"...urg." The sound escaped my lips as I stirred, my senses sluggishly returning. For the first time in what felt like an eternity, I could feel, smell, hear, and see again.Karuizawa clenched her hands, her voice shaky. "Five years... And he wakes up like that? It's terrifying just thinking about what he endured."Ichinose whispered, "It's like... he's been completely detached from everything. How does someone even process that?"If my count was accurate—and it should be, unless the void somehow tampered with my mind—five years had passed since the moment I regained consciousness in the endless starry expanse. How long I had been unconscious before that, after collapsing at ANHS, was a mystery I couldn't begin to unravel."What confidence he has in his abilities..., it's like back then in our first year when he told me that even at his lowest, no one could fight him," Horikita thought to herself, a faint flicker of recognition crossing her face.As the scene continued to unfold, a realization struck her like a bolt of lightning. Her composed expression faltered as her brows furrowed deeply."Wa—Wait a moment," she muttered aloud, her voice trembling slightly as she pieced it together. "He says at least five years have passed... How can we be seeing something that is in the future?!"Her words echoed in the quiet theater, drawing the attention of the surrounding students.Ryuen smirked, leaning back in his chair with a playful glint in his eyes. "Good catch, Suzune. Looks like we're peeping into more than just the past. This 'god' or whatever is showing us things that go beyond time itself."Amasawa crossed her arms, tilting her head with a mischievous grin. "Or maybe time works differently wherever he is now. Five years could pass for him in the blink of an eye for us. It's weird but... kind of cool, isn't it?"Nagumo chuckled, his fingers tapping rhythmically on the armrest of his seat. "So, not only are we seeing how far this guy has gone, but we're also seeing how far he'll go. Not sure if I should be impressed or freaked out."Chairman Sakayanagi's lips tightened into a thin line. "If this is truly a glimpse into the future, then Kiyotaka-kun's journey isn't over. Far from it."Karuizawa, sitting quietly, clenched her fists on her lap. Her voice was barely above a whisper but carried the weight of her concern. "Five years... How long will he have to keep fighting like this? And... will he even come back?"The theater was filled with murmurs, a mix of awe, confusion, and unease rippling through the students and staff. All the while, the screen continued to display the enigmatic path of the one who had left them behind, challenging their perceptions of time, reality, and what lay ahead.I pushed myself up carefully, my limbs trembling as I moved. My body felt alien, as though it had forgotten how to function after so long in that void. Every motion was awkward, unsteady, and yet, there was an odd relief in simply being able to move again.Nagumo sighed lightly, though his expression was serious. "Even a guy like him has limits. Five years of nothing... It's a miracle he can even stand."Kiryūin, ever curious, murmured, "It's not just his will. Whatever brought him back, it's beyond comprehension. I wonder if he's even the same person anymore."And then, I saw it.The sight before me stole the breath from my lungs.The air was dense and heavy, wrapping itself around me like a damp shroud. A pale mist lingered over the ground, curling lazily around jagged cliffs and shadowed valleys, their outlines blurred as if painted by an unsteady hand. Shadows stretched endlessly, clinging to the terrain like living things, moving and shifting subtly with the faint whispers of the wind.Asahina gasped. "This place... It's like a nightmare and a dream combined. What kind of world is this?"Above me hung a sky caught in perpetual twilight. Stars flickered weakly, their dim light barely piercing the mist-laden heavens. Wisps of silvery-blue light danced faintly at the edges of the horizon, moving like embers in a dying fire. The surrounding cliffs loomed tall and jagged, their peaks vanishing into the swirling mists above, standing like ancient guardians of a long-forgotten land.Amasawa grinned slightly. "A place like this... It's like it was made to test every bit of him. Perfect, isn't it?"Hirata's voice carried an edge of concern. "Perfect? This is horrifying. How is anyone supposed to survive in a place like that?"Strange plants grew in patches across the uneven ground, their wiry forms absorbing the faint light rather than reflecting it. Pools of dark water dotted the terrain, their still surfaces mirroring the faint glow of the ethereal lights above. The silence was profound, broken only by the occasional murmur of the wind brushing through gnarled branches, their skeletal forms clawing at the gray skies.Kushida muttered under her breath, "This isn't normal. Why him? Why throw him into a world like this?"This place felt alive—not in the way a forest teems with creatures, but in the way a deep, ancient ocean holds an undercurrent of