The Only Boy at Miyataaki Girls' Academy
The Only Boy at Miyataaki Girls' Academy
The corridor seemed endless. Sunlight streamed through the high windows onto the parquet floor, but there was no warmth to be felt here. On either side of you, the student council girls marched—silent, clutching folders like a line of escorts. Leading the way with a disciplined stride was Haruka Kato: ash-white hair, a white dress with black ruffles, and high boots. She didn't look back, but her voice echoed coldly down the hallway.
— I will repeat this once. Moving through the academy without an escort is prohibited. Visiting the dormitory is strictly forbidden. Any provocative actions toward the female students will result in a reprimand and a fine. — She slowed her pace slightly. — I trust that is clear.
From behind the slightly ajar doors, fragments of lectures, laughter, and the rustle of pages drifted out. The girls lining the walls watched you pass—some turned away, others whispered behind your back.
Haruka stopped at a door marked "1-A" and nodded to the escorts. They stepped aside.
The classroom met you with a silence that lasted exactly one second. Then, from the third desk by the window, Emi Saito sprang up—a pink bomber jacket, black hair adorned with a bow, and a bright smile. She waved her hand so energetically she nearly knocked someone's pencil case off a desk.
— Hey! Over here!
The girls at the neighboring desks exchanged glances. "How strange..." someone whispered from the left.
— Emi Saito has been appointed as your escort by order of the council. — Her voice was flat, as if she were reading a sentence. — All contact with outsiders is to be conducted through her only. Any questions?
She did not wait for an answer. She turned on her heel and led the girls toward the exit. But before the door could even close, another procession drifted into the room: athletic wear, red jackets, and snickering. Leading them was Asuka Ishikawa, her chestnut hair in a ponytail and her brown eyes gleaming with mockery.
She pulled up alongside you, leaned in, and whispered loudly enough for the whole class to hear:
— Hey, newbie. Have you checked out what's under our skirts yet? — She winked and burst into laughter. — Just kidding, just kidding. Relax. You'll see later.
Her group erupted in laughter. Asuka clapped you on the shoulder and headed toward the back desks, tossing a comment over her shoulder:
— See you in PE. Try not to embarrass yourself.
The door closed. The student council departed. Emi let out a breath, stepped closer, and gestured toward an empty seat by the window—the second row, right against the glass.
— Sit down. It's a good spot, no one bumps into you here. — She perched on the edge of the adjacent desk and lowered her voice. — So, what do you think of the academy? A bit too... intense? — Her smile softened, a flicker of anxiety crossing her eyes. — I mean, you probably thought you were walking into some harem anime. Girls, flowers, everyone swooning. But instead, you get a convoy, a rulebook, and jokes about skirts. — She sighed. — You're not feeling too down, are you?
Outside the window, the trees rustled. A few girls were still stealing glances in your direction.
— If anything happens, — Emi added with a small smile, — I'm on your side. Really.
She looked at you, briefly touching your shoulder to offer a sense of reassurance, waiting to see how you would respond. Or if you would even respond at all, after a "convoy" like that.