Lucas Cadillac
(Present)
"Heh, looking back, it was pretty stupid..."
Lost in my thoughts, I didn't realize how far I had walked until I was nearly at the classroom. I turned the corner when someone bumped into me from behind.
"Ah!"
I turned around, and there she was—a small girl with silver-white hair, it was Rubielle.
"I'm sorry, erm..." she muttered, shifting nervously.
She clearly don't recognize me.
I stared at her, caught off guard. This was the first time someone had approached me on their own, the first time someone actually talked to me without ulterior motives.
Not interacting with others for so long I stood there, stiff as a rock, waiting for what she might say next.
"Is your injury okay?"
Injury? What is she talking about—gasp! I completely forgot my eyepatch and bandage!
"H-heh! Miss, i-it wasn't an injury! It was to seal my power inside me! Otherwise, it would go out of control! I'm just practicing today to keep it suppressed without my seals!"
She stares at me directly with an innocent expression, taking everything I say seriously.
I… I'm just joking! Stop looking at me with such an innocent expression!
"Eh?! Is that okay? I'll help you if you need!" she offers.
No, I'm just messing around! Stop believing me! It's already bad enough!
"W-what do you need? Ah, Ethan!" she suddenly calls out.
"Noooo, that's enough!" I shouted, already feeling the embarrassment creeping in.
"What is it?" Ethan asks, glancing between us with confusion.
"This one said he has powers he's been suppressing!" Rubielle explains, pointing at me.
Ethan's eyes widen in disbelief, and before I can say anything.
Then, he suddenly gasps.
"Argh! My arm!!!" he exclaims dramatically.
"HIYAAAA, STOP ITTT!!" I screamed in embarrassment.
"Rubielle, he's what you call a chuuni, you know?" Ethan leans in, whispering. His face looks amused disbelief.
"What is a chuuni?" Rubielle asks, tilting her head in confusion.
"Well, it's when someone acts like they have special powers, usually out of their imagination, but really, they just want attention," Ethan explains.
Stop looking at me! I'll stop now!!
I hid my face in my hands turning away in embarrassment. My cheeks turn as red as a ripe tomato, and just when I think things can't get any worse, Rubielle gently grabs my shoulder.
"It's okay…" she pats it softly expressing pity.
Noooo!! This is already more than I can handle!
At the perfect moment, the teacher passed by, signaling that it was time to head back to the classroom. I couldn't believe my morning had started off so chaotic, leaving me sobbing in embarrassment.
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After that, they didn't approached me, and I didn't make an effort to talk to them either—being not in a mood to even bother. I wonder if this is how my high school life will turn out? Plain and boring.
"Maybe I'm just being too greedy, even though with everything I have." I whispered to myself.
With thoughts like that weighing heavily on my mind, the school day came to an end before I even realized it.
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"Sir, it's time to head home."
The same line, repeated almost every day, followed by the same looks on the students' faces—some in shock, others in envy—staring my way again and again. I'm tired of it all.
"...No," I respond flatly. "I'll walk. I need to stop by somewhere first."
"E-eh, but—" the driver hesitates, clearly unsure.
"I'll just call you if I need anything. Go ahead and go first." I walk past the car, leaving the driver behind.
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"Stop somewhere, my ass. I don't even have a place to go…" I muttered.
Walking aimlessly, I spotted a group of kids—dirty, but full of energy—playing with marbles on the ground. I couldn't help but feel a bit envy at the way they smiled, even over such simple glass balls.
Just then—
"HUP!"
*swoosh!*
I saw Rubielle suddenly jump out of the bushes, leaves tangled in her messy hair.
"Hey! Let me see that!" she called out, grabbing one of the kids playing with the marbles.
"Waaah! Miss, what are you doing?!" the kid exclaimed, looking completely terrified.
"Eh? It's just a toy…" With a clear hint of disappointment, Rubielle sighed.
Following closely behind, Ethan appeared from the same direction, completely exhausted.
"Rubielle… huff… huff… you're going so fast…" he panted, sweat dripping down his face.
"Oh! It's Lucas!" Ethan noticed me standing nearby, his breathing heavy as he wiped the sweat from his forehead.
Rubielle didn't pay much attention, completely absorbed in playing with the kids instead.
"What are you playing? Can I join?" she asked, her eyes sparkling with excitement as she bent down to get closer.
"Hey, what are you doing here?" Ethan turned to me, his tone casual once he'd caught his breath.
"N-nothing, just wandering around," I replied, a bit nervous, trying to come up with a way to sound more natural.
"I— I'm just on my way home."
"Home? I thought you always got picked up by that white car?"
"Y-yeah, I just wanted some fresh air, you know," I chuckled awkwardly.
"What about you? What are you two doing?" I asked, hoping to steer the conversation away from myself.
"Well, I'm helping Rubielle find something important, so we search around after school," Ethan explained.
"How about it, Rubielle? Did you find it?" Ethan walked up to her, and I followed hesitantly.
"Nope, it's just a normal toy," Rubielle pouted, flicking a marble in her turn while disappointed.
"Waaaaah, Miss, you're amazing!" the kids cheered excitedly.
"Right?" she responded with a bright smile.
I wish I could smile like that...
Watching them laugh and play together made something in me stir—envy, maybe. They looked so carefree.
"T-then, I'll go first now," I muttered awkwardly, unsure of how to leave without feeling even more out of place.
"Yeah, see you tomorrow," Ethan waved, his smile warm.
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After walking a long way, I reached into my pocket pulling out my phone to call my driver when suddenly—
"OW!"
A black marble smacked me right in the forehead.
I picked up the smooth, cool object from the ground as rubbing my forehead from the pain. Upon closer inspection, the marble is very matte inside, there's no dept almost like a 2D black.
"Come to think of it... didn't Ethan say they were looking for something?" I muttered to myself, looking at the marble in my hand.
"Should I give this to them?"
I stood there, pondering.
Suddenly, I was surrounded by thick black fog, seeing nothing.
"W-WHAT IS THIS?!" I panicked.
Amidst the thick fog, I saw a blurred silhouette of a person. I tried to reach out to her, but she suddenly jumped at me and dispersed like smoke.
Suddenly, I felt a surge of power inside me. Flames sparked in my hand, but they didn't burn me.
"Haha... is this what they're looking for?" I grinned from excitement.
I tested the power I felt and shot a ball of flame at a nearby trash can.
"Hiding something as cool as this!"