The following morning at Kuoh Academy, the halls buzzed with excitement.
Inside Class 2-B, the chatter was electric.
"Did you hear? We've got new transfer students today!"
"Three of them, right? And one's a foreign princess or something?"
Whispers echoed like wildfire through the corridors as curious heads peeked out of classrooms and stairwell corners. Some students scurried to secure early cafeteria gossip seats, others peered from behind lockers, eyes wide with anticipation.Issei Hyoudou sat at his desk with Matsuda and Motohama flanking him like hounds on high alert.
"I heard she's got a foreign noble background," Motohama whispered, adjusting his glasses.
"No, no! They said she's engaged to the guy transferring in! What kind of monster gets a fiancée before even showing up?!" Matsuda cried, despair in his voice.
"I'm just hoping they're hot," Issei muttered, trying not to look desperate.
Nearby, Asia Argento sat quietly, a soft smile on her face, though her eyes flicked to the door more than once.
Kiryu Aika, perched on her desk, grinned. "This better not be one of those fakeouts where they're 'normal' but secretly magical girls or something."
In the corner by the windows sat Momo Hanakai, Reya Kusaka, and Sagiri Ameno—each composed, but clearly paying close attention.
"They're here," Reya murmured.
The door slid open not to reveal the transfer students—but their homeroom teacher, who strode in briskly with a stack of papers in one hand and a clipboard in the other.
"All right, everyone, settle down," she said, setting the stack on the desk. "I know you're all buzzing with curiosity, but let's keep the noise down."
The room gradually quieted as students returned to their seats. A few exchanged last-minute whispers, but the atmosphere shifted from restless to expectant.
Satisfied with the decorum, the teacher gave a small nod and turned to the door.
"You can come in now."
Hajime entered first, calm and composed. Behind him came Alice, graceful and refined, and Anisphia—smiling brightly with uncontained energy. The moment they stepped in, conversations dipped into hushes, the classroom holding its collective breath.
Their homeroom teacher clapped her hands with a cheerful smile. "We have three new transfer students joining us today. Please introduce yourselves."
Hajime stepped forward calmly, his presence naturally commanding attention. "I'm Hajime Nagumo. I transferred here recently. Nice to meet you."
Alice followed gracefully, her voice gentle yet confident. "I'm Alice Louise Gododdin, Hajime's fiancée. Please take care of me."
A stunned silence filled the classroom. Issei Hyoudou and his friends stared in disbelief, envy clear on their faces.
Matsuda groaned loudly, burying his face in his hands. "No way... it's actually true?! This is too much for my heart to take!"
Ignoring the commotion, Anisphia stepped forward energetically. "And I'm Anisphia Wynn Palettia, Hajime's 'best friend'. I'm looking forward to getting to know everyone!"
She ended with a bright smile, though her eyes shot a playful glare at Alice, who simply returned it with a composed smile. The classroom buzzed again, some students murmuring about how energetic she was, while others glanced curiously between the three. Momo and Reya, already familiar with them from the day before, exchanged a look that was more amused than surprised. Sagiri, seated behind them, gave a subtle nod of acknowledgment, her expression calm. There was no need to measure them—she already knew what they were capable of. If anything, her focus now was on how the rest of the class would react to the trio.
-----
The teacher gestured toward the center row. "Nagumo-san, you can take the seat next to Hyoudou-kun. Gododdin-san, there's a free spot beside Asia-chan. And Palettia-san, you'll be behind them, next to Kusaka-san."
The trio moved to their places without hesitation, though a few heads still turned to track them. Issei stiffened as Hajime calmly sat down next to him, while Asia offered Alice a shy but warm smile.
Anisphia gave Reya a wink as she dropped into her seat with a bounce, prompting a faint smile from the quiet council girl.
The teacher clapped her hands again. "Alright, everyone. Take out your textbooks. We'll begin with world history."
As she launched into the lesson, the class gradually settled. The trio followed along without issue, their posture composed, their eyes attentive. But beneath the routine movements of a normal school day, a quiet awareness lingered.
Reya glanced sideways once. Sagiri didn't even pretend not to listen. And Anisphia… was already doodling sparkles in the corner of her notes.
Yet somehow, it all felt normal. At least for now.
