The sunlight filtered through the polished windows of the Kuoh Academy student council room, casting soft rays over neatly stacked papers and immaculately arranged tea cups. The room, quiet as ever, carried an air of subtle authority—one sharpened by the girl seated at the center of it all.
Sona Shitori, student council president of Kuoh Academy and heiress of the Sitri clan, adjusted her glasses with practiced precision. Her eyes flicked over the documents spread in front of her—the profiles of the three newest transfer students.
Hajime Nagumo. Alice Gododdin. Anisphia Wynn Palettia.
Each file had been carefully processed through the standard channels: cultural exchange scholarship, recommendation letters from a small historical research foundation, respectable past grades, and clean records.
Too clean.
Sona's finger tapped lightly against the edge of the page as she reviewed Hajime's profile again. His grades were flawless, his physical results exceptional—but his previous academy name had been listed under a private institution that had curiously no open alumni database.
Alice's transcript, while equally spotless, bore the same problem—too well-written, too coordinated. And Anis… her essay about the importance of cultural joy in foreign environments read more like a theatrical manifesto than a student application.
Tsubaki, standing beside her with a tablet in hand, broke the silence. "Do you think they're threats?"
Sona didn't answer immediately. Her eyes narrowed slightly as she scanned the signature stamp on the sponsor foundation. "No. But they're definitely not ordinary."
She leaned back slightly in her chair, her posture composed yet thoughtful. "There's no magic residue tied to these documents, no signs of tampering. But their aura… I felt it even at that time. Especially the one named Hajime Nagumo."
Tsubaki raised a brow. "He doesn't seem like a magician."
"He isn't," Sona said quietly. "But power doesn't always take the form we expect."
She set the files down and folded her hands. "Keep watch, but discreetly. They're not hiding. But they are protected by something."
Tsubaki gave a respectful nod. "Understood, President."
And as the light shifted through the window behind her, Sona Shitori's gaze lingered on the folder marked Anisphia Wynn Palettia, a single thought threading through her mind:
"She's going to be a handful."
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Meanwhile, at the Kuoh Academy administration building, the trio had just finished their paperwork. Hajime stood near the front counter, arms crossed, watching as the last of the documents were stamped and sorted.
Alice stood to the side, quiet and poised as ever, her gaze scanning the hall's layout as if already memorizing the flow of the place. Anis, meanwhile, leaned back against the wall, arms stretched high above her head.
"So," she said with a yawn, "do we get a tour, or do we just wander around until we accidentally break into the faculty lounge?"
"We're waiting for someone from the student council to escort us," Hajime replied evenly. "Apparently it's a necessary procedure for new transfer students."
Anisphia tapped her cheek. "Student council, huh? I hope they're not too uptight."
Alice glanced toward the main doors. "Given how meticulously this place is run… I wouldn't expect anything casual."
The three fell silent again as footsteps echoed faintly down the hall, signaling the arrival of whoever had been sent to meet them.
Two students entered with calm poise—one with pure white hair and striking blue-green eyes that gleamed with composed confidence, the other with long brown hair ending in two short braids, a soft blue headband nestled just behind her fringe, and matching brown eyes. Both wore the Kuoh Academy uniform with the distinct badge of the student council on their blazer.
"Good morning," said the girl with the pure white hair and striking blue-green eyes, stepping forward with a friendly smile. "I'm Momo Hanakai, secretary of the student council. This is Reya Kusaka, my fellow council member."
Reya bowed politely. "Welcome to Kuoh Academy. We're here to give you your official orientation and campus tour."
Anisphia whispered just loudly enough for Hajime and Alice to hear, "They're cuter than I expected."
Hajime sighed under his breath. Alice simply adjusted her bag, unamused but unsurprised.
Momo chuckled, clearly having heard. "Let's get started, shall we?"
The tour began with the academic wing—sunlit hallways lined with shoe lockers and polished floors that echoed faintly with every step. Momo and Reya moved with practiced ease, guiding the trio through the layout of the school.
"This is the main classroom block," Momo explained, gesturing as they passed a series of doors. "You'll find your homerooms here. Second floor is for the third-years, first floor for second and first-years."
Anisphia bounced slightly with each step. "So, is there a secret student council dungeon in the basement? Or maybe a hidden tea chamber with velvet chairs?"
Momo laughed. "Sadly, nothing quite that dramatic. But we do have a quiet study room with actual tatami mats. Maybe that counts?"
