Theos thought that a special person who considers himself special eventually attracts the wrath of others.
It's worth noting that not only the weak have set themselves apart; it has been their experience.
But appearances were not the only thing to take for granted. He had put in a great deal of effort to get where he was.
Hina tapped her finger against her glasses, and everyone already knew what to expect from this girl. She may be cute and beautiful, but her penchant for yaoi made her uncontrollable.
"Manga isn't just pictures with text. It's more than that. It's a philosophical compendium, a book of life. Everyone has the right to enjoy this vision of the world; it's an extension of our imagination."
"Wow." For once, Hina was saying something profound. Well, she was stringing words together, but more importantly, it was cool and different, so everyone was impressed.
"Why else do you think BL exists?"
"Eh???" A drop of blood trickled from Hina's nose. The boys made an effort not to imagine the scene that was beginning to unfold in their minds. But taboo is taboo; the more you chase the natural, the more it returns with a vengeance.
"But why us?" Theos wondered, withdrawing all thoughts of this girl's cool demeanor. "She's totally lost her mind."
"Why should I deprive myself of this budding love between you? BL scenarios are the best."
But seriously, what was she talking about? What were they talking about?
"And what's wrong with girls being otaku?"
The entire room turned to hear the answer to this highly philosophical question.
Hikari had also stood up, as he was suffering from chuunibyou, the last frontier of an otaku, caught between our personal universe and the real world.
Although the question of where this barrier lies in the year 999 is debatable.
"Silence in the room!"
The teacher entered a few hours late, and in an instant, the room reorganized itself, and everyone took their seats.
The woman who entered was the teacher of Terminal B, Mademoiselle Charlotte, a very beautiful woman. Due to post-war interbreeding, most individuals in the HU had racial characteristics of almost every race, resulting in a stunning woman with a generous figure like those found in ancient countries such as Cameroon, Guinea, Burkina, Gabon, etc., with a fair complexion, an Asian-style face shape, and golden hair similar to those seen on old Russians in retro films.
In short, Miss Charlotte was a classy beauty who attracted many suitors among the teachers. She interacted well with students and showed great kindness.
You could say nature had spoiled her, but it didn't make her life any easier.
"We've had a few administrative issues, but nothing serious."
"Are you going to be alright, Charlotte?" The teacher's assistant hadn't launched this time, and the teacher hadn't either. Normally, it could be used if the teacher was absent, so the problem must have been serious.
"It's Charlotte, and don't worry. It's nothing serious."
"What a scene," the students collectively thought. Her hair appeared to be floating in the wind, although there was no draft. Despite this, everything she did exuded class, except for...
"If this is serious, I feel like crying right now. I've got tons of documents to write, and I don't even know what's going on. What a cursed life I lead!"
In an instant, she had shattered the mood, ruining everything. Miss Charlotte could be beautiful, intelligent, and professional at times, but sometimes she was not a beacon of light; she could be childish and unable to grow up.
"Go home," she said.
Theos wondered if she didn't look bad. But how strange it was to cancel classes for administrative reasons without prior notice. Maybe something fishy was going on, but who cared? "I'm off to the administration. Bye-bye, and may the delegate follow me."
She smiled, a smile that made it clear he was in for a rough ride. Theos had declined the job to keep his free time.
She left the room, still looking terrible.
As Theos got up to go back inside, Mahito pointed him out.
"There's Esiah!"
She came over to him and started talking shyly.
"Say, Theos, would you mind walking me home? I'd like to talk to you too!"
Thinking about what had happened in the morning, it seemed only normal.
"All right, then."
As they left the room, their friends started waving at each other; it was as if they were at a soccer match. Miss Charlotte, who wasn't far enough away, turned back.
"Are you in a hurry to get home? I suggest you go straight home today. Don't hang around in the streets."
She crossed her hands as everyone left the room. Finally, Theos and Esiah took the elevator out of the building.
As Theos and Esiah stepped into the elevator, the atmosphere shifted. The playful banter with their friends, the teasing, and the light-hearted mood of the classroom seemed to fade away, replaced by an air of anticipation. Esiah stood quietly next to him, occasionally glancing his way but not saying much. The elevator's hum was the only sound as they descended.
Theos thought back to what Miss Charlotte had said. It was strange, the way she had advised them to head straight home. Her usual carefree and sometimes dramatic persona seemed different, more serious. Something felt off, though Theos couldn't put his finger on it.
As the elevator doors slid open, Esiah finally broke the silence. "You think something's going on, don't you?"
Theos looked at her, surprised by the question. "Yeah, maybe. It's just not like her to be so... stern. What do you think?"
Esiah shrugged, a small smile tugging at her lips. "Who knows? It's Miss Charlotte. She's unpredictable, but… maybe we should listen to her this time."
They stepped outside, greeted by the cool afternoon breeze. The school grounds were mostly empty now, with only a few students lingering in small groups. The campus, usually bustling with activity, felt strangely still.
Theos stuffed his hands into his pockets, walking beside Esiah as they made their way toward the gates. "You wanted to talk about something, right?" he asked, trying to lighten the mood.
Esiah hesitated for a moment, then nodded. "Yeah… it's just, I've been thinking a lot about this morning, you know? How everything happened so fast, and how we always seem to end up in these weird situations together."
Theos laughed softly. "Yeah, it's like we're magnets for trouble."
Esiah smiled too, but there was a hint of something else in her expression—uncertainty, perhaps? "I just… I don't know. It feels like something's changing. Between us, I mean. And I don't know if I'm ready for that."
Her words hung in the air, and Theos felt a sudden weight in his chest. He hadn't really thought about it like that. Sure, they'd been spending more time together lately, but it was all in good fun, right? But now, standing here with her, he realized maybe there was more to it than he had let himself acknowledge.
"I get it," he said finally. "I've felt it too. But we don't have to rush anything. Whatever this is, we'll figure it out together."
Esiah looked up at him, her eyes searching his for reassurance. "Yeah, you're right," she said softly. "Together."
They walked in comfortable silence for a while, the sun beginning to dip below the horizon, casting long shadows on the pavement. Theos couldn't shake the feeling that today marked a turning point—whether it was in their relationship, the strange mood at school, or something else entirely, he wasn't sure.
But one thing was certain: things were changing, and they would have to face whatever was coming, together.