Normality in COTE

"Hello, everyone! How about we all introduce ourselves before the teacher gets here?" Hirata Yosuke called out confidently as he stood in front of the class, facing his new classmates with a bright, welcoming smile.

He had just completed his tour around the room, greeting each of his peers individually and doing his best to remember their names and faces.

It was all a part of his goal to make a strong impression, much like he'd done with his previous friend, YamaGod.

His proposal to break the ice and get everyone more comfortable with each other hung in the air as he surveyed the room, looking for any responses.

Thanks to the charm he exuded and the friendly demeanor he projected while greeting each classmate personally, Hirata had quickly earned a favorable reputation in the class.

People were naturally drawn to him, and his suggestion for introductions was met with almost immediate interest.

The classmates' attention shifted fully to him, and his suggestion had gained a degree of authority. The aura of popularity surrounded him like an undeniable force, making him the focal point of the classroom without even trying.

But as much as the girls' eyes sparkled at Hirata's words, the boys, in contrast, sneered under their breath, muttering about the "pretty boy" in front of them.

They couldn't deny his popularity, but that didn't mean they had to like it.

The girls, however, couldn't care less about the boys' resentment. Hirata had them captivated, their gazes fixed intently on him.

Sensing an opportunity to further her own social standing, Kushida Kikyo, a girl with light beige hair and a sweet smile, stood up as well.

She beamed at the class, her tone light and persuasive as she voiced her agreement with Hirata's idea.

"I think Hirata-kun's suggestion is a great one! Does anyone have any objections?" Her question was more rhetorical than genuine; with the grace and confidence she exuded, it was clear that few would dare to disagree.

The moment she spoke, the boys who had been yawning and muttering in disinterest moments earlier suddenly perked up.

Their tired expressions vanished, replaced with an eagerness that mirrored the admiration in the girls' eyes for Hirata.

Kushida had that effect—she could light up a room just by smiling.

And with her showing support for Hirata, the boys couldn't help but rally behind her, eager to be noticed by the most popular girl in class.

"Yeah, I think so too," one simp called out, his eyes practically sparkling as he looked at Kushida.

"As long as Kushida-san thinks it's a good idea, we're all for it," another simp man chimed in, his words bordering on flattery.

Kushida Kikyo and Hirata Yosuke each had their own groups of admirers in the class, both boys and girls, albeit for different reasons.

Kushida's charm was in her approachable appearance and her willingness to befriend just about anyone, regardless of looks, intelligence, or social status.

This openness made her incredibly popular among her classmates, who saw her as the ultimate "girl-next-door" type.

Hirata's appeal was different, yet just as powerful.

While he didn't shine as boldly as Kushida, his friendly and easy-going nature made him approachable and likable. His cheerful spirit and easy charm made people gravitate towards him.

Together, the two of them were an unstoppable social force in the class.

It was no wonder that most of the students nodded and voiced their agreement with the idea, captivated by the magnetic energy the two popular figures exuded.

Only a small minority chose to ignore it, uninterested in joining the group dynamic.

"How childish," scoffed a red-haired guy, his voice dripping with disdain as he snorted and stretched lazily.

He let out an exaggerated yawn, clearly more interested in dozing off than getting involved in this ridiculous game of "class bonding." In his mind, it was a waste of time, a pointless activity fit only for kids clinging to naïve ideals about friendship.

To him, the whole "power of friendship" thing was laughable. It was nothing more than a fairytale concept for children, and they were supposed to be high school students, not elementary kids hanging onto each other like life rafts.

As far as he was concerned, if they wanted to play friends, they could damn well do it on their own. He didn't need to be dragged into their little delusions.

His imposing build—towering height, broad shoulders, a face that could intimidate even the braver types, and muscles that looked like they belonged to someone who spent a bit too much time at the gym—kept most people at bay.

No one dared to pick a fight with him or contradict his blunt words. His aura practically radiated, "Mess with me, and you're asking for trouble."

