The classroom had never been this quiet.
Every student held their breath, it as if the air had choked them, weighed down by Hanako's presence. Every conversations died mid-sentence, and the usual chatter faded slowly into hushed whispers. The moment Hanako stepped through the door, an unintended remembrance creeped through the room.
Was that really him? The mysterious student who never attended class but somehow aced every exam? Whispers spread contagiously growing louder with every passing second.
"I heard he doesn't even bother studying."
"They say he's cheating his whole way up."
"Maybe he bribed the teachers?"
"I think he's doing… y'know other things.... for those grades. Have you seen how he looks?"
The last comment hung stiff in the air, stirring awkward giggles among a few students, though most of them quickly quieted down. Hanako's unsettling calm demeanor ignore all the nervous energy swirling around him. He strolled in with an air of complete disinterest, as though the world he was walking into barely mattered to him. His eyes scanned the room, but not in search of anyone in particular—it was more like he was analyzing a puzzle piece, indifferent to the whispers and talk going around him.
But there's one person that couldn't shake the panic growing inside her: Elise.
If others were speculating or spreading gossip about Hanako's mysterious success, Elise knew the truth. Her heart struck in her chest, pounding harder with each rumor whispered. She could feel her palms grow clammy, and for the first time in what felt like years, a slight shiver of fear snaked its way up her spine. Why is he here?
Before Elise had ascended to her throne as the relentless queen in the school—before she had controlled everyone around her finger, manipulating them with cruel precision—she had been like Alice. Quiet. Invisible. Weak.
And then she met Hanako.
It was like a deal with the devil. She couldn't explain how he did it, or even why, but he had lifted her from obscurity and placed her in a position which she's capable to do anything she want, and for the first time Elise had finally tasted control, and it was very intoxicating. She'd become the ruler of her little world, feared and admired in an measure she has set. But everything must come with a price.
And now, seeing him again, the mask of arrogance she build gradually wavered, as though she forced herself to keep it on. She couldn't let anyone, especially not Alice, see her fear. If anyone found out that Elise—the queen, the untouchable one—was terrified of this boy, her reign would then crumble apart.
But Hanako's control… it was something terrifying. Even now, standing in front of him, she could feel it. His calm wasn't just unsettling—it was suffocating. It was the kind of calm which spoke of someone who could destroy everything without even making a move. It made her realize how fragile actually her power is really was compare to, and how easily Hanako could shatter it.
Still, she forced her arrogant smile to carve into place, her voice was as smooth and sweet like always. "Well, well… Hanako. Long time, no see. What brings you back here? I really thought school wasn't really your… thing."
Her voice sounded confident, but inside she was beyond panicked already but still she needed to assert control, to remind herself and everyone else in that room room that she still the cold queen. But facing Hanako was different from bullying Alice or any other student. Elise could feel the tiny thread of her authority fraying with every passing second.
Hanako didn't even look at her.
"It's none of your business."
His voice was so calm, so indifferent, it felt like a slap to her face. Elise faltered for a second, her mask cracking slightly as her smile twitched. She didn't press further, knowing better that confronting him directly would only make things worse.
With his casual dismissal, Hanako turned his attention away from Elise entirely, walking past her as if she were nothing more than an obstacles in his way. He moved toward the back of the classroom—toward Alice.
Elise stiffened. Why her?
The other students, who had been frozen in their seats, stared in stunned silence as Hanako walked to Alice's desk. For that brief moment, there was a sudden shift in the atmosphere—a blend of anticipation and dread, like the calm before a storm.
Alice sat motionless, her head still bowed, too afraid to look up. Her heart had been pounding ever since Hanako had entered the room, and while a small part of her was relieved that he had seemingly "saved" her from Elise's torment, another part of her felt uneasy. His presence was overwhelming, filling the room with a kind of pressure she couldn't quite understand.
When Hanako finally sat down next to her, Alice's heart skipped a beat. She dared herself to take a quick glance at him, but immediately looked away, biting her lip nervously. The energy he radiated wasn't warm or comforting—at least, not at first. It was like standing too close to a fire, unsure if it would warm you or burn you.
