"Eh…?"
Me…?
Did he… just greet me?
Shirayuki fell silent for a moment, staring at Mikazuki Yuu's face as he continued smiling gently at her.
A few seconds passed.
But—she simply averted her gaze. As if nothing had happened.
She… ignored me?
Yuu thought, tilting his head slightly, looking a bit awkward.
"Um… Kujo-san…?"
That call made her shoulders tense slightly.
"…Kujo-san?"
That voice… was still directed at her.
Shirayuki held her breath for a moment, then slowly turned her head.
Her eyes met Mikazuki Yuu's.
Too close.
For someone she had just spoken to for the first time.
"…What is it?"
Finally, she spoke.
Softly.
Monotonous.
But not entirely rejecting.
Yuu blinked once, as if confirming that he had finally received a response.
His smile lifted again, light as before.
"Ah, so you were listening."
There was no mocking tone. Just a simple statement.
Shirayuki didn't respond immediately.
Her fingers slightly gripped the edge of her uniform under the desk.
"Ahh… yes, good morning."
But her voice remained small, almost swallowed by the surrounding noise.
For a moment, a thin silence formed between them.
Yuu then sat down in his seat, still facing Shirayuki.
"I thought you were ignoring me on purpose, Kujo-san."
His tone was light.
Not offended at all.
Rather… like he was joking.
"Not at all."
Shirayuki replied softly, accompanied by a faint, gentle smile.
The wind from the window blew lightly, swaying strands of her platinum blonde hair.
For a moment—
Mikazuki Yuu fell silent.
As if he had unconsciously held his breath.
Then, slowly, he returned the same smile.
Ding—
The bell rang sharply, cutting through the remaining conversation in the classroom.
Shortly after, an announcement echoed through the classroom speaker.
"All first-year students are requested to proceed to the auditorium immediately. The opening ceremony will begin shortly."
"Hey, Kujo-san."
I turned my head slightly.
"Want to go to the auditorium together?" Yuu said casually.
I hadn't had the chance to respond—
when another voice came from the side.
"Come on, Yuu. Just ignore that girl."
I turned.
Kirishima Ryuusei.
He stood with his hands in his pockets, looking at me with a flat gaze that felt slightly oppressive.
I fell silent.
"You shouldn't say that, Ryuu." Yuu glanced at him briefly, then looked back at me. "Don't tell me you're going alone?" he added, this time sounding slightly concerned.
I took a slow breath.
"…Alright. Let's go together."
Ryuusei let out a quiet sigh, as if slightly annoyed.
"Come on, hurry up. Everyone's already moving." He glanced at me briefly. "You want to be the center of attention for being late?"
His tone was sharp.
It didn't sound like he cared—
I frowned slightly.
…He's annoying.
Yuu looked at him.
"There's no need to speak like that."
"If she doesn't mind, then you don't need to interfere," Ryuusei replied casually, without taking his eyes off me.
A brief silence followed.
Yuu simply shook his head slightly, then started walking ahead.
I followed behind him.
And just as expected—Ryuusei followed as well.
The auditorium was almost full when we entered. Rows of seats stretched out widely, and the stage at the front looked grand.
We found seats without much difficulty.
Then—the ceremony began.
Several formal speeches passed by just like that. Barely registering in my mind.
Until—
"Next, a speech from the representative of the new students, the top-ranked scholarship recipient."
Whispers immediately spread through the room.
I lifted my gaze toward the stage.
And—she appeared.
Kanzaki Akira.
Her long black hair flowed neatly, her golden eyes gleamed sharply, her posture was upright, and her aura was strong.
The moment she stood at the podium—the atmosphere shifted instantly.
Silence.
Not because it was forced.
But… it simply happened.
As if everyone instinctively acknowledged her.
"…So that's her," Yuu murmured.
Shirayuki gaze remained fixed ahead.
Akira began to speak.
Clear.
Calm.
Confident.
Every word flowed without hesitation.
Perfect.
Her gaze shifted.
Not far from the stage—Tenshou Aizen.
Silver hair. Red eyes.
His expression was hard to read as he looked forward.
Not interested.
Not bored.
Just… observing.
Then—Kirishima Ryuusei.
Leaning back casually in his seat, arms crossed, with a faint smile as if all of this was merely light entertainment to him.
And beside her—Mikazuki Yuu.
Gentle.
Calm.
