The classroom erupted as Hoshinomiya finished her orientation speech. Students packed their belongings, their excited chatter filling the air.
"Excuse me, Shirō-san."
I looked up to find Shibata standing beside my desk. His large purple eyes held a gentle earnestness that seemed at odds with his athletic frame.
"Got plans for the rest of the day?" he asked. His voice carried that distinctive rural accent—softened consonants and elongated vowels that marked him as someone from the countryside.
I leaned back in my chair. "Thought I'd check out my room. Figure I'll be stuck there for the next three years."
"That sounds practical," Shibata nodded. "I should probably do the same."
"Might hit the gym afterward," I added, stretching my arms overhead.
The word "gym" had barely left my mouth when Yonezu's head snapped in our direction. His dark eyes widened as if I'd uttered some sacred incantation.
"Did someone say gym?" Yonezu bolted from his seat, nearly knocking it over. He crossed the distance to my desk in two long strides, looming over us with his impressive height. "You're going to the campus gym?"
I stared up at him. "Considering it."
"Excellent!" Yonezu slammed his palm on my desk, rattling my empty notebook. "A man after my own heart! I'll join you on this manly pursuit of physical excellence!"
Shibata smiled politely. "That sounds fun. Maybe I could—"
"Of course you're coming too, Shibata!" Yonezu clapped a massive hand on Shibata's shoulder, causing the smaller boy to stagger slightly. "I can tell by your physique that you understand the importance of physical training!"
I glanced around the classroom. Beppo was still muttering about cosmic energies while adjusting his red arm bandages. Kobashi appeared to be explaining to Minamikata why clouds might be sentient. Himeno organized her notebook, her twin-tails swaying as she shot disapproving glances at the more boisterous students.
Why is everyone in this class so damn eccentric?
Maybe that explained our placement in Class B.
"We need more men for this expedition!" Yonezu declared, scanning the room like a general assessing troops. His eyes locked onto Takakura, who immediately stiffened in his seat. "You! Bowl-cut! You're joining us!"
Takakura adjusted his glasses nervously. "M-me? I'm not really—"
"Nonsense! Physical training benefits everyone, even those with smaller frames!" Yonezu marched over and pulled Takakura from his seat. "What's your name again?"
"T-Takakura Ken."
"Well, Takakura-kun, today you begin your journey toward manhood!"
Takakura shot me a desperate look. I shrugged in response.
"Hamaguchi loves working out," I said, nodding toward the relaxed figure slouched in his seat. "Never misses a day."
Hamaguchi's half-lidded eyes widened slightly. "I do?"
"That right?" Yonezu turned his attention to Hamaguchi. "You don't look like someone committed to physical excellence, but appearances can be deceiving!"
Hamaguchi's eyes narrowed at me before his face settled back into its default expression of casual indifference. "I appreciate the invitation, but I've got other—"
"Nonsense!" Yonezu crossed the room in three strides. "A man's true character is revealed through sweat and iron! You're coming with us!"
Hamaguchi sighed, his shoulders slumping in resignation. "Sure, whatever."
"Excellent!" Yonezu clapped his hands together. "Our brotherhood of iron is assembled! First, let's check our dormitory assignments. I hope we're all in the same building."
We pulled out our phones and navigated to the campus map app. Under housing assignments, I found my information:
SHIRŌ MINORU
LUNA PARK DORMITORY
ROOM 611
"I'm in Luna Park, sixth floor," I announced.
"Luna Park 607!" Yonezu pumped his fist. "The universe has blessed our manly friendship!"
"Luna Park 609," Shibata added with a small smile.
"Luna Park 615," Takakura mumbled, his expression suggesting he viewed this coincidence as cosmic punishment rather than blessing.
All eyes turned to Hamaguchi, who glanced at his phone screen. "Luna Park 613."
Yonezu's face lit up like a child on Christmas morning. "It's fate! We're all on the same floor! The gods of masculinity have brought us together!"
"Or the school's administrative algorithm," I muttered.
"To Luna Park!" Yonezu declared, ignoring my comment. "We'll drop off our things and proceed directly to the gym!"
As we left the classroom, I caught Hamaguchi adjusting his pace to walk beside me. His emerald eyes held a mixture of amusement and annoyance.
"Working out every day, huh?" he said quietly, his Kansai accent more pronounced in his irritation.
"Must have confused you with someone else," I replied.
He snorted. "I'll remember this."
"I'm sure you will."
We exited the main building into the afternoon sun. The campus sprawled before us—immaculate gardens, modern architecture, and winding paths connecting various facilities. The dormitories stood in the distance, four identical towers rising against the blue sky.
"Luna Park is the one on the far right," Shibata said, consulting the map on his phone. "About a ten-minute walk from here."
"Then let's not waste time!" Yonezu set off at a brisk pace, forcing the rest of us to hurry after him.
As we walked, I considered my situation. First day at a new school, and I'd already been absorbed into a group. That wasn't my typical approach—I preferred assessing people individually before forming connections—but there was something to be said for blending in. Being part of a group meant less individual scrutiny.
And if I got stuck friendless in this collection of eccentrics, I'd need to seriously reevaluate my life choices.
