The classroom was quieter than expected.
Ronan had arrived early, so there weren't many people present. He took a seat in the top seats, a good distance away from the other students.
There were around three groups, and each of them talked amongst one another,
It didn't take long for their conversations to shift.
"…That's him."
"Who?"
"Ashbourne."
"He actually got into class B? Wasn't he supposed to be the disappointment of the Ashbourne family?"
The whispers weren't as subtle as they wanted them to be, and Ronan could pretty much make out what they were saying.
Slowly, students started walking in, filling up the seats.
As they walked in, eyes darted towards him before they quickly looked away, finding a seat far away from him.
The hall was massive, and it could easily fit over 500 students.
He leaned back in his chair as his eyes wandered around the room.
There wasn't really anyone he recognized.
Well, except one, but he wasn't here yet.
It didn't take long for the person Ronan was thinking of to walk into the room.
Long, brown hair reaching his hips, tied loosely behind him. His face was definitely attractive, and it had a feminine edge to it, making him instantly popular with the girls in the class.
His posture was relaxed.
Kazuma Momozono.
The name surfaced in his head instantly.
When he had seen Kazuma's name in the class B listing, Ronan was instantly confused.
How was he only in class B?
Even in the original story, Kazuma was always a mystery. He kind of just popped up. Even his class was never mentioned in the novel.
Ronan remembered there being a brief POV chapter where it was revealed he was an assassin with some type of secret goal in the Academy, but the goal was never actually mentioned, nor did the readers ever find out more.
But that didn't stop Ronan from coming to his own conclusion.
Ronan's gaze sharpened as he looked at him.
An assassin with a secret goal in the Academy.
He had no use for attention. Ronan was happy he'd gotten into class B because it was the definition of average, and it would allow him to move around without drawing attention.
S class meant attention.
B class, though?
He had no doubt Kazuma had the same intentions.
As if sensing his gaze, Kazuma tilted his head in Ronan's direction, and Ronan instantly looked away.
That was freaky, he thought. Did he just sense me looking at him?
Ronan kept his gaze to himself, not daring to turn back to Kazuma.
The last thing he wanted was his attention.
But he should have known better.
"Yo."
A familiar voice greeted him.
Kazuma was standing there next to Ronan's lonely seat in the corner.
"Is this seat taken?"
Ronan looked up.
Kazuma leaned against one of the chairs lazily, his expression neutral.
Up close, his presence felt strange. Ronan couldn't place his finger on it… it was just strange.
"No," Ronan said after a brief pause.
Kazuma nodded and took a seat in the chair directly to Ronan's left.
Instantly, silence followed.
Ronan didn't look at Kazuma, and Kazuma didn't look at him.
Ronan's mind was already looking for answers.
Was it because of the exam? Ronan thought back to their very brief encounter during the exam.
Had Kazuma become interested in him after that? But why? There was no reason to, he should have just come off as a random guy who passed the exam.
Was it something else?
Kazuma spoke first.
"You're Ronan Ashbourne, right?"
His tone was casual, but unsettlingly monotone.
Ronan didn't give him an immediate answer.
"That depends," Ronan said. "Who's asking."
Kazuma replied expressionlessly.
"Kazuma… Kazuma Momozono."
Ronan nodded.
"We met during the exam."
"I know, that's why I approached you."
"We spoke a grand total of three sentences to each other. I'm finding it hard to believe that's the reason you approached me."
With a shrug, Kazuma said, "It is. Is there a problem with me sitting here?"
"Yes, there is. I'd appreciate it if you sat somewhere else."
Kazuma stared at Ronan for a second before speaking.
"I expected you to say it would be fine if I sat here."
"Nah, you give me the creeps," Ronan said, trying to make him leave.
Kazuma didn't look offended, instead he just looked confused.
"I knew there was something interesting about you. Sorry, I won't leave if that's fine with you."
Ronan's eye twitched.
Didn't I say it wasn't fine with me?
But instead of arguing further, Ronan simply turned away, deciding to ignore the assassin.
Ronan didn't know what he'd done to earn his interest, but he just had to show him he wasn't all that interesting.
It would have been easier if he could have gotten a read on Kazuma, though.
But that was the problem, there was nothing to read.
He just sat there like an empty space. No movement, no expression, no tension, no intent. Even his mana wasn't very noticeable… it was just there.
If Ronan wasn't paying attention to him, he wasn't sure he would have noticed his presence.
In a way, it was terrifying.
But Ronan didn't probe him for any more answers. I would like to stay away from this variable as much as possible.
Suddenly, the door swung open, and a woman stepped in.
She was wearing a tight dress that stopped right above her knees. Glasses were present on her face, and she had a very stern expression as she stepped in front of the podium, her dark blue hair swaying as she walked.
Instantly, the boys in the class were enamored.
Even Ronan was paying special attention to her.
But not for the reason the others were.
Looks like she's teaching this class like she did in the novel, Ronan thought.
"Settle down," she greeted, her voice firm. "My name is Vera Beacon. I will be your instructor for class B."
The villain of the first arc, Vera Beacon.