The morning sun crept over the rooftops as Shin walked the familiar path to school. The streets were already filled with students in uniform, all heading in the same direction, but no one walked beside him. He kept his hands in his pockets, head down, blending into the noise like a shadow.
At the gates of Hoshi High, students chatted excitedly. The beast hunt was just days away, and everyone seemed to be forming teams, talking strategy, or comparing their abilities. Shin didn't stop to listen. He knew no one would ask him to join.
He entered his classroom quietly, slipping into his usual seat at the back by the window. The chair creaked under him, and the desk had a crack across the corner that no one ever bothered to fix. Just like always.
Some students looked his way. A few whispered. One even chuckled.
"Still here, huh?" someone muttered.
Shin stared out the window, pretending not to hear. The sky looked peaceful. Far better than this place.
The teacher walked in a few minutes later, carrying a stack of papers.
"Morning, everyone," he said without much energy. "We'll begin with ability control theory today, so open your textbooks to page forty-two."
Shin didn't move.
He had read that page ten times. It talked about elemental harmonization and energy focus, things that made no difference to someone like him. His E-rank water ability barely made a puddle.
As the lesson went on, he kept his eyes on the clouds drifting by. He imagined being somewhere else. Somewhere quiet. Somewhere people didn't laugh when they saw him.
Suddenly, a sharp knock of chalk hitting his desk snapped him out of his thoughts.
"Still dreaming, Chikara?" the teacher said, annoyed. "At least pretend you're learning something."
The class laughed, and Shin felt a familiar heat rise in his chest. Not anger. Not shame. Just the same dull ache that came every day.
He didn't say anything. He just lowered his head and turned to the page.
Another day. Another lesson.
And still, somehow, he was here.