Riiiiiiing…
The alarm tore through the stillness of the room.
Oh… good morning, my world.
I reached out, grabbed my phone, and stopped the alarm.
Exactly 7:00 a.m.
"Weird… I woke up early on the first day?"
I stretched a little and got out of bed.
A splash of cold water on my face stirred something inside me.
I put on my school uniform and stood in front of the mirror.
Still me… but maybe my features had matured a little? Or was I just imagining it?
The beard was gone—thank God—and my hair was finally clean and neatly combed.
Time to head out…
"Who even eats breakfast in the morning?"
…
On my way to the train station, a thought crossed my mind.
"Mizuki did a good job before, right?"
True… I didn't get a full monthly break.
But honestly, even in the past… I never really got one anyway.
The longest I ever had?
Fifteen days.
And after that…
I visited school again.
I think it was Rima's day?
First period was Islamic Studies.
Or at least… that's what everyone expected.
But the teacher…
He was a little strange.
"Let's not get into that…"
Fsshhh
Clack.
The train doors slid open.
—"Let's get on first."
…
Oh, right.
Today's the first day after a long break.
They'll definitely talk about the school uniform.
That's why…
I came wearing the official blue tabliya, just to look… prepared.
I really hate hearing comments like:
"Where's your uniform?"
Especially in the morning.
"Let's just focus on the virtual world in my head until I get there without noticing the time."
…
The school gate finally appeared.
I sighed. "Here we go."
I walked closer.
Where's the hall monitor? Where's the inspection? Masks?
No one in sight.
Even the students—some wore masks just as decoration, but it didn't seem mandatory anymore.
I stepped inside.
And then… I stopped.
What is this…?
The entrance changed?
It's not the same one I know!
Same walls.
Same smell.
Same floor…
But the people?!
A student was standing against the wall…
His uniform looked like something straight out of a Japanese high school—
a black jacket with gold buttons,
and neatly pressed dark trousers.
Another student passed by me,
his hair a bright blonde,
wearing an outfit as if he had just stepped out of an American movie—
an open shirt over a plain white T-shirt, and jeans.
Then…
a girl walked by quietly.
Her uniform?
It looked almost exactly like a Korean school uniform—
a dark skirt, a white shirt, a small necktie,
and long socks that reached just below the knee.
Between them were students wearing our school's original uniform.
I stood there,
frozen in place.
What on earth is going on here…?
I looked up at the school emblem.
Same emblem.
This is definitely our school.
No doubt about it.
But… who are these people?
And why are their uniforms… from different countries?
Did something change in our school?
When?
How?
Did I miss something?
An announcement?
An update?
Did they change the rules?
Are we in a manga now or something?
I stood still for a moment.
Let out a slow sigh.
— "Looks like this world… is going to be different."
Tap… tap…
My footsteps echoed in the nearly empty hallway.
(Hmm… I guess now that our school's mixed, they've become more lenient than before.
No more strict dress codes—
just a simple, comfortable school outfit.)
I remember back then…
If you didn't wear the official trousers?
That's it.
No entry.
And me?
I was a bit stubborn…
I liked wearing those comfy, loose "serfat" pants,
and they'd shout from across the hallway:
"That's against the rules!!"
— "Pff…"
A small laugh slipped out without me realizing.
(It's funny thinking about it now.)
Anyway…
Let's head to class.
I have no desire to stand through that morning assembly.
A herd of students was being driven like cattle,
the supervisors guiding them like robots.
My classroom's on the second floor…
Or the first, depending on how you see it.
People call it the "first" since it's above the ground floor,
but I call it the "second."
(Don't ask me why.
The naming's my right.)
Alright, let's get in.
And maybe stop thinking out loud.
If anyone heard my thoughts…
they'd probably call me crazy.
...
The bell hasn't rung yet.
7:58, I think.
(Good.
Still some time to sit down before hell begins.)
Fsshh…
The sound of a chair sliding.
I sat in my seat and glanced to my side…
(Oh right… that's Mizuki.)
How do they say "good morning" again?
"Ohayou, Sorako-san."
She raised her hand slightly, smiling.
"Ohayou, Navarro-san."
(Like that?
Good.
Mission "Morning Social Interaction" complete.)
Time to relax…
Or maybe take a half-nap.
