ERA Calendar: 2nd Month of the Year 3115.
Southern Hemisphere.
Southern Helia.
Yosen High.
9:55 PM.
Patch Update. Name: Crossfield → Crossville.
"Heya. Morning, Ren."
"Huh? You look different…"
Leon McFaren.
Anyone who knew the McFaren family knew his name.
High school sensation. A model in the making. You name it.
As famous as the McFaren name was, Leon had certainly contributed to its prestige.
He had countless female admirers thanks to his good looks.
On top of that, he had been featured as a model for several girl-targeted games—and the results?
Nothing short of astonishing.
And of course, his net worth alone spoke volumes.
As the McFaren heir, it was only natural.
That is to say, being a model for girl-targeted games wasn't all he had done to earn him this level of prestige.
He appeared in TV shows, ads, and even featured in movies too.
People, rather, mostly students around his age, treated him as a superior person.
Others would try to get close to him for reasons known only to themselves, but he was very sure it wasn't for exactly pure reasons.
Even teachers were quick to favor him just because of this.
Most seem to do this. At the very least, all except—
"It's your imagination."
Him.
The boy he was speaking to barely lifted his head from the table, his tone flat as ever.
It was the usual dismissive tone, yet Leon had only shaken his head with a perceptible smile.
"No way. I don't know how to put it, but you definitely look more lively than before."
Even as he said that, the Aristella heir merely squinted his eyes as if to argue otherwise—or plead the fifth.
But, deciding it wasn't worth it, he slumped his head back onto the table with a groan.
"Like I said, you're imagining it."
"That so?"
Leon raised his eyebrows. But the smile still returned as he let out a short sigh.
Aristella Ren.
The sole heir of the Aristella family. The son of those couples.
Leon had heard plenty of praise from people like his father and grandparents about the Aristellas.
Genius researchers, their intellect passed down through generations.
One of their secret projects had involved studying the biological nature of—well, since it was classified, no one had told him the specifics.
However, whatever they had been researching had defied what was believed to be biologically possible.
That is to say that they were exceedingly close to have deciphered it.
But then—
They died.
Leon's parents—rather, what most had thought was that—the suspected opposition groups had orchestrated their deaths given the unnatural circumstances surrounding the incident.
But this didn't change the fact that, both Ren's parents and the truck driver had lost their lives in the crash.
They had done everything in their power to trace the truck's movements, but it was futile.
Other forces too were willing to intervene in this matter and wouldn't back down.
Not to mention. He was there, that day, at their burial…
"Well, you're doing well, and that's what matters."
Leon offered the brightest, warmest smile he could muster, causing the girls behind him to squeal in delight.
Naturally, their only source of frustration was that it wasn't directed at them, but rather, their emo classmate.
"…."
The first time Leon had seen the Aristella heir since then, his eyes had been hollowed out.
It was the look of someone who had endured unspeakable suffering.
Leon understood. Or at least, he thought he did.
Not only had Ren lost his parents, but his grandparents had followed three years later.
He had tried to help, yet, no matter how much Leon tried to reach out, Ren always ignored him.
But Leon believed getting involved with him was necessary.
Leon believed Ren was far more than what he led on.
And he was right.
After the first year's mid-semester results were passed out, his suspicions were confirmed.
Despite his attitude and demeanor, Ren was incredibly smart.
To what extent?
Leon wasn't sure.
But he doubted Ren spent much time studying, not with his situation.
Heck, you can't even be sure if Ren does study.
While everybody tries to service him, or get close to him due to what they'll receive from him.
Ren was different.
Ren never held back his annoyance when dealing with him, nor had he minced his words with him.
Leon liked that part about him (Eiyoo? Pause).
But perhaps, it's best to leave him be for now.
With that in mind, Leon returned back to his seat.
"You sure like to stick your nose where it doesn't belong."
Leon, returning to his seat just in front of her, had heard her voice from behind him.
It was the girl dubbed "Sky-Blue" by the students of Yosen—Crossville Susannah.
A student who, perhaps is just as influential as him, but a more prideful one that basks herself in her own world.
"You think so?"
Leon simply raised an eyebrow, smiling.
At this point, he was used to her sharp tongue.
She was impressive, of course. Second only to the Rosebell girl.,
Though knowing the Crossville, she'd never admit she was inferior to her in any way.
"I don't see his worth like you claim to. Someone like him, who lacks motivation and rides on his parents' coattails? I dislike him."
She made such a remark without even glancing up from her book.
Completely absorbed in her world, she didn't spare Leon so much as a glance.
She was that arrogant, but he didn't mind it.
Rather, he was more or less used to it.
It was obvious he had been involved with her, but just as obvious that it had been forced onto him.
Among the class rankings, she was second only to him.
Their positions—first and second—had remained unchanged since their first year.
To most people, her words would have seemed reasonable.
Not everyone knew about the Aristella couple, nor was their death or accomplishments ever made public.
Only a select few—those directly involved in "that"— would know just what an Aristella was.
"If that's what you think, suit yourself."
Deciding she wasn't worth the effort, he sat down properly.
Only then did she raise her head to look at him.
But by then, he was no longer paying her any attention.
She clicked her tongue softly before shifting her gaze to the Aristella.
But he, too, had better things to do. Napping without a care in the world.
'Tch. Each and every one of them…'
1:03 AM.
It was soon break time.
And by extension, time to escape the noisy classroom.
Ren thought.
Oddly enough, after getting a proper night's sleep, he no longer needed extra naps.
Sure, [Nightmare] had reached a satisfactory ending, but not being able to nap as usual was frustrating, to say the least.
That had been a way to kill time.
Now, even heading to the nurse's office—if she found out he was no longer anemic, she'd probably stop letting him lounge there.
And honestly—
'That would be a problem.'
Especially on Fridays, when classes goes to shit after lunch.
If the school found out he was no longer anemic, they'd force him to join a club.
That would be a disaster.
He had zero interest in extracurriculars.
Of course, things were different when it actually mattered…
*SHCK!*
Sliding the door open, he was met with the nurse's gaze from behind her desk.
She wore a different dress than usual, and her hair was tied back in a ponytail.
If he didn't know better, he might have thought there was a reason behind her unusually provocative outfit today.
"Oh? You're here?"
She glanced at her paperwork before looking back at him.
"Hmm? Stella. Is it just me, or do you look better than usual today?"
Her expression was as flat as ever as she tilted her head slightly.
"…"
Still standing at the doorway, his hand still on the sliding door, Ren averted his gaze for a moment.
Then, looking back at her, he simply yet flatly said—
"You're imagining it."
With that, he shut the sliding door behind him and headed for the bed he usually occupied.
The nurse simply shook her head but let it go.
"I doubt I'm imagining it." She murmured. "But if you say so."