-----
As the bell rang signaling the break between classes, students eagerly stood up and began to crowd around the trio. Most made a beeline for Alice and Anisphia, driven by curiosity and the lingering shock of Alice's bold introduction.
"Gododdin-san, is it really true you're engaged to Nagumo-san?" one girl asked, leaning in with wide eyes.
Another student chimed in. "Wait, like, for real? That wasn't just a bold introduction thing?"
"And how did it happen? Did he kneel? Were there candles?!" someone else added, eyes sparkling.
Alice maintained her poise with serene grace, offering a gentle nod. "Yes, it's true. It just... sort of happened naturally. We've been through a lot, and somewhere along the way, it made sense. Not a perfect fairytale—more like a steady light that never went out."
A ripple of awe moved through the group. Her answer wasn't just romantic—it sounded earned, like something deeper than a simple love story.
"Ugh," Kiryu muttered nearby, teasing but impressed. "That sounds way too mature for high school."
"More like the start of a light novel," another murmured with a dreamy sigh.
Meanwhile, Anisphia was fielding questions from the more energetic students.
"Palettia-san, is it true you're a princess or something?"
"Technically? Kind of?" Anisphia said with a laugh. "I like the title 'Traveling Sparkle Scholar' better though. It comes with more glitter and less politics. Alice here's not so different either—she's the daughter of a duke, you know. Don't let her calm face fool you, she's got a whole starry pedigree."
The students turned to Alice again, eyes wide.
"Is that true, Gododdin-san?"
Alice nodded politely, her tone light. "It's not something I bring up often. Titles don't mean much in a school like this. But yes, I'm a duke's daughter back home."
"You both really sound like characters from a fantasy anime," one girl said, awestruck.
"Only if it's a romantic comedy with magic and explosions," Anisphia added with a wink.
That got another round of laughter from the group, their curiosity now doubled but their nervousness visibly easing.
Another student, emboldened, glanced between the three. "You all seem really close. Did you meet through school clubs or something?"
Anisphia perked up. "Not exactly. We've known each other for a while—met through travel and, well, strange coincidences."
Alice added with a faint smile, "We've shared a few adventures. The kind that make bonds stick."
Hajime simply nodded. "Let's just say we've seen each other at our worst and still stuck around."
The students murmured appreciatively, some a little more in awe, others clearly imagining all sorts of wild backstories. One boy whispered to his seatmate, "Definitely light novel protagonists…"
More laughter rippled through the group. Even Reya, watching from her desk, cracked a soft smile.
At the edge of the crowd, Momo leaned toward Sagiri and whispered, "Think the school's ready for them?"
Sagiri exhaled slowly. "They'll stir the waters. No doubt. But not in a bad way."Kiryu leaned back from her desk and muttered to Issei, "I give it three days before he's challenged to a duel or dragged into something weird."
Issei groaned. "Why do I feel like I'm already the background character in my own story?"
------
During lunchtime, Hajime walked into the cafeteria and immediately spotted Alice and Anisphia already seated by the windows, chatting and enjoying their food. With an easy stride, he made his way over.
As he reached their table, he gave a small nod. "Mind if I join you?"
Anisphia grinned. "Took you long enough, We saved the sunny spot."
Alice gestured to the open seat beside her. "Of course."
Not far behind, Asia hesitated for a moment before following, clutching her tray.
"I-Is it okay if I sit too?" she asked softly.
Alice smiled warmly. "Of course, Asia-san."
Hajime looked at her and gave a small nod. "Please do."
Asia's eyes lit up as she settled in, and to no one's surprise, Issei trailed behind with a determined expression.
"I'll sit too!" he announced, placing himself protectively beside Asia.
Anisphia raised a brow and whispered to Alice, "Knight instincts?"
Alice replied without looking up, "Possessive guard stance."
Hajime merely sipped his tea.
The group settled in as the cafeteria's hum continued around them, the air surprisingly light despite the morning's intensity.
Across the room, Rias Gremory and Akeno Himejima sat with their own lunches, quietly observing the growing circle around the new trio. Akeno leaned in slightly, whispering something Rias didn't respond to right away.
Rias's eyes remained on Hajime, calculating yet intrigued. When he glanced up, they locked eyes for a heartbeat—and exchanged a subtle, mutual nod of unspoken awareness.