Well then, the time is the morning after 'Breast-Worshipping Gundam', or rather, the morning after Naoya's enrollment.
Dressed in the Tech High uniform—which he insisted was a uniform despite it being just a flimsy cotton kimono dyed black to avoid conflict with his Binding—Naoya had arrived at the classroom a little before the start of school. While gnawing on roasted almonds and reading Jump, he was unfolding a decent Jump-reader-like mental analysis: 'Hmm, so what is White Ichigo in the end? For somethin' called the power of hollowfication inside Ichigo-kun, he's strangely knowledgeable about Bankai and stuff, ain't he? Personally, I think he's the real Zangetsu, and the old man Zangetsu being the hollow power is a mislead, don't ya think?'
Just then, the door rattled open, and a single man entered.
"Geh, are you serious? You..."
"...That ain't language ya'd expect from a teacher, is it? I'm Naoya Zen'in. Is Kusakabe-san fine for Sensei?"
"Ah—yeah. It seems the auxiliary manager who was planned to be the homeroom teacher declined... That said, I have absolutely no clue why someone like me, who just got employed here last year, is the homeroom teacher for a Special Grade like you, but I'm Atsuya Kusakabe. I'm technically a Grade 1 Sorcerer. ...Please, just don't cause any trouble, alright? I'm begging you. Gojo alone has already exceeded our capacity for problem children. ...Well, I heard from Yaga-san that 'there is a cloud-and-mud difference between him and Satoru'... but that's not in the negative direction, right? Seriously, I'm counting on you."
"...I sympathize with your feelings. Truly."
Saying that, Naoya smiled bitterly, slipped an survey postcard into Jump as a bookmark, and put it in his desk. He then poured the remaining almonds he was having for breakfast into his mouth all at once, crunched them loudly, and dexterously threw the empty bag into the trash can in the corner of the classroom.
"By the way, when are the other students comin'?"
"...It's weird that you're here before me, even though I arrived early. No one else is coming for a while; it's 30 minutes before school starts, you know?"
"Is that so? School is leisurely, huh. Ain't that pretty late? It's already 8 o'clock."
"No, this is normally about right—wait, ah, I see. Home schooling isn't rare for sorcerer families."
"That's right. That's why I don't really get it. Overall. Since we've got time, why don't you show me around—"
Just as Naoya tried to take advantage of the situation to ask Kusakabe about the school system, the classroom door rattled open, and two male students appeared.
"Good morning! Everyone is early!"
"...Good morning. Did I make you wait?"
One was full of energy, a Japanese boy. The other was an exotic downer type. They were types not found in the Zen'in clan, but if forced to say, Naoya's first impression was that the former looked slightly like Ranta.
"—Sensei, didn't ya say 'earlier'?"
"No one was supposed to come for a while yet, though~. What is it with you guys? Is everyone just serious? No, well, that's a good thing, I guess? For today, even if you come early, the schedule is just self-introductions, showing off techniques for bonding, and sparring. Well, I heard the current students are throwing a welcome party in the afternoon, but even so, there's a lunch break in between, so there's no point in coming early... Well, whatever. Everyone's here, so shall we just do homeroom? It's better to have more time for bonding, student-wise. Alright, do self-introductions in attendance order: Zen'in, Nanami, then Haibara."
As he said this and scratched his head loudly, Kusakabe's face had 'Being the homeroom teacher for these guys for a year is a pain' written all over it.
However, Naoya dared to ignore that and decided to follow Kusakabe's instructions without making a fuss.
"Right then. Self-introduction, huh? What to do... For now, I'm Naoya Zen'in. I'll be in your care for the next 5 years. Rank is Special Grade Sorcerer, technique is Projection Sorcery, and I was born a sorcerer."
"Nice to meet you, Zen'in-kun!"
"Nice to meet you. ...Next is me, I suppose. I am Kento Nanami. My rank is Grade 2 Sorcerer. My technique is the Ratio Technique. I was born in a general household."
"Nanami-kun, nice to meet ya for the next 5 years."
"Nice to meet you, Nanami-kun! Then I'm next! My name is Yu Haibara, rank is Grade 3 Sorcerer! I don't have a technique! Born in a general household and I have one younger sister!"
"Haibara-kun, nice to meet ya for these 5 years too."
"Nice to meet you. ...Now then, after this was technique disclosure and sparring?"
"Well, yeah. Then everyone, head to the ground—"
Right as Kusakabe began to speak.
A muscular man entered through the door, which rattled open for the third time.
"Ah? Why's it started already? It's 10 minutes before the bell."
"Ah. ...Sorry, Assistant Homeroom Teacher Fushiguro. I forgot."
"Can I go home?"
"No. I'll get yelled at by Yaga-san."
"...I owe you one."
Engaging in such a conversation with Kusakabe was Toji Fushiguro, who, come to think of it, had said yesterday that he was the assistant homeroom teacher.
After that, Toji, who managed to fix his mood and was introduced by Kusakabe, joined the tired-looking Kusakabe and the shiny brand-new first-years as they moved together to the grounds along with the chime marking the start of school.
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