"Takamine Rinji... you really are a foreigner?"
"Didn't I already say that?"
Inside a classroom, the same girl now sat across from Rinji. She was holding his student ID.
By now, Rinji had learned both girls' names. The strict one was Iino Miko, a disciplinary committee member and first-year. The one with the thick glasses was Osaragi Kobachi, also a first-year.
Miko returned the student ID and asked:
"Your student ID doesn't list your class. Which one are you in?"
"Class assignments aren't out yet. We'll find out tonight. But yeah, I'm a first-year too."
"I see. So you're a new transfer student. But you should know—smoking on school grounds is a serious offense and can get you disciplinary action."
"Got it. Can I leave now?"
"No."
"..."
Rinji glanced at the stern-faced Miko, then over at the expressionless Kobachi.
"Are you two... interrogating me?"
"This is called constructive criticism and education."
"I see... then where's the pork cutlet rice?"
"Huh?"
"I heard that in Japan, when the police interrogate suspects, they give them pork cutlet rice."
"...What kind of outdated TV drama did you hear that from?"
"So it's not true?"
"It's not."
Kobachi suddenly spoke up. "Is this your first time in Japan, Takamine-san?"
"I visited once four years ago. Spent the rest of the time overseas."
"What kind of impression do you have of Japanese schools?"
"Japanese schools, huh... Girls usually run to school with bread in their mouths. Students settle grudges with rooftop fights. The guy by the window, second row from the back, is always special... Oh, and school romance is super popular in Japan."
Miko: "..."
Kobachi: "I see."
She pushed up her thick glasses and looked at him.
"Looks like you've watched a lot of anime and dramas. But remember—that's fiction. You can't confuse it with reality."
"Thanks for the advice. Can I leave now?"
Rinji stood up, but Miko immediately pushed him back into his seat.
"No. Sit down."
"..."
"Takamine-san, since you're a transfer student at Shuchiin Academy and aren't familiar with the rules..."
She pulled out a thick stack of papers from the drawer beside her.
"I need to explain the school's regulations to you."
"...How long is that going to take?"
"About an hour."
"Ah! I just remembered something—I have to go—"
"Nope!"
Before he could get up, Miko slammed a hand on his shoulder and forced him back down.
"..."
"Takamine-san, for the sake of campus discipline, you need to fix your bad behavior. Judging by the way you were smoking outside, you were probably a delinquent overseas too. Now that you're at Shuchiin, you must become a proper, motivated student."
"I promise I'll be a good student."
"Hmm, I'm glad to hear that."
"Can I leave now?"
"Not yet. I haven't even started on the rules."
"%#￥&%#&!"
Rinji was completely done with this girl. If Uncle Sagara hadn't warned him in advance not to cause trouble or hurt people at school, he would've broken out by force if he had to.
"Okay, campus cop..."
"It's the Disciplinary Committee!" Miko glared at Takamine Rinji.
"Alright, alright. Disciplinary Committee member, is it okay if I read the school rules slowly at home?"
"Will you really read them?"
"Definitely."
"Well then, since you're not in a class yet, do you have anything else to do on campus?"
"Nope. Just wandering around."
"No plans? Then I guess I'll be kind enough to go through all the school rules with you."
"...Damn it..."
She really was flawless—this girl serving as a Disciplinary Committee member.
Takamine Rinji looked speechlessly at the serious-looking Iino Miko. She was the first person at this school to give him a bit of a headache.
Meanwhile, Kobachi watched the two with great interest.
Sitting next to Miko, in her eyes, when the two confronted each other, it was as if phantom images appeared behind each of them.
Behind Rinji, there was a dozing tiger, while behind Miko, there was a cute hamster baring its teeth. She didn't know why she was having such hallucinations.
Just as Rinji was thinking about how to slip away, his eyes suddenly lit up. He looked at Miko, who was flipping through the rulebook in front of him, and said:
"Officer..."
"It's Disciplinary Committee member!"
"Sorry, Disciplinary Committee member. Does your family have someone working in the International Humanitarian Aid Association?"
"Eh?"
Miko's eyes widened in surprise.
"How did you know?"
"I once fought—no, traveled—in Syria and met some humanitarian workers. One of the women was named Iino."
"That must be my mom!"
Yazuko stood up excitedly.
"You met her?"
"Yes, it was in a refugee camp. Ms. Iino was a very dedicated and responsible person. She actively helped the wounded and provided aid to those traumatized by war. She's an incredible woman."
"I see..."
Miko lowered her head, and her smile became hard to read—neither quite happy nor sad.
"My mom works for an international humanitarian organization. She's rarely home since she's always abroad. But I know everything she does is to make the world a better place."
"Yeah, I think so too. The world needs righteous people like your mom, who aren't afraid of hardship."
"I'm glad to hear someone say that. I always believed her efforts weren't in vain."
Hearing that from Rinji, Miko finally gave a warm smile.
"That's right. You're Ms. Iino's daughter, so I'm sure you'll be just as outstanding as she is."
"Ehehe~"
"So... can I go now?"
"Nope."
"What?! After all that flattery, can't you cut me some slack? Forcing me to stay here—don't you think that's a bit much?"
"Not at all. Correcting bad habits you picked up abroad is part of the Disciplinary Committee's job."
"Aren't you overstepping a bit here...? Ah—President Shirogane, are you here to rescue me?"
Rinji suddenly stared behind Miko in mock surprise. She quickly turned around—only to find no one there.
"Huh? Where's the President...?"
When Miko turned back again, Rinji was already gone.
"Where did he go?"
"Oh, the transfer student?" Kobachi calmly pointed to the open window.
"He jumped out and ran."
"...That guy! Just wait till I catch him again!"