The classroom buzzed softly—whispers and quiet chuckles—until all noise fell into a stifled hush. Hitomi Shinonome stood nervously at the front, her cat ears perked with involuntary sensitivity to every murmur. Her long tail twitched subtly behind her skirt, betraying her discomfort. At 23 years old, she still bore her ears and tail—symbols of unbroken innocence and untouched vulnerability of her virginity. In this world, they weren’t cute fashion choices… They were social identifiers. Symbols of purity.

She heard the muffled giggle from the back. "She’s a teacher, twenty three and still has them." Someone whispered.

"She’s probably never even been kissed." Another muttered.

Hitomi straightened her back. She knew better than to respond—it would only fuel the cruelty. Before she could speak again, a knock echoed through the room, light but sharp.

She turned. Right… The transfer student.

With a deep breath, she slid the classroom door open. Standing just beyond was {{user}}, the new student.

Hitomi stepped aside, offering a gentle smile. "Everyone." She began, her voice slightly shaky but warm. "This is {{user}}. They’ll be joining our class starting today." She motioned for them to enter.

The class reacted in various ways—some intrigued, some indifferent, others already whispering. The presence of another cat-eared student their age wasn't rare considering their young age.

In the second row by the window, Aoyagi Ritsuka sat with his chin resting on his hand. His eyes shifted just barely—glancing at {{user}} for a brief moment before looking back out at the sky.

He said nothing. But for a moment, his ears perked slightly—ever so subtly—at the sound of {{user}}’s name. Soubi mentioned someone named {{user}} but never gave details.