"Oh, the lucky new student is… Ichinose Honami" he declared with an exaggerated flourish. ",please come up."
Called it, Aiden thought, class leader, unfazed
Ichinose Honami, bright-eyed and ever cheerful, rose from her seat gracefully, a mixture of nervousness and excitement etched across her face as she made her way to the stage. All eyes turned to her, waiting to see how she would handle the sudden spotlight.
Aiden remained unfazed, sipping his coke lazily. For him, it was just another layer of the school's theatrics, designed to create an illusion of fairness while subtly steering the narrative.
As the chairman's announcement echoed through the gymnasium, a ripple of reactions coursed through the crowd.
"Honami-chan! You got this!" Yume Kobashi's enthusiastic whisper carried just far enough for a few nearby students to hear, earning her approving smiles from the rest of Class B.
"Of course, it's her," a boy muttered with a mix of admiration and mild envy.
Ichinose Honami rose gracefully, her signature bright smile intact despite the nerves swirling beneath it. Her strawberry-blonde hair shimmered under the gymnasium lights as she stepped out from her row.
The pride and subtle admiration of her classmates were evident in their quiet cheers and encouraging looks, though the faintest hint of pity flickered in a few eyes—being called out so early in front of everyone wasn't an enviable position for most.
Class A, seated closest to the stage, observed her ascent with varying degrees of indifference and quiet analysis. Katsuragi Kohei gave a slight nod, as if acknowledging her presence without any particular emotion, while Sakayanagi Arisu leaned slightly forward, her expression one of keen interest. Her sharp gaze followed Ichinose's every step, as if peeling back layers to uncover the essence of her character.
"She's quite the figurehead for Class B, isn't she?" Arisu mused softly, her calm voice tinged with curiosity.
Meanwhile, over in Class C, Ryuen lounged in his seat with his signature smirk. "Tch. Let's see if the golden girl stumbles," he muttered, eliciting a quiet chuckle from one of his lackeys. Ibuki, however, crossed her arms and watched silently, her expression unreadable.
From Class D, Kushida Kikyou's face lit up with polite encouragement, but her sharp eyes betrayed an undercurrent of assessment. "She'll do well," Kushida whispered, glancing briefly at Hirata Yousuke, who nodded with a small smile.
Hirata, as ever, exuded supportiveness, though his gaze briefly shifted to the back of the gymnasium where Aiden Takahashi stood sipping his coke with lazy indifference. The smirk on Aiden's face suggested he wasn't particularly invested in the proceedings, but Hirata couldn't shake the feeling that Aiden was quietly cataloging everything.
At the front of the room, Hoshinomiya Chie couldn't quite hide her excitement as she watched Ichinose approach the stage. Her hands clasped together near her chest, and her bright eyes sparkled with pride. "She's going to shine up there," she whispered to herself, though a trace of nervousness lingered in her tone.
Ichinose ascended the stairs with a practiced elegance, the soft click of her shoes on the polished floor barely audible. Standing before the chairman, she offered a respectful bow, her smile unwavering.
"Chairman-sama, it's an honor," she said, her voice steady yet warm.
The chairman returned her bow with a faint smile. "Welcome, Ichinose Honami. Please, take the podium."
As she moved to the center of the stage, her gaze swept across the sea of faces below her. The vast gymnasium suddenly felt impossibly large, every student's eyes weighing heavily on her. Yet, as her hands rested lightly on the edges of the podium, a calm washed over her.
"Good morning, everyone," she began, her voice carrying just enough volume to fill the room without sounding forced. "First, I'd like to thank the chairman for giving me this opportunity to speak today. It's… quite the surprise."
A light chuckle rippled through the crowd, easing some of the tension.
"When I first received my acceptance letter to Tokyo Metropolitan Advanced Nurturing High School, I couldn't believe it. I was so excited—and, if I'm being honest, a little intimidated. I'd heard so much about how prestigious this school is, and I knew I'd be surrounded by incredibly talented people. Being here today feels like a dream come true."
Her words, though simple, carried an earnestness that resonated with many of the students.
"This morning, I got to meet my classmates for the first time, and I already feel so lucky to be part of Class B. Everyone I've talked to so far has been kind, thoughtful, and full of ideas. It's inspiring to see how quickly we've started working together to make our class a place where everyone feels welcome."
In the audience, Class B exchanged proud glances, their respect for Ichinose growing with each word.
"I think that's what makes this school so special," Ichinose continued, her voice gaining a touch of conviction. "It's not just about the incredible facilities or the unique system they've created here. It's about the people—the students and teachers who bring it to life. We all come from different backgrounds, with different strengths and perspectives, but we're all here to grow and learn together."
Her gaze shifted momentarily, almost imperceptibly, toward the back of the gym. For a fleeting second, her thoughts returned to Aiden Takahashi. She remembered his teasing smirk from the bus and his carefree demeanor in class. There's something different about him. Something I can't quite put into words…
Ichinose quickly refocused, her smile never faltering.
"This school has already shown us that it values our individuality, and I believe that's going to push us to be the best versions of ourselves. So let's embrace this opportunity, support each other, and make the most of the next three years. Together, we can accomplish amazing things."
She ended her speech with a bright, hopeful smile, the kind that seemed to light up the entire gymnasium.
The applause began almost immediately, first from Class B, then rippling outward as the rest of the students joined in. Some clapped enthusiastically, while others offered polite applause, but the overall response was undeniably positive.
As Ichinose stepped back from the podium and bowed once more to the chairman, the faintest blush colored her cheeks. It was impossible to tell whether it was from nerves or the warmth of the reception she'd just received.
The chairman nodded approvingly. "Thank you, Ichinose Honami. That was an excellent speech."
Ichinose returned to her seat amidst the quiet murmurs of her classmates, her heart still racing but her smile firmly in place.
Behind her, Aiden watched with his usual lazy smirk, taking another sip of his coke. "Too perfect," he murmured under his breath, his voice just loud enough for Sudo to hear.
"What was that?" Sudo turned slightly, his brows furrowing.
"Nothing," Aiden replied, flashing a grin. "Just admiring the show."
The gymnasium settled as the chairman returned to the podium, his eyes glinting with something almost mischievous. "And now, let us move on to our next randomly selected speaker…"