"Alright, quiet down. Komi-san, please come in."

Hiratsuka Shizuka tapped the desk again before calling out toward the classroom door.

A moment later, the door slid open—

And a slender figure walked in.

Komi Shouko.

Today, Komi looked almost exactly the same as when Haruto last saw her in the library. The Sobu High JK uniform, paired with a pleated skirt and black tights.

In terms of appearance, figure, and aura—

She was practically flawless.

Only her presence was… a little overwhelming.

It gave people the feeling that she was difficult to approach.

Especially now.

Due to her nerves, Komi's gaze had turned unnaturally sharp.

The classroom, which had been buzzing with chatter just moments before, instantly fell silent under the pressure.

All the students stared at her without blinking.

Because they felt that if they looked away now—

Something bad might happen.

Like being eliminated by the ice-cold beauty before them.

Being stared at by everyone only made Komi even more nervous.

A perfect vicious cycle.

Thankfully—just as Komi's eyes didn't know where to land—She found Haruto.

Instantly, the girl seemed a little calmer. Komi turned around, picked up a piece of chalk, and wrote her name on the blackboard—

"Komi Shouko."

Her intimidating, sharp gaze turned away—

Allowing the class to finally breathe again.

"She's gorgeous!"

"So that's Komi-san, the super famous one—and she's transferring into our class?!"

"I heard she's not only beautiful but also a top student and athletic… basically a goddess!"

Whispers began spreading quietly.

Though… only quietly.

After writing her name, Komi didn't make any further moves.

Hiratsuka Shizuka rubbed her forehead at the sight. It felt like she'd just gotten a slightly problematic girl in her class.

Still, she carried out her homeroom duties.

"Everyone, please welcome our new classmate. Make sure to talk with her after class and help her integrate."

At her words, everyone looked toward Komi, and were immediately met with her sharp gaze.

Almost all of them swallowed nervously.

Usually, when a stunning beauty transfers in—

The class is far from this quiet.

Hiratsuka was starting to get a headache.

"Well then, Komi-san, you can take that seat over there."

She pointed toward an empty seat in the class.

Coincidentally, it was the seat directly behind Haruto.

Behind Haruto sat Megumi Kato.

But Kato was always… in her own world.

Perhaps due to her unique presence, even though two new desks had been added to the back over the past two years—

Kato had never been given a desk mate.

Now—

Hiratsuka instinctively looked for a spot near Haruto. And finally noticed there was still a free seat there.

She immediately assigned Komi to sit there.

Komi nodded.

She had wanted to sit near Haruto anyway.

Being beside him gave her a sense of security. But due to her communication disorder, she couldn't bring herself to request it.

Now that it had worked out on its own—

Though her face remained expressionless—

Her eyes had turned into little bean eyes, and her cheeks looked faintly round.

Her aura suddenly became very cute.

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The girl's graceful steps carried her forward—Her hair fluttering slightly in the breeze of her movement.

To the others, it was as if they were watching a perfect scene come to life.

When she reached Haruto's row—

Komi stopped.

She looked at Haruto.

It was clear she wanted to greet him.

But her body trembled slightly, unable to speak.

I really want to say hello to him… But how do I start? How should I respond if he replies? No… I just need to open my mouth first…

Komi's little mental theater began running again.

At that moment—Haruto lifted his hand and smiled, waving to her.

This communication barrier—

Was easy enough to understand.

Seeing this, Komi happily raised her hand in return. Still unable to overcome the challenge of speaking—

But this counted as a greeting.

Komi sat down.

Around them, students began whispering again.

"Eh? Komi-san… actually knows Haruto?"

"Maybe she transferred here because of Haruto?"

"Very possible! Damn it, does this mean my chances are gone again?"

"Oi, haven't you realized the truth yet? In this class, no one escapes Haruto's shadow."

Haruto was always a hot topic.

Any connection with the transfer student naturally made him the center of attention.

Yukinoshita Yukino glanced back at Komi a couple of times. She didn't remember the Foundation recruiting this Komi Shouko.

And this Komi-san gave her a strange sense of contradiction.

Her "aesthetic" didn't match the Foundation's style.

Immediately, an exclamation mark appeared over Yukino's head.

Could it be… they're not colleagues—

But lovers?

So he likes the cold, aloof type?

Once her thoughts drifted off-track—They just got further and further away from reality.

Haruto suddenly getting involved with someone outside the Foundation's style—

Was just too unusual.

Maybe there really was something personal there.

Thinking about this made Yukino feel a faint tightness in her chest.

If Haruto knew what she was thinking—He'd probably cry injustice.

It's not like he was some walking magnet that recruited everyone into the Foundation. He had his own social circle, okay?

And speaking of lovers—

That would be the one standing at the podium and the one quietly sitting in the back.

With Komi, he was perfectly innocent.

After settling the transfer student's arrangements—Hiratsuka opened her folder.

Her expression turned slightly dark.

"As per start-of-term tradition, take these and fill them out yourselves…"

She began distributing exchange program application forms and school festival event registration forms.

Her gaze lingered on Haruto with clear dissatisfaction.

Whether as a teacher or as a girlfriend—If Haruto skipped out for three years straight through the exchange program—

It would be far too disrespectful to her.

Feeling her stare—

Haruto quickly shook his head with an awkward smile.

He wasn't going to leave this semester.

He had already spoken to both Shuchiin and Hyakkaou—

Telling them not to send him any exchange invitations this year.

Seeing him shake his head—Hiratsuka's expression immediately brightened.

Haruto couldn't help marveling at how fast women could change expressions. But then, a headache came over him.

Come to think of it—

Even if he wasn't leaving through the exchange system this term—

He probably couldn't participate in the school festival either.

He had already accepted an invitation that would take up that period after term began. Which meant… he'd still have to take leave.

He wondered if Hiratsuka's newly brightened expression—

Would flip again.

The first class ended quickly.

As soon as the bell rang—

Haruto's area became ground zero.

Almost every student in class crowded over. Not just to build connections with the beautiful new transfer—

But also to chat with Haruto.

To them—

Haruto was practically the same as a transfer student.

Since he wasn't leaving this semester, they had to take the chance to talk.

Haruto didn't mind.

He'd experienced enough of this kind of situation to be numb to it.

But poor Komi Shouko—

Her happy bean eyes had turned sharp again.

Like a shy cat surrounded by strangers—

Nowhere to run.

Small, pitiful, and wary.

At that moment, Yukinoshita Yukino couldn't hold back any longer. She lightly tapped Haruto with her elbow.

"What's her situation?"

Hearing this, Haruto was about to explain—

But suddenly, his mind lit up.

Come to think of it—

Hadn't Yukino been wanting to run the Service Club?

With that in mind—

Haruto beckoned for her to lean closer.

Yukino looked puzzled.

Why so mysterious?

Could it be…

Komi was actually an anomaly?!

Of course, Haruto's next words quickly erased that thought.

"Komi-san suffers from severe communication disorder syndrome. She's a socially anxious girl who can't interact normally, but she still wishes to make friends. Yukino, didn't you say you wanted to form a Service Club to solve others' problems and uphold your own justice?

Well, here's someone who needs your help the most. How about you help Komi make friends?"