I glanced to my right-and froze.
Nana was staring straight at me, cheeks flushed red, her eyes a mix of rage and... something else.
"I can't be seen like this. If he finds out I've been staring at him, it's over," she panicked inwardly.
Before I could say anything, Kaito leaned in, jabbing a finger at my cheek. "Xerx, I think Nana has a crush on you."
I deadpanned. "A crush on me? More like she wants to crush me."
The classroom buzz died instantly. It wasn't because of us.
It was because of him.
The equity in the room shifted the moment the man walked in. It pressed against my skin, heavy and suffocating, like the air itself had turned into lead. Every student straightened in their seat instinctively.
The Principal had arrived.
His presence wasn't just overwhelming-it was everywhere. His voice boomed, but not through the air. It echoed inside my head.
Is this... a Job skill? I thought, beads of sweat sliding down my temple.
"Congratulations, students. You are now ready for your Job Interview. Tomorrow."
Whispers broke out, then died instantly when his golden eyes scanned the room.
"If you don't know by now, Jobs are supernatural powers granted to the majority of the human population. There are two primary types: Brown Collar Jobs, and White Collar Jobs."
He adjusted his glasses.
"Brown Collar Jobs require a master to train you. Skills don't come naturally. White Collar Jobs, however, operate on a task system-complete tasks, unlock skills. The stronger the skill, the harder the task. Brown Collar equity grows through connections. White Collar equity increases through promotions."
A boy raised his hand nervously-Arnold, I think. "S-sir, what's the purpose of equity?"
The Principal's eyes gleamed, a dark yellow glow radiating out like a silent sun. The temperature plummeted. My chest tightened. Gravity itself seemed to increase. I couldn't move a finger.
My instincts screamed run. My brain whispered you're already dead.
"That..." the Principal said, his voice heavy enough to crush thought, "...is equity."
The sheer weight of it pinned the entire class to their seats.
"It commands presence. It determines how many times you can use your skills. It is why Jobs matter. Without equity... you are nothing."
He let the pressure vanish. The classroom gasped, coughing, some too shaken to speak.
His voice softened, but it still rattled in my skull.
"I won't tell you everything. You'll discover the rest... after you receive your Jobs. Be careful."
The classroom didn't move. Not a whisper, not a breath. Every student was glued to their seats as the Principal strode out.
The moment the door shut, it was like we'd all been yanked out of deep, freezing water. I exhaled, lungs aching.
Principal-the third promotion of the Legendary Job: Teacher.
Just thinking it made my stomach knot. How scary is that?
But... he didn't say how to get promoted.
I turned to Kaito. Even he had beads of sweat running down his face. Kaito-the idiot who never took anything seriously-was shaken. But his eyes met mine. Smart. Calculating. Just like me.
Our goal was the same. Get rich. So rich we never had to worry about a damn thing.
"He left something out," Kaito whispered. "Equity isn't just presence or skill power. It's also... money. Equity grows with wealth. And there are other ways to increase it, too."
I extended my hand. "Then let's do this, Kait."
He grinned, gripping it. "Sure. But don't get mad when my Job's better than yours."
I smirked. We'll see.
We gathered our stuff and stood to leave. But then-out of the corner of my eye-I noticed her.
Nana.
Still frozen in her chair. Everyone else was gone, but she hadn't moved an inch.
Ignore it. Don't get involved. Don't make things harder for yourself.
...But this might be my only chance to ease the tension between us.
"Hold on, Kaito."
I walked toward her desk, every step screaming what are you doing what are you doing what are you doing.
"Hey, Nana," I said. "Walk home with us."
Oh my God. Why did I say that? Out of nowhere like some desperate moron. So stupid.
Nana's head jerked up. Her eyes were watery, her cheeks flushed. She wiped her tears away the instant she saw me.
"W-... what?" she stammered. Her voice cracked.
Then, as if she'd just realized what she was doing, she jumped up, face burning, and bolted past us.
"No way!" she shouted, hands covering her face as she ran out the door.
I just stood there, dumbfounded.
Kaito clapped a hand on my shoulder. "She definitely has a crush on you."
I peeled his hand off, sighing. "What was I even expecting? I'm going home."
I pushed open the front door. The house was quiet-Mom was still at the restaurant. Perfect. More time for me.
"I wonder what my Job will be..." I muttered, tossing my bag aside. No matter what it is, I'll find the easiest way to pile up equity.
I powered on my console and sank into the couch. Top of the leaderboard again-well, obviously. Play every new release on day one, grind until your eyes burn, throw in a few hacks... winning is not that hard. Everyone else just works too much.
Tomorrow's the interview. After that, everything changes.
Meanwhile, across town, Nana sat on her bed clutching a pillow. Her face burned red.
"Why did he... act like he cared?" she whispered. Her chest tightened. "I know how selfish he is. It doesn't make sense. Ugh!"
She buried her face in the pillow, muffling her groan. When she finally lifted her head, her eyes landed on the framed photo on her desk-her and Mia, smiling together years ago.
Her throat tightened. "Tomorrow... I finally get to reach you, Mia."
Tears blurred her vision as her father's voice replayed in her mind: "She's not my daughter. Mia is. And if you think I'll raise her, you're mistaken."
He'd left after that. Divorced her mother. Claimed Mia as his own and erased Nana like she was nothing.
Since then, Nana lived with her mom while Mia lived with their dad. Her mother never knew who her real father was, so there was no one to blame. At least... lately, he'd started visiting again. Sometimes it even felt like he was warming back up to her mom.
But Nana's chest ached all the same. "Why can't everything just... go back to normal?"
The tears spilled before she could stop them. Exhaustion dragged her down. Pillow still clutched to her chest, she cried herself into sleep.