When I entered the classroom with the plate labeled '1-B', many students had already arrived.

And the first thing I immediately sensed was that this class had a lot of socially confident people.

First of all, the number of people spending time alone was extremely small.

Even though more than thirty students were already in the classroom, there were only a handful you could count on one hand.

The rest of the students had already formed circles with those sitting nearby or those who shared similar hobbies and were chatting lively.

This might be a difficult class for me.

Well, normally class reshuffles happen once a year anyway so I should just take it easy.

"Ayanokōji-kun, look."

While I had been observing the class and drawing my conclusions, Ichinose was now standing at the teacher’s podium in front of the blackboard.

She repeatedly pointed at a poster stuck to the board.

"What is it?"

When I approached with mild curiosity, Ichinose spoke with a slightly happy expression.

"Our seats are next to each other."

Sure enough, at the very back by the window and the seat beside it, the names 'Ayanokōji Kiyotaka' and 'Ichinose Honami' were written side by side.

"For a coincidence, that's a little too perfect."

When things start this smoothly, it makes me feel like something bad will happen later...

"I'm glad someone I can talk to is next to me. Ayanokōji-kun seems reliable."

"I'm not. Ugh, the pressure is giving me a stomachache..."

"Ahaha, Ayanokōji-kun really is funny."

"That was the part where you're supposed to worry."

While exchanging that kind of aimless conversation, we walked through the classroom and sat down.

From here I should be able to remember my classmates’ faces and behavior too so it’s killing two birds with one stone.

Even I have to admit my luck is good.

"I'm going over there for a bit!"

Ichinose said that immediately and stood up from her seat.

"Ah, okay. Also you don't have to announce it to me every time from now on."

"Got it!"

Looks like she understood.

Ichinose will probably become popular in this class too.

She’s basically perfect.

I should be careful about how I interact with her from now on.

If I get entangled with her extreme fans or those so-called 'gachikoi fans', the calm, average and slightly happy student life I aim for would become impossible.

While I was blankly staring out the window for a while, an adult woman entered the classroom.

From her slightly wavy blonde hair and her loose clothing, it seemed unlikely that she had a very strict personality.

If that person is our Class B homeroom teacher then we might have gotten lucky.

"Okay everyone, take your seats."

Just as expected from her appearance, a soft voice echoed through the classroom.

"I'm Hoshinomiya Chie. I usually work as the school nurse so if you feel sick come see me quickly. And with that said..."

From there, Hoshinomiya began explaining the school.

"First, everyone come up and receive your student ID. Also your student ID terminal. Even if it breaks you can apply for a replacement so don't worry. Ah, but breaking it on purpose is not allowed, okay?"

While saying that, she began calling names in attendance order.

Apparently I’m first.

Well, since surnames starting with 'A' in this class are only me and Amikura.

When I received the student ID and terminal from her, she sent me a slightly strange look.

But I figured there was no need to care and ignored it.

After distributing them to everyone, the real explanation began.

"First of all, there are no class reshuffles at this school."

...What?

Really?

There are none?

Class reshuffles.

In other words, if I make a mistake in human relationships in this class I'm completely finished.

"And as you probably already know, it's a full boarding system so everyone will definitely be living in the dorms."

That's right... a full boarding system.

That’s the reason I enrolled in Kōiku.

Contact with the outside world is cut off so I won't have to deal with strange interference.

"You won't be able to go outside for three years but don't worry, Kōiku has enough facilities that you won't get bored for three years. And finally… I'll explain the S System."

The S System?

That's a term I've never heard before.

A coined term?

Well, for now I should listen to the explanation.

"The student IDs I gave you earlier are actually required when you use shops or facilities in the school. You need 'compensation' for that. What we call 'points'. Right now 100,000 points have been deposited into each of your student IDs. Oh and by the way, one point has the value of one yen so be careful how you use them. You’re free to transfer points to others but if you do things like extortion you'll be expelled. Points will be deposited on the first day of every month."

...My brain can't keep up with the information.

The first thing I clearly understood is that this school is abnormal.

Even someone as ignorant of the world as me knows there probably isn't any other school that gives students 100,000 yen for free.

And I can't imagine that doing something like this would actually produce outstanding students.

I can somewhat understand developing the inside of the campus so students don't get bored but with this system instead of studying they'll just waste money and develop bad habits from playing around.

Seriously, what are they thinking?

Well, whatever.

More importantly, I need to focus on making friends.

"Does anyone have any questions... It seems not. Then make sure you don't be late for the entrance ceremony."

Leaving only those words behind, Hoshinomiya left the classroom.

Dropping a bombshell and running away like that is pretty unfair...

"Everyone, can I have a moment?"

Right as everyone was about to start doing their own thing, Ichinose stood up from her seat.

Her voice and posture seemed filled with absolute confidence.

"We're going to be classmates for the next three years so why don't we introduce ourselves?"

When Ichinose finished with a small smile, every boy in the class nodded.

And with a smile that even captivated the girls, the decision to do self-introductions was unanimously made.

I had somewhat prepared myself but it has finally arrived...

Believe it or not, this Ayanokōji Kiyotaka has never introduced himself in front of a large group before.

Thinking that my future friendships and position within the class might be determined by this first attempt makes me a little nervous.

However, there’s no need to think too deeply.

Say the important things and sit down.

That's all it is.

"Then I guess I'll start. I'm Ichinose Honami. My hobbies are shopping and hanging out with friends! I want to become friends with everyone! Nice to meet you!"

And that concludes Ichinose Honami’s self-introduction demonstration lecture.

Also, you guys... your gazes are completely obvious.

Almost every single one of them was looking at Ichinose’s upper body rather than her face.

I don't even need to say which part.

"Then next... Ayanokōji-kun, could you go?"

To keep the flow going, Ichinose passed it to me.

At the same time the entire class turned their attention toward me.

This is bad...

I was still in the stage of editing the script in my head...

But well, I do owe Ichinose.

She's a kind person so refusing here would feel bad.

Alright, time to give it my best shot.

"Uh... I'm Ayanokōji Kiyotaka. I'm not particularly good at anything but I'll do my best to get along with everyone."

...I'm finished.

I shouldn't have accepted.

It's already impossible to recover from that disgrace.

Everyone in the class politely gave applause but that only made my misery worse.

"Isn't Ayanokōji-kun handsome?"

"Right? I get it. He's pretty cool."

"A cool-type? That innocent vibe is nice."

The girls in the class were saying something but I couldn't understand it.

Cool-type?

Do they mean cool as in cold or cool as in stylish?

No way I'm stylish.

Better not get any weird misunderstandings.

And what is 'ikemen' supposed to mean?

A face like a pond?

Does it mean fresh-looking?

Ichinose seemed to narrow her eyes slightly at something but in the end I had no idea what was going on and the self-introductions finished.

If I were to summarize the conclusion briefly, it would be that my student life is completely doomed from the start.