hidden life and secrets. It exuded a presence, a weight pressing against my senses, at once enchanting and oppressive. Time itself seemed to bend and warp here, and the boundary between reality and something otherworldly felt fragile and faint."Wow..." The word escaped before I could stop it. Rarely in my life had I been truly awed. Even the greatest spectacles Earth had to offer never elicited such an involuntary reaction from me.Karuizawa blinked, her eyes widening. "He actually said 'wow'? I... I don't think I've ever heard him sound impressed by anything."Sudo snorted. "Yeah, seriously! This guy barely reacted to anything back at school. What kind of place could get that kind of reaction out of him?""This is the most emotion I've ever seen him show..." Ichinose murmured quietly, almost to herself.A voice from Class 2-B broke through the growing whispers, sounding both curious and intrigued. "Wait a second... didn't we see something about Horikita thinking he smiled in the café? I mean, we all got her thoughts thanks to that Bái Xūé guy."The mention of Horikita's thoughts sent a ripple through the students. Girls across the room, already intrigued by Ayanokoji's stoicism, began to blush faintly, their imaginations running wild."A smile? At Horikita-san, no less?" one murmured enviously, her tone tinged with disbelief.Karuizawa's fingers clenched around the edge of her seat, her lips pressing into a tight line as jealousy flared within her. He smiled at her? she thought, her stomach churning. Why would he smile at her? What made her so special? Her possessive instincts screamed at the thought of her boyfriend showing even a rare moment of emotion to someone else.Several girls couldn't help but swoon at the idea. "A smile from Ayanokoji-kun... That must've been breathtaking," one whispered dreamily.Ryuen, catching the conversation, smirked from his seat. "You're all acting like it's a romantic drama. So what if the guy smiled? Maybe it was just gas or something." His mocking tone earned a few irritated glares, but the girls paid little attention, still preoccupied with their thoughts.Horikita, however, sat rigidly in her seat. Her face betrayed no emotion, but a faint heat crept up her neck. She remembered the café incident vividly—how out of place yet genuine his smile seemed at that moment. She hadn't expected it to resurface in such a public and embarrassing way. This is getting ridiculous, she thought, shifting uncomfortably.Meanwhile, Karuizawa shot a glare at Horikita, her jealousy reaching its boiling point. So what if he smiled at you back then? He's mine now, she fumed internally, forcing herself to take deep breaths to calm her nerves.The room simmered with an unusual mix of envy, curiosity, and tension, all revolving around a simple yet elusive concept: Ayanokoji Kiyotaka's smile.Ichinose's cheerful demeanor faltered for a fraction of a second as she observed the subtle tension brewing between Karuizawa and Horikita. Her gaze lingered on both girls, and for the first time, a flicker of something uncharacteristic passed through her soft features—calculated, almost predatory.Her warm smile didn't waver, but her eyes glinted with a sharp, dangerous edge that belied her usual sunny disposition. She leaned back in her seat, quietly taking in the unfolding scene like a predator watching its prey. Her mind raced with thoughts she wouldn't dare vocalize, her curiosity about Ayanokoji now laced with something deeper."Horikita and Karuizawa..." Ichinose mused, her expression never betraying the silent storm within her. "Interesting. So he smiled for Horikita, and now Karuizawa's glaring daggers at her. That tells me more than either of them probably realizes."She tilted her head ever so slightly, her smile softening into something that could almost be called calculating. "Ayanokoji-kun, just how much have you influenced these girls?" she wondered, the dangerous glimmer in her eyes lingering as she mentally cataloged the emotions playing out before her.Ichinose's outward demeanor remained calm, even friendly, as she finally looked away. But in her mind, she was already considering how to navigate this unexpected revelation. "Maybe there's more to learn here than I thought..."Ichinose's sharp gaze flitted toward the rest of the room, landing briefly on Kushida, whose mask of sweet innocence seemed momentarily fragile. Kushida's lips pressed together tightly, and her hands curled slightly into fists on her lap.Her voice, normally so gentle and composed, came out low and strained. "He smiled... for Horikita?" she murmured, a slight tremble betraying the whirlwind of emotions she was suppressing. She quickly masked her reaction, glancing around to ensure no one noticed her lapse in composure, but Ichinose had already caught it.Ichinose tilted her head slightly, filing Kushida's reaction away for future thought. Interesting. So even the perfect, composed Kushida isn't immune to him.From her seat among the first-year students, Shiina watched the exchange with an uncharacteristically pensive expression. She rested