Chapter 2:The Unsettling Classroom

As I take my seat near the window, I let out a quiet sigh. Finally, some peace. The sound of chattering students fills the room, but I ignore it. I never cared for these superficial conversations.

But just as I start to relax, a voice from my side interrupts me.

"Arataki-kun, do you remember me?"

I glance to my right and see the girl from earlier—the one with the pink ponytail. She's leaning slightly toward me, her golden eyes filled with expectation.

"Huh? Who?" I ask flatly.

Her mouth falls open in disbelief.

"Hah!? You don't remember me!? I was the one who greeted you near the school gate this morning!"

Oh. Her.

I blink, unamused. "Sorry, I wasn't really paying attention."

She puffs up her cheeks in frustration. "Geez, you could at least try to remember people's faces, you know?"

I shrug. "I don't see the point."

She lets out a small huff before crossing her arms. "Hmph! Well, anyway, my name is Masamune Serin. Nice to meet you, Arataki-kun!"

"...Nice to meet you, Masamune-san."

Her face twitches slightly, as if disappointed by my cold response.

I expect her to leave me alone after that, but to my annoyance, she remains seated beside me, resting her chin on her hand while observing me with curiosity.

"You don't talk much, huh?"

"I talk when necessary," I reply without looking at her.

She chuckles. "You're kinda weird, but that's interesting in its own way!"

I don't respond.

Why is she still talking to me? Most people get the hint and back off. But she… she seems persistent.

Before she can say anything else, the homeroom teacher—Aki-sensei—claps his hands to get everyone's attention.

"Alright, class! Settle down! Let's begin our first homeroom session of the semester!"

The students gradually return to their seats, though the energy in the room remains high.

Aki-sensei leans casually against his desk. "First things first, let's welcome our new classmate once again! Arataki Abe-kun, everyone!"

A few students turn to glance at me. I don't react.

Aki-sensei scratches his cheek awkwardly. "Well, anyway, let's make sure to get along with him, okay?"

Murmurs spread through the class, and I can hear some students whispering among themselves.

"A new transfer student in the middle of the year? That's kinda rare."

"He doesn't talk much, does he?"

"He looks kinda scary…"

Typical. People always judge others based on first impressions. Not that I care.

As the class continues, I barely pay attention. Most of the introductions are just dull self-praising nonsense. Everyone is trying to look good in front of others, playing the role of "perfect students."

But behind those fake smiles, I can sense it. The hypocrisy.

I rest my chin on my palm and gaze out the window.

I already know how this will go.

People will try to befriend me out of curiosity.

They'll ask questions, act nice, pretend to care.

But in the end, they'll only stick around as long as it benefits them.

That's how people are.

"Alright! That's it for homeroom!" Aki-sensei announces. "Time for our first subject!"

As he turns to write on the board, I notice something strange.

The students… their faces.

Something feels off.

They're smiling, laughing, chatting. But… why does it seem unnatural?

It's like they're forcing themselves to act normal.

My gaze sweeps across the room, and for a brief moment, I catch something unsettling.

A few students—just for a split second—their smiles falter. Their expressions twitch, revealing something beneath the surface.

But as soon as I blink, they return to their cheerful faces, as if nothing happened.

…Was that just my imagination?

I shake my head. No, I know what I saw.

There's something wrong with this class.

And I'm going to find out what it is.

(End of Chapter 2)

Exciting News, Readers!

Chapter 3 of Class 2-B: A Smile That Kills will be released tomorrow at 2:10! Get ready for more mysteries, tension, and shocking revelations.

If you've been following Abe's journey, things are only going to get darker and more intense from here. Stay tuned, and remember...

Trust no one. Not even yourself.

See you all tomorrow!