A new life

Shinsei High was elite, prestigious high school, and nearly impossible to enter. Only the best of the best were admitted, and the pressure to excel was everywhere. I’m Yayoi Shizumi, a second year student of section B, and by all standards, I fit the school perfectly—top grades, disciplined routines, and flawless attendance. Yet despite all of that, I hadn’t managed to make a single friend.

People always took me seriously, even when I tried to joke. My high school life was a loop of studying, eating, and going home. Loneliness had become normal. That is, until this year.

On my first day of second year, I was buried in my usual routine—studying in every free period—when I accidentally bumped into someone in the hallway.

“Are you okay, kid?” said a man with a warm, confident smile. That person was our new counselling teacher, Kazuko Tagechi.

I only nodded, too surprised to speak. “I’m fine,” I muttered, and stepping aside.

The new teacher was tall,had soft brown hair that caught the light,and dark eyes that seemed to look straight through your thoughts and a smile so bright it seemed to light up the whole hallway.

By the end of the day, he was already the most talked-about teacher in the school. Students whispered endlessly about him.

"He's so handsome!,He looks barely twenty-five!" Whispered a girl to her friend.

"Do you think he is married?" Another giggled,tucking her hair behind her ear.

"I heared he's married and have a kid." One muttered,frowning.

All the girls sighed in unison.

"His wife must be lucky",another giggled,rolling her eyes playfully."And apparently he has a kid of our age!"

"Imagine being friends with his kid,he must be like him!" Another whispered 

I rolled my eyes.My classmate's assumption were ridiculous, that's another reason why I don't have friends.

Whenever I walked in the hallways,everyone became completely silent,not daring to say anything.I let out a small sigh,I have no idea,why no one dared to talk to me.I even earned a nickname "the Ice princess".

"There goes the ice princess..." One muttered under her breath.

"I wonder if she can even smile or not"one whispered to another.

Whenever I talked to someone they often ran away or fainted  at that place.

"Yachi,sir hayashi told me to give you this history test result..." I said calmly to one of my classmate.

"i...okay okay.."she quavered and ran away without looking back.

I stood awkwardly,mumbling to myself"did i scare her away,again!?" I mumbled to myself.

After lunch when I was going through the hallway,I saw a bunch of girls standing near the door of section C, giggling to themselves.

As I came near the window i got a glimpse of the new transfer student,about which all the girls were talking about-Haruo tagechi

He had a ridiculously bright smile in his face,even with all this attention,he was talking very politely.He was positive, talkative and cheerful everything that I didn't had,he almost looked...approachable.

He was tall,with almost sun-kissed hair that seemed to glow the dark hallway.His dark eyes were striking against his fair skin,sharp yet gentle,and then there was his smile-bright,easy and genuine,that kind that made others smile too.

By the end of the school day,he was already very famous in the entire school especially among the girls.

"Tagechi,can I get your number?!"one girl squealed.

"Tagechi,can we be friends!?" One exclaimed.

"Ofcourse,milady." Haruo said with a bright grin.

All the girls squealed in excitement.

Obviously,I didn't had the guts to talk to a guy like tagechi,he was almost like a dream..

The next day was another boring day of school,my nose was Buried in the book most of the time.

Until the bell rang,and the homeroom started,i expected our class teacher to come but instead the door opened wide and Kazuko-sensei entered with the same bright smile as Haruo.

"Good morning,my dear students!"Kazuko-sensei greeted us bright as ever.

All the girls squealed in excitement,already clinging to him.

"Good morning sir!"one giggled

"Sir,what brought you here this morning?" One beamed

Kazuko-sensei stood professional yet polite.

"My dear students,I have a very big announcement to make-I am establishing a new club!"he said brightly.

The girls whispered excitedly among themselves.

"A new club?!" One asked eagerly.

"If Kazuko-sensei is the head, I am joining it!" Another said,giggling.

Kazuko sensei smiled at their words "It is named...Ex-INTRO club!"

