Of course, even if Kaguya had a smartphone and had been selected as a Player, living in that mansion of hers—a structure more akin to a fortress than a home—meant she was under constant surveillance. In such an environment, becoming a Player would be like starting on hell difficulty.
Asagiri could sense it clearly: from the moment Kaguya stepped into the classroom, the atmosphere shifted. What was once a lively room filled with excited chatter and the buzz of first-day anticipation fell into an uneasy silence. It was as if her presence had cast a shadow over everyone, echoing the sentiment of an ancient poem—"None dare raise their voice, for fear of startling a heavenly being."
"It's so quiet, it's unbearable."
At that moment, Asagiri, seated in the far corner of the classroom, reached into the satchel hanging beside his desk and pulled out a small, curious-looking object. It was only slightly longer than a ballpoint pen, with a metallic ring at the top—something clearly out of place in an ordinary school setting.
"Too quiet," he said casually, a faint smirk on his lips. "Allow me to liven things up a little."
The entire class, including Kaguya Shinomiya, turned their attention toward him, puzzled and intrigued.
"That instrument...?"
Kaguya's eyes narrowed slightly in recognition. Before she could fully recall its name, a sharp, resonant note exploded through the classroom—rich, crisp, and impossible to ignore. The once-quiet atmosphere shattered in an instant as the bold sound echoed through the air, commanding attention like a trumpet at dawn.
"Doo~ doodoo~ doodoodoo~"
The moment the sound filled the classroom, everyone froze in stunned silence.
What….what kind of bizarre instrument is that?
If one had to describe it in words, the tone was oddly muffled, occasionally punctuated by abrupt bursts. It carried a strange mix of absurdity and humor—something so ridiculous that it made you want to laugh, even if you didn't know why. The sound felt….abstract like a musical joke only your subconscious could understand.
The strangest part, however, was Asagiri himself. He played with unwavering seriousness as if performing a classical solo in front of royalty.
And yet, despite the ridiculous timbre, the melody he played was undeniably catchy. Irritatingly so. It wormed its way into your brain, looping again and again. What should have been a dissonant mess somehow became... hypnotic. A tune so absurd, it became unforgettable.
"Kazoo?"
After hearing the sound of the instrument, Kaguya finally recalled the name of this instrument.
The kazoo is a very old, simple instrument. As long as the player knows how to hum a song, they can play the kazoo without spending too much time practicing.
But... why?
Kaguya couldn't understand. She didn't know why the boy sitting in the corner of the classroom would suddenly start playing the kazoo.
Is this....some kind of performance?
Just then, a middle-aged female teacher, wearing a professional suit skirt, who looked to be around forty years old and wore gold-rimmed Glasses, entered the classroom.
Kaguya had assumed that the boy in the corner would stop playing the moment the teacher entered.
But to her surprise, Asagiri only played with more enthusiasm, as if someone had suddenly pressed a 2x speed button. The strange melody accelerated, the notes now spilling out in rapid succession.
"Doo-doo-doo-doo~~~"
Kaguya stared, half-bewildered, half-amused.
Why is he getting more into it?
Nearly a minute later, Asagiri finally lowered the odd little instrument. Calm and unbothered by the stares around him, he stood up with composure. Then, like a seasoned performer concluding a grand concert, he placed one hand over his chest, extended the other outward, and delivered a graceful, theatrical bow.
"A kazoo version of Shape of You, just for you all~" he declared.
Behind the podium, the female teacher, who had been silent the entire time, finally moved. She adjusted her glasses with a flat expression, showing neither irritation nor amusement.
"Utsunomiya, have you finished playing?"
"I'm finished."
"Good."
The middle-aged female teacher nodded slightly, scanned the students in the classroom, and then slowly began.
"My name is Ashikaga Miwa. I teach Japanese language and, starting today, I'll be the homeroom teacher for Year 1 Class A. You may call me Ashikaga-sensei—or simply, Teacher."
She paused, adjusting her glasses with a practiced motion.
"Let me say something unpleasant right from the start."
Her tone hardened slightly.
"I have a strict personality, and I take teaching very seriously. I'm aware that many of you come from influential or wealthy families. But let me be absolutely clear—at Shuchiin Academy, in my class, I don't care who your parents are or how prestigious your lineage may be. The only thing I value is your performance as a student and your merit as an individual."
As her words echoed through the now-silent room, every student shared the same unspoken reaction:
Wait… that's it?
We're just moving on like nothing happened?
She's seriously not going to mention that guy playing the kazoo like we're in a circus?
Is this how things work now? You can do whatever you want if you're handsome?
Kaguya, however, had a completely different thought.
Publicly playing the kazoo in the classroom, and even delaying class time, yet this seemingly strict homeroom teacher, Ashikaga-sensei, didn't criticize that boy at all. She even specifically confirmed if he had finished playing before starting her self-introduction as the homeroom teacher.
Is it because the other party has a profound family background?
No, if there were such a person in the same year, Hayasaka Ai would have reported it to her before she enrolled.
Moreover, Ashikaga-sensei's address to that boy...
Utsunomiya? Could it be... Asagiri Utsunomiya?
Kaguya had an impression of this name. She would forever remember the complex feelings in her heart the moment she learned the results of the Shuchiin Academy High School entrance exam and saw that her name was only ranked second, as well as the name ranked above her, at the top of the same year's students, a name she could absolutely not forget.
Asagiri.
"So it was him..."
Kaguya glanced at Asagiri, who was sitting in the corner of the classroom, lost in thought while looking out the window. A complex feeling couldn't help but arise in her heart.
She actually didn't mind losing, and sometimes, she would even intentionally lose to others.
In Kaguya's view, intentionally losing some things was a form of social strategy, and it wasn't humiliating.
But there was one exception.
That was studying.
Only in her studies would Kaguya give her all, spare no effort, and not want to lose to anyone.
"Now then, let's begin self-introductions."
Ashikaga, standing behind the podium, scanned the room, her gaze stopping on Asagiri, and said calmly.
"Utsunomiya, please start with your self-introduction."
"Okay."
Asagiri didn't decline, but he didn't stand up either. Facing the gazes of the other students in the classroom, he just smiled and began.
"Asagiri, sixteen years old, transfer student."
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