The time has come... The first day of school...

Ah... I'm getting super nervous...

Anne, Maria-chan, and Iris left after they accompanied me to my class. And on the way, I'm super vigilant of the heroine, looking left and right to avoid meeting her. The worst thing that could happen was to see her the first thing in the morning...

Fortunately, I didn't meet her, which was quite surprising... The "Heroine" was supposed to be a super honor student who'd arrived early in the morning. That's why I came slightly later than I would have. It's only half an hour till classes start and the heroine would usually arrive in the classroom a full hour before.

Upon arriving, I was greeted by a super massive and luxurious classroom. The high ceilings and the surrounding walls were predominantly white with golden decorations as highlights. The numerous chandeliers which hung from the ceilings were made of precious stones of all colors of the rainbow that emitted a fantastic dreamlike radiance.

There were four rows and six columns of desks in each class, amounting to 24 desks, one for each student. It was a beautiful, mahogany, polished, wooden desk with a decorated and cushioned chair. It was a luxury as expected of the royal academy that nurtured the future pillars of the kingdom.

Every classroom was the same and every student enrolled in the academy would be able to enjoy all of its facility and comfort. The classes were also not divided into those of noble and common birth. The children of nobility and children of common backgrounds would be put into the same class, be taught by the same teachers, and receive the same treatment from the academy.

The royal academy wished that the children of nobility would learn to treat those of common birth with respect and see them as fellow citizens of the kingdom, not as something low to step upon. History had proven that nobles who considered commoners, the citizens of their kingdom, as nothing more than farm animals would eventually lead their kingdom to ruin. If they were the brain of the kingdom, then the citizens would be the blood that carries life all throughout the kingdom.

Moreover, by letting them be in the same class, the children of nobility would also be able to find talents from those of common birth that they wouldn't have been able to otherwise and possibly make them into their subordinates. There have been plenty of such cases where a noble would find a talented commoner during their stay in the academy, and many had found success in such a relationship. Some commoners even managed to gain nobility from their achievements.

It was a win-win relationship, and after seeing such results, the nobility began supporting the royal academy's vision tremendously, and many commoners have made a name for themselves since the royal academy founding.

It was a revolutionary vision that pushed the kingdom to new heights.

Yes... I understand that. I know from first hand experience that a commoner could become someone amazing. Anne, Maria-chan, Iris, and Vincent were all living proof of that notion.

And I don't mind sharing a class with commoners. Honestly, since I'm just a regular person in my previous life, there's no distinction between a commoner and a noble for me. If you're nice, then I'll befriend you. If you're sus, I won't befriend you. It doesn't matter if you're a commoner or a noble.

There's just... one person I don't want to share a class with...

It's the person I've been trying to avoid all this time...

Aria... The "Heroine" of the otome game "Lovely Happenings"... I seriously don't want to be in the same class as her.

After all, if I were, we're going to see each other a lot! That means more chances for her to screw with me!!!

But... things aren't looking good for me...

First of all, "Alterisa" was in the same class as the "Heroine". In the game, she would bully Aria in class when she's alone since the capture targets are either in their second-year or not in the same class. And my seat was in the fourth row of the third column, the same seat "Alterisa" was in.

And second of all...

I sat down on my seat, and glanced at the cute, blonde-haired girl sitting on the table to the back left side of me. That beautiful curled bob-cut hair, those adorable emerald eyes, and that cute, petite figure...

There's no mistaking it. That must be Ellie, the "heroine's" best friend!!!

If she's here, then the heroine would definitely be in this class...

I let out a sigh for the upteenth time.

"What's wrong, Risa-sama?"

From the table in front of me, Evelyn looked over with a concerned expression on her face.

"Risa-chan?"

"Alterisa-sama! D-Do you feel tired?"

"Alterisa-sama... Would you like to go and rest in the nurse's office? You've been sighing quite a lot since this morning..."

"Just go to the nurse's office if you feel bad, already... We can tell the teacher, so don't worry."

"No, I'm fine. Thank you very much for your concern, everyone..."

Thankfully, I'm surrounded by my best friends...

Celine and Evelyn were seated in front of me. I have Illya and Noir to my right and left. And Valerie-chan is behind me.

I was actually quite surprised when I found out they're in the same class as me. They're actually in different classes in the game, and Alterisa rarely ever gets to meet them.

That's why I asked them to accompany me in the academy. I didn't know they're going to be in the same class as me.

Thank you oh great Goddess!!! Thank you for letting me be surrounded by friends!!!

"U-Uhm... I-If it doesn't bother you, w-would you like some candy?"

Suddenly, a quiet, adorable voice resounded from behind me. It was Ellie! She was holding out several pieces of candy in her trembling hand.

She looked extremely nervous and her face was super red.

"Eh? Is it okay?"

I turned to her and asked, and she immediately nodded her head rapidly.

"Thank you very much. Then, I shall gratefully take one."

"Y-Yes! P-Please help yourself."

I took one of them, opened up the paper wrapper, and popped it into my mouth. Mmm~ It's lemon flavored, and it's super delicious~

"Wow, it's delicious. May I know where you buy it?"

"A-Ah, I-I didn't actually buy it. U-Uhm... I-I made it myself..."

Eh? Really?!

Wait... Come to think of it, Ellie's super into making candies and sweets, right? She'd always offer some to the Heroine when she's down and after she's bullied by "Alterisa".

"Truly? You're amazing! Ah, please excuse me for not introducing myself. My name is Alterisa von Lorya. A pleasure. May I know of yours?"

