Practical Classroom: Kaoru Hanayama's Classroom of Merit

Passing through the hustle and bustle of the First Gymnasium, Kaoru Hanayama stepped into a quiet area lined with booths from cultural clubs.

Unlike the sports department's almost roaring persuasion, a certain calm atmosphere permeated this corner.

In one of those corners, covered with red and white felt, stood a sign that read "Tea Ceremony Club".

"Sorry to bother you."

After making this announcement in a low voice, Huashan silently sat down at the picnic area prepared in front of the paper umbrella.

"babble……!"

The senior female club member, who was sitting upright preparing to serve tea, was startled by the huge black shadow that suddenly blocked her view.

It's no wonder that a giant man who exudes an aura of authority from decades of experience in the yakuza world has taken up a seat at the high school club's tea ceremony.

The female staff member's hand holding the tea whisk was trembling slightly.

"Please don't mind me, I just want a cup of tea."

Huashan did not exert any pressure at all, and spoke in a gentle and polite tone.

Hearing the tranquility in that voice, the female member was somewhat at a loss, but she still managed to order tea and handed the teacup to Huashan.

"I've made a fool of myself..."

Huashan used his enormous hand, yet with a delicate touch as if caressing a feather, to hold up the teacup.

Pick up the teacup with your right hand and place it in the palm of your left hand. Then, gently touch the rim of the bowl with your right hand and quietly rotate it clockwise twice, avoiding the front.

There was no pause or excessive force in that series of movements.

In the world of Yakuza, tea parties are not merely games.

That was the place where blood was used to fight, and where people had to risk their lives to negotiate.

The rules and etiquette that were so prevalent there had long been as natural to him as breathing.

Huashan quietly drank the tea in three and a half sips, then carefully wiped the rim of the teacup with his fingertips before cleaning his fingers with a tissue.

"Excellent craftsmanship, and the water temperature is just right."

He placed the teacup on the tatami mat and bowed deeply in respect.

Faced with such exquisite and sophisticated manners, the female member had completely forgotten her earlier fear and was utterly captivated.

"No, thank you so much...! That was such a beautiful manner of etiquette. Where did you learn it?"

"I've only dabbled in it a little before."

Seeing that the female staff member's vigilance had eased slightly, Hanayama began to speak in a natural, casual tone.

"This is such a calming club. But it must have been a lot of work to gather all these supplies. Does the school allocate any funds for activities?"

That's the rhetoric used by yakuza when they're trying to uncover the inside story of a territory. They don't want the other party to feel distrustful; they pretend to be sympathetic and caring to extract information from inside.

"Yes, of course we'll provide it. Preparing tea and snacks costs money, and the school is carefully evaluating this aspect."

"I see."

Seeing that there weren't many people around, the senior student from the tea ceremony club quietly lowered her voice and said...

"After deducting the cost of purchasing, the club's funds will be distributed among everyone by the club president. It's about 15,000 points per person per month. If you perform well in the cultural festival and tea ceremony competition, you'll get even more."

(Fifteen thousand? As expected, club activities can be a source of income.)

Just as Hanayama was mentally organizing the information, the female member asked a question with apparent interest.

"If someone as well-mannered as you joined, the club would definitely become more cohesive. You're a student in Class A, right?"

"No."

Huashan answered calmly and without any concealment.

"I'm in Class D of Grade 1."

"Why……?"

In that instant, the smile on the female member's face vanished.

It wasn't contempt or disgust; it was an expression that was purely a mixture of sympathy and confusion.

"Class D... I see. ...In that case, it's best not to waste your points each month and to cherish them. Absolutely."

The slight restraint he had just displayed vanished, replaced by a gaze that seemed to be fixed on something heartbreaking.

(It seems the class assignments aren't just simple symbols. From A to D, there's a clear pyramid and hierarchy. Is it really true that just because it's Class D, it receives such pity?)

Huashan met that gaze head-on, simply nodding quietly.

"I will keep your advice in mind. The tea today was excellent. I'll take my leave now."

Hanayama stood up, bowed deeply once more, and left the tea ceremony booth.

Behind the flower-covered mountain, a group of girls were watching him from a distance.

That was a small group of women in Class D, including Karuizawa Megumi, Kushida Kikyo, and Matsushita Chiaki.

While strolling through the cultural studies area, trying to avoid the noisy sports department booths, the girls happened to catch a glimpse of Huashan being served tea.

"Wait, wait a minute, did you see that just now? That's Hanayama from our class, right...?"

Karuizawa muttered to himself with an expression as if he were looking at something unbelievable.

In the classroom, the man who exuded an aura of oppressive power that seemed to kill anyone who approached him displayed such quiet and elegant manners, causing a serious logical anomaly in her mind.

"Hmm, a very beautiful seat... I always feel that although it would be terrifying if angered, it's usually very calm and composed... In a way, it makes me feel very safe, doesn't it?"

Matsushita's eyes flickered slightly in agreement.

Her observation skills were very sharp, and she instinctively sensed the difference between the simple delinquent and Hanayama.

Kikyo Kushida flashed her usual perfect smile and naturally steered the conversation into the topic.

"Really! He looks incredibly scary, but he might actually be a rich young master from a prestigious family. It's like that 'gap moe' kind of charm! Next time in class, why don't you just muster up the courage to talk to him?"

"Wow, Kikyo-chan is so brave... I might not be able to keep up with that."

Karuizawa shrugged slightly, a hint of hesitation in his voice, but the fear he had shown in the morning was gone.

Even the aura of a yakuza, after passing through the invincible filter of the contrasting cuteness unique to high school girls, is gradually beginning to blend into the everyday scenery.