Rey’s Journey in the Classroom of the Elite

The bus stopped in front of the gate of the High-Level Development School, and the doors slowly opened. One by one, the students began to get off, and among them, Rey blended in, making the bus noticeably emptier.

As soon as he stepped off, his attention was immediately drawn to the huge stone gate ahead. The massive gate, meticulously carved, stood as a symbol of the grandeur of this school. Rey looked up, his eyes following the arch of the gate, which seemed like the mouth of a giant abyss, ready to swallow anyone whole. It gave off an overwhelming and majestic aura.

"It's really tall," Rey muttered to himself, feeling awe-struck.

The school looked so magnificent, and Rey couldn't help but feel fortunate to be part of it. It was a prestigious institution, and he was eager to begin his life at this campus.

"This school is amazing. To be able to study here… it's truly a blessing," he whispered to himself as he walked deeper into the campus.

Beside him, Kushida Kikyō, who seemed like a little angel, flashed a bright smile and said, "We should keep in touch more, Rey-kun."

Rey nodded casually. "Of course, Hanada-san."

"Let's keep in touch whenever we have time!" Kushida added enthusiastically. Despite not exchanging any contact information, she was clearly excited. Without looking back, Rey walked further into the campus, passing through the gate that felt like the mouth of a chasm. He was eager to dive into the school life.

Kushida stood still for a moment, confused. "Hanada-san?" she muttered, tilting her head in puzzlement. Had she heard wrong? They had talked for a while on the bus, but Rey hadn't even remembered her name?

Behind her, a guy and a girl who had just gotten off the bus exchanged an odd glance. It was as if they had witnessed this moment when Rey had failed to remember Kushida's name. Without saying anything or showing any expression, they both walked into the school with blank faces, almost synchronized.

In the classroom, Rey received a notification and easily found his assigned seat. "Class 1-D. They've already arranged the seating?" he thought to himself.

By the time he entered the class, some students were already seated. Most of them were either reading school materials or daydreaming. There were a few chatting, perhaps familiar with each other or just starting to get to know one another.

Rey paid no mind to the atmosphere. He found his assigned seat and sat down, waiting quietly. His seat wasn't in the back near the window, but rather in the front, near the aisle. The seats in front and behind him were occupied by cute girls, but none of them seemed to acknowledge him. The seat next to him was still empty, indicating that not all the students had arrived yet.

As time passed, more students filed into the classroom, and the room became increasingly crowded. Soon, Kushida Kikyō arrived as well. With a beaming smile, she walked over to the empty seat next to Rey.

"Wow, Rey-kun, we're in the same class!" she said, her face lighting up with joy. "I was worried it would be full of strangers, but I'm so glad we're together in the same class."

Kushida Kikyō sat down next to Rey and placed her bag on the desk. She clasped her hands together, looking relieved. Rey could sense that she was feeling comfortable with his presence.

Rey smiled and nodded. "Ah, Noda-san, what a coincidence."

Rey didn't mention that they had only just met on the bus, and in truth, they were still strangers to each other. He knew that would make things awkward, so he just smiled and didn't bring it up.

"Rey-kun," Kushida suddenly said, her expression shifting to one of slight concern.

Rey was confused for a moment. But suddenly, Kushida's face became a little disappointed. She gently tapped Rey on the shoulder, and her tone carried a hint of complaint.

"Seriously, you said my name wrong again, and with a completely different name. Do you even remember my name, or are you just joking?" she said, slightly annoyed.

Rey felt a little awkward but remained composed. 'Does she not like physical contact with boys? Is this the first time she's done this? She's quite a unique girl,' he thought to himself.

However, Rey remained calm and tried to find a way to make it right. "Ah? I got it wrong? Sorry, I'm not great with names. Let me think... Kushida-san? No, wait, don't give me hints, let me try again… Oda-san? Tanaka-san?"

He continued to guess, each name feeling more awkward than the last. Eventually, when he mentioned "Matsushita-san," a girl with brown hair sitting behind Kushida looked up, surprised, as her name had just been called.

Rey continued guessing names, not realizing he was drawing the attention of the entire class. The students began to stare at him, some with curiosity, others with confusion.

Finally, Kushida couldn't take it anymore. "Rey-kun, you have to remember my name! It's Kushida Kikyō, not Oda or Shida. Remember it, okay?" she said, a bit exasperated but also cute.

Without warning, she grabbed Rey's hand and held it tightly, her eyes sparkling as if she would cry if he didn't remember her name.

Rey felt even more awkward, but didn't show any discomfort. "Ah, sorry, I'll remember now, Kushida-san," he said sincerely, making a promise.

Kushida Kikyō, relieved after hearing that, seemed to calm down. However, she couldn't help but feel a bit curious. "Rey-kun, your hands are so strong, do you exercise a lot?" she asked, squeezing his hand tighter, as if she were testing the strength of his grip.

Rey felt even more uncomfortable. 'This could easily be misinterpreted,' he thought to himself, but he remained composed. "Well, I'm a bit interested in sports, but I'm not really that great at it. Just an average level, really."

"Oh, I see. If I want to start exercising, I can ask Rey-kun for help, right?" Kushida said with a sweet smile, her eyes sparkling with a hint of playfulness.

Their conversation had already attracted the attention of several classmates. It wasn't even the first day, and they were talking so much already, casually holding hands in class. Their good looks only made the attention even more intense, especially from the boys in the class, who stared at Rey with jealousy, wishing they could be in his place.