"Knock, knock—"
Two slender fingers tapped rhythmically against the wooden desk, the sound sharp and precise, breaking the heavy silence that had settled over the classroom.
The faint echo of the taps seemed to linger in the stale air, a soft but insistent intrusion into the quiet.
The sleeping boy, his head buried in the crook of his arm, stirred slightly, his brow furrowing as if the sound had nudged the edges of his dream.
The room was warm, the afternoon sun filtering through the blinds, casting slanted stripes of light across his face.
His lips moved, smacking together softly as he adjusted his head, seeking a more comfortable position, unwilling to surrender the last fragments of his slumber.
Meanwhile, the girl who had initiated the tapping watched him with a mix of irritation and amusement.
Her fingers, delicate but firm, rested on the desk, her nails painted a deep shade of crimson that contrasted sharply with her pale skin.
Her expression remained cool and aloof, but there was a flicker of impatience in her eyes.
She glanced sideways at the slightly chubby boy sitting next to the sleeping one, her eyebrows knitting together in a silent command.
The chubby boy, noticing her glance, let out a nervous chuckle. His round cheeks flushed slightly, understanding what was expected of him.
He shifted in his seat, the wooden chair creaking under his weight, and then he stood up with a resigned sigh.
His footsteps were heavy and deliberate as he made his way over to the sleeping boy, each step echoing in the quiet room.
Bending down, he leaned in close, his lips almost brushing against the other boy's ear, and then he shouted with all the force he could muster, "Your mom's calling you home for dinner!"
The sudden outburst shattered the tranquility of the classroom. The sleeping boy jolted awake, his head snapping up, eyes wide and unfocused.
For a moment, he looked wildly around, his heart racing as he tried to make sense of what was happening.
His hair was tousled, and a faint line of drool glistened on his chin, evidence of how deeply he'd been asleep.
"What the—!? Is school over!?" he blurted out, still caught between sleep and wakefulness, his voice thick with confusion.
He blinked rapidly, trying to clear the haze from his mind, his gaze darting around until it landed on the chubby boy standing beside him.
Recognizing his friend, he let out a groan, the realization slowly dawning on him that he had been pranked.
His shoulders slumped, and he rubbed his face with both hands, trying to shake off the lingering drowsiness.
"Lewis, did you forget to take your meds again? Why are you bothering me while I'm sleeping?" he grumbled, his tone more exasperated than angry.
He stretched his arms above his head, his muscles stiff from his awkward sleeping position, and yawned, his mouth opening wide.
Lewis opened his mouth to respond, but before he could get a word out, the girl with the tapping fingers interjected, her voice cutting through the air like a blade.
"Class is about to start... all you ever do is eat and sleep, sleep and eat... Useless... Trash... Filthy worm..."
The girl speaking had an innocent appearance, untouched by makeup yet naturally stunning.
Her beauty was undeniable, but it was marred by the icy expression that seemed permanently etched on her face.
Even from a distance, one could feel the cold aura she radiated, a frigid barrier that kept others at arm's length.
Her gaze was as cold as her demeanor, her eyes a dull, dark shade that seemed to absorb all light, leaving only a void of grayness.
There was a constant, unyielding look of disdain in those eyes, no matter who they landed on, as if she found the very existence of others repugnant.
She was the epitome of the "long, black straight hair" archetype, a classic beauty with an unforgiving edge.
If only she didn't have that mouth...
The boy turned his head to face the girl, silently cursing her in his thoughts. But he was long accustomed to her venomous words and wasn't the least bit angered by her harsh remarks.
"Janne, I remember you called me scum yesterday, didn't you?" he remarked, his tone more playful than accusatory.
Janne was momentarily taken aback, her expression faltering for a split second before she muttered under her breath, "Incomprehensible," and turned her head away, clearly irritated.
Seeing an opportunity to speak, Lewis quickly leaned in, eager to change the subject.
"Satoru, what were you up to last night?" he asked, his curiosity evident.
"Nothing much." Satoru shrugged, trying to downplay his exhaustion.
Lewis gave him a skeptical look, then clapped him on the shoulder in a mock-serious manner, as if he were offering sage advice.
"Bro, let me save you one more time. Don't let your rational mind defeat your desires," he said, sounding like he was genuinely concerned for Satoru's well-being.
Satoru blinked, completely confused. "You're really good at reverse psychology... Wait, I don't even understand what you're saying."
"Ah, right, right... So why do you look so worn out today?" Lewis asked, his tone suddenly shifting to one of playful mockery.
At this, Satoru seemed to recall the reason for his sleepless night. He let out a weary sigh and slumped back onto his desk, a yawn escaping his lips.
"I got hit with a burst of inspiration last night, kept me up half the night," he admitted, his voice muffled as he rested his head on his folded arms.
"Inspiration? What kind of inspiration?" Lewis pressed, genuinely curious yet his tone teasing. He had a vague idea of what "inspiration" might be.
"Oh, you wouldn't get it even if I explained. Now go back to your seat, class is about to start," Satoru replied, pushing Lewis gently back toward his desk.
Just as Lewis settled back into his seat, the sharp, clear sound of the school bell echoed through the room, signaling the start of class.
The once relaxed atmosphere shifted instantly as the students straightened up, the sleepy lethargy that had filled the room moments ago replaced with the anticipation of another lesson.
...
Satoru was a student at DxD University, a renowned institution in his city.
The "DxD" in the school's name stood for "Dawning x Dream," a fitting moniker for a place that nurtured ambition and potential.
The university was famous for its incredibly high admission standards. It didn't matter if you were the child of a powerful politician or a wealthy magnate; there was no backdoor to gain entry here.
Only merit spoke—grades and academic performance were the sole determinants.
Because of this uncompromising standard, the university was often hailed as "the fairest university."
Satoru's class was in the honors track, and not just any honors class—it was the elite of the elite.
A student's rank in the class often directly corresponded to their rank within the entire grade level, underscoring just how competitive it was.
When Professor Li first took on the role of their homeroom teacher, she was a bit apprehensive.
After all, managing a class full of prodigies was no small feat.
However, after a year of guiding this group of exceptionally talented students, she had grown more confident and adept in her role.
During her lecture, Professor Li glanced up from her notes and happened to notice Satoru slumped over his desk, dozing off again.
She knew him to be a humble and diligent student, always courteous and maintaining high grades.
Instead of calling him out and embarrassing him in front of the class, she furrowed her brow slightly and gave his seatmate, Lewis, a subtle nod.
Lewis sighed, understanding the unspoken request. He nudged Satoru gently with his elbow, careful not to draw too much attention.
Once more, Satoru was jolted out of his dreams. He blinked groggily and looked up, only to find Professor Li watching him with a mix of curiosity and mild concern.
Realizing his situation, Satoru quickly composed himself.
A hint of apology flashed across his face as he opened his textbook, trying to focus on the lecture. His attention, however, was half-hearted at best.
Not that it mattered much—he already knew most of the material being covered, as did many of his classmates.
The majority had taken the initiative to study ahead, understanding that true excellence often required stepping outside one's comfort zone.
This class was filled with such individuals, always striving to push their boundaries and grow beyond what was expected.