Taito Ward, Tokiwadai High School.
"Japanese girls are something else."
A black Volkswagen pulled up in front of a milk tea shop across from the school's main gate. As Fuyukawa Tetsu stepped out of the car, exhaling a puff of white breath, he caught sight of a few lively female students in JK uniforms passing by.
This winter had been pretty cold. Just a couple of days ago, it snowed heavily, and even today, the high was only seven degrees Celsius, with temperatures dropping below zero at night. Yet, in this kind of weather, most Tokyo high school girls still wore skirts—without leggings, their fair thighs exposed to the chilly wind.
Honestly, it was quite a sight. The cold made their legs look even paler. But after a quick glance, Tetsu lost interest. He adjusted the collar of his trench coat, leaned against the car door, sipped some water, and stared at the school gate with a mix of amusement and exasperation.
Tokyo's underground transit system was incredibly efficient, so there was no real need for him to drive all the way here to pick up Izumi Himawari. But that girl was just too persistent.
Since she spent New Year's alone while he worked overtime at the company, she'd been a bit clingy. While everyone else was setting off firecrackers and celebrating, she was sitting in the courtyard, braving the cold wind—alone, lonely, and chilly. Still, she was sensible enough not to complain. Knowing how stressed Tetsu was with work, she acted like a perfect little angel those days. She even helped the visibly exhausted Sayoko with dishes, laundry, and mopping, looking every bit the refined young lady.
But as Surrounded by Beauties skyrocketed in popularity, lightening the load for Tetsu and Sayoko, Himawari reverted to her usual self. No more dishwashing, no more laundry, and she started pestering Sayoko for "compensation."
Sayoko, soft-hearted as ever, gave in. The compensation? A [Sayoko Special Seafood Feast] tonight. But Himawari wasn't done. After wrapping Sayoko around her finger, she turned her attention to Tetsu.
She was smart about it, though. Her only request was for him to pick her up from school once.
"Such a needy kid," Tetsu muttered.
He checked his watch after waiting a bit, frowning slightly. "What's that girl up to?" It was freezing outside, so after a moment's thought, he didn't overthink it. He locked the car, crossed the street, and headed to the school gate.
Japanese elementary and high schools generally didn't allow outsiders to wander in, but high schools were a bit more lenient. The gatekeeper, seeing Tetsu's polished appearance and deeming him harmless, let him through after a quick registration.
"First time in a Japanese high school, huh."
Strolling down a cherry blossom-lined path, its buds still closed, Tetsu ignored the curious stares from students and took in his surroundings with mild interest.
Honestly, despite having been in this world for months, he'd never set foot in a Japanese high school. What he saw wasn't too different from what he'd imagined.
Japanese high schools typically let out around four or five in the afternoon. Unless you were part of the "Go-Home Club" or some quirky group like the "Far East Magic Napping Society Summer," you couldn't just head home after class—you had to join club activities.
It was chilly today, but the soccer club boys were still out on the field, sweating and shouting under the winter sun. Not just the boys—on the track next to the field, a group of girls in JK uniforms cheered them on. This wasn't like back home, where people might just gawk and gossip. Japan's cheer culture was intense. Even for casual interclass matches, there'd be organized cheer squads. Girls holding banners like "I Love Rukawa Kaede" or doing cheer routines were a common sight.
Despite the cold, the atmosphere on the field was electric. With the girls' enthusiastic cheers, the boys played with extra vigor.
"With a crowd of girls watching, no wonder the guys are so into soccer. Too bad the only time I played soccer in front of girls was doing drills in elementary school," Tetsu mused, chuckling inwardly.
The high school vibe was relaxing, and for once, Tetsu let his thoughts ramble. But he didn't linger on the soccer field. Hands in his coat pockets, he headed straight for the building housing the volleyball club.
After quitting the light music club, Izumi Himawari had shot to fame with I Once Thought of Ending It All, earning a decent chunk of cash over winter break and regaining some confidence. But the betrayal by her friend, her looming hearing issues, and the pressure of college entrance exams still weighed on her at school. So, at Sayoko's suggestion, she joined the volleyball club to relieve stress through exercise.
The volleyball club's building resembled the basketball gym from Slam Dunk. It had double sliding doors, and after a quick glance inside—seeing both girls playing volleyball and boys shooting hoops nearby—Tetsu stepped in without hesitation.
"Whoa, that guy's tall! Is he a scout from some basketball club?!"
"Probably not. Scouts usually wear tracksuits and sneakers, not trench coats, jeans, and Martin boots."
"Yeah, and it's not even a real match today—just a practice game between Class 3 and Class 2. What would a scout be doing here? But… that guy's kinda hot."
"Could he be someone's older brother? He's got serious style!"
"He does have a cool vibe. Wonder what he's here for?"
"Is he a new gym teacher?! Oh my gosh, I'm totally joining whatever club he coaches!"
"More like you wanna 'try him out,' huh?"
"Oh, come on, Ino, don't say that~"
"Pervert!"
As expected, high school girls who were into sports were lively. The moment Tetsu stepped into the gym, the girls in volleyball uniforms, sitting by the wall sipping water, turned their curious and excited gazes on him.
No doubt, high school girls were youthful and radiant. But most girls this age weren't exactly mature—pretty to look at, sure, but a handful to deal with, enough to make you question your life choices.
Not particularly interested in these budding flowers, Tetsu tuned out the basketball dribbling and volleyball smacks echoing in the gym. His eyes scanned the room, soon locking onto a volleyball court on the right side. What he saw made his brows lift slightly in surprise.
There was Izumi Himawari, her back to him, hands clasped, ready to receive a falling volleyball.
A perfectly normal scene, except…
She wasn't in her JK uniform anymore. Her long, glossy black hair was tied into a high ponytail. Her youthful figure was clad in a white athletic T-shirt and navy blue sports shorts. Lower down, as she crouched slightly to receive the ball, her heart-shaped hips perked up, and her long, fair legs—still slender and graceful despite being bent—stood out.
She'd clearly been playing for a while. Her fair, delicate face was flushed, beads of sweat clung to the stray hairs at the nape of her neck, and she radiated the unique vitality of a teenage girl.
"That girl," Tetsu murmured, shaking his head with a faint smile.