As Aoto and Maite made their way down the hallway, Aoto began to notice the subtle shift in the atmosphere. At first, it was just the occasional glance, students turning their heads and staring as he walked by. But soon, he could hear the whispers—murmurs of amazement and praise from the students who had either witnessed or heard about what he had just done.

"Did you hear about the Earth boy? He picked up a death spider with his bare hands!"

"No way! I heard those things can kill a Como in seconds. He just took it outside like it was nothing."

"Yeah, he's immune to the venom. Can you believe that? What kind of human can just handle a creature like that without flinching?"

"Maite was there too! She screamed! I've never seen her freak out like that. But Aoto... he just stayed calm."

"He's got guts, that's for sure."

Aoto could feel the weight of their stares and hear the incredulous tones in their voices, and for a moment, he didn't quite know how to react. All this attention—it was definitely new. Usually, when the Warrior Class students looked his way, it was with skepticism or irritation, especially from the guys who saw him as an outsider. But now, the expressions on their faces were different. There was something like respect in their eyes.

Beside him, Maite walked with her usual strong posture, but Aoto could sense that she was still a little embarrassed from earlier. Despite her usual tough demeanor, her reaction to the spider had definitely been a surprise to everyone—including herself.

As they passed by more students, Aoto overheard more bits of conversation:

"That's the Earthling everyone's talking about, right? The one Maite's been hanging around with."

"Yeah, and Rika kissed him the other day. He's definitely not your average human."

"Maybe that's why all the Warrior Class girls are after him. He's different."

Aoto tried to keep his expression neutral, but internally, he couldn't help but feel a little awkward about all the attention. He hadn't done anything particularly heroic—just removed a spider. But to the Comos, especially the Warrior Class, the fact that he had done so without fear, and while being immune to the creature's deadly venom, was apparently enough to make him stand out.

A group of Giant Class students passed by, their tall figures looming over the others, but even they glanced at Aoto with something like curiosity. One of them, a girl with long, braided hair and a muscular build, gave him a nod of acknowledgment as they walked past. Aoto wasn't sure if it was a sign of respect or just curiosity, but it was clear that word was spreading fast.

By the time they reached the end of the hallway, Maite finally spoke up, her voice a little more relaxed now that the chaos had settled.

"You know, you're kind of becoming a legend around here," she said, glancing at him with a smirk. "First you get the attention of some of the toughest girls in the Warrior Class, and now you're casually handling creatures that can kill most of us. You're definitely not blending in anymore."

Aoto scratched the back of his head, chuckling nervously. "Yeah, I noticed. But it's not like I'm trying to stand out. I just... didn't want anyone to get hurt."

Maite rolled her eyes, though there was a fondness in her gaze. "Well, whether you're trying or not, you're making waves. I mean, come on, even I screamed, and now everyone knows about it."

Aoto laughed softly, nudging her playfully. "Hey, I didn't judge you for that. Besides, I think it's pretty cute that you were scared of a spider."

Maite glared at him, though her cheeks turned a faint shade of red. "Watch it, Earth boy. I'll let you get away with that once. Just once."

Aoto grinned, feeling the tension between them ease even more. "Got it. No more teasing."

As they continued walking, more students whispered among themselves, and Aoto could hear bits and pieces of praise filtering through the crowd:

"He's got guts."

"Did you see how calm he was?"

"I heard he's friends with Maite and Rika. Maybe he's tougher than we thought."

Aoto couldn't help but feel a strange sense of pride creeping in. He had never really thought of himself as someone who would be admired or respected, especially not in a school full of Warrior Class students who prided themselves on strength and combat. But here he was, earning a little bit of that respect just by being himself.

As they walked through the courtyard, Aoto noticed a few more students giving him nods or even small waves. It was subtle, but it was clear that his reputation was changing.

Maite nudged him lightly with her elbow, her smirk returning. "Looks like you're the school's new favorite Earth boy."

Aoto rolled his eyes, though he couldn't help but smile. "Yeah, well, let's just hope I don't do anything else that gets me into more trouble."

Maite laughed softly, her voice carrying a playful edge. "With the way things have been going, I doubt that's possible. You've got Rika and me watching over you, after all."

Aoto chuckled, though there was a part of him that knew Maite was right. Life on Planet Comoros had taken a turn he hadn't expected, and now he was navigating a world of Warrior Class rivalries, mysterious alien creatures, and unexpected attention from his classmates.

But for the first time since arriving, he didn't feel quite so out of place. Maybe, just maybe, he was starting to fit in after all.

As the two of them made their way through the school grounds, Aoto could still hear the whispers trailing behind them, a constant reminder that he was no longer just the new Earth boy.

He was something more now—whether he liked it or not.

As Aoto entered the infamous Back Hallways, a place he had already come to associate with rough encounters and the intense energy of Warrior Class students, he felt a strange tension in the air. The dim lighting, graffiti-covered walls, and general atmosphere of controlled chaos hadn't changed, but the whispers and murmurs were different this time.

Almost immediately, he was surrounded.

Warrior Class girls of all different sizes, shapes, and temperaments seemed to emerge from every corner, their sharp eyes trained on him with a mix of curiosity and... something else. It wasn't the usual hostility or wariness that Aoto had felt from them before. No, this was different. The looks they were giving him were full of admiration and, dare he say it, attraction.

A tall Warrior Class girl with broad shoulders and dark tribal tattoos was the first to speak, stepping closer with a grin that revealed her sharp teeth. "So, you're the one who picked up that death spider, huh? That's... impressive."

