A Late Bloomer's Powerful Restart ~My Second Life Starts at a Prestigious School Where the Gender Ratio Is Totally Off, and for Some Reason, All These Talented Girls Get Attached to Me...!?~

Chapter 12: New Life in a Private Room with a Freeloader

The first day of school ended, and I headed to the student dorm.

There were no rules prohibiting leaving the grounds or anything like that, and I could go home, but… it’s pretty far.

Basically, every student has a room prepared in the dorm. It’s probably because there’s only one class per grade. My luggage had been brought in ahead of time, but when I actually entered, I was surprised by how big one room was.

“This is… a student’s room!?”

Even a 2LDK is way too big for one person to live in. And giving high school students rooms like this… I might have underestimated Teimon Academy.

It’s probably not because there are few boys.

There are upperclassmen too… though I don’t see them much.

Unfortunately, I can’t use fire, but I can eat meals in the cafeteria.

There’s a large public bath, but each room has a bathroom too, so no problem there.

As I was putting away the luggage that had been brought in earlier, the intercom rang.

When I opened the door, Sasa and Ousei were there.

“We finished organizing our rooms, so we came to help.”

“There’s almost nothing left to help with.”

The luggage organizing that I wanted help with was already done.

I meant to just accept their kindness, but Sasa came right into the room anyway.

“Why are you coming in!?”

“I came to hang out!”

“Ousei, can’t you stop her?”

“She came into my room too…”

Was it already too late? From his tired face, she probably forced her way into his room as well.

“Your room is kind of plain, Taiki. It doesn’t feel like a commoner’s at all.”

“I am a commoner. And isn’t this about normal?”

“That’s not true! Ousei’s room even had a grand piano.”

Seriously? I didn’t know piano was his hobby. It’s surprisingly quiet, so the soundproofing must be good.

“My fiancée is a pianist. That’s how I started playing too.”

“I see, so that’s the connection with piano.”

“You’re not very surprised.”

“It’s not that weird. Well, I don’t have any artistic hobbies though.”

It was well-known in my previous life that Ousei Tateakawa’s wife was a world-famous pianist.

So I assumed they met through their shared hobby of piano and was surprised, but apparently the order was reversed.

I didn’t know she was his fiancée from childhood, but if that’s the case, it actually makes sense that piano is his hobby.

“By the way, isn’t it a problem for girls to come to the boys’ dorm?”

“…”

There are hardly any boys, and the hallway is quiet, but… isn’t that dangerous?

Sasa went silent as if I hit a sore spot.

When I looked at Ousei, he averted his eyes. This feeling means he couldn’t say no.

“Oh yeah! Next time, I’ll show you my room too!”

“Even if you say it like it’s hush money… more importantly, isn’t it a bigger problem for boys to go to the girls’ dorm?”

“Is it?”

“It is.”

“Don’t copy me!”

I politely decline.

I’ve been invited to Sasa’s room in my previous life too.

Her room back then was even plainer than this.

Since I turned her down, Sasa puffed out her cheeks like she was sulking.

Was she that confident in her interior decorating? Girls are hard to understand.

“I forgot to ask in class, but Ousei, are you in the ‘recommendation’ group?”

“Haha… it feels like I didn’t get in purely on ability. I feel a bit bad about it. Actually—”

When I heard the details, Tateakawa Science is already getting a lot of investment from overseas. Thanks to that, they have financial leeway, and with connections from the Kokonoe Group, they got a “recommendation” spot.

I unexpectedly learned one reason for their future overseas expansion.

Well, since Grandpa supported them with more investment, I ended up as a major shareholder in that company… but I’ll keep that secret.

I just want to be friends with Ousei.

“But Ousei studied properly. He only heard about the recommendation after he passed, from his parents.”

“So he didn’t slack off on the exam. …Don’t make that face.”

“Even so, I feel bad for the people who studied harder and didn’t get in…”

It’s kindness… or rather, a sense of justice fitting his age.

He’s spilling his real thoughts even with Sasa right there. Considering this life’s Sasa’s personality, he probably feels comfortable around her. Good thing it’s not someone else.

“I get how Ousei feels. But if we’re talking about deviation values, there are high schools with smarter students, right? If someone wants a high-quality study environment, there are better places than here.”

“But didn’t some kids study hard hoping for this kind of dorm life?”

“Of course the benefits are great, but that’s a give-and-take with the huge tuition, and in return for maintaining that environment, there’s probably the ‘recommendation’ system.”

There are reasons behind society’s unfairness. Whether it’s pretext or fact.

It was originally established as a school where children from prestigious families could attend lively. Actually accepting commoners even through general admission is fair in a way.

If there’s something to agree with Ousei’s sense of justice—

“Making only one class per grade and limiting the number of students too much might be this academy’s issue.”

“…That’s another perspective. You’re amazing, Taiki… I wasn’t thinking that broadly.”

“It’s actually a commoner’s perspective. Since I’ve lived a long commoner life and I’m saying this, Ousei doesn’t need to worry about it.”

When I said that, Ousei finally lifted his downcast face and seemed convinced. Maybe he sensed the potential conflict between general and recommendation groups too.

But thanks to Sasa’s actions, that spark is heading toward being extinguished before it catches fire.

Anyway, the hero of the day, Sasa, was watching quietly with an interested expression.

…Oops, did I mess up? I meant to take the ‘recommendation’ side, but that last comment could be taken as complaining.

I suddenly remembered a colleague who got fired for saying one extra thing. The Kokonoe Group was truly a battlefield of a company.

What would Sasa think… Ignoring my worry, she started laughing.

“Hehe… This is bold of you, Taiki. I can’t wait for our new life ahead! I definitely want your help too!”

“Of course. You too, Ousei?”

“Yeah, I’ll help.”

It’s a strange connection from the October meeting, but this odd friendship with these two feels like there’s a bond.

New high school life… it’s going smoothly. In the first loop, I succeeded in the end, but I never had close friends until the end.

“Oh… since we’re helping, can I add one condition?”

“Say anything! Bribery up to the national budget is fine!”

“There’s a limit to being bold!”

Considering the Kokonoe Group’s power, it’s scary because it might actually be possible.

The young lady who jokes about it is way bolder and more impressive than me.

“No… keep it secret that I’m Kasumi Yashima’s grandson? Luckily no one knows yet, but I want to keep it as secret as possible that I knew you two before enrollment.”

“…Secret! Fine then. If it’s a secret between the three of us.”

I asked politely, thinking she’d ask why. But for some reason, she reacted to the word “secret” and got oddly excited.

Well, she seems like the type who’d like that.

It started as action to fulfill Sasa’s wish to get along with everyone, but now there’s another intention too.

The shortcut to getting close to Shika Nanamiya is probably through moving Sasa.

“It’s almost dinner time. The cafeteria is a shared space for boys and girls, so let’s continue there.”

“Agreed! Let’s go quick! There are no snacks here, and I’m starving.”

Ousei, fully recovered, checked the clock and suggested that, while Sasa grabbed my hand and urged me outside.

I should prepare snacks next time… Somehow, I have a feeling she’ll come again.

That’s how close Sasa feels for some reason.

(…No way.)

A certain thought crossed my mind.