Unknowingly, they had already arrived at school.
Looking at the majestic and tall buildings before her, Asuka Youyou nodded with satisfaction, full of anticipation for the next two years of campus life.
Students were trickling in. Asuka Youyou had already noticed no fewer than ten students secretly glancing at them.
She checked her outfit—plain and ordinary, nothing special at all. So the reason for all the attention could only be one thing.
Her handsome Brother Renji!
She felt a surge of pride. Such a handsome boy belonged to her family!
She lifted her chin slightly, looking as proud as a little swan, her imaginary tail practically twitching up into the sky.
At the school gate, public morals committee members were inspecting students' appearance and attire. Heading them was none other than Genichiro Sanada.
Seeing his close friend holding the hand of a little girl dressed in Lolita fashion, an unreadable glint flickered in Sanada’s dark pupils. When students walking in earlier had mentioned that Yanagi had brought a doll to school, he had been somewhat puzzled. Now, looking at her, she really did resemble a porcelain doll.
Her gorgeous dress and a face that achieved the ultimate in sweetness and cuteness, her deep pink eyes sparkling with the luster of honey, and her fair skin resembling delicate white cherry blossoms—she was quite literally a girl who had stepped right out of a manga.
Stopping two steps away from the two of them, he said, "Good morning, Yanagi."
"Good morning, Sanada."
"This is...?" Though he didn't specify who, he was clearly asking about the girl.
"My younger sister, Asuka Youyou." A faint, unmistakable smile curved the corners of Yanagi's mouth as he introduced her. He raised a hand to pat the girl's head and added, "She is enrolling in Rikkaidai today."
"Youyou, this is Genichiro Sanada, my good friend and the captain of the school's kendo club. I remember your kendo is quite good; perhaps this would be an excellent club choice for you."
Eh? He wasn't a teacher after all?
A trace of confusion drifted through her mind as she looked at the tall boy in front of her, whose mature aura seemed almost too adult to call just a boy.
Actually, he possessed quite a striking appearance himself. His expression was stern and resolute, his gaze sharp, and his thin lips pressed into a tight line, radiating an aura of someone not to be trifled with.
Tall and powerfully built, he was significantly sturdier than Yanagi beside him.
With black hair, wearing the Rikkaidai school uniform—a white shirt, green-striped tie, and black dress trousers—if his expression hadn't been so fierce, he could easily have been mistaken for a male model.
Despite her wandering thoughts, her voice was sweet as she called out, "Hello, Brother Sanada!"
It was totally fine to call her Brother Renji's good friend "Brother," right?
At the same time, a radiant smile blossomed across her face like a sunflower.
"Hello." Sanada paused, a flash of hesitation crossing his face, before he spoke: "Youyou."
*Yanagi Renji: Actually, calling me 'Senior' would be fine, but since Youyou already said it, 'Brother' it is.*
"Yanagi, you should take Youyou to complete her enrollment first."
"Alright."
He took the girl's hand and walked through the main gate, leaving Sanada looking after their retreating figures in deep thought.
He really ought to speak with Yanagi. Although she was his sister, she was still of the opposite sex, and walking around the campus holding hands so openly—the impression it gave ultimately wasn't good.
Because the school uniforms had not yet been laundered after collection, she hadn't changed into hers yet and was still wearing her sunflower-themed Lolita dress, though the little matching hat had been removed and was currently being held in Yanagi's hands.
Yanagi walked Asuka Youyou to the door of Class D in the second year, giving her instructions one by one: "I'll be in the teaching building right behind this one, Year Three, Class F. If anything happens, come find me right away. If you can't find me, go to the Tennis Club; I'm always there."
"Understood, Brother Renji."
No wonder Brother Renji had specifically mentioned the Tennis Club when introducing Rikkaidai earlier! He'd said it was the strongest club of all, and it turned out he was right there in it.
Having received word that a new transfer student would be joining their class, Ichiro Fujiwara had arrived early to wait in the classroom.
His eyes lit up visibly when he saw the girl, and he thought with a cheerful chuckle: *What a genuinely cute little girl.*
He led the girl into the classroom and waved to Yanagi: "We'll take good care of Student Asuka, so Student Yanagi doesn't need to worry." Before Yanagi could reply, he closed the door.
Yanagi was slightly taken aback, but through the glass window, he saw the little girl waving her small hand at him. He smiled and waved back, and once she stopped looking at him, he turned and left.
Walking down the hallway, he suddenly remembered that their club's junior—Akaya Kirihara—was also in Year Two, Class D. But thinking of the boy's boisterous and provocative nature everywhere he went, he decided against it. Better not entrust Youyou to his care; the kid was unreliable.
Akaya Kirihara, dashing into the classroom right at the final bell: *Achoo!*
Am I catching a cold?
He instinctively scratched his head, only to brush against a swollen bump on top. He hissed in pain.
He'd stayed up way too late playing video games last night, failed to wake up on time this morning, nearly ended up late, and then happened to run right into the Vice-President inspecting public morals, earning himself two righteous iron fists. His head still hurt!
He hurried into the classroom on the heels of the tardy bell. Just as he intended to walk over to his seat, he noticed a very cute girl sitting next to it.
Did he walk into the wrong classroom?
He stepped back out to check the class sign, only to turn around and run straight into a terrifyingly smiling face.
"And just where does Student Kirihara plan on going?"
"I-I didn't enter the wrong classroom! Phew, thank you!"
Without picking up on the danger at all, the little seaweed-head scratched his hair and laughed foolishly.
What a silly kid.
Fujiwara had long since run out of patience with Akaya Kirihara. Although his grades were terrible and his brain wasn't much better, he held no grudges, and his earnest and persistent work ethic hit right where Fujiwara liked it.
"You didn't walk into the wrong classroom, get back to your seat." Suddenly remembering something, he added, "Sitting next to you is the new transfer student who arrived today, Asuka Youyou. Showing her around and helping her get familiar with the class is your task."
"Ah...! Well, all right then."
Though he had no idea why he was chosen to help the new student, he would definitely complete the mission properly!
He sat down at his desk, put his schoolbag away, and prepared to catch up on sleep as usual, but remembering the teacher's task, he hesitated, then stealthily exposed one eye to observe his assigned target.
And was caught red-handed by the girl.
Asuka Youyou had noticed the boy the moment he walked in. After all, the last student to squeeze in right at the bell was always eye-catching.
The boy's dark green curly hair was messy, inexplicably making her think of tangled seaweed. His matching eyes resembled a pair of mysterious and deep gemstones, his gaze pure, and his brow brimmed with high-spirited defiance.
His aura possessed the refreshing and clean vibe of a youthful boy, and his tall, well-proportioned figure didn't lack a sense of strength.
At first, she had thought he was a wind-like youth, but then she watched him back up and doubt himself, leading her to a sudden realization: this might just be a total goofball.
And his sitting right down at his desk and immediately passing out to sleep told her he probably didn't like studying either—either he was a top student who disdained listening to lectures, or he was a slacker who had completely given up.
She had a lingering premonition that it was the latter. The pure look in his eyes earlier was probably just because they were eyes untainted by knowledge, much like her own.
Still, she had to admit he was a handsome guy.
She didn't know what was wrong with today; she kept running into handsome guys, and all of different types.
Asuka Youyou muttered inwardly.
Up on the podium, the teacher had already started lecturing, and she discovered a major problem.
She didn't have a textbook!
She immediately thought of the boy sleeping facedown. If he wasn't going to use his, could she borrow his book?
She subconsciously looked toward the boy, and as it happened, the boy was peeking at her too.
Hah! Both of them caught in the act.