"Your enrollment paperwork is complete. You can start school tomorrow. By the way, what grade will Takamine-kun be entering?"
"First year of high school."
"Got it. Your class placement will be decided this afternoon, and someone will inform Sagara-sensei."
"Thanks, Principal."
After receiving the documents, Sagara Kaya patted Takamine's shoulder to signal he could leave.
As they walked through the corridor of the academic building, Sagara lightly tapped Takamine's head with the papers in her hand.
"I know you've lived in war zones and might not be used to peaceful society, but please mind your behavior. Act like a normal person."
"Understood."
"Do you really get it...?"
She glanced at the blond-haired boy in front of her suspiciously and let out another long sigh.
Who knew how many times she had sighed today.
"Remember this: no terrorists, no foreign agents, and no one hiding a gun in their pocket. There are no explosives in your shoe locker. This is a peaceful school. Got it?"
"Got it."
"Good. You start school tomorrow. Today, just walk around the campus—but no hitting people, okay?"
"Yes."
"Alright, off you go."
Just as Takamine took a few steps, Sagara suddenly called out again.
"Wait a second."
"Hm?"
Seeing his puzzled expression, she pointed at herself.
"Say 'Good morning, teacher.'"
"…Good morning, teacher~~"
"You sound like a ghost. Forget it, just follow the school rules."
With that, Sagara waved him off.
---
Shuchiin Academy truly lived up to its prestigious name. The campus was even larger than most universities.
Takamine's blond hair didn't stand out too much. The school was full of colorful heads—not just black and brown, but also blonde, white, and even pink-haired students.
His blond hair wasn't dyed—it was inherited from his mother. He didn't feel any resistance about it.
"Just wander around, huh… But there doesn't seem to be anything to do."
In the warzone, his daily routine was combat, relaying orders, and standing watch. Except for sleeping, he was always doing something. It was exhausting and dangerous, but it made him feel alive.
As he approached the sports field, a strong gust of wind suddenly sharpened his gaze.
Thud!
Instinctively raising his hand, he caught an incoming rugby ball in his palm.
"...A ball?"
"Hey! You over there!"
A group of students in gym uniforms waved at him from a distance.
"Sorry! Can you kick the ball back to us?"
"...Sure."
After kicking the ball back, he watched them thank him and resume practice.
"This place really is peaceful."
"You've got good reflexes."
"Hm?"
Hearing the voice, Takamine turned around quickly and saw a male student in the same uniform standing just two meters behind him.
The boy also had blond hair. Uniquely, he wore a golden accessory on the collar of his uniform.
"Who are you?"
"You don't recognize me?"
"...I just enrolled today," Takamine replied, carefully watching the other's expression.
Those were some sharp eyes.
"A new student, huh? Welcome to Shuchiin. I'm the student council president, MiyukiShirogane."
"Nice to meet you, Shirogane. Here's my student ID."
Unfamiliar with school customs, Takamine instinctively treated this as an encounter with an Interpol officer on international waters—present your ID first.
"Uh…"
Miyuki Shirogane didn't know why this new student suddenly handed him a student ID, but he politely accepted it and gave it a glance.
"Takamine… Rinji? Chinese?"
[Note: He has a Chinese name but I change it so miyuki assumed he was Chinese based on his name which were Chinese in the raw]
"Yes. My father is Chinese, mother Irish. I lived in the U.S. until recently and came to Japan for school due to some personal reasons."
He recited his pre-prepared cover story.
"Shuchiin rarely accepts international students… You must have done well on the entrance exam."
"I got a pretty decent score."
A generous donation tends to boost your score.
"So you're a foreign student... That makes you a 'Impure' student, like me."
"Impure?"
This was Takamine's first time hearing the term.
"Oh right, you probably haven't heard. Since Shuchiin is an integrated school, there's an unspoken hierarchy…"
Shirogane Miyuki explained to Takamine Rinji:
"Those who've been here since the elementary division are called 'Pure.' Those who transferred in midway are called 'Impure.' How should I put it... the 'Impure' students generally face discrimination here."
It was one of the long-standing bad traditions ever since this school was founded.
"Huh... For a 'Impure' student to make it to your position, you must have some serious skills."
Hearing this, Takamine Rinji realized the sharp-eyed guy in front of him wasn't simple.
"Hahaha, well, it's all thanks to effort."
"I heard students at this school all come from pretty powerful families. Is that true?"
"Pretty much. This place is full of kids from political families, business moguls, and conglomerates. But there are exceptions," Shirogane said. "For example, I don't have any illustrious background."
"Me neither. My old man's a farmer."
"Oh, really? Looks like we're the same type."
"Exactly. I usually don't have much spending money. I have to go work in places like Afghanistan or Syria just to scrape by," Takamine laughed.
"Working part-time is a good habit."
Shirogane's gaze toward Takamine suddenly softened.
So he's a fellow kid from a poor family... That kind of student was practically extinct at Shuchiin Academy.
"Since it's your first time here, Takamine, I'll show you around the campus."
"I'd appreciate it."
Takamine nodded with a smile. This probably counted as his first friend since transferring.
"President, so you were here."
A soft female voice called out from behind them.
Shirogane immediately turned his head and saw a cute black-haired girl in front of him.
"It's Shinomiya. Perfect timing—I was about to introduce you to—"
He hadn't even finished the sentence when an ominous aura filled the space between Takamine and the girl.
She stared at Takamine with a serious expression and murmured:
"Takamine... Rinji?"
"Long time no see."
Takamine sneered as he looked at the girl.
"Eldest Daughter of the Shinomiya family—Kaguya Shinomiya."