Newcomer

"We hope you have a wonderful stay," the front desk receptionist bid Shroud as he successfully booked a room for the night.

Fortunate that he sought out a hotel before evening, Shroud had secured a place to rest. Had he delayed, the hotels might have been fully booked, leaving him with no choice but to sleep on the streets.

"Thank you," Shroud expressed his gratitude as he accepted the key card from the receptionist. With a key card in hand, he made his way to his room, using the time to contemplate his plans for the future as he navigated the hotel's corridors.

*Beep*

With a beep, the door of the room opened, and Shroud entered. He checked the sheets and the bathroom, satisfied with the overall cleanliness. Changing into his nightwear, he settled into bed and soon drifted off to sleep.

***

The following day dawned in Nagazora City, much like any other day. The streets were alive with people bustling about early in the morning, eager not to be late for work. Meanwhile, at Senba High School, a new chapter was poised to unfold.

*Student chatters filled the classroom* 

The homeroom teacher acknowledged the students' greetings with a warm smile. He was a man in his late 50s, well-respected by the students for his dedication to their education.

"Good morning, students. I hope your day is off to a wonderful start. As usual, I'm looking forward to working with all of you today," he greeted them.

In unison, the students replied, "We are all looking forward to it as well, Teacher." The sense of camaraderie and respect between the teacher and students was palpable as they settled in for another day of learning.

****

A/N: Should I use 'Teacher' or 'Sensei'? I've set the setting in a way that everyone in PE speaks English, and there are no language barriers.

****

"Oh and before I start, I have news for you all, from today onwards, a student will be joining us," the teacher announced to the class.

The teacher's announcement of a new student joining the class elicited a flurry of hushed murmurs and speculations among the students.

"A new transfer student?"

"Isn't it a bit late in the school year for transfers?"

"Maybe they're really smart and can catch up quickly."

"I hope it's not someone who disrupts the class."

Curiosity and anticipation filled the room as the students wondered about the identity and background of their new classmates.

*Clap* *Clap*

"Alright, class, quiet down," the teacher urged, using the rhythmic clapping of his hands to regain the students' attention. "You can enter now."

The students inside the classroom waited with bated breath, their curiosity piqued. One by one, they counted the seconds passing by, but the new student remained conspicuously absent.

"Is this person nervous?" they silently wondered, their eyes flitting between the door and their classmates. 

Just when it seemed like the new student might never arrive, the door swung open, revealing the long-awaited transfer student.

Draped in the same male uniform as their peers, the newcomer was notably tall, casting a commanding presence over the room. However, what truly caught the students off guard was the individual's strikingly pale complexion.

"Why is his skin so pale? Is he unwell?"

"Maybe he's wearing some kind of makeup?"

"Is that Slender Man?"

The teacher observed the reactions of the students and waited for them to settle down before continuing with his introduction.

It was true that this newcomer had an unhealthy, nearly translucent pale complexion. His skin's eerie pallor contrasted sharply with his jet-black hair, which transitioned into silvery white tips tied up in a stylish man bun. And this individual was none other than Shroud.

Before entering, Shroud paused his steps for a few moments, intentionally creating tension. Once he deemed the timing right, he made his entrance.

The teacher, momentarily lost in his own thoughts at Shroud's unconventional appearance, quickly regained his composure and cleared his throat.

"Ahem!, everyone, meet Shroud. He will be joining us from today onwards for the rest of the year. Shroud, feel free to introduce yourself," the teacher instructed.

Shroud's introduction was straightforward and to the point, leaving little room for elaboration. He expressed his name and the abrupt nature of his transfer without delving into specifics.

"Greetings to all of you. My name is Shroud, and I know that my transfer might sound sudden, but there is a reason for it that I do not wish to delve into much. I hope that we can get along for the next 10 months," he stated, his tone carrying an air of finality.

Following his introduction, the teacher directed Shroud to an empty seat at the back of the classroom, where he would be seated next to a certain white-haired boy occupying the rightmost corner near the window.

****

A/N: My boy Kevin is sitting in the protagonist's seat.

****

Shroud settled into his seat and greeted his new neighbour, initiating the conversation with a simple "Hello." In response, the white-haired boy introduced himself as Kevin and extended a hand for a handshake, which Shroud accepted.

"Hello, Kevin," Shroud replied, shaking Kevin's hand. The polite exchange of greetings continued as Kevin couldn't help but inquire, "Umm, if it doesn't bother you too much, you're not from Japan, right?" [A/N: No shit Sherlock]

The question seemed rather obvious given Shroud's distinct appearance and his earlier introduction, but Kevin appeared curious to hear more about Shroud's background.

"Yes, I am from America, and you must also not be a local here," Shroud confirmed. Kevin nodded in agreement and replied, "That's right, I'm from Germany." [A/N: Heil, In a distance Erika starts playing.]

Shroud acknowledged this information with a nod before turning his attention to another nearby student. This time, he noticed that the student had quite a unique name.

"Hello, I am Shroud," Shroud introduced himself to the nearby student.

"Hello, I am Jugemu Jugemu Go-Kō-no-Surikire Kaijari-Suigyo no Suigyō-Matsu Unrai-Matsu Fūrai-Matsu Kū-Neru Tokoro ni Sumu Tokoro Yaburakōji no Burakōji Paipo Paipo Paipo no Shūringan Shūringan no Gūrindai Gūrindai no Ponpokopii no Ponpokonaa no Chōkyūmei no Chōsuke," the student responded with a lengthy and unusual name.

"Okay," Shroud replied before the class commenced.

To be continued...

****

A/N: Hope you enjoy the chapter and feel free to comment. Your thoughts and criticism are valuable in helping me improve and stay motivated to write more.

I have been feeling extremely sick and weak lately, so I decided to take some time off and have a break. Now I am feeling energetic and have recovered from my illness. Don't worry; it was just a minor seasonal flu. So yeah, look forward to the story.

Additionally, I am trying my best to maintain a fast pace with clear explanations and a good plot because I feel like I have been writing this story extremely slowly or do you want the story to be slow-paced?