Well, almost no one.

"How rude," a girl with blonde hair and striking violet eyes retorted, unable to suppress a look of irritation as she regarded him.

She didn't hide her contempt, snorting in his direction before deciding he wasn't worth any more of her time.

With a roll of her eyes, she turned away once she noticed he had already closed his eyes and settled into his seat, clearly intending to sleep through the whole ordeal.

The other classmates, however, seemed to appreciate this blonde gyaru's courage.

They gave her subtle thumbs-ups, clearly approving of the way she'd stood up to the class thug.

Hirata Yosuke, the boy at the front of the room and evidently the designated "nice guy," cleared his throat and asked again, his gaze scanning the room.

"So, is there still any objection?" He wanted to make sure everyone was on the same page before moving forward.

"Nope."

"Nah, we're good, Hirata."

Satisfied, Hirata smiled brightly and nodded. "Great, since there's no objection, let me introduce myself. My name is Hirata Yosuke. I've got a huge passion for sports, especially soccer."

He flashed another warm smile, looking around the room in a way that seemed to invite everyone to get involved. "I'm planning to join the soccer club, so if anyone's interested in joining with me, feel free to come along. I hope we can all get along well from here on out."

Most of Class D nodded approvingly, clearly feeling Hirata's optimistic energy.

There was an unmistakable sense of warmth and camaraderie as the students collectively acknowledged Hirata's introduction, as if they all wanted to embrace his inviting spirit—well, everyone except the red-haired guy, who was already fast asleep in the back.

After several students had taken turns introducing themselves, the attention shifted to the blonde peacock who seemed more interested in admiring his own reflection than in acknowledging anyone else.

He held a hair sprayer in one hand, meticulously styling his golden locks without even sparing a glance at his curious classmates.

"What are you staring at? Didn't your parents teach you it's rude to not know my name?" he sneered, his voice dripping with arrogance. "I am Rokusuke Koenji, the most beautiful man in the world."

He tossed his head back, his confidence practically spilling over. "If you haven't been living under a rock, you'd already know who Koenji is. That's right, I'm that Koenji."

Then, with a dismissive wave towards the guys in the room, he added, "And, just so we're clear, I only have eyes for the ladies. If you're a man, stay the hell away from me. My ambition? To become a hero!"

The room was left in a strange silence, his declaration sinking in. Most of his classmates found it absurd—what kind of hero acted like a pretentious jerk?

The idea of such a self-centered guy aiming for heroism didn't sit well with most of them.

But not everyone was bothered by his attitude. Some girls in the class, eyes wide and practically sparkling, seemed to focus on only one word: "money."

Koenji's riches clearly had their own gravitational pull, making his obnoxious behavior seem like a minor detail to them.

As long as the mention of money lingered in the air, Koenji's quirks or his arrogant personality didn't matter.

It was simple—money had a charm all on its own, and they were willing to overlook everything else.

Only YamaGod knew what lay beneath Koenji's so-called "hero complex."

Who was this guy again?

Right, the blonde asshole.

YamaGod remembered Koenji didn't always have this heroic fixation.

So was this strange "hero complex" some unintended result of his own Normality powers at work?

He recalled a moment from the past when he'd casually told Koenji, "You're the hero of this story," half-joking, half-prodding.

Did that offhand comment somehow lodge itself in Koenji's mind, creating this inflated self-image?

Now, Koenji was fully convinced he was destined for greatness and had molded himself into a caricature of a hero in his own mind.

Well, at least he's trying to be more than just an obnoxious asshole.

YamaGod mused, almost amused.

But this was a solid reminder: he had to be more cautious about what he said around people, or his Normality powers might come back to bite him.

"Ahem… Yamauchi-san?" Hirata's polite cough cut through the lingering tension, snapping his classmates out of their Koenji-induced stupor.

Now, it was YamaGod's turn for the introduction.

He coughed, then began to introduce himself to his classmates.