High Sobu Academy.
The school had originally been known as Sobu High School.
However, after merging with the private Toyosaki High School, it adopted the new name High Sobu Academy.
With the schools known to Xia Chuan from his previous life—Sobu High and Toyosaki—now merged into one, quite a few familiar faces could be found here.
Class 1-F.
“Good morning, Xia Chuan.”
As Xia Chuan entered the classroom early that morning, quite a few students immediately greeted him enthusiastically.
Unlike some of the more withdrawn or overly literary types, Xia Chuan had excellent relationships with his classmates and was well-liked throughout the school.
Of course, his personality wasn’t the only reason.
His Uchiha-level good looks, combined with the athletic ability he had displayed, had already made Xia Chuan one of the most popular first-year students at High Sobu.
A talented, handsome guy with a good personality naturally attracted plenty of attention, especially in high school, when youthful hormones were beginning to run wild.
Xia Chuan naturally enjoyed the preferential treatment that came with it.
“Good morning.”
After smiling and responding to everyone one by one, Xia Chuan walked to his seat near the windows at the back of the classroom and put down his schoolbag.
Students naturally formed their own circles.
Class 1-F was no exception.
There were several groups within the class.
One revolved around Tomoya Aki, whose group was particularly interested in otaku culture.
There were also groups made up of ordinary students, high achievers, and various other types.
And then there was the so-called popular crowd.
Xia Chuan, Hayato Hayama, and Yumiko Miura were among its central figures—all handsome and beautiful students who were extremely popular socially.
Before long, several of the friends who naturally considered themselves part of Xia Chuan’s group gathered around him.
“Yo, Xia Chuan.”
Hayato Hayama walked over with his usual sunny smile.
“Looks like the weather’s pretty nice today.”
“It is.”
Xia Chuan answered before suddenly looking at him speechlessly.
“By the way, isn’t that a pretty cliché way to start a conversation?”
“I thought so too.”
Yui Yuigahama smiled as she walked over.
“How about greeting each other with ‘Yahallo’ instead?”
“That’s way too childish, Yui!”
Yumiko Miura, who was sitting beside Xia Chuan, looked somewhat disgusted.
“Eh?
Really?”
Yuigahama gave a slightly goofy smile.
“It’s fine.
I actually think it’s pretty cute.”
Xia Chuan turned toward Yuigahama and smiled.
“Yahallo, Yui.”
Yuigahama’s eyes immediately lit up with delight at being validated.
“Yahallo, Xia Chuan!”
“Seriously…”
Miura put a hand to her forehead as though she had completely given up on the two of them.
Then she turned toward Xia Chuan with dissatisfaction.
“Xia Chuan, you’re way too indulgent with Yui.”
Hina Ebina, who had been watching Hayama and Xia Chuan with a particularly interested gaze, couldn’t help glancing at her friend.
Yumiko, your expression practically screams jealousy.
As if sensing Ebina’s gaze, Miura seemed to realize what she had just revealed.
Although she had already made up her mind about certain things, she had no intention of exposing them in front of everyone yet.
She quickly tried to cover herself.
“I’m just worried Yui will suddenly come out with another one of her weird catchphrases.”
“Would I?”
Xia Chuan laughed.
“I think of Yui as a cute mascot, like a little dumpling.
There’s nothing wrong with her being a little cute.”
“Dumpling?”
Yuigahama looked confused.
Then she finally realized that Xia Chuan was referring to her hairstyle.
Her eyes widened.
“You mean my hairstyle?!”
She paused.
“…But Dumpling isn’t actually a bad nickname.”
“What exactly is good about that nickname?”
Miura immediately complained.
“It still isn’t as good as Yumiko’s nickname.
If I remember correctly, people call Yumiko the Queen of Hellfire.”
The moment Xia Chuan said this, Miura’s face turned bright red.
“What’s with the ‘Hellfire’?!”
Xia Chuan teased her.
“So you’re not denying the ‘Queen’ part?”
“I swear…”
Before Miura could say anything else, Hayama gave an awkward smile.
“I’ve been left out of this conversation for quite a while now, you know.”
Hearing that, Xia Chuan finally turned toward him.
“I was doing it deliberately.
I don’t want to hear another one of your speeches about joining the soccer club.”
“I told you Xia Chuan already knew what you were after.”
Tobe, standing beside Hayama, patted his friend’s shoulder with an expression that said he had expected this all along.
Seeing Xia Chuan’s reaction, Miura also spoke up.
“Hayama, if Xia Chuan doesn’t want to join, don’t force him.”
Seeing Miura defending Xia Chuan, Hayama understood that he shouldn’t let his own ambitions damage his friendship with everyone.
He sighed inwardly.
If Xia Chuan joined their team, he felt like the school team wouldn’t just qualify for the national tournament—they might actually have a serious chance of going far.
It was a shame.
Still, Hayama apologized.
“Got it.
I won’t bring up the soccer club again.”
He thought for a moment before continuing.
“Besides, there aren’t any club activities after school today.
How about I make it up to everyone by treating you all to that new café that just opened?”
Hearing this, Xia Chuan smiled.
“Sure.
No problem, Mr.
Rich Guy Hayama.”
Miura didn’t object either.
Since Xia Chuan had accepted, she silently agreed as well.
The conversation suddenly quieted down.
As a result, the voices from the other groups in the classroom became much more noticeable.
Especially the group around Tomoya Aki.
They seemed to have reached an especially exciting part of their conversation.
Even from the back of the classroom, Xia Chuan could hear them clearly.
“By the way, did you guys hear?
Utako Kasumi, the author of The Metronome in Love, is holding her first-ever autograph session tomorrow!
It’s being held at the chain store operated by Fushikawa Bunko!”
“What’s The Metronome in Love?
I’ve never even heard of it.”
“Doesn’t sound very interesting.
It’s finally the weekend.
I’d rather stay home and finish conquering My Little Sisters.”
“No way!
It’s the kind of masterpiece you should buy one copy to read, one to collect, and one to promote!”
“You guys haven’t read it?!
Damn it!
After the autograph session, I’ll make you understand the charm of this novel!”
“…”
“She’s so noisy.
Especially that otaku named Aki.”
Seeing that Xia Chuan’s attention had been drawn toward the conversation, Miura immediately picked up on it and began complaining.
“That guy’s actually pretty famous!”
Tobe laughed.
“I heard that during the school festival not long ago, he wanted to show an anime during one of the events.
He actually argued with the head teacher to get permission and even managed to get the principal involved.”
The moment he said this, several people reacted.
Being an otaku wasn’t exactly common in ordinary school life, but Aki’s particular way of thinking was certainly extreme enough to leave them speechless.
“That’s seriously ridiculous!”
“He really is famous.”
“Haha, that’s kind of terrifying.”
Yuigahama and Ebina chimed in after hearing Miura’s sharp assessment.
Xia Chuan, however, said nothing.
As for Tomoya Aki, he had no particular opinion.
But the information hidden within Aki’s conversation had certainly caught his attention.
Utako Kasumi.
Of course Xia Chuan knew who that was.
The Metronome in Love…
And its first-ever autograph session.
That meant this was the first autograph event for Shizuku Kurasaki—better known by her pen name, Utako Kasumi.
If that was the case…
It was an excellent opportunity to meet that unreachable beauty.