Luna Park Dormitory turned out to be a fifteen-story structure with a sleek, modern design. The lobby featured polished floors, comfortable seating areas, and a reception desk staffed by a bored-looking attendant.
"Sixth floor," Yonezu announced, heading for the elevators. "Our new home for the next three years!"
The elevator carried us upward in silence, each of us lost in our own thoughts. When the doors opened on the sixth floor, we stepped into a wide hallway with doors spaced evenly on both sides.
"Rooms 601 through 620 are on this floor," Shibata read from his phone. "Odd numbers on the left, even on the right."
We located our respective rooms, agreeing to meet back in the hallway after dropping off our belongings. My room—611—was halfway down the corridor on the left side.
I pressed my phone against the electronic lock. It beeped once, the display flashing green as the door unlocked with a soft click.
The room was small but efficiently designed. A single bed against the left wall, a desk and chair beneath the window opposite the door, a closet and small bathroom to the right. Basic furnishings, nothing extravagant, but clean and functional.
I set my bag on the bed and took a moment to inspect the space more thoroughly. The window overlooked the campus grounds, providing a decent view of the main building and surrounding facilities. The bathroom contained a toilet, sink, and shower stall—compact but sufficient.
After a quick inspection, I returned to the hallway where the others were already gathering. Yonezu emerged from his room last, having changed into workout clothes—a tight-fitting t-shirt that showcased his muscular build and basketball shorts.
"Now we're ready for the gym!" he declared. "Let's go, men!"
We made our way back downstairs and consulted our campus maps for directions to the athletic facilities. The main gym was located on the eastern side of campus, about fifteen minutes from our dormitory.
"What kind of equipment do you think they have?" Shibata asked as we walked.
"If this place is as high-end as it seems, probably top-of-the-line stuff," Hamaguchi replied. "Though I'm not exactly a gym expert."
"I'm more interested in the basketball courts," Shibata said. "I played a lot back home."
"You like basketball?" Yonezu's eyes lit up. "A truly manly sport! We should play together sometime!"
"I'd like that," Shibata smiled.
The athletic complex turned out to be impressive—a modern building with glass walls showcasing the equipment inside. We entered through automatic doors into a spacious lobby where a staff member sat behind a reception desk.
"Student IDs, please," the receptionist said as we approached.
We presented our phones, which she scanned one by one.
"First-time users," she noted, looking at her screen. "I'll need to explain our membership options."
She turned her monitor so we could see it. "Basic gym access costs 15,000 private points per month. This includes all equipment, courts, and standard facilities."
"Fifteen thousand?" Takakura squeaked.
"That's the standard rate," she confirmed. "However, student athletes on official teams receive free access as part of their training regimen."
Yonezu's enthusiasm dimmed slightly. "That's quite expensive for a school facility."
"Everything here operates on the point system," the receptionist explained. "The gym is no exception."
We exchanged glances. Fifteen thousand points represented a significant chunk of our initial allowance, especially when we didn't know how many points we'd need monthly.
"Are there tryouts for the sports teams?" Shibata asked.
The receptionist nodded. "All athletic teams hold tryouts during the first week of classes. The schedule is available on your student phones. Those selected receive free gym access and additional privileges."
"Well, then!" Yonezu's enthusiasm returned full force. "We'll simply have to join teams! What sports do you play, Shibata-kun?"
"Basketball, mainly," Shibata replied. "I was captain of my middle school team."
"Perfect! I'll try out for basketball as well!" Yonezu turned to the rest of us. "What about you three?"
Takakura shrank back. "I'm not really athletic..."
"Nonsense! Everyone has potential! What about track? You look like you might be quick."
"I...actually do run pretty well," Takakura admitted reluctantly.
"There you go!" Yonezu slapped him on the back. "Hamaguchi? Shirō?"
Hamaguchi shrugged. "My friend made me play basketball with her every day."
All eyes turned to me. I considered my options. Joining a sports team hadn't been in my plans, but 15,000 points per month for gym access was steep.
"I'll figure something out," I said finally.
"That's the spirit!" Yonezu nodded approvingly. "For now, shall we take a look around? We can at least see what we're working toward."
The receptionist allowed us a tour of the facilities without charging points. The gym was indeed impressive—state-of-the-art equipment, multiple courts, a swimming pool, and specialized training rooms.
"This is amazing," Shibata breathed as we observed the basketball court where a few upperclassmen were playing a pickup game.
"Indeed!" Yonezu agreed. "Worth striving for!"
In less than twelve hours, I'd arrived at a new school, been sorted into Class B, participated in an orientation, and somehow acquired four... acquaintances? Friends? Whatever they were, they represented connections I hadn't planned on making so quickly.
The school's structure was becoming clearer—everything had a price, creating artificial scarcity even in an environment of apparent abundance. The system encouraged competition, strategic thinking, and prioritization. Correct approach for a school supposedly focused on nurturing future leaders.
I glanced at my unexpected companions as we walked back to Luna Park in the fading afternoon light. Yonezu strode confidently ahead, still extolling the virtues of physical training. Shibata listened attentively, nodding at appropriate intervals. Takakura trailed slightly behind, lost in his own thoughts. Hamaguchi walked beside me, his half-lidded eyes observing everything despite his apparent disinterest.
An unusual group, to say the least. But perhaps useful, in their own ways.