3. What About Koizumi?

The first class of the afternoon was English, temporarily overseen by Koizumi. She was explaining the dry topic of the past tense.

"This part tests the usage of 'insist'..."

In his past life, Watanabe Tetsu's English had been decent, so while looking at the blackboard, he was mentally drafting a submission article.

Whenever he needed to take notes, he'd write two lines on a blank sheet beneath his English textbook.

By the end of the class, he had about half the article written. He left his seat and walked toward Koizumi, who was surrounded by many female students.

He waited silently for a while. When Koizumi finally finished answering questions, she called out, "Watanabe," and walked toward the hallway.

Watanabe Tetsu followed behind as they headed to the teachers' office.

Young, pretty, and patient, Koizumi was very popular. Students often greeted her along the way, and she returned each one with kindness.

At the office, Koizumi sat at her book-stacked desk, turned slightly, and said to Watanabe:

"This is about the club, right?"

"Yeah."

Compared to yesterday, Watanabe noticed several new small succulents on her desk.

Perhaps noticing his gaze, Koizumi Aona also glanced at the succulents she had bought that morning.

"Did you find one?" she asked.

"Yeah, it's called the Human Observation Club."

"That one... Do you know what she plans to do?" Koizumi Aona gave a bitter smile, as if Watanabe had done something foolish.

"I don't know. Didn't ask."

Though it's rare for club activities to be unclear, there are plenty of meaningless groups. Plus, he could leave early, so Watanabe didn't mind.

"Don't tell me you joined just because Seino-san is pretty?"

Facing his teacher's "pervy boy" stare, Watanabe nodded. "She's very pretty."

"You're hopeless... Forget it. Change clubs. No need to join the Human Observation Club."

"Why? Is it not an official club?"

"No, it is," Koizumi Aona laughed. "Seino Rin, like you, initially refused to join any clubs. So she was given special permission to create one that interested her."

"Sensei, please let me create the 'Study-at-Home Club.' I'll show you my workbook."

"Don't even think about it."

"Doesn't this academy have democracy?"

"Seino Rin had the top entrance exam score in the entire academy. And you, Watanabe?"

"...Third place isn't bad either, right?"

"It's not bad," Koizumi nodded in agreement and looked at Watanabe with admiration. "But her father is the CEO of a major company that sponsors this school."

"I'm from a small village—a disadvantaged group. Shouldn't I be more deserving of support? They didn't waive my tuition. At least give me special treatment for forming a club!"

"Hahaha, this student is funny," said the English teacher from the next class over, laughing without a shred of ladylike restraint.

Koizumi Aona glanced at her colleague and best friend, then gave Watanabe a kind yet ruthless smile that said: *You're old enough to understand the dark side of society.*

"Alright. But I still want to join the Human Observation Club. I'm genuinely interested in humanity."

"What's my full name?" Koizumi Aona leaned in and looked Watanabe in the eyes.

Watanabe took two steps back. "Sensei, you're too close."

"See?" Koizumi sat upright again. "If you don't even know your supervisor's full name, don't say you're interested in humans."

Just then, the English teacher next door leaned over and, practically resting in Koizumi Aona's arms, interjected:

"Student, I can tell you her name—if you call me 'Onee-san.'"

"Haruko!" Koizumi Aona said, annoyed, and pushed her back upright.

"Okay, okay. I'll let you two talk," Fujiki Haruko grabbed her book and stood. "I've got class."

Koizumi Aona glanced at her watch and realized it was almost time for class.

"If you're really set on joining, suit yourself. But you must participate in the club activities. I'll check with Seino-san."

"Understood."

"Go to class."

But instead of going back, Watanabe headed to the cooking room.

It was Wednesday, and the last class of the day was the weekly Home Economics session—cooking or sewing.

The cooking room was already full of students from Class 1 and Class 4.

Watanabe was grouped with Kunii Shuu and two other girls. They assisted while the girls took the lead.

Watanabe was tasked with peeling potatoes.

"Kunii-kun, do you have a girlfriend?" asked a girl named Yamaguchi Naomi.

