(From Ryu Haruki's Perspective)
(As I was heading to Kai's place at exactly 7:10 AM)
I thought to myself: *"[Kai Akihiro] - the protagonist - is characterized by his extreme calmness that reflects an exceptional ability to focus and think deeply. He's naturally intelligent, capable of connecting complex events and deducing solutions brilliantly. He has a quiet yet impactful presence - like the sun at night, or sometimes like the moon during the day. He has dark blue hair usually styled in an undercut (shorter on the sides and back while the top is longer and parted to the sides). His navy blue eyes reflect the depth of his thoughts and inner tranquility. He always wears dark blue headphones around his neck or head. His expressions are calm and cold. He detests stupidity intensely, which is why he has no friends other than us three: [me (Ryu Haruki), Lauren Kazuhiro, and Lina Haru].
He usually wears a dark blue cap when his headphones are around his neck.
He's my best friend. We're inseparable. We have harmonious thinking with shared interests, yet each has their own perspective - that's what completes us. I won't deny that without him, I'd be like an infant without its mother - I can't live without him."*
(When I stood in front of Kai's house and knocked on the front door - a plain iron door weighing 200 kg, designed that way because he's obsessed with technology - a robot came out, scanned me, then called for Kai.)
Kai: "Hey Ryu. Just a moment."
(After that, we left for school. When we reached the end of the street, we found Lina and Lauren.)
[Lorine Kazuhiro]
A girl who embodies calmness and intelligence drawn from her endless passion for books.
She has silver-blonde hair reaching her lower back and blue eyes that reflect her love for reading. Her hair and ears are adorned with elegant blue jewelry, and her clothing shows refined taste and attention to detail.
She doesn't talk much, preferring to listen and observe, but when she speaks, her words carry weight and wisdom. She's extremely loyal to her friends and dedicates herself completely to what she loves. She adores books and comes from an extremely wealthy family, which is why she has a personal library containing over 700 books in a circular hall with a 7-meter radius and 10-meter height. We call her "The Book Girl."
[Lina Haru]
Her personality is as changeable as a butterfly, bringing joy wherever she goes.
She has shiny purple hair cut just above her shoulders and wide violet eyes that reflect her curiosity and intelligence.
She loves joking around (when appropriate) and often drifts into her imagination. She's highly intelligent, which allows her to adapt her personality brilliantly to any situation - whether it requires seriousness, humor, or diplomacy. She's eloquent and expresses her thoughts in a charming, engaging way, making her both likable and influential.
(From Lina Haru's Perspective)
I said to Lauren, annoyed: "[Lauren], aren't they late?"
Lauren (reading a book): "No, you're the one who wanted to leave early this time."
I replied with a light, playful laugh: "But last night's dinner was delicious! Also, I took a stick of dango from [Ryu]."
Lauren: "You always do that."
Me: "But he's forgiving! We agreed on it when we were shopping."
Then we saw [Ryu and Kai].
[Ryu Haruki]
Energetic and lively, yet with an underlying calmness and maturity. Ryu is the complementary opposite of "Kai." He usually wears light white hoodies (with attached hoods) and sporty pants/shoes, which complement his shiny blue hair and silver eyes.
He's enthusiastic and impulsive in his actions and words, which breaks the quiet atmosphere around "Kai." Despite his active nature, he's not reckless - he has sharp intelligence that lets him learn quickly and adapt to different situations. When necessary, Ryu can become surprisingly calm and focused, especially when working with "Kai" to solve complex problems. Their bond is incredibly strong - they understand each other deeply and are happiest when together. They complete each other; Ryu is the driving force that pushes Kai out of his comfort zone, while Kai is the anchor that brings Ryu back to focus.
I said: "Ah, there they are!"
(When Kai and Ryu reached us, they greeted us, and we headed to school.)
(Kai Akihiro's Perspective)
When we arrived at school, we found our physics teacher absent, replaced by a new one. He seemed suspicious to me - the first thing he did was inspect our hands, tongues, and stare intensely into our eyes as he greeted us. We four were at the end of the row: Ryu, me, Lauren, then Lina. I warned Ryu before it was our turn, but he ignored Ryu and came to me.
When I stood to greet him, I realized he was about 10 cm taller than me (I'm 180 cm). He looked wealthy - his suit was expensive, and his dark hair was meticulously styled, thick and glossy, swept back slightly with a subtle fringe that highlighted his sharp features.
The new teacher (staring at me intently): "What were you doing earlier?"
Me (in my mind): Damn, he saw me.
Then I replied: "I was telling him to be wary of you."
The teacher (slightly surprised): "Honest. Well then, students, take your seats."
After a while...
Teacher: "Why do you come to school, students?"
Student 1: "To learn, sir."
Student 2: "For our future, sir."
Student 3: "For our country, sir."
Then he asked me. I said: "You're all saying what you're expected to say. The truth is, we're all here just for attendance grades."
Ryu: "Everything depends on private tutoring. What are we even doing in a school with no structure or proper education?"
The teacher laughed, then began explaining strange concepts.
Lina (whispering): "Right, [Lauren]? You're from a rich family - why didn't you ask your dad to transfer you to a better school?"
Lauren (slightly shy): "I don't want to leave you guys. I want to stay here with you."
Ryu (confused): "What is he even teaching? I don't get it."
Lina: "I think it's quantum physics."
Me: "I don't think so."
The teacher (after finishing writing on the blackboard): "Does anyone understand what this is?"
(Lauren raised her hand): "I think these are excerpts from 'Legends of Science' - physics of various kinds, some chemistry, and a bit of biology."
Teacher: "Well done. Now, students, contemplate this and take notes. Class dismissed."
After school ended earlier than usual, we decided to head to our training facility - a gym I built myself with my friends' help, equipped with all modern equipment: a combat arena, exercise room, and a VR chamber for testing dangerous scenarios.
We entered the combat arena. Each of us had our preferred weapon:
My weapon: Two medium-length daggers with a circular guard for easy reverse-grip switching, featuring a thin, strong wire connected to my wristband with retraction controls.Ryu's weapon: A large swordstaff that transforms into a double-ended blade or separates into two short swords connected by a chain.Lina's weapon: A long spear - she's trained in most martial arts, especially spear techniques.Lauren's weapon: A bow and arrow with a three-notch device for firing three arrows simultaneously and a finger grip (excluding the thumb) to hold them.
While sparring with Ryu, Lina said: "I'm still thinking about that teacher today."
Lauren: "His glasses were focused on us four most of the time."
Ryu (blocking my strikes): "Yeah, and he didn't inspect us like the others."
I stopped fighting after our match ended in a draw.
Me: "Right, he gave me a note."
Ryu: "What does it say?"
Me: "I haven't read it yet. I wanted to read it together."
Lina: "Then read it!"
I read the message:
*"Dear students,
I've learned from the principal that you're the top students in the school. I need something from you - related to today's lesson. If you're interested, come to Building 13 in the second district at 8 PM.
Ryan Shingo"*
Everyone was shocked. And their decision was...
(To be continued...)