In the late afternoon, as the rain poured down…
Water fell from the sky, drenching every corner of the city, creating a rhythmic splashing sound.
Animals curled up in whatever shelter they could find, while trees swayed in the wind, causing leaves and branches to rustle against each other.
For some creatures, the rain was a trial. But for humans, it was no obstacle. Some slept, some ate, some exercised, and others worked.
At a school, students were in the middle of their final semester exams.
The classroom was silent.
Only the sound of raindrops hitting the roof could be heard, occasionally accompanied by gusts of wind howling outside the windows. The scratching of pens on paper and the ticking of the wall clock blended into a monotonous rhythm.
Inside the classroom, every student was busy with their test. Some were serious, striving for high scores to enter their dream universities. Some attempted to cheat but feared being caught by the supervising teacher. Others simply sat frozen, unable to understand a single question on the exam paper.
But among them, there was one student who was different.
He didn't look serious, nor did he appear panicked. No sign of worry crossed his face. His eyes stared blankly at the exam paper, though if one looked closely, his answer sheet was already filled.
Seconds ticked by. Until finally—
Tring!
The bell rang, signaling the end of the exam.
One by one, students stood up, turning in their answer sheets to the teacher's desk. Some were confident in their answers, some were doubtful, and others were panicking over the unanswered questions.
Among them, one student remained seated, calm, until he was the last to submit his paper. After that, the students returned to their seats, packed their belongings, and prepared to go home.
As they left the classroom, chatter filled the hallway. Some students discussed the exam questions, while others talked about different topics, such as their upcoming vacation.
Amidst the crowd, a student walked slowly toward the classroom door. However, his steps halted when a voice called his name.
"Dante!!"
He turned toward the source of the voice.
A girl stood near the classroom door, smiling cheerfully. Her skin was as white as snow, her face was beautiful, and her small stature made her look like an adorable little rabbit.
She winked playfully and said, "Don't be late tomorrow~"
Some students who saw her reacted with admiration. But the student called Dante simply smiled casually and gave her a thumbs-up.
"Okay!"
His name was Dante Draven.
A name that sounded foreign in his country.
He had black hair and onyx-colored eyes—something rare, yet not remarkable enough to draw attention.
At school, he wasn't a standout student, neither in academics nor extracurricular activities. His appearance was average, and his intelligence was nothing extraordinary.
However, there was one thing that set him apart—
Dante could see the falsehood behind people's smiles.
The girl who had just called him, his classmate who was perfect in every way—beautiful, smart, wealthy—had an outstanding reputation. She even offered to cover the entire cost of their trip tomorrow.
But Dante knew.
That act of kindness wasn't entirely sincere.
He could guess that the girl had begged her parents to pay for the trip, not out of goodwill, but to build her image.
But was that wrong?
Dante didn't blame her.
Not just her—almost everyone in this world wore a "mask."
Including Dante himself.
As he walked home, Dante stopped and glanced at his reflection in a puddle. His face appeared distorted by the raindrops still falling.
He stared at the reflection for a moment, then smirked.
"Boring…"
Then, without another thought, he continued walking.
In the middle of the bustling city, his figure slowly disappeared, blending into the crowd.