"Finally, the time is here!"
After Takeru finished his morning routine and threw on his new uniform, the three of them finally set off toward Tenbi Academy. The student dorms were located completely off-campus, meaning they had to walk a solid fifteen minutes through the crisp morning air just to reach the front gates.
"Geez, if you weren't moving so slowly, we could have gotten there way earlier," Haruko sighed, crossing her arms as she looked at Takeru.
After scolding her childhood friend, she cautiously snuck a sidelong glance at Suzuki, who was walking quietly on her other side. Because of the narrow sidewalk, Takeru was naturally sandwiched right in the middle, physically separating her from Suzuki.
It's almost as if he is actively trying to avoid me... Haruko thought, her heart sinking slightly.
She couldn't help but wonder if her aggressive actions earlier had genuinely troubled him. But when she remembered the incredibly embarrassing incident from the dorm—where she had barged in and practically forced him into a situation where she might have seen... well, everything—she couldn't really blame him. It would be strange if he felt perfectly comfortable walking shoulder-to-shoulder with her after that.
No, I have to apologize properly, Haruko decided. She knew she was in the wrong, and she desperately wanted to clear the air, yet she couldn't find the right words to break the awkward tension.
"..."
Suzuki kept his eyes forward, though his peripheral vision caught every single micro-expression flashing across Haruko's face. He wasn't entirely sure what specific scenario was playing out in her head, but considering the source material of the world they were currently living in, it made him let out a quiet, exhausted sigh.
[Report. She is a highly lewd young woman.]
"..."
Even if the Manager hadn't helpfully provided that psychological analysis, Suzuki already knew the truth. Because of that undeniable fact, he really didn't want to get too close to Haruko right now. He knew perfectly well that in a universe created by Takeda Hiromitsu, absolutely any ridiculous, ecchi scenario was possible, and he wanted to maintain a safe, professional distance.
"By the way, Haruko-nee, can you tell us a bit more about the academy?"
Takeru suddenly broke the silence, his expression shifting into something unmistakably sleazy. "I heard a rumor that it used to be an all-female academy, right? That means there should be a ton of gorgeous women walking around, right?"
"...Yes, there are a lot of girls, but what exactly are you planning to do with that information?" Haruko asked, shooting her childhood friend a tired, highly judgmental side-eye.
"O-Of course, I was just asking for Suzuki's sake! He told me just last night that he really wanted to get a girlfriend!" Takeru panicked, instantly throwing his friend under the bus as he met Haruko's terrifying glare. He desperately turned to Suzuki, silently begging him to play along.
"R-Right, Suzuki?!"
Suzuki stopped walking and simply stared at Takeru in deadpan silence.
Please! Please! Please!
While Takeru was internally screaming for salvation, Haruko looked genuinely surprised. She turned her attention to Suzuki, her eyes widening slightly. "Is that true, Tanaka-kun?"
Please! I will do literally anything! Just agree with me! Takeru practically projected his thoughts.
"You do all the toilet cleaning for the rest of the month," Suzuki whispered under his breath, pitching his voice so only Takeru could hear.
"EH?!"
"If you don't want the deal, then brace yourself. I can tell Amamiya-senpai isn't exactly going to hold back when she smacks you."
"DEAL! I AGREE!"
Takeru cried miserable, manly tears, but he knew he had absolutely no choice. He was terrified of Haruko's iron fist!
"Good."
Suzuki nodded in satisfaction before turning back to Haruko, completely changing his demeanor. "Yes, it's true. I do want a girlfriend."
"R-Really?"
"Is it that weird? I am a normal, healthy young man, after all. Isn't it only natural that I would want to experience romance?"
"Well... I suppose that's true," Haruko nodded slowly, surprisingly understanding of his feelings. "It really would be wonderful if you could fall in love..."
While she spoke those romantic words, her eyes subconsciously, almost magnetically, wandered downward toward Suzuki's nether region. She couldn't help but vividly imagine exactly what would happen if a guy with his... proportions... actually got a girlfriend.
Stop! Stop it, Haruko! Your mind is in the gutter! She mentally slapped herself, her cheeks flushing a deep, embarrassed red.
"I-If you don't mind," Haruko stammered, desperately deciding to play the role of Suzuki's cupid to distract herself from her own dirty thoughts. "Do you want me to introduce you to someone?"
"WHAT?!"
Before Suzuki could even formulate a polite refusal, Takeru violently cut the conversation short, completely forgetting his fear. "HOW IS THAT FAIR?! I WANT TO BE INTRODUCED TO A CUTE GIRL TOO!"
"....." Suzuki just sighed.
"Ah!"
Takeru instantly realized he had screamed his inner thoughts out loud. He slowly, nervously looked back at Haruko.
She was already holding her signature kunai, a terrifyingly sweet, gentle smile plastered across her face.
"It seems you need to be thoroughly educated on how to respect women, Takeru~!"
"I-I AM SO SORRY!"
While Takeru dropped to his knees to apologize, Suzuki casually stepped in to stop Haruko from drawing blood. "Don't hit him, Senpai. It's just normal for a teenage boy to be attracted to girls."
"SUZUKI-KUN! YOU TRULY ARE MY BEST FRIEND!"
Takeru cried literal tears of absolute gratitude.
"Why did you defend him, Tanaka-kun?" Haruko pouted, lowering her weapon. "Do you not want me to introduce you to my friends or classmates? They are all incredibly cute, you know."