"Me?" Kunii looked flattered.

With his short hair and average looks, and noisy personality, he had never been asked that before.

"Mhm~" Yamaguchi nodded cutely.

"Not yet..." Kunii blushed shyly, a stark contrast to his usual loud self among the boys.

"Really? Are you planning to find one?"

"Uh... I guess?"

"Ehehe, Kunii-kun, you're so funny."

"R-Really? Hehe."

Yamaguchi then turned to Watanabe, who was peeling potatoes. "How about you, Watanabe-kun? Do you have a girlfriend?"

"No."

"Really? Are you planning to find one?"

If asked before math class today, Watanabe would've firmly said no. But now, he hesitated.

"Not necessarily looking, but if I meet someone I like, I'd want her to be my girlfriend." He replied.

Another girl with glasses, who had been quiet until now, asked: "So have you met someone you like?"

"Not yet." Watanabe cut the peeled potato into chunks, rinsed them, and placed them on the counter.

"Thanks," Yamaguchi Naomi said politely.

Then came the loud clatter of a stainless steel bowl hitting the floor—shrill and disruptive, silencing the room.

"Hey, pay attention! Didn't you say you could cook when we teamed up?"

"S-Sorry, Tamamo-san, I was careless!"

"No excuses, pick it up!"

"Yes, yes!"

Moments later, the room returned to its noisy state—knives chopping, spatulas clanging, students arguing about recipes...

"She's Tamamo Homemi from Class 1," Yamaguchi muttered in a weird tone.

Kunii asked curiously, "I heard she's not popular with girls?"

"A friend in Class 1 said Tamamo often takes money from boys," replied the bespectacled girl.

"Takes money from boys?" Kunii's eyes widened. "How?"

"How else?" Yamaguchi's vague answer left much to the imagination.

Kunii took a deep breath, astonished. He leaned over to Watanabe excitedly:

"A real-life b***h! This is the first time I've seen one! Not just manga or anime!"

Watanabe was surprised too.

It reminded him of when he was in a top university in his past life and heard a classmate was secretly a mistress to an older man.

Even knowing such things happen, seeing it up close still evokes awe—*This world really is strange.*

Watanabe looked at Tamamo Homemi. The same school uniform somehow looked fashionable on her. She was undeniably cute.

Wait a minute.

Just as he lowered his head to help Kunii with carrots, something clicked.

He used his final scan on Tamamo, who was still scolding her teammate.

**Character: Tamamo Homemi** 

- Intelligence: 5 

- Charm: 8 

- Stamina: 6 

- Traits: Fashion-forward; Gold-digger; Looks down on unattractive people and the poor 

**Romanceable**

After tasting the mediocre potato curry, Home Ec class ended.

Watanabe, Kunii Shuu, and Saitou Keisuke walked back together.

"Saitou, Yamaguchi asked me if I had a girlfriend and if I planned to get one!"

"Seriously?!"

"Ask Watanabe if you don't believe me!"

"Yeah," Watanabe nodded.

"Looks like your spring is here!" Saitou punched Kunii's shoulder. "Deal's still on—whoever gets a girlfriend first treats the others!"

"No problem!" Kunii happily accepted, not bothered by the punch.

Saitou still looked skeptical. "Even with Watanabe there, she chose you?"

"Kunii's manly. It's normal for girls to like him," said Watanabe.

"Exactly!" Kunii nodded vigorously.

Although Yamaguchi Naomi didn't actually like Kunii, Watanabe's words were true.

Watanabe was handsome but lean. He often fumbled in PE.

Kunii, however, excelled in sports—basketball, soccer, long-distance running—and was a member of the popular baseball club. In sportswear, he looked great. It wasn't surprising that some girls liked him.

The three joked around on their way back to Class 4.

As they passed Class 1, Watanabe noticed Tamamo Homemi chatting and laughing with some girls while packing her bag.

Then he suddenly remembered something.

"What's Koizumi-sensei's full name again?"

His two friends, who had been plotting how to get Yamaguchi's contact info, fell silent and gave him a look: *You seriously don't know that?*