As they walked, Hajime's eyes subtly scanned everything—the angles of the building, the flow of student movement, exit points. He could feel their guides watching as well—not aggressively, but with deliberate awareness. Reya's eyes lingered on him a fraction longer than the others.
Alice noticed it too. Her expression didn't change, but her posture subtly adjusted. She felt the gentle, almost imperceptible ripple of spiritual intuition—a silent mutual acknowledgment between observers.
Next, they were shown the infirmary. "If you ever feel unwell, Nurse Akiyama is here most days," Reya noted. "She's kind, but firm. Don't try to fake a fever to cut class."
"I'll remember that," Hajime said dryly.
They moved on to the gymnasium and sports facilities—wide, clean, and bustling with student energy. The tour was smooth, but underneath it? Threads of quiet tension interwoven with every casual greeting and gesture.
Anisphia leaned over toward Momo again. "Okay, real question: which teacher gives the hardest exams?"
"That'd be Iida-Sensei for science," Momo said instantly, grinning. "He's a genius and he knows it. Loves pop quizzes."
"Oh no," Anisphia mock-gasped. "We're doomed. I'll need at least three study partners and five motivational cookies."
Momo giggled. "Deal. I'll bring snacks."
By the time they reached the courtyard, the late morning had stretched into early afternoon, and the tour had wrapped back toward the cafeteria for lunch, Momo continued pointing out features along the way. "We have a multi-tiered library wing near the west building, a well-stocked art room if you're creatively inclined, and for those into science, the labs are fully modernized. There's also a student hobby room for club meetings—though some are… more intense than others."
Anisphia tilted her head. "What kind of clubs are we talking about here? Anything dramatic?"
Reya raised her hand with a faint smile. "Drama club, calligraphy, a tea ceremony group, even an Occult Research club—though I recommend not taking that one too seriously."
Alice raised an eyebrow but said nothing.
Anisphia leaned toward Momo, curious. "What about the cafeteria? Are we talking gourmet or survival-mode lunches?"
Momo chuckled. "Depends on who you ask. The curry's great. The yakisoba bread's a student favorite. But if you value your life, don't cut in line."
As they turned the final corner toward the cafeteria, a sudden clatter echoed from down the opposite hallway, followed by a high-pitched yell, a crash, and the unmistakable sound of someone getting slapped.
"YOU PERVERTS!!"
Momo and Reya both twitched in unison.
"…And that would be the infamous Pervert Trio," Reya said in the flattest voice imaginable.
Momo sighed. "Every school has them. Ours just happened to form a coalition."
Anisphia blinked. "Should I be concerned or…?"
Alice replied, monotone, "No. Just avoid eye contact."
Hajime quietly turned the other direction.
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The cafeteria buzzed with the typical lunchtime chatter of students, trays clinking, and seats shuffling. The trio followed Momo and Reya to a quieter corner near the windows, where they all sat down with freshly served meals.
Hajime kept his portion simple—rice, grilled chicken, and tea. Alice, ever composed, chose a well-balanced bento. Anisphia, unsurprisingly, loaded her tray with colorful dishes that looked more like festival food than a school meal.
As they began eating, Momo looked up and smiled. "So now that you've seen the layout—do you have any questions? About the school, the clubs, or anything else?"
Reya added, "We understand it's a lot to take in on your first day. So feel free to ask anything."
Anisphia leaned forward between bites of takoyaki. "How's the student council so efficient? Everything's spotless. Do you all run drills in your sleep?"
Momo giggled. "No drills, I promise. But Sona-kaichou is very meticulous. She keeps us sharp."
Alice nodded slightly. "That would explain the precision."
Hajime, between sips of tea, asked, "How are transfer students usually received here?"
Reya responded calmly. "As long as you're respectful and contribute positively, most students are welcoming. Kuoh isn't strict… but we value harmony."
Momo grinned. "Besides, you've already survived your first encounter with the Pervert Trio. That's practically a rite of passage."
Anisphia raised her cup. "To strange beginnings and decent cafeteria curry."
They all chuckled, the earlier tension fading just a bit more as they blended further into their new roles. For a fleeting moment, it felt like they belonged—not as undercover guests or trailblazing outsiders, but simply as students among students. And even if the future held deeper currents beneath Kuoh Academy's surface, for now, the warmth of lunch and laughter was enough to carry them forward.