her chin on her hand, her usual soft smile absent. "He smiled for Horikita..." she murmured to herself, her voice tinged with a quiet sadness.Her thoughts turned inward. I spent so much time sharing books with him, learning about him, yet he never showed that side to me. Why her?Sakayanagi, poised and composed as ever, gently tapped her cane against the floor, drawing attention as she often did without effort. A faint, enigmatic smile curved her lips. "I suppose it's only natural for someone like Ayanokoji-kun to be capable of such subtle charm," she said, her melodic voice cutting through the tension with precision.She looked directly at Karuizawa, her tone smooth as silk. "But then again, a smile can mean many things, can it not?" Her eyes glinted with something unreadable, as though she enjoyed fanning the flames of intrigue.Karuizawa bristled, her sharp retort on the tip of her tongue, but she quickly bit it back. Ichinose's gaze flicked between Karuizawa and Sakayanagi, keenly observing the slight crack in Karuizawa's confident facade.Kushida chimed in, her sweet tone carrying an undertone of something darker. "That's a good point, Sakayanagi-san. I mean, Ayanokoji-kun is good at keeping people guessing."Her words hung in the air, a subtle barb wrapped in sweetness, leaving Karuizawa visibly irritated. Ichinose smiled faintly to herself, sensing the unspoken tension growing like a wildfire.Shiina, still deep in thought, softly added, "Perhaps it's just who he is—someone who reveals only what he wants others to see. Whether it was special or not, we can only guess."Sakayanagi's smile widened ever so slightly, her gaze flicking to Shiina. "How perceptive, Shiina-san. But perhaps there's more beneath the surface, waiting for the right moment to be uncovered."As the quiet tension among the girls simmered, Ichinose leaned back, her pleasant facade firmly in place. "This is getting even more interesting than I expected," she mused, the dangerous glint returning to her eyes. "Ayanokoji-kun, what have you done to leave so many people captivated by you—even now, when you're not here?"The scene continued on.Looking toward the horizon, I caught a faint glimmer of light—a golden warmth that seemed entirely out of place in this realm of shadows. Beyond it, I saw the faint curve of what I now recognized: a luminous band stretched across the heavens, bridging the light and shadow in an eternal, infinite dance. The realization dawned, vivid and undeniable.Nagumo tilted his head, his voice tinged with curiosity. "A planet split between light and shadow, with a bridge connecting them? That's not just poetic—it's a symbol of balance. It's as if the place itself represents something bigger."Chairman Sakayanagi nodded slowly. "A world of light and shadow intertwined... The imagery alone suggests a profound duality. Perhaps it reflects Kiyotaka-kun's journey—or what he has yet to discover."This was the planet I had seen before I lost consciousness.What shocked me even more was the body I now inhabited, seemingly formed out of thin air.I looked down, examining myself, and the shock of recognition froze me for a moment. My body had changed. My limbs were smaller, less defined, and my frame felt unfamiliar.My body had regressed, returning to the state it was in when I was just thirteen years old.Horikita frowned, her mind racing. "Regressed to thirteen? Is that tied to how he arrived there? Or is this another layer of whatever forces brought him to that place?"Ichinose whispered, "Thirteen years old... That's before he came to ANHS. Does that mean this world is resetting him somehow?"Kiryūin chuckled lightly. "Starting over, huh? But I doubt someone like Ayanokoji would see that as a disadvantage. He'll probably turn it into an advantage somehow. Besides, didn't he mention in the previous video that he was in a weakened state? So that must mean he's stronger here than he was before."Beyond that, I let out a sigh and muttered, "Why am I naked...""Could this strange phenomenon not have also provided me with some clothes?" I muttered lowly.The room erupted into chaotic reactions as the scene played out.Karuizawa buried her face in her hands, her entire face turning crimson. "Why... why do we have to see this?!" she muttered, trying to hide her embarrassment.Matsushita, her own cheeks pink, couldn't suppress a nervous laugh. "Well, uh... that's... something. I mean, it's not his fault, but still..."Horikita's face flushed deeply as she turned away from the screen, her usual composure faltering. "This is completely unnecessary," she muttered, her voice laced with embarrassment.Amasawa, however, leaned back in her seat, her lips curving into a mischievous smirk. "Oh my, Ayanokoji-senpai... impressive, in more ways than one." She chuckled softly, enjoying the flustered reactions of those around her.Kiryūin joined in, her laughter seductive and rich. "Well, well, it seems the rumors of perfection weren't exaggerated. A king indeed, even in this department." She winked, enjoying the rising tension in the room.Ibuki groaned loudly, covering