Chapter 3: The New Girl Has Chūnibyō

The classroom door opened and the teacher entered, followed closely by Kanade. The moment she appeared, all murmurs ceased, and every gaze locked onto her. With her long dark hair and deep eyes, Kanade looked like a vision straight out of a fantasy film. The combination of her beauty and the serenity on her face left everyone speechless-no one was prepared for such a surprise this early in the day.
Teacher (with a kind smile): "Good morning, class. Today we have a new exchange student. I hope you'll all welcome her and help her adjust to her new life here. Kanade-san, would you like to introduce yourself?"
Kanade, ever composed, stepped forward and looked at the class with a slight bow. Though her gaze was calm, there was a spark of intensity in her eyes that didn't go unnoticed.
Kanade (with a soft but confident voice): "My name is Kanade Himejima. I'm... 117 years old, and I hope to get along with everyone."
The classroom fell silent. A mix of confusion and surprise filled the air. Students glanced at each other, some stifling laughter while others didn't know how to react. A boy at the back let out a soft whistle, and a girl covered her mouth in clear disbelief.
Teacher (with an awkward smile): "Uh... interesting. Kanade-san, could you tell us a bit more about your interests or what you enjoyed doing before coming here?"
Kanade nodded, completely unaware of the odd looks around her. She raised her gaze and, in an innocent yet enthusiastic tone, replied:
Kanade: "One of my favorite hobbies was fighting demons and other magical creatures. Battles are always exciting."
The class reacted instantly. Whispers and stifled giggles spread across the room. Someone muttered something about "chuunibyou," referring to people who believe they have magical powers or fantasy-like abilities. To most, Kanade seemed like one of those people-just saying weird things to get attention.
Student 1 (whispering with a chuckle): "Did you hear that? She says she fights demons! Bet she's got magical powers too."
Student 2 (laughing quietly): "Definitely chuunibyou... but she looks cool saying it."
The teacher cleared his throat to regain control.
Teacher: "Alright, alright, Kanade-san. You can take the empty seat... next to Yuu Tomoya."
All eyes followed Kanade as she walked toward her seat. Most students hadn't even noticed Yuu before-he always flew under the radar in the back of the room. But today, Kanade's arrival seemed to cast an unexpected spotlight on him.
As Kanade approached and saw Yuu, her eyes lit up with excitement, as if she'd reunited with a lifelong friend.
Kanade (with a warm smile): "Oh, Yuu! You're in this class too. How lucky."
Her voice full of joy and the sparkle in her eyes didn't go unnoticed. Instantly, whispers and glances shifted toward Yuu.
Student 3 (quietly): "Seriously? Yuu knows the new girl?"
Student 4: "Wait, that guy's in our class? I've never noticed him before."
Student 5 (a bit jealous): "How does someone like him know a girl like her?"
Yuu felt nervous under the sudden attention of his classmates, who seemed to be noticing him for the first time. He had always been the kind of student who blended into the background, but now, Kanade's presence made everyone curious about who he was and what his connection to her might be. He scratched his neck, visibly uncomfortable.
Yuu (muttering): "Well... this is new."
Kanade didn't seem to notice the stir she was causing. To her, Yuu was simply someone familiar in this strange world-someone who could help her understand how things worked.
The class carried on in a mix of glances, whispers, and curiosity, while Kanade settled into her seat next to Yuu. And although no one said it aloud, more than a few students felt a twinge of envy. Who exactly was Yuu, and how had he managed to catch the attention of such an enigmatic and extraordinary girl?
Yuu's once peaceful life was about to get far more chaotic than he had ever imagined.
---
As the class continued, Yuu could hardly focus. He knew that at some point, Kanade would start asking questions about the school-and most likely, he'd have to give her a quick tour before lunch. When the midday bell finally rang, he glanced sideways at Kanade, who looked excited at the idea of exploring.
Yuu: "So, Kanade, how about I show you around the school a bit? That way you can get to know the place better."
Kanade (with a radiant smile): "Yes! I'd love to see everything this world has to offer."
Yuu guided her through the hallways, pointing out classrooms and common areas. Kanade's attention was so intense that even the simplest things-like lockers or posters on the walls-seemed to carry a special charm in her eyes. But her interest peaked even more when they walked past the kendo dojo.
From the hallway, they could hear the sounds of students practicing with bamboo swords, along with sharp shouts of effort and discipline. Yuu paused in front of the door and pointed toward the dojo.
Yuu: "This is where the kendo club trains. It's pretty popular and always draws passionate students."
Kanade: "Kendo? Is that a kind of sword fighting?"
Yuu (nodding): "Yeah, it's a Japanese martial art that uses bamboo swords and armor. Though now that you mention it... this place has its own legend."
Kanade's eyes lit up at the word legend. Her curiosity knew no bounds, and she leaned in slightly toward Yuu, eager not to miss a single word.
Kanade: "A legend? Tell me more!"
Yuu (glancing around before continuing): "Well, they say this dojo was built over the ruins of an old ninja clan's house. The story goes that the last descendant was a girl highly skilled with swords, but she died young. After her death, the place was abandoned..."
Kanade (eyes wide): "So... her spirit is still here?"
Yuu: "That's what some people say. Supposedly, if you walk past here on a quiet night, you can hear someone practicing sword swings inside. The club's used to it by now, but some new students claim to have heard something."
Kanade looked absolutely fascinated. Her eyes sparkled, and her expression of wonder was impossible to hide.
Kanade: "That's amazing! Yuu, your world has more magic than I imagined. Are there more legends like this?"
Yuu (laughing): "Yeah, this school has a lot of stories. But Kanade... we can't explore all of them today. Right now, we need to head to the cafeteria before lunch ends."
Kanade sighed, clearly excited but a little disappointed that their exploration had to be cut short. Still, she nodded with a smile and followed Yuu down the hall-though not before casting one last intrigued glance toward the kendo dojo, as if she truly expected to catch a glimpse of that ghostly swordswoman.
Kanade: "Then, Yuu, will you promise to tell me more about the legends later?"
Yuu (smiling): "Yeah, of course. But first, let's make sure we get lunch, alright?"
With that, they headed to the cafeteria, and Yuu realized that, with Kanade by his side, the ordinary was about to become a lot more extraordinary.