The first homeroom of the second semester.
The moment their homeroom teacher wrote the words NEW SEATING ARRANGEMENT across the blackboard— the entire classroom erupted into chatter.
"Obviously, everyone's aiming for a seat near Kunimi, right?!"
"No way! I'm getting the seat next to him!"
"I'm not giving that spot up to anyone!"
The battle that had been quietly brewing beneath the surface among the girls— had finally erupted into open warfare.
Mikiko:
(...I'm NOT giving up the seat next to him! This is where I settle everything!)
Urara:
(Hehe. It'd be so much fun if I got to sit next to Kunimi-kun every day. ♡)
Shiori:
(If I sit next to him... I can use the classic "Oops, I forgot my notebook" strategy!)
Karen:
(Come on, I'm the only one who can actually talk to him about sparring!)
Shion:
(Right beside my subject of observation... The perfect position.)
There were no alliances.
No mercy.
Only total war.
Meanwhile—
"...A new seating arrangement, huh?"
He stared absentmindedly out the window.
"I kinda like sitting toward the back. It's easier to see the blackboard from there."
The girls were practically radiating competitive energy.
Takuma noticed none of it.
Not even a little.
"All right, everyone. Here are your new seats."
The classroom went silent.
Then—
Rustle...!
The moment of destiny had arrived.
And the winner was—
Mikiko Izumi.
She had secured the seat directly beside Takuma.
(YEEEEEEES!!!)
"Whaaat?! That's not fair!"
"Tch..."
"Damn it... I guess not sealing the deal at training camp came back to bite me."
"...Well. There will be other opportunities."
Joy.
Despair.
Frustration.
Resignation.
And in the middle of all that—
Takuma looked at the seating chart.
"...Oh. Okay."
Mikiko's head snapped toward him.
"HUH?! What did you just say?!"
"Nothing."
Takuma shrugged.
"I don't really care who sits next to me."
Mikiko froze.
Then exploded.
"DON'T YOU DARE SAY 'ANYONE'S FINE' AFTER ALL THAT!!!"
Hina watched the scene from nearby.
"...Every girl in this room just fought the battle of her life, and this guy destroyed the entire result with 'anyone's fine.'"
Momiji nodded solemnly.
"The King of Obliviousness among Kings of Obliviousness. I think we've reached the final form."
"He's surrounded by girls no matter where he sits, and it doesn't even faze him."
"At this point, he's basically a monk."
Momiji paused.
"...But maybe that's exactly why they all like him."
Hina looked at the girls surrounding Takuma.
"...Yeah. Probably."
Mr. Oblivious himself.
While the girls celebrated and screamed in despair around him—
Takuma Kunimi simply sat down in his new seat like it was any other day.