The classroom hummed with that peculiar post-school tension. Seven Cinderellas and one prince coexisted in this class—definitely not seven Snow Whites and a dwarf. *I’m no dwarf*, Xia Chuan Yuan thought firmly. *I’m the prince. The tall kind. I’m not even 140 centimeters. Dwarf? Not me.*

Everyone waited silently for homeroom teacher Tsurumi Misuzu. Freshly acquainted, the girls huddled together whispering, avoiding Xia Chuan Yuan entirely. He cleared his throat. No response. He shrunk back into his shell, drawing a circle on his desk and silently cursing them.

Mercifully, the awkwardness broke as the classroom door slid open. Xia Chuan Yuan nearly lunged to shake Tsurumi’s hand in gratitude—but *no*. That’d scream creep. *Stay elegant. Stay clean.*

"You’re all still here?" Tsurumi chirped. "Not off to clubs or home?"

"*You* told us to stay!"

"Testing your obedience! Calm down—bad for the kidneys. Respect your elders. Feeling drained already? I know a great doctor—"

"What?! My kidneys are fine! I can hold my pee for ages! Don’t slander me—I’ll sue, teacher or not!"

At "hold my pee," the seven girls flushed crimson.

No one called out the teacher’s nonsense. *Fine.* As a former Young Pioneer raised on new Chinese soil, correcting errors was his duty. "This is ridiculous," Xia Chuan Yuan muttered.

"Tsk tsk," Tsurumi smiled, unflappable. "Boys who nitpick stay single. Ask these seven—do they like fussy guys? Don’t say I didn’t warn you." The girls watched the exchange like serene monks detached from worldly drama.

"Enough about Xia Chuan Yuan’s kidney health," Tsurumi announced. "Serious talk now."

"*My* kidney health?! You started this! And you haven’t even—"

Ignoring him, she ushered everyone to the back. "I kept you to bond. You’re a team now. Stronger together." She beamed. "See? Xia Chuan Yuan’s not scary—he’s funny! This class won’t lack laughs!"

"*Funny*? I’m *witty*! I spread joy! I was correcting *your* mistake!"

A beat of silence followed his outburst. Then class rep Sakurano Sakuya stepped forward, hand extended. "Sakurano Sakuya. Happy to be friends."

"Th-thanks. Likewise."

Her lead broke the ice. One by one, the others shook Xia Chuan Yuan’s hand—soft, porcelain-smooth palms, released instantly. *Hold too long? Instant creep points.* He knew better.

...

If life were a galgame, this empty classroom held one guy and eight girls (seven officers + homeroom teacher)—the hero and his heroines. Right now, affinity bars should be flashing. *Pick a route. Save. Reload. Full conquest.*

Just a fantasy. But after those handshakes, Xia Chuan Yuan almost heard imaginary chimes: *+1 Affinity with All!* No groping. No scowls. Just warm smiles.

Tsurumi clapped. "Celebration dinner! My treat. Oh—and Xia Chuan Yuan?" She winked. "As labor rep, you’re on cleanup duty. Shine!"

"*What?! Unfair!*"

*Am I possessed by a spiky-haired protagonist now? Next, I’ll find a nun clinging to my balcony yelling about assassins...*

While he spiraled internally, the girls texted their parents. Sakurano High allowed phones—a rare mercy.

"Xia Chuan Yuan, your phone please."

"My phone? It’s half my soul! Without it, I’ll—"

Tsurumi plucked it from his pocket mid-drama. *Beep beep beep.*

"Nothing scandalous here. Save this number—my WeChat too. *Memorize it.*"

His contacts now held "[Most Beautiful Teacher Misuzu]." He cringed. Then—*genius*—he spun around, collecting the girls’ numbers. They complied. *Guess I’m not that creepy.*

"Trust you’ll finish fast," Tsurumi called over her shoulder, already heading out. "We’ll text the restaurant location. *Don’t* ask for help—we’re delicate girls! Be a gentleman!"

*Delicate?!* Xia Chuan Yuan seethed. *Those battle-axe auras screaming ‘loli’? Please.*

As the sun dipped below the horizon, Xia Chuan Yuan stood alone in the empty classroom, broom in hand. The girls’ laughter faded down the hall.

*Unfair!!! Pretty girls are devils. I want gentle ones!!!*