"What a lame name," I murmured under my breath.

A chorus of giggles and whisper escaped the girls.

"What a unique name!"one girl whispered.

"Kazuko-sensei has a unique taste!"a girl whispered loudly.

"As expected!" A girl said by clapping her hands.

Kazuko sensei raised a hand silencing everyone and said"There is a catch,only a few students are personally selected by me and vice principal sir himself and only they can join."

"Only a few?!"one frowned.

"I hope to work with Kazuko-sensei too!" A girl pounted.

Kazuko-sensei said calmly with a bright smile on face "pardon me,my ladies,But only the selected one can join,I will now announce their names."

"It better not be me..,it better not be me.." i continuously repeated those words on my mind.

"So the students name are..."Kazuko sensei smiled and said.

Everyone held their breath.

"Yayoi Shizmui and Aoto Ito from section B"Kazuko sensei said with a radiant smile.

"Me!?"I froze.

Whispers spread all across the room.

"Ice princess!?, no way!? A girl muttered

"I bet she doesn't do anything rather than study" another said.

But on the other hand , Kazuko-sensei stood confidently,and smiled at me, offering a hand.

"Let's go, Shizmui"he said calmly

I slowly took his hand,unsure what to do.

"Sensei,Ito is in tranning grounds.I will inform him"the class representative said.

"Alright,have him come to the ex-intro clubroom-its in the left corridor."Kazuko-sensei said.

The corridor was too quiet as I walked there,students still murmured among themselves.

I stayed a step behind Kazuko-sensei,my footsteps echoing softly against the polished floor. The walls were lined with glass displays—trophies, certificates, achievements that were only thing that had mattered to me until today.

I clasped my hands together, trying to steady myself.

"A world.. beyond..books..." i murmured.

Kazuko-sensei didn’t look back, yet his voice came smoothly—“Nervous?”

I flinched slightly. “A little…”

“A little?” Kazuko-sensei let out a faint chuckle. “Your shoulders have been stiff since we left the classroom.

”I straightened instinctively. “m-my bad-"

“No need to apologize,” he said, his tone softening. “It’s natural. Shinsei High has that effect on people.”

We turned a corner.

The corridor grew quieter, more isolated. Fewer classrooms. Fewer students. Just the sound of our footsteps

I hesitated before asking, “Sensei… what kind of club is this?”

Kazuko-sensei paused for a brief moment.

“…A place,” he said, choosing his words carefully, “for students who don’t quite fit anywhere else.”

I blinked.

“Don’t fit…?”

Kazuko-sensei glanced at me this time, a small, knowing smile on his lips.

“You’ll understand soon.”

We stopped in front of a tall door at the end of the hallway.

"Welcome to a new life,Shizmui".

Kazuko-sensei said with a bright smile on face.

I hesitated on the door knob,trying to steady myself but then I took a deep breath and opened the door.

The door slid open.

I stepped inside—and froze.

The room was nothing like i expected. Sunlight poured through wide glass windows, reflecting off sleek wooden floors. Shelves lined the walls, filled with books, art supplies, gadgets—almost every facility a student could dream of. Soft couches, a music corner, even a quiet reading nook… it felt more like a private lounge than a club room.

“Woah…” I whispered, my eyes sparkling. “This is… incredible…”

I wandered in, completely captivated, turning slowly as if afraid the room might disappear.And then—

Thud.

“Oof—!”

I staggered back, nearly losing my balance.

Before I could fall, a hand caught my wrist—firm, steady.

“Careful.”

The voice was low. Calm. Distant.

I blinked, startled, and looked up.

A tall boy stood before me, posture straight, expression composed,his hair black silky and his perfectly crisp uniform. His eyes were cool, almost unreadable—but his grip was gentle, making sure i was steady before letting go.

"M-my apologies!” i bowed quickly. “I wasn’t looking where I was going—”

“…You weren’t,” he replied flatly.

For a second, I thought he was annoyed.

