike guys, don’t girls take a long time in the bathroom? I wouldn’t know though.

“That is worrying. I’ll go look for her. Everyone, keep chatting for now, okay?”

“Y-yes…”

Ayase said that to the worried girl and immediately stood up from her seat.

As expected, such a refreshingly handsome move.

Instead of grumbling like me and dismissing it as paranoia, she listens properly and moves to resolve things, truly a charismatic extrovert move, I should learn from that.

Hm? But wait…

If I help search for that girl named Oguma in this situation, maybe I can raise my favorability with the girls…

“H-hey! If you want, I can help look too. I’ve got nothing to do after this anyway.”

“Really? Thank you, Saijou-kun. Then let’s go together.”

Alright, alright.

If I stick close to Ayase like this, she’ll probably introduce me to at least one cute girl.

Thinking that to myself, I left the classroom together with Ayase.

“So where should we start looking? If that Oguma girl just went to the bathroom, she should still be on the third floor, right?”

“Hm… but the bathrooms are always crowded around dismissal time. She might have gone to one on a different floor.”

Ah, that thing unique to girls’ bathrooms.

Unlike the fast turnover of boys’ bathrooms, girls’ bathrooms are always packed like in shopping malls.

“Then for now, let’s go up to the fourth floor and search from the top down.”

“Yeah, sounds good.”

After deciding that, Ayase and I went up the stairs to the fourth floor.

There were barely any students heading home anymore, and we only occasionally passed by students from club activities.

“Still, you’ve got it good, Ayase. You’ve got so many girl friends.”

“Well, I am a girl, so that’s only natural. Also, you can just call me out casually, Saijou-kun.”

“Really? Then Ayase it is. You can just call me Saijou too.”

“Eh!? T-that’s a bit…”

For some reason, Ayase seemed hesitant to call me without honorifics.

I don’t mind though… well, whatever.

“Hey, Saijou-kun. There’s actually something I wanted to ask.”

“Something you wanted to ask?”

“Before first period, you—”

“Hm!? Wait, Ayase.”

“Huh?”

Just as Ayase was about to say something, I, who had gone up the stairs first, saw something.

On the landing of the fourth floor stairs, two male students had cornered a single girl against the wall and were talking to her.

This is… no way.

“Whoa, you’re super cute.”

“How about hanging out with us after this?”

“Um… please stop.”

Whoa… that’s legit flirting.

It’s only the first day of becoming co-ed, and I’ve already run into such a stereotypical pickup scene.

And the two guys are third-years, while the girl is wearing a ribbon showing she’s a second-year, same as Ayase.

“That’s Oguma-san, Saijou-kun.”

“Seriously… this is bad, we have to help her. Ayase, listen—”

“S-sorry, Saijou-kun, I… I’m scared.”

When I looked at Ayase, she was so scared her large chest was trembling slightly.

Well, even if she’s the Prince of the girls’ school, facing actual guys, especially the kind who pick up girls like that, it makes sense she’d be scared.

But if this keeps up, that girl Oguma will be in trouble, so I’ve got no choice but to go.

“Got it. Leave this to me, Ayase.”

“S-Saijou-kun?”

It’ll be fine.

I have one… secret plan.

Leaving Ayase behind, I headed toward the scene where the girl was being hit on.