her face. "Why are we even seeing this?! I don't care about his... ugh, just skip this part already!"Ichinose, on the other hand, struggled to keep her composure, her face bright red as she tried to focus on anything else. "Th-This isn't important! Why is this being shown?!"Shiina also struggled to keep her composure, her face flushed. "I suppose... this is part of the context, but... this level of detail is unnecessary."Even Kushida, who prided herself on her public poise, couldn't maintain her mask, her face a brilliant shade of red as she stammered, "I-I think we've seen enough! Move on, please!"From the staff section, Chabashira sighed heavily, pinching the bridge of her nose. "Why is this even part of the footage? Couldn't this have been edited out?"Hoshinomiya, however, leaned closer to her colleague, her grin teasing. "Admit it, Sae-chan. Even you're a little impressed, aren't you?""Shut up," Chabashira muttered, her cheeks betraying the slightest hint of color.Despite the embarrassment, the undeniable sense of awe—whether at Ayanokoji's calm demeanor or the less-than-subtle implications of his physique—left the room in an uneasy mix of laughter, awkwardness, and grudging admiration.I stood naked in the cold air, exposed to this alien world, unable to comprehend the supernatural forces that had brought me here. I had always dismissed the outlandish stories humans loved to tell—the ones of otherworldly realms, gods, and mystical journeys. Yet here I was, living proof that such things could exist.Nagumo smirked, his tone teasing. "Well, it's not every day you get to see a genius strategist literally stripped of everything. Naked in an alien world... Sounds like a bad novel premise."Asahina nudged him sharply, her face red. "Miyabi, stop making it worse! This is already embarrassing enough to hear."Ryuen burst into laughter, slapping his knee. "The guy's stranded in some bizarre world, completely bare, and still has the nerve to complain about it. Gotta hand it to him, that's peak Ayanokoji."Sakayanagi chuckled softly, though a faint blush colored her cheeks. "Even in such an extraordinary situation, his composure is unwavering. Though... his sense of modesty could use some work."Why here? Why this place? Why was I brought here and how?Ichinose clasped her hands together, trying to steer the conversation away from the awkwardness. "He must feel so lost... No clothes, no idea why he's there. How could anyone stay calm in a situation like that?"Chabashira shook her head, a mix of amusement and exasperation in her voice. "Trust Ayanokoji to focus on logic and survival over everything else—even his own dignity."Despite the blushes and awkward laughter, the room settled into a hushed silence, their embarrassment giving way to admiration for the calm and calculated approach Ayanokoji displayed even in the most bizarre and vulnerable of moments.I shook my head. These questions were unimportant now. I could ponder them later—if survival allowed me such luxuries.Nagumo raised an eyebrow, his tone carrying a hint of admiration. "Survival comes first, huh? No hesitation, no doubts. The guy's built for situations like this."My mind snapped into its familiar rhythm, the same one drilled into me through years of training. Observing. Analyzing. Preparing. I had no time to wallow in confusion or awe.Food. Clothing. Shelter. Information.These were the priorities. The foundations of survival, no matter the world. Whatever this place was, however dangerous or unfamiliar, I would adapt. I always adapted. This place could throw all its mysteries and threats at me, and I would face them the only way I knew how: methodically, without hesitation, and with absolute resolve.I clenched my fists, taking one steadying breath before stepping forward into the unknown. The answers would come—one way or another. For now, I would focus on the one certainty that had driven me my entire life: survival."Years of training? He's probably referring to the White Room, but just how long was he there? His entire life?" Horikita wondered silently.Karuizawa, her hands clenched into fists on her lap, whispered under her breath. "That's just like him... Always so composed, even in situations that would break anyone else."Hirata nodded solemnly. "It's incredible. Most people would freeze or panic, but Kiyotaka-kun keeps moving forward. He doesn't let fear or confusion stop him."Ryuen couldn't suppress a low laugh. "The guy's unshakable. Drop him anywhere, and he'll find a way to thrive. It's infuriating, honestly."Ichinose, her face marked by a mix of sadness and awe, murmured, "He's always been like this, hasn't he? No matter how impossible the situation, he never gives up."From the staff section, Hoshinomiya leaned over to Chabashira with a teasing grin. "Sae-chan, you knew he was a genius, but did you expect this? A literal alien world, and he's still in control."Chabashira's expression was unreadable, but her voice was quiet and firm. "If anyone could adapt, it's him. But seeing it play out like this... It's still hard to believe."▬▬ι═══════ﺤ