His gaze fixed on Akira, listening intently.
***
The ceremony ended without any issues.
The students began to stand, and the atmosphere grew lively again with chatter.
"Let's head back," Yuu said as he stood up.
Shirayuki nodded.
They walked out together.
And another presence followed behind.
Without needing to turn—Shirayuki already knew.
Kirishima Ryuusei.
When they returned, the classroom was already starting to fill up.
She walked to her seat and sat down calmly.
Ryuusei, as expected, dropped into his chair without much care.
A few minutes passed.
More students entered.
The sound of conversation began to fill the room.
But—something felt off.
Her gaze moved slowly.
Her brows furrowed slightly.
"…?"
Those two seats.
Were still empty.
Aizen's and Akira's seats… hadn't been filled yet.
Shirayuki fell silent for a moment.
They should have already been in the classroom.
Or maybe—
Slide—
The sound of the classroom door opening.
A teacher stepped in first, closing the door behind him with a light motion.
His steps were calm yet firm as he walked toward the desk at the front of the class.
The remaining chatter came to a complete stop. All attention was now directed forward.
Shirayuki could only watch in silence.
Meanwhile, the two seats in front of her were still empty.
He placed a stack of papers neatly on the desk.
Tap.
That light sound was enough to draw attention. His gaze then swept across the entire room without haste. The once noisy atmosphere gradually quieted down.
Without raising his voice, he began to speak.
"My name is Saegusa Masaki."
His tone was calm.
Yet firm.
"Starting today, I will be your homeroom teacher for Class 1-A."
Just as he finished that sentence—
Slide—
The classroom door suddenly opened. All attention immediately shifted toward it.
Two figures stood there.
Their uniforms… were not entirely neat.
Their hair was slightly damp.
And—
Aizen.
He wasn't wearing his blazer.
His white shirt was slightly wrinkled, with damp marks still clearly visible.
His gaze was sharp.
Irritated.
Beside him, Akira stood with a much colder expression. No emotion could be seen.
Yet her clothes were in the same condition.
Wet.
A sudden silence enveloped the classroom. Some students began whispering softly.
Saegusa Masaki did not speak right away. His gaze was fixed on the two of them.
Calm.
But enough to apply pressure.
"…You're late."
His tone was flat.
Not a question.
But a statement.
Shirayuki, sitting in the back, straightened slightly. Her eyes fixed on Aizen's clothes.
Wet.
Disheveled.
Not like before.
.
.
.
Right after the Opening Ceremony ended—
An empty corridor.
The sound of hurried footsteps.
And—laughter.
The women's restroom door, slightly ajar.
Inside—three female students stood surrounding one person.
Akira.
Her body was pushed back, her back nearly touching the wall.
One of them crossed her arms, looking her up and down.
"Seriously… don't you feel like you don't belong here?"
Her tone was light. But full of mockery.
Another student snickered.
"This school isn't a place for someone like you."
Her gaze remained flat.
That only seemed to irritate them more.
"Just a poor girl…"
One step closer.
"How did you even end up here?"
The tone changed.
Sharper.
More honest.
"Disgusting."
And yet—behind those words, there was something else.
Their gazes.
Not just looking down on her.
But… unwilling.
Resentful.
Jealous.
A bucket of water was lifted.
And then—
Splash!
It was poured over her without hesitation.
Akira fell silent.
She didn't fight back.
She didn't scream.
She simply lowered her head, letting the water run down.
A few seconds passed.
Then—
She slowly lifted her head.
Her gaze returned to being flat.
Calm.
As if what had just happened… meant nothing.
"…Are you done?"
Her voice was soft.
Emotionless.
The three girls fell silent for a moment. Clearly not expecting that kind of response.
One of them clicked her tongue.
"You've got some nerve."
Akira didn't wait any longer. She stepped forward, intending to pass them.
But—
"Hey."
A hand grabbed her shoulder.
"Where do you think you're going?"
The tone rose.
Annoyed.
Akira turned her head slightly, brushing the hand away without much force.
"To class."
Her answer was brief.
As if it were the most natural thing in the world. That only provoked them further.
One of them smirked.
"Oh, so you think this is over?"
She grabbed the bucket beside her. Lifting it without hesitation.
"Don't act so calm."
Akira had already moved first.
One step to the side.
Dodging.
But—at the same time—someone stood right behind her.
Splash!
The water spilled.