Sensing her discomfort, Hanako shifted in his seat. His demeanor softened, the coldness that had filled the room melting away as he turned toward Alice. His voice, when he spoke, was warm, teasing, and familiar—the Hanako she knew, not the one that commanded the room with silent authority.
"Alice," he said, his voice low enough that only she could hear, "you can look at me as much as you want."
Alice's face flushed with heat, and she fumbled for a response, her voice a nervous whisper. "It- It's not like that…"
Her eyes widened as the words escape from her mouth, realizing how flustered she sounded. But when she looked up at Hanako again, he was smiling—not the cold, detached smile she had feared, but something softer. It's reassuring. And for that moment, Alice then felt a flicker of relief. He was still the Hanako she knew.
But Elise, watching from across the room, saw the interaction differently. She knew that Hanako's interest in Alice wasn't just innocent teasing. He was far more dangerous than that. If Hanako had decided to focus on Alice, then Alice was in more trouble than she could possibly imagine.
Elise's mind raced. She couldn't afford to let this happen. As much as she hated Alice, she knew that Hanako's presence meant things were about to change in ways she couldn't control. With a quick glance around the room, she pulled out her phone and slipped quietly out of the classroom, her fingers already tapping out a message to her most trusted allies.
Hanako had returned, and Elise had to warn them. No one was safe anymore
The classroom atmosphere gradually returned to its usual hum of chatter, the tension slowly dissolving as if nothing had happened. Yet, even as the oppressive weight of Hanako's aura lifted, Alice felt no relief. Where others found comfort in the restored normalcy, her mind was caught in a storm.
Her heart pounded in her chest, each beat repeating the same unanswered questions that twisted inside her. Why was Hanako here? Why now? She stole a glance at him from the corner of her eye, sitting so casually beside her, as though his presence hadn't shifted the entire energy of the room moments earlier. There had to be more to it—something hidden beneath the surface. Something no one else could see but her.
Gathering the courage, Alice leaned closer, her voice a soft whisper, "Hanako... why are you here?"
Hanako, who had been lounging back in his chair, seemingly uninterested in the mundane class proceedings, turned to her with a mischievous smile, his dark eyes twinkling with amusement. "Just a coincidence," he said lightly, "I was interested in school today, that's all."
A vague answer. Typical of him. Alice felt a twinge of frustration. Hanako was always like this—never giving away too much, always playing with her curiosity. She bit her lip, deciding to push further.
"Do you know Elise?" she asked, lowering her voice even more.
Hanako's smile widened into something more playful. "Elise?" he repeated as if the name didn't mean much to him. "Oh, she's an old friend of mine. Can't say I care much, though."
His words were flippant, but they stirred something in Alice. Old friend? She's curious wanting to ask more, to dig deeper into whatever past they shared, but before she could, the teacher entered the room, cutting their conversation short. The classroom shifted back into order as the lesson began, but Alice's focus was already far from the lecture.
While the teacher droned on about complex equations, Alice found herself glancing at Hanako. He didn't seem to care much about the class either, sitting casually with his arms folded, his face betraying no interest in the lesson at hand. In contrast to Alice, who was filled with anxious thoughts, Hanako seemed completely at ease, unaffected by the world around him.
Despite the fact that Hanako's presence next to her was unsettling, Alice couldn't help but feel an odd sense of security having him nearby. She was still scared of him, but also oddly reassured. Her mind wandered. Why had he chosen to sit beside her? Why did he bother saving her from that dark world she was sinking into? The questions piled up, distracting her from the lecture until—
"Alice!" the teacher snapped, pulling her back to the present world. The rest of the class turned to look at her.
"You seem to be daydreaming instead of paying attention huh," the teacher continued in a sharp, condescending tone. "Perhaps you can answer this question for us."
The teacher's mocking smile widened as she scribbled a complicated equation on the board:
Given that the quadratic equation 4𝑥² + (m - n)𝑥 + 6 = 0 has two distinct real roots, and the sum of the roots is equal to twice their product, find the relationship between (m) and (n), then determine the exact values of (m) and (n) if the roots also satisfy the equation 𝑥² + px + q = 0, where p = 3m - n² and q = m² - 2n.
