Without question, the moment Xanthia entered the cssroom, her meticulously designed white silk maid costume caused a stir, further energizing the already vibrant atmosphere of the school sports festival’s opening ceremony.

  The sports festival was a highly anticipated event for the students of Thessaloniki First High School—a time to unwind and celebrate. It could be summed up in one phrase: “sweetness after bitterness.”

  After all, the daily routine at Thessaloniki First High School was so intense that it felt suffocating. The monthly break was a much-needed respite, and the sports festival transformed the usual grind into an occasion for enjoyment and rexation. It was a refreshing and welcome change.

  Just weeks earlier, the students had endured their first major monthly exam of high school—a grueling ordeal that underscored the stark differences between high school and junior high.

  Some students adapted quickly, using the exams as stepping stones to advance academically. Others, still basking in the afterglow of their junior high success, found themselves struggling to keep up.

  But for now, academic pressures and grade-reted anxieties were temporarily forgotten, like casting aside a heavy burden. The students could finally embrace their youth with unrestrained joy.

  In this context, Xanthia became an unforgettable highlight of her cssmates’ high school memories, adding a spsh of vibrancy to their youthful days.

  The most eye-catching aspect of Xanthia’s maid costume was her long, slender, and impeccably shaped legs.

  The pure white silk thigh-high stockings, paired with the maid outfit’s skirt, created a striking visual effect. The delicate ce trim accentuated the elegance of her perfectly proportioned legs.

  Some students, captivated by her appearance, couldn’t help but have inappropriate thoughts. Murmurs filled the room as they admired her, thinking, “She’s absolutely stunning.”

  To them, Xanthia seemed like a vision of perfection.

  The traditional "slender and delicate" type of beauty often comes with certain limitations in terms of physique. A curvier figure, for instance, would deviate from this archetype. While Xanthia shared some of the typical shortcomings of this aesthetic, her slim waist and fwless leg proportions, combined with her youthful and sweet face and cssic pale complexion, rendered any perceived fws irrelevant.

  She radiated an aura of innocence and charm—a sense of first love personified.

  Though she might not embody the word "sexy" or evoke primal attraction, she had perfected the “pure and sweet” archetype to an extraordinary degree.

  It’s worth noting that white silk thigh-high stockings are difficult to pull off convincingly. Only someone with Xanthia’s delicate, youthful appearance could evoke the immacute and pristine elegance these stockings required.

  Apart from her standout legs, the blue wig she wore and the cssic maid headpiece were also noteworthy. The headpiece completed the outfit and gave it an authentic touch. Without it, the ensemble would have felt incomplete, much like an anime character missing their signature accessory.

  At that moment, the cssroom buzzed with excitement.

  The girls’ reactions were retively reserved. Perhaps many hadn’t seen the popur anime Re:One from a few years ago and didn’t fully understand the appeal of Xanthia’s cospy of the character Rem, who had been crowned “most adorable” in fan polls.

  Nevertheless, they acknowledged the exceptional quality of the maid costume. From the fabric to the craftsmanship, every detail—including the ce—was exquisitely made, with no sense of cheapness or mass production.

  Such high-quality clothing clearly wasn’t something that could be easily purchased online. It seemed to have been custom-made by a skilled tailor.

  One could conclude that system-generated outfits inherently had a distinct advantage—they were designed to elevate pyer attributes. The quality of such clothing surpassed anything ordinary, mass-produced garments could offer.

  In gaming terms, typical real-world clothing might be considered "gray" common-grade gear, whereas Xanthia’s white silk maid outfit would be “purple” epic-grade equipment with special enhancements. The difference was vast.

  The boys’ reactions, especially those like Miguel, a dedicated anime fan, were much more animated.

  His eyes widened in amazement. He had hoped that his Ultraman costume would make him the star of Css 1-3, but Xanthia’s fwless Rem cospy completely outshone his efforts.

  He couldn’t help but imagine her leading Css 1-3’s banner bearers during the festival parade, knowing it would make their css the talk of the school. He felt an overwhelming sense of pride.

  Other boys in the cssroom cheered, whistled, and shouted in excitement.

