Chapter 8: Classmates

After the welcoming ceremony concluded, the students dispersed and made their way back to their respective classrooms.

Tsuna entered his class and walked to his seat. His attention was drawn to a girl who appeared genuinely interested in conversing with a young man sitting at his desk, engrossed in a book.

The young man had dark green hair neatly parted to the left, his light green eyes framed by black-framed glasses. Tsuna noticed that his left hand was wrapped in a bandage.

On the guy's desk sat a small portable fan, an item that seemed out of place in a school environment, especially considering Teiko High's elite status and the availability of proper air conditioning in the classrooms.

Curiosity piqued, the girl queried, "Hey, Midorima, why do you have a fan with you?"

Shintaro Midorima adjusted his glasses before responding to the girl's persistent questions. His tone lacked interest, hoping to discourage further conversation, but the girl seemed undeterred.

"It's my lucky item," Midorima replied, a hint of weariness in his voice.

Perplexed, the girl tilted her head and asked, "How did you determine it's your lucky item?"

Midorima adjusted his glasses once more, his attention fixed on the girl.

"According to the Oha-asa forecast," he explained.

The girl's eyes widened with enthusiasm. "Oh, you listen to Oha-asa too!? I'm a Sagittarius. What's your horoscope?"

Her excitement was palpable, thrilled to find someone who shared her interest.

However, Midorima's response was still, as usual, completely lacking in interest. He sighed, clearly not as enthusiastic about the conversation as she was. It seemed like he expected this interaction to continue until their homeroom teacher arrived.

Sitting at his desk, Tsuna observed the exchange with amusement. This dynamic was entirely new to him, as his past school life memories did not mirror this peculiar interaction.

"...Come in, Murasakibara."

The teacher's voice echoed through the classroom, drawing everyone's attention to the middle-aged man who entered the room. Following closely behind him was a young man with long lavender hair cascading down his back and violet eyes. His imposing stature caught the gaze of every student in the class.

"Will you really give me a snack, Sensei?" Atsushi Murasakibara asked in a disinterested tone, sounding passive and unengaged. The teacher's expression grew stern as he contemplated how to respond. He finally mustered a reply, "...Yeah, just find a seat."

Pointing towards an empty seat next to Tsuna, the teacher directed Murasakibara to take that spot. Murasakibara simply nodded and made his way toward the designated seat with a bored expression.

Once seated, Murasakibara promptly laid his head on the desk, closed his eyes, and drifted off to sleep.

"..."

A moment of silence enveloped the classroom as everyone gazed at Murasakibara in disbelief. Even Tsuna, who had some recollection of Murasakibara from his past, was left speechless, shaking his head in mild astonishment.

He couldn't help but be fascinated by the variety of personalities and quirks he encountered in his new school environment.

Feeling a sense of helplessness, the teacher knew there was little he could do. The school board had informed him of Murasakibara's unique disposition, instructing him to tolerate non-threatening behaviors. After all, Murasakibara was considered a prodigious talent and held a young athlete scholarship award.

Resolving to tackle the situation at hand, the teacher chose to overlook the slumbering Murasakibara and proceeded to the front of the class. With chalk in hand, he began inscribing his name on the board, making his presence known as their homeroom teacher.

The teacher delved into the details of the school's fundamental rules, ensuring that the students had a clear understanding of the guidelines they were expected to follow. Additionally, he provided a more comprehensive explanation of the school's facilities and their locations, aiming to minimize any confusion among the students.

Although the curriculum had been briefly outlined during the welcoming ceremony, the teacher took the opportunity to elaborate on it, presenting the information in a manner that was more accessible and easier to grasp.

In adherence to the school's tradition, representatives from the student council were slated to visit the class later, acting as guides to familiarize the newcomers with the school environment. The teacher emphasized the importance of getting to know one another, encouraging the students to introduce themselves.

"Alright, now, could you please introduce yourself?"

With a pointed finger, the teacher singled out Tsuna, indicating that it was his turn to introduce himself. Being seated at the front row, adjacent to the window, Tsuna stood up in response.

"My name is Tsunayoshi Kazama. It's a pleasure to meet all of you."

His introduction was concise and unassuming. However, an undeniable aura of dignity and refinement about Tsuna that was reminiscent of someone of great importance left a lasting impression on his classmates.

While Tsuna did not conform to the customary bowing gesture during introductions, the students overlooked this deviation and continued the introduction to the next student.

Beside the slumbering Murasakibara, all the other students in the class had introduced themselves. The teacher, recognizing the futility of trying to wake him up, took it upon himself to introduce Murasakibara to the class.

"Alright, I believe we've heard from everyone. And this tall student who is currently catching some Z's is Atsushi Murasakibara. It's important that you all form positive relationships with one another, as our class structure at Teiko remains unchanged throughout the three years. You'll be spending a significant amount of time together," the teacher elaborated, emphasizing the significance of their long-lasting classmates.

Finishing his address, the teacher bid the classroom farewell, coinciding with the arrival of the student council delegates.

Engaging in a brief discussion with the teacher, the delegates stepped forward and introduced themselves to the class. They then invited everyone to join them on a tour of the school.

As the tour progressed, a few of Tsuna's classmates initiated conversations with him, curious to learn more about him. They discovered that Tsuna, despite his Japanese heritage, had spent his formative years in the United States. This revelation shed light on his unfamiliarity with certain traditional customs.

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