"He's just a transfer student, yet so arrogant!"
This outburst stirred a wave of hostility from the boys in class.
Except for one certain dead-eyed guy.
Hikigaya Hachiman muttered inwardly, Damn it. Where did this light novel protagonist come from? So imposing!
"Hehe~ Transfer student, I've exposed you, haven't I?"
Tobe Sho, thinking he was showing off in front of everyone, stood up and loudly declared, "That won't do! Ethan Kane, pretending to be all mysterious—that's the kind of shameless act I'd expect from someone trying way too hard!"
Bang!
A loud slam silenced the room. Kirisu-sensei had slammed her book down onto the podium, her glare sharp enough to cut steel.
"Stupid."
"Disrespectful."
"Ignorant."
Her voice rang out like a judge delivering a verdict. Her gaze pierced the room, locking onto Tobe Sho and his crowd of snickering followers.
"Uh..."
Tobe shrank under her glare but mumbled, "Sensei… was I wrong, though?"
"Ethan Kane is a transfer student from the United States. His name comes from Anglo-Saxon heritage, tied to warriors and respected lineages. It is not your place to question or ridicule someone based on your ignorance."
"Open your textbooks. Let's try to expand your brains past memes for once."
The room fell quiet, a heavy silence of embarrassment and revelation.
"Endo… I mean, Ethan… that sounds kinda cool," someone whispered.
The class turned their eyes toward Ethan Kane, and this time, there was a hint of awe.
"A descendant of warriors?"
Takanashi Rikka lifted the edge of her eyepatch, revealing a golden contact lens. She nodded solemnly.
"I smell the aura of a comrade… Could he also be a user of the Evil King's True Eye?"
"Chūnibyō, huh…"
Hikigaya Hachiman's dead-fish eyes shimmered faintly.
Heh. I used to be like that once…
"Ah… this…"
Tobe Sho's face turned a brighter shade of red. Right now, he probably wished he could dig a hole and disappear.
"Please excuse the display, Ethan Kane."
Kirisu-sensei sighed, rubbing her forehead. "You may choose any available seat."
"It's alright, Kirisu-sensei."
Ethan's voice was calm, his expression gentle.
"This classmate is quite humorous. A spirited young man."
"Humorous? Spirited young man? Wait—was he praising me…?"
Tobe blinked, then beamed.
"Ethan Kane, you're actually pretty nice!"
Kato Megumi, whose presence was so faint she could scroll through her phone openly in class, quickly typed "humorous" and "spirited young man" into Baidu. A rare, subtle smile touched her lips.
---
"Ethan Kane, come over here~"
Sagami Minami, with her heavily made-up face, waved him over with practiced charm.
"Wow~ Sagami is so bold!"
Yuigahama Yui gushed, her eyes sparkling with curiosity.
"Tch. That Sagami, she looks like she can't wait to throw herself at him."
Miura Yumiko scoffed with a scornful look.
"Isn't someone already sitting there?"
Ethan's gaze drifted past Xiangmu Nan, then settled on the dead-eyed boy beside her.
"Hikigaya, huh…"
"Ethan Kane is new and doesn't know the class yet. You can give up your seat, right?"
Xiangmu Nan flashed a sugary smile at Hachiman, but the sharp lift of her brow told a different story.
"Uh… I can give up my seat…"
Hachiman stood up without protest. It wasn't because he feared her—he just didn't want trouble. And honestly, he didn't like being her desk partner anyway.
"I appreciate your kindness."
Ethan's eyes didn't even flick toward Xiangmu Nan.
"But I don't want to trouble Hikigaya-san."
As he passed, he gently rested a hand on Hachiman's shoulder and pressed him back into the seat.
"Uh…"
Xiangmu Nan's face twitched. Being publicly ignored made her flush with embarrassment, but she didn't dare lash out at Ethan. Instead, she funneled all her anger into a laser-sharp glare at Hachiman.
What does this have to do with me?!
Hachiman was screaming inside. Still, somewhere deep down, he felt an odd sort of connection with Ethan.
After all, it was weirdly touching that this new guy knew his name.
"Eek! Cool Transfer Student × Gloomy Dead-eyed Boy! Hehehehe~"
Ebina Hina's glasses glinted ominously.
"Hmph. The pairing I was shipping before was me…"
Totsuka Saika puffed out his cheeks slightly, muttering to himself, a hint of jealousy in his tone.
Unbothered by all the attention, Ethan calmly took an empty seat in the back row.
On the podium, Kirisu-sensei watched with narrowed eyes, a faint flicker of approval hidden behind her expression.
As expected of a student from overseas. He understands how to keep order without shouting.
She hosted the class meeting quickly—efficient and no-nonsense as always.
Rather than a long, drawn-out speech, she simply outlined the new semester's curriculum and learning tasks before stepping down, leaving the students free to socialize.
---
The classroom became a buzz of chatter.
"It's so lucky to be in the same class as Hayato this semester!"
The class naturally split into familiar groups.
The boys gathered around Hayama Hayato. The girls clustered near Miura Yumiko.
Xiangmu Nan surrounded herself with girls from her previous class—part of the social second tier.
Most students worked quickly to blend into a group.
But a few loners remained on the outskirts—Hikigaya Hachiman, Kawasaki Saki, Kato Megumi, and Takanashi Rikka, among others.
So many strong personalities in one classroom… it was like cramming too many big fish into a small pond.
As for Ethan Kane, he had no interest in social groups at all.
In his old life back in the States, he'd attended a competitive prep school where students were buried under exams and practice tests.
No one had time for cliques.
Why would he waste this second life on that?
Now that he was in Japan, he wanted to enjoy the youth he never had the first time around.
His eyes drifted to the girl next to him.
Takanashi Rikka.
She happened to look over at that moment.
Their eyes met—and something clicked.
"Hello. Let's get acquainted."
Ethan smiled and held out a hand.
"My name is Ethan Kane."
Surprisingly, the girl who seemed shy and withdrawn grabbed his hand without hesitation.
"I am the Evil King's True Eye User from the other side of the world!"
She raised her eyepatch, revealing a glowing golden contact.
"I ask—are you my comrade?"
[Ding~]
[Treasure Chest Holder Discovered: Takanashi Rikka]
[Extract?]
Extract!
Ethan's eyes lit up with a subtle glimmer.
[Class A Treasure Chest: Sharingan]
From the ninja world. The Uchiha clan's Kekkei Genkai. Abilities: enhanced perception, mimicry, hypnosis.
Only Class A?
Looks like the SSS-grade system gift was a one-time deal. Still… this isn't bad at all.
Ethan was satisfied.
"What is she even saying?"
"Evil King's Eye? For real?"
"She's literally wearing a colored contact lens…"
"Sisters, I'm speechless…"
"I heard Takanashi was an otaku, but this is a whole different level."
The class buzzed with barely concealed disdain.
But Takanashi Rikka didn't flinch.
She continued to stare at Ethan with unwavering intensity.
"…No," Ethan replied softly.
"Eh…"
The sparkle in her eyes faded immediately. She dropped her head, lips pressed together.
"Takanashi, seriously, can you stop being so KY?" someone muttered. "Learn to read the room."
---
End of Chapter 3
Give me you stone 😜 😜