  Their enthusiasm spilled over as they bantered freely, unrestrained by the usual decorum. Makarios, known for his bold commentary, led the way:

  “Xanthia really nailed it. This maid outfit checks all the boxes for me. I need a photo with her!”

  “Man, Xanthia came through for us big time. I voted for her, and she didn’t let us down. I’m honestly tearing up!”

  “It’s like a character stepped straight out of an anime and into reality. She’s unreal… Real girls just don’t compare!”

  “I thought her JK uniform was amazing st time, but this? This is on another level. Perfect score!”

  “Perfect score, absolutely. The top half might be a bit too modest to match Rem’s design, but the lower half is perfection. The white silk stockings with ce details? Divine. Anyone would be won over!”

  “You know what really gets me? The little details, like how the white silk peeks out above her shoes. I’d love to admire her feet up close! As an old-school Ark Night pyer, I know the appeal of intricate details.”

  “My favorite author once wrote something about this. It was about how seeing something as simple as pin white bread could evoke a sense of longing… It’s the little details that make all the difference.”

  ...

  Pathetic!

  It was truly pathetic!

  Stirring up a group of “bottom-feeding” and “pervert” guys was absolutely revolting.

  As a group of boys gathered around Makarios—the “fat guy” and self-procimed gentleman of the group—a girl passing by overheard someone passionately reciting a passage from Pineapple N Pizza's Macaroni and Bread. She couldn't help but feel a wave of contempt.

  Makarios, the embodiment of a “pervert,” had started patrolling the area, holding accountable anyone who dared to underestimate Xanthia. His discerning eye and unyielding appreciation for her were legendary. He summarized his admiration with one phrase: “Mademoiselle Xanthia is perfect, no need for further expnation! Lady Xanthia forever!”

  The boys unanimously praised Xanthia’s outfit for the day. Even those who weren’t fans of anime or didn’t understand cospy couldn’t deny its appeal to their basic aesthetic senses.

  With Xanthia’s current appearance ranking around 70 points on the beauty scale, she could have pulled off anything, but the exquisite white silk maid outfit she wore—perfectly highlighting her striking legs—was an undeniable triumph.

  Most girls admired Xanthia’s innovative look as well. They took pleasure in seeing beauty and elegance, which lifted their spirits.

  However, there were exceptions, like Hera, who couldn’t stand Xanthia’s attention-grabbing appearance. The more recognition Xanthia received, the more Hera despised her, dismissing her as a girl who simply catered to male attention. Hera’s growing resentment hinted at her own insecurities, and she even considered excluding Xanthia from the “female ranks” to ease her frustration.

  When Xanthia returned to her seat, Lhoraine turned around excitedly. “Xanthia, your Rem costume today is stunning! A maid outfit—so perfect! Let’s take a picture together. I want to remember this forever!”

  “Sure, let’s take a photo!” Xanthia replied with a cheerful smile.

  Lhoraine, a member of the arts committee and the resident gossip queen, was thrilled. One of the few girls who genuinely enjoyed anime, she had eclectic tastes, ranging from shoujo stories to male-oriented harem and moe series. Seeing Xanthia’s outfit filled her with excitement, possibly even more than the boys.

  At that moment, Elena hadn’t returned to the cssroom yet and was likely still changing. Seizing the opportunity, Lhoraine posed with Xanthia and began snapping selfies.

  Known for regurly sharing moments of her daily life on social media, Lhoraine had no doubt these photos would soon appear on her SocMed Moments and Synomilia.

  Lhoraine’s appearance, though appealing, paled in comparison to Xanthia’s striking beauty, which was further amplified by the dramatic costume. In their selfies, Lhoraine became little more than a background element, serving to highlight Xanthia.

  But Lhoraine didn’t mind. Her fun-loving personality made her immune to feelings of jealousy or insecurity. Unlike others, she didn’t let her lesser appearance bother her.

  She genuinely appreciated Xanthia’s beauty, valuing their friendship sincerely rather than as a superficial “pstic sisterhood.” The more radiant Xanthia was, the happier Lhoraine felt for her.

  After Xanthia’s dazzling entrance, no other girl who entered the cssroom—no matter how well-dressed—could make as much of an impact.

