Chapter 3 3: First Name

Using the seating chart displayed on the podium, Takada Hikaru quickly found his spot.

Sitting next to him was a tall girl with a somewhat boyish appearance.

The girl noticed him approaching and greeted him warmly, "Hello, my name is Andō Sayo. Please take care of me from now on."

Andō Sayo... a name he didn't recall.

Takada Hikaru had transmigrated into this world over ten years ago, and he only remembered the names of the key characters from the original series.

For Class B, he only remembered Ichinose Honami, Kanzaki Ryūji, and perhaps Shiraha Chihiro, the girl who had confessed to Ichinose Honami. Other than that, he didn't have much of an impression of the other students in Class B.

"My name is Takada Hikaru."

After politely stating his name, Takada Hikaru began surveying the classroom.

Many students in Class B had already arrived in the classroom. Even though everyone was supposed to be meeting for the first time, many students were surrounding a girl with long pink hair, chatting and laughing with her.

"That girl is really amazing." Andō Sayo said admiringly, looking at the pink-haired girl at the center of the crowd. "It's the first time I've seen someone who can chat so happily with everyone right on the first day of school."

Whether in kindergarten, elementary school, or junior high school, when entering an environment full of strangers, most people are initially reserved and just sit at their desks daydreaming. A scene like the pink-haired girl happily chatting with so many people is indeed rare.

'Is that Ichinose?' Takada Hikaru scrutinized the pink-haired girl.

Gentle and generous, cheerful, good-looking, and with maxed-out social skills. She had only been in the classroom for a short while, yet she was already happily chatting with classmates who were still strangers.

No wonder she was able to unite Class B through her personal charisma in the original series.

'Too bad I have to play the role of a loner next.'

After confirming he was a student in Class B, Takada Hikaru decided on his persona for Advanced Nurturing High School.

Kind, mysterious, powerful, solitary, and amiable.

In the context of the unified Class B, his solitary personality, which made him stand out from everyone else, would surely leave a deep impression on the audience.

At the same time, to avoid clashing with other loners like Koenji and Yukimura in Class D, he also needed to cultivate a persona of being amiable to others.

Solitary in nature, yet kind and seemingly amiable to everyone.

If this contrast was well-developed, the persona would be richer. If poorly developed, it would lead to a conflict in characterization. In any case, his popularity certainly wouldn't be low.

"Sayo-san, don't you want to go talk to them?" Takada Hikaru glanced sideways and smiled as he spoke to the tall girl next to him.

"Wouldn't suddenly joining them disturb them?" Andō Sayo asked worriedly, then paused, looking surprised. "Takada-san, did you just call me by my first name?"

In Japan, unless they are related by blood, only people who are close friends call each other by their first names.

If they are of the same sex, they can use first names once they become friends. If they are of opposite sexes, it usually requires them to be childhood friends or boyfriend and girlfriend.

Takada Hikaru had just called Ando Sayo by her first name, which greatly surprised her.

"I called you Sayo-san just now." Takada Hikaru chuckled softly, sensing the surprise in the girl's eyes. "Or perhaps, would you prefer to be called Sayo-chan?"

This was one of the methods he had thought of to build his amiable persona. That is, regardless of who it was, he would address them by their first name. Whether it was a newly met classmate or a teacher who had already entered society, he would amiably call them by their first name.

"That's not the point." Andō Sayo said, scratching her cheek shyly after being called by her first name by a boy she just met. "I just feel like things are moving too fast."

In her opinion, if Takada Hikaru were to call her by her first name, they should at least wait until they became good friends. Being called by her first name right after meeting felt a bit too fast for her.

Takada Hikaru had already anticipated that Andō Sayo would be somewhat uncomfortable, so he had prepared his response in advance.

Just as he was about to use his prepared excuse, a cheerful voice rang out from the classroom doorway.

"Everyone, quickly return to your seats. I am your Homeroom Teacher, Hoshinomiya Chie. Before the entrance ceremony begins, I will explain the school's special rules to you. Make sure you listen carefully."

With the arrival of the teacher, the students in the class quickly returned to their seats. On the first day of school, they wanted to leave a good impression on the teacher.

"Sayo-san, it looks like we'll have to discuss this another time." Takada Hikaru smiled at the girl and returned to his seat.

"Alright."

Andō Sayo also knew that now wasn't the right time to talk about it, so she sat down and listened as the teacher explained the school's special rules.

The school's special rules had actually been sent to the students in the form of a notification letter before the start of the semester. After all, once students entered the school, they couldn't leave the campus or contact the outside world. If this wasn't explained beforehand, many people would surely become upset at the start of their enrollment. That is why the School Administration had explained the situation in advance.

"There are many recreational facilities near the school. If you feel bored or stressed, you can go there to relax."

"To spend money at school, you need to use electronic currency called 'Points.' Consumption can be completed simply by scanning the special device with the Terminal provided by the school."

"One point is equivalent to one yen. The school has already given you 100,000 Points this month. The school will issue Points to you on the first day of every month going forward."

As Hoshinomiya Chie finished speaking, the students in the class immediately grew excited.

"Takada-san, I didn't mishear that, did I?" Andō Sayo looked excitedly at the boy beside her. "We actually received 100,000 yen worth of pocket money."

"Sayo-san, you didn't mishear." Takada Hikaru said, operating his phone and displaying his personal account interface. "I have indeed received 100,000 Points."

"This school is so generous to us." Andō Sayo's face was beaming with an excited smile.

This was likely the first time she had access to so much money.

For a working adult, 100,000 yen is nothing—less than half a month's salary. But for students who just graduated from junior high school, most of whom have no work experience, 100,000 yen is a huge sum. It's possible that the total amount of pocket money and New Year's money they receive in a whole year doesn't even amount to that much.

"The school is indeed quite good to us."

Looking at the 100,000 Points displayed on the Terminal screen, Takada Hikaru had a unique thought.

With these points, he had the capital to compete with the upperclassmen.

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