But then—

“You should pay attention,” he added, his tone still even, “you could’ve gotten hurt.”

I paused, a little confused.

“…Right. Thank you.”

He gave a small nod, stepping aside to give me space without another word.

Kazuko-sensei smiled faintly from behind.

“Shizmui, this is Satoshi Fujiwara,he is also been chosen to be part of ex-intro club.”

Satoshi bowed respectfully in front of me.

He looked like a prince rather than a normal student.

After stepping into the clubroom, I noticed five other students already seated around the table.

Aoto—my only classmate who was selected, the only familiar face—wasn’t there.

"Great."i murmured."So, for now, I didn’t know anyone."

Not a single person.

We were all from different sections, after all.

Kazuko-sensei stepped forward, drawing everyone’s attention.He was suddenly serious.

“Alright,” he said calmly, glancing around the room, “it seems almost everyone’s here.”

We all sat around the table, each spaced out just enough to avoid brushing shoulders. No one spoke. No one even looked directly at each other for long.

The silence was… heavy.

I quietly took an empty seat.

I noticed two more seats were empty .

Kazuko-sensei clasped his hands behind his back.

“Since this is your first meeting, let’s keep it simple. You don’t need to introduce yourselves yet.”

A few of us visibly relaxed.

“Instead,” he continued, “I’ll explain why you’re here.”

My fingers tightened slightly on my sleeve.

"But why us only..?"The thought slipped into my mind before I could stop it.

I glanced around.

Everyone looked normal.

Different faces. 

Different expressions.

Different… everything.

Then what was it?

“What do we even have in common…?” I murmured under my breath.

Kazuko-sensei paused.

For a moment, I thought he hadn’t heard me.

Then—

“…Good question.”

My shoulders stiffened.

He looked directly at me.

And then, slowly, his gaze moved across the room, meeting each student for just a second.

“You’re all wondering the same thing.”

No one responded.

But no one denied it either.

A quiet tension settled in.

Kazuko-sensei took a small step forward.

"You were not selected randomly.”

A pause.

“You were observed.”

That made the air feel even heavier.

“For the entire first year,” he continued, voice steady, “your habits, your behavior, your interactions—or lack of them—were noted.”

I swallowed.

Observed…?

“You avoid unnecessary conversations. You keep your circles small… or nonexistent. You hesitate in crowds. You think more than you speak.”

No one moved.

It felt like he was reading us.

“…And,” he added, softer this time, “you struggle to connect, even when you want to.”

My chest tightened slightly.

That hit too close.

Kazuko-sensei straightened.

“That is what you all have in common.”

A brief silence.

Then—

“we are all... introverts.”i murmured under my breath.

“Bingo!”Kazuko-sensei’s voice cut through the silence, a bright smile spreading across his face—his easygoing side returning.

“You’re all introverts,” he said, looking around at us. “And this project is meant help you all and improve your social skills. It’s an important aspect of Shinsei Academy.”

The room instantly tensed.

I felt my shoulders stiffen again.

“Relax,” Kazuko-sensei added calmly, raising a hand slightly. “There’s nothing to be nervous about. No one here is perfect.”

His tone softened.

“That’s exactly why you’re here—to improve, at your own pace.”

The tension eased, just a little.

A few students shifted in their seats. Someone let out a quiet breath.

“Ito hasn’t arrived yet,” he continued, glancing at the door. “No need to worry. We’ll begin with introductions once everyone is here.”

He paused, then smiled again—this time a bit more knowingly.

“In the meantime, I’ll introduce you to another member.”

My head tilted slightly.

“Someone who will be acting as your leader.”

A small pause.

“And unlike the rest of you…”

His smile widened just a fraction.

“He’s not an introvert.”

That caught everyone’s attention.

“A… new member?” I asked softly.

Before Kazuko-sensei could answer—

Slide.

The door opened.

Not slowly.

Not hesitantly.

Confidently.

A tall figure stepped in, sunlight spilling in behind him like a spotlight.