Alice's eyes widened in panic. She had no idea where to even begin. Her palms started to sweat as the teacher waited expectantly, enjoying the impending humiliation. The other students were whispering among themselves, some snickering, already certain she'd embarrass herself.
"I... I don't—" she stammered, her voice shaking, but before she could finish, she felt a soft brush against her arm. Hanako leaned in closer, his voice a low whisper just for her.
"Say, 'm equals n minus 12.' Trust me."
Alice blinked. She didn't understand how he knew, but something about the way he said it made her trust him, even if she didn't fully grasp the logic of anything here. Swallowing her fear, she stood straighter and repeated, "m equals n minus 12."
The teacher's mocking expression was faltered for a moment, surprised that Alice had given a coherent response. The snickering in the class died down. Still, the teacher wasn't ready to back off just yet.
"And? The exact values of m and n?" she pressed.
Alice hesitated for a heartbeat, but then, Hanako whispered again, calm and steady. "m is 4, and n is 16."
"m is 4, and n is 16," Alice repeated, feeling the words leave her lips before she fully processed them.
The teacher's expression froze in shock. It was the correct answer, and she hadn't expected that in the slightest. The class fell into stunned silence as the teacher, clearly thrown off in her little game, quickly turned away, scribbling notes on the board. "Yes, well... sit down and pay attention next time."
Alice slowly sat back down, her heart pounding. She couldn't believe what had just happened. She glanced sideways at Hanako, who was now hiding his face with his hand, trying to suppress a grin. His playfulness was back, a stark contrast to the earlier tension.
Alice felt a wave of gratitude wash over her, followed by something else—an undeniable warmth. She smiled softly at him, the corners of her mouth lifting unconsciously.
Hanako noticed and turned toward her, his playful smile widening. "It's fine," he whispered teasingly, "You'll be fine with me, hehe."
Alice's heart fluttered, and for the first time in what felt like forever, she allowed herself to believe him.
As the class came to an end, Alice found herself in an unusually high mood. Her chest felt light, her mind abuzz with warmth. It was an odd sensation—almost foreign to her after all she had been through. Yet, for the first time in a long while, she didn't feel weighed down by the darkness of her thoughts or the fears that usually corrupting her mind. Instead, she felt... safe. Hanako is here, she thought, and with him around, surely everything would be fine.
It was rest time, and while the other students already shuffled out of the classroom to go to the canteen, Alice stayed seated, watching them drift away. Deep down, something inside her warned her not to let her guard down, not to trust Hanako too much. But it felt like it was already too late. Her thoughts swirling in confusion, mixed with curiosity and suspicion about why Hanako had shown up at school. She had so many questions she wanted to ask him. But as she opened her mouth to speak, Hanako did something that caught her off guard—he reached out and gently patted her head.
The sudden touch made Alice's body tense, and she instinctively flinched back, her heart skipping a beat. Hanako noticed her reaction immediately, his calm, knowing smile never faltering. The pat on her head had been part of his plan—a subtle move to keep Alice distracted, to prevent her from probing too deeply into his motives.
Still, Hanako couldn't help but wonder why she had recoiled. His dark eyes flickered with curiosity, and he mentally went over the possibilities. Was it something from her past? A recent fear? He quickly began calculating the best way to address it, all while maintaining his casual demeanor, like a puppet master pulling strings in the background.
Alice, trying to calm herself, managed to say in a low voice, "Don't... don't do that. It reminds me of when my mother's about to hit me…"
And there it was. Hanako's mental deductions clicked into place. Bingo, he thought to himself. That was the trigger. His smile softened slightly, but inside, he was triumphant. "I'm sorry," he said with a feigned look of guilt, "I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable. I guess I got too close, didn't I?"
Alice, despite her initial fear, found herself feeling a pang of disappointment. She had actually liked the head pat, even though it startled her. But now, she wasn't sure if he would do it again. Why did I say that? she wondered, feeling conflicted. She shoved the thought aside, not wanting to dwell on it.
Meanwhile, Hanako's attention shifted to the now-empty classroom. Everyone else had gone to the canteen. "Why aren't you going to eat with the others?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.
"I'm... I'm not hungry," Alice lied, trying to sound convincing. But as soon as the words left her mouth, her stomach betrayed her with a loud, grumbling growl.