Drenching the figure who had just appeared at the doorway.
Silence.
Even quieter than before.
That silver hair was now soaked.
Water dripped slowly from the tips.
His uniform was affected as well.
His white shirt clung to him, revealing the lines beneath.
Aizen.
His gaze lifted slowly.
Cold.
Heavy.f
And… clearly not in a good mood.
Akira turned her head slightly.
Looking behind her.
For a moment—
her expression shifted, just a little.
Not surprise.
But… realization.
A mistake in positioning.
Meanwhile, the three girls in front of them froze. Their faces slowly turned pale.
The bucket in one of their hands slipped and fell to the floor.
Tok.
That small sound echoed clearly in the silence.
Aizen didn't speak right away.
And that—
only made the atmosphere even more suffocating.
"…Hah?"
The sound left his lips softly.
Low.
Yet it was clearly heard in the room that had suddenly fallen silent.
Aizen raised his hand, brushing back his silver hair, now wet and clinging to his face.
Water still dripped slowly.
His gaze lowered slightly.
Looking at his soaked uniform.
Then—it lifted again.
His expression changed. His brows furrowed slightly.
Annoyed.
Not an explosive kind of anger.
But… enough to make the air feel heavier.
"…You."
His voice remained flat. But there was a clear pressure within it.
He took a step forward.
Slowly.
His shoes stepped into the thin puddle of water on the floor.
His eyes moved.
Fixing on the name tags on their chests.
One by one.
"…Fujimoto."
The first girl flinched. Her face immediately turned pale.
"…Tachibana."
The second held her breath. Her body stiffened.
"…Mori."
The last one didn't even dare to lift her head.
Aizen stopped.
His gaze rose again.
Looking at the three of them without expression.
And that—made the pressure feel far stronger.
"Remember that."
A short sentence.
Flat.
Emotionless.
Yet enough to make all three of them tremble.
"W-Wait…!"
The girl named Fujimoto stepped forward immediately, her face pale.
"We didn't know it was you—"
"Sorry!"
Tachibana cut in as well, her voice trembling.
"We really didn't mean to—"
Mori was almost in tears.
"W-We're sorry…! We won't do it again…!"
The atmosphere shifted drastically.
From oppressive—to filled with panic.
Aizen looked at them without expression.
Unmoved.
Uninterested.
"…Annoying."
A single word.
Yet enough to make them fall silent immediately.
His gaze narrowed slightly.
"Leave."
There was no raised tone.
No additional threat.
Yet all three of them immediately nodded quickly.
"Y-Yes…!"
"Sorry…!"
Without daring to look back, they hurried out of the room.
Their steps were rushed. Almost as if they were running away.
And within seconds—tlhe room fell silent again.
Leaving behind two people.
A puddle of water on the floor. And air that still felt cold.
Aizen let out a quiet sigh. Then turned to the side.
Toward Akira.
"You."
His tone returned to being flat.
"If you're being bullied, fight back."
His gaze was sharp.
"Staying silent won't solve anything."
Akira didn't respond right away.
Her gaze remained straight ahead. As if she wasn't really listening.
Aizen clicked his tongue softly.
"And—"
He paused for a moment.
"Be grateful."
His tone shifted slightly.
Colder.
"I helped you."
Silence.
A few seconds passed.
Akira finally moved.
She turned her head slightly. Looking at Aizen from the side.
Her gaze remained calm. But this time—sharper.
"…I didn't need your help."
Her answer was brief.
Without hesitation.
Without courtesy.
Aizen frowned slightly.
Before he could speak—
Akira continued.
"And you didn't help me."
Her tone remained flat.
As if stating a fact.
"I was just avoiding it."
Her gaze returned straight ahead.
"What happened after that…"
A brief pause.
"…was your own mistake."
Silence.
Heavier than before.
Aizen fell silent.
For a moment.
His gaze fixed on Akira's back.
Then—the corner of his lips lifted slightly.
Faint.
"…Hah."
Not a laugh. But clearly not entirely annoyed either.
More like—interested.
***
Shirayuki blinked softly.
Her previously vacant gaze refocused toward the front of the classroom.
The teacher's voice.
The sound of chairs.
Everything returned to normal.
Huh?
The scene where Akira gets bullied and splashed with water was supposed to happen on the third day.
Why is it happening now?
This is only the first day.
Could it be… that it changed because of me?