The Rise of the Iron Wall!-Chapter 106: New Class

"Hey, hey! Kumiko-chan, we are in the same class again! Good to see you!"

"Oi, Teme, get your filthy hand off her shoulder!"

"...Tch, you are here too, Chibi?"

"What the hell is that reaction?! You are not happy, huh?!"

"Hey, everyone! It is good to see you! I am so glad that we are in the same class again!"

Right now, they were all in the middle of their new classroom, and chatters and laughter could be heard so loud as if they were in the middle of a street market. It seemed that after two weeks of spring break, everyone had a story to be shared here, and now, they wanted to use this free time before their homeroom teacher finally arrived to greet their new classmates.

Higo himself was still in the middle of his bickering with Makino, while Kuroki and Kumiko just watched the fun from the sidelines. However, what the boy didn’t say was how ecstatic he was, what with him having so many acquaintances here. At least, the last year of high school wouldn’t be lonely for him.

"Anyway, Makino-kun, Kuroki-kun, did you both gain weight? I swear, you look bigger compared to two weeks ago." Kumiko suddenly asked, her eyes narrowed while her smile shone dangerously. Higo shrank his presence instantly, knowing that he didn’t want to get involved in this matter.

"A—Ah... Uh..." Makino and Kuroki stared at each other awkwardly, not knowing what to say here. "N—No, Kumiko-chan, our weight is still quite ideal!"

"Yes, Kumiko-san, you know that I am a big boy, right? If I were a little bit thinner, the opponent’s defenders would definitely destroy me!" Kuroki added, trying to defend himself here.

Kumiko just hummed silently, tapping her chin as if she was thinking something horrible here. This gesture alone was enough to intimidate the two boys bigger than her, and seeing this, Higo snickered silently, sending a silent prayer toward them all. 𝘧𝘳𝘦ℯ𝓌𝘦𝒷𝘯𝑜𝑣𝘦𝓁.𝒸𝘰𝓂

"Oh, well, I know that some players cannot help themselves during the holiday, and I can understand that. Later, our first ever official training is going to be me checking everyone’s physical state. Whoever gains more than 1 kg during the holiday will have their physical training doubled up, how about it?"

Makino’s face turned white pale immediately, while Kuroki started to hyperventilate on the spot. Kumiko’s physical training was always tough to handle, with some who were weak-willed always ending up vomiting after the training was over. Now, they were threatened with this?

No fucking way! They would die later!

Before anyone could say anything, though, their homeroom teacher finally arrived. It was a man in his late 30s, with wrinkles above his glasses and a tidy hairstyle, walking straight to the teacher’s desk.

Higo knew that man. He was Naomasa Kurata, the history teacher and also the most laid-back official in the school, who could often be seen smoking and reading a newspaper when he thought no one was around. The man was also quite popular, what with him being close to all the students, no matter which class they were from.

Seeing the man become his new homeroom teacher, Higo clenched his fist below the table. ’Yes! At least, we will not have any additional pressure this year!’ Little did he know that it wasn’t just him who had a similar thought.

"Okay, everyone, quiet please!" The man, Kurata, coughed hard, gaining everyone’s attention. "As you all know, I am Naomasa Kurata, and I will be your homeroom teacher for the rest of the year. So, Yoroshiku Onegaisimashu!"

The moment the man bowed, all the students also got up from their seats, following the man’s gesture immediately. "Yoroshiku Onegaisimashu, Sensei!"

"Good, sit down, everyone." The man nodded. "Then, let’s not waste our time here. First things first, we need to pick a class monitor. Any volunteer?"

To no one’s surprise, not a single person here raised their hand. After all, being a class monitor was a troublesome job, and with the pressure of the final year on their shoulder, no one wanted to add another burden.

"Oh, well, that means it will be me who has to pick, huh?" Kurata nodded solemnly before his eyes fell on the most popular guy in the room. "Well, it is decided, then! Makino-kun, you are going to be the class monitor!"

Makino was so taken aback by the sudden appointment that he pointed at himself confusedly. "Me? Are you serious, Sensei? But I am not even volunteering here?! Can it be anyone else?!"

"Unfortunately, this is far from being a democracy." The teacher denied the boy’s cry without hesitation. "I am the Shogun of this territory, and as a Shomin, you have no choice but to follow the lord’s order."

Some students snickered at the theatrical way their teacher treated everything here. Makino himself just sighed helplessly, knowing that he had no other choice but to accept his new responsibility here.

"Good." Kurata nodded in a satisfied manner. "Next! I know that for all of you, this is going to be your last year at the club, and you want to achieve something big, like the National Tournament or anything similar. So, I will tell you this. The limit is December. Once the new year comes, you have to retire from the club already, and get ready for the University Entrance Exams! Do you understand?!"

"Yes, Sensei..."

This time, the tone was somber, as everyone was reminded once again how this year was going to be their last.

"I know that it is hard to accept, but you guys are growing older here. You also need to start thinking of your responsibility for the future, so after this, I will share with you the first career questionnaire of the year, okay?"

Right after that, commotion erupted in the classroom, as everyone moaned about it.

"Oh, come on, Sensei! Let us have fun first!"

"Yeah, yeah! Why are you so hasty here! Do you really want to kick us out so quickly?!"

"Ah! I am not ready for adulthood!"

Higo himself pondered in silence, wondering inwardly, "Career questionnaire, huh? What do I want to do in the future?"