It was the next day and I entered class as nor--usual. It was then that it differed from my typical school day.
"G-good morning, Kei..."
The girl, sitting behind me, said.
I looked back at her and she had already diverted her eyes. It was Aoi.
I'm... happy that she's talking to me.
"Morning, Arisu."
She blushed and put her head on the table. Aoi hid behind her arms.
Man, I was only teasing her to get a good reaction out of her but that was not what I was expecting. It was too cute.
Suddenly, I felt a wave of discontent rush throughout the class. Not only among the girls but the boys too. It all seemed to be aimed, not at me but, at Aoi.
I have a bad feeling...
Well, not like I always don't have a bad feeling. I mean, the social people in here are absolutely nasty. They'd do anything for a bit of fame or popularity.
"Alright, alright, everyone sit down."
Hm?
Someone's coming in? Is it our homeroom teacher?
No way, he stopped talking to us after we started this school year. Mostly because Risa embarrassed him in front of the class. I tried to stop them but they didn't listen to me.
I'm surprised he still hasn't quit.
Wait, but that was a woman, right?
Or so I thought. However, a woman came through.
I recognised her instantly. I mean, how couldn't I?
Her black hair was tied up in a ponytail and she peered at us with her midnight grey eyes. She also had a clipboard in her hand.
"Huh? Who're you?"
A decked-out makeup girl, Kumiko, asked.
"I'm your new homeroom teacher. Call me Ms Sasaki."
"Sasaki..."
Everyone seemed to look at me. Yeah, she's my sister. Though, I'm going to act dumb.
I tilted my head in false confusion. Aihara-nee took that as a signal that she doesn't reveal our relationship.
She gave a soft smile.
"Yes, my surname is Sasaki but I'm not related to Ms Popular over there. Sasaki is more of a common surname than you could think."
And with that, it took all of the suspicions off of me.
A boy raised his hand. A boy who's in a group of followers, Kai.
"What happened to Mr Daisuke?"
Mr Daisuke was our previous homeroom teacher.
"Well, he had filed in a letter. He wanted to quit and he disappeared on the 28th, three days ago."
Some of the class snickered. They found it amusing.
I could feel clear discomfort and worry from Aoi, who was behind me.
All these guys need to reform...
"And because of that, I am your new homeroom teacher. At least, until the end of the school year. My school has been temporarily shut down due to rebuilding."
She's talking about Altheria but I doubt anyone would get that reference.
Aihara-nee slammed her clipboard against the lectern. She glared at us but had a sinister smirk on her face.
I heard an audible 'eek' come from behind.
"I heard that almost everyone in this class is a troublemaker. My goal for the next 10 months or so, is to reform you all."
Nobody took these words to mind, but, I knew, that I should be prepared.
---
"Gah! That Ms Sasaki chick! She's soooo annoying!"
Emi came crying to me as I put my stuff in my bag.
She noticed my indifferent reaction.
"Lucky!"
"Hm? What?"
She's not jealous, she's angry that I ignored her.
"You don't seem troubled by that new teacher."
"Yeah, well, as long as I'm doing what I'm supposed to, then she won't pick on me."
Something came to Emi's mind.
"Do you have some time to spend after school?"
I looked at the board.
"No, I requested to be on duty today since I never do it. I'll do it alone."
"Are you sure?"
Emi asked.
Emi seems worried but her true emotion is...
Huh?
She's laughing on the inside. She's feeling relief.
"Yeah..."
Something's going on.
"Okay, I'll see you tomorrow!"
She exited with a huge burst of happiness. Of course, she wasn't actively showing it.
I'll finish up quickly and look around the school for her.
---
I finished cleaning the classroom around 4:20 pm and I grabbed my bag, racing across the school, looking for Emi.
She may not be here. If so, then...
Ah shit, my head hurts...
I was feeling a huge amount of emotions rush into me at once. I lowered the work rate of my Singularity so that I would be less sensitive to emotions.
I ran toward the cafeteria, where I had felt the emotions and tried to enter.
It was locked.
"What..."
The cameras were blocked off and the door was handled. It was blocked by something on the other side, probably a steel bar.
I feel... the emotion of rotten happiness and dreadful sorrow. What the fuck is Emi doing in here?
There's more than 10 people in here too. Oh, well, I'll see for myself.
And so, with ease, since I'm a Streia, I kicked through the barred door, breaking it in the process. The broken door skid through the cafeteria until it stopped in front of a group of people.
"Who's--Kei?"
At first, Emi sounded like she was scared but her fear scattered when she saw me. She's doing something that shouldn't be done.
How many boys does she have here too?
There's... 16 if I don't count the guy at the other end of the cafeteria hall.
I looked around the cafeteria hall. The cameras were blocked. No one has seemed to notice though.
How did they reach the ceiling cameras?
"K-Kei..."
I heard a shaking voice call my name.
It was Aoi. Her face was bruised and she was drenched from head to toe.
The boys are holding buckets. Some full, some empty.
A fit of silent anger began rising within me.
"What are you doing?"
I asked, unexpectedly calm.
The boys began gossiping while Emi seemed to be calm.
"Oh, do you want a piece? Is that why you broke into here?"
Emi looked behind me.
"That reminds me, what did you use to break through the--"
"Emi. I asked, what are you doing?"
This time, my anger began to show.
"E-eh... I'm... We're... Uh..."
Emi looked from Aoi to me before smirking. It was disgusting. Like the smirk of a traitorous bastard.
"We're disciplining this girl."
"Stop it."
She gritted her teeth.
"Shut up! You're not in control anymore!"
Ah, finally, she's decided to show her true colours. What a lovely sight. At least I won't have to keep on pretending with her.
"With all these guys! I am! If you don't want to get involved, then scram, before they beat you to a pulp."
"They can't."
"Hah?! What was that?! All these guys are boys who have a grudge against you for ignoring them! You can't do anything."
I'm sick of her rambling.
I began walking toward Aoi; a boy stood between me and her.
"Get out of here, if you know what's good for you."
He said, touching my shoulder.
It was within that instant that I grabbed his wrist, disturbed his centre of balance, and slammed him to the ground.
"Oi! Renji! Don't mess around!"
A boy yelled to him. Unluckily, he was already unconscious.
"Get her!"
A few boys began ganging up on me. I didn't do anything but smile as I looked at the odds.
"14 versus 1, I like those odds."