The Kansai Villain’s Rebirth: I Accidentally Ended Up With a Harem. - Chapter 120: Harumiya Sakura’s First Day at School.

Harumiya Sakura’s First Day at School.

Harumiya Sakura’s POV.

All the preparations were complete. I had transferred from Hanayashiki Academy to Sumizome Academy—the school attended by Tennouji-sama, Shina-sama, and the others. Starting today, I, too, would be a student here.

“Young lady, have you brought your textbooks? Your lunch? And are you mentally prepared to meet and speak with Tennouji-sama?”

“Y-yes! Textbooks—check! Lunch—check! Tennouji-sama…! Ah, I’m still not ready for that!”

“But, young lady, we must depart soon or you will be late. Shall we go?”

“Sebas! Oh, Sebas! I’m not ready yet~!”

“Take care. This will be a different world from Hanayashiki.”

“Y-yes! I must not approach any gentlemen other than Tennouji-sama without caution! And I must be careful around the female students as well!”

“That is correct! Off you go!”

Though the air was crisp and chilly, the sky was a flawless blue without a single cloud—as if celebrating my new beginning. My heart overflowed with nervous anticipation. I climbed into the car and checked the mirror repeatedly until we arrived at the academy, ensuring not a single strand of hair was out of place and that my ribbon sat perfectly straight.

***

I greeted the teacher who would be my new homeroom instructor, a Ashiharabashi-sensei. He seemed kind, with a gentle smile.

“All right, let’s go. It’s almost time for homeroom. Everyone in our class is friendly and gets along well, so you’ll feel at ease in no time. And our class has something we’re especially proud of—a real Superman.”

“Superman…?”

“Well, that’s just what I call him, haha! But our Superman really is something.”

Ashiharabashi-sensei spoke of him with obvious delight.

“Up until the first semester, sure, he gave the guidance counselors no end of trouble… But after summer break, when second semester started, he was like a completely different person. He buckled down—first there was the sports festival. He dominated in basketball. Thanks to him and two members of the basketball club, our class took first place.”

Up until the first semester… then became serious in the second… That sounded somehow familiar…

“Then on exams, he dethroned the perennial top student in our year and claimed first place himself. At the cultural festival, he made takoyaki nonstop and contributed enormously. And when a bullying issue came up involving one of our students, he confronted it head-on and even saved that student’s life. See? Superman, right? I doubt there’s a student in the whole academy who doesn’t know the name Tennouji.”

Tennouji-sama!?

C-could it be that Tennouji-sama is in the very class I’m about to enter!? P-please wait, Ashiharabashi-sensei! I am not yet prepared to face Tennouji-sama!

“Here we are. When I call you in, come inside.”

“Y-yes…”

What should I do…? What should I do!? I had assumed that since we would be in the same year, I could seek him out later… but to be in the exact same class…! Beyond this door… Tennouji-sama is waiting…! U-uu… Pull yourself together, Harumiya Sakura…! Hesitating in a place like this would disgrace the Harumiya name! You must summon your courage!

“Let me introduce her. Come in.”

The teacher called me in. Here I go…!

I stepped into the classroom and surveyed the room from the podium. W-what in the world…!? Shina-sama, Mio-sama, even Rinko-sama…! And there, in the back, gazing straight at me… Tennouji-sama himself! Ah…! Tennouji-sama…! How I have longed to see you…!

Suppressing my racing heart, I offered a polite greeting.

“Pleased to meet you all. My family name is Harumiya. My given name is Sakura… Harumiya Sakura. I look forward to getting along with everyone.”

I performed a perfect curtsy as I spoke. At that moment, a loud crash startled me.

“Hey, Tennouji, what happened? You okay?”

It seemed Tennouji-sama had toppled from his chair. Oh no! Is he all right…? He is not injured, is he!?

“N-no… sorry… it’s nothing…”

Whatever could have happened…? I was worried.

“Um… ah, the seat next to Imamiya is open. Take that one. Also, we’ll make first period a special LHR today. Everyone will give a self-introduction. I know she’s beautiful, but no trying to pick her up during introductions, got it?”