"A-Ah! O-O-Of course! M-My name is Ellie! P-P-Pleased to meet you too... I-I-I-I've always been a big fan of your Eden, L-Lorya-sama!!! M-My mother and I have been using your products since the start!!!"

Oh~! A super dedicated fan of Eden~ Ehehehe~ I'm so happy~!

"Is that so? I'm very happy to hear that. Thank you very much for your support, Ellie. Please convey my gratitude for your mother as well~"

"Y-Y-Yes! Ehehehe..."

Mm... She doesn't seem different from the "Ellie" I know from "Lovely Happenings". She seemed like a genuinely good girl...

...Should I try to befriend her? I mean... She's a very cute girl, and if she's okay with it, I don't see why not!

"Ah, that's right. These are my precious friends! Would you like to introduce yourselves to them as well?"

"Eh? W-Will that be fine? I-I'm just a commoner..."

"Ufufufu~ Please don't say that, Ellie-sama~ In this academy, those of nobility and of common birth are the same. And I would also love to make friends in this academy as well~"

"Ah... Yes..."

Oooh~ As expected of Evelyn~ Her onee-sama aura is overwhelming!!! Look, even Ellie is dazed!!!

"It is a pleasure to meet you. My name is Evelyn von Silium, Risa-sama's best friend~!"

"Y-Yes! I-It is a pleasure to meet you as well! M-My name is E-Ellie! P-Please take care of me..."

"My name is Noir von Raeven, Alterisa-sama's best friend~ It is a pleasure to meet you, Ellie-sama."

The girls then introduced themselves one by one. Strangely, they're all introducing themselves as my "best friend".

I guess... they're not wrong, but don't they usually introduce themselves as the daughter of their household or something?

Is this how I should introduce myself too? But If I said who I'm best friends with, it'd be too long...

Should I introduce myself as the founder of Eden? Or as Alex's fiancee?

Hm... Maybe it's better if I just stick to my regular introduction?

We talked with Ellie for a little bit after that. She's still super nervous when she's talking and she's stuttering a lot. Maybe because it's her first time talking to nobles, and those of super high ranking ones like my friends nonetheless. I can understand why she's super nervous.

She's especially nervous towards me, for some reason. Maybe because I'm the owner of the company she loves? Her face is super red and she'd cutely bite her tongue once in a while. It's honestly super cute, but I hope she can get used to my presence soon. I'd feel bad if she turned into a bundle of nerves every time I talked to her...

But unfortunately, our little talk got interrupted when the class suddenly burst into murmurs the moment someone entered the class.

We all turned to the door, and I immediately felt chills down my spine.

Walking with her head held high and a confident smile on her face was the one I truly didn't want to meet... Aria.

She walked briskly and confidently, ignoring the other students who were murmuring around her and looking at her with a frown. She was walking towards her seat, the same seat she had in the game which was to Ellie's left.

And when she walked past Noir, she glanced at me with a glare.

Ugh... This is really the worst... I can't believe I'd have to spend the day with her...

She sat down on her table, and immediately struck up a conversation with Ellie.

"Hello~ it's nice to meet you~ My name is Aria~ What's your name~?"

"E-E-Ellie..."

"Ellie, huh~? What a cute name~ Ah, I'm feeling a bit low, today. Do you have some candies?"

"E-Eh? A-Ah, I-I did, but I've shared all of them with L-Lorya-sama, S-Silium-sama, Raeven-sama, M-Magus-sama, Luminum-sama, and Silva-sama..."

"Huh?"

"Hiii!"

Uwah... She's totally scaring Ellie.

And where's the angelic Aria I know from the game? All I see is a delinquent shaking someone down for money, or in this case, candy.

"Ufufufu~ If you feel a bit tired, then please feel free to head to the nurse's office~ It would be unfortunate if you were to fall sick on the first day of class, after all~"

Evelyn spoke up with a brilliant smile on her face.

But... Wait, that's not her usual brilliant smile. That's her "pissed-off onee-sama" smile... Why is she super pissed, though?

"Eh? A-Ah, no-"

"I will inform our teacher personally. I'm sure they will understand. So please don't worry and go ahead."

"A-Ah, n-no, I-I'm fine. I-I already feel better. T-Thanks..."

Oh? As expected of Evelyn... Even the reincarnated heroine is trembling from her smile...

"Are you sure? Then if you feel tired again, please feel free to leave at any time~ I'm sure the teacher will understand."

"Y-Yeah..."

Aria backed away, leaving Ellie alone, and began to look off to the windows by her side like some anime-protagonist...

"U-Uhm... T-T-Thank you very much, S-Silium-sama."

"Ufufufu~ Please don't mind it, Ellie. I'm simply doing what a friend should do to each other~"

"T-Thank you very much!"

Ellie's eyes teared up slightly as she bowed her head towards Evelyn.

Ah, how beautiful~ Friendship between girls is the best as expected~!

I glanced at Aria once again and silently let out a sigh.

It seems like she's weak in confrontations... But she could still play the damsel in distress part and have other people do the confronting while she weep and cry.

She's definitely going to think of something to strike us, but there's no telling what she'll have planned in that little head of hers.

Hah... Seriously, why can't I just enjoy my school life being surrounded by cuties peacefully!!!!







AN: Sitting chart so you can imagine the situation better~!

Whiteboard

- - - - - -

- Celine Evelyn - - -

- Noir Alterisa Illya - -

Aria Ellie Valerie - - -

I hope you guys enjoy this chapter~! Please vote and comment your thoughts~!