Arthur laboriously weaved his way to his room. He vaguely recalled the structure of the building, consuming much of his time.
He couldn't Dusk as assassins were not authorized in the building premises.
Daylight pervaded the hallway, tranquil as students had already reached their rooms.
For this reason, Arthur couldn't inquire to others, leaving him by himself.
Appeared strolling on the moon, Arthur whistled as his feet hiked the stairs to the 10th floor where the A-rated students settled.
There were only three rooms on the 10th floor, occupied by A-, A, and A+ classes.
Arthur recalled being in the most prominent, A+ class.
He skimmed through the placard atop each door and eventually, his gaze landed on a sparkling golden placard in the rightmost room.
'I don't remember the names of my classmates. Not that it matters, Arthur smiled wryly
Checking the time, only a few minutes left before the class starts.
Arthur straightened his posture, pushing open the door of the room.
A+
Students of distinguished backgrounds comprised this class.
They were either heir of leading companies or sons/daughters of S or SS-grade awakened.
Classified as cream of the crop, their egos and confidence were well fed.
Thus...
'Arrogance, luxury, and competition.'
Arthur felt nostalgic as reeks of conceitedness and competition assaulted his smell right after opening the door.
A group of five girls, accessories cramping their necks and wrists, gathered on the instructor's table. Their mouth was incessant on spurring rumors and mockeries.
Three young men gathered in the rightmost front, seated as they conjure spells and compete for strength.
A young man and woman with heads leaned on the desk, wailing. On their side were rummaged luggage. Its coverings reflected a collage of anime figures.
Parallel to them, a four-eyed man cast worried gazes on the crying couple. One seat on his right sat a nonchalant woman, gazing through the open window.
The morning breeze swept through her beautiful figure.
Finally, on the rear part, three young men brazenly damaged the room with their conjured spells.
After some time, the burned wall restored itself as the magic stones decorating the ceiling flashed a dazzling light.
With the wall restored, they cast another spell, engulfing the rear wall.
'Avid fashionista slash gossipy slash fake'
'Spectators slash narcissist'
'Otaku couple, and finally...'
'The bullies'
Gazing at everyone who failed to notice the opening of the door through upheaval, Arthur scanned the individuals one by one.
As the door closed with creaking noises, only then did everyone shift their attention to Arthur.
"Ah, Arthur!"
The man in the middle seat was the first to stand from his chair, striding toward Arthur with arms wide open.
With blonde hair, seamless skin, and bluish eyes, the man was famed as the most attractive guy in Academia.
He was Arthur's sole friend, Michael.
"Arthur! I thought you wouldn't be attending school today.", Michael belatedly noticed his heavy shaking of Arthur's shoulder, removing his hands after.
Knowing Arthur, Michael felt awkward.
'He dislikes being touched.'
After all, making contact triggered the tragic days of his childhood.
Michael, who was inherently touchy, loathed himself. His excitement got the best of him upon seeing Arthur doing fine.
Intercepting his worries, Arthur spoke.
"Why would I not attend the school? I love attending school", Arthur snickered.
'He... He seems rather energetic today.', Michael felt unusual at the foreign demeanor of Arthur.
Being bullied whenever Michael was not around, Arthur grew distant and timid. He just bowed down and spoke minimally.
Not at once did he see Arthur smile since being bullied.
"Have you seen a ghost?", Arthur waved his hand in front of Michael who froze in the spot.
'You never changed, Michael, did you?'
Arthur couldn't help but recall Arthur's death, grinning despite a monster's horn piercing his chest.
Just like before, Michael radiated a similar vibrance he had.
"Ah, sorry, I... was just surprised. I thought you won't be entering the school because of..."
"of what?"
Glancing around them who began sparking mockeries and scornful gazes at Arthur, Michael urged Arthur to talk in their seats instead.
Having seated, Michael whispered to Arthur.
"You know, about the news last night about your awakening.", Michael glanced around them.
Arthur had done this on several occasions last night, shrouding his awakening which was of little significance than others.
Looking at Michael, Arthur muttered. His voice resonated throughout the room.
Smacking his face, Michael couldn't discern whether Arthur was just unconcerned or foolish.
"About your awakening. You ran away, remember?! And the media buzzed out over it. Now, everyone in this class knows about it.", Michael chased his breath.
In contrast to Michael, Arthur was indifferent about it. He couldn't care less.
"Don't mind about the media or people talking about it. Let's talk about you, what skill did you awaken?"
Like Arthur, Michael just turned 18 this year and underwent an awakening last night.
Arthur already knew the skill that Michael awakened, however, with the returnees' interference, the future might have deviated.
'I hope it changed.', Arthur thought.
However, it was still the first day since their regression and the changes were subtle.
Sure enough, Michael awakened a similar skill.
"Me? Ah, I awakened an A-rank skill... but it is a support skill", Michael was washed off his prior vibrance for a second.
It was clear that his unfavorable awakening hit him badly.
Support skills provided its users with the least means of survival due to a lack of fighting prowess. Their effects intersect with the potions, depreciating their significance.
Recouping himself, Michael shifted the topic to Arthur.
"It seems that you have changed. What happened?", Michael asked out of care.
'He couldn't be just pretending to be alright, isn't he?', he thought.
Thwarting his thoughts, Arthur grinned in response, glancing at the young woman seated on his right and then meeting the scornful glares of the bullies at the rear part.
Waving his hand toward them, Arthur greeted them.
"It's been a while, ah, what is your name again?", Arthur stood and walked toward the head of the gang.
Michael, confused at the sudden greeting of Arthur, belatedly reacted to the latter's standing up. It was too late for him to hold back Arthur.
But
That was an unnecessary action
After all, Arthur was just there for greetings.
"Ah, what is your name again, is it I--, Isat? Isaj? Or..."
"Is it, idiot?", Arthur leaned forward, inching his face toward the massive guy.
Stunned, the frantic students shifted their gazes to Arthur. Their orifices gaped, shocked at the brazen mockeries of Arthur.
"This?", mumbling, the young woman whose calm demeanor never stirred up, was fazed by this event.
'The bullied is bullying the bully?', Michael sweat