Good morning.
The teacher walked in.
Good morning.
We echoed back, almost in unison.
Just like the old days…
Quick entrance, always smiling.
Green eyes, brownish-golden hair.
Face bright and fresh…
Like someone who just stepped out of a toothpaste commercial.
"I see some new faces today."
He said it while looking straight at me…
(Yeah… obviously talking about me.)
But I'm not "new."
I just… wasn't showing up before.
"Well then, today will be our last introduction session."
His voice filled the room,
calm and boring as usual.
"I know we've done this before… multiple times.
But this will be the last. After that, we start lessons—we've delayed enough already."
Hmm…
Of course.
Exactly as I expected.
Another introduction session.
Yes, yes, read the names from the list, start the little stage play.
But then…
The teacher suddenly stopped his usual routine
and pointed—at me… and at Mizuki.
"You two, go sit over there… second table, right by the door."
Hmm?
By the door?
Why exactly?
A trap? Or just a stupid coincidence?
I looked at Mizuki.
She looked back at me.
She gave a small nod.
We moved and sat where we were told.
…
Alright, we're here.
Now what?
"You two… come in now."
The teacher was looking at the door.
Hmmm?
Who's he talking to?
Who's coming in?
This isn't part of the usual stage play…
Clack… clack…
Two heavy footsteps.
A huge shadow loomed in the doorway.
And then…
He stepped inside.
The first thing I noticed?
A giant.
A fair-skinned young man with a massive build, his muscles clearly visible even under the formal school uniform.
His head was almost shaved, and on his face rested a half-smile… the kind a warrior wears only after crushing someone moments ago.
He looked…
No. Not "looked."
I knew him.
Then, a girl stepped in behind him.
Her skin—white, as if carved from marble.
Smooth, so smooth that even at first glance, the eyes hesitate, doubting if what they're seeing is real.
Crimson-red hair flowed down her back, all the way to her waist. Not the kind that flutters in the wind just because you glance at it, but hair that seemed to have… weight.
And value.
Her eyes?
Blue.
So blue… it was irritating.
The kind of clarity that makes you want to look away, just to keep your sanity.
Clear… like a summer sky moments before the storm begins.
Her gaze?
Confident.
Slightly arrogant.
But enchanting—so much that you could forgive any crime, no matter how terrible.
And her face?
Soft, yet carrying something…
Something striking, as if she had walked straight out of a novel's cover, not a morning assembly line.
The kind of character that changes the course of a story without saying a single word.
Then… her school uniform.
…
Or rather, what was supposed to be a school uniform.
Because I was certain I'd never seen anything like it before.
A short black jacket, its long sleeves tightly fitting her arms.
A red ribbon adorned the collar, as if she were heading to a formal conference instead of math class.
And a skirt… too short to even be called a skirt.
Shorter than the limits of what physics—or the Ministry of Education—would allow.
Long socks reaching up her thighs, and glossy shoes that caught the light as if declaring:
"I'm here to attract attention, not walk quietly through the halls."
…
Was the school administration asleep?
Or were they trying to make us live through a real-life school anime?!
The two stopped at the front of the class.
Then, the giant raised his eyes and spoke in a deep, resonant voice:
"I am Badr al-Din Ironheart."
…
I expected that.
I ex-pec-ted it.
Badr?!
Inside me, everything exploded.
I quickly lowered my head.
No, no, no…
He must not see me!
What was going on?
The last time I met him was in my final year of high school—
and he was older than me.
Why was he studying here now?!
And why did he look like he'd just stepped out of a martial arts manga?
Was he always this huge?
No… I don't remember those muscles.
A soft voice cut through my thoughts:
"My name is Rosa Elwyn."
I looked at her… but—
…Huh?
She didn't add anything.
No greeting, no smile, no laugh.
Just…
She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear,
with a strange grace and an annoyingly confident air.
Her features?
Beautiful… but cold.
Or maybe she just didn't want to draw attention.
But wait—
Bedro… who is she?
Since when do you have a girlfriend, you oversized idiot?!
…
I stopped thinking altogether.
Because I realized…
I was staring at him. Directly.
Bedro's eyes…
Met mine.
"Crap…"
I turned away instantly.
Why did I forget I shouldn't look at him?!
Did he see me?
Did he recognize me?