The breeze was refreshing—, carrying with it the scent of blooming flowers. I took a deep breath, feeling the crisp air fill my lungs. From this hilltop,
I could see the entire city spread out below me. The school was perched up here, overlooking everything.
I turned to look back at the school. "I've never been here before," I thought to myself. "I was homeschooled. I don't really know how to socialize with other people." It was a daunting prospect.
I glanced back down, feeling a pang of nostalgia mixed with uncertainty. "I wonder if my family is looking for me?" I played with my bangs, twisting them absently as I pondered. "If they are, would they still accept me? After everything?"
My thoughts were interrupted when someone tugged on my shirt. I looked up to see who it was. "L-Lykon?!"
She looked different—her hairstyle, her clothes, even her makeup. She was wearing a dress that was a bit too revealing for a teacher, and her demeanor seemed more relaxed than usual.
"What are you spacing out for? You'll be late," she said casually, her voice carrying a playful edge.
The breeze suddenly picked up, blowing her skirt upwards, and I caught a glimpse of something I wasn't supposed to see.
"W-what?!" I stammered, flustered by the unexpected sight of her white underwear, adorned with rabbits. My face turned bright red.
"You didn't wear any shorts?!" I blurted out.
"Is there a problem?" she asked, her eyes meeting mine without a hint of embarrassment.
"'Is there a problem?!'" I echoed, noticing the boy students passing by, all blushing furiously. I quickly moved to block their view, trying to shield her from their stares.
"You're a teacher! You should be more cautious! Why are you wearing such revealing clothes?" I protested, my voice full of concern. Lykon just shrugged, her expression nonchalant.
"Let them stare. It doesn't affect me at all," she said calmly.
"But..." I started to object.
"If they can't respect me because of my clothes, then I don't respect them either. I'll wear whatever I want." Her response was firm, and I could see the conviction in her eyes. She wasn't going to let anyone dictate her choices.
I was a bit taken aback by her reply. Lykon was clearly saying she didn't care what others thought, and she was unapologetic about it.
"Now go on to your class. I heard you still need to visit your homeroom adviser to process your transfer." She gave me a light pat on the shoulder.
I nodded quietly, feeling a bit out of place. "Hm, I'll see you later," I said, knowing that Lykon had her own way of doing things.
I rushed off to the faculty office to meet with my homeroom adviser and hand in the necessary paperwork for my transfer.
It felt strange to be in a school environment—I had never attended public school before. The Evergreens were certainly resourceful to have all this arranged so quickly.
Even with my unusual background, they managed to create a convincing cover story.
As I walked through the halls, I couldn't help but think about Lykon and her attitude. She was confident, unafraid to be herself, no matter what others thought.
It made me wonder if I could ever be that fearless. But for now, I had to focus on finding my place in this new environment, and maybe—just maybe—figure out how to belong.
***
"Settle down, everyone," the homeroom adviser said in a calm tone, and the other students obediently quieted down, following the teacher's instructions.
I stood at the threshold, feeling the weight of their gazes on me, my heart pounding in my chest. "I can't calm down," I admitted to myself, resigning to the nervous energy coursing through me.
My heart was racing, as if I were being chased by a pack of wild horses. I tried to calm down, but it was impossible. "Okay, just get through this," I told myself, though my stiff expression betrayed my anxiety. I walked in, feeling the weight of every gaze on me.
As I stood in front of the class, I felt like everyone was sizing me up, judging me. "Stop thinking like that," I told myself, but my body quivered with nerves.
"Alright, everyone. This is your new classmate. His name is Bogard Villin," the teacher announced.
As soon as the students heard my name, I could hear whispers and see a few of them stifling grins. "Bogard Villin?" Seriously? What kind of name is that? It felt like the young master had given me a joke for a name.
"Do you have anything to say, Bogard?" the teacher asked, prompting me to introduce myself.
I was so lost in my thoughts that I almost missed the question. "Oh, uh, yes," I stammered, my words coming out awkwardly.
"Pleased to meet everyone. I'm from a duchy in the south, and I've been transferred here because of some business with the duke. If it's not too much trouble, please take care of me."
The murmuring started almost immediately. "A duchy? Is he a noble?" The questions and gossip spread through the classroom like wildfire.
Of course, the young master had concocted a ridiculous backstory for me. Why did he go out of his way to make things complicated?
I couldn't help but overhear a few comments about my name. "Bogard... that's kind of... ugh," someone whispered, and I frowned, feeling my cheeks heat up.
I couldn't believe I had to go through school with a name like this.
"Alright, you'll sit in the back corner, beside Mei," the teacher instructed.
"Mei?" I repeated, looking toward the back. There she was—a girl with a ponytail and a rather gloomy demeanor.
As I walked to the back, I felt the stares of my new classmates following me. It was unsettling, but I tried to ignore it, sliding into the empty seat beside her.
I hesitated, unsure whether I should say anything to this "Mei" girl, but I couldn't resist sneaking a quick glance.
Mei didn't seem particularly interested in me or anything else. Her eyes were fixed on the book in front of her, and she barely acknowledged my presence.
The whole situation felt awkward, but I decided to just focus on getting through the day without drawing too much attention.
As I settled in, I thought about the young master, the man who'd given me this identity and sent me on this bizarre mission. Who was he, really? I hadn't even asked his name.
Maybe Lykon knew more about him. If I had the chance, I'd have to ask her about him.