The morning bell hadn't rung yet, but the school was already noisy.
Students gathered around the entrance, talking with friends or lazily scrolling through their phones before class. Some were rushing toward the buildings while others stood around like they had all the time in the world.
Caelum walked through the gate with a quiet sigh.
"Alright," he muttered. "Just act normal."
Amoriel walked beside him, her golden eyes calmly observing everything around them.
"So this is your school."
"Yes."
"There are many humans here."
"That's usually how schools work."
She continued watching the surroundings with quiet curiosity.
Groups of students laughing.
Friends greeting each other.
Someone sprinting across the courtyard while yelling, "I'm not late!"
"This place is very lively," she said.
"That's one way to describe teenagers."
They walked across the school grounds and entered the main building.
The hallway was crowded.
Lockers slammed shut.
Footsteps echoed across the floor.
Conversations overlapped into a constant wave of noise.
Amoriel seemed fascinated by it all.
Then she pointed slightly ahead.
A couple walking together.
They were holding hands.
"Is that related to love?" she asked.
Caelum didn't even look.
"Yeah. Probably."
"How can you tell?"
"They're holding hands."
She observed them carefully.
"So physical contact is a stage of romantic development."
Caelum immediately stopped walking.
"…Please never say that sentence again."
"Why?"
"You sound like a scientist studying frogs."
She paused.
"…Understood."
They continued walking until Caelum finally stopped in front of a sliding classroom door.
Class 2-B.
His class.
He adjusted the strap of his bag.
"Alright," he said. "This is where we survive the next few hours."
Amoriel looked at the door.
"This is where you learn."
"Unfortunately."
He slid the door open and stepped inside.
The classroom was already half full.
A boy near the window waved.
"Yo, Caelum!"
"Morning."
A few other students greeted him casually.
Caelum walked to his seat and dropped his bag beside the desk.
Amoriel followed him quietly and stopped beside him.
For a moment, nobody noticed.
Then one student turned around.
He blinked.
"…Wait."
Another student looked over.
Then another.
Within seconds, the entire class was staring.
One girl whispered loudly,
"Who is that?"
A boy leaned forward.
"She's beautiful…"
Another whispered,
"Is she with Caelum?"
Caelum slowly closed his eyes.
Of course this would happen.
A girl sitting nearby leaned closer.
"Caelum," she whispered. "Who's the girl?"
He stared at his desk.
"…It's complicated."
Before she could ask anything else, the classroom door opened again.
Their teacher walked in.
A tall man with glasses and a stack of papers in his hand.
"Good morning, class."
"Good morning, sir," the students replied.
The teacher placed the papers on his desk and adjusted his glasses.
"Before we begin today's lesson, I have an announcement."
Caelum suddenly had a bad feeling.
"We have a transfer student joining our class today."
The room immediately filled with excitement.
Students started whispering again.
"Transfer student?"
"Maybe it's the girl!"
The teacher looked toward Amoriel.
"Please come forward."
Amoriel calmly walked to the front of the classroom.
Now the whispers exploded.
"It is her!"
"She's the transfer student!"
"No way…"
The teacher gestured toward the class.
"Please introduce yourself."
Amoriel turned to face everyone.
Her expression remained gentle and calm.
"My name is Amoriel."
Her voice was soft but clear.
"I transferred here today."
The class waited for more.
She paused briefly.
Then added,
"I came here to learn about love."
Silence.
Complete silence.
One second.
Two seconds.
Then—
"WHAT?!"
"Did she just say LOVE?!"
"What kind of introduction is that?!"
Caelum slowly lowered his head onto his desk.
This was already a disaster.
Someone tapped his shoulder.
"Caelum."
He didn't move.
"…What."
"Why is the transfer student looking at you?"
He froze.
Very slowly, he lifted his head.
At the front of the classroom, Amoriel was indeed looking directly at him.
With a small, innocent smile.
Caelum immediately dropped his head back onto the desk.
"…I'm already tired."