As for these two new students who had made the papers and were clearly from the Valkyrie class, the young ladies were brimming with curiosity.
This curiosity peaked especially after witnessing the perfect manners of the black-haired girl.
Raiden Mei… the surname Raiden didn't ring any bells.
Yet, her effortless way of speaking and dignified poise unmistakably pointed to a background of wealth and privilege.
Generally, a young lady like that wouldn't choose to become a Valkyrie.
But that wasn't even the main point.
While the young ladies greatly admired Raiden Mei's refinement and etiquette, seeing her as the epitome of a proper lady that fit their ideal image, they were equally drawn to a girl like Kiana.
Just being lively and beautiful wasn't necessarily a winning hand, but pairing that with 'immense strength' was a different story altogether.
Especially the sense of justice and responsibility the white-haired girl displayed in the video while saving civilians, combined with the endearing contrast of her goofy interaction with the black-haired girl at the end—it held a powerful appeal for these young ladies as well.
And the chemistry when the two stood together gave off such a strong 'they belong together' vibe it was practically written on their faces.
Particularly when the white-haired girl said 'good morning,' and the black-haired girl mirrored her greeting style.
That unspoken yet understood consideration spoke volumes about their excellent relationship, as did the way the black-haired girl took charge of the conversation when the white-haired girl seemed out of her depth.
Although the clear implication that these two were 'taken' left the young ladies with a tinge of regret, it certainly didn't stop them from savoring the gossip.
The school paths weren't endless, however.
Once the pair entered the building, those who hadn't managed to approach in time could only wait with regret for the next opportunity, no matter how disappointed they felt.
Emerging from the greeting gauntlet, Amber looked pale.
She'd never imagined social interaction could be so torturous.
Back in the jujutsu world or at Schicksal, she'd… well, actually, she hadn't handled much socializing there either.
In the jujutsu world, friends had helped out, and at Schicksal, Rita had taken care of it.
Most of the time, she'd just needed to flash a smile.
Right. Never mind then.
After changing into their indoor shoes, the two followed the campus map to the student council room. Even the student council wasn't active this early in the morning, and only one person was inside.
"Welcome, Kiana Kaslana, and Raiden Mei."
A girl with neatly styled short hair and a perfectly arranged uniform rose from her seat as they entered and came to greet them.
Her tone was calm and rational, her expression as unreadable as her voice, giving off an air of aloofness.
"Welcome to Tsukinomori. Your enrollment is a positive development both for the school and, I trust, for yourselves. I am Yashio Rui from Class A, first year. It's a pleasure to meet you both."
"There's no need to be so formal, Yashio-san. After all, we're classmates in the same year now, and this isn't an official setting."
Dark Amber said.
"Exactly! We just got mobbed outside and couldn't get a word in edgewise. If it's like this all day, I'll suffocate!"
Amber complained, her spirits dampened.
"Hmm… This is simply my manner of speaking. And the student council room is considered a formal setting…"
Yashio Rui frowned slightly.
Considering it was their first time at Tsukinomori, and being somewhat aware that her personality wasn't the easiest for most people to warm up to, she made an effort to soften her expression.
However, realizing her careful phrasing wasn't making much difference, she simply stated, "Please, make yourselves comfortable in whatever way you prefer. Tsukinomori is not a school with overly strict formalities."
"In that case, I won't hold back?"
Amber's eyes lit up.
"Please, go ahead. As the student council representative assigned to help you both familiarize yourselves with the school and integrate into your class, feel free to ask me anything."
Yashio Rui nodded.
With the student council host giving permission, Amber naturally held nothing back. "I was curious on the way here—why come to the student council first, and not a teacher?"
"Tsukinomori's operational model differs from most schools. Here, the student council is responsible for the vast majority of student scheduling, activity organization, and management."
"The teachers' roles are essentially limited to instruction and after-class Q&A."
Yashio Rui answered.
In short, the school was basically run by the student council; teachers just taught.
This made sense. After all, most students here came from influential backgrounds. While there were teachers with significant backgrounds too, most people of such stature wouldn't become teachers.
Although teachers held high status in Japan, it was still a capitalist country at its core. Respect didn't equate to wealth, and wealth was what held real sway.
If teachers were to manage students, any dissatisfaction from a particular student could easily lead to unnecessary complications.
"I'm joining the Valkyrie program. How is that different from the regular students?"
"Valkyrie program students dedicate half of their school time to Valkyrie-specific coursework."
Yashio Rui wasn't surprised by the question and gave a concise, prepared answer.
"This doesn't mean Valkyrie students forgo general studies. Therefore, we schedule cultural courses in the mornings and Valkyrie studies in the afternoons."
"Due to this differing schedule, Valkyrie program students have their own dedicated classroom building and classes."
A fairly reasonable and convincing arrangement.
But Amber's face fell immediately. "Huh? We have to study to be Valkyries too?"
"Valkyries require knowledge as well. While we fight against monsters, understanding more helps us better protect civilians during rescues," the black-haired girl explained with a smile.
"Precisely. The courses arranged for Valkyries primarily focus on enhancing their knowledge in first aid, chemistry, and physics, enabling them to handle matters beyond combat on the battlefield," Yashio Rui added, nodding.
"Alright then, I don't have any other questions," Amber said, scratching her head. Then she remembered something. "Oh, right! Can Valkyrie students form bands?"
"Bands?"
Catching the keyword, Yashio Rui's expression grew noticeably more serious.
"Mei and I were thinking of starting a band together, though it's just the two of us for now," Amber explained.
"Tsukinomori does not prohibit any student activities during free time. If you both have the availability, naturally you may," Yashio Rui said.
"However, do not neglect your primary duties as students… My apologies, I've overstepped."
Her reaction puzzled Amber a little, but she didn't dwell on it.
"Since you have no further questions, I'll show you around the campus before morning classes begin."
--+--
T/N: I have a Patreon! Webnovel will get 3 Chapters Every Day, and advanced chapters will be uploaded on Patreon.
It may not seem worth it now, but maybe in the future. Who knows!
[email protected]/AspenTL
If you guys wanna check it out.