[Chapter 3: More than three months has passed.]
As I pass by the crowd, people treat me differently. They looked at me with judgemental eyes as if looking at a total weirdo, trying to avoid as much as if averting something troublesome.
"Why do they let someone like that in school? I'm surprised someone our grade still hasn't grown out of his 8th-grade syndrome."
"Hey dude, you also got into your chuunibyou phase, didn't you? ..You even called yourself the wind emperor or something whenever a passing breeze comes by."
"Understandable, I get what you mean so stop bringing it up already ...But still, I didn't get that far." random guy-A said, commenting on my outfit.
"Yeah, I get what you mean. Even if we are allowed to alter our uniforms it's kind of creepy that he's going to that extent."
The pair of students whispered behind my back as I passed through the halls.
"He wears the same clothes every day. Does he even get to wash them?"
"Yeah, it looks hot in there, he probably smells by now"
Another pair of students gossiped.
Actually, I made multiple modified uniforms that looked identical each. Because, characters from anime and animated shows in general usually don't change how they dress. [Wasn't aware it was for animation budget reasons]
...
More than three months have passed since school started.
Before I knew it, the first semester of my new high school life was already about to end.
Sitting on my chair, I put my hands together and put on a serious expression on my face.
"Sigh..."
I sigh, lost in deep thought thinking that 'NOTHING INTERESTING HAPPENED!'
It has been more than three months since school started. Everyone now has become comfortable with each other and established their circles of friends... Except for me, I was excluded in that comfortable feeling.
[Because Yukiya's introduction was skipped, his classmates didn't get the chance to get a glimpse of his character, making it hard for them to approach. However, that's not all, because of this chuunibyou's stubbornness, wanting to become the quiet and mysterious character of the class, he stayed silent in one corner with this intimidating aura around him.]
'Should I introduce myself again...? No, it will worsen my already failed introduction. It would look much less cool if I did. This could risk my silent and mystery character appeal.'
I was conflicted about approaching my classmates again; however, no shadow hero would just suddenly approach you and ask if you want to be his friend. It would look like the same cliche with the most world threatening villain is just some misunderstood and lonely person who wants friends.
'I shall avoid such a cringe rout!'
[Refuse to rely on the power of friendship.]
'How disappointing.' I sigh in disappointment.
At first, I was all excited about starting my new journey [A.K.A. beginning of new high school life] but so far nothing interesting happened. Before I knew it, it was already the last day of the first semester.
I thought everything would be fun because, in anime, exciting stuff usually happens in high school. However, I had still yet to experience such thrilling events.
I was expecting some major development, something like the appearance of an ally to walk the path of darkness with me, or a foe that will threaten the world, or a rival to get stronger along side with. So far, nothing of that has yet to happen.
'Maybe they're hiding...?' I thought, wondering what's taking these exciting events for so long.
I placed my hand on my chin, concluding that.
"Of course. If you think about it, it all makes sense now!"
Back at the entrance ceremony, no one seemed to be getting closer to me. Even the other students seated next to me looked nervous.
Maybe they're already afraid, shivering on the corner knowing I, Phantom have already entered the campus.
"Kukuku, as expected of myself."
'... But I can't be sure just yet.'
At the same time, back then, there were people laughing behind my back. That is only what an hidden villain would do. Those who instigate chaos as they stay in the shadows.
But there are a lot of them... So maybe they're a cult? ...Now that I think about it, one of the student councils was also laughing. So is the student council controlling the student body behind the scenes?
'I should investigate this further...' is what I was supposed to do if only they wouldn't confiscate my sword... 'Wait! maybe that was all part of their plan all along!?'
On the first day of the entrance ceremony, I was walking around with my sword (model/plastic sword) until...
When I was about to enter the gym, one of the student council members stopped me and confiscated my sword, saying it was not allowed on school grounds.
"Hey! That's against school rules, and what is with those clothes you're wearing!?" he said with a puzzled look, thinking 'What's up with this weirdo?'
"Eh..!?"
The student council member confiscated my sword, but of course, I didn't go down without a fight and retaliated.
We were pulling it back and forth... but I gave in in the end because I was afraid it might break. It was just made out of plastic after all.
They gave it back after school was over though, however, they gave me a warning... "If you bring that thing again to school, I'm afraid we'll have to confiscate it permanently."
End of flashback.
'Well played student council, you used the rules as an excuse to lessen my power.'
