Chapter 32: Hana is Too Big; Asia Can't Handle It (Patreon)

The busy and fulfilling weekend flew by in the blink of an eye, and just like that, it was Monday.

A new week, a new progress bar charging towards the weekend.

Hanakain Fubuki arrived in class around his usual time. When he entered the classroom, most students were already there, sitting in small groups, chatting with those around them.

Although he was basically one of the last to arrive at school, it was still quite early. After all, there were at least twenty minutes before the actual first period began, and the morning homeroom session was entirely at the discretion of the homeroom teacher. Normally, she'd address any issues if there were any; otherwise, everyone would just carry on with their own business, waiting for the first class of the morning.

Besides, it had been almost a month since school started. Any significant changes would have likely been announced within that month already. It was basically impossible for there to be anything new…

Clap, clap, clap, clap!

Just as the atmosphere of the morning chatter in the classroom grew thicker, the homeroom teacher suddenly walked in, clicking her high heels, clapping her hands as she made her way to the podium.

"Alright, alright, everyone back to your seats. It's time for morning homeroom."

Well… that was rather unexpected.

One second he was thinking there probably wouldn't be a homeroom session, the next second the teacher walks in.

But there was nothing to be done. Since the teacher was here, they couldn't just keep chatting as if she wasn't present. Everyone returned to their seats and sat properly.

"Okay, first, let me share some good news with everyone. Our class will be welcoming a new student today!"

The homeroom teacher beamed, clapping her hands together beside her cheeks.

"And by the way, she's an incredibly cute foreign girl~"

Hmm?

Hearing this description, Hanakain Fubuki raised an eyebrow.

First, a foreign girl. Second, very cute. Hmm… based on that description, he thought he already knew who it was.

"Next, let's welcome our new classmate with warm applause~!"

Whoosh— Clap, clap, clap!

The applause erupted automatically from below the podium, even before the teacher needed to prompt them. After all, according to the teacher, she was an "incredibly cute foreign girl"!

Thunderous applause filled the classroom. A slender, fair-skinned calf clad in a brown boot stepped in from the doorway, followed immediately by a flash of gold catching everyone's eye.

It was a pure, gentle gold, yet not dazzling. It didn't seem aloof at all; instead, it gave off a feeling of sanctity.

"Ah~ It's a saintess! No… an angel! This is definitely an angel! God must have sent her to save us single guys!"

"Mom, I believe in love again!"

"Gross otakus..."

The applause, now noticeably louder, couldn't drown out the wolf-howls rising within the classroom. Of course, it also couldn't block the disdainful looks cast by the other girls in the class towards this pack of hungry wolves.

"Um, h-hello everyone. My name is Asia Argento. You can just call me Asia. Please… Please take care of me…"

The blonde girl was clearly not accustomed to this kind of grand, almost lined-up welcome, delivering even her self-introduction in a slightly flustered manner.

Fortunately, this is a world where looks matter. If someone unattractive acted flustered, it would be called clumsy.

However, if you're good-looking… well, then it becomes cute, a huge bonus point.

And so, the applause, already threatening to take flight, completely shot up like an out-of-control rocket. The noise, like a torrential downpour, could be heard even out in the hallway. Anyone not peeking inside might have mistaken it for a superstar's concert in a hundred-thousand-seat arena.

This made the already somewhat shy Asia even more flustered.

At the same time, the homeroom teacher was also in a bit of a bind.

Welcoming a new student enthusiastically was good, but being too noisy wasn't. Other classes were nearby, after all. If they disturbed another class's morning study and got reported to the disciplinary office, she, as the homeroom teacher, would bear the main responsibility. Managing class discipline was one of her primary duties.

The easiest way to quiet these youngsters down was to quickly find a seat for Asia.

But the question was, where should she sit?

Definitely not near those boys who were shouting the loudest. While it was normal for adolescent hormones to make them highly interested in girls, causing trouble for the new classmate wouldn't be good.

As for the girls' side, most already had their own cliques. Forcibly inserting Asia might lead to bullying, especially since this Miss Asia looked as gentle and frail as a little rabbit.

So, it was best to find a relatively approachable girl to sit next to her, ideally with a not-so-"proactive" boy on the other side.

"Alright, Miss Asia, why don't you sit…"

"Mr. Fubuki!"

Suddenly, the girl's delighted voice rang out, interrupting the teacher's train of thought.

The teacher followed Asia's gaze and saw the boy sitting near the middle windows, hands in his pockets, leaning back in his chair like a retired old man, who was also looking her way.

"Uh, Miss Asia, do you know Mr. Hanakain?"

"Mhm!"

The blonde girl nodded vigorously, joy written all over her face.

The homeroom teacher hesitated for a moment but quickly nodded.

"Alright then. Miss Asia, you can sit to Mr. Hanakain's left. The girl with glasses to your right is Aika Kiryuu. If you don't understand anything at school, you can ask either of them."

"Okay, thank you, Teacher!"

Without a shred of hesitation, the blonde girl thanked the teacher and scurried down from the podium like a kitten.

The applause that had filled the classroom abruptly stopped, replaced by anguished howls that echoed through the school building, enough to make listeners grieve and onlookers weep.

"Honestly, aren't these guys embarrassed being so noisy…"

Aika Kiryuu muttered, pouting as she ignored the wails of the desperate virgins in the classroom—those thinking with their little heads instead of their big ones. She immediately turned to face the blonde girl who had just come down from the podium and sat in the neighboring seat.

Her eyes darted back and forth between Asia and Hanakain Fubuki. Pushing up her glasses, a smirk full of curiosity played on her lips.

"Miss Asia… right? I heard you on the podium saying you seem to know Hanakain. But aren't you a foreigner, Miss Asia? How did you two meet? Would you mind telling me?"

"We are…"

The simple-natured Asia clearly lacked any sense of guarding herself against strangers; being asked, she subconsciously started to answer.

Fortunately, Hanakain Fubuki stopped her just in time.

"Hey, hey, don't go prying into someone's private life right after meeting them."

It wasn't accusatory, more like a retort.

The glasses-wearing, twin-braided, perverted literature girl smiled faintly. "Prying? Isn't it normal for desk-mates to show concern for a new classmate? Especially since Mr. Hanakain's reputation around school isn't exactly stellar, always hanging around with Kuoh's number one and number two most popular, gorgeous upperclassmen senpais. If an innocent and cute girl like our Asia-chan were unfortunately targeted by Mr. Hanakain, she'd probably be eaten clean in no time, right?"

"Screw you…"

The boy calmly offered the internationally friendly gesture.

Aika Kiryuu snorted lightly, then, as if suddenly remembering something, covered her mouth with her hands in mock surprise.

"Wait, so don't tell me Asia-chan has already fallen prey to Mr. Hanakain… Oh no, that's probably impossible. Given Mr. Hanakain's size, Asia-chan probably wouldn't be able to handle it yet."

"Huh?"

Completely clueless, the blonde girl tilted her head, a question mark slowly appearing above it.

Mr. Fubuki's size? What does that mean?

"It's nothing, Asia. Don't mind her. She often mutters strange things to herself."

Shooting a huge eye-roll towards the perverted glasses-wearing literature girl one seat over, Hanakain Fubuki retracted his gaze and looked at Asia in the seat beside him.

"Right, also, Asia, you can just call me Fubuki. You don't need to add the honorific. It sounds a bit weird."

"Okay, Fubuki!"

Asia nodded with a radiant smile.

This way, she's just like President Rias and Akeno-senpai~