"If the confession is successful, the two of you will officially become a couple. I pray that many happy couples will be born this season as well."

At last, there were signs that the rules explanation I had heard enough times to be sick of was coming to an end, and I was just starting to let my guard down.

But against all expectations, the MC kept talking.

"Actually, a new member who decided to join at the last minute is waiting outside the classroom!"

This development was a pattern I had never run into before in all my time appearing on Bokusetsu.

Since I was a returning member who had participated in multiple seasons, I had only half-listened to the rules explanation just now, too.

Because the program's title contains the word "season," Bokusetsu's seasons are divided into spring, summer, autumn, and winter. By a strange coincidence, Haruma, Asuka, Emma, and I have all been appearing on Bokusetsu since last summer, so we're already veterans of a full year.

But unlike unserious me, there were plenty of people hanging on the MC's every word.

Of course, there were. This was the first time they had ever heard the explanation of the rules.

That's right, the new members who had been chosen to appear starting this season were already here in the classroom.

So then why was the rookie outside being treated as the only special case?

As the classroom buzzed in confusion, the MC called for the new member in the loudest voice of the day.

"Now then, please come in!"

In an instant, the whole classroom fell silent.

Instinct shut down any unnecessary movement and made us choose only one thing: to admire the girl who had appeared before us.

Vivid golden hair that seemed to electrify anyone who looked at it. Skin so white it was dazzling. Sapphire eyes that looked as if, once you peered into them, you would never be able to come back.

Though she carried an exotic air, there was still something about her that felt distinctly Japanese. Her face, blessed with that hybrid beauty, remained as expressionless as a bisque doll.

Even the summer heat, tiresome as it was, seemed to lose its place in front of her.

The one who stood at the podium, wrapped in an aura so cool it felt like she belonged to another world, was a golden-haired, blue-eyed, beautiful girl, as if someone's ideal had put on a summer uniform and started walking around.

"Please introduce yourself."

"Yes."

In answer to the MC's voice, the mysterious girl replied flatly.

"My name is Kisaragi Karen Emilia. I was born to a German papa and a Japanese mama. I usually attend a German international school in Yokohama."

The girl who called herself Kisaragi went on with her self-introduction in Japanese, so fluent it was startling.

Her looks were so striking that once you were told she was mixed race, it made perfect sense.

The other members strained their ears, wanting to learn more about this rookie with European blood.

But Kisaragi closed her lips and showed no sign of saying anything more.

"Um, Miss Kisaragi? Is that... all?"

You could understand why the MC was bewildered.

A self-introduction on your first appearance is the best chance you'll ever get to make an appeal.

That's why so many members go all out, trying to advertise their charm by bringing in guitars to perform live songs, imitating the cool voices of popular voice actors, and doing whatever else they can think of.

And yet, Kisaragi looked as though she had no interest at all in such trivial worldly matters.

"I'm sorry. I'm not good at doing pointless things."

I'll just say it clearly, this was the first time I'd ever seen someone like this.

Renria is a rational game.

In this classroom, which might as well be a nationwide school-caste tournament where ikemen and beautiful girls who reign at the top of their own schools' ecosystems all gather in one place, there are definitely techniques and strategies for beating your rivals and becoming popular.

In that respect, Kisaragi's understanding of the game called Renria was nowhere near enough.

Even so, I had no intention of calling her foolish or pitiable.

If anything, I found her remark refreshing, as though it were mocking Bokusetsu's standard playbook.

"Th-then, could I at least ask you to tell us your enthusiasm for the show?"

"I came to Bokusetsu to make my first love come true. I look forward to being with all of you from here on."

With the whole classroom's gaze still fixed on her, Kisaragi pinched the end of her skirt and gave an elegant bow so graceful it left me spellbound, a curtsey, the European form of greeting.

"Thank you very much, Miss Kisaragi! Now then, please move to one of the open seats!"

Trying to restore some warmth to the chilled atmosphere, the MC clapped exaggeratedly as he urged the problem child to take her seat.

Watching Kisaragi come this way, I realized the seat next to mine was empty.

For a moment, as she passed by me, Kisaragi stopped as though on a whim.

"Do you need something?"

"...No, nothing."

After saying only that, Kisaragi sat down, stirring up a breeze that carried the scent of soap.

What a strange one. Even though we had only just met, I nearly found myself muttering that out loud.