Shuchiin Academy, based in Tokyo's Minato Ward, is an integrated school system covering kindergarten through university.
In the past, it was founded as an institution for educating the nobility and samurai families, making it a prestigious school with a long history.
Even now, in an era where the nobility system has been abolished, many students born into wealth and prestige, as well as future leaders of the nation, study here.
And so, the scene shifts to the archery club, where today's lesson is currently underway.
A beautiful girl with an icy, unapproachable aura—like a sculpture—perfectly draws her bow.
As her slender fingers release the string, the arrow flies through the air with a sharp whoosh and strikes the target with a solid thud, hitting dead center.
The shaft of the arrow vibrates, producing a faint hum.
"That's Shinomiya for you."
"She's amazing."
Amid the surrounding voices of praise, the ice-sculpture-like beauty—Shinomiya Kaguya—pays no attention.
"Alright, it's my turn next~"
A cheerful voice rings out, causing Kaguya to frown. She turns her gaze toward the person also preparing to draw a bow—Fujiwara Chika.
Just watching her clumsy movements was already annoying enough.
As Chika pulled the bowstring across her… generous chest, Kaguya's lips curled slightly into a crescent moon-shaped smirk—like a devil baring its fangs in the dark.
"Achoo—!"
At the same moment as she sneezed, Chika let go of the string, which immediately snapped forward and smacked her rather prominent chest.
"Uwaah—who's talking bad about me behind my back? I sneezed and got hurt!"
She wailed, eyes welling up with tears.
Their classmates hurried to comfort her, while Kaguya only watched calmly, though inwardly she was gloating—serves her right.
"Ugh, if only I had a smaller chest like Kaguya-chan's, I wouldn't have gotten hurt~"
Her seemingly innocent and envious remark caused Kaguya to tilt her head sideways, her expression breaking slightly as if she'd snapped.
A thick dark aura seemed to pour from her.
At that moment, the group of students surrounding Chika scattered like birds fleeing a beast.
"Eh? Kaguya-chan, why do you suddenly seem so scary?"
"Oh, not at all, Fujiwara-san. You're troubled because these got too big, right? I know a great plastic surgery clinic. Come, I'll take you there to carve them out~"
"C-Carve them out?!"
"What do you mean carve? You misheard. I said plastic surgery. You can always get them reshaped later. Let's go~"
"Noooo!"
"I said come with me!!"
All of this happened around the same time that a certain Hayasaka shared a story during P.E. at Chiba City's Sobu High School.
…
At the tennis court of Sobu High School in Chiba.
The "young lady" Hayasaka had mentioned—was there even a need to clarify? Of course, it was Fujiwara Chika. Just wait until Yayuki has some free time—he's definitely going to "sort her out."
"You used to go to Shuchiin Academy?"
The surprised voice came from Yukino. She had been about to leave, but stopped in her tracks after overhearing their conversation.
From the way this seemingly half-foreign girl spoke, Yazuki, who was clearly an otaku with a deep addiction to anime and manga, actually used to attend Shuchiin Academy?
He really didn't look like the kind of student who could get into a school like that.
Wait… isn't that school full of the children of elites? Could it be that this guy's family has an influential background, and he got in through connections?
"Yes, that's right~ Yazuki transferred in midway through his first year of junior high. He got in as a special admission student, ranking first place on the entrance exam. Later, his art was submitted to the Chelsea International Fine Art Competition and won the grand prize~"
Hayasaka's eyes sparkled as she looked at him with admiration, leaving Yukino momentarily stunned.
So it wasn't what she'd thought—he had gotten in based on real merit.
She'd heard of the Chelsea International Fine Art Competition. Winning the grand prize there meant one had the potential to become a world-class artist in the future.
But then, why did someone like him end up going to high school in Chiba? Why become a manga artist? She couldn't make sense of it.
Perhaps sensing her confusion, Hayasaka let out a small sigh and spoke again.
"Do you know why Yazuki attended Shuchiin Academy and joined the Chelsea International Fine Art Competition in the first place? It was for the special admission scholarships and subsidies, as well as the prize money from the competition. That was the real reason he enrolled in Shuchiin. After that, his grades plummeted. He used the money he earned to indulge in games, manga, and anime all day. In the end, he was expelled halfway through his third year~"
Hayasaka's words, tinged with helplessness, left Yukino completely speechless.
There are really people like that?! She turned her gaze to Yazuki.
"What? Surprised?"
Yayuki proudly lifted his head, completely shameless and actually basking in Yukino's dumbfounded and admiring stare—something rare from someone usually so expressionless.
In truth, it was thanks to that money that he was able to successfully launch his club, [Teufel-Grosse].
To get into Shuchiin Academy, he had studied brutally hard—biting down on every subject. Except for eating and sleeping, he studied for over 16 hours a day.
He even cut himself off from all otaku content for a whole month. It nearly drove him insane.
"Yeah, I'm surprised. Are you mentally okay?"
Yukino nodded, her voice laced with sarcasm and exasperation.
She rolled her eyes and put a hand to her forehead, thinking he was truly hopeless. He had such amazing talent, yet he wasted it on frivolous things.
The art competition grand prize three years ago had been awarded to a piece titled "The Devil's Mercy", which had caused quite a stir.
Don't tell her that was his work? The theme was a satire on angels and gods.
That piece was now included in a globally influential art collection.
This guy seriously had something wrong with his head, right?
"Wahhh!"
Suddenly, Hayasaka let out a startled cry and flailed in panic—like she had just remembered something important she'd been putting off until now.
"Um, you're Yukinoshita-san, right? About what just happened between me and Yazuki—please don't misunderstand! The truth is… so please don't get the wrong idea. And also, please don't break up with Yazuki-kun!"
Hayasaka, apparently very slow on the uptake, finally realized how questionable that earlier scene must've looked.
She flusteredly tried to explain, bowing repeatedly in apology.
"Break up?" ×2
"What are you even talking about?" ×2
"We're not dating." ×2
The two of them spoke in perfect unison, then glared at each other.
What the hell? That level of synchronization only made the misunderstanding worse.
They glared again.
"Can you please stop copying my lines and speaking at the same time?!" ×2
"..."