"GRRRMMBLE"
Hanako chuckled softly, the sound light but filled with amusement. "Doesn't sound like it," he teased, his playful nature once again slipping through. Alice, embarrassed, pouted and crossed her arms. "Stop laughing," she muttered under her breath, her cheeks flushing.
But Hanako's curiosity was piqued now. "But you're really hungry, aren't you? Why don't you eat with me then?" His tone was gentle but probing, urging her to open up. He leaned in closer, his dark eyes locking onto hers. "Be honest with me, Alice. It's okay to admit when something's wrong. You don't have to hide anything."
Alice's heart swelled at his words, her defenses lowering. She hesitated, but then, almost forcing herself, she confessed, "I... I don't have any money. I haven't eaten in three days."
The words came out in a whisper, like a secret she had been holding for too long. She immediately felt ashamed for admitting it, but Hanako just smiled reassuringly. "You're stronger than you think," he said, his voice soft and comforting.
Without another word, Hanako abruptly stood up and left the classroom. Alice watched him leave, her thoughts racing. Why did he leave all of a sudden? She sat there alone, unable to follow the others to the canteen because she was too poor. The minutes stretched on, and Alice, growing more bored and restless, glanced at Hanako's desk. His bag was there, worn but in better condition than hers. She hesitated, her curiosity piqued, and found herself peeking into it. There was an old notebook inside. I
Before she could think too much about it, Hanako returned. Alice's eyes widened in surprise as he entered the room, his arms full of food and drinks. He had bought enough to feed them both, and it was clear from the spread that he hadn't held back. Alice stared in shock as he laid the food on her desk.
"Why… why did you do this?" she asked, her voice full of confusion. Hanako just smiled, pulling his chair over to sit next to her. They were so close now, their legs almost touching under the table.
"Because you're hungry, right?" Hanako said casually, unfolding the food and placing it neatly before her. To Alice, it all looked expensive—far out of reach for someone like her. But to Hanako, it was nothing. He gestured toward the food, encouraging her to eat. "It's fine, Alice. I won't charge you for anything."
Alice blushed deeply, the proximity between them making her heart race. She was overwhelmed by his kindness and the fact that he was sitting so close that she could almost feel their thighs touch. Her thoughts swirled with confusion, but before she could fully process it, Hanako poked her playfully on the shoulder, snapping her out of her daze.
"Come on," he teased, "Dig in. You'll turn into a statue if you keep staring like that."
Alice, still hesitant, began to eat slowly, her mind a flurry of emotions. Hanako's playful banter made her feel at ease, even as she questioned why he was doing this for her. They ate together, laughing and even fighting over pieces of food like children. For a brief moment, Alice felt truly happy—free from her school torment, free from her mother's abuse, free from her own dark thoughts. She smiled more than she had in months, sinking deeper into Hanako's presence, allowing herself to trust him.
But the moment was shattered by the sound of sneering voices from the doorway.
"Eww, look at them," one boy said with disgust, "Sitting next to stinky Alice? How desperate are you, Hanako?"
Another girl chimed in, "I can smell her from here. Gross."
The hateful comments came pouring in, each one a sharp stab into Alice's heart. Her smile faded, and she instinctively tried to pull her chair away, her face burning with shame. But before she could move, Hanako's hand firmly held her in place.
"Don't," he whispered, his voice steady and commanding. He leaned in closer to her, his breath warm against her skin. Without warning, he bent down slightly and inhaled, smelling her from top to bottom.
Alice turned bright red, her heart pounding wildly. "W-What are you doing?" she stammered, too embarrassed to look him in the eyes. "I-I stink."
But Hanako just smiled softly, his dark gaze meeting hers. "For me, you don't," he said simply. His words were enough to silence the room, leaving Alice too shy and overwhelmed to speak.
They continued eating together in a comfortable silence, as if the cruel comments from the other students had never happened. And as Alice sat there, enjoying the moment, Hanako's mind was already at work, knowing everything was falling perfectly into place.
Outside the classroom, Elise watched them quietly, her eyes cold with determination. In her hands was a torn piece of paper notes, crumpled from her tight grip. She glared at Hanako with burning hatred, her thoughts consumed by one thing: No matter what, I will take you down Hanako.