Zongman: I sign in at the second dimension

"Alright, alright—stop showing off, Kevin. You might be average looking, but when it comes to vanity, you're number one!"

"Hahaha, you're not wrong, Tatsuki—Kevin really is a bit vain."

"Wow, you two are really breaking my heart!" Kevin clutches his chest dramatically, putting on a pained expression.

"Enough already! You're always pretending all day long. If you stop, you're practically asking for trouble, aren't you?" Tatsuki teases.

"Hahaha, coming from you, Tatsuki, that's rich."

Ding-ding-ding...

A bell rings, and a voice calls out, "Alright, class—let's return to our seats, Kevin, Tatsuki!"

(Chiane's voice)

"Let's go!" Kevin replies.

"Save your bragging for after class…" Tatsuki mutters.

Just then, a striking woman with long black hair—exuding that elegant yet commanding aura—enters the classroom. She strides to the podium, casually tosses her textbook onto it, and scribbles her name on the blackboard. Turning to the class, she announces, "Class, good morning. I'm Hiratsuka Shizuka, your Chinese teacher for these three years of high school. Enough chit-chat—listen up, or else!" With a haughty laugh, she snaps her fingers and begins the lesson.

"Alright!" echoes from the class, about thirty voices in unison.

Tatsuki merely nods, flipping open his textbook and resting his chin on one hand as he watches Hiratsuka Shizuka deliver her lecture.

Inside, Tatsuki muses, "Wow… no wonder she's one of the legends of youth—so cool and spirited, even if she does seem a bit hot-tempered."

Noticing Tatsuki's unwavering gaze, Hiratsuka Shizuka turns and addresses him directly, "Hey, boy—staring so intently at me… Do you find your teacher attractive?"

Instantly, every pair of eyes in the classroom fixates on Tatsuki. Unfazed, he replies coolly, "Teacher, you're very beautiful—of course, I can't help but steal a few extra glances. Is there a problem with that?"

Hiratsuka Shizuka covers her forehead and laughs, "Hahaha, you're quite the cheeky little rascal. Now, focus on the lesson!"

After class, Chiane and Kevin dash from their seats toward Tatsuki's desk. (They avoid sitting right beside him because Nakano Miku is already there, engrossed in her phone.)

Chiane exclaims, "Wow, Tatsuki—you really went for it! Flirting with a female teacher like that takes guts!"

"Yeah, teach me your ways, big bro Tatsuki—I wanna charm the ladies too!" Kevin complains, half-joking.

Tatsuki grins, "Alright, alright—am I really flirting with the teacher? And as for you, Kevin, all you need is a thick skin!"

"Ha! Hypocrite!" Kevin snaps, echoing his friend's teasing tone.

Nearby, Nakano Miku listens quietly and murmurs, "Even though you have all five of us, you still think about someone else, Tatsuki—you playboy!"

Hearing this, Tatsuki glances over at her. Miku meets his look briefly before returning to her phone, leaving him puzzled.

"Strange… Did I mishear that? I don't even remember knowing you back when I was little…" he wonders, but is soon pulled back into the conversation by Chiane and Kevin.

At that moment, his little assistant (whose voice Tatsuki can't hear) pats an imaginary chest and grumbles, "Goddess Alice, how am I supposed to explain these childhood memories to him now?!"

After three classes, lunchtime arrives. Tatsuki is about to head to the cafeteria with Chiane and Kevin when a cute girl appears at the classroom's rear door and speaks up, "Um… Tatsuki, are you in this classroom?"

Nakano Nino and Nakano Miku, who haven't yet left for lunch, immediately turn their attention to the source of the voice.

Startled from his seat, Tatsuki approaches Chiane and Kevin, asking, "Who's calling for me?"

Both Chiane and Kevin are momentarily dumbstruck—unable to form a word—as they gaze at the stunning girl before them.

"Tatsuki, it's lunchtime—do you want to come to the cafeteria with me?" she asks.

Recognizing her, Tatsuki smiles and says, "Ah, it's Katou Megumi. Sure, let's have lunch together…"

Before he can finish, Katou Megumi grabs his arm and leads him briskly toward the cafeteria.

Chiane and Kevin are left slack-jawed. Kevin finally says, "Alright, let's head to the cafeteria too, Chiane."

"Let's go!" Chiane agrees.

The two wander off like stunned zombies.

Seeing Tatsuki being whisked away by this enchanting stranger, Nakano Nino grits her teeth in anger.

Nearby, Nakano Miku quickly says, "Come on, Nino, let's go see what's going on with Tatsuki!"

"Yeah, we need to hurry to the cafeteria!" Nino responds as they dash off together.

Transition...

Now, Tatsuki and Katou Megumi receive their bowls from the cafeteria lady and find a quiet table to sit face-to-face.

Tatsuki sets his bowl down and asks, "Katou, how did you find me?"

Megumi grins playfully, "How do you think? It's really simple!"

"Really? Did you look up directions or something?" Tatsuki asks, amused.

Megumi shakes her head and replies, "Nope—I just checked the school's grade website and found out which class you're in! Teehee!"

Tatsuki laughs and says, "Wow, so you tracked me down through the grades—I'm impressed!"

At that moment, a voice rings out from behind: "We meet again! Hello, classmate!"

Tatsuki turns to see Nakano Ichika speaking, and he responds, "Does that count...?"