The Man Called Demon Lord in Another World Has Returned! - chapter 4
Chapter 4: High School Entrance 1
Today is the high school entrance ceremony. I’m making my first trip to school in a brand new black uniform.
Dad has gone to work at the city hall, and Mom is attending Midori’s middle school entrance ceremony.
To get to my new high school, I need to walk about 10 minutes to the station, take a train for three stops, then walk up a hill for 15 minutes after getting off. All in all, it takes about 40 minutes.
A sign reading “Congratulations! Kashiwagi High School Entrance Ceremony” in vertical script stands beside the school’s main gate.
From today, I’m a high school student. There’s a seven-year gap since I graduated from middle school, but I wonder if I’ll be alright? Well, I think it shouldn’t be a problem if I just act normally, but if it gets tough, I can always use some convenient skills to get by.
To be honest, even if I can’t study well and can’t get a job in the future, the precious metals and gems in my item box alone are enough to live a life of leisure for not just one lifetime, but hundreds of years.
I personally wouldn’t mind dropping out of high school, but I’d feel bad for my parents, so I intend to study to some extent and properly graduate from high school. What comes after that is a matter for later.
Following the new students and upperclassmen in their crisp new uniforms, I enter the gymnasium doubling as an auditorium where the entrance ceremony will be held. I take a seat on the steel folding chairs arranged in class order and wait for the ceremony to begin.
There are 316 first-year students, divided into 8 classes of about 40 students each. I’m in Class 2.
After singing the national anthem, we listen to congratulatory speeches from the principal, Mr. Tanaka, and a representative of the current students. Then, after a response from the new student representative and brief self-introductions from each class’s homeroom teacher, this year’s entrance ceremony concludes.
The new student representative is chosen based on the highest entrance exam score, and this year it’s a beautiful girl with long, straight black hair cut evenly at her back, looking every bit the part of a top student.
She was sitting in the front row of chairs for our Class 2 students, so she must be in the same class. She must have said her name at the end of her speech, but I don’t remember it. I’ve always been bad at remembering people’s names, and even now with my greatly increased intelligence, I can’t remember unless I really focus.
Our class’s homeroom teacher is a woman named Ms. Yamada. She’s in her mid-30s and teaches Japanese. Her hair is quite short, with the back closely cropped, giving her a distinctive hairstyle. Her gray suit gives her a career woman vibe. Her skirt is tight with a slight slit on the side.
After the parents leave, the students file out of the auditorium, led by their respective homeroom teachers. We in Class 2 follow Ms. Yamada to our classroom.
Upon entering the classroom, we see a seating chart written on the blackboard.
“Please sit in the places with your names written on the blackboard. This will be your seating arrangement for the first semester, for now,” Ms. Yamada announces.
I find my place and sit down. It’s the prime seat by the window in the very back. This is perfect.
Looking around the classroom after taking my seat, it seems the boys and girls are seated alternately. So, the students in front of and next to me are girls.
If I remember correctly, about 10 students including myself from my middle school were supposed to have entered this high school, but I don’t see any familiar faces in this class.
Then again, even if I encountered someone from middle school, I probably wouldn’t recognize them if we hadn’t been in the same class during our third year. There were plenty of kids I never shared a class with.
“Everyone, let me introduce myself first. As I mentioned at the entrance ceremony, I’m Yamada, your homeroom teacher, and I’ll also be teaching Japanese.
My first name is written like this,” she says, writing her name in large letters on the blackboard: “Akiko.”
“I’m still in my 30s. I’m single. My hobby is gardening. I’m also the advisor for the gardening club. If any of you are interested in flowers or vegetables, please join the gardening club.
Now then, let’s have self-introductions in order of your student numbers. Let’s start with student number 1, Akiyama-kun.”
A tall, dark-skinned boy with short hair stands up and begins his introduction.
“Student number 1, Akiyama. I’m from Minami Aoba Junior High. I’ve been playing soccer throughout elementary and junior high school, so I want to focus on studying in high school too.”
“Akiyama, you’re that Akiyama, right? The one selected for the U-15 team!”
“The one who scored a ton of goals in the world championship!”
“My grandma said we would’ve won if it weren’t for that teammate’s mistake!”
What’s with that last comment?
It seems we have quite a remarkable classmate. His sun-tanned face is brightened by his white teeth. The girls in the class are looking at Akiyama with a different kind of gaze.
“Student number 2, Ito Mayumi. I’m also from Minami Aoba Junior High.”
…
Then it’s my turn.
“Student number 7, Seiichiro. I’m from Namioka Junior High. My hobby is reading. I plan to join the go-home club.”
That should be safe enough.
…
The girl next to me is the one who gave the speech at the entrance ceremony.
“Student number 14, Nakagawa. I’m from K University Affiliated Junior High.”
K University Affiliated High School is one of the highest-ranked schools in the prefecture. Most students there go on to K University, but some of the most exceptional students also get into other famous universities. Unless your grades are particularly poor, you can usually progress from K University Affiliated Junior High to their high school. Most students must be wondering why someone with the academic ability to be the new student representative would choose our high school instead.
“I don’t have any particular hobbies.”
Amid the slight commotion in the classroom, Nakagawa Haruna calmly sat down with a composed expression.
…
“Student number 32, Murata. I’m from Namioka Junior High.”
Surprisingly, he’s from the same junior high as me. It’s been over seven years for me, so it can’t be helped that I don’t recognize him. By the way, Murata’s voice wasn’t particularly remarkable.
“… My hobbies are anime, light novels, and games.”
Murata is slightly overweight and chubby. He wears black-rimmed glasses that seem quite strong. He’s a brave man, proud of being an otaku and able to come out as one from the first day of school.
I like guys like this. However, it seems the girls in the class didn’t take to him well. The way they looked at Murata was the exact opposite of how they looked at Akiyama. Murata might be in for a rough year of high school life.
…
After everyone’s self-introductions, Ms. Yamada gave us some announcements and cautionary notes, and today’s homeroom came to an end.