'Kukuku, you almost had me fooled acting like a normal student council.' [Because they are, acting like a normal student council.]
School ended without anyone talking to me again.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
*Bell rings*
The final bell rang which meant it was already time for releasing of classes.
As soon as the bell rang, I started dashing out of the door and onwards.
Why am I in such a rush, you ask?
Aside from this being the final day of school before summer break, It was also because of my current favorite anime "The Weak Holy Knight of the Empire" that will air at 5:00 pm.
The final bell and release of classes is 4:45 pm. So, about 15 minutes more until the airing starts.
The Weak Holy Knight of the Empire only airs on Fridays so the excitement accumulates every week. So, every Friday I was particularly hyped about getting home.
I already mentioned that my house is four kilometers away from school and the fact that I walk to school. So, in less than 15 minutes, I should arrive home if I wanted to watch the live airing of my current favorite show, which is WHKE( The Weak Holy Knight of the Empire).
Why go to such lengths to watch one show? You could say that I can just watch the show later, but it wouldn't feel the same as watching it live along with others as it airs in real-time.
But why the running? Simply put, it could be explained like this... If I can't make it to that three over there in this certain amount of time, I would die!
This is like a challenge to myself, after all, a shadow hero is still a hero. So I must always arrive on time to save the day, arriving in this late fashion with a flashy grand entrance.
I treat this situation as a good way to exercise.
That's why as soon as the bell rang, I started sprinting.
"What was that?"
"Wha-"
As I passed by running, people were surprised and wondered what had just crossed them. However, the only thing they saw was a blur, a glimpse of the end of my long coat/modified uniform fluttering in the air.
Attention was drawn to my direction but soon gone from their eyes from the speed I was going.
"Haa... haa..." Struggling to catch my breath, I victoriously declared "I made it!"
I made it home just in time moments before the anime was about to start.
With only little to no time to spare, without hesitation, I opened the door of our house.
"I'm back"
"Oh, nii-chan(brother). Welcome home."
A girl who looks younger than me, my sister that is wearing an apron over her uniform greeted me.
"Yeah" I gave out a simple reply in my hurry.
Her name is "Ayaka". She's my sister who's one year younger than me.
The reason why she was wearing an apron just now was because she's about to prepare dinner, because it was her schedule to cook today.
Anyways, I hurriedly dashed, running up the stairs to my room. As soon as I entered my bedroom, the first thing I did was to quickly turn on the computer, and then play the anime I've been waiting for this whole week which was "The Weak Holy Knight of the Empire".
*Anime opening starts playing.*
"Kuh... Ku HA HA HA... I made it!"
I confidently laughed in the manner as if saying "How expected of myself."
I sat on my chair and laid back as I watched through the broadcast.
...
"I have to admit that WHKE is a masterpiece, with its greatly established world-building, and complex characterization and polishing of the characters. I can see why it's popular."
WHKE is really popular, so everyone knows about it. Many watched this show to keep up with the trend.
However, it's not like that was the reason I started watching this show, nor am I cheering for the main character. It was more of a greater reason than just that.
I only started watching the series from seeing a character dressed in black, wearing a dark cloak, and hood clad in black so you couldn't see his face. "What a cool character." I thought.
And about his character. His name was "Gaias". The way he does things is he secretly supports the main cast behind the scenes, helping them silently, and giving them hints on how to get stronger. His appearance was quite rare, arriving in late fashion at a desperate time of need for the story's heroes.
Why was he helping them? His objectives are unknown. For now, he's neither an ally or a foe. The faction he's associated with is a total mystery, but he seems to be only working for himself and appearing whenever you least expect him.
Plus, he's overpowered! ...Like a cheat character who exists just to save the main cast's butts in critical situations.
He goes around doing what he likes and abides by his own sense of justice. He acts based on his beliefs, a hero who doesn't seek recognition for what he does and is known only by a few.
Maybe I'm overanalyzing this but, in short, he's fricking awesome. A bonafide shadow hero.
[Shadow Hero = a type of Vigilante. A hero that works in the shadows.]
Heroes are cool and all, but shadow heroes are way cooler by tenfold.
It's not like I run fast every day just to watch this anime. The only reason is that I saw him in the preview of last week's episode. You could say that he's one of the main reasons I'm after this show, for being a shadow hero which I was aching to be and aspire for.
While watching the show airs, I enjoyed every bit of the 24 minutes the show has to offer. Mainly because of mysterious character Gaias.