Naoko's situation—yeah. Let's set that aside for now!

Besides, starting tomorrow, Naoko would be replacing Kyoko as my personal maid.

I'd have plenty of opportunities to talk to her.

For now, I’d just enjoy this first day of school!

After the entrance ceremony, I thought we'd move to our respective classrooms… but then.

“Female students and guardians, please exit promptly. Once you have exited, the male students will be moved to a different location. Please follow me, Sato.”

The female announcer… Teacher Sato’s voice echoed through the gymnasium.

Huh? They were separating the boys and girls? Were they being considerate because there were so few boys?

Come to think of it, our seating arrangements… we boys were grouped together at the edge of the staff section.

Perhaps the teachers felt uneasy with only eight boys and decided to keep us together? It would be awkward for each of us to be scattered and surrounded by a large number of girls.

“It’s so lucky there are eight boys this year!”

“This is my first time being around boys~”

“I want to talk to them so much!”

“Maybe even become friends…”

“Mom, should I apply for a job here next year~?”

“I’m aiming for the cafeteria part-time position, hoping for a chance encounter.”

The female students and guardians chatted excitedly as they smoothly filed out.

“Alright, male students, please follow me.”

We boys naturally formed a line and followed Teacher Sato.

Still… only eight boys, huh?

That was a rare situation in my original world.

They said the school had only become co-ed last year… so that meant there were no boys in the second or third years.

In other words, there were only eight boys, including me, in the entire Soutei Academy.

Wow… it was like men were an endangered species. I wondered what the male-to-female ratio was.

They’d have to put at least two boys in each class, right? I’d be anxious if I were alone.

I’d been thinking about how to act like a villain at school… but realistically, with so few boys, making friends with them seemed more important than worrying about heroines and protagonists.

I wanted to build some camaraderie.

Alright, to become friends quickly, I should try talking to them first.

I was walking at the very back, so I’d start with the boy with the bob haircut in front of me—

…or so I thought.

“““““““…”””””””

Not only the bob-haired boy… all the boys were silent.

The atmosphere wasn’t conducive to casual conversation.

I guess that made sense. It was usually like this during entrance ceremonies. I was still a bit nervous myself.

Well then, I’d try talking to the boys in my class!

As I was thinking this, Teacher Sato stopped.

We seemed to have arrived. The sign read, “Guest Room.”

Near the entrance, eight chairs were prepared, and Teacher Sato instructed us to sit.

Once everyone was seated, she spoke.

“I will now distribute slips of paper with your class assignments. When your name is called, please enter the guest room one by one to receive it.”

Oh, they were handing out class assignments.

Another thoughtful gesture towards the small number of boys?

Usually, class assignments were posted on a large sheet of paper in front of the classroom or on a bulletin board outside for everyone to see at once.

With so many girls in this school, the few boys would have to wait for them to finish checking… so it was nice to receive them individually.

But… why one by one? And why did we have to go in to get them?

If it was just handing out slips of paper, they could do it right here.

Or they could just tell us our class verbally, couldn’t they?

Well, even if I questioned it now, nothing would change.

“Shimizu-kun, you’re first.”

“Y-yes…”

The called Shimizu-kun replied in a faint voice.

He stood up nervously and entered the guest room.

The other boys also looked tense and somewhat uneasy. It was a good thing I hadn’t tried to talk to them earlier.

Since I was sitting farthest from the entrance, I'd be called last.

But… my turn came quickly.

“Hazumi Reito-kun. Congratulations on your enrollment. This is the class you’ll be in for the year.”

Inside, the principal handed me a slip of paper.

Being personally addressed by the principal made me a little nervous…

I bowed and received the single sheet… then checked the contents.

It read, “Class 1-E.”

Class E, huh… In villain reincarnation stories, Class A was usually for the elite, while Class E was for the dropouts and troublemakers… but that was usually in fantasy settings.

It was a common trope when the protagonist had an ability awakening or a rags-to-riches story.

But I didn't have any cheat abilities, and this world was supposed to be a modern romantic comedy setting.

So, Class E probably didn't have a negative connotation here, right? Or did it?

“Hazumi-kun. Please… build a good relationship with the female students of our school.”

“Yes.”

The principal said this with an unusually serious expression, so I replied with a serious expression as well.

“That’s all from me. Now, Hazumi-kun, please go to the location written on that paper.”

Hmm? Location?

At her words, I looked back at the paper.

I’d been so focused on the class… that I hadn’t noticed the “School Building 1st Floor, Break Room next to the Staff Room” written at the bottom.

When I left the guest room, Teacher Sato seemed to be waiting for me…

“Did everything go smoothly? Then, I’ll show you to the location, Hazumi-kun.”

I followed Teacher Sato again.

The boys were being sent to all sorts of places.

Usually, after the entrance ceremony, you’d go directly to your classroom.

But I could imagine being surrounded by a large group of girls if I went there now. Perhaps being led around like this was more comfortable than feeling out of place in the classroom?

“Hazumi-kun, you’ll be meeting a female student now.”

“A female student?”

I tilted my head slightly at her words.

A student… meaning someone my age, not a teacher, an adult, or even my mother.

“Y-yes. A female student. But there’s no need to be so wary. She will be acting as a support for you during your time at school.”

“Support…”

“Yes. As there are so few male students like yourself, things will be quite challenging from now on. That's why the school has prepared a support student who has undergone a rigorous selection process.”

Wait, this school even provided support for the few boys?!

So, they were introducing someone I could rely on beforehand!

That was incredibly helpful!!

We arrived at the break room, and Teacher Sato looked at me.

“Are you ready, Hazumi-kun?”

“Yes.”

After confirming my nod, Teacher Sato was about to knock on the door when…

Suddenly, a phone ringtone echoed.

It wasn’t mine…

“Ah! E-excuse me. I have an urgent call. Hazumi-kun, can you go inside by yourself?”

“Well… yes.”

“Then, please go in right away.”

Teacher Sato said, putting her phone to her ear and walking away from me.

“Well then… I guess I’ll go in.”

I took a breath and knocked on the door a few times.

A girl’s voice replied from inside, “P-please come in.”

Hmm, a girl… who would be my support at school.

I definitely wanted to become friends with her!

Perhaps she might even become an ally to me, the villain.

With that thought in mind, I entered the room…

“!”

My eyes met with a familiar girl with flaxen hair, sitting and waiting.

“R-Reito-sama. It’s… been a while.”

And a familiar voice.

Yes, this girl was… Naoko.

From the new student address to the support role… it all led back to Naoko.

Even I, who didn’t understand this world's scenario or the heroines, could figure this out.

Was this a sign I couldn't run away? That I shouldn’t postpone things? Was this related to a downfall flag?

Then… I would face it head-on.

—This meeting with one of the main heroines.