  The group of “bottom-feeding” guys lost interest in making comments, resigned to the idea that nothing could top what they’d just seen.

  For most high school girls, bold outfits like Xanthia’s were intimidating. They feared being beled as trying too hard to please boys, which could lead to unwanted gossip.

  As a day student who didn’t stay in the dorms, Xanthia didn’t face the same scrutiny. She carried herself with confidence, free from the beauty anxieties that pgued others.

  Xanthia’s approach to life was clear: she dressed for her own satisfaction, paying little attention to the opinions of others. She thrived on standing out, enjoying the attention and reactions she stirred. Staying low-key wasn’t her style; it reminded her too much of her past, when she went unnoticed.

  Becoming a prominent figure and funting her success was exhirating for her.

  As more students—dressed in fmboyant costumes for the opening ceremony—filed into the cssroom, each brought their own unique fir.

  Elena La Loannou, for example, chose an outfit that aligned with her aesthetic—simple and artistic, maintaining her signature fresh and goddess-like vibe. While not as attention-grabbing as Xanthia’s, her look had its own charm.

  Some boys, drawn to Elena’s understated beauty, found Xanthia’s bold style too overwhelming and instead admired the natural elegance that Elena exuded.

  Luciel, on the other hand, broke free from convention altogether. Eschewing the school uniform, she opted for a trendy, gender-fluid outfit, far removed from the familiar blue and white sports attire everyone had grown weary of.

  Time marched on, and the much-anticipated opening ceremony for the sports meet finally arrived.

  Students from all first- and second-year csses assembled on the sports field, lined up in their designated formations.

  From the outfits and styles on dispy, it was easy to distinguish the second-year students from the first-years.

  Principal Hercuno El Monterro of Thessaloniki First High School stood at the podium on the west side, addressing the crowd:

  “Good morning, teachers and students! Today, we embrace the warm October sunshine…”

  After Principal Hercuno’s speech, a student representative was called to speak. This time, it was not the first-year Dionysius but the second-year Rosa.

  Rosa, alongside Moreno—the head of the school broadcasting station—was tasked with introducing each css formation as they passed by the podium.

  The podium was crowded with teachers, most of the css advisors present and eager to see what surprises their students had in store.

  “Teacher Emmanuel, your students seem very enthusiastic. Do you know how they pn to showcase their personalities?” Eirini La Konstantinou asked.

  Emmanuel shook his head. “I let them take the lead. I’m not sure of the specifics.”

  “You have such faith in them,” Eirini remarked. “My Year 1 Css 2 is well-behaved. Their presentation will be neat and unified, nothing outrageous,” she added proudly.

  “I’ve left most decisions to Dionysius in Year 1 Css 1. I’m confident their formation will impress everyone,” said Noli El Tangere with a smile.

  Eirini rolled her eyes at Noli’s comment. “As if having Dionysius automatically makes them exceptional,” she muttered.

  Emmanuel remained composed, quietly confident that while Year 1 Css 1 had Dionysius, Year 1 Css 3 had Xanthia—a student whose potential was even greater.

  With the preliminary speeches complete, the familiar athlete’s march began to py. Teachers and administrators on the podium settled in, ready to evaluate the css formations.

  Moreno spoke into the microphone: “Approaching now is Year 1 Css 1. This is…”

  Dionysius led the formation, tall and handsome in his stylish attire—a modern take on cssic gentlemanly fashion that blended old-world charm with contemporary fir.

  The rest of Year 1 Css 1 followed suit, their civilian-style costumes made possible by Dionysius’s substantial financial backing. Their performance raised the bar instantly, earning nods of approval from the principal and teachers.

  As Year 1 Css 1 finished, Noli beamed with pride, silently thinking, “Dionysius the Great strikes again!”

  Then came Year 1 Css 3. At the front of their formation, Xanthia—blue-haired and dressed in her striking maid outfit—led a chaotic and eccentric group of costumed “monsters.”

  Their slogan was unexpected: “Great terrorists, we stand against your tyrannies, unifying the hardships, for all innocent dreams!”

  Emmanuel’s face darkened in disbelief. Who came up with that slogan?!