Chapter 9: The First Day at the Co-ed Academy
Stepping through the towering gates of Hoshizora Co-ed Academy, I couldn't help but feel a strange mix of excitement and nerves ripple through me. The morning breeze brushed softly against my white-silver hair as sunlight shimmered across the school's grand courtyard. The campus was massive — more like a private university than a high school. The air smelled faintly of fresh sakura petals drifting from the garden beside the entrance.
Everywhere I looked, girls stopped in their tracks. Their eyes followed me. Whispering started to spread like wildfire.
"Is that… a boy?"
"Wait—really? I thought all the boys were already assigned to other branches!"
"He's so cute… he looks like he came out of a dream!"
I could practically feel hundreds of eyes on me. My heart pounded, but not from fear — from amusement. So this is what it feels like to be rare, I thought. Back in my old world, I was just another face in the crowd. Here, I was the center of attention without doing anything.
There were only fifteen boys in the entire academy, and now, I was the sixteenth. That number alone said a lot about how precious males were in this world.
This school was famous across Japan not just for its elite academic status, but also for its protection system — special privileges, rights, and personalized care for every male student. There were male-only lounges, private cafeterias, even rest zones guarded by trained staff.
I noticed the women who stood at every corner of the hallway — tall, composed, and armed with earpieces. Each of them wore a sharp black uniform. These were the Guardian Division, women who specialized in protecting male students from any form of harassment or unwanted contact.
The principal had explained it clearly to my mother:
"Every boy enrolled here is assigned two guardians from the academy's elite division. They are trained in combat, psychology, and resistance conditioning — to protect him from danger, and from... emotional manipulation."
I smiled a little at that. Emotional manipulation, huh? In this world, it wasn't boys who manipulated girls — it was the other way around.
---
When I stepped into the main hall, I caught a glimpse of the school's crest above the staircase: a golden emblem with wings and a sword, wrapped in a circle of silver stars. Below it was the academy's motto, engraved in bold letters:
"To Protect, To Serve, To Honor the Balance."
The sound of my footsteps echoed down the hall as the whispers continued to trail behind me. I tried not to look too proud, but honestly, it was hard not to smirk a little.
---
Meanwhile, inside the staff room, the teachers had already gathered for an early morning meeting. The atmosphere was unusually tense.
Principal Tsubaki Inoue, a graceful woman in her early forties with dark violet hair tied neatly in a bun, stood before them holding a tablet. Her tone was calm, but her expression carried a silent warning.
"Everyone, as you've been informed," she said, "a new student will be joining us today. His name is Haruya Takahara, and he is… a boy."
Every teacher in the room froze for a second. A quiet murmur rippled through them.
Tsubaki continued, "I don't need to remind you that male students are extremely rare. The Ministry of Gender Stability monitors all schools that accept male applicants. If even a single case of misconduct occurs — physical or emotional — this academy's reputation will be finished."
"Yes, Principal!" the teachers said in unison, nodding nervously.
Tsubaki's eyes softened just a little. "I trust you all. Treat him with respect and care. But remember, boys in this generation are emotionally delicate — and easily influenced. Keep your professionalism."
Inside, some teachers exchanged glances — delicate and easily influenced might not be the right words for me.
---
When I reached the main hallway, a soft voice called out, "Excuse me, are you perhaps… Takahara Haruya?"
I turned around and saw a tall woman in her late twenties with long, dark blue hair tied neatly behind her back. She wore a black suit — probably a teacher.
"Yes, that's me," I said politely.
Her expression softened instantly. "Welcome to Hoshizora Co-ed Academy. I'm your homeroom teacher, Ms. Yuzuki Arai. It's an honor to have you with us."
Her tone was respectful — far too respectful for a student-teacher conversation. It was almost like she was speaking to royalty.
"Thank you, sensei," I replied with a small bow.
Her eyes widened slightly, clearly not expecting such politeness. She smiled faintly, maybe even nervously. "Ah—right this way. I'll take you to your classroom."
---
As we walked through the long corridor, I noticed the polished floors, the sunlight reflecting on glass windows, and the soft hum of chatter from classrooms. Some girls peeked out curiously as I passed by.
When we reached the door of Class 1-A, Yuzuki paused. "Before we enter, just a small warning," she said softly. "The girls… might get a little excited. Please don't be startled."
I chuckled. "I'll try my best."
She smiled awkwardly, then slid the door open.
The classroom instantly went silent. Every single pair of eyes turned toward me.
Dozens of girls — different hairstyles, different eyes, but the same expression of shock and fascination — stared as if an angel had just descended into their classroom.
Yuzuki cleared her throat. "Class, as I mentioned earlier, we have a new student joining us today." She turned toward me and gestured gracefully. "Please introduce yourself."
I stepped forward calmly, though inside I was holding back laughter. The atmosphere was so thick with tension it was almost funny.
"My name is Haruya Takahara," I said softly but clearly. "Nice to meet you all. I hope we can get along."
The silence that followed was deafening. Then, quietly, someone whispered,
"He's… so polite…"
Another girl murmured, "His voice… it's like music."
And just like that, the class erupted in hushed chatter.
"He's the new boy!"
"He's so cute!"
"Look at his hair—silver like moonlight!"
"I call dibs!"
Yuzuki immediately clapped her hands. "Quiet down, class! Everyone, please settle."
As I made my way to an empty seat near the window, I could still feel their gazes on me. Some were shy, some were bold, others were just curious. It was like stepping into a room full of hunters trying not to pounce.
I sat down, resting my chin on my hand, pretending not to notice their stares. So this is a co-ed school in a reverse world, I thought. Looks like things are about to get interesting.
---
In the back row, a few girls exchanged glances, whispering rapidly.
"If we become his class guards, we'll get extra credit."
"Forget credits — imagine getting to talk to him every day!"
"I'll beat anyone who tries to take that spot from me!"
Competition burned in their eyes like a battlefield before dawn.
Meanwhile, at the teacher's desk, Yuzuki glanced at me from time to time, clearly trying not to stare too much. She scribbled something on her clipboard — probably a note for the principal confirming my successful introduction.
---
As the class continued, I stared out the window, watching cherry blossoms fall gently outside. My lips curved into a quiet smile.
This world really is amazing. The balance is completely flipped — men are precious, women are protective, and the entire system revolves around us.
I rested my head on my palm and whispered to myself,
"Alright, let's see how far I can go in this world."
To be continued...