“Sorry I’m late, Sensei.”

His voice was bright. Easy. Completely unbothered.

He ran a hand through his light-colored hair, smiling as if he had just walked into a casual hangout instead of a room full of strangers.

For a moment—

No one spoke.

No one moved.

It felt like the entire atmosphere shifted.

…Is that…?

He glanced around the room, his sharp, dark eyes quickly taking everyone in.

Then he smiled wider.

“So this is the group?”

Kazuko-sensei nodded. “Perfect timing, Haruo.”

Haruo.

So this was him.

“The leader?” someone muttered quietly.

Haruo stepped further inside, completely at ease, and pulled a chair with a soft scrape before casually sitting on it backwards, resting his arms on the backrest.

“Leader sounds a bit too serious, don’t you think?” he said with a small laugh. “Let’s just say… I’m here to help.”

Help?

That didn’t feel right.

Not when he looked so… different.

Too relaxed.

Too confident.

Too normal.

“…He’s not an introvert?” a girl across from me whispered, almost like she didn’t believe it.

“Not even close,” Kazuko-sensei replied calmly.

Haruo tilted his head slightly, grinning.

“Hey, don’t make it sound like I’m some kind of rare species.”

No one laughed.

The silence returned.

Awkward. Heavy.

Haruo blinked once.

Then—

“…Wow. Tough crowd.”

A small, amused exhale escaped him.

He looked around again, this time more carefully.

Nervous eyes avoiding his.

Tense shoulders.

People shrinking into themselves.

And yet—

His smile didn’t fade.

If anything, it softened.

“Alright,” he said, more gently this time, “guess I’ll have to work a little harder, huh?”

That line—

For some reason—

Made it slightly easier to breathe.

Haruo leaned back slightly, still smiling like the silence didn’t bother him at all.

Kazuko-sensei cleared his throat.

“Ah, right. I should mention one more thing.”

Haruo glanced at him. “Hmm?”

Kazuko-sensei adjusted his glasses, completely calm.

“As you all know he is my son,but it doesn't mean I'll favor him or something.”

A pause.

Silence.

Then—

“…What?”

A few heads snapped up at once.

I blinked.

"Oh,yes he is Haruo! I will be working with him?!" my mind flashed with thoughts.

“That explains it…” someone whispered under their breath.

“that's why they both resembles alot,” another muttered.

Haruo let out a small sigh, rubbing the back of his neck.

“Sensei… did you really have to say it like that?”

Kazuko-sensei smiled faintly. “It avoids unnecessary speculation.”

“Or creates more,” Haruo shot back lightly.

A faint ripple of awkward amusement passed through the room.

Even I felt it.

Kazuko-sensei turned back to us.

“Jokes aside, he’s not here because of that. He was chosen for a reason.”

Haruo straightened slightly, his expression becoming just a bit more serious.

“I’ll be leaving the rest to him.”

That line hit differently.

“W-wait, leaving?” someone said, startled.

“You mean… right now?” another added.

Kazuko-sensei nodded.

“You’ll be working with Haruo from here on.”

He began walking toward the door as if this was completely normal.

“Sensei!” Haruo called out, half-laughing. “You’re really just going to disappear like that?”

Kazuko-sensei paused at the door, glancing back.

“You’ll manage.”

A small pause.

Then, with the faintest hint of a smile—

“I trust you , after all.”

“Wow, no pressure,” Haruo muttered.

The door slid open.

“Make sure they don’t run away,” Kazuko-sensei added casually.

“We’re not—” someone started, then immediately went quiet.

And just like that—

He left.

The door closed.

An awkward silence.

A different kind this time.

All eyes slowly turned toward Haruo.

He looked around, then exhaled.

“…Alright.”

A small grin returned to his face.

“Guess it’s just us now.”

He tapped the back of his chair lightly.

“So… should we start with something easy?”

A pause.

Then, casually—

“Or do you all plan to stay this quiet forever?”

His gaze stopped at me.

"Let's start with you."