"I appreciate the offer, Senpai, but I feel like I'd prefer to get to know them naturally, by myself."
"How conceited..." Haruko narrowed her eyes playfully. Yet, when she actually looked closely at Suzuki's calm, handsome features, she somehow felt like... he could actually pull it off effortlessly. And strangely enough, that realization made a weird, uncomfortable knot form in her chest. It wasn't that she actively hated the idea of him dating someone else, but it definitely made her feel weirdly possessive.
What was the reason? She, herself, wasn't even sure of the reason itself.
"Anyway," she huffed, pointing a finger at him. "You can't be a playboy! You shouldn't just play around with girls' hearts! Or rather—"
"Amamiya-senpai!"
Suddenly, a small blur dashed down the sidewalk, violently shoved Takeru completely out of the way, and lunged forward to cling tightly to Haruko's waist.
"GAAH!"
Takeru cried out in pain as he face-planted into a nearby bush, but absolutely no one moved to help him.
Haruko was startled, while Suzuki merely raised an eyebrow at the petite young woman who was now hugging Haruko with intense, strange desperation.
"Haruko-senpai, I missed you so much!"
"Uruichi-chan! It's been a while since I've seen you, too."
Haruko gently patted Minaya Uruichi's head with a warm smile, causing Minaya to beam with absolute happiness.
She is okay, Suzuki thought analytically; not that amazing beauty, but she was on the okay side, but he had never thought to do anything with this heroine.
Her looks certainly weren't bad; she was pretty cute in a petite, energetic way. But compared to Haruko's mature, stunning curves, there really was no contest. However, Suzuki could instantly tell she was incredibly, deeply clingy toward Haruko. She even went out of her way to perfectly mimic Haruko's signature hairstyle, despite having significantly shorter hair, which made him detect that this heroine might not have an interest in the different gender and her own.
"Ah, right. Let me introduce you," Haruko said, gently pulling back. "This is my childhood friend, Takeru, and his friend, Tanaka-kun."
"Hmm?"
Minaya didn't really want to introduce herself to anyone who wasn't Haruko. She shot a look of absolute, unfiltered hatred toward the bush where Takeru was groaning, furious that he had been standing so close to her Senpai.
However, when her eyes shifted to Suzuki, she suddenly felt a little overwhelmed. Unlike Takeru, who radiated a pathetic, hopeless aura, Suzuki stood tall, calm, and completely unbothered by her aggressive entrance.
"It's very nice to meet you, Uruichi-san."
Suzuki offered a polite bow, completely ignoring the blatant hostility she had shown Takeru.
"Ah, um... it is nice to meet you too, Tanaka-kun."
Minaya reflexively bowed her head, offering a stiff, highly polite response. Inwardly, she felt a flash of frustration. She had wanted to establish dominance and show these new boys that she was the apex predator when it came to Haruko's attention. But Suzuki's incredibly distant politeness completely neutralized her aggression. Still, she also sighed in quiet relief; she was notoriously bad at dealing with boys, and Suzuki didn't seem like a threat.
As for Takeru?
In her mind, he was fundamentally lower than a squashed bug. She didn't care about him at all.
"....." Takeru groaned, finally pulling himself out of the bush.
"Anyway," Haruko clapped her hands together, a brilliant, welcoming smile lighting up her face. "As the Vice President of the Student Council, I hereby officially welcome Takeru Ooyama-kun and Suzuki Tanaka-kun to Tenbi Academy!"
They had finally reached the towering front gates of the school.
"Haru-nee..." Takeru smiled, genuinely moved by the warm welcome.
"Thank you, Senpai," Suzuki replied, a light, genuine smile touching his lips.
"It's no problem at all," Haruko said, though inwardly, she couldn't help but notice how incredibly handsome Suzuki's genuine smile was.
Still, while she desperately wanted to stay and chat with them a little longer, she had duties to attend to. As a senior member of the student council, she was required to help organize the welcoming ceremony for the new transfer students.
"I have to go prepare," Haruko said regretfully, waving as she headed toward the main building. Minaya immediately glued herself to Haruko's side, following her like a loyal puppy.
"Beh!"
But right before Minaya turned the corner, she looked back and stuck her tongue out at them in a blatant, childish display of mockery.
"Can you believe her? She stuck her tongue out at you, Suzuki," Takeru muttered, shaking his head helplessly. "I really don't understand how Haruko can be so close to a crazy girl like that."
"I am about ninety-nine percent sure she was sticking her tongue out at you, Takeru," Suzuki replied dryly, rolling his eyes.
Honestly, Suzuki just wanted to get through this academy phase as quickly and quietly as possible. He genuinely wondered what he could possibly learn in a place like this.
He wanted to contribute to the multiversal 'Manager' network, but standard high school math and history were completely useless to his alternate selves fighting ninja and cosmic gods. All he could offer from this specific world was knowledge about the local power system.
Aside from the "Element"—which was practically just a localized term for chakra, ki, or inner magical energy—there was one specific, incredibly interesting concept within this world's lore that could be immensely helpful to everyone in the network.
But just as he was formulating a plan to research it—
"Suzuki! Suzuki! Look!"
"What's wrong, Takeru?"
"Over there! Look up!"
"What are you talking ab—"
When Suzuki turned his head and looked toward the nearby staircase, his train of thought completely derailed.
Right in his line of sight, framed perfectly by lifting a uniform skirt, was a pair of pure, immaculate white panties.