Aoto blinked, feeling a little overwhelmed by the sudden attention. "Uh... yeah, I guess. It wasn't a big deal. I'm immune to the venom, so..."

Before he could finish his sentence, another girl—this one shorter but clearly just as strong, with bright eyes and an athletic build—stepped forward, her expression serious. "Not a big deal? That spider could have killed any one of us in seconds, and you just picked it up like it was nothing. That's not something we take lightly."

Aoto glanced around nervously, realizing that the crowd of Warrior Class girls was steadily growing. More and more of them were gathering around, their eyes filled with a mixture of awe and intensity. He wasn't used to this kind of attention, especially not from girls who looked like they could bench press him without breaking a sweat.

One of the taller girls, who stood at least a foot taller than Aoto with dark, spiked hair and a muscular build, crossed her arms and tilted her head at him. "You've got guts, Earth boy. Not many people would even dare to go near one of those spiders, let alone pick it up."

Another girl, her body lean and covered in intricate tattoos, stepped forward with a teasing grin. "You realize that doing something like that basically makes you marriage material around here, right?"

Aoto's eyes widened in shock. "Wait, what?"

The girl laughed, her sharp teeth flashing as she nudged him playfully. "Showing strength and bravery is one thing, but picking up that spider? That's like... ultimate protector material. You're not just tough—you're smart and calm under pressure. If that's not asking for a wife and a bunch of kids, I don't know what is."

Aoto's heart skipped a beat, and he could feel his face heating up as more of the girls around him nodded in agreement, their eyes gleaming with interest.

"You're basically advertising that you're ready to take on anything," another girl chimed in, her voice full of admiration. "And in Warrior Class culture, that means you're practically begging for a family of five... or seven."

Aoto blinked rapidly, his brain trying to catch up with what was happening. "W-Wait a minute... I didn't... I mean, I'm not—"

The tall, spiked-hair girl from earlier smirked down at him, clearly enjoying his flustered reaction. "Too late, Earth boy. Word's out now. Every Warrior Class girl who heard about what you did knows you've got what it takes. You're calm under pressure, immune to danger, and strong in your own way. That's everything a Warrior Class girl looks for in a mate."

Aoto's heart raced as he tried to process the situation. He had heard about the intense cultural norms of the Warrior Class, but he hadn't expected that casually picking up a dangerous spider would suddenly make him a prime candidate for marriage—and apparently a large family.

Another girl, this one shorter with wild blonde hair and an athletic build, stepped forward with a teasing smile. "So, how many kids are you planning to have, Aoto? Five? Seven? Maybe more?"

Aoto's face went red as he stammered, "I-I'm not planning anything like that! I was just trying to help!"

The crowd of girls erupted into laughter, though it wasn't mocking. It was the kind of laughter that came from being genuinely impressed and amused by his flustered response.

"You're adorable," one of the girls said with a smirk. "But you should know that once you've shown that kind of strength and calm, Warrior Class girls don't let go easily."

Aoto swallowed hard, realizing just how deep he was in now. He had already been dealing with attention from Maite and Rika, but now it seemed like half the Warrior Class girls in the Back Hallways were suddenly interested in him.

One of the girls, a muscular but soft-spoken Warrior Class member with a gentle smile, stepped closer and gave him an appraising look. "You may not know it, Aoto, but you've just made a huge impression on us. We don't take bravery like that lightly."

Aoto managed a nervous smile, rubbing the back of his neck. "I didn't really think about it like that. I just didn't want anyone to get hurt."

The girl smiled wider. "Exactly. And that's why you're different. That's why so many of us are interested."

Aoto's mind raced, trying to find a way out of this situation without offending anyone, but he quickly realized that there was no easy way to backpedal from what had happened. He had shown bravery in a way that resonated with the Warrior Class girls, and now... he was stuck in the spotlight.

As the crowd continued to grow around him, he heard more and more murmurs:

"He's tough and calm. Perfect mate material."

"I wouldn't mind having a guy like him around."

"Five kids? I'd go for seven."

Aoto's head spun as he tried to keep up with the conversation, and he felt a mix of flattery and panic. Sure, he had wanted to fit in on Planet Comoros, but this was... a little more than he had bargained for.

Suddenly, Maite's voice cut through the crowd, her tone sharp but protective.

"Alright, that's enough. Back off, you vultures."

The girls turned to see Maite stepping into the crowd, her eyes narrowed as she made her way toward Aoto. Despite her calm demeanor, there was a hint of possessiveness in her stance, and the other Warrior Class girls seemed to sense it. Slowly, they began to back off, though their eyes lingered on Aoto with clear interest.

Maite crossed her arms, standing beside Aoto as she shot a glare at the crowd. "He's not a piece of meat. And if anyone's going to fight for him, it'll be me."

The girls exchanged glances, some of them smirking while others looked disappointed, but none of them challenged Maite directly. They knew better than to get in her way.

Aoto, still flustered and overwhelmed, shot Maite a grateful look. "Thanks, Maite. I didn't realize things would... escalate like that."

Maite sighed, though a small smile tugged at her lips. "You've really stepped in it now, Aoto. But don't worry—I've got your back."

As the crowd of Warrior Class girls slowly dispersed, Aoto couldn't help but feel both relieved and a little nervous. Life on Planet Comoros was proving to be more intense than he had ever imagined, and now... he had to figure out how to navigate this new wave of attention—while somehow surviving Maite's protective instincts.