I walked to the empty seat and sat down. I was far from Tennouji-sama, and from Shina-sama, Mio-sama, and Rinko-sama as well. A little disappointing…

“Hey, we meet again. Nice to have you here. I’m Imamiya Toshiya.”

“…? My apologies, but where might we have met…?”

“Huh? We totally met the other day! You were looking for Tennouji and asked if I knew him.”

…Um… I did speak to several people while searching… Did I meet him then…? I truly do not remember his face… Ah! Could this be what they call… a pickup attempt!? Sebas warned me about this. He intends something improper! Both Mother and Sebas told me repeatedly to be wary of unfamiliar gentlemen!

“My apologies, but you must be mistaken.”

“Huh? N-no, it’s me! I told you to stay away from Tennouji!”

“I-I am afraid I do not know you!”

“W-wait—”

“Hey, Imamiya, what are you doing? Didn’t you hear what I just said?”

“N-no, sir! It’s not like that…!”

Ashiharabashi-sensei’s timely intervention saved me… Honestly, this boy’s eyes… they somewhat resemble that man’s… It frightened me.

“All right, let’s start the self-introductions! From the end!”

And so the introductions for Class 2-C began.

“I’m Momodani Shouma! I like eating, sleeping, and basketball!”

Momodani-sama! The one who kindly informed me when Tennouji-sama was absent. I must thank him later!

“Uh, um… nice to meet you. I’m Tennouji Daiki… Please at least remember my name before you go home.”

“What’s wrong, Tennouji~? You’re awfully nervous. Act more like the Superman you are!”

“No, sir… please, enough with the Superman thing…”

Tennouji-sama…! His distant tone stung… As I feared, Mother’s actions must have left him with a poor impression of me… Uu… Mother, you idiot…

***

The moment LHR ended, my classmates swarmed me with questions. I could not speak with Tennouji-sama and the others! Yet I could not brush them off either…

“Harumiya-san, which high school did you transfer from?”

“Hanayashiki… Hanayashiki Girls’ Academy.”

“Hana… You mean that Hanayashiki Girls’ Academy…!? No way, seriously!? Why would someone from a super elite ojou-sama school come here!?”

“F-family circumstances…”

“Wow… Even the way you talk is so refined… You greet each other with ‘Good day to you,’ right?”

“Yes. That is how students greet one another there… Is it the same here?”

“No, here it’s more like…”

“Sa-chan! Chassu!”

“Shina-sama!”

“Eh!? Y-you know Shina-chan!?”

“Yep! I’m Sa-chan’s friend~”

“No way, for real!? Where’d that connection come from!? Shina-chan’s friend network is insane!”

“Nihihi~! We’re friends, after all!”

“Y-yes! To think you still call me your friend…!”

“Then I’m one too, right? Sakura-chan!”

“Nice to meet you, Sakura-san.”

“Ah, I get it! It’s through Tennouji-kun, isn’t it~!”

“Bingo!”

“What? Another bride candidate for Daiki?”

“Seriously, what’s going on with Daiki? Another wife added to the collection?”

“D-Daiki-kun’s bride… ehe, ehehe…”

“Okay, okay, Mio. You’re grinning like crazy.”

“Nfu~! You’re the one who reacts most to the word ‘bride,’ Rin-chan~ Ihihya!”

“That kind of loose tongue deserves this!”

“Ufu… ufufufu!”

This bright, joyful atmosphere was something I had never experienced at Hanayashiki. I could not help smiling. Watching Shina-sama, Mio-sama, and Rinko-sama banter so warmly… This must be what friendship feels like—the very thing I had always longed for.

“Hey, hey, Sa-chan! Did you bring a lunch?”

“Ah, yes. Our chef prepared it for me.”

“Oh, really? Then eat with us! It’ll be fun! Right, Daiki-kun? Shi-chan, Rin-chan too!”

“Of course. I would love to.”

“Totally! I wanna eat together too!”

Eating lunch with everyone…! I was truly looking forward to it! But… what about Tennouji-sama…?

“Ah, yeah. Sure.”

“Tennouji-sama!”

His approval filled my heart with joy. Yet at the same time, I could not stop worrying about the impression I had left on him, and throughout the lessons that followed, I found it impossible to concentrate.