Sudo scowls at Hirata, his attitude intense and entirely uncooperative.
"I can't force you to introduce yourself, of course," Hirata says gently, bowing his head slightly. "However, I don't think that getting along with your classmates is a bad thing. If I've made you uncomfortable, I apologize."
"Isn't it fine to introduce yourself?" a girl snaps angrily from across the room.
"Shut it. I don't care. I didn't come here to make friends." Sudou pushes violently away from his desk. He stands up and walks out of the classroom, his shoes thudding loudly against the floor.
Then, Horikita Suzune rises gracefully from her seat. She shoots Ayanokouji a brief, cold glance. When she realizes he is not moving, she turns her back and walks out the door. Her long, straight black hair sways slightly as she steps into the hallway.
Hirata looks genuinely sad watching her leave. "They're not a bad bunch. It's my fault. I was being selfish and made people do this."
"No way. You didn't do anything wrong, Hirata-kun. Let's just leave those guys be, okay?" a girl reassures him quickly.
Although some people had rebelled at the idea of introductions, the students who remained were happy to continue. In the end, things wrapped up in a rather ordinary fashion.
"I'm Ike Kanji. I love girls, and I hate pretty boys. I'm currently in the market for a new girlfriend. It's nice to meet you! All the better if you're a cutie or a beauty!"
"Wow. You are so cool, Ike-kun," one girl said, in a completely emotionless voice.
"Seriously? Seriously? Oh, man. I mean, I thought that I wasn't bad or anything, but…heh heh."
"Oh, wow. He's cute, huh, everyone? He's looking for a girlfriend!"
They are obviously making fun of him.
Kouenji Rokusuke props his legs up on his desk, declaring himself the sole male heir to the Kouenji conglomerate and warning everyone not to make him uncomfortable.
A girl with beautiful copper-brown hair stands up.
"I'm Matsushita Chiaki. I like shopping and hanging out at cafes. I hope we can all get along."
She flashes a polite, totally ordinary smile and sits down smoothly.
In the row ahead of Tal, two boys lean close together.
"Dude, she's incredibly hot," one whispers loudly, his eyes wide.
"Yeah, definitely top tier," the other mutters back, staring at the back of Matsushita's head.
Tal watches Matsushita casually brush a stray strand of hair behind her ear.
Then, the turn falls to him.
This is my first move. I need to build a harmless, friendly mask immediately.
Pushing his chair back, he stands up and flashes a bright, energetic smile at the entire room.
"I am Tal Mikhail."
He pauses for a split second and took a sharp breath. He deliberately chops his speech into bizarre, rapid-fire fragments, stressing the first letter of every new thought.
"My great-grandfather was half-Latvian, which is where I get my roots. Look, I know my name is a bit of a mouthful for Japanese speakers. Only, you can just use the Katakana, Taru Mihairu. Or call me however you like—Taru, Tal, whatever is easiest for you! Keep in mind, I like playing chess. It is pretty much my only hobby. Now, I really hope to become friends with all of you. Going forward, let's make the most out of these three years! Feel free to talk to me anytime. Our class is definitely going to be the best. Really looking forward to getting to know everyone. Anyway, that is my introduction. Glad to be here. I will pass it on to the next person now. Right, who is next? Let's keep it going. Fun times ahead. Ready when you are. I am finished. Everyone else, do your best. Nothing more from me. Done!"
Tal Mikhail sits down heavily. The classroom stares at him in mild confusion. A few girls exchange bewildered looks. His energy is high, but his delivery was incredibly disjointed and strange.