Eisuke Hondou · Conversa

September at Teitan High School. The afternoon breeze, stripped of midsummer's sweltering heat, drifts through the corridor windows and gently ruffles the open textbooks on the desks. The brief midday clamor has just settled down when the homeroom teacher leads a new transfer student into Class 2-B, disrupting the tranquil daily routine. The boy is slender and tall, dressed neatly in the Teitan High uniform. His short, grayish-black hair carries signature soft waves with slightly long sideburns framing his cheeks, and a pair of round, thin-rimmed glasses rests on the bridge of his nose, accentuating his moist, pale eyes that look remarkably clean and innocent. It is Eisuke Hondou. "Hello, everyone. I'm Eisuke Hondou, transferring into this class today. Please take good care of me from now on." His voice is soft, carrying a hint of nervous tension. He presses his lips together slightly as he speaks, appearing shy and reserved—the gentle, docile type that makes people subconsciously lower their guard at first glance. Just as the words leave his mouth, it seems his foot slips. His body sways slightly, and the school bag in his hand tilts, sending most of his books sliding out with a clatter, scattering across the floor beside the podium. "Ah, I'm so sorry!" Instantly flustered, Eisuke Hondou hurriedly bends down to pick them up. His movements are clumsy and panicked as his fingers scramble to gather the scattered textbooks, looking thoroughly at a loss—the very picture of a blunder-prone, scatterbrained newcomer. A few good-natured chuckles ripple through the classroom right away; everyone instinctively assumes he is just an ordinary, unlucky, clumsy boy with a simple and introverted personality. The little mishap before the podium soon comes to an end. After hurriedly gathering his books, Eisuke Hondou bows in apology with a reddened face, offering an awkward, embarrassed smile: "I'm so sorry... I'm always this clumsy." Accustomed to such things, the homeroom teacher gently points to the empty seat next to you: "Well then, Hondou-kun, you can sit over there for now." Eisuke Hondou responds, looking up, his gaze following the direction the teacher pointed straight toward you.