A Man Who Lost Confidence, to a Gentle Chastity-Reversed World

Chapter 11: Talking in the Classroom, Even That’s Hard for Me

The noisy classroom quiets as everyone takes their seats. Confirming this, she starts addressing the room.

“Well, nice to meet you all. I’m Miu Arai, your homeroom teacher. It’s my tenth year teaching, and my second at North High. I’m your teacher, but I hope we can get along without being too formal, okay?”

Everyone nods vaguely. She doesn’t seem strict, which is a relief, and I feel the same.

Her loose perm and gentle demeanor match my first impression from a distance. She has a kind of “pretty neighbor lady” vibe, a bit different from my image of a female teacher.

“So, let’s start with self-introductions. Just your name and a quick word or two is fine. We’ll go in roster order, starting with Aida-san. Stand up, face everyone, and go ahead.”

Prompting Aida-san, the introductions begin, each taking less than thirty seconds. Many girls mention hobbies like cooking or shopping at city clothing stores. Like in reality, girls’ interests feel complex and alien to me, completely out of my grasp.

Wondering if I’ll manage, the only boy before me, Kato-kun, starts his introduction. I sense the girls’ focus sharpen, though it’s just a feeling.

Handsome but slightly thin and timid-looking with glasses, he says his hobby is reading—a cliché—and sits quickly.

Listening, I panic, realizing I haven’t prepared a hobby for this world. What can I say to get through this safely?

Since I don’t know this world’s authors, reading is a bad choice. But I don’t have any decent hobbies.

As I fret, my turn, early in the roster, comes quickly. Thinking I need to say something positive, I stand, half-desperate, and speak.

“S-Shun Sato. Um, I don’t really have hobbies… but I’d like to get along with everyone, so… p-please talk to me… thank you…”

Fearing everyone’s gazes, I finish and sit quickly. I said it on impulse, but “no hobbies, please befriend me” sounds idiotic. Who’d talk to someone like that?

The class pauses for a moment, and the next girl’s introduction starts a beat late, but it continues. Meanwhile, I’m wallowing in self-loathing and regret, barely hearing the rest.

I’ll have to check names on name tags, I sigh, as the last person, Wada-san, finishes. Arai-sensei claps her hands and speaks.

“Okay, let’s go over tomorrow’s schedule. First period is a school tour, second and third are homeroom again for picking class officers, then it’s dismissal after that.”

I try to recall if high school had such a schedule, but Arai-sensei continues.

“Today, we’ll handle some announcements, then we’re done. I’ll pass out handouts now.”

Arai-sensei distributes papers about tomorrow’s arrival time and contacts, ending the short homeroom. She leaves quickly, likely for the parents’ meeting.

I want to wait for Mother, so I stay. I checked earlier—parents’ meetings end around 1 PM, and it’s 12:30 now.

This might be a hellish time for me, forced to interact with others. As I glance around nervously, Asagi-san from the front seat speaks.

“Hey, Sato-kun, you said you wanted to get along with everyone in your introduction. Was that for real?”

For a moment, I think she’s pitying me, like, “Nobody’d want to befriend you,” but her expression seems genuine. And she’s cute, too.

“Y-yeah… if people are okay with me, I’d like to talk and get along…”

It sounds like something an egotistical person would say. Really, it’s my flaw—I can’t act unless someone approaches me—but she seems to take it positively.

“So, does that mean you’ll talk to me, too? Since we’re sitting front and back.”

It’s a strange question. If she wants to, I’d never refuse. Talking to a girl, especially a blooming beauty like her, is something I’d never reject. I want to believe no one’s setting a bullying trap on the first day.

“…O-of course… if you’re okay with it, Asagi-san, I’d be happy to get along…”

Bracing for her to think I’m creepy, I offer a slight smile. It’s probably a clumsy one.

But Asagi-san might be kind. Showing no sign of my inner turmoil, she beams back.

“Thanks! Um… here’s to getting along, Sato-kun?”

That smile—don’t show it so casually. A cute girl happy at my words excites me a little, pathetic as I am.

“W-wait, Asagi, you’re friends with Sato-kun?”

Another girl joins—Yamamoto Maki-san, maybe my childhood friend, a slightly plain but busty beauty.

“Ah, Maki, no, we just became friends! Since we’re front and back, I wanted to get along!”

The word “friends,” once foreign to me, makes me almost smirk. Apparently, Yamamoto-san and Asagi-san were middle school friends, thrilled to be in the same class. Yamamoto-san knows me, but Asagi-san just met me.

“So Maki knows Sato-kun… childhood friends, huh?”

Asagi-san mutters something, while Yamamoto-san looks conflicted.

“…By the way, Sato-kun, any middle school friends at North High?”

Asagi-san asks, but I don’t know my past here. For now, Yamamoto-san’s the only acquaintance. Others might be in different classes, but I have no way to check.

“Th-the guys I was close to went to other schools, and I don’t know any girls besides… Yamamoto-san…”

I don’t know if it’s true, but I go along to keep the conversation. If I have a best friend somewhere, I’ll apologize later.

Yamamoto-san looks surprised, but Asagi-san smiles slightly.

“Fufu, got it. So… is it okay if we get along with you?”

With a hint of mischief, Asagi-san suggests it. She seemed nervous earlier but seems used to talking.

Yamamoto-san says, “A-Asagi? Isn’t that too forward? You’ll scare him!” in a confusing warning. But honestly, I’d pay to be friends with these two.

The class has many beauties, but Asagi-san’s among the cutest. Yamamoto-san’s up there, too, and her figure is exactly my type. Thinking lustful thoughts now proves I’m trash.

I hesitate over what to say. I can’t brush off their offer, so I need a positive reply.

“B-both of you, nice to meet you…?”

