Chereads / The second chance 1 / Chapter 4 - Watching Without Reacting

Chapter 4 - Watching Without Reacting

The next period brought a change of scenery. The magic training session was held in a spacious hall, and the teacher addressed the class as they entered.

"Students," he began, "divide yourselves into rows—two for boys and two for girls. Each of you will have one goal." He gestured toward the front, where a target board stood prominently. "Your task is to hit the board accurately. Do not use maximum power. This training is for accuracy, not force."

The students quickly arranged themselves into rows as instructed. The girls formed two lines on one side, while the boys formed two rows opposite them. As each student took their turn, the others watched with anticipation.

The hero silently moved to join the row, but the teacher stopped him. "Hey, you don't have to join. You can take a rest," he said.

Without any change in expression, the boy walked to the side and sat down. His face remained the same as he watched his classmates. They were doing their best, putting effort into hitting the target with precision.

Among the students, one boy caught the attention of the entire room. As his turn came, the girls watched with interest, whispering among themselves. Many of the boys murmured about his skill, eagerly anticipating his performance.

"He's amazing," someone said.

"Let's see how he does this time," another added.

The boy raised his hand confidently, a small glowing magic circle appeared at the center of his palm, while another circle formed behind his hand, pulsating with energy and as he prepared to aim, two circles formed—one at the back and a larger one at the front.

He focused intently, and with calculated precision, he released the attack. It hit the target dead center, creating a perfect hole in the middle of the board.

Excitement rippled through the crowd as students surrounded him, marveling at his skill.Even the teacher was impressed. "You have great talent and accuracy," the teacher said. "One day, you'll achieve something truly remarkable."

The boy remained seated, observing the scene without a hint of emotion.

As the school day came to an end, the boy walked out of the classroom.

He made his way through the school gate, his face calm and expressionless. Slipping his headset on, he turned on his music and drowned out the world around him. His steps were steady.

As he stepped outside the gate and looked across the road, his eyes caught a familiar figure. The same girl he had seen in the morning stood there. She wore the same casual clothes, her headset snug over her ears. Her face carried the same tired look, mirroring his own.

He paused for a moment, taking note of her, but his expression didn't change. Without giving it another thought, he turned away and began walking toward home.

The road ahead stretched out, quiet and unremarkable. As he walked, his eyes landed on a girl up ahead, walking briskly some distance in front of him. Something about her hurried steps caught his attention.

He noticed two men following her closely, their movements deliberate and unsettling. They stayed just far enough behind to avoid drawing attention, but their intent was clear. The girl quickened her pace, clutching her bag tightly.

The boy observed the scene silently, his expression unchanged as he continued to walk.