Asagi-san looks satisfied, while Yamamoto-san says, “I-I’m okay, too…?” nervously. She doesn’t seem to mind being included.

Will they really be my friends? Or is it just surface-level lies? But if I can be a bit positive, even lies might become real. This world might hold kindness I never accepted before.

Talking, I learn Asagi-san’s house is fairly close to mine. “Let’s go home together starting tomorrow!” she suggests eagerly, but I’m supposed to go with Yuki, and I lack the boldness to make plans with a girl I just met.

“I-I’m supposed to go with my sister…” I say, and she looks disappointed but adds, “Then invite me when you’re free?” It’s overwhelming. Why does she want to go home with me so badly? It’s almost scary.

As we talk, past 1 PM, Mother messages that the parents’ meeting is over. I tell them, say “see you tomorrow,” and leave the classroom. It feels like I’m not myself.

Mother’s waiting at the gate, and we head home. She asks about homeroom, and when I mention Yamamoto-san and Asagi-san, she looks serious.

“To think on the first day… I thought you’d gotten shy, but maybe not,” she mutters. What does she mean by “not”?

I get home before 2 PM, change from my uniform to casual clothes, and have no plans. I skim the textbooks on my shelf, confirming they’re not too different from reality.

High school studies are about ten years old for me, but in reality, I read old textbooks to fill empty time, so it shouldn’t be too hard.

After killing time, I eat dinner, bathe, and get into bed for tomorrow. I’ll likely interact more with classmates.

I talked to two people today, but can I tomorrow? Negativity swirls as I quietly close my eyes.

I wake to sunlight, getting used to rising. From today, Yuki will walk to school with me for a while.

Her middle school’s opening ceremony is a week away, so until I make friends to walk with, she’ll join me as a sort of guardian.

I’m thrilled to walk with a beauty like Yuki, but I know it’s unfair to burden her when our schools differ.

I lacked the courage to accept Asagi-san’s offer yesterday, but if I don’t befriend a boy, I might rely on her. Meanwhile, everyone else will make friends, which saddens me.

Lost in this loop, Yuki speaks.

“Hey, Shun-nii, made any close friends in class yet?”

She says it casually, but does she know I’m bad at communicating? She seems to have a wide friend circle, so maybe she can’t relate.

“…Two people talked to me, but I don’t know if we’re close yet…”

“Eh? Boys?”

“N-no, two girls… one’s Yamamoto-san from before…”

Yuki looks serious, muttering, “Faster than I thought… mmm…” What does that mean? I feel fear again.

“Shun-nii, you’re free to befriend anyone, but… until you decide who to go home with, I’d like to walk to school with you… d-don’t forget me, okay?”

I only thought about not burdening her, but “until you decide” sounds odd. I’d like to walk with her when our schedules align, so her phrasing raises questions.

It’d be a waste to ditch a chance to walk with a beauty like her for someone else. I’m not in a position to choose one over others.

It takes courage, but I speak.

“E-even if I decide who to go home with… I’d like to walk to school or back with you when our times match… i-is that okay…?”

Too embarrassed to meet her eyes, I look away.

Yuki shakes her head vigorously, saying, “N-no, it’s fine! I’ll match your time, so anytime, okay?” loudly.

If she’s okay with it, I want to spend time with her, so I’m thrilled. But I have no confidence in making such clever suggestions.

I part with Yuki, in casual clothes, at the gate and head to Class 2 on the third floor. In reality, I walked to class feeling emptiness or despair, but not now. Still, anxiety looms large.

Entering, about ten girls already there glance at me. Noticing, I panic, thinking I did something, but their eyes shift away.

Since no boys are here yet, I’m likely the target of curiosity. Sitting, I feel it strongly. Soon, Asagi-san and Yamamoto-san enter together, confirming they’re already friends. I feel a bit left out.

“Morning, Sato-kun! Here’s to today, too?”

“M-morning…”

I’m ashamed of my smallness as they greet me. I think Yamamoto-san shouldn’t use formalities with me, but I lack the courage to say so.

The other boys arrive at the last minute, so until then, I’m exposed to the girls’ gazes. It might sound self-conscious, but the curiosity feels intense.

The first period’s school tour, led by Arai-sensei, takes the class through key facilities—cafeteria, gym, art room, AV room—all cleaner than my memories. It must be a good school, which reassures me.

Back in class, second period’s homeroom begins. Arai-sensei reviews the schedule and assigns class officers—chair and vice-chair, regardless of gender. As expected, Asagi-san volunteers for chair, and another girl quickly takes vice-chair, settling smoothly.

I thought these things dragged, but maybe it’s the girls’ assertiveness. As I ponder, Arai-sensei stands at the desk. The remaining time is for questions.

School-related questions are few; most are about the beautiful teacher—how to be pretty, favorite clothing brands, or if she has a boyfriend.

Arai-sensei answers lightly but dodges the last with, “Fufu, that’s a secret.” It’s probably not teacherly to answer.

Time flies, and the day ends early. Classes start tomorrow, and club visits are allowed, meaning we’ll see upperclassmen. I don’t plan to join clubs, so I might not interact with them much. My priority is normal classmate interactions.

I planned to go home with Yuki, but a message arrives during class.

“Tutoring might run late, so I’m not sure I’ll make it today.”

“If you don’t hear from me, it’s okay to go with someone else.”

Seeing the message with a sticker, I think. I can’t call Yukari-san, so I stand to leave alone.

“Sato-kun, going home with your sister today?”

Asagi-san speaks, and I nervously reply.

“Uh, she’s busy today, so… I was gonna go alone…”

Asagi-san leans closer, her nice scent and proximity bad for my heart.

“Then, like I asked yesterday… how about going home with us today?”

Her gaze